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How The Girls & I Celebrated National Picnic Day (With Subway)

April 27, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

This past Thursday, April 23, was National Picnic Day. I didn’t realize this was a thing (apparently there’s a food holiday every day!), but I am all about food and the outdoors. So naturally, I needed to get in on this.

When Subway offered to cater a picnic with the girls I nanny/babysit, I knew it would be a perfect way to celebrate!

Disclosure: Subway provided two $10 gift cards in exchange for a blog post and social media shares. No other monetary compensation was received. I only share about events and products I feel my readers would enjoy. All opinions are 100% my own.

I babysit a 9-year-old girl named Frances (I call her Fran) in West Los Angeles. We have so much fun together, so we were both pretty excited to have a picnic. She invited two of her friends from school, Gia and Mia. We also brought along our dogs, Archie and Little T. We were each able to get a full meal (6-inch sub, chips, and a drink) with the gift cards (I used some of my dollars for cookies #duh). Everything was SO good, even the dogs tried eating it. 😉

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

(Little T & Archie, respectively) (Mia is wearing blue tights, Frances is wearing a dress, and Gia is wearing a light blue top)

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

It was an awesome day! The girls and I had so much fun; we will probably do it again soon!

A huge thank you to Subway for catering our picnic; it was delicious! Find Subway on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

How did you celebrate National Picnic Day? Did you know about this holiday?
Do you enjoy Subway? What’s your favorite sandwich?
Do you enjoy picnics? (trick question- who doesn’t?!) 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

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Health Reviews

How JLo and BodyLab Are Focusing On Women’s Health

April 11, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

JLo. Fitness. Nutrition. Energy. Weight Loss. What do these things have in common? BodyLab.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary BodyLab product kit in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I only share products I feel my readers would enjoy. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

First, let’s come back to JLo (aka Jennifer Lopez). We all know her. Fabulous singer, awesome actress (Enough is a classic, I don’t care how old it is!), sexy mama, successful author (affiliate link), and a fitness/health guru. She created BodyLab, a line of health and fitness supplements made for women, by women. Here’s what JLo has to say about BodyLab:

“In all of my work—my music, my films, my book, my foundation—I always strive to inspire women to be the best and happiest versions of themselves. I joined the BodyLab family not only because of their commitment to creating great health and fitness products for women, by women, but also because of their approach to the holistic lifestyle. It’s not a solution-in-a-bottle. It’s not a fad diet. It’s part of a health regimen that makes your metabolism work as hard as you do. It’s a way to love your body” (website).

Photo courtesy of the BodyLab website

The rad thing (can you tell I live in SoCal?) about BodyLab is how great the products are for women! Here are a few facts:

No added creatine
No ingredients that wreak havoc on your hormones
Plant-based compounds to help you burn through excess body fat, get lean, and feel amazing.

BodyLab also offers workouts, challenges, recipes, and a great community (more details on their website). They’re not just a company that sells you a product and says, “Here ya go, good luck!” They truly go above and beyond to set you up powerfully for a healthy lifestyle.

Alright, let’s get down to the products.

Tasty Shake Thermodynamic Protein Complex

I used to drink protein shakes every day. I love the idea of them: simple, quick, nutritious. However, after years of the same shakes, I was over the taste. I got to the point where I couldn’t drink them at all. I was nervous to try Tasty Shake** for that reason, but obviously wanted to try it so I could give a proper review. With that being said, I LOVE this shake! I have the chocolate flavor, and it tastes like chocolate milk. Plus, it has a bit of caffeine, which is great for me since I’ve switched from soda to seltzer water and have difficulty getting the caffeine my body still craves. It’s really great as a pre-workout shake as well! Most of the products are plant-based, but note that the Tasty Shakes are whey protein. Each serving contains 15g whey protein and 90 calories. Side note: the label says to mix with water, but I mixed mine with almond milk for more flavor.

**Tasty Shake comes in regular vanilla, regular chocolate, and thermodynamic chocolate (with caffeine).

7-Day Ultra Fast Slim Kit

This kit is pretty awesome. I get nervous about “detox” kits because of how they tend to mess up the flora in our guts and cause more harm than good. They often don’t offer a probiotic with the detox. BUT, BodyLab does!!

For the first seven days, you take two of the triple process detox and cleanse capsules in the morning and two in the evening with dinner. These capsules help reduce belly bloat and waste buildup so you feel lighter and more energized.
In addition to the detox capsules, you take two of the thermodynamic Total Burn™ capsules in the morning and two in the evening with dinner. The Total Burn™ capsules are powerful fat burners that increase metabolic rate and enhance energy.
After completing the first seven days, you then take the probiotic replenishment capsules. You take one each day for seven days. The probiotics help to restore the natural flora in your gut, allowing your digestive system to work properly.

I really liked this Ultra Fast Kit! It didn’t cause emergency runs to the bathroom, but I could definitely feel a difference after the seven days! I felt lighter, less bloated, healthier, and more energetic.

I also received a full-size bottle of the Thermodynamic Total Burn™.

Endurance Boosting Deep Tissue Oxygenator

The deep tissue oxygenator enhances endurance, increases speed, improves VO2 max, and optimizes performance. It is stimulant-free! You take two capsules one hour before your workout. These capsules definitely helped me to have a better workout each time I took them! I especially love that they’re stimulant-free. The Total Burn™ has enough caffeine for me.

Advanced Joint Formula For Active Women

The joint formula helps reduce joint stiffness, and also increases range of motion. It is PERFECT for yoga! Well, for everything, but yoga is my fave. You take one capsule in the morning and one in the afternoon or evening. I didn’t realize I’d be needing a supplement for my joints at age 27, but I do. My hips and knees are in poor condition and are always really stiff and sore. The pain doesn’t go away with this supplement, of course, but it does help to diminish the pain! Yoga is a bit less painful now. 😉

BodyLab also has a Thermodynamic Pre-Workout Extender™ and a Total Shape Up Kit (All-in-One 30 day system).

How Do I Purchase BodyLab Products?

You can find BodyLab products in various retail stores or order them online.

I found these in Rite Aid in LA and got really excited haha

DISCOUNT!!

If you’d like to order online, BodyLab has graciously offered 25% off any BodyLab product + FREE shipping to my readers/followers!! That’s a pretty stellar discount if you ask me. Simply visit BodyLab.com and enter code tbb25 at checkout to receive the discount and free shipping. There’s no expiration date on this code, so be sure to use it any time you place an order!

Also, if you purchase the BodyLab Shape Up Kit, you’ll get a free signed copy of JLo’s book True Love (while supplies last; affiliate link). The Shape Up Kit is on sale for $99 right now, too. Awesome, right? Check out the YouTube video of this promotion below:

BodyLab creates their products with love for women, which is obvious when you look at the capsules:

How cute are these little hearts?!

Alright friends, it’s time for me to take my supplements and make my Tasty Shake so I can get my yoga on. Thank you as always for reading my blog! Don’t forget to follow BodyLab on social media (even for the workouts and recipes alone!). You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and YouTube.

So tell me,

What types of supplements/shakes do you take?
Do you prefer/avoid certain ingredients?
Do you love the movie Enough as much as I do?
Do you prefer JLo or the classic Jennifer Lopez?

Share with me in the comment section below!

To peace & happiness!

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Personal

The Universe Is Testing Me, & I Am Grateful For It

January 19, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

The Universe has been testing me this past week.

It’s testing my strength, my patience, my courage and my ability to handle an emotional situation. It’s checking to see if I will remain positive, or if I will crumble into a negative, jaded state-of-mind.

Last Monday, I hit my arm pretty hard on a table. So hard that it swelled up in two places similar to the size of large marbles. I couldn’t move it. It bruised badly. It was extremely painful. I thought it was broken. It was almost impossible to pick up the little babe I babysit, let alone hold his hand.

This is a poorly edited photo, but I feel it shows the bruise/swelling pretty well.

It was my first full week back to work since before the holidays, and it was tough. Figuring out our schedules and making sure Archie (my pup) had enough attention. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but it added on to the stress.

Then on Friday, on my way to work, I was rear-ended getting on the I-10. I just got my car in November. Nooooooo!

And I am incredibly grateful for all these things/events.

This is my affirmation stone from soulcandy.co – I carry it around with me and look at it often. <3

Sure, I hurt my arm pretty badly. But it wasn’t broken or fractured. I was able to take off a day of work so I could ice it and let it heal. I have an amazing boyfriend who wrapped it for me every day and did the things I couldn’t do with a hurt arm.

Going back to work every single day was a big change from not working for almost 3 weeks, but I am so grateful not only have a job, but to have a job that I LOVE! I often get asked, “What do you want to do for your career?” after telling them I am a nanny/babysitter. And it’s funny, because this IS what I want to do. I get to hang out with super cool kids. I get to teach them, and they get to teach me. It’s flexible and the parents are awesome. I am so so thankful I get to spend my days doing what I love!

As for the car accident, I could have totally lost it. I could have yelled at the guy who hit me, I could have cried. But I didn’t. Because where would that get anyone? Things happen, especially in traffic in LA. The guy who hit me was really cool, and his first question was, “Are you okay?!” I am grateful no one was hurt. I am grateful the cars weren’t even scratched! It could have been so much worse, but it wasn’t.

I truly believe if you have a positive attitude, you’ll live a positive life. You attract what you talk/think about (thank you Dad for teaching me this). There’s no reason to get upset about things you cannot control. And I learned a few things from these incidents, especially that I am a strong person. This past week may have been challenging, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Smile! Life is beautiful. 🙂

Have you ever had something unpleasant happen that you were later grateful for?
Do you feel that you’re a generally positive person?

Thank you for stopping by & reading my blog!

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XO

Lyndsay

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Personal

I’m Choosing To Live In The Moment; Who’s With Me?

September 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 9 Comments

Something that’s been on my mind a lot lately is living in the present moment. With all my thoughts about whether to move back to Ohio or to stay in Southern California, I’ve found myself constantly thinking about what’s going to make me happy.

But then I realize I am so consumed by the thoughts of my future self/happiness, that I completely neglect my present self/happiness.

The only thing we truly have is this moment. The past is but a memory. The future will never truly be here. We only have right now.

It’s important to remember that every action has a consequence/reaction. It’s not wise (in my opinion) to go throughout your life without a care of how your actions will affect others. That’s selfish. However, it’s also important to remember that we don’t need to think about every little detail and plan out every little thing that will happen next. Because truthfully, nothing ever goes as planned.

Image Source: notsalmon.com (I LOVE her Insta)

Before bed every night, I find myself going over and over the stresses of my life in my head. I never come to a conclusion (because truly, how will that happen while laying in my bed at 1 o’clock in the morning?). I only end up with more stress. So I started actively thinking about things that were more calming, like my breaths as I try to fall asleep. Nothing too serious, just simple breathing patterns. I found that I was able to fall asleep much easier and faster, and I was having fewer nightmares. I truly lived in the present moment, and I felt peace. So now I do this every night, and I love it!

I don’t want to waste away my days focusing on petty things. I don’t want to waste my days sitting in my apartment and waiting for the next great thing to happen. My life is happening right now, and it’s up to me to make it what I want.

And it all starts with living in the now.

Who’s with me?

XO, Lyndsay

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Lifestyle Personal

Fourth of July & A Trip Back Home

July 4, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 8 Comments

Happy Fourth of July everyone! I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family. 🙂 I’m really happy right now because I am spending my holiday (and the next 3 weeks) on Kelleys Island in Ohio with my family! Yes, Ohio has islands. LOL. Lake Erie has a few of them, and Kelleys Island happens to be the one I practically grew up on. We camped here every single year since I was 4, and now my parents own a house right on the lake.

I took this picture tonight from the front yard of the island house. Amazing, right?! It’s absolutely amazing. I keep joking that a SoCal resident vacations on a tiny island in Ohio haha. I’m on the island for about a week (even running a 5k tomorrow- I’ll update on that tomorrow!), in Ohio for two weeks, and then Chicago for one week. I’ll blog as much as I can, but it’ll be pretty busy! We don’t have very good internet up here at the island, so it’s been really hard to keep up with blogging and Facebook. Bare with me!

I’m still pretty jet-lagged, so this is going to be a shorter post. But I wanted to note how awesome it is being able to spend time with family. They’re all in Cleveland and I am in Los Angeles, which is about 2300 miles apart. I have two nephews under the age of 7, soon to be 3 come September. I feel like I am missing out on so much since I live so far away. It’s hard. However, I realize that by not living here, I appreciate it more. I value my time with my nephews, parents, and brothers.. even my dog Emma! She lives with my parents still (they couldn’t bare to let her go), and she follows me EVERYWHERE every time I am home! I just love it. It’s like she totally remembers me. She gets really excited when she sees me, she sleeps with me every night, and she won’t leave my side. Sometimes it feels like I never left. It feels so good to be home.

With my pup Emma

Little brother Mike & I on the golf cart

The pictures aren’t edited so they’re not the best quality, but I wanted to share them anyway. 🙂 Now it’s time for bed! Being in the Eastern time zone has me all messed up. Three hours makes a HUGE difference! 5k in the morning along the quarry, followed by an awesome day with my family and a few island friends whom I haven’t seen in two years!!

Have an amazing & safe holiday!!

XO,

Lyndsay

Ambassador Personal Reviews

Looking For Happiness In Your Life?

June 26, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

No matter our situation, we can always use a bit more happiness in our lives. There’s always room to be happier! But how, you ask.

Happify.

Happify is a website and app (iPhone only) that uses recent scientific breakthroughs to develop tracks/activities to help improve your happiness. For physical fitness, we do activities (workouts for the body) to become stronger. It’s the same idea, except for mental fitness. Happify provides workouts for the mind to become stronger and happier! Scientists and game designers created the S.T.A.G.E. framework, which helps you to master the five essential skills of happiness: savor, thank, aspire, give, empathize. I’ve gotta say, it is a pretty awesome website!

It’s really simple to use. Go to www.happify.com and create a profile (this is FREE, by the way)! Then you take a quick questionnaire to determine your “happiness score.” The first time I took it, my score was in the low 30s (aka not happy). I took it again recently though, and it raised to a 59! Yay! After you take the quick questionnaire, you are then able to click on activities recommended to you (or you can explore tracks). These activities/tracks are quick and each have an explanation of why it works. They range from things like cope better with stress, to get motivated to get fit, to maximizing your money and happiness!

My first activity was a short, three round game where there were hot air balloons with positive and negative words. I was to click on the balloons with positive words, and it gave me points. I was actually smiling a lot by the time I was done; it was so fun! After that, I did a two minute meditation session where I was able to pick the mood and moving picture/video (I picked a sunset over the ocean) with background music. It helped me to feel calm and relaxed.

Here are some screen shots from the hot air balloon activity on my iPhone:

I had the amazing opportunity of teaming up with Happify as an I’m Fit Possible ambassador for a Happify Campaign!

Click my link-> Happify -> Sign up, complete one track; if you like it, keep going! If not, no problem. But don’t forget, there’s scientific evidence behind all the Happify tracks. Plus, it’s pretty fun. 😉 Let me know what you think of it in the comments below!

To a happier life,

Lyndsay

Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal

After An Entire Year, My Mindset Is Finally In Alignment

May 28, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 40 Comments

I have so much excitement and happiness, I don’t even know where to begin! The past year has been wonderful, but very rough. I moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland in February 2013, and the life event threw me into the worst bipolar depression I have ever experienced. It hit me hard at the end of April/beginning of May 2013. I barely left my apartment for five months. I laid on our mattress.. in my living room.. on the floor.. in the AC.. with the blinds closed.. for FIVE MONTHS. I watched 14 seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. That takes serious dedication (to my living room floor).

During this time, I didn’t care about my physical health. When my mental health is that messy, it’s hard for me to even shower (my boyfriend can vouch for this). As hard as it was to admit, I gained a lot of weight. I ate the worst possible foods, and my addiction to soda showed up again (I had given it up for good that past December).

Fast forward to today. I read somewhere that our mindset needs to be in alignment with our nutrition plan, or we won’t stick to it. Well, guess what? My mindset is finally in alignment with my goals! Oh my gosh, it feels SO good! I have had a serious sugar addiction that seemed almost impossible to get through. I’m currently detoxing and withdrawing from sugar, and these are the symptoms I am experiencing right now:

itchy ears (how weird, right?!)
itchy eyes
sinus congestion (immune system becomes suppressed)
severe migraine (withdrawal is no joke, I have no idea how I’m even looking at a computer screen lol)
hives

But it is worth it. Because these symptoms will eventually go away, and I am finally able to not have soda! I’m finally able to not have chocolate, or ice cream, or grains, or refined sugars/carbs. Yeah, it’s still challenging, but my mind is so clear on my goals that I am able to not have those things! I so badly want to be healthy. I want my digestive issues (candida, leaky gut, etc) to be better. I want to lose this weight (not necessarily to look better, but to feel better). I want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) this year. I want to be able to somewhat control my moods and emotions.

I posted this status on Facebook yesterday:

“It’s an amazing thing, when you REALLY start to pay attention to how certain foods affect your body. Something that is healthy for one individual may not be as healthy for another individual. I always ate what I perceived to be “healthy” and never truly paid attention to how my body was affected by it. This is why one “diet” (diet meaning what you eat.. the actual meaning of the word) is not best for everyone. I follow mostly a paleo diet, however there are certain paleo-approved foods that I cannot have (and certain non-paleo foods I can have). Tailor your diet/nutrition to whatever fuels YOUR body best.”

Life is completely different when you learn to eat for your health, as opposed to weight loss. When you learn how to have a sustainable diet (again, diet meaning what we eat). I am even learning how to cook and enjoying it! I have never liked cooking haha.

cookbooks

I am loving my Practical Paleo and 21-Day Sugar Detox cookbooks from Balanced Bites! I used them to make dinner for my boyfriend yesterday (which he loved!). *Side note: the 21-Day Sugar Detox comes in two parts: the cookbook and the guide book.

I am learning to love my body and myself each and every day. People who say “I’ll be happy when I am this weight.. this size.. this wealthy..” and so on, those people will not find happiness. Not authentically, anyway. I used to be one of them. But we get to live in the moment, and love ourselves every single day, as we are.

Photo of me at a self-love yoga session with my friend & mentor Elyse

So my point of all this is that it feels so good to have my mindset on track after an entire year! I cannot stress enough how important it is to practice self-love and personal development (read books, go to therapy, join a support group, whatever it is for you), and also to really listen to your body. Pay attention to the foods that serve you and the foods that don’t. Eat for your health. Our bodies are so incredible, they fight so hard for us, don’t we want to fuel it properly?

xo, Lyndsay

How do you get your mindset in alignment with your goals?
Was it easy for you, or a struggle? Share below in the comments! 🙂

Holistic Living Nutrition Personal

GAPS Diet Update – Week 3

May 11, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 10 Comments

A couple weeks ago, I posted about my new nutrition plan and why I was doing it. As a recap, I am following a plan called the GAPS diet, which basically means my digestive system is not a happy camper. The past four months have been very stressful, which led to an excess of cortisol being released (stress hormone), sugar and refined carb cravings, poor nutrition, and then an overgrowth of candida.

(Image Source)

Candida is a fungus/yeast that we all have a little bit of in our digestive systems. However, if it grows out of control, you get pretty scary symptoms. Since starting to detox from things like sugar, soy, dairy, gluten (grains), and refined carbs, these are the symptoms I have experienced:

hives (daily)
migraines (6 days in a row)
fatigue, no matter how healthy I eat
difficulty sleeping
abdominal/digestive pain/bloating
irritability, mood swings, depression
muscle pain, especially in my legs
weight gain
acne (I haven’t had acne in YEARS!!!!)
intense sugar and refined carb cravings

I could go on and on, but those are the ones that really stood out to me. It has been a rough 3 weeks! But I feel like I am finally getting over the hump of the worst part. I started a 21 day cleanse (through Herbalife), I’m taking a supplement called FloraFiber daily (probiotics), and I just ordered goldenseal root (to push the candida out) and another probiotic. I already feel so much better!! I definitely have a ways to go with getting healthy again, but I can already feel a difference, and it is soo comforting!

(Image Source)

Sugar addiction and sugar detoxing are no joke. I was blaming myself for having a hard time cutting it out completely, but I was reassured that it really is my body that craves the sugar! It’s so similar to a drug addiction, it’s crazy. Did you know sugar is 8 times more addicting than cocaine? There was a study done on rats, and the rats chose the sugar over the cocaine every time.

Anyway, I feel like I’m rambling. I wanted to share a little bit of an update about this sugar detox since I know a few of you are following my updates (which I so so appreciate!!). If anything, I have totally learned how essential it is to truly take care of our bodies. Yes, I knew it was important before, but I feel like now, I have a deeper understanding of why we need to nourish our bodies with real food and get those toxins out through exercise. So many of us are living with poor gut health, and we don’t even realize it! I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of our digestive system. 90% of our immune system is in our gut.

Healthy gut = happy life. 🙂

Ambassador Fitness Nutrition

What Being An I’m Fit Possible Ambassador Means To Me

May 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 24 Comments

UPDATE: I’m Fit Possible ended their ambassador program in September 2014.

I announced this a few weeks ago on here, but I’m sharing it again: I am an I’m Fit Possible Ambassador!! I love the community of supportive, energetic, happy people who share the same passion of health and fitness. It’s an amazing feeling, being able to get online in the morning and have posts and comments from fellow ambassadors on Facebook, my blog, Instagram, Twitter, etc.! Who doesn’t love a supportive community?

One of the biggest reasons why I love I’m Fit Possible is because it’s all about being real. This is who we are (borrowed from the I’m Fit Possible website):

“We are social, big hearted, creative fitness enthusiasts.

We believe in unplugging and heading outside.

We believe that the best workouts are the ones done with family and friends.

We try and sweat every day, but if we don’t we won’t sweat about it.

We love to try new things and if we love something, you’ll hear about it.

Oh and smiles, hugs and high fives are not negotiable.

Most importantly, we agree:

Together is BETTER

Being SOCIAL is way cool

Real stories by real people MATTER

Opinions COUNT

YOU define what is healthy for you.”

Just like it says, to me, being fit possible doesn’t mean you have to have a 6 pack or a thigh gap, or can run the fastest mile, or whatever. To me, being fit possible means anyone can be fit. And that definition of fit is different for everyone! As long as we are trying to be a little bit better each day, and we’re moving our bodies and trying to eat healthy foods, then we are fit possible.

HOWEVER, if having a 6 pack or thigh gap or running the fastest mile is what makes you feel fit possible, THEN PERFECT!! That’s the amazing thing about the I’m Fit Possible community- we all have different goals, and we all support each other with those goals.

I want to shout out Tara, the founder of I’m Fit Possible. She is absolutely wonderful!! She is funny, witty, sassy, beautiful, inspirational, supportive.. I could go on and on. She has made me (and all the ambassadors) feel super welcomed since the very beginning! Tara wanted to do something nice for the ambassadors, so she sent out a gift to everyone:

How amazing is that?! It’s a tea bottle (has an infuser at the top) that obviously says I’m Fit Possible, a sample of Tisano tea (I received mint cacao!), a sticker (where should I put it?!), and a hand-written note welcoming me! It seriously made my day. And I use the bottle every single day! So Tara, THANK YOU so so much for allowing me to be a part of this family, and for recognizing that we can be “fit” even if we don’t have a 6 pack!

Check out I’m Fit Possible on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see what all the ambassadors are up to!

Do you want to become an #imfitpossible ambassador? Apply here! 🙂

Fashion Fitness Nutrition SoCal

My New Favorite Store: Athleta at Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks

April 26, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 9 Comments

I have never had the desire to buy high-end fitness apparel, and hadn’t even heard of brands like Athleta or Lululemon until I moved to Los Angeles. Where I grew up (just West of Cleveland, OH), that just wasn’t a thing. Then I moved to LA, and realized I am worth the more luxurious athletic wear! I heard of a brand new opening of Athleta at Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, and after seeing their super cute clothes online, I decided to check out the store in person.

(Source)

I AM IN LOVE!!!

I was greeted by two of the most wonderful women, Tatiana and Kara. They were both energetic, positive, beautiful, and excited to help me find what I was looking for. Shortly after, I met the store manager, Samantha. She was wonderful, too! I was the only person in the store at the beginning, and I felt so special, because they really paid attention to me and what my needs/wants were. Various customers came and left while I was shopping, and I still received amazing customer service! That doesn’t seem to happen very often anywhere else.

My favorite fitness is yoga, but I don’t have a lot of great yoga clothes, and needed help picking out an outfit. Kara was AMAZING! She showed me her favorites, customer favorites, what would flatter me most, and so on. They even have super cute, quality swimwear! Kara set up a dressing room for me, and even put a few pieces in there that she thought I might like! I felt like royalty, as silly as that sounds. It feels good to be taken care of, even if it’s for a short period of time in a store!

When I was walking into Fashion Square to find Athleta, I actually saw a display of mannequins sporting Athleta wear. I realized as I was leaving that those were some of the pieces I had tried on!

I have a really hard time finding sports bras that fit well because I am pretty well-endowed (haha, but seriously). I tried on the exact sports bra in the picture above, and it fit me better than any other sports bra I’ve ever worn! I tried on the exact same shirt, too, and it was so incredibly comfortable! The shirt is more for sizes A-C cup though, so unfortunately it wouldn’t be able to hold me without wearing something else with it.

Another amazing thing about this specific location is that they host free workouts in the store! On Saturday mornings from 9-10 am, they have black dog yoga and/or pure barre. On Sunday mornings, they have zumba from 10-11 am! The schedule changes though, so you can check out May’s schedule here.

I was so pleased with my experience at this location, I even told my boyfriend I wanted to apply for a job there! The atmosphere was awesome, the store itself was super chic, and I could go on and on about the amazing clothes. I mean, what’s better than an outfit that you can wear to yoga or zumba, and then be able to wear out in public and still look amazing?!

By the way, this is me rocking my new Athleta Fast Track Half Zip:

I also have the Revelation Capri and Breathe Tee.

I highly recommend checking out Athleta’s new location in Sherman Oaks! It’s only a 20 minute drive from Culver City. You’ll get more than a shopping trip, you’ll get a luxury experience, at least in my opinion! A store that looks great (modern, chic, clean), has a great staff (happy, positive, helpful, energetic), and a great product (the most comfortable/cute active wear ever) is a store that I will definitely be spending a lot of time at! And again, free workouts?! Done deal.

You can check out Athleta at Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks at this address:

14006 Riverside Dr. Suite 227
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818-285-0228

During these hours:

Mon: 10 am – 9 pm
Tue: 10 am – 9 pm
Wed: 10 am – 9 pm
Thu: 10 am – 9 pm
Fri: 10 am – 9 pm
Sat: 10 am – 9 pm
Sun: 11 am – 7 pm

Tell them Lyndsay from getfitwithlynds sent you! (If you want to, of course) 🙂

***I want to thank Samantha, Tatiana, and Kara for a wonderful experience, and for taking the time to help me find my worth through high-end active wear. THANK YOU! <3

Disclosure: I was invited by the general manager at Athleta Fashion Square to help promote this location by writing about it here on this blog. In exchange for writing this post, I received a $50 gift card toward Athleta active wear. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.