Chocolate Chip Protein Cake Fuels Holly Perkins’ Fit Lifestyle

Wellness star Holly Perkins is a highly credentialed fitness expert, but she also just really, really loves to exercise. “If it were up to me, I’d work out twice every day, because I love it and it makes me me,” she says. “But because I focus on strength training, I have to allow for a bit more recovery some days.” Instead, the author of Lift to Get Lean and leader of Women’s Strength Nation sticks to six to eight sweat sessions per week (!), with at least one full rest day. How does she fuel that active of a lifestyle? Find out about her signature chocolate chip protein cakes, plus her many other healthy habits, below. How Holly Perkins Lives a Nutritious Life If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? I’ve been following my own eating methodology based on genetic testing that respects a macronutrient approach with some blood-typing elements. Sounds really sexy, huh? What’s your go-to breakfast? I created a chocolate chip protein cake that I’m obsessed with! I feel so stable all day when I start my day with it. Its base is egg whites, rolled oats, and banana. Most importantly, it includes chocolate chips. Your go-to workday lunch? Grilled turkey breast or Vital Choice wild salmon, sweet potato, and a green blended drink with kale, spinach, grapefruit, and fresh turmeric root. Your go-to workday dinner? I eat so well all day long that often I’m not hungry at dinner. Sometimes I just do a protein shake, and sometimes it’s another piece of my breakfast cake, lol. A snack you always have with you when traveling? Protein in any form—often organic turkey jerky. What do you eat before and after a workout? Oh gosh, now I’m really going to sound boring; I eat my protein breakfast cake before every workout! It’s just amazing because it fuels me perfectly, tastes amazing, and is so easy to digest. I don’t ever have to worry about an upset stomach or bloating during my workout. I also feel so fueled and strong. Your favorite food indulgence? Donuts!!!!!! Other than water, what do you sip regularly? Super strong Japanese sencha. Which workout would you NEVER do? I don’t think one exists! I love every single form of workout and activity. How do you stay active outside the gym? I LOVE to hike the mountains in the Los Angeles area and go for walks almost every day. I have to spend time outside every day for mental health and general well being. What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Yoga and sleep! Do you have a favorite health gadget? I have so many! I’m almost permanently attached to my heart rate monitor for workouts. Once you get your intensity levels right, you can change your body is so many ways. I also really love My Fitness Pal for diet tracking. I strategize my macronutrients based on my day, goals, and workouts. Things really changed for me once I understood how much protein and carbohydrates to eat each day. I also really love any device that accurately tracks sleep. I loved my Jawbone Up for sleep tracking so much that I wore it out! Now I need to get a new one. How do you express and spread love? I’m an “acts of kindness” kind of person. I love to show my love by giving, showing up, and supporting people. I am very conscious about sending the energy of love, acceptance, and community at every moment possible. I always tip well and demonstrate my appreciation during all little interactions throughout the day, like a visit to Starbucks or the grocery store. Lightning Round Meditation or massage? Foot massage please! A hot shower or a soothing bath? Bath with good sniffy oils! Almond butter or peanut butter? In dreams I choose peanut butter with sugar, but in reality I choose natural almond butter. Sigh. Coffee or tea? Both please, super hot. A long run outside or a dark spin class? Long run outside on the beach. “How Do You Live a Nutritious Life?” is a recurring column. Featured guests complete a questionnaire and select answers are then chosen and edited to share, here. Are you a wellness pro interested in sharing how you live a Nutritious Life? Email lisa@nutritiouslife.com to be considered.

Travel Workouts: The Easiest Ways to Maintain Your Routine

Whether you’re getting ready for a road trip to visit family during the holidays, just snagged a new job that involves tons of business travel, or are planning your next vacation, fitting in travel workouts can be tough. But figuring out how to stay active while jet-setting is not as hard as it seems. (It’s way easier than doing burpees for a minute straight, for example.) Here are a few easy ways to sweat as often as possible while you’re on the go (just don’t forget to throw a few healthy snacks in your bag, either). 3 Travel Workouts You Can Do Almost Anywhere 1. Pack your running sneakers. Traveling involves a lot of stress, so don’t add to it by overcomplicating your workouts. Running is the simplest of exercises—all you need are your favorite kicks and any open road. Even if you’re more of a SoulCycle person, make an exception and hit the pavement. There are also a few great portable tools for resistance training on the road, like lightweight resistance bands you can toss in any bag or the TRX, which you can attach to a hotel room door or tree in a park to get in a full strength-training sequence. 2. Find a fast, free online workout. You’re going to be pressed for time, but good news: most recent research points to fast, intense workouts delivering the same benefits as longer sessions. YouTube is stocked with free workout videos that range in length from five to thirty minutes and don’t require any equipment at all. Or try this five-minute workout that happens to be one of our favorites. 3. Sign up for a digital membership (or try a new studio).  If you’re a boutique fitness junkie, many of the top brands now offer digital version of their workouts, so you can keep up your routine even when far from a studio. A few great options include Natalie Jill’s inspiring body-weight strength-training programs, Barre3 and Physique 57 for barre, AKT on Demand for dance and HIIT training, and My YogaWorks for yoga. Bonus idea: do a quick search for gyms and fitness studios in the city you’re headed to before you leave and book a few new classes to try before you even leave. Then you’ll be locked into sweat sessions before your trip even kicks off.