Lauren del Turco

<p>I mean, not only has Halle sculpted herself the <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32236595/halle-berry-abs-transformation/" id="780670d5-2a38-3c15-afb0-99c87d941efb">  most impressive abs </a> I've ever seen, but she can also knock out like <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32619283/halle-berry-back-workouts/" id="9703ecf9-c6a6-339f-a626-76829b512a38">  15 pullups </a> in one shot. (I consider myself pretty fit and I can eek out *maybe* one...to save my life.) Halle's got more than 25 years on me, but there's not a doubt in my mind that she could absolutely whoop my butt.</p>

<p>Perhaps the coolest thing about Halle, though, is her perspective on her next-level fitness. Here's the thing: She's not in it for the six-pack! Whether on the 'gram or in the columns she's written for WH, Halle shares that she's all-in on <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32945607/halle-berry-age-fitness-transformation/" id="c5c02ebc-53db-3560-ad0b-ec55ed2f2d99">  taking care of her health and being as strong as possible </a> in every way, both for herself and her kids. The abs? They're just a bonus. (I'm here for this.)</p>

<p>Inspired by Halle's fit philosophy (and yes, okay, her abs, too), I decided to try her routine out for myself. Luckily, she's not one to keep the secret sauce all to herself. </p>

<p>Halle takes a kitchen sink approach to working out; she literally does it all. Though she typically only has time for four full-on workout sessions per week (at least one of which is often just <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32378775/halle-berry-20-minute-workout/" id="71e23d9c-ff63-3472-a1c3-8a3159545d2f">  20 minutes or so long </a> ), she incorporates everything from strength training to yoga to jumping rope.</p>

<p>Eager to mix up my own routine (which had been feeling pretty stale, TBH), I channeled my inner Halle for a weekand though I may not have come out of it with cut-up abs, I sweat (and learned!) a lot.</p>

<p>In true Halle fashion, I set out to conquer four solidand uniqueworkout sessions for my little experiment: her <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32378775/halle-berry-20-minute-workout/" id="094438e2-d62a-3ed9-a63c-bb11f9adde0a">  go-to 20-minute workout </a> , an <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32698758/halle-berry-abs-workouts/" id="a67d4738-f6b8-38f8-ab9b-02f55f21860e">  intense full-body strength training challenge she wrote about for WH </a> recently, a long yoga sesh, and a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32449475/hall-berry-cardio-jump-rope/" id="21fb81e8-49c3-37b6-a5c6-20b9ea89098f">  jump rope burner </a> dreamt up by her trainer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterleethomas/" id="bc2b7401-9308-35db-ae64-1483d61050be">  Peter Lee Thomas </a> .</p>

<p>Conquering four workouts for the week felt totally doable (score!)and I seriously appreciated the variety. </p>

<p>Halle's 20-minute workouta fast-and-dirty circuit of moves like mountain climbers with sit-outs (see my video attempt below) and pli squatscame in clutch on a busy, deadline-filled day when a full hour-long workout just didn't feel realistic. It left me dripping and feeling super accomplished.</p>

<h1>  Exercise does your mind just as good as it does your body.  </h1>

<p>For my third workout, I was ready for a little <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g30626595/active-recovery/" id="345c7671-5314-3daa-af47-fbcce115289c">  active recovery </a> . A good yoga practice always reminds me that movement is about so much more than burning calories or building a particular muscleand I have no doubts that Halle's regular yoga practice helps her keep both her mind and body right.</p>

<p>Making time to turn inward and slow down amidst a hectic schedule and otherwise-heart-pumping workouts helped me feel grounded and at peace, and physically and mentally strong.</p>

<p>I followed along with a 30-minute Peloton yoga video to get the full effect, but Halle says she feels better after even just a <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32838770/halle-berry-yoga-release-negative-energy/" id="248b000f-22f5-32fc-ae0f-dd96e4607896">  few minutes of stretching or child's pose </a> .</p>

<h1>  Something else working out like Halle taught me? You don't have to lift heavy weights to burn.  </h1>

<p>A long-time lover of anything involving a barbell, my routine hasn't consisted of much <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a29135601/heavy-or-light-weights-workout/" id="8afe7708-5cb3-310b-a22d-acbaec609f8d">  light-weight/high-rep </a> work in yearsbut Halle may have once again made me a believer.</p>

<p>I went into her two-move, strength-training challenge workout a little (okay, a lot) overconfident. However, as I slowly descended the long ladder of lunges (wearing a <a href="https://respin-by-halle-berry.myshopify.com/collections/re-spin-products/products/premium-booty-band" id="0aa4e473-8bea-39f8-a20f-862632ad3e36">  booty band </a> , might I add) with biceps curls and squats with overhead pressesbasically, you start with 40 lunges and 20 squats and repeat, slowly slicing off reps until you get down to zerothe ~literal~ fire in my muscles put me in my place. I think I did 200 lungesand man, did I feel them the next morning.</p>

notepad with workout written down, resistance band, and dumbbell

<p>I used a single 15-pound dumbbell for the workout (a far cry from my usual barbell) and halfway through the workout, I realized even half the weight would have absolutely crushed me.</p>

<p>By the end, my legs quivered with every repand I was sore for not one, not two, but THREE days afterward. Ego, checked.</p>

<h1>  And I needed to let my legs recover because my last workout was jumping rope.  </h1>

<p>Never much of a jump-roper back in my blacktop days, this was the only workout of Halle's that I was truly nervous about: her 1,500-rotation jump rope challenge. Yeah, she did that for fun.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a32449475/hall-berry-cardio-jump-rope/" id="1699247e-23cd-3bed-a3c8-b4074d546567">  Halle describes jumping rope </a> as a Zen, in-the-zone experience. She finds her rhythm and just jumps and jumps and jumps. As a result, she cranks out 1,500 rotations in just about 15 minutes.</p>

<p>I don't think I've ever made it through more than 20 rotations at a time without tripping over myself or somehow entangling my ponytail in the rope, so I figured 1,500 skips would probably take me, oh, like an hour.</p>

<p>In the end, I completed my skips in about 25 minutes. At first, I could get through maybe 10 at a time; but towards the end, I understood Halle's jump-roping zone. Once I found my groove, momentum kept me going. (At one point, I hit 47 consecutive rotations!)</p>

<h1>  Halle Berry is officially my new favorite fitness influencer.  </h1>

<p>After a week of working out like her, I totally understand why Halle stays so committed to her fitness. Mixing it up is fun! And framing workouts as challenges? The competitive vibes made me feel like an athlete again.</p>

<p>Most of all, though, Halle's routine struck me as *sustainable.* By striking the perfect balance of different types of training and just the right level of intensity (plus, of course, her truly health-oriented motivations), Halle has found a way to somehow get fitter and fitter as she gets older and you'd better believe I'll be taking a page out of that book.</p>

'I Worked Out Like Halle Berry For A Week'

When it comes to the fit women of Hollywood, few truly impress me as much as Halle Berry. Take one look at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/halleberry/" id="5ac9ea60-7eec-3d80-aeef-44e547afb2c2">  her Instagram </a> and it's clear: The woman works. As in, if you told me she decide to swap the big screen for a professional sports arena, I wouldn't even be surprised.

'I Worked Out Like Halle Berry For A Week—Here's What It Was Like'

<p>Seven years ago, Melissaa new mom at the timestarting working out in her kitchen. At first, she just wanted to lose the weight she'd gained during and after her pregnancy, but her journey quickly became about so much more. </p>

<p>"It morphed from me just wanting to have abs to me saying 'yes' to myself, choosing myself, and putting love into myself every single day," Melissa tells Women's Health. "And that was a whole new ball game for me.'" </p>

<p>Well, years of hard work (and, yes, the shredded abs to show for it) later, Melissawho goes by <a href="http://www.instagram.com/fitgurlmel/" id="3483ea40-7607-3853-acdc-5d10e406ad61">  @fitgurlmel </a> on Instagramis a completely different person.</p>

<p>"I truly believe that I can do anything," she says. "The work and the transformation spills over into every aspect of your life, from your relationship to your job."</p>

<p>These days, when she's not helping <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g31780718/kim-kardashian-workout-routine/?utm_campaign=womheal-2020-tradetracker&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=tradetracker&amp;utm_term=137180" id="f6fac7dd-0562-3a76-aab8-3bc8e65fe77b">  Kim K. crush 6 a.m. workouts </a> , you'll find Melissa <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxN3NlgAlGz/" id="3348bf89-fdb4-3f5f-a7d7-8faa7d24772c">  squatting crazy amounts of weight </a> during her own training sessions or sharing her mind-blowing <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a26038473/kim-kardashian-trainer-melissa-alcantara-butt-transformation/" id="4ee0ac81-13cd-3cc7-aa56-6dd743645bb5">  booty before-and-afters on Instagram </a> .</p>

<p>In her new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Gurl-Total-Body-Turnaround-Program-ebook/dp/B07Z3QVCGR" id="e6c1c6bd-ab96-3129-a155-fb7c1c6b965a">  Fit Gurl: The Total-Body Turnaround Program </a> , Melissa shares the mindset, nutrition, and workout tips that fueled her transformationplus a complete training program that'll help you jumpstart your own fitness journey.</p>

<p>Here are five tips that helped Melissa obtain fitness superhero status.</p>

<p>Melissa makes it clear in her book and on her Instagram feed: Don't expect <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a29230772/kim-kardashian-skims-waist-trainer/" id="4aff4947-5a23-3423-a9fc-b733fb1b920f">  waist trainers </a> , supplements, or quick fixes to replace hard-ass work.</p>

<p>"You think you need all of these things but they just become excuses that will keep you from really committing," Melissa says. "You have to cut out all of the BS if you want to succeed long-term. You have to take full responsibility for your own life."</p>

<p>To Melissa, that means two simple things: Move your body and put clean, real food on your plateevery day. </p>

<p>After experiencing the dreaded health and fitness yo-yo herself, Melissa realized she had to completely shift her perspective on her lifestyle.</p>

<p>"If you just say, 'oh, I want to lose five pounds, ASAP,' you will never have a sustainable mentality," she says. "If you want to truly find balance and be comfortable with yourself, you have to think about how you want to feel and look in 30 years."</p>

<p>In other words, instead of spending your time chasing instant gratification, focus on the long-term gains you'd like to see. "You don't have to kill yourself every day," she says. "You have to be patient and think about what you can maintain for the rest of your life." </p>

<p>Perhaps one of the most surprising (and important) lessons Melissa learned on her quest to build muscle and get ripped was to fuel her body with carbs. </p>

<p>"Carbs give you energy, and you want to have plenty of energy to work out and do things," she says. "I used to blame my weight on carbs, but it's not about the carbs, it's about eating crappy foods that don't fuel you or make you feel satisfied."</p>

<p>Now, Melissa avoids processed food at all costs and incorporates plenty of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19975246/how-many-carbs-should-you-eat-per-day/" id="43bafe55-998c-380e-ab3c-a92bed7264bd">  whole, healthy carbs </a> like quinoa and sweet potatoesinto her meals, especially before and after workouts.</p>

<h1>  4. Set SUPER specific goals.  </h1>

<p>Setting goals is ~key~ to turning around your fitness, but most people set benchmarks that are too vagueand ultimately fail as a result, Melissa says.</p>

<p>"Instead of saying, 'I want to lose weight,' say 'I'm going to work out three times per week,'" she explains. "Don't try to be an over-achiever and just stick to simple, attainable goals. As you achieve them, you're going to feel so damn good about yourself and motivated to keep going." </p>

<p>If Melissa had to credit one type of workout for her fitness transformation, it'd be <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a25807543/strength-training-program/" id="8dd73dfb-e20d-34bf-a20d-9f2e690d80a8">  strength training </a> . "Lifting weights has been insanely empowering for me," she says. "Not only am I physically stronger, but I'm mentally stronger, too. I feel like a boss bitch."</p>

<p>Another positive side effect? Lifting weights is also responsible for her crazy-toned arms (and entire bod, for that matter). "If you want to see those nice lines in your abs or shape up your arms, you have to build muscle," she says. It's that simple. </p>

How Melissa Alcantara Transformed Her Body

Melissa Alcantara, who has trained <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g30356323/kim-kardashian-diet-workout/" id="1e34b587-792a-3b4d-a117-062d4e3446b5">  Kim Kardashian </a> ever since the reality star found her on Instagram a few years ago, knows what it takes to transform your bod from head to toe.

5 Tips That Helped Melissa Alcantara, Kim Kardashian's Trainer, Transform Her Body

<p>I truly loathe wasting food. I've been known to save an eighth of an onion to use later, make kitchen sink salads with whatever random odds and ends we have in the fridge (not always successfully, I'll admit), and I even petitioned our apartment complex for a compost bin (also not successful). </p>

<p>I also really try to buy organic producethough I don't think I've ever made it through checkout at <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g29251505/healthy-grocery-stores/" id="b86da64e-b60f-3e29-af38-9c100c6b47e8">  Whole Foods </a> without wincing.</p>

<p>So when Instagram started serving me ads for <a href="https://www.misfitsmarket.com/" id="1f83f577-c841-33a4-a9cd-23a839db0489">  Misfits Market </a> , which promised to hook me up with organic produce that would otherwise be wasted for a good price, I was sold pretty much immediately. (I don't usually appreciate being targeted by the internet like this, but this felt like a worthy cause.)</p>

<p>Within a matter of minutes, I'd signed myself up to receive my first box of salvaged organic produce the following week.</p>

<p>After that first box, my fianc and I continued to use Misfits Market for months, so the experience was clearly net positive. Still, though, there are a few things I wish I'd known before signing up, so this honest Misfits Market review recaps all of the deetsfrom the good, to the bad, to the ugly eggplants.</p>

<h1>  What is Misfits Market, you ask?  </h1>

<p>First things first: A quick re-cap on what Misfits Market is and all of the fun logistical stuff you probably want to know before ordering yourself pounds of fruits and veggies. </p>

<p>Misfits Market is a produce <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g31093492/vegan-meal-delivery/" id="a4c946e3-0117-3931-ab1c-4c3b77bcbd77">  subscription service </a> that sends you boxes of organic produce at a cheaper price point than you'd get it for at the store (up to 40 percent cheaper, they say).</p>

<p>How they do it: First, Misfits Market buys organic produce that farmers and stores might not be able to sell otherwise (often because it's "ugly" or the wrong size, because people are superficial AFeven about fruits and veggies). </p>

<p>From there, they divvy the good stuff up amongst their box orders and ship you an assortment of produce. (Right now, they deliver to 23 states in the eastern U.S., plus Washington D.C.)</p>

<p>At first, Misfits Market subscribers didn't have any say in what would land on their doorsteps. </p>

<p>Since then, though, Misfits Market has added a cool new feature called <a href="https://blog.misfitsmarket.com/2019/11/04/introducing-the-marketplace/" id="56198937-cbfc-3a34-a507-c8f872224fe6">  The Marketplace </a> : Returning customers can now select discounted pantry items (like spices, grains, beans, and canned foods) to add to their usual produce boxes. They're typically products with a best-by date coming up quick or a label printing issue.</p>

<p>The brand is also currently working on making their produce selection customizable, so you can pick and choose which fruits and vegetables you want in your next box. </p>

<h1>  Here's how subscribing to Misfits Market works.  </h1>

<p>You can opt for one of two produce box options from Misfits Market.</p>

<p>The smaller box, called <a href="https://www.misfitsmarket.com/collections/the-misfits-boxes" id="04312d45-6d5a-36e0-ab27-b883a03ad586">  The Mischief </a> , costs $22 and contains 10 to 13 pounds of mixed fruits and veggies, which should feed two people for a week. (Misfits Market estimates this much would cost about $35 in the store.)</p>

<p>If you've for more mouths to feed or use an absurd amount of produce, <a href="https://www.misfitsmarket.com/collections/the-misfits-boxes" id="8bd4291c-9600-3bba-ac16-58506bca891c">  The Madness </a> box is jam-packed with 18 to 22 pounds of organic produce, serves up to five people for a week, and costs $35. (Misfits estimates you'd spend $65 in-store.)</p>

<p>Once you've selected your box, you can choose how often you want to receive deliveriesand when. I opted for bi-weekly deliveries on Tuesdays (they don't do Mondays) so I could prep food for the rest of the week.</p>

<h1>  My first impression of Misfits Market: The produce isn't that ugly.   </h1>

<p>I was like a kid on Christmas when our first box arrivedand I tore it open like a savage 8-year-old. Warm August weather meant loads of cool produce was in season, and I was ecstatic to find our box filled with celery, leafy greens, onions, grapefruits, mangoes, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, plums, bell and chili peppers, and eggplant</p>

<p>One of the eggplants was shaped like a banana and the bell peppers were super curvy and bumpy, but otherwise the box of organic goodies was totally normal-looking. </p>

<p>Though I gave my mangoes to my dad (I'm not a fan of 'em), we used the rest of our produce pretty easily throughout the next week or so. Leafy greens made for quick salads and the fruit kept us from snacking on packaged stuff. Our refrigerator looked brighter and more colorful than ever; I was a happy camper.</p>

<p>Throughout the rest of the summer, I looked forward to our deliveries with equal gleeand convinced a handful of my friends and co-workers to give Misfits Market a try.</p>

<h1>  For better or worse, Misfits Market totally changed our kitchen routine.   </h1>

<p>As the weather cooled off, I worried our Misfits Market boxes would start showing up chock-full of potatoes and onionsand without the color and variety I'd so loved throughout the summer months.</p>

<p>I was pleasantly surprised, though. While the number of potatoes, onions, and other root veggies (like beets, rutabagas, and turnips) certainly increased, every box still offered lots of different fruits and veggies.</p>

<p>A few staples did show up frequently, including celery, potatoes, some variety of tomatoes, onions, and cauliflower. I had no problem using up most of them, but definitely increased my peanut butter consumption to kill off all of the celery. </p>

<p>For me, the trickiest aspect of using Misfits Market was adjusting my <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a19992593/meal-prep-for-beginners/" id="b019a4d6-32f6-3f05-ab23-8d9724135092">  meal planning </a> , grocery shopping, and cooking routine. A creature of habit, I like going into the week with meals already planned and preppedbut our Misfits Market subscription turned my usual process on its head.</p>

<p>At first, it was also challenging to figure out what the heck to make with some of the produce in our boxes. As much as I love veggies, I had never dreamed of purchasing a rutabaga before one showed up on my doorstep. (Turns out, it's delicious roasted, BTW.) </p>

<p>After a few weeks, though, my control-freak ways eased off and I started to really enjoy finding new ways to use up our produce deliveries. Pro tip here, though: If you unbox something you have no idea what to do with, find a recipe or some inspiration and use it up, stat. Otherwise, the chances of it sitting in the back of your fridge and spoiling are high. (Speaking from experience, unfortunately.) </p>

<p>All the while, Misfits Market did a good job of communicating when there might be shifts in delivery schedules (like around holidays) and <a href="https://blog.misfitsmarket.com/category/recipes/" id="4b336195-4601-302a-ad47-f8fdd1c84499">  sharing recipes to make with their current offering </a> .</p>

<p>Of course, though, shipping produce doesn't always go perfectly. Once or twice, I opened up a box to find a piece of fruit had been squashed or that the green beans looked a little past their prime. Generally, though, Misfits Market didn't disappoint. </p>

<p>After months of looking forward to our bi-weekly deliveries and parading our produce around the apartment, I had to suspend our subscription when my naturopathic doc put me on an elimination diet that would leave a bunch of fruits and veggies off the table. A necessary move for my health, but (le sigh), I was sad. </p>

<p>Now, though, as my elimination diet draws to a close, you'd better believe I'll re-up my subscription and take advantage of the new features Misfits Market has added during our time apart.</p>

Editor's note: Due to high demand for their produce boxes right now, Misfits Market is currently not accepting first-time orders and has set up a waitlist to get new subscribers in on the ugly produce party as soon as possible.  <strong> Subscribers may also experience delays as the company works through supply chain issues related to COVID-19. </strong>

Review: I Tried Misfits Market Produce Delivery Service—And It's Totally Worth It

<p>While Peloton was a pioneer in the connected fitness space and has long been dubbed the front runner when it comes to on-demand spinning workouts, it's always prized itself on being a luxury product. That's made it covetable, but not necessarily economical for everyone. </p>

<p>Seeing an open lane, Echelon has quickly caught up thanks to its focus on bringing budget-friendly exercise bikes to the sweaty masses. Its top-end model, the EX-5S offers all the same features as Peloton'sbut costs $600 less. </p>

<p>It's worth noting that, because of this, Peloton's filed a lawsuit against Echelon, per <a id="32fde45c-4c8e-3ced-a017-0e656edfcb82" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-08/peloton-files-suit-accusing-rival-echelon-of-copying-business">  Bloomberg </a> , claiming that the more economical brand has basically ripped off its experience. They are so similar in fact, that it's tough to tell the differences between the two at face value. Which is where this handy guide can help by breaking down the pros and cons of each bike into bite-size pieces of intel.</p>

<p>Should you spring for a world-famous Peloton or opt for a more budget-friendly Echelon? Here's what to consider before clipping in your <a id="4c1c63f9-33a4-32d2-a4e9-118873552b7f" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19894492/best-indoor-cycling-shoes/">  spin shoes </a> .</p>

<h1>   Echelon   vs Peloton Bike: How The Two Compare   </h1>

<p>Not sure which spin bike is right for you? Here are the major considerations to keep in mind.</p>

<ul><li> The Echelon EX-5S costs $1,639, plus a $39-per-month membership for classes.  </li><li> A Peloton bike costs $2,245, plus a $39-per-month membership for classes.  </li></ul>

<p>That's what you'd pay if you bought the bikes outright, though financing options are also available. Echelon's starts at $65 per month for 36 months, which includes your annual membership fee.  By comparison, Peloton's is $58 per month for 39 months and include an annual membership fee. (Just FYI: each company requires you to prequalify for monthly financing should you decide to go that route.) Similarly, both bikes come with 30-day free return policies and one-year warrantees.</p>

<h1>  Bike Size, Setup, And Hardware  </h1>

<ul><li> Peloton's bike measures 48" x 24" and comes with home delivery and set-up. </li><li> Echelon's bike measures 54" x 20", arrives via mail, and requires self-assembly.  </li></ul>

<p>Peloton's sleek, compact, and super quiet machine has been its calling card from the get-go. The sophisticated piece of equipment fits pretty much anywhere, while the near-silent belt drive keeps early-morning rides from disrupting sleeping loved ones. In addition of home delivery, they'll also pick it up if you decide you don't want it, after all.</p>

<p>Unlike Peloton, Echelon's bikes don't come with a set-up crew, and you're responsible for mailing yours back in the original box (and paying a $100 restocking fee) if you don't love it.</p>

<ul><li> Peloton requires Delta-compatible spin shoes, which it sells for $125, or spin shoe converters, which cost $25.  </li><li> You can use any SPD spin shoes with Echelon's bike, or wear sneakers and use its toe cages instead.  </li></ul>

<p>Peloton's Delta-compatible clip-in pedals ensure you're truly connected to your bike throughout your ride. But they require you to have the right pair of spin shoes, which Peloton sells for another $125. (You can buy just the cleats, which attach to the bottom of any cycling shoe, for $25).</p>

<p>Echelon's pedals, meanwhile, are compatible with SPD cleats. (Echelon sells shoes for $99.) One perk here: Echelon's pedals also feature adjustable toe cages if you prefer to skip the spin shoes altogether and ride in your regular sneaks. </p>

<p><strong> <strong> Display </strong> </strong></p>

<ul><li> Peloton bikes come with a 22-inch HD touchscreen monitor </li><li> Echelon's EX-5S features a 21.5-inch touchscreen that flips 180-degrees for off-bike workouts.  </li></ul>

<p>Peloton's massive touchscreen creates a truly immersive experienceand sets the bar high for competitors. In the 4,000-plus reviews on Peloton's site, riders often call out the in-studio experience, supported by the bike's huge display, as one of their favorite features.</p>

<p>Peloton is also famous for its live leaderboard, which provides real-time metrics and stacks you up against other riders, without distracting from the class experience. </p>

<p>For Echelon, the EX-5S is the brand's first foray into a touchscreen-equipped spin experience. It also has a display that includes a live leaderboard and real-time metrics in a format quite similar to Peloton's.</p>

<p><strong> <strong> Resistance </strong> </strong></p>

<ul><li> Peloton uses a gradual resistance system. </li><li> Echelon operates on 32 levels of magnetic resistance.  </li></ul>

<p>The two bikes don't differ too much here. Though, Peloton's gradual resistance has a rep for being impeccably smooth, Echelon's 32 levels of magnetic resistance get the job done, too.</p>

<p><strong> <strong> Free Weights </strong> </strong></p>

<ul><li> Neither bike comes stock with dumbbells, but they are available to purchase separately.  </li></ul>

<p>Here, again, Peloton and Echelon EX-5S break about even. Both bikes include a weight rack behind the seat but neither base package includes dumbbells for it. You can buy one-, two-, or three-pound dumbbells from Peloton for $25 a set, while Echelon sells a two-pound set for $19.99. </p>

<ul><li> Peloton offers up to 14 live spin classes per day, plus a library stocked with on-demand options.  </li><li> Echelon, similarly offers daily live classes and on-demand workouts, but reviewers warn of glitchy connections and app crashes.  </li></ul>

<p>Perhaps Peloton's most appealing asset is its pretty much <a id="2de8c110-dd0b-3d42-af39-34e31cba1947" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a25399456/peloton-app-yoga-meditation/">  bottomless selection of classes </a> (both on and off the bike). Plus, Peloton's classes are lead by some of the best instructors in the game and are set to motivating playlists. With up to 14 live rides per day and the ability to filter through thousands of on-demand rides based on length, theme, music genre, difficulty level, and more, there is truly a class for every rider and every moodall filmed in Peloton's sleek New York City studio. TBH, the brand's classes (and overall user experience) can't be beat.</p>

<p>Frankly, Echelon struggles to compare. Though the brand also promises daily live rides and a deep pool of on-demand classes (both on and off the bike) that you can filter by time and instructor (and an interface that looks much like Peloton's), <a id="364b6eea-dfca-3b52-adaa-7b14e0f2a653" href="https://www.amazon.com/Echelon-Connect-EX5/dp/B07XPC1RTP/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Echelon&amp;qid=1584632036&amp;sr=8-4&amp;th=1">  reviewers complain </a> of glitchy software like app crashes and Bluetooth connectivity issues.</p>

<p><strong> The bottom line: </strong>  If you want the best-of-the-best home spin experience and have cash to spare, the Peloton is worth every penny. However, if you're looking for a more economical option for your cardio and endorphins boost, the Echelon EX-5S gets the job done.</p>

Can Peloton Be Beat By This Budget-Friendly Bike?

Of all the great debates going on in the fitness world right now <a id="26881146-0078-3957-a557-dd27949558ee" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a29135601/heavy-or-light-weights-workout/">  light vs heavy weights </a> , <a id="0191d089-9ba3-39a7-aaf9-c7108d15b4d9" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a26306128/cycling-vs-running/">  cycling vs running </a> , <a id="feb9a570-00c6-302f-acaa-726be193c3dc" href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a28641741/cardio-before-a...

Echelon Vs Peloton: How These Two Super Buzzy At-Home Bikes Actually Compare

<p>Usually, though, I spend a good five minutes staring at the rows and rows of cartons at the grocery store before settling on which dozen I'll bring home. Despite my tendency to go for the fancy-looking brown eggs (and pay the price), I often wonder whether theyre really any better than plain ol white eggs. </p>

<p>I got to the bottom of the brown eggs versus white eggs situation, so you can go from supermarket to sunny-side-up a whole lot quicker. </p>

<h1> Eggs actually come in lots of different colors.  </h1>

<p>Though you might think the color of an eggshell says a lot about the egg inside it, it actually only reveals one simple (and not-so-important) bit of info: the breed of hen that laid it. </p>

<p>Yep, an eggs shell color basically reflects the breed of chicken that laid it, says dietitian  , RDN, CDN, author of  . </p>

<p>Leghorn chickens lay white eggs, while Orpington chickens lay brown eggs, according to  . Meanwhile, other chickens produce even more colorful eggs. Ameraucana chickens lay blue eggs, while Olive Eggers produce eggs with an olive green hue.</p>

<p>Though all eggs start out white, different hens essentially dye the shells with varying pigments before releasing them, hence the spectrum of eggs on store shelves. </p>

<h1>  Brown eggs are not necessarily better for you.   </h1>

<p>Because brown looks like a more natural color and sticks out more, it often gives the impression that brown eggs are healthier, Taub-Dix says. But thats really not true.</p>

<p>Remember: The color of an eggs shell has nothing to do with its <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19960286/calories-in-eggs/" id="6dc2eba4-9dfb-359d-ac97-f06756dcb0db">  nutritional quality </a> . All eggs are generally good sources of vitamins D and B12, and an inexpensive source of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a19892506/high-protein-foods/" id="bf25c91e-f4a6-3aec-ab4f-7494849f54e4">  high-quality protein </a> , Taub-Dix says.</p>

<p>Like many other products, brown eggs are simply marketed to us as healthier and more natural. </p>

<p>I can\'t tell you how many people who are trying to be healthier say to me, Oh, I always splurge on the brown eggs.\'\"</p>

<p>Ultimately, quality comes down to the kind of environment the chicken lives in, she explains. Raise two different types of chickens in the same conditions and on the same feed, and though their eggs may look different, theyll offer similar nutrition.</p>

<p>Side note: In some cases, changes in the eggshell color of a particular chickens eggs can indicate defects or issues, says  . (If a hens usually-white eggs start popping out slightly yellow, for example, shes stressed AF.) However, while these issues might affect a shells shade, they wont turn a brown egg completely white or vice versa. </p>

<h1>  The color of the egg doesn't change the flavor, either.   </h1>

<p>Just as an eggshells color doesnt affect the nutritional value of its contents, it also doesnt mess with flavor. </p>

<p>In fact, for decades,   have identified a chickens diet as the biggest influence on the flavor of its eggs. The amount of fat a hen eats, for example, has a notable impact. (Again, its the chickens environment that really matters!)</p>

<p>An eggs freshnessand how its storedcan also affect how it tastes. According to  , eggs stored near strong-smelling foods (like in the refrigerator) often absorb some of their flavor.</p>

<h1>  But you're not just imagining itbrown eggs do seem to cost more.   </h1>

<p>Food companies use the au naturale look of brown eggs to advertise them as better for you, and they also use that logic to sell brown eggs at a higher cost. </p>

<p>Its all about marketing, says Taub-Dix. I can't tell you how many people who are trying to be healthier say to me, Oh, I always splurge on brown eggs.</p>

<p>However, there might be one legitimate reason why some brown eggs sport a higher price tag: The breed of chicken that lays brown eggs tends to be larger and may cost more to feed and raise, Taub-Dix explains. </p>

<h1>  Here's how to actually pick the best eggs at the store.   </h1>

<p>While the color of an eggs shell may not say much about its quality, that doesnt mean all the eggs in your supermarket are created equal. </p>

<p>Its all about the kind of environment the chickens are raised in, Taub-Dix says. </p>

<p>Everything from what the chickens eat to whether they live in indoor cages or out on a pasture matters. ( suggests that chickens who get plenty of sunshine produce eggs that contain higher levels of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/conditions/a707531/vitamin-d-deficiency/" id="8577bf29-77bd-334c-a0e0-accdc946e258">  vitamin D </a> .)</p>

<p>To pick out the healthiest carton, look for terms like: </p>

<ul><li> USDA Organic: This means that your eggs came from chickens raised without exposure to pesticides, commercial fertilizers, GMO feed, or antibiotics (unless theyre sick). </li><li> <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a19925449/do-you-really-need-an-omega-3-supplement/">Omega-3</a> Enriched: According to Taub-Dix, these eggs come from chickens fed algae or fish oil to boost the amount of omega-3s in their eggs. </li><li> Certified Humane: This non-profit certification promises that food products have come from facilities that meet precise, objective standards for farm animal treatment. </li></ul>

<p>Sad but true: A lot of the other buzzy terms you see on egg cartons arent regulated by the government, says Taub-Dix, which means that although they may sound great, they dont necessarily mean much. A few to be wary of: </p>

<ul><li> Natural </li><li> Cage-free </li><li> Free-range </li></ul>

<p>Ultimately, the only way to know where your eggs come from (and their resulting quality) is to scrutinize that cartonnot the color of what's inside.</p>

<p><strong> The bottom line:  </strong> The color of your eggs doesn't matter, but the way the chickens that hatched those eggs were raised does. </p>

Whats The Difference Between White & Brown Eggs?

What’s The Difference Between White & Brown Eggs?

As a long-time lover of a nice, <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/g22814518/egg-recipes-for-breakfast/" id="7c046274-ef2b-38d8-aa2e-5773ef120fcb">  runny egg yolk </a> , I always stock my fridge with a dozen (or two!) eggs.

What’s The Difference Between White And Brown Eggs? Nutritionists Weigh In

Politics

Local

World

News

Celebrities

Music

Movies

Entertainment

Sports 

Fashion

Beauty & Health

Relationships & Weddings

Food & Travel

Lifestyle

Domestic

International 

Business

About

Highlights

Selection Criteria

Jury

Terms And Conditions

FAQs

Pulse Influencer Awards

Courses

Careers

Explore categories

Pulse Kenya is the most followed news and entertainment platform in Kenya. It informs and engages young Kenyans around the clock and provides updates by the hour.