• Recipes
    • Search my Recipes
    • Recipe Categories
  • Lifestyle
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • |
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Brand partnerships
    • Nutrition Coaching

Home » Uncategorized

September 22, 2015 (Updated February 6, 2023)

Birthday Dinner + Definitions DC Gym Review

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

12 comments
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Email

Hi friends!

Last night, Matt made us a fun dinner in honor of my birthday: cedar plank salmon! Using this method, salmon is cooked on a plank (soaked in water so it doesn’t catch fire) over indirect heat. It imparts a really nice smoky flavor and makes it nice and juicy, too!

IMG_8553

Want to save this post?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you great content every week!

Save Recipe

He bought salmon from Whole Foods that was pre-marinated in a sriracha sauce (sounds similar to this Sriracha Maple Salmon), and added some lemons on top, too.

IMG_8551

It came out awesome – very tender.

IMG_8554

We had sweet potato wedges and roasted zucchini and squash on the side. Yum. 🙂

IMG_8556

He made extra salmon so I could enjoy the leftovers for lunch – perfect. I threw one of the leftover fillets on top of a salad for lunch today.

IMG_8558

Also on the salad: roasted beets, brown rice (don’t skimp on the carbs when you have a salad or else you’ll be hungry in 4 seconds), avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette. Really good!

As for fitness, I treated myself to a lunchtime yoga class yesterday at Epic Yoga in Dupont via ClassPass. It was a cool, rainy day and a warm flow felt amazing. The instructor (Emma, who’s great) had candles set around the room, too, which I loved. Made it so calming and cozy! Lunchtime yoga is the best – no shower required and it really helps with workday stress/anxiety.

epic yoga dc candles

Speaking of ClassPass – if you’ve been wanting to try it but aren’t ready to commit, here’s my affiliate link for a FREE 2 week trial. You just need to be in the U.S. (not NYC) and a new ClassPass user to use it – and you have to activate it by September 30, so act soon if you’re into it. 🙂

This morning’s workout adventure was a new-to-me spot, also via ClassPass! My friend Chelsea and I decided to try out a studio called Definitions in Georgetown. ClassPass told me that based on the classes I’ve been going to I’d like this one (love that new feature – they have a screen now with “you might also like…”), so we thought it would be fun to mix it up. It’s right across the street from our old friend CorePower Yoga in Georgetown, so it was easy to find! Here’s the sidewalk sign to look for if you go.

definitions dc

We hit up their 7 a.m. MRT (metabolic resistance training – basically HIIT/interval stuff, like a boot camp) class, and from the very start we were super impressed. When we walked into the building lobby, there was a staff member there waiting for us who had us sign a waiver and showed us where the studio was. Then once we were in, he passed us off to another really friendly guy who showed us around the gym (nice, and nice locker rooms too), where the free towels were (we’d want one, he said – uh oh), and then took us to the back room where the group class would be held. Color me impressed! It always sucks when you show up at a new studio and have no idea what’s going on and no one talks to you, so props to them for being so organized and welcoming. (They had no idea we were bloggers, either, so this wasn’t just something special they did to impress us.)

interval HIIT workout DC

As for the workout itself, it was AWESOME – really tough but fun. The way the class worked was it was two rounds with three stations that you rotate through during each round. Each station also had two exercises you switched back and forth between (it was 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest I believe) a few times, and the exercises changed for the second round of rotations. I loved this because all the variation kept us from getting bored. (Thanks to Chelsea for snagging the below action shot!)

definitions gym dc

We were doing everything from rowing to jumping to squat presses to arm strength with bands to lunges with weights – and even lifting and throwing around a heavy rope! Harder than it looks! We asked the instructor to take this picture of us with the rope after class was over. 🙂

best boot camps DC

I loved the instructor (a woman named DeShay), too – she was the perfect mix of motivating but supportive, and did a great job of making sure everyone knew what they were doing. Also, she played great music. Kris Kross’s “Jump” came on at one point and I was so happy. 😉

Bottom line: if you’re in the DC area and you like interval/HIIT workouts, check out Definitions. It’s up there among my favorites now, and I can’t wait to go back!

I will leave you with this note I loved from the wall at Definitions – so important to remember. <3

definitions DC

Have a great day, my friends!

- anne
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Email

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

Recent Eats + A Running Update + Nanny Talk

Spring is here + DC Cherry Blossom Photos

How I Stay Fit On Vacation Without A Gym

Christmas Eve + Day in Photos

leave a comment

Cancel reply

12 comments
  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul
    September 22, 2015 · 3:36PM:
    What a delicious birthday dinner!
    Reply
  • Mary
    September 22, 2015 · 4:33PM:
    YES thank you! I've been thinking about trying out Class Pass, and this is the perfect excuse!
    Reply
  • Ash Diamond
    September 22, 2015 · 4:36PM:
    I just joined Class Pass yesterday and am already so excited to try new classes. I took a great morning yoga class this morning!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 23, 2015 · 11:08AM:
      Awesome! Enjoy it! :)
      Reply
  • Kait
    September 22, 2015 · 4:42PM:
    I will have to remember the recipe for Sriracha Maple Salmon - looks right up my alley! Happy belated birthday!
    Reply
  • Catherine Cormier September 23, 2015 · 9:40AM:
    My husband and I LOVE cedar plank salmon!! We haven't made it in a while .... my birthday is coming up next week so I think that's the perfect excuse to request it :p
    Reply
  • MaryBeth September 24, 2015 · 9:57AM:
    Super impressed by the greeting and tour you received! I joined a gym a few years ago and had to BEG for a tour. (I didn't last at that gym long, it clearly wasn't that great! A little customer service goes a long way!)
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 24, 2015 · 10:02AM:
      It really does! Walking into a new place and being confused/out of place/not feeling welcome is the worst.
      Reply
  • Kary September 24, 2015 · 2:48PM:
    Hi Anne, about the class pass free trial you said is to activate before Sept 10th, and then for how long will it be active if I don't start using it? Im out of the country but I'll be back in november and I'd really love to try it!! Love your blog!!
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 24, 2015 · 3:25PM:
      You need to activate it before Sept 30, and when you activate it the 2 week trial will start immediately - unfortunately you can't delay it. I'm sorry!
      Reply
  • Hannah September 25, 2015 · 10:55AM:
    I really wish that you and other bloggers would be more honest about the situation with ClassPass. Based on your (and other blogger's posts) I thought this would be a great deal because it includes studios that I already frequent (Zengo and FlyWheel) and signed up for a free trial. As it turns out, the only times available are those when the vast majority of people working 9-5 can't make it. That's right - they block out the most popular times (after work) although if you go to the studio's website, there are still plenty of spaces available. Also, this limited availability of classes isn't advertised anywhere on the website and made me feel like I was cheated after signing up. All in all, maybe worth it for people with "flexible" work schedules (i.e. people who can go to classes between 10-4), but NOT the majority of people in the DC area.
    Reply
    • Anne
      September 25, 2015 · 12:22PM:
      Hi Hannah! Thanks for sharing your feedback. I didn't realize that that was the case -- all the studios I go to always have availability outside of work hours, as that's almost always when I go (usually 6 or 7 a.m... the noon yoga class is just an occasional indulgence, as it's near my office). Perhaps only the super popular studios limit their availability? I'd try out some other studios that maybe aren't quite as well known - there's a lot to choose from and I've never had a problem finding a class to go to! Good luck!
      Reply
- next post
previous post -

about Anne

anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
Learn more

fannetastic reads

Top Posts
01

My Top 9 Most Popular Recipes + Posts

02

Why I Don’t Recommend Whole30

03

What Causes Sugar Cravings (+ How to Stop Them!)

04

How I Make Money As a Blogger

05

Blog Recipes We Make Again and Again

06

What to Eat Before and After a Long Run

07

What to Eat During Long Runs

08

7 Common Nutrition Myths

09

How to Love Veggies

connect with Anne

Email me
anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

When I’m not writing or cooking for fannetastic food, you can find me running, coaching nutrition clients, or on an adventure with my family. Feel free to reach out - I'd love to hear from you!

follow anne:

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

back to top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recent Posts
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ

© copyright fannetastic food