Sweat Fixx

Low Impact | High Intensity | Total Body

#NuttyHolidayFixx: Grain Free Ginger Snaps & nutty life Cashew Milk Ice Cream

We are fully in the holiday season, and we are loving all the holiday foods – including the sweets. This week, we’re partnering with nutty life for a #NuttyHolidayFixx giveaway (make sure to check out our Instagram for FULL details), and to celebrate, we’re sharing this delicious recipe that Laura  – front desk rock star and blogger at Some Thymes Paleo – developed!

Happy Holidays!

GRAIN FREE OLD FASHION GINGER SNAPS
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups almond flour
1 cup coconut sugar
1 egg
¾ cup ghee
¼ cup syrup
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
additional 1/2 cup coconut sugar for rolling

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat

2. In your standup mixer or medium bowl with hand mixer, cream together the ghee and coconut sugar

3. Add your egg and syrup until it has just come together

4. In a medium bowl mix together your almond flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and ginger

5. Gradually add your dry ingredients until everything comes together

6. Scoop dough into balls- I used a tablespoon cookie scoop. Roll the dough in the sugar and place on your prepped cookie sheet. I ended up putting too many on my sheet the first batch- these guys really spread. I would stick to putting 6-8 on a time giving them plenty of room to do their thing

7. Bake 12-14 minutes until the centers of the cookies no longer look glossy and let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes to let them set

8. Move to a cookie rack and let cool completely- store in an airtight container

NUTTY LIFE CASHEW MILK ICE CREAM
INGREDIENTS
3 ½ cups nutty life cashew milk- vanilla bean flavor
½ Cup maple syrup
4 egg yolks
Pinch of salt
6 ginger snap cookies crushed- see my grain free ginger snap recipe

You’ll want to make this ice cream at least 6 hours in advance of when you’re looking to enjoy it

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium heat safe bowl mix together egg yolks and maple syrup- set aside

2. In a medium sauce pan heat your 3 ½ cups of nutty life cashew milk and pinch of salt

3. Bring to a light boil then remove from the heat

4. Slowly temper the mixtures together – I use a ¼ cup of the hot liquid at a time, slowly adding to the eggs and maple syrup, whisking constantly until I’ve added 1 cup of the hot cashew milk to your eggs

5. Pour the warm eggs back into your sauce pan – Cook over a very low heat, whisking constantly until the mixture becomes nice and thick; enough to coat the back of a spoon.

6. Strain your custard through a sieve over a bowl or container

7. Let cool on the counter until room temperature

8. Once cooled, cover and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours

9. Process in your ice cream maker and place in the freezer until it becomes nice and hard and mix in your crushed ginger snaps- place back in the freezer until you reach your desired hardness- it took 4 hours for me

 

#FORMFRIDAY: ROWING FORM

You’ve heard all of us say “Don’t let your form go” at some point in class. Whether we are lifting heavy or rowing hard, we want to make sure we are doing all of our hard work correctly, so we continue to get stronger while minimizing our injury risk.

This week, we’re going to be talking about rowing form and everyone from new clients to seasoned regulars can always use a refresher.

Legs – Core – Arms – Arms – Core – Legs

If you’ve taken a row class with us, you’ve heard us say this.

Multiple times.

This is the fundamental part of rowing, is getting this form and order down. The initial push through your legs allow you to really drive that split time down, while bringing those arms back first, allows your legs to get a little recovery on the way back to catch.

When we start to get tired, it’s easy to let that form go.

What are some of the biggest mistakes we see?

Bringing those legs back in first

60% of your power comes from those legs, but 40% of your power is split between your core and arms. When you can leverage that arm reach and core power first as you come back, you can effectively recover those legs back to catch… getting them ready to stomp hard on your next push.

Letting your back round

When you’re pushing through that last 100 of a 300 meter sprint, it’s tempting to just try to hang on and muscle through it. However, when you round your back, you’re hunching your chest down – making it harder for those lungs to fill up with the air that you need to get through that final push! If you feel like your back is starting to round, roll those shoulders back and try to keep your chest open. You should be able to look yourself in the mirror as you are sprinting – no matter how tired.

Elbows coming out wide

Keep those elbows close to your body! The most effective and fastest way to get to a place is to travel in a straight line – so remember to keep those elbows and arms traveling in a straight line, instead of bringing them out wide. When you drive those elbows close to your body, you’re able to quickly snap those arms back out to catch efficiently.

So, that’s your row form for this first iteration of #FormFriday. Next time you hop on the rower, remember to focus on that form. Your form will help you snag that PR and help you get stronger each and every day.

FRIDAY FAVORITES WITH KERRI HIGGINS

We love exploring and supporting the communities that we are in. People always ask us “So, what’s your favorite…”, so we decided that we would create “Friday Favorites” – a blog series that would be all about our favorite things.

Since Kerri came up with this awesome idea, we’re chatting with Kerri first. Kerri is an instructor at our Arlington studio, and between studying and working, she took a couple moments to share with the #FixxFam what she’s loving right now…

So Kerri, what’s your favorite…

Self Care Place – Where do you run to when you need a little self care?

Elegant Nails on Mystic Ave in Medford.  Jenny & Mimi run a great nail salon with many offerings. I’m a sucker for their hot stone pedicure.

Restaurant – The place you will always go when you want to treat yo’ self?

Flatbread Pizza in Davis Square supports local farmers and breweries and serve up some delicious fresh salads, pizza, and draft beers.  It’s less than a mile from home for me, so weather permitting, we’ll walk down and hang out at the bar and likely order a Mopsy’s Kalua Pork Pie.

Outdoor Space – Where you can have a great time breathing in some fresh air?

The Minuteman Bikeway has become my bunny hill for Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) training.  In the late spring, when I’m ready to take my bike out, there is nothing better than hopping on the bike trail for a safe, casual push out to Bedford and back. I love tree covered flat trail populated with people being active.

Local Organization – Where you can give back to your community?

I’ve taken part of  the PMC the last 3 years (my boyfriend has participated for the last 9 years).  100% of every rider raised dollar goes directly to the Jimmy Fund for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  My favorite way to work towards our fundraising goals is to rally up a crew and put on a great workout. One of my teammates hosts a spin-a-thon every year where I get to co-teach a class – it’s a lot of fun for a great cause.

Spot For Healthy Food – Where you can eat delicious food that’s also good for you?

For a unique twist on breakfast, I sometimes visit the Oat Shop in Davis Square after a workout or a run. I drink a protein shake most mornings after my workout, so Oat Shop is a nice treat but allows me to stay in line with my nutritional goals.

Walkable Location that You Love – No cars necessary?

Lucky for me, Davis Square is only about a mile away. I really enjoy taking a leisure walk down there for a coffee, a cocktail, or for no reason than to just take it all in.

Favorite Coffee – Where do you score your favorite cup of coffee?

Kickstand Cafe, Arlington. On the weekends, I like to step away from my “order on the go” coffee routine and slow it down, drink out of a mug, chat, or plan for class. Kickstand is a great place for me to do this while being surrounded by Arlington area students, athletes, and families.

Hidden Gem – That place that no one knows about, but should?  

Quebrada Baking Co., Arlington. My Nana was a baker by trade so I consider myself a bit of a cake snob.  Being considerate of a nutritional plan I was on at the time, my boyfriend, ordered me a vegan chocolate cake from Quebrada for my 30th birthday. It  was out of this world.  Since then, they are our go to birthday cake bakers! Their mini cupcakes are perfect for a treat, without the guilt of a big slice of cake and the leftovers.

Instructor Spotlight: Jeanette Patenaude

If you haven’t met Jeanette by now, you might know her as “The Girl With The Towels”. It doesn’t matter whether she’s teaching a Row Fixx, Sculpt Fixx or Battle Fixx – Jeanette always brings a little extra fire with her. You can catch her rocking the mic in Wakefield during our evening classes and Saturday morning!

This week, we decided to chat more with Jeanette and learn more what helps fuel her fire. So make sure you book those rowers and snag a spot in one of Jeanette’s upcoming classes.

How did you hear about Sweat Fixx and what made you interested in being a part of the team?
Aunty Kathy!

She kept talking about Sweat Fixx after it opened up, so I had to come try it out. After my first class with Elise,  I was hooked. I’ve taken so many different types of fitness classes, but I nothing compares to Sweat Fixx. It amazes me that these classes are high intensity, but at the same time are low impact. Elise had great energy and, oddly enough, even though I wanted to die, I had a lot of fun!  After taking one class, I could see how great Sweat Fixx is and what I could bring to these classes to continue challenging the members.

What keeps you coming back?
The crew and the amazing #FixxFam community.  I think it’s so awesome that Elise let’s each instructor make the class their own.  No matter what, you are leaving with sweat dripping down your face, but how you get to that point is going to be a little different – – and I love that!  For example, if I want to feel like I am on top of the world I take Amanda’s class, or on the contrary if I don’t want to feel my legs, I take Michelle’s class; every instructor brings something different to the table.

When you aren’t at Sweat Fixx, where can we find you?

In Melrose with my husband, Matt, and my dog, Lilly.  In the summer, we spend our weekends at my parent’s house in Wareham. I also travel…a lot.  I am a full time event planner for a law firm in Boston, so I travel to wherever the event is. My next trip is out to San Francisco. You can follow my travels on Instagram! #worktravelsofjeanette (my coworkers make fun of me).

Where is your favorite place to grab a quick snack?

I would say all my snacks are from my kitchen, I don’t typically go out for JUST a snack… If I go out, it’s for a meal! So I guess I’ll just tell you what I’ve been bringing to work for my mid-AM snack lately is turkey roll ups (no bread, just a little mustard and arugula) with a side of blueberries.

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Wine and dark chocolate.  Specifically a Malbec and this amazing dark chocolate & burnt caramel bar by Alter Ego.  They have it at Whole Foods and it’s BOMB.

What’s one thing about you, that people would NEVER guess? 

Matt and I grow grapes and make wine! Well, this is actually our first time, so I can’t call myself a wine maker… yet. Long story short, I’ve had white wine grapes from Italy in my backyard (the previous owner brought a seedling back from Italy in 80’s and planted it).  After several trips to wine country, Matt and I got inspired to make wine from the grapes this year!  We got about 25 lbs. of grapes.

Another thing that people might not know about me is that last year I went camping in Utah and visited Zion National Park.  With a group of family/friends we completed the East Rim Trail, Angels Landing and part of The Narrows.

A few months later, the same group traveled to Arizona and completed the 11 mile hike (with 30lb backpacks) to Havasupai Falls.

 

 

One piece of advice you would give to someone who is walking through the SF doors for the first time?

Just breathe and keep going! There might be times in class where you just want to give up, but that’s where the magic happens. Keep pushing yourself, because you can do it. If you give up too easily, you will end up  giving up at the same spot. Challenge your body and work through it; your mind and body will be stronger after each and every class if you do this. And if you don’t believe in yourself, one of the awesome instructors will make you! 🙂

Anything else you want to add?

I was hoping you were going to ask me about my fave Tv show. It’s Below Deck on Bravo. It’s AMAZING. So. much. Drama.

Thanksgiving Fixx: Quinoa Molasses Ginger Cookies

When Elise mentioned doing a blog post about Thanksgiving food, I was all over dessert. Desserts and sweets are my favorite part of any meal, but I always have a hard time finding one that is delicious and semi-healthy. In my experience, you get one or the other. I went on a mission for the #FixxFam to find a recipe for the holiday that was delicious, semi healthy and more importantly quick!

With that being said, I introduce to you , Quinoa Molasses Ginger Cookies. These bite sized babes pack quite a flavorful punch and remind me of my favorite gingerbread cookies. The wonderful part is you can splurge and add a little cream cheese icing to enhance these sinful creations (favorite recipe found later in this post!)

Ingredients for cookies:

  • 3/4 cup dry quinoa
  • 1.5 cups whole wheat Flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (the recipe calls for 1 but I’m a sucker for cinnamon, so I doubled)
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup of butter
  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup molasses

Recipe for cookies:

  1. Preheat the over to 350 degrees
  2. Lightly spray a cookie sheet and set aside
  3. Grind the quinoa in a food processor until it becomes a powder. It is okay if there are some chunks of quinoa still! My food processor is older than I am, so my cookies had a nice, delicious crunch element to them!
  4. In a bowl, combine the quinoa powder, flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt and set aside.
  5. In a second bowl, beat in the butter, brown sugar, egg, and molasses until a smooth mixture is formed. Once smooth, stir in the flour mixture until a thick dough forms.
  6. Using your hands, roll the dough into small balls and place on your cookie sheet.
  7. Put the sheet in the over and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms are a nice golden brown.
  8. Remove from the over, and flatten the cookies with your spatula. Let cookies cool for one minute before moving to a cooling rack.

Ingredients for cream cheese icing:

  • 4 cups of powered sugar
  • 1/2 cup of softened butter
  • 8 oz of softened cream cheese
  • 3 teaspoons of vanilla

Directions for cream cheese icing:

  1. Add cream cheese, butter, and vanilla to your bowl. I always start with 2 teaspoons of vanilla, then determine if I want to add the other teaspoon to the mix. Mix until the ingredients are fully incorporated.
  2. Add powered sugar to the mix. You can sift the sugar if lumpy, but I usually mix on low until the clumps are broken up.
  3. If you find that the mixture is not thick like an icing should be, just add more powered sugar!

You can decorate the cookies with the icing, or put it in a bowl to dip in. If you really like the warmth that spices provide, you can always make this pumpkin flavored.

Happy Thanksgiving, crew! Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Fixx: Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Walnuts

Thanksgiving week is here, and we are so excited to spend some time cooking, eating and enjoying the company of good friends and family. In order to celebrate Thanksgiving with our #FixxFam, we decided to share some of our favorite recipes.  We’re here with day 2!

Today, Jayne, an Arlington Sweat Fixx Instructor, shares this Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Walnuts – perfect as a side for Thanksgiving or anytime this winter.

We hope you enjoy, and make sure you share your thoughts and pictures with #ThanksgivingFixx!

Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Walnuts

While brussels sprouts have had a bad rap in the past, there are so many reasons these little leafy green guys deserve a home on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Not only are brussels sprouts packed with fiber, iron, and potassium, but they’re also ridiculously delicious and beyond easy to prepare. These honey balsamic roasted brussels sprouts are no different!

This flavorful side dish recipe is ideal for a Thanksgiving feast, or any other fall or winter meal for that matter. The sweetness of the honey balances off  tartness of the balsamic vinegar, and adding toasted walnuts provides a yummy boost of healthy fats.

See below for the crowd-pleasing healthy recipe. Your friends and family will thank you!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1½ lbs brussels sprouts, halved
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp honey
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • Optional: 2 oz diced pancetta (about ½ cup)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, toss brussels sprouts with 2 tablespoons olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Transfer the brussels sprouts to a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Once 20 minutes has passed, add the chopped walnuts and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Place brussels sprouts back in bowl. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey, and toss to coat evenly.
  • SERVE & ENJOY!!

If you want to try this recipe with pancetta, just combine the diced pancetta with the seasoned/olive oil-coated brussels sprouts before transferring on to the baking sheet to roast.  

I guarantee they will be gone in no time, so be sure to make plenty!

Happy Thanksgiving Crew 😊