Peloton Bike | Review | Referral Code

You may have seen my post about my using the Peloton App and my Bladez Master GS bike {click here for the full post}.  I loved the set-up - it was super convenient and definitely a less expensive version if you already have a bike at home or can't afford the full Peloton bike.  {This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

Fast forward to October of this year and the movers broke the bike computer off my Bladez Master GS.  After having some trouble trying to glue it on, and trying to find a good fix, I started wondering if the Peloton bike was worth consideration.  Letting myself brew over it, I finally decided to take the plunge the week before Thanksgiving.

After ordering my bike on November 9th (two Fridays before Thanksgiving), I received it the following Wednesday.  I was lucky enough to have the actual Peloton team/van come out for my delivery.  Three great team members brought my bike into my basement, went over the entire setup (including measuring my seat for me), AND attached the Look Delta cleats onto the Shimano cycling shoes I already had (similary style here).  Great service, all around!  They brought the accessories I ordered with them, so I didn't have to wait at all.

Peloton in the corner of my finished basement

Accessories - With the referral program, I had $100 to use towards what I needed so I got the water bottle, cleats (since I had shoes), and a heart rate monitor.  If you are looking to buy a Peloton, I would love for you to use my referral code: 6WMYTY

Originally, I was going to order the bike during Black Friday.  Normally, their Black Friday deal is a free bundle of accessories worth $249 which includes shoes with cleats, mat, one set of weights, earbuds, and heart rate monitor.  They did run it again in 2018, BUT I am glad I didn't wait because so many people ordered that delivery times got very backed up and people waited weeks to get their bikes!

Let's talk about the bike!  After you set up your profile, you have the option of taking a beginner course or jumping right in.  You can take classes live, in real time, as they are happening in the NYC studio, or on demand.  The thing I love is that even if you ride on demand, you can still see your stats on the leaderboard and see where you fall during that ride.  The leaderboard takes into account your output and shows you where you rank in the pack of riders that have taken that particular class.

On Demand Classes

You can filter on demand rides by type or theme, by instructor, length, etc.  There are so many choices and styles, you will never get bored.  Playlists are available for preview, so if music is a big motivator to you, checking those out is a great way to see if a ride is for you.  The music styles literally are anything you could ever dream of, from decades (70s, 80s, 90s), to hip hop (try Alex's rides), to Broadway (Robin, Hannah, Jess), to rock, seriously the possibilities are endless and there's something for every taste.

LIVE Class Schedule for the week

The instructors are AMAZING.  I loved Alex so much I had a hard time branching out and trying others, but every single one is awesome and have their own unique qualities.  Robin, Hannah, Jess, and Cody are great as well!  Everyone resonates with someone for different reasons.

It's also not just a bike.  There are also strength training programs, lifting, walking, running, stretching, boot camps, even yoga and meditation!  The yoga is truly amazing, but I was already a Kristin McGee fan before! 

The Peloton Bike is amazing, and worth every penny.  The bike is so motivating, and I don't need to waste time driving to a gym, getting a locker, fighting for equipment, etc.  Everything is in the comfort of my own home.  Setting a new Personal Record (PR), getting a new badge for a workout, or the Century Ride shirt you will win for your 100th ride, will all keep you wanting to hop on the bike and workout more.

Financing is available starting around $39 a month, which is a great option!

Please feel free to use my referral code if you would like to purchase a Peloton.  You will get $100 off any accessories you choose and I get a kickback for use in their boutique!  Thank you so much!  Referral Code: 6WMYTY

Leave any questions you have about Peloton below and I will answer them!

Copycat Saladworks Garden Deluxe Salad

When we used to live in New Jersey, we used to frequent a salad chain called Saladworks quite often.  Think of Panera, but just focused on salads and soups but where you can pick your ingredients from in front of you a la Subway. 

When we moved to Massachusetts, the chain is no longer near us, but I still found myself craving their big salads and warm side rolls as a lunch or dinner substitute.  One of my favorite salads was their Garden Deluxe Salad, so I decided to recreate it at home.

Saladworks Garden Deluxe Salad
romaine lettuce or spring mix
broccoli florets
shredded carrots
cucumber
sun dried tomato
pasta, whole wheat (I omitted this at home)
dressing - I like Newman's Balsamic

Place a layer of your desired lettuce in a large bowl.  Add broccoli, carrots, cucumber, sun dried tomato, and pasta (white or wheat) on top.  Add dressing and mix up.

I have another favorite salad from Saladworks that I am working on recreating soon, so keep your eye out if you liked this post!

What are your favorite soup and salad places?  Do you have a favorite at Saladworks?

Peloton Bike App | Fitness Friday

A friend and I were chatting about fitness stuff recently and she inspired me to work on myself and my fitness even more this year.  I had been coming off a bad month of fibromyalgia flare after a cold took me down (colds really do my muscles in and leave me with no energy) but I am finally back at the fitness game.

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

A while back I wrote a review of my Bladez Master GS bike [read the review here] and I've been loving it but wanted to push myself further.  So I decided to try out the Peloton app, which has live and on demand cycling classes all from the comfort of your own home.

The app is perfectly set up and easy to navigate.  There are classes from 5 to 10 minutes all the way up to 120 minutes.  There are both male and female trainers to choose from and a variety of ride styles like Endurance, Metrics, and different theme rides like Hip Hop or 90's rides.  You can ride live or on-demand once classes are over.  The On-Demand filter let's you narrow down your choices by time, theme, and trainer to make what you are in tthe mood for easy to find.  My favorite rides have been by Alex Toussaint, especially his Bless Up rides - definitely check them out! (And I love his motivational quotes so I included a few here).

Peloton App - Available Classes

Feel Good.  Look Good.  Do Better.  - Alex Toussaint

As for the bikes, a quick comparison in price (Peloton vs my Bladez):

The Peloton bike costs $1995, plus $39 a month for the workout app/plan.  The bike includes weight racks behind the seat and a water bottle holder.  There are a few accessory packages such as The Essentials Package which includes Peloton spin shoes with cleats, hand weights, and headphones for $149.

My Bladez Master GS was around $500 (on Wayfair) and the Peloton app for iPhone/iPad is $12.99 a month or $5.99 for a week.  The app gives you the freedom that if you were on vaca or away but had access to a bike rental or a hotel gym with a bike you could get the week and still sneak in some fit time.

I currently use the Shimano WR42 in Black ($79.99) with SPD cleats I transferred from my last pair since they were in good shape.  I also use 2lb and 5 lb C9 weights from Target ($3).

My only other accessories are: my Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor (around $63) and my iPad Air 2 ($499 on sale at Target) in an OtterBox Defender series case that can be positioned in multiple angles for easy viewing on my bike.

Using the app at home with a solid bike is a great option, especially if you already have an iPad, iPhone, or some other device you can use the app on.  There are lots of stationary bikes on Amazon with great reviews that are $500 or under.  The Peloton bike looks amazing.  I love the added weight and water bottle holders but my home set up is working out pretty darn great right now.  The app is keeping things fresh and interesting.

Overall I have been so pleased with the Peloton app and have continued my subscription after my free trial expired.  I highly recommend it for those with bikes at home, at a gym (earphones!), or for those looking for a bike as a way to stay motivated.  For less than half of ONE Soul Cycle class you can get a months worth of spin classes plus their growing Beyond the Ride classes like yoga, strength training, cool downs, and stretching.

"Smile.  You woke up today.  Don't look so damn mad." - Alex Toussaint

The Peloton Cycle app is available on the iTunes Store.

Again, please check out my bike review here and let me know what your favorite workout apps and home workouts are in the comments below!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie Recipe | New Year's Resolutions 2017

My New Year's Resolutions are generally all the same every year, and not always because I fail, but because I know there is always room for improvement.  So for 2107 I will share them again, just to remind myself:

1. Take better care of my skin
2. Drink more water
3. Exercise more, and more mindfully
4. Meditate more, be more mindful
5. Eat better, learn to eat clean

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

In 2017 I will also take advantage of what I have around me (including using up some of those beauty products in my closet before buying new ones!) so I am starting with my trusty Nutri Ninja Pro to share with you a delicious smoothie I just whipped up!


Chocolate Banana Smoothie
1 banana
2 Tbsp PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp cocoa powder (I used Dagoba Organic Pure Cocoa Powder)
1-2 scoops protein powder (I used Orgain Organic Protein Powder in Vanilla - optional)
1 handful ice
a splash of water

Blend until desired consistency.  Serve with Hummingbird Glass Straws.  The Hummingbird Glass Straws are so comfortable to drink out of, and I hate wasting straws (or getting smoothie all over my face from drinking right from the blending cup - I'm that kind of klutz) so these were a great purchase for us.  My daughter can use them too - great for kids.  I saw them on the Weelicious blog and knew I had to try them - we love them!

I hope you enjoy this Chocolate Banana Smoothie recipe I created.  It reminds me of the Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo'd that I used to love, but without costing me 470-770 calories!  Next up is trying that Wendy's Frosty dupe smoothie recipe!

Stay tuned for more of my smoothie recipes to come!

Let me know your favorite smoothie blends below AND what your 2017 resolutions are?

** This post is NOT sponsored in anyway. I did not receive the products for free.  I paid for all the products above with my own money.  Reviews are 100% honest.  Recipe is by myself, BeautyFreckled, using ingredients I had on hand and to my own personal taste/preference.  Please check with your doctor before starting any new diet or fitness regimen. **

YogiBox Unboxing | Yoga Subscription Box Review

YogiBox is a monthly subscription box that provides a variety of yoga related, relaxation,  and spa worthy beauty products, as well as yummy snacks and recipes.  The box is $318 for a year, $154 for six months, or $87 for 3 Months.  So by buying the year up front, you get a discount.  You can also order them as a themed present for a friend for $29.  I thought these would be a great present for a yogi friend, someone who is just starting out in yoga, or someone who may just need some extra pampering.

The box is valued at $57 and each month includes a different yoga sequence, a yoga accessory, a favorite gluten free snack, a hand soap, bath salts or bath bomb, a variety of teas or beverages, and a free recipe.  Shipping is free, which is a great bonus as well.

What was in my box:
- Customized yoga sequence
- Yoga Mat Spray
- 3 Yogi Teas
- Detox Recipe using one of the Yogi Teas
- Kind Bar in Dark Chocolate
- 3 Holiday Hair Ties
- 3 Zen Spa Treatments (soap, bath salts, bath bomb in Peppermint)

Zen Spa Items are "organic, vegan, and cruelty free...designed by fellow yogis with you in mind. Ensure your body soaks up the benefits of your practice 24/7. Both on and OFF your mat" (-from YogiBox website).  You can order the Zen Spa items off the YogiBox website if you need a little extra relaxation.  Their cute seasonal themed hair ties are available as well.

I really love my YogiBox and would definitely recommend them for any yogi or as a gift!  The customized yoga sequence and the yoga mat spray are the products I am most excited to try out first.  The Zen bath products will be great to soothe those muscles after a yoga practice.  Kind and Yogi Tea are already brands I love, so new flavors and products are always a bonus for me to try.  YogiBox offers such a great variety of products that there will always be something for everyone in every box.

To try out YogiBox and get your own box of yoga and relaxation, check them out here.

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Disclosure:  YogiBox sent me one box for review purposes.  All opinions are 100% honest and 100% my own.  I was not paid for this review.

Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

I have loved spinning since I discovered it in high school and it was always one of my favorite classes to take at the gym.  Being a stay-at-home mom I have to fit in my exercise around my daughter's nap schedule or when my husband is home so I decided to invest I a good indoor cycle.  I love the flexibility of being able to jump on my bike when she's sleeping.  I have a mountain bike for outdoors (Haro Flightline S in Smashing Pumpkin) but I haven't been brave enough to use my clip-in bike shoes with it yet, and it's also nice not having to worry about it being too hot, rainy, cold, or snowy during the day.

Here is the bike I chose:

Bladez Fitness Master GS Indoor Cycle
Specs from Bladez website:
- 45lb Flywheel gives a natural feel and consistent momentum.
- Smooth, Quiet Belt Drive ensures a silent workout.
- Oversized Steel Frame for Strength and Stability.
- Adjustable Top Down Resistance with Emergency Brake.
- Fore/Aft and Up/Down Adjustable Seat and Handlebars for a comfortable fit and proper posture.
- Large Diameter Racing Style Handlebars.
- Aluminum Pedals with Toe Baskets
- Anatomically Designed Saddle
- Easy to read LCD Console with Motivational Feedback.
- Transportation wheels allows for easy storage between workouts.

I ordered the Master GS from Wayfair and it came pretty quickly via FedEx.  It wasn't in too many parts (the frame is all one piece) so it was pretty much putting the seat, pedals, handlebars, and flywheel on.  The box and frame pieces are very, very heavy, so it's definitely durable.  The chain cover came cracked upon arrival but we contacted Wayfair and they got a new part sent immediately from Bladez.

The only con: I am 5' tall exactly and the seat was just slightly too high even at the lowest setting.  My husband ended up having to sand off the little bump that stopped the seat at the end so I could get another inch or two closer to the pedals so my legs weren't fully extended.  So if you are around my height, just be aware that you may have to do a little work to get this bike to work for you, but it was worth it for me.

The specs online mentioned Dual Sided SPD compatible pedals with toe cage, but it arrived with just caged pedals.  I specifically picked this model because of the upgraded computer monitor display and the SPD pedals so I could keep using my Shimano clip-in shoes I used for indoor classes at the gym.  I contacted customer service and they sent me the SPD pedals at no cost. The customer service at Bladez was amazing about the situation and I have a lot of respect for them honoring their website.

The Master GS has every function you could want between all the movable seat and handlebars to the display which shows Speed (mph), RPM, Calories, Watts, Distance, time, and is compatible with my Polar Heart Monitor (it doesn't always show the same number as my watch read-out for some reason - it doesn't bother me).

Despite the two little hiccups with the seat height and the pedals, I have been so pleased with this indoor cycle.  It reminds me of being in the spinning room at my old gym, which had a painted mural of cyclists like something out of the Tour de France.  I can make the ride as easy or as hard as I like, spend as much time as I can that day, and jump back on later if I please!  The frame is super sturdy, doesn't rock at all, and will last such a long time.  It was truly a great investment for me, and if you love cycling or are looking to train indoors if you are an outdoor cyclist, the Bladez Fitness bikes are definitely worth the investment.

Update 2/4/2016:  The Bladez Master GS Indoor Cycle is now available on Amazon.  When I ordered it before I don't believe it was, and there weren't any reviews.  Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

** Please consult with your physician before starting any fitness regimen or diet plan.  My advice and reviews are not the same as medical advice and are for research and entertainment purposes only.  Exercise with caution.  **