Sweat Diaries: Inside the Rigorous Workout Schedule of Philly Model Ronnie Howard

Ronnie Howard, Philly model and yoga experiences leader, shares a week in her life. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

Welcome to Sweat Diaries, Be Well Philly’s look at the time, energy, and money people invest in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle in Philly. For each Sweat Diary, we ask one Philadelphian to spend a week tracking everything they eat, all the exercise they get, and the money they spend on both. Want to submit a Sweat Diary? Email ccunningham@phillymag.com with details.

Who I am: Ronnie Howard (@loveronnie), 29, from Germantown

What I do: Model (catch me in the September issue of Health magazine and on air at QVC weekly) and co-founder of Vibes & Vinyasa

What role healthy living plays in my life: Healthy living is incredibly important, and I get excited about it because I’ve experienced its amazing benefits. I struggled with my weight and body image in high school and gained a significant amount of weight in my early 20s which led to some health issues like hypertension, exercise-induced asthma, and water retention. I took control of my health by beginning to exercise regularly and eating healthier, whole foods. I dropped 30 pounds — all of those health issues disappeared, and I haven’t looked back since! I also started practicing yoga two years ago, and it has completely elevated my life physically and mentally.

Health memberships: I pay $100 a month for ClassPass and $10 a month for Planet Fitness.

Monday

A late breakfast at Trolley Car Cafe. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

5:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off…the struggle. I was up wayyy past my bedtime last night randomly cleaning my apartment.

6:23 a.m. — I grab an Pink Lady apple and meet my friend Ketisa outside.

6:45 a.m. — We arrive at BPM Fitness for their Circuit Breaker class…it smells like essential oils :)

7 a.m. — Class begins. Not sure what to expect, but I’m loving the ambiance and the “Built on Sweat” mantra on the wall.

7:43 a.m. — Currently sweating a river, but pushing through!

8 a.m. — Finished! Feeling GOOD.

8:26 a.m. — Arrive at Infinity Health & Wellness for a colon hydrotherapy appointment ($55).

9:28 a.m. — I feel lighter than a feather (lol).

11:20 a.m. — Finally eating breakfast at Trolley Car Cafe. I was directed not to eat two hours before my appointment. I order eggs, chicken sausage, roasted potatoes, and a smoothie with kale, banana, mango, and almond milk ($13.50).

2:14 p.m. — Running out of the house to a nail appointment with a coffee, coconut water, and raw almonds for snacking.

3:41 p.m. — It’s almost happy hour right? One glass of champagne at the nail bar for self-care purposes.

4:46 p.m. — I pop into ShopRite to grab a few grocery items including hummus ($22.07).

5:19 p.m. — I go to Target up the street for avocados — they always have them ripe for close to $1 each (I score a four-count bag for $4.49).

6:08 p.m. — Salmon salad for dinner: spring mix, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and croutons, with balsamic vinaigrette.

6:41 p.m. — A Granny Smith apple with peanut butter is dessert.

8:21 p.m. — I arrive at the QVC studio park to model for the Isaac Mizrahi Live! show.

10:12 p.m. — Done with work, I’m headed home.

11:02 p.m. — Realizing it’s way late for me and I want to be asleep by midnight.

12:04 a.m. — I drop my phone on my face in bed…night night.

Daily total: $95.06

Tuesday

Oats for breakfast. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard

6:48 a.m. — My bladder wakes me up. (I drink close to a gallon of water each day.)

7:44 a.m. — English breakfast tea with honey, ginger, lemon, and apple cider vinegar, along with organic oats topped with yellow raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and chia seeds.

9:43 a.m. — I have exactly two minutes to make a groothie (green smoothie) with spinach, almond milk, banana, Granny Smith apple, and fresh ginger.

A homemade green smoothie. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard

10:32 a.m. — Arrive at QVC for 11 a.m. live show.

12:13 p.m. — Starving after that show! Two hard boiled eggs and almonds for the win.

2:53 p.m. — Been running errands all afternoon, no lunch yet…but a Coconut Chocolate RXBar until I get real food.

4:47 p.m. — Finally home, and first thing I see/eat is the makings of a Caesar salad. This is followed closely by some roasted chicken and green beans that were prepped on Sunday.

6:04 p.m. — Starting “Ultimate Strength Yoga” on the Nike Training Club app at home.

6:58 p.m. — Feeling all zen and amazing, plus only one phone call interrupted my practice.

7:34 p.m. — Hummus and mini sweet peppers post-practice.

Daily total: $0

Wednesday

Class with Title Boxing Club. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

7:11 a.m. — Happy Hump Day!

8:44 a.m. — I head out to meet my friend Sharde for a boxing class and realize my car has been towed due to street work. That totally throws off my timeline considering I wanted to stop for breakfast.

8:53 a.m. — I find my car…

9:11 a.m. — I grab a protein power pack from Wawa ($3.99).

9:43 a.m. — I arrive at Title Boxing Club in Malvern. I’m super late, but instructor Noel gets my hands wrapped right up and my friend Adgrian helps me with gloves and we begin with some one-two jabs.

10:28 a.m. — Made it through all the boxing and leg circuits, but currently laying on the floor struggling through this core work…one-leg toe touches with a 20-pound weight?!

10:35 a.m. — Done…my sweat sparkles!

11:58 a.m. —  I have a green smoothie with apple, almond milk, spinach, banana, and ginger.

12:52 p.m. — I stop in the produce store for some fruits and veggies. I score mango, kale, strawberries, red grapes, watermelon, and sweet potatoes ($11.50).

2:28 p.m. — Roasted chicken and green beans for lunch. Mango for dessert, because dessert is always a good idea.

5:14 p.m. — Black coffee and Nature Valley granola cups with almond butter. Feeling a little beat on hump day.

Shrimp salad for dinner. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

7:57 p.m. — Sautéed shrimp with avocado oil over spring mix with tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and balsamic vinaigrette for dinner.

8:41 p.m. — I cut and clean some kale to freeze for future smoothies.

8:58 p.m. — Planning ahead and making a smoothie with almond milk, banana strawberry, watermelon, and flax seed for tomorrow morning.

9:16 p.m. — Chamomile tea and a lavender epsom salt bath to unwind.

Daily total: $15.49

Thursday

An easy breakfast of eggs and veggies. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

4:45 a.m. — Alarm goes off. I need 20 more more minutes.

5:31 a.m. — I eat a peach during my commute to 6 a.m. spin class at BPM Fitness.

6:26 a.m. — Sweat is pouring and I’m continually pushing. Sho at BPM Fitness is mad motivational at this hour and I’m thankful.

6:56 a.m. — Done! Feeling super accomplished, and I take a Boomerang outside the studio with my friend Tiff.

7:48 a.m. — Back home. My smoothie from last night is perfect while I prep some breakfast for later in the morning.

8:43 a.m. — Two eggs over hard, mixed greens, and sweet potato homies for breakfast.

12:44 p.m. — Making spaghetti squash with ground turkey, peppers, onions, kale, and a tomato basil sauce.

1:43 p.m. — Lunch is done with a little parmesan garnish. I love red sauce. I’m also really excited to be able to cook this week; lately my schedule has been so hectic that I’ve been eating out more than I’d like to.

Spaghetti squash for lunch. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

3:39 p.m. — Heading to work, debating whether to eat these grapes and almonds I packed. I’d rather get ahead of the hunger that I know will hit during my show at QVC from 5 to 6 p.m.

3:43 p.m. — I’m doing it…I eat the grapes and almonds.

4:25 p.m. — I arrive at QVC, ready to get pretty and sell some clothes.

6:15 p.m. — Done with the show, and I’m hungry anyway! Bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli with hummus that I packed because I know my appetite, lol.

7:08 p.m. — A little late because of traffic but I make it to Cohbe’s rooftop yoga class at City Fitness South Philly.

7:54 p.m. — It’s the perfect night outside! The sky is orangish pink from the sunset and the breeze is super restorative.

9:16 p.m. — Watermelon for dinner… I need a nap and it was the first thing I saw in my fridge.

9:30 p.m. — I lay down for a nap before I have to report to QVC at 1:30 a.m.

Daily total: $0

Friday

Ending the week with wine. Photograph courtesy Ronnie Howard.

12:04 a.m. — I wake up for work. I don’t remember snoozing my alarm at midnight.

12:49 a.m. — I pack a lunch bag and make another smoothie.

1 a.m. — On my way to QVC for some overnight live shows.

2:17 a.m. — Changing clothes in my dressing room for the show and hunger hits. I have my kale, apple, banana, ginger smoothie (see a trend here?).

5:30 a.m. — Another nap until my next show.

8:15 a.m. — Another models’ alarm goes off for the time I’ve lost count of. I guess I’ll get up and head to the cafe for some breakfast.

8:29 a.m. — Oatmeal with blueberries and brown sugar ($2.39).

10:10 a.m. — Finished a H by Halston show, about to sleep again until afternoon live shows. Two hard boiled eggs before I catch some Z’s.

3:26 p.m. — Awake again.

3:36 p.m. — I eat a Pink Lady apple during the walk from the talent lounge area to the dressing room.

5:06 p.m. — Black coffee, spaghetti squash leftovers, and one more show to go ($1.90).

7 p.m. — Done working!

8:13 p.m. — I buy a bottle of wine because it’s been a long day ($14.99).

9:20 p.m. — Caesar salad topped with shrimp and a glass of Zinfandel. This is the perfect way to end the week. I’m looking forward to a full night’s rest and 9 a.m. bootcamp on Saturday at the Art Museum with Get In Lon Fitness.

Daily total: $19.28

Weekly Totals

Money spent: $129.83

Workouts: 5

Apples: 3

Smoothies: 5

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