(pics from our fave blues and brews brunch at Loew’s this weekend! Dress is from Rent the Runway)

For now, I’m hanging out with my red light, avoiding the laundry pile, and thinking about a last-minute run for Easter supplies.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves roundup! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love hearing about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

4.3 Friday Faves

Fashion, beauty, random:

Ordered these sandals from Amazon and was pleasantly surprised! I’m not posting foot pics here lol but but they’re true to size, super comfy and I can tell I’ll wear them a lot. I was looking for a casual sandal to wear with skirts and dresses and these are perfect.

They’re actually super similar to these at a fraction of the price.

Also you know you’re getting to a special point in life when you’re excited about a pillow. I was using a flat pillow that I bought during Rona, and I liked it because I hate super fluffy pillows, but it was completely flat. I was folding it up, and often waking up with a sore neck or shoulder since I sleep on my side. (I’m really trying to sleep on my back because it’s better for your skin but I can’t do it.)

I did a ton of research and came across this one. It was important to me that it would have nontoxic materials and not be too fluffy. This one is a little on the fluffy side – you can even add more to it if you’d like as it comes with extra fluff – but I think it will calm down over time. I’ve slept really well each night and usually it takes a while to get used to a new pillow. I might get one for the Pilot, too!

A pic from a full moon meditation and sound bowl class I took with a friend this week. It was so relaxing and the 45 minutes flew by. I can’t wait to do it again!

Shopbop is having a HUGE sale!

Here are some of my top picks:

Perfect bootcut jeans.

Obsessed with these woven ballet flats.

Glow gloss with SPF.

I adore the details on this dress.

This gorgeous romper.

Jellies are back and I’m not mad about it.

Gorgeous spring dress from one of my favorite brands.

I haven’t tried these suits yet but I’ve heard amazing things.

This beach riot bikini.

Pool slides

I bought two pairs of these in my Spain and they’re my favorite flats. Size up! (I’m usually a 38 and wear a 39 in these) I’m wearing this pair right now!

This midi dress

Another one of my favorite brands (because I’m the only daughter in our family)

Classic polo for jeans, skirts, or shorts.

I’ve linked to more on my ShopMy page here! Make sure to follow along there. This is where I love to share shopping finds. Also, if you’re a fellow blogger friend or creator, you can sign up for your own ShopMy storefront here. It’s my favorite one because it’s the most-user friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and you can add links from anywhere.

Loving facial cupping lately!

Read, watch, listen:

Don’t miss this week’s podcast episode. I’m talking with neurosurgeon Dr. Amir Vokshoor about holistic pain management strategies, peptides, and more.

New Substack post here about things I want to teach the girls about health.

Everything you do is good.

I can’t wait to see Project Hail Mary. Have you seen it already?!

Little pre-dinner snack plate for the crew:

Fitness, health, and good eats:

I’m considering doing an old school fitness challenge around here with all-new follow along workouts. Think two weeks of workouts (barre, heavy strength, mobility, and core), along with a FB group for accountability and some prizes?? It would be very low cost, like $49. If this is something you would like to join in, please comment YES below just so I can gauge interest. Thank you, friends!

Made these honey glazed salmon bowls earlier this week and we all loved it.

Easter brunch recipes.

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! Have an amazing weekend and I’ll see ya soon!

xoxo

Gina

The post 4.3 Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Here’s what we chat about:

• Why Dr. Vokshoor’s go-to tagline is “there’s no health without brain health” — and what that actually means for your daily life
• The three key areas of spinal mobility he recommends everyone work on (cervical, thoracic, lumbar – plus hips and ankles!)
• His simple daily movement routine for spinal health that takes just minutes and doesn’t require any equipment
• What minimally invasive spine surgery actually looks like
• How AI is changing his practice right now — including letting him actually touch his patients again during visits
• The promise and honest limitations of peptides
• Why chronic pain becomes a brain disease — and what that means for treatment

And so much more!!

203: Insights of a Neurosurgeon | Peptides, Minimally Invasive Surgery & the Holistic Approach to Healing with Dr. Amir Vokshoor

This episode is a great reminder that your brain health isn’t separate from the rest of your wellness. Whether you’re postmenopausal and thinking about bone health, dealing with chronic pain, or just want to move well as you age, Dr. Vokshoor brings a refreshingly human and holistic perspective to neurosurgery.

Check out Dr. Vokshoor’s here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drvokshoor/?hl=en

Website: https://drvokshoor.com/

Brain Performance Supplement: https://www.axonmd.com/

Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter
For my free Autoimmune Healing ebook, click here.
Detailed show notes here: https://fitnessista.com/podcast

Partners:

Try out luxury handbags and jewelry from Vivrelle and use my code GINAHARNEY for your first month free!

Check out We Feed Raw! Maisey goes crazy for this! I use it as a topper for her kibble or mix it into her pup loaf. You can try the raw version, the raw dehydrated kibble, and they’ll help you customize a plan for your pup. Use FITNESSISTA40 for 40% off your Meal Plan Starter Box here!

Check out my new favorite red light device here, and use the code FITNESSISTA for a huge discount. 

I’ve been using Nutrisense on and off for a couple of years now. I love being able to see how my blood sugar responds to my diet and habits, and run experiments. You can try out Nutrisense here and use GINA30 for 30% off.

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You can absolutely join if you don’t currently work in the health or fitness industry; many IHPs don’t begin on this path. They’re friends who are passionate to learn more about health and wellness, and want to share this information with those they love. You can do this as a passion, or start an entirely new career.

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please be sure to subscribe, and leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. http://fitnessista.com/podcastreview

The post 203: Insights of a Neurosurgeon | Peptides, Minimally Invasive Surgery & the Holistic Approach to Healing with Dr. Amir Vokshoor appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Hi friends! How are you? I hope that you’re having an amazing week so far! Mine is PACKED with client calls and podcast interviews, but I’m looking forward to a long, relaxing Easter weekend with the fam.

For today’s post, I wanted to talk a bit about health and wellness certifications, especially now that I’m working my way through two new ones: High Performance Health and Integrative Health Practitioner Level 3.

I LOVE to learn, and over the past 17 years in the wellness industry, I’ve completed quite a few health and fitness certifications. I won’t recap them all again here (they’re all on the About page!), but I definitely have some favorites.

I figured I’d share my top certification options if you’re considering expanding your knowledge in the health and wellness space, teaching fitness, or pursuing a new career.

Whether you want to coach clients, teach classes, dive into functional health, or simply deepen your own knowledge, there are so many incredible programs out there.

Best Health and Fitness Certifications

One of the biggest questions I get is: Where do I even start?

The answer really depends on your goals.

Do you want to:

Work 1:1 with clients?

Teach fitness classes?

Build an online wellness business?

Or simply learn more for yourself and your family?

I’ve broken this down into a few categories to help you find the best fit.

Health Coach / Functional Practitioner Certifications

If you want to help clients get to the root cause of health imbalances, functional lab testing is the BIGGEST gamechanger.

When you can run labs, analyze them, and recommend appropriate protocols, it’s such an incredible way to serve clients on a deeper level.

(Friendly reminder that we don’t diagnose, prescribe, cure, or treat. We’re looking for deficiencies and toxicities—and how we can support the body back into balance.)

Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) Institute

This is by far my favorite certification.

I’ve completed Level 1 and Level 2, and I’m currently working through High Performance Health and Level 3. I’m not exaggerating when I say that IHP has completely changed my life.

It’s enabled me to help clients in a much deeper capacity, and I’ve also used the testing and protocols on myself and in our family. It was a huge part of my own healing journey.

What I love most about IHP:

It combines Eastern and Western approaches

You learn how to read and interpret functional lab testing

You’re given clear protocols you can actually implement

It’s extremely practical and actionable

If you’re interested in working with clients, running labs, or truly understanding root-cause health, this is the one I recommend again and again.

You can check it out here and use the code FITNESSISTA for a huge discount.

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDNP)

I don’t personally hold this certification, but I have many friends who have completed it and gone on to build thriving online practices.

From what I understand, it’s similar to IHP in that you’re learning how to become a “health detective” and look at patterns within the body using functional labs.

The curriculum and testing options are fairly similar, and the goal is the same: helping clients get to the root cause of what they’re experiencing instead of just managing symptoms. You can check out details here. 

Nutrition Coach Certifications

Please note that this is SO different from a Registered Dietitian.

Only a licensed RD can tell you exactly what to eat or prescribe a specific diet plan. A nutrition coach can provide guidance, education, macro support, and balanced recommendations based on your goals, but cannot prescribe individualized medical nutrition therapy.

Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN)

I do not hold this certification, but it’s one that I seriously considered.

One of the biggest perks is that you can specialize based on your interests, whether that’s plant-based nutrition, Paleo, hormone health, or other dietary approaches.

It’s a great option if you’re looking for a broad, holistic introduction to health coaching and want flexibility in how you apply it.

Precision Nutrition

I completed Precision Nutrition a handful of years ago and thought the curriculum was very straightforward and practical.

What I liked most:

Learning how to calculate macros based on individual goals

Understanding nutrient timing and fueling strategies

Diving deeper into specific goals like endurance training or fat loss

Coaching strategies and behavior change

This is a great option if you want a strong foundation in nutrition coaching, especially if your focus is fitness, body composition, or performance. You can learn more here.

Biohacking Certification

High Performance Health (HPH)

I’m currently working through this certification and LOVING it.

It covers topics like:

optimizing cardio capacity

brain health and cognitive function

advanced nutrition strategies

biohacking tools and stacks

taking an already healthy routine to the next level

This is a great option if you’re already in the wellness space and want to go deeper into optimization and performance. Learn more about HPH here.

Little blast from the past from the Zumba days. Bring it baaaack!

Fitness Certifications

If you want to work in a gym, train clients, or teach classes, a fitness certification is essential.

NASM Personal Trainer

I’ve been a NASM-certified personal trainer for many years, and I really appreciated how in-depth and science-based the curriculum is.

It covers:

anatomy and physiology

program design

injury prevention

client assessment

I also have to maintain continuing education credits and CPR certification to stay current, which I think is so important.

This certification truly took my personal training to the next level.

AFAA Group Fitness

This is the group fitness certification I got years and years ago, and it’s the one I’d recommend if you’re considering teaching group fitness.

It focuses on:

class structure

cueing and coaching

safety and modifications

creating an engaging experience

If you love the energy of group classes, this is a great place to start.

Fitness Specialties

If you want to niche down or expand your offerings, specialty certifications can be a great addition.

Some of the ones I’ve completed:

NASM Corrective Exercise

NASM Women’s Fitness Specialist

NASM Weight Loss Specialist

BODYPUMP

These allow you to:

work with specific populations

address injuries or imbalances

create more customized programs

Yoga (RYT)

If you’re interested in teaching yoga, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification is the standard.

Beyond teaching, it’s also an incredible personal development experience that deepens your understanding of movement, breath, and mindfulness. Your local yoga studio will likely offer 200 hour certification programs. Get certified at the studio you love!

Barre

Barre is a little different because there aren’t as many widely accepted universal certifications.

If you’re interested in teaching barre, I recommend reaching out to the specific studio where you’d like to teach. Many studios offer in-house training programs.

The best thing you can do is take as many classes there as possible, since each studio tends to have its own unique method and style.

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this:

Start with something that genuinely excites you.

You don’t have to do everything at once. You don’t need 10 certifications to get started!

One certification can open the door, and you can build from there.

For me, continuing education has been one of the most rewarding parts of this career. It’s allowed me to grow, evolve, and serve others in a much deeper way.

If you’re thinking about diving into the wellness space, I’m cheering you on and if you have any questions about these certifications, I’m always happy to help!

xo

The post Best Health and Fitness Certifications (My Favorites After 17+ Years in the Industry) appeared first on The Fitnessista.

The rest of the weekend plans include an epic brunch, watching the Wildcats tonight, and prepping for the week ahead. I hope you have a fun and relaxing weekend, too!

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves roundup. I always love hearing about your faves from the week and around the web, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

3.28 Friday Faves

Fashion, beauty, random:

These goggles. I’ve shared them before, but rx goggles allow me to be a fun mom at the pool lol. I can swim and drive, ride water slides, and still see what I’m going. I look absolutely ridiculous but I remind myself that the kids will probably only remember that I actually played with them in the water instead of the fact that I look like an insect.

This Target skirt. It’s super light and comfy; perfect for game day and pickleball.

Another shout out to my favorite “mom swimsuit.” The fabric is super light, it fits perfectly, and they have so many great colors. (I also covers your booty while you’re building sand castles or chasing the kiddos around.) I also wear and love this two piece.

Read, watch, listen:

Don’t miss this week’s podcast episode here. I loved this conversation and it’s so important to be aware of where your food is coming from.

Reading this and while I know it’s going to slowly break my heart, I’m 100% locked in.

Well, this is exciting.

What are your kids’ love languages?

Check this out if you’re looking for Easter basket ideas for teens and tweens this week.

Fitness, health, and good eats:

If you haven’t tried these Good Pop ice cream sandwiches, they are amaaaazing. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and the perfect little sweet bite!

High volume low calorie recipes. So many of these are light and fresh; perfect for hotter weather.

Definitely try this True Food kale salad copycat recipe.

Cured sent me some of their Dream gummies to try and I took half of one last night and slept like a baby. Sleep had been hit or miss for me over the past few months – just a lot of stress about quite a few different things paired with a new puppy was a distaster – but their Serenity gummies have been a gamechanger for me. I take half a Serenity gummy if I feel wired before bed and feel instant calm, and don’t feel gross or groggy in the am. If you want to try any of these gummies, you can use GINAH for a discount here! (The Dream gummies won’t be officially released until Monday but you get early access, too!)

EquiLife birthday sale continues through tomorrow! If you’ve been wanting to try anything new or stock up on your faves, this is the chance.

Here are some of my top picks:

Daily Nutritional Support– they have a new Strawberry flavor too that is DELICIOUS. I have DNS in protein pudding every single day and I feel a difference in my energy when I skip it.

Full Spectrum Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the most common deficiencies I see, and it impacts so many systems in the body. I take this every night and also give it to the kiddos. I’ve tried many different magnesium brands and types and this by far my fave.

Melatonin can be a nice little boost if you’re having trouble sleeping or if you’re traveling. I take this whenever we travel and it’s how I can go to Spain with zero jet lag. I loooove it.

Adrenal Energy

I don’t drink regular caffeine, but my cortisol was low in the morning. I used this to rebalance my levels and still take it. It gives me energy without feeling jittery. It’s designed to support the body’s natural energy systems and adrenal function without creating a spike and crash effect.

Adrenal Soothe

On the opposite end of the spectrum, this is what I reach for during high-stress periods. It’s designed to calm the nervous system and support balanced cortisol levels, which can be especially helpful when you feel wired, anxious, or overstimulated. I use this to help me wind down before bed.

I also use and love the Universal Binder and the Omega 3 support (the liquid is so nice because you don’t have to swallow an extra capsule). We also have a group detox coming up in May if you’d like to get your kit now!

Lab testing!! If you’re curious about functional lab testing, if you order ANY lab before Monday, I will go over your results with you with zero coaching fee. You just pay for the lab, and I’ll go over the results with you and help you create an action plan based on your results. I recommend the Big 5 labs for the most comprehensive overview, but also use and run the Vita-Min Tox test, Stress Mood and Metabolism, and IgG food sensitvity tests every day in my wellness practice. Browse labs here and you decide to order, please email me to I can add you to my client portal (gina@fitnessista.com subject LABS)

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! Have an amazing weekend and I’ll see ya soon!

xoxo

Gina

The post 3.28 Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista.

I have a brand new podcast episode live, and today I’m talking about something that is so close to my heart: Where our food actually comes from.

I’m joined by the incredible Jenni Harris, fifth-generation farmer and Director of Marketing at White Oak Pastures, a leading regenerative farm in Bluffton, Georgia. If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store aisle wondering what “regenerative” or “pasture-raised” actually means (and whether it’s worth it), this episode is going to answer ALL of that for you.

Here’s what we chat about:

• What regenerative agriculture actually means and why it goes beyond “sustainable”
• The three shifts (industrialized, commoditized, centralized) that changed farming for the worse and how White Oak Pastures is swinging the pendulum back
• Why animal welfare is about more than just being “cage-free” and what it really looks like to let animals express their instinctive behaviors
• How soil health connects directly to the nutrient density of your food
• Why White Oak Pastures gave up pesticides and chemical fertilizers and the wild story of how they started using them in the first place
• How grazing multiple species of livestock actually works as a natural alternative to chemicals
• The case for regional food systems and why your local farmer matters more than a big national brand
• How YOU can support regenerative farmers beyond just voting with your dollar

And so much more!!

This episode is a friendly reminder that eating well isn’t just about macros and calories, it’s also about knowing and trusting where your food comes from.

202: Regenerative Farming 101 | What’s Really in Your Meat, Animal Welfare & Why It Matters with Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures

Find White Oak Pastures here:

• Website Link: https://whiteoakpastures.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteoakpastures/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiteoakpastures/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/whiteoakpastures

• Blog: https://blog.whiteoakpastures.com/blog

Check out Lumebox here with a discount code just from me: https://thelumebox.com/pages/lb68/?_ef_transaction_id=&oid=3&affid=4001&discount=fitnessista

Make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter
For my free Autoimmune Healing ebook, click here.
Detailed show notes here: https://fitnessista.com/podcast

Partners:

Try out luxury handbags and jewelry from Vivrelle and use my code GINAHARNEY for your first month free!

Check out We Feed Raw! Maisey goes crazy for this! I use it as a topper for her kibble or mix it into her pup loaf. You can try the raw version, the raw dehydrated kibble, and they’ll help you customize a plan for your pup. Use FITNESSISTA40 for 40% off your Meal Plan Starter Box here!

Check out my new favorite red light device here, and use the code FITNESSISTA for a huge discount. 

I’ve been using Nutrisense on and off for a couple of years now. I love being able to see how my blood sugar responds to my diet and habits, and run experiments. You can try out Nutrisense here and use GINA30 for 30% off.

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You can absolutely join if you don’t currently work in the health or fitness industry; many IHPs don’t begin on this path. They’re friends who are passionate to learn more about health and wellness, and want to share this information with those they love. You can do this as a passion, or start an entirely new career.

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please be sure to subscribe, and leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. http://fitnessista.com/podcastreview

The post 202: Regenerative Farming 101 | What’s Really in Your Meat, Animal Welfare & Why It Matters with Jenni Harris of White Oak Pastures appeared first on The Fitnessista.