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Are you ready for a CHALLENGE???

By this point you know we LOVE a challenge….and since leaving The Biggest Loser we are starting to go through challenge withdraw. Well, maybe that is stretching it a teeeeeny bit….no one looks good in a wetsuit and a helmet. Remember New Zealand?? For real.

As you know we are both crazy about spinning and we spend a lot of time at SoulCycle in NYC. I think they might just start charging us rent any day now. We have so many favorite teachers at SoulCycle but one of our all time favs is Jenny Gaither. Her classes are…to coin Irene’s favorite phrase “balls to the wall!!” It is awesome music, big energy, and a HUGE sweat….which is why we find ourselves signing up early for her classes before they quickly fill up.

So, we were in her class the other day and she spontaneously threw the gauntlet down to all of us riders and gave us a challenge! Let’s put it this way….it is my (Olivia) personal NIGHTMARE…but I’m gonna do it anyway….I preach overcoming all the time right? This is gonna be one of those “put yo money where yo mouth is”. Oy!

Are you curious about what she said?? Check out the video to find out…..

xo,
Olivia & Hannah
Ps. check out Jenny’s Twitter….and how to find her on SoulCycle!
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/JennyGaither
SoulCycle:  http://www.soul-cycle.com/instructors.cfm

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Refrigerator Look Book: Olivia Ward from wellandgoodnyc.com

Hi Guys!!! So, after finale I met Lisa from wellandgoodnyc.com at a Barry’s Bootcamp class. We got to talking and realized we both live in Queens and she began to tell me more about wellandgoodnyc. They have this cool section that is called “Refrigerator Look Book”. Basically it is photos of the inside of people’s refrigerators and a quick interview about the contents. Neat-o huh? So, she asked if I would be willing to send in a pic of my fridge. I had to do it right? Well, I thought the whole process was super fun AND it made me clean my fridge….which is NOT my favorite cleaning project. Helloooooo science project. Just kidding.

Here is the link…go show them some love!!!

http://wellandgoodnyc.com/2011/07/07/refrigerator-look-book-olivia-ward/#axzz1RLtAMVmq

xoxox,

Olivia 🙂

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Food For Thought (Part 2)

Now, on to my favorite part of the #FAGEtotal event….the FOOD! I have to admit I was super excited about learning new ways to incorporate Greek yogurt in everyday recipes. That was until I saw the menu. Cue the freakout music. Why you ask? Well, take a look:

Eggs Benedict
Fried Chicken
Potato Salad
Macaroni and cheese

Are you kidding me??? I literally could hear Bob and Jill screaming in my head “You can’t eat that stuff!”….see they are in my head all the time….no, I’m not crazy…well, maybe a little but you already knew that. Ok, back to the story. Now, I was panicking because I knew they were going to make me try it all! This is stuff nightmares are made of for a Southern girl. You know we are polite people pleasers at heart ya’ll…AND I can’t refuse food that someone has made for me…or can I?

Take into consideration all this drama took place in my head over a time period of 30 seconds. After I let myself freakout, I immediately realized that I was in complete control of this situation AND one small taste of each dish is NOT going to kill me OR my waistline. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks…I’m here because although I am not a culinary expert, I have just spent the last 8 months of my life learning how to incorporate healthy eating and modify recipes into my life. BINGO! Give this lovely lady a prize please…bless her heart.

So, I now have purpose and am super excited….please feel sorry for the other two sweet ladies in my cooking group. You guys know how Hannah and I get when we are excited…like rats on crack…seriously. Anyway, the event turned out to be a BLAST and not only did I learn a ton, but I really was surprised at how many ways I was able to modify recipes on the spot. High five Bob and Jill…yes, the ones in my mind.

Stay tuned for cooking videos where I show Hannah some of the recipes I learned from FAGE… keep your eyes peeled for that coming up soon! This will be like an episode of “I Love Lucy” be sure of it. Until then post your favorite modified recipes in the comments…you all have the BEST food ideas ever.

xoxo,

Olivia

P.S. Have I told you lately that I love you (insert a crying Rod Stewart)….Well, I do!

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Swimsuit Slim

 

We were so nervous baring it (almost) all for our OK! Magazine spread! In the end it turned out great though and now we are actually excited to spend the summer in the sun!

Be sure to head to newstands to pick up the magazine but here’s an exclusive sneak peak of the first 2 pages,  just for our MyFitspiration readers!

Inside the story we talk about some of our favorite snacks, our favorite workouts and a couple more lifestyle habits that have been keeping us healthy and slim since we came home from the Biggest Loser Ranch!

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Food For Thought (Part 1)

So, most of you may have heard from my Twitter that I attended a really cool event yesterday for FAGE Greek Yogurt. I learned some really great ways to incorporate this product into some of my favorite dishes. I think one of the most important things I learned was FINALLY how to pronounce it…it is actually pronounced Fah-Yay. I know, I know it is explained on the container, but for some reason I was still saying it wrong. Classic.

Anyway, when I first arrived at the Culinary Institute I was super intimidated. I walked into a room full of food bloggers, culinary journalists, and some really swanky foodies!! Everyone was really nice, but I have to admit I kept thinking…Why was I invited to this? What am I going to add to this group of culinary experts? I immediately had to stop myself and give my hand a mental slap…this was “old” insecure Olivia trying to creep back into my behavior. So, I grabbed my cup of coffee and walked over to a table with two woman and sat down. After introducing myself I quickly found out that one of them worked for Oprah magazine, and the other had just launched a food blog. Both of them were such incredible woman and there was never a lack for words!! I have to admit it felt so amazing to put myself out there and realize that sometimes it just takes jumping right in to things no matter how scary it seems on the outside. Before Biggest Loser I would have just stayed at a table on my own and “pretended” to look at my phone or something dumb like that. Instead I left the event having had an amazing time and having met so many FANTASTIC people!

I want to encourage everyone to try and put yourself out there in situations you would normally run from. Believe me it is so, SO hard….but all I have been able to think about since yesterday is “how much life have I missed because I was in hiding?”. Let’s challenge each other everyday to get out there and grab life by the horns because we ALL deserve the best life has to offer!  Now, when I see people wearing those “Life is good” t-shirts I’m going to say….”well, yes. Yes, it is!”

Stay tuned for part two of this post…I’m going to talk about some of the recipes I learned at the #FAGEtotal event. See you then!

xo,

Olivia 🙂

P.S.  We had over 10,000 people come and visit the blog yesterday!!! WHAT???  You guys are so amazing and Hannah and I love you all dearly.  This is gonna be good…don’t ya think?  Feel free to connect with us and others in the comments….that is usually my favorite part of a blog anyway.  I have a LARGE group of girls I met in the comments of a a certain blog that has to do with a boy who played a vampire….you know who you are.  Anyway, they are now some of my real life best friends….so go ahead chat away! 🙂