Hello! Happy Monday! Are you ready to rock the heck out of this week?!
Since I ran a lil bit yesterday I am taking today as a mandatory rest day. So, I took a walk to get loosened up…

Then, I did the most love/hate thing to myself = foam roll.

Even though I LOVE being LOUD I don’t really scream while foam rolling. I just cuss at myself under my breath. My quads are soooooo tight, but I’m not sore.

Breakfast! Plus yogurt and an apple because I’m always super hungry after long run day.

Fitnessista ‘s new book HIIT It!
My friend and one of my favorite fitness bloggers Gina wrote a book called HIIT It! It’s all about weight loss, workouts and healthy eating. Perfect timing for those ‘lose 10 pounds’ New Year’s Resolutions, right?!

In the book she shares a ton of workouts that are a good mix of toning and calorie burning.
Bonus: Great pictures of certain moves to make sure you’re doing them right and new moves you haven’t tried before.

Gina also shares a ton of her favorite recipes. Her breakfast cookie recipe is basically legendary in the healthy lifestyle blog world…

Fitnessista Book Giveaway!
Leave a comment on this post with your preference:
Cardio or Strength training and you’ll be entered to win a copy of HIIT It!
Open to all residents of Earth. Closes 1/7/15 8pm PST.
Disclaimer: Review copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Cardio! Both are fulfilling though = )
Strength training!
Strength training!!!
Definitely strength training, I find it’s much more fun for me and I never get bored!
Both!
Cardio- but I love a good mix of the two!
cardio, but i’m really trying to incorporate more strength!
I prefer cardio, but only because I feel less confident in my strength training knowledge. I need this book!
Strength training!
Cardio!
I have to say strength! I do enjoy cardio, but nothing gives me the same high that I get after a great strength workout!
Cardio
I love cardio but need to incorporate strength training this year so that I’m not such a wet blanket. What you love and what you need are often two different things!
i’d have to go with strength!
Cardio, but I do try to strenghth train regularly, too.
Strength training…makes me feel strong!
Strength for sure!
I’m a runner who is finally including strength! I suppose the cranky IT band is letting me do more strength than running these days though.
Running is my first love, but strength training makes me a better runner, so I’m learning to love it too.
Love strength training!
Depends what the cardio is for me! If it’s running… then I’ll choose strength 🙂
Ugh, such a tough decision. I love a good sweat sesh from cardio, but strength training is where it’s at!
Cardio but I need to do more strength!!
Strength training for sure!!!
I’m all about the cardio these days!
I used to say cardio all the way but now I am beginning to like strength training.
Cardio!!!
Definitely cardio! But I do (grudgingly) throw some strength training in there to make sure I can stay injury-free!
Cardio!!
Even though I do more cardio (runner love) strength training!
It depends on my mood, but right now I’m more about the strength training!!
Cardio! There is nothing like that feeling you get after a long run.
Im a cardio nut! I often forget to strength train!
CARDIO!
Cardio!!
Cardio but I am trying oh-so-hard to add strength training to my love list.
Cardio for sure!
Cardio for sure!!
For sure cardio!
I have been alternating cardio with strength training. Strength training is my favorite.
Cardio all the way but I am really REALLY trying to do more cross training in the new year!
Strength training! Until the next day when the soreness sets in, then I curse it.
Strength training
Strength training is the one for me! I would love this to help me tone and shape up.
cardio!
Cardio!
Love strength training!
Cardio….. PiYo too!
I can’t pick one! That’s why I love workouts like BodyPump and CrossFit–best of both worlds!
I always alternate between both, but lately I am really loving my strength training days!
Cardio, baby!
Strength! YAY! 🙂
It depends on the day, and I really love both, but a good run is one of the best stress relievers out there for me so I will go with cardio!
thank you for helping me spread the word, hermosa 🙂 love you and hope we get to hang out soon! xoxo
Cardio for sure!! Running is my vice. And coffee. And chocolate… 🙂
Cardio is easier to zone out with.. strength takes way more effort!
Cardio through and through – I feel like I don’t get a good workout unless I sweat (backwards, I know!)
Cardio, cardio and more cardio!
Cardio! But really trying to do more and more strength training.
I definitely prefer strength training!
I love my cardio, but I’m really beginning to appreciate strength training!
Strength is super !!
Cardio comes so much easier to me, which means I should probably say strength, ‘cuz that’s what I need.
Cardio!
But I do love strength training!
Cardio all the way!
I really like strength training!
I think I’d have to choose strength training, even though I love to run
Cardio! 🙂
Strength training! With a little cardio mixed in.
Love a good legs day! Buuuuttt I like cardio too when I want to sweat it out! Have an awesome day Monican!! Keep up the great posts!
I really do like a mix of both, but if I had to choose one it would be strength training.
I was a cardio junkie forever, but last year I got really into strength training and I think my body has changed because of it!
strength training!
Cardio! But I really need to do strength training, so I’m working on both now.
Cardio forever and ever
Strength!
Strength training all the way! I want to love cardio, but I don’t…yet.
Strength!
Cardio any day!
Ugh, making us choose isn’t fair because they’re both great! I prefer workouts that incorporate both… but if I HAD to choose I would say cardio.
Cardio! It’s a great stress reliever
I prefer cardio! But I have learned that quicker results come with a good mix of both.
strength!
Cardio is my go to for sure.
Cardio! But I know I need to incorporate more strength training in my routines…
I should say strength but I love cardio!!
Both, forever and always <3
Cardio!
Strength training, I am trying to become more of a fan of cardio.
Both but I do cardio more often
Oh tough choice, hmm, but lately I’ll say it’s been strength training all the way.
cardio!
Cardio!
Hmm, I go through phases with which I prefer. I do feel really badass when I’m the only woman in the weight room but overall cardio probably brings me more joy so I’ll vote cardio this time.
this is such an awesome question! I am a huge cardio girl and always have been but after joining the blogging world and following so many amazing fitness bloggers I’ve started to put a lot of strength training and HIIT workouts into my weeks and I LOVE them! Goal for 2015: get a good mix of cardio and strength training workouts in each week! 🙂
Oy! Cardio, but maybe 2015 will bring some strength. 🙂
Cardio, but one of my goals for this year is to incorporate more strength training.
Nothing gives me that endorphine rush quite like cardio!
Cardio!!! But I love feeling string after strength training too!
Both! I’m starting to love strength training!
Strength training. I love my kettlebell!
Strength training!
Cardio, hands down!
I love love love cardio.
Cardio, but I need to quit being lazy and pick up the weights!
I love cardio but I’m trying to get into strength training.
Cardio all the way!
Strength training – I always feel stronger afterwards, vs. just tired from cardio.
Both! But on different days. And how come there’s no yoga option????!!! 😛
Cardio!
Cardio queen over here, so much easier to zone out and sweat this way.
Running is my gig, but I have incorporated strength training this past year.
Cardio is definitely my favorite, but I try to do a mix of both!
I love a good strength training sesh! Especially BodyPump!
Strength!
Strength training all the way. I find it so hard to motivate myself to do cardio.
I’m a slave to cardio, but I only see results when I do strength training. I think it’s a tie.
I think it’s a tie for me, so long as I don’t have to do the strength training at the gym.
Strength training 100%! Cardio is much harder for me to get into
Strength training baby! I love seeing my muscles grow!
I like both but if I had to choose one, it’d be strength training!
i like both! but i usually do more cardio.
Cardio
Cardio! These days I’m not doing a ton due to lack of running buddy.
Cardio for sure!
cardio all the way
Cardio!
Cardio but I do force myself to do strength pretty regularly…and yoga too which I count as strength =)
Strength training is my favorite!
Cardio! But I know I need to do more strength training.
Cardio, cardio, cardio
You seriously know the coolest people…one day..I will be a cool kid too 😉
I am all about the strength… unless I’m running. So I guess both, but since its so cold right now, there hasn’t been much running.
I like to pick things up and put them down….. strength all the way!
Cardio training is my favorite but I do enjoy a good strength training session.
I love cardio .. but I know I need to get my butt in gear with more strength training.
cardio
Runrunrunrun. So… cardio? 🙂
When I was younger I was 90% cardio. Now that I am older (45) I feel as if strength training is best for my body!!
I love a good sweat, so cardio is my favorite. But I enjoy feeling sore after strength training too.
I love a good sweat, so cardio is my favorite.
Sorry I didn’t mean to post twice.
Cardio! But I am slowly learning to love strength training, cardio will always be my first love.
i need to do more!!
Strength training — all the way. Cardio only burns fat while you’re doing it, but when you do strength training, you build muscle, which burns fat all day long! I could probably get away with never doing cardio, keeping my diet the same, and be able to maintain weight. But I do enjoy the sweat/lung expansion/healthy aspects of cardio. So, I’ll keep it too 🙂
Both! Who can pick?
Cardio even in the winter!
I prefer cardio in the form hiit, running, or a fun group class!
I <3 cardio! 🙂
Strength training
It’s been cardio for the past 3 years but I’m ready to start heading back to the gym for strength training.
Cardio!
If I had to pick one it would be strength- but boot camp/interval training is my favorite!!
Cardio, baby!
I would have to say I like to run more than strength train…although I look better when I strength train!
cardio, but i love strength training too!
Strength for sure!
Cardio and strength training! You need both 🙂
I love both but lately i have been more into cardio
Cardio junkie!
Cardio but I’m trying to love strength training more!
Cardio always makes me feel like I got a good workout in.
Cardio for days! I try to like strength training, but it hasn’t stuck yet.
Definitely cardio (although I have no upper arm strength, and should probably do more strength training…)
I’m much more into strength training than cardio! I’m not an overweight girl, but even so I can never seem to lose weight, even when I try really hard. But muscle tone is huge for me; I want to be fit and I want my muscles and bones to stay healthy for a long time yet!!
xx
Strength training for me. Thanks for sharing!
Cardio! I always feel so much more accomplished after a good sweat sesh!
Cardio Queen over here!!!!!!
definitely cardio! 🙂
Cardio is definitely my favorite!
Cardio!
Strength training x100… I have wimpy arms that need some help!
Cardio, even though strength keeps me healthy.
Definitely cardio, but I’m resolving to do more strength in the new year!
hands down strength!
Cardio in the AM and Strength in the PM 🙂
I would love to say that strength is my favorite go-to; but, alas, in all honesty I love me the cardio!! But that’s because I love running. But I absolutely 100% know that I need the strength training even more than the cardio, so I’m trying to find a balance…
I love cardio! Strength training is that thing I love to hate
Cardio wins for me, but my ultimate fave is BootCamp style workouts that incorporate both strength & cardio!
Cardio all the way!
I love switching it up between the two, but if I had to pick I would go with strength training!
I’m planning to make 2015 the year of strength training!
Cardio but I’m trying to incorporate more strength!
Cardio, of course! But, my resolution is to get more strength training in.
Strength training for the win! But I also love cardio. Can I pick both?!
Cardioooooooooo!
Cardio was my first love but strength training is my true love.
Cardio! Running, in particular.
Strength training all the way
Both cardio and strength but I definitely find myself doing more cardio.
I like both boot camps are my favorite.
Strength!
Cardio 🙂 but I force myself into doing both !
cardio….I’d run a marathon over lifting heavy objects any day!
I am currently focusing more on strength training, but I still love running. I also love the feeling after cardio, but I know that my body responds better to strength training because I have a naturally athletic build. Ideally it is both, but when the weather gets cold, I pick up the weights.
Cardio!! Always!! (plus the weight room & strength can be intimidating!)
Cardio wins every time!
Cardio…except when i do strength train i remember how much i love it!!
The last few weeks I’ve been doing more cardio just because of my race coming up, but I love to strength train. Strength training is what gets me to loose more body fat. I don’t care about the scale really. I care about loosing that dreaded fat!
I prefer cardio right now, but I think I’d prefer strength training if I gave it a try! I’m just too scared of the weights room :/
I’m a cardio girl all the way!
Cardio all the way! Although how strong I feel after strength training too.
Strength training!
I definitely love cardio! I’m a runner at heart but you can’t beat the feeling of an intense HIIT workout!
Strength training for sure!
Too hard to choose I like cardio and strength. That is why I am a huge fan of HIIT workouts because both are incorporated!
Cardio! I wish I loved strength training more, it’s one of my goals for 2015!
I love a good HIIT workout with a combo of both.
Strength Training, however I am a sucker for a good run
I am all about that cardio. My running club started a strength training challenge this month because they know none of us do any so I started that yesterday – apparently the workouts are going to get harder and I’m already sore from yesterday.
Cardio but I’m trying to get more into strength training as well
I love both! But there definitely times when I prefer one over the other. Right now I have been pretty good about doing both. Balance is a good thing, right?
Cardio! I love to run!
Cardio! But I’ve really been loving my bodypump classes lately!
I’m totally cardio, but I love HIIT workouts to mix in some strength!
Cardio!
oooh hard to choose – I think cardio just wins, but I do like the muscle ache after a good strength session.
Love cardio but also love how I feel when strength training.
Both, but leaning towards strength training.
Thanks!
I prefer cardio, I am a total runner but am trying to lift more
Cardio all the way.
Definitely Strength Training. I love the burn and the sweat …. 🙂
Hard choice but I think cardio — some days I just really want to sweat and move and nothing feels as good as long run, some HIIT or zumba class
I actually like strength training more than cardio because I find that I am either bored out of my mind with cardio or working so hard I can’t breathe.
I actually like strength training best! It makes me feel strong and toned!
I much much much prefer cardio, but man, I really need help with strength training. I have a really fat cat and picking her up pretty much sums up my strength training.
Definitely cardio for me.. can beat a good run in the morning!
I live in Ohio so right now I would pick weights over cardio outside. I have a love hate relationship with my treadmill.
Strength!! Though I love running and spinning
Strength. I like how powerful I feel when I’m done.
I prefer cardio 100% of the time, so much so that I almost get intimidated when I try to throw some strength training back in the routine.
Cardio! but I know how important strength training is, so I like my cardio bursts during strength!
Cardio! I love strength training, but cardio is my first love!
Total strength training junkie over here!
I prefer strength & now I need that book to make that cookie!
Strength training!
I used to prefer strength training, but now I prefer cardio. Nothing like hitting the open road and clearing your mind.
I prefer cardio. It is much more accessible to me, both mentally and physically.
Cardio!
Cardio junkie. right here.
I used to run track, so definitely cardio!
Cardio! I need to strength train more…
Strength training!
Cardio! Have a hard time getting going with strength training unless someone gives me a plan or leads it!
Cardio, hands down!
Definitely cardio!
I used to mostly do cardio but recently switched to strength.
I’d definitely pick strength training over cardio.
Cardio! But it should be strength training;)
I like to blend the two with kettlebell interval/amrap workouts, but would probably choose cardio if I had to. This book looks fantastic
Cardio! Wish I loved strength x
Both….run in the morning to wake up and strength training in the afternoon to get rid of the stress from work!
Strength alllll the way.
I’ve been ordered off running by my doc, so….yoga? Does that count? One day my heels WILL touch the floor in down dog.
I would have to say cardio for its portability! You can do cardio anywhere!
Definitely strength training – I love it!
definitely a tie for me 🙂 I adore them both!
Cardio has always been my love, but after forcing some strength training in I love it too!
I like both so I can work my whole body but if I have to choose, cardio all the way!
Cardio! I can only get into strength training when I’m signed up for classes or else I have zero motivation
A mix of both.
Cardio. I love it and could do it forever!
Cardio! Thanks for the giveaway!
Cardio!
In the past it’s always been cardio or nothing, but I’m really focusing on more of a balance this year!
Cardio! I do my strength training really slowly, with lots of breaks between sets, just like you’re not supposed to. Because, hey, cardio is my cardio!
Cardio is just so much easier to do. There is hardly any planning to do it! I would love to get into more strength training but that takes some prep work before going to the gym. I like just being able to turn my brain off while running.
Cardio is great for trimming down fast, but I love strength training, it is way more fun
I love to run and do that more than i strength train but I can’t just do one or the other, I like a balance of both.
Strength training definitely! Cardio is much tougher for me mentally, not sure why?
Cardio cardio cardiooooooo!
It’s tough to choose. I tend to do more cardio but I’m happier with my body when I do more strength!
Strength training x 1,000,000 🙂
I vote for both… I love cardio but I also love getting some strength training in!!
I prefer cardio though I love doing arm work. Leg work… Not so much (probably why they are scrawny)
Cardio — all day every day. Still trying to figure out a way to love strength training…
Strength all day.
Strength training!
Cardio! But strength has started to grow on me lately. Excited to see that book 😉
Cardio! Specifically running. That is all!
Cardio for sure – although I do try and get one strength day in a week.
Strength!!
I do cardio and strength train. However, nothing beats a sweat drenched cardio session. I just started doing HIIT workouts at home and I love them!
Cardio!!!!
Cardio–it gets my mind off of things!
Strength training! No doubt about it!
Strength! A little cardio too
Cardio! But I love the way strength training makes me feel!
Cardio! I do strength 3 times a week though! This book looks like it has some great tips!
It depends on the day but I would say that cardio probably wins out more often than strength training.
I kicked my “cardio only” habit a few years ago and have really leaned out and gained muscle! HIIT all the way.
Strength training! I love a good run but strength training is just much more fun!
Cardio everyday! 🙂
Cardio for me!
Strength all the way!
Cardio but I am getting more into strength training!
Strength training all the way!
Cardio! But my New Year’s resolution is to get more strength training in!
Strength training POR VIDA!!!!
Cardio! But I do love strength training, as well!
Strength training! However my skills aren’t very advanced.
Cardio!!
Cardio all the way! I’ve tried to incorporate strength training over the years, but my default is always cardio.
Cardio! I have a hard time motivating myself to do strength training.
I like a mix of both but I think I feel better after a good run! Although I like the burn of strength training.
Cardio! But I need to do more strength.
Much prefer cardio as it can be done anywhere, easily!
Cardio!
Both! Combining the two gets us the best rewards.
I love when a workout combines both! I haven’t run in months due to a knee injury so I’ve had to learn to love some upper body strength training!
Cardio all the way! And then some body weight strength training on the side 🙂
Have to admit it, I’m a cardio girl! I mix it up, but love the satisfaction of being drenched in cardio sweat. Makes me feel like what I’m doing is worth it. Strength is good, but I don’t get the immediate feedback as much as a cardio session makes me feel, even if it is mental! ha!
A little bit of Both For me!!!
car-de-oh!!!!!!! all the way =)
I enjoy doing strength more than cardio! I get way more of a rush from strength training than cardio. Hope that doesn’t make me a weirdo. I love combining both with HIIT!
Is it a crime against humanity if I love both? High treason perhaps? I have short attention and keeping a variety in my workout keeps me coming back. Love your blog by the way!
I actually like them both but lean a little toward strength training…which reminds me, I need to get back to that! :o)
Cardio! But I love a good body pump class.
Cardio for sure!
I make myself do strength, but I enjoy cardio.
Both!! Especially running and working out where my abs are supposed to be 😉
strength training, no question!
i love kettlebells so I guess I live the combo?
Cardio
Strength, baby!
Both!!!
Cardio all day!! I like strength training but I’d rather run!
I’m more of a cardio girl, but I do try with the weights!
Cardio but I do feel pretty good after a strength-training session.
definitley cardio!
Oh yeah…cardio is king!
It’s a hard choice, but probably cardio. I do love me some weight training though
I like how I feel after a great cardio session, but I also love lifting weights!
Cardio (i.e. running)- I do strength train, but I don’t love it.
Strength training is where it’s at.
Cardio
I love both! But running always wins, so I will go with cardio.
I used to a cardio addict but more and more, I love weight training.
I’m a cardio lovahhhhh. But I try to do strength training 1 – 2x a week.
I used to love cardio, but now I am all about strength training with some cardio mixed in!
I used to be a cardio queen, but now I think I like strength training more!
Cardio – I wish I did more strength!
Cardio! I need to start strength training
Cardio! Congrats to Gina!
I try to be a cardio gal like you but I am strength training ALL the way!
Also- I admire the amount of sriracha you use on the reg.
Cardio for sure! But I wish I loved them both equally 🙂
Cardio! I wish I liked strength training more than I do though!
Oh cardio all the way! Hands down.