Fitcation 2012

Two years, eighteen meal plans, hundreds of pounds lost, and I finally got to meet these girls in person.

I can’t begin to explain how amazing it was to hug and talk with the women I’ve been working with for so long.  The Mamavation women inspire me every day with their commitment to improving their health and the health of their families.  I am so happy to finally know them in person!

And of course, I was dying to meet the two who make Mamavation and Fitcation possible, Leah and Mark Segedie.  These two worked their tails off to make sure Fitcation was a success, and they are such a sweet couple to be around.

So what did we do at Fitcation?

We spent the first afternoon and evening getting to know each other and catching up over some local Greek food.

Every morning started with exercise.  Friday morning was boot camp (I’m still sore), Saturday was Hoopnotica, and Sunday was yoga.  After a shower and breakfast, we got into the activities for the day.

Most of Friday was spent at Dole Headquarters.  That’s right, the pineapple and banana people.

We spent a few hours in their test kitchen learning about (and tasting) some of their new products.  There were a few that I was especially excited about, including an exciting new way to get your Vitamin D from a whole food.  More on that in another post…

Friday afternoon, we toured the California Health & Longevity Institute that is part of the Four Seasons Westlake Village.  Their facility is gorgeous.

My favorite part was the beautiful kitchen where they teach cooking classes.  I knew I’d seen it on TV before, and they confirmed that it is used for cooking demonstrations in some reality weight loss shows.

Out the back door of the kitchen is the garden.  We saw beets, tomatoes, butternut squash, swiss chard, herbs, and more.  They also have a greenhouse on the grounds.  I have to get back there for a cooking class someday!

After our tour, we headed over to Leah’s house for dinner.  Leah’s mom had been cooking all day by the time we got there and had a table full of food made from my recipes.  She also had everything set up for me to do a stir fry demonstration.  She was amazing!

I taught the girls how to do a basic stir fry with just a few ingredients.

Then it was time to eat!  We had frittatas, quinoa salad, stir fry, caprese salad, fruit and salad.  It was so fun to see everyone eating food from recipes I’ve posted.  It all seemed to be a hit!

Saturday morning, after our invigorating (and hilarious) Hoopnotica class, we hopped on a bus and took a tour of LA.  We hit Venice Beach first.

Venice Beach is home to some interesting characters.

We hit the Hollywood sights too, peeking at celebrity homes, Hollywood Boulevard and Beverly Hills.

After the tour, we settled into a private room at Marrakesh Restaurant for some Moroccan food and belly dancing.

Sunday morning, we woke up for yoga, ate breakfast and said our goodbyes.  I’m going to miss these girls and their sweet babies.

I made it home with an extra bag just for the swag.  Good thing I was flying Southwest!  Can you believe all of this stuff?

I want to give a huge thanks to the sponsors who made Fitcation incredible.  Thank you Dole for the top-notch hospitality at the Four Seasons.  Thank you Leading Lady for the delicious Moroccan feast.  Thank you Sip The Good Life for the tasty (and sustainable) wine.  And thank you New Balance for my sweet new purple shoes.

I can’t wait for Fitcation 2013!