As a new mama, finding time to work out seemed like a losing battle. Trying to coordinate a good time and place was an exhausting task that always resulted in me doing absolutely nothing. I needed something convenient, challenging and exciting to keep me focused. Enter Peloton.
With a little convincing, I sold my husband on investing in the purchase. In exchange, I promised myself that I would consistently use the Peloton bike and app for 30 days. Turns out, it was worth every red cent.
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
I immediately bought into the energy of the instructors. Each of them has their own flavor mixed with the same encouraging message of discipline and perseverance. I finished one class excited about the next opportunity to hop back on my bike. Even from the comfort of my home, I felt a part of a community – a special club of overachievers who worked daily towards becoming better.
"Come on baby! Let discipline carry you when motivation won't!"
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
These were cornerstone words from my instructor Alex as I jammed out in a 30-minute Hip Hop Spin class. Through my breathlessness, I found the wherewithal to type his words in my phone as a steady reminder when I wanted to skip a workout. I've had Peloton Church about 76 times since then. Nearly each time, I've thought of Alex screaming that phrase as I put on my shoes to take a ride.
Thankfully, Peloton has a way of enticing me to come back time after time. There's something about the fire playlists and the way each class burns so good that keeps me engaged. Users around the world send virtual high-fives across my screen to acknowledge milestones as the leaderboard encourages me to beat my personal record.
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
Metrics calculate everything from distance to heart rate, giving me the stats I need to feel like a superstar. Badges acknowledge my accomplishments, giving me reminders to be proud of my progress while the calendar of active days encourages me not to break my streak.
On days when I'd like a change in pace, I head over to the Peloton app for strength, cardio or guided outdoor audio classes. Filters help me pick workouts according to length so I can squeeze in 15 minutes on days when being mama makes it tough to carve out more time. Turns out, even small spurts of effort add up.
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
At the end of my first 30 days, I had 26 active days and dropped nearly 10 pounds. Yet these perks aren't the tip of the iceberg.
What no one tells you when you purchase your bike is that you'll gain access to thousands of black women who will motivate, inspire, and cheer for you daily.
Luckily for me, my cousin saw my post about getting a Peloton bike. She immediately messaged me an invite to join Black Girl Magic Peloton Edition on Facebook (affectionately called BGM for short). Joining has literally changed my life.
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
Black women from all walks of life are there with daily inspo that motivates me to step it up. The group includes #BGM challenges, a mentorship program, and dialogue among like-minded women. We follow each other on Peloton taking classes together as a sign of solidarity, celebration, or praise depending on the occasion.
Pre-COVID-19, BGM members participated in meet ups and travel groups to places all around the world. Doctors, lawyers, financial advisors and stay-at-home moms have a space of solitude – somewhere we go for that extra push to keep going both on and off the bike.
Kandice Guice/xoNecole
Each time I enter the group, I imagine the roar of cheers from my team. The energy is magnetic and powerful. In fact, BGM is more than a group, it is a sisterhood.
Every black woman who has the Peloton App, Bike, or Tread should get in on this serendipitous treat.
It's worth it.
If you are thinking about purchasing a Peloton, get $100 off your accessories on us by clicking here.
Featured image by Kandice Guice
- How Peloton Helped Get Me Ready for Snowboarding Season | The ... ›
- Is Peloton Worth It? Especially Now When We're All Working Out At ... ›
- A busy mom of three tried the Peloton bike—here's her review ›
- I TRIED PELOTON SPIN CLASSES FOR A WEEK | PELOTON ... ›
- We tried it: The Peloton bike | Canadian Living ›
- I Did Peloton For Two Weeks Straight And Here's What Happened ... ›
- I tried an at-home machine that's like a Peloton for strength training ... ›
- I Tried Peloton to Come Back From an Injury—And Here's What ... ›
- I tried Echelon's $1,000 alternative to the Peloton bike. Here's what ... ›
- My two-month ride with Peloton, the cultish, internet-connected ... ›
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
