Fully ready to kick 2015’s ass (and my own), I’ll be documenting my #failproof2015 journey every other week. Follow along for motivation, fitspiration and a whole lot of real talk! If you missed part one, catch up here.

Congrats, tribers — you’re halfway through #failproof2015! I hope in the past four weeks you have felt stronger and more devoted to your overall health and happiness like I have. Since my last post, I find myself much more focused in class and really trying to nail my form. I had my second privé2 session with Sarah Hackwith last week, and I’m learning a lot about my body. I feel like I’m “relearning” how to stand properly, where to displace pressure in my feet and how not to hold so much tension in my hands and neck. Sarah is so great at reading your body and insightfully explaining how to make small, but extremely effective changes. I’ve also learned that if I really want to nail my form in group classes, I often need to go slower than the average pace of class, and that’s okay!

On my quest to add more cardio to my routine, I took baridrip with Yin last weekend for the first time. It was so fun! Sarah Levy gave me the best pre-drip advice: “leave your inhibitions at the door, and you’ll be fine.” Lucky for me, that wasn’t difficult for me since I ALWAYS dance like nobody is watching. I have also been trying to take classes with some of the new trainers, and I couldn’t be more impressed. So far I’ve taken AJ’s, Madelaine’s and a ton of Melanie’s classes, and I’ve loved them all.

On the diet front, I don’t think MyFitnessPal is for me. I don’t find myself obsessing over calories as much as the last time I tried using this app, but the more I learn about food, the more I realize I don’t want to track my diet via calories. So, for the remaining three weeks of the challenge I’m going to keep track of my food the old fashioned way with pen and paper and write about how it makes me feel instead.

I want to emulate the intense focus on form that I have been bringing to classes by studying how food makes me feel. Dairy and fried foods definitely don’t work for me (not that fried food “works” for anyone), and I’m going to experiment with cutting out any foods with an unrecognizable ingredient on the nutrition label. I’m also going to work on upping my raw veggie game. On the food-meets-mind front, one of my personal goals is to not get so down on myself when I don’t make the “right” eating choices. Instead, I’m focusing on just making better choices at the next meal and staying connecting to why I care about putting the right foods in my body in the first place. Self loathing is not a hot look. Even if it’s just internally going on, it’s gotta stop. I read this article today and thought, yeah, that would be nice!

By now you all know I love working out with a friend and #failproof2015 has been no different. Some advice for sticking with the next four weeks? Bring your friends! The past few weeks when my friends ask me what I’m doing or if I want to meet for dinner or drinks, I suggest meeting for a bari class first and a healthy meal afterwards. It’s encouraging to have others getting on the healthy train and makes it more of a social outing than just a daily task you want to mark off your to-do list. I even got the boyfriend to try tofu for the first time, and he liked it! (Or pretended to anyway…)

So how am I doing? I’ve been nailing my five workouts a week, and my weekdays have been filled with lots of veggies and lean proteins. Saturday and Sundays still aren’t great on the diet front, but this past weekend wasn’t AS bad as the past couple so I’m focusing on the small progress I’m making! I can feel myself getting stronger, holding planks for longer and actually making it through that last arm rep! Acknowledging these small accomplishments and keeping it positive is really helping me stay motivated, inspired and in it.

I feel ready to take on the next two weeks with more focus and intensity than even before. I would love to hear updates from the rest of the tribe either through the private Facebook group or via the comments below!

Fully ready to kick 2015’s ass (and my own), I’ll be documenting my #failproof2015 journey every other week. Follow along for motivation, fitspiration and a whole lot of real talk!

I don’t know about all of you, but I couldn’t be more excited that bari is giving us this opportunity to get back on track after the last two months just sort of happened. And by that, I mean got totally out of control between holiday parties, indulgent meals/desserts and wild weekend nights leading into Seamlessing Pick-A-Bagel’s breakfast platter special plus a blueberry bagel with extra cream cheese and contemplating your life choices in a dark room until it was time to go to work on Monday. (Wait, was that just me?) Needless to say, I’m ready for #failproof2015 and itching to feel healthy again.

My measurements last week were a huge wakeup call for me. Since my last check-in over the summer, I’ve gained seven pounds and five percent body fat. What was the culprit? Maybe I’d gotten a little lax with my workouts, but I’d still been coming a few times per week. I knew exactly what the change had been: diet! According to the measurements, my unruly eating habits (or lack thereof) had basically undone all my hard work in the past year.

But do I feel discouraged? Not at all. I’m ready to move forward and kick some serious ass. I decided to re-download the MyFitnessPal app to keep me on track. I got rid of it a couple years ago when I felt it was making me calorie obsessed, but I’m not getting wrapped up in that this time and really just using it as an accountability tool. This challenge is a bit different for me than when I started with bari a year ago because I now know what I should be eating; I just need to do it! I’m back to following the real food diet, and I already feel better.

For the six weeks of failproof, I’m working with the vivacious and uber motivating Sarah Hackwith. Based off my current fitness regimen and measurements, Sarah recommended that I take five classes a week with an emphasis on the cardio classes for at least the first half of the program — which seems like a ton, even for me! My main concern about taking this many classes a week was that every time I’ve gotten in the groove of going that much, I always end up hurting either my back or neck, putting me out of commission for at least a week. My rationale had been that I just need to take it easier- while Sarah explained to me that this most likely has to do with my form.

I can’t believe it took me over a year of being #bariddicted to sign up for a privé, but I could never justify spending the extra money. What I didn’t realize is that just one private class could give me the right tools to go into the group classes with a completely different mindset. Sarah was able to show me exactly what I was struggling with, and I have already noticed a difference in my classes. Still on the fence? Consider signing up with a friend. My bari BFF Laura and I took a privé2 together and scheduled one every other week with Sarah to keep checking in on our form and goals. Both Laura and I feel like the bari group classes are completely different (and harder!) now that we’re doing each exercise correctly. I have also felt more inclined to ask questions in group classes now just to make sure I understand the movement and all of the trainers have been so helpful. Since I’m now really aware of my form, I’m getting so much more out of the classes, resulting in an extremely sore bari body. But no pain! Which is really encouraging. Sarah also recommended that I switch up my cardio class routine. I LOVE bounce. There’s really no place I’d rather be than on a trampoline (or my bed). Sarah appreciated my enthusiasm, but prescribed I mix it up and work on some floor cardio classes. I switched two of my bounce classes to a macro and a hybrid, and it was actually really fun! I forgot I had calf muscles — oh hello, there you are.

So how did I do this week? I took five classes, reduced my caffeine, sugar and sodium intake, added in veggies whenever possible and took time to unwind and decompress from the work day each night. It was a struggle to take the morning classes this week with the freezing temperatures, but I did it! And obviously have had way too much fun with the failproof chart. Did I eat a bagel this Sunday? Yeah. That happened… But you know what? I’m focused on the power of today. Week two: here we go!

I’ll be sure to keep you all posted on my progress!

Making excuses to not book those 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. classes is a little too easy. I know, I know: You won’t have enough time to get ready for work, and it’s too much work to get ready outside of your home, and the idea of having even semi-wet hair in 20 degree weather is enough to make you hit snooze. But it’s time to stop wimping out. With holiday party season in full swing, squeezing your workouts in in the morning is the only failproof way to make sure an unpredictable evening schedule doesn’t get in the way of your sweat sessions. As a bari veteran (and one with a “9 to 5” — who actually leaves at 5 p.m.?), here are my tips to get ready quickly, yet still look put together by the time you get to the office.

plan ahead: The night before your early bari class, pick out your outfit and have it perfectly laid out and ready for you. Everything you plan to wear (socks, underwear, bra, etc.) should be there; you don’t want to waste your time searching for matching socks in the morning. Also have your work outfit packed as much as possible without causing wrinkles.

less is more: Think of ways to simplify your beauty routine. With your makeup, do you really need to spend as much time as you currently do primping? Perhaps you can spend less time on your eyeliner and still look completely presentable for work. If you can get away with a lighter face, go for it, you’ll probably get compliments on your natural look! Get a good tinted moisturizer, and you’ll look fresh-faced in seconds. If you’re the type who gets red-faced after a workout, try a face spray to instantly add moisture and brighten up your skin.

hair time savers: If you’re used to blow drying and ironing your hair each morning, try a new (and quicker) look for morning gym days. If you are always fighting your curly hair, try to tame and embrace your natural hair. If you aren’t going for the curly/wavy look, try a sock bun. When done correctly this looks super buttoned up, but it’s a quick style. I’m also a fan of the fishtail braid, which takes no more than a few minutes to pull together. No time to wash your hair? If it looks clean enough but just needs a little something, spray in some dry shampoo, add a headband and head out the door. In case you do want to blow out your hair though, bari’s got you covered with our Harry Josh hair dryer and flat iron.

Another secret to early bird workout success? Having a well-stocked gym bag. Here are some basic items that we recommend:

1. travel-sized toiletries: bari has you covered on many of the essentials, but if you prefer your own face wash or day creams, mini travel-sized bottles that you can just keep in your gym bag come in handy so that you don’t have to remember to take them out or repack when you shower at home.
2. downy wrinkle release: In the name of keeping things professional, let’s plan for a few unexpected wrinkles. When you’re packing your clothes the night before and carrying them with you, sometimes wrinkles, and this little bottle of magic will save you every time.
3. hair brush/comb: Essentials. Keep an extra set in your gym bag.
4. lint roller: Just like the wrinkle release, you never know what is going to happen to your clothes when you are packing them and traveling with them, so it’s best to be prepared.
5. makeup bag: Consider storing an extra set of your essentials in a small makeup bag so you’re never stranded without your faves.

Work on this routine and see what works for you. Over time you’ll figure out ways to shorten your get-ready-for-work moves, and you’ll be an early bird bari rockstar.

As you all know from my recent Triber Tale, I began my love affair with bari at the beginning of this year. After just 21 days, I was completely hooked. I immediately felt a part of the bari community. But once I convinced my bestie Laura to join a couple months later, it actually felt like home. This month, I got to stand by her side as she married the love of her life, and I’m so proud of all that she was able to accomplish in such a short period of time. She is glowing from her newfound healthy lifestyle, weighing in at a 20 pounds less than when she started at bari! But Laura isn’t the only one who has benefitted from having a bari BFF; she has motivated me to show up and bring it! As the colder months are quickly approaching, consider enlisting your bff to get you through the winter slump. Here are some of the benefits of working out with a friend:

you stay accountable & plan workouts ahead of time

When you know you “should” work out but just don’t feel like it, knowing that a friend is waiting for you at bari can change everything and get you out of bed faster in the morning. (Or guilt trip you into skipping that happy hour.) It can be so easy to skip out on fitness, but being in it with a friend motivates you to keep you going and stay faithful to your routine. Plus, you end up planning those workouts in advance, avoiding the wait list and scheduling it in like any other social commitment. Being accountable and needing to show up for someone else results in fewer skipped workouts (and more toning and trimming)! If you aren’t currently exercising with a friend, poll your group of pals and see who might be interested in joining you at bari a few times a week. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to your motivation to work out.

you push yourself further
Exercising with another person pushes you to do your workout and do it to the best of your ability. Another bonus – if you work out with a friend who is stronger or faster than you, you’ll be more likely to test your own limits. You can commiserate together while still motivating one another. It’s a shared experience of a “hurts so good” burn! Also, even if you don’t play sports or consider yourself competitive, you’d be surprised at how working out with a friend can bring out your competitive side (trust me — we all have one). When you’re ready to give up, just looking over at your friend sweating away on the trampoline (with no signs of giving up) can keep you focused.

you can recover together
Use the buddy workout system as a time to catch up and reward yourself after class in a healthy way - don’t undo all your hard work! A friend who’s worked up a sweat with you is likely to want to join you for a healthy post-class meal or snack. Or a couple’s besties’ massage.