Known by many and noted from the great Dr. Oz, motivation is the biggest hurdle people face when on their weight loss journey, so having an app that can help you put your money where your mouth is when you first want to start your workout plan while motivation is high is monumental! 

Released just this month, the new tool GymPact allows you to put a monetary value to the workouts you make or miss at your local gym.  Their very simple interface allows you to pick a value (you can pick from $5-$50) for your "pact" on your weekly "pact plan" (you can pick from 1-7 workouts a week).  Then you download their phone app so you can check in to your gym and track these workouts.  You'll lose your weekly pact if you don't make all your workouts or you can gain money from all those people that lost their pact if you make yours.  Pretty awesome right?!

So I actually signed up for GymPact this week.  You can only start your pacts on Mondays so mine hasn't started just yet, but I already have a great idea on how it actually works.

How it works...

• Super simple and intuitive interface. It's really easy to get set up, go on an indefinite break (essentially their way to cancel), or edit any of your settings.
• In order for a workout to count, you must be at a location for 30 min straight.  This functions through your check in via the mobile app.
• You can't cheat the system and make your couch "Gym Elena".  They authenticate each gym location you submit overnight to ensure it's really a gym or workout center.

Overall, I think this is AWESOME.  When I was a trainer, I would always try to implement the same concept with my clients by utilizing their spouse, roommate, coworker, whomever, to hold them accountable monetarily or with other rewards for making their workouts.  This option is just that, but an app won't cave under severe sweet talking and won't forget about the pact either.

The caveats...

• This doesn't work for running outdoors.  Major bummer for me considering at least 3 out 5 workouts a week for me are outdoors on the run.  Although on their forum they say they're working on a work around for this as speak, so hopefully a solution for this will come shortly.
• Authenticating the gym locations makes it so you can't cheat, but that means it won't work for any at home workouts.  I doubt there's any work around possible with this one, so sorry P90x users.

Overall takeaway...

If you have a gym, Pilates or yoga studio, etc. membership and want to work on staying consistent and increase your motivation to stick to your workout plan (who isn't?!) then sign up for this immediately!  You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.  If you do your workouts on your own and outside (like me) then you'll need to stick to the classic tactics of having a workout buddy, journaling, making milestones with rewards and taping your goals/vision to the frig.

Has anyone else signed up and used this service?  Even though I workout outside mostly, I'll continue and try it with a low pact plan to hold me accountable for my yoga studio workouts and will keep everyone updated on how it goes.

As the year is rolling down, I figured I'd recap to you all my favorite workout routines that I've found from free online resources.  I'm always a fan of super efficient, intense, fat-blasting exercises that you can do almost anywhere.  So what are you waiting for??

	Men's Health "The Spartacus Workout 2.0" Men and women alike can burn hundreds of calories in under 30 minutes with this workout, but it is critical that you keep yourself to the very short rest times to make the most of this workout.
	Tone It Up's Fat Blasting Stair Circuit This one is a killer interval workout that no one can have the excuse to not be able to execute.  These chicks are more then just a pretty face - they know their stuff.
	Fitness Magazine's Cross-Train Cardio Challenge Would you rather put on 4 layers of clothing and run outside in 20 degree weather than be confined to an indoors treadmill for 30 minutes?  If yes, this is the workout for you.  Even my workout ADD was able to stay interested with this routine, plus - I didn't have to almost loose my fingers to frostbite!
	Men's Health's Two Workouts in One It is my BIGGEST pet peeve to watch people strength train with long idle rests between sets.  Keep moving during these rests and you can double your calorie burn in the same amount of time!  The moves they suggest here are fantastic and are sure to increase your sweat factor.
	Women's Health Magazine's Om Alone: At-Home Yoga Workout Now that I'm on the yoga bandwagon I know that with my workout habits and naturally super tight muscles, I really shouldn't go a week without it.  I really wish they had this workout in a smoother format, but if you've ever practiced yoga before, this is a great at home alternative if you can't get into the studio.

Above all - remember to push yourself.  Again, you've already done the hard part of getting your gym clothes on and getting your butt out the door, now kick your butt!  You should be sweating through yout shirt, struggling for air at times, and feel legit tired when you're done.  If you're not, add some weight, do 5 more reps, go 60 seconds longer, shorten your rest periods, add another set...

Don't make excuses.  Get out of your comfort zone. 

I have to admit, some of the above workout routines aren't in the most ideal format.  If there are  any exercises in the above workouts you'd like a little more clarification on just comment below and I'll make an upcoming blog post dedicated to it!

It took me awhile to get on the yoga workout bandwagon.  I thought it would be too slow paced that I'd find it boring. Then about a year ago after discovering hot vinyasa flow at Charm City Yoga before I moved up here to Boston, and I fell in love! Now I was practicing at least once a week, and my cheapo $10 mat wasn't cutting it.  My knees killed on grounded deep lunged and forget about attempting a headstand.  It was time I grew up in my yoga practice and bought a legit mat.

Those that know me well, know that I research the crap out of anything before I buy.  I’m talking, I scour web reviews, amazon reviews, consumer reports, the whole nine yards.  My conclusion after I applied all of these tactics to yoga mat?  Jade Harmony Professional 3/16-Inch yoga mat and I have not regretted it!  Let me break it down for you:

Awesomeness:

• Doesn’t reek of plastic
• Comfy but not unstable
• Sticky enough to hold me when I’m sweating buckets
• After a year, I still don’t notice wear and tear

Meh:

• It’s somewhat heavy and could use a carrying strap

Even my good friend with a more expensive lululemon mat likes my Jade mat better than her own.  I’d definitely recommend the Jade Harmony Professional yoga mat to newbie yogis like myself that are ready for an upgrade. 

Do you have a yoga mat you adore?  Comment below and share your own yoga mat reviews!

~E

Make sure to check out my website that is full of more tips for a healthy lifestyle!