Hilarious Toddler Burpees and Weekly Goals

Hey friends!  Happy Monday!  I hope you had a good weekend.  Mine was pretty decent.  I did my usual routine of teaching indoor cycling at Beyond Pedaling on Saturday and teaching Turbo Kick at 24 Hour Fitness on Sunday.  I also went to a beautiful wedding on Saturday evening for one of my college friends from Cornell.  As a pleasant surprise, I ran into one of Turbo Kick students at the wedding!  She happens to be a friend of the bride – small world!  We had a blast, danced our booties off and ate a lot of wedding cake.  Good times had by all.  Unlike last weekend, I didn’t do any shopping this weekend (tear), but I did get some much-needed time at home to rest and rejuvenate.  Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Yesterday my cousin, Juliette (AKA my “sister” because we spent every waking moment together as kids), sent me this hilarious video of her daughter, Violet, doing “post-dinner burpees.” Violet is almost 2 years old.  Violet’s got GRIT.  Juliette and her husband, Todd, are cheering Violet on as a she has blast doing the exercise that most of us dread. Check out the video below for a little Monday morning chuckle.  Mom and dad are still working on her burpee form, but if that’s not raw talent I don’t know what is, haha.  You can get awesome recipes, words of wisdom and humorous reflections on Juliette’s blog, A Life Less Tragic.

So… this week I’m personally going through a MAJOR life transition, which I’ll elaborate on next week once it fully registers.  In the meanwhile, I’m focusing on some positive weekly goals to help me stay emotionally stable, productive and healthy.  I wrote down these goals in my day planner and after looking them over, I figured it’d be a good idea to share on today’s post.  If these goals help me (potentially), maybe they can help you too…

In case you’ve never tried Lemon/Cucumber water, you can get the details here – it is naturally detoxifying and tasty!

I hope you have a wonderful week and strive to achieve these gritty weekly goals for yourself.

Show your GRIT! Luv, Brit

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DIY Cardio Kickboxing Workout – Have fun, get sweaty, blast calories!


Hola Friends!  Hope your week is off to a good start.  It’s Tuesday, which for me means workout time!  Most of you know that I’m huge fan of cardio kickboxing (Turbo Kick in particular) so I wanted to create a DIY kickboxing workout that you can do in the comfort of your own home.  All you have to do is turn on a 30 minute playlist of your fav upbeat jams and then rock out as you power through these exercises…

This workout requires NO equipment.  However, you can wear weighted gloves for some simultaneous muscle toning.  For the best cardio conditioning, try to complete the circuit four times in 30 minutes (this includes 3 – 2minute rest sections).  Stay light on your toes and keep your abs engaged with each exercise.  You can expect to be super sweaty and burn 350-450 calories.  For a little extra entertainment value, here’s a video of me rocking out some cardio kickboxing at Turbo Kick last Saturday.  Now it’s your turn – enjoy!  Luv, Brit

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Weekend Recap: Manicures, Ice Cream, Pole Dancing & More!

Hello ladies and gents.  Hope you are wrapping up a lovely weekend.  Mine weekend was super busy (just how I like it).  Last week I didn’t have to travel to Chicago for work because it was a shorter week with Labor Day.  This gave me the opportunity to go to my favorite fitness classes in the evenings and volunteer at my community placement with the Junior League of Dallas.  On Friday, I woke up super early, made some black coffee and taught my 6am spin class at 24 Hour Fitness.  I LOVE my playlist right now – “Undressed” by Kim Cesarion is my jam!

Up early enjoying my coffee in all of my Cornell gear – GO BIG RED!

After class I showered at the gym and headed to my office in Downtown Dallas to work for the day.  We had breakfast tacos catered in from Taco Cabana – yummy!  After catching up with my colleagues, completing my expense reports and finishing some client work, I scurried over to the nail salon for a mani/pedi.  Now that its September, I got a Fall color – “chinchilly” by Essie .  What do you guys think?  What’s your favorite Fall nail polish color?  Also, I had a major sweet tooth and treated myself to a McDonald’s ice cream cone (only 140 calories – not terrible right?)

Showin’ off my mani and enjoying my Mickey D’s ice cream cone (yes I needed to get some gas – I was “Ridin’ on E”)

On Friday night I went our for a sushi dinner with my friend Casey.  I love that my friends are so engaging and positive.  Just being around positive people can totally put a smile on my face.  It’s like sunshine.  We didn’t stay out too late because on Saturday mornings I teach PiYo for the W Dallas Hotel.  Class was PACKED this weekend (as you can see).  I think everyone was trying work of the Labor Day BBQ…or just savor some fun in the sun.  It was a hot, sweaty BLAST!

Teaching my PiYo class last Saturday. I threw in some extra ab work 😉

I chilled out and ran a couple of errands on Saturday afternoon.  That evening I had a BALL at my little sister’s 23rd birthday party.  My sister, Kortani, is a Texas Tech Varsity Pom Squad alumn and now dances for the Dallas Cowboys.  She decided to throw a pole-dancing party for her b-day and invited all of her dancer friends.  I was super intimidated.  We ended up drinking wine, dancing and have a really good time trying out new moves on the pole.  My mom came along and took lots of pics.  Long story short, I have so much respect for girls who can legitimately pole dance – HOLY CORE STRENGTH!

Kortani (sis), Lexi (her Yorkie), Mom and Me enjoying b-day cake and food after the pole-dancing!
My sister 23rd birthday pole-facing party! That’s the whole crew and our instructor – so fun!
Woo hoo – I got up there! #twerkin

This morning I had a some quiet time and reflected on my week and what I want to happen during the week ahead.  I skipped church today (oops – don’t tell my mom).  For breakfast I toasted a whole wheat English muffin and topped it with almond butter and strawberry preserves.  I also made a giant pot of black coffee which I sipped slowly throughout the morning.  I need to start being careful about my caffeine intake – I’m a coffee junkie!  Drinking lots of water it critical if you’re a heavy coffee drinker like me.  While I enjoyed my breakfast I also learned some new moves for my Sunday afternoon Turbo Kick class – teaching Round 62.   Have any of you ever taken a Turbo Kick class?  If not, I highly recommend.  Especially if you take it with me 🙂

Spending my Sunday morning learning new Turbo Kick choreography for class!

After my Turbo Kick class I stopped by parents house to watch a little bit of the Cowboys game.  After seeing that it was going to be a total disaster, I cut my watching time short and headed home to clean up my place and chill.  I was so happy that the orange roses I bought 4 days ago are still alive and kicking.  They are the perfect touch to my little bachelorette pad.  I’m going to have to throw them away tonight though because I’m catching a 6am flight to Chicago tomorrow morning for work.

Enjoying fresh flowers in my clean bachelorette pad!

Now I’m packing up and getting ready to wake up early.  I still need to plan my workouts for the week.  Maybe I’ll do my old trusty hotel room workout tomorrow night.  What are your workout plans?  

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead filled with fun, fun and more fun!  Lots of luv, Brit

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Double Duty – Pursuing Fitness and Business Goals

Happy Monday everyone!  Today I’m celebrating my 30th birthday – woop woop!  I threw a massive “GRIT by Brit” themed birthday party last weekend.  Long story short, it was the best night of the my life.  DJ, dancing, cupcakes, family and friends – what more could I ask for?  I have lots of pics and stories to share with you guys so be on the lookout.  I’ll post them soon!  Here’s a sneak peak in the meanwhile…

Celebrating my 30th Birthday in Herve Leger!

In honor of my milestone birthday, I decided to use an entire week of vacation time to stay home from my corporate career and teach fitness classes all over Dallas!  If you are local to Dallas, come join me for a class!  My schedule is below.  Also, I’ve added a new Google calendar (to the right side panel) so you guys can keep up with my teaching schedule each week.  YAY!

Brit’s Group Fitness Teaching Schedule, Dallas, TX

  • Mon 7/14, 5:30pm – Indoor Cycling, 24 HF Royal
  • Mon 7/14, 7:00pm – Turbo Kick, 24 HF Mockingbird
  • Wed 7/16, 12:00pm – Indoor Cycling, 24 HR Downtown
  • Thurs 7/17, 6:30pm – Turbo Kick, 24 HF Coit/Campbell
  • Fri 7/18, 6:00am – Indoor Cycling, 24 HF Downtown
  • Sat 7/19, 9:00am – PiYo, W Dallas Hotel Wetdeck
  • Sun 7/20, 3:00pm – TurboKick, 24 HF Mesquite

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while know that fitness is not my full-time profession, but rather a passion that I pursue in conjunction with my consulting career.  While balancing the two can be challenging, I find that writing this blog and teaching fitness classes actually helps me in my corporate career.  Recently I did an interview with my alma mater, Harvard Business School, to share details of my “double duty” life.  You can read the full article here.  I hope my experiences encourage you to pursue your interests and put in the work to get everything you want out of life!  Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done – with hard work, faith and confidence, ALL THINGS are possible.  Have a great week.  xoxo, Brit

Do you have a passion that you wish you spent more time pursuing?  

What’s your side hustle?

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Target® C9 Activewear Review and Sexy Shoulder Workout

I’ve always been fan of “Tarjay” so when I was asked to review the new Target® C9 activewear, I gladly accepted!  Better yet when I went to purchase my gear, I stumbled upon the surprise of finding C9 activewear on sale – buy 1 piece get the 2nd half off!   There were tons of bright colors and pattern combinations so you can mix and match the tanks and shorts. I bought both the light pink and navy Sporty Layered Run Tank + Run Shorts for under $30.  This is a perfect example of why I love Target®.  The product styles are always on trend and the price is affordable.  One of the GRIT by Brit core beliefs is we do not have to be wealthy to be healthy.  To further that, we also don’t have to be wealthy to feel and look good while living a healthy lifestyle 🙂

Now, a little more about my C9 activewear…

The tank top is layered with a sports bra built-in – YES!  Not only is the design cute, but it’s also functional.  It provides good bust support and the material is light and breezy so I stayed cool while working up a sweat.  I also appreciate the vertical stripe pattern on the back which has a slimming effect (a good look).  The shorts have a wide knit waist band that’s made of this dri-fit material.  Like most running shorts, they also have built-in underwear that are made of the same dri-fit material.  I spent about 10 minutes on the rowing machine and another 15 minutes on the Stair Stepper – fortunately, the shorts didn’t ride up my thighs or annoyingly rub against my skin as I moved.

Overall, I’m very happy with my purchases.  I do wish that the shorts had the same cool multicolored design as the sports bra.  However, my friends always make fun of me for being too “matchy” so maybe it’s a good thing that the shorts are a simple navy with light pink trim.  What do you think?

Target® C9 activewear GRIT by Brit
Rockin’ Target® C9 active wear before my workout – posing pretty 🙂

Along with my product review and I want to share this workout video.  You guys know I’m always creating home workouts and on the lookout for new moves to incorporate into my routine.  This Sexy Shoulders workout definitely gets my stamp of approval.  I did the workout after my cardio and felt very toned and confident in my racer back tank top – I  encourage you to give the Sexy Shoulder Workout a whirl!

Hopefully you guys enjoy the workout AND head to Target® to get some super cute C9 activewear.  Personally, I felt good and still looked (pretty) good after finishing the Sexy Shoulder Workout – see my sweaty photos below.  Lots of luv!  xoxo, Brit

picstitch (1)
Sweaty (but still in style) post Sexy Shoulder Workout. Top: Target® C9 Women’s Sporty Layered Run Tank; Shorts: Target® C9 Women’s Run Short with Knit Waistband

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® C9 through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9, all opinions are my own.
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Live More, Worry Less, Have #GRIT

stay strong_fb

Hello everyone! I want to wish you a wonderful week and an even better (US) holiday ahead.  Remember to enjoy some down time with those you love and simply savor the holiday.  Of course I want you to squeeze in a workout at some point, but most importantly, take some time to unplug, relax and appreciate all the good stuff.

Last but not least, I’ve picked a winner for my 4th of July Sweaty Bands Giveaway.  Congrats Christine!  Huge shout out to you for prioritizing exercise while studying for the MCAT – phew!  I hope you make time to sleep.  In case you guys missed Christine’s workout plans, here’s what she has in store…

“This summer, I’ve been spending a lot of time studying for my mcat this coming august. Exercise had been a huge stress relief of mine, and I’ve recently gotten into running! I hope to accomplish a 5k by the end of this summer, so this 4th of July weekend will consist of running along the bayou–my goal is to do a 2.5 mile stretch in one go. I also plan on doing a bit of cross training by getting some laps in at the pool and balancing out my cardio by doing a few Pilates routines. During my study breaks, I want to try your 20 min cardio workout!” – Christine

Also, SURPRISE, I actually got an extra Sweaty Band so I picked a 2nd winner.  Congrats Tory!  You stole my heart when you mentioned Tae Bo.  I always have been and always will be a Billy Blanks fan.  Here are Tory’s workout plans for the weekend…

“I’m planning on working out indoors, because of the heat and humidity that’s forecasted for this week. Over this past weekend I brushed the dust off my old Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVDs.  They are fun and provide me with a great workout. Now that I’ve seen your ’20 Minute Cardio Workout’, planning on alternating this workout with the 30 minute, Tae Bo workouts.  For fun outdoors workouts, it’s all about the water workouts! I’m planning having some playtime with my kids to cool off and get in some laps in the pool.” – Tory

Thanks to everyone who shared their weekend workout plans.  Knowing that others will be up and active always encourages me to get moving. Have a happy 4th of July and remember show your #GRIT.  Lots of luv, Brit  


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20 Day Burpee Challenge – When life knocks you down, do a burpee!

Hey Gang! I’m kicking off a new physical challenge to get in tip-top shape for the Summer.  Burpees are one of my favorite exercises – I always try to incorporate them into my Turbokick and PiYo fitness classes.  Burpees are designed to build muscular and cardio endurance, so expect to be out of breath! Not only does the mega move blast calories it also provides excellent strength training for the entire body, especially the core.  Below is a 20-day challenge that I plan to start tomorrow.  The goal is to be able to do 60 consecutive burpees by Day 20…burpee challengeIn case you’ve never done the burpee exercise before, here’s a simple info-graphic providing step by step instructions…

HowToDoBurpee

Once you’ve got the move down, join me for the challenge!  Be sure to share you progress on our Facebook page or post a comment below.   Be strong and have a wonderful week! xoxo, Brit

GRIT by Brit Burpee

 

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Be a Doer not a Dreamer

Strength-GandhiHey gang, here’s little mid-week motivation to keep you going till the weekend.  First off, in case you don’t know what indomitable means (I didn’t) here’s the definition:

in·dom·i·ta·ble

 [in-dom-i-tuh-buhl]  Show IPA

adjective: that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior. (source: dictionary.com)

Remember, the happiest and most successful people don’t always have the most strength,  talent or the clearest dreams, but they do have the WILL and WORK ETHIC to succeed.  On a related note, I was super motivated by Shonda Rhimes recent commencement speech at Dartmouth University.  She kept it extra real while advising recent graduates to be “doers” and not “dreamers.”  I wanted to share the video with you as some food for thought as we wrap up the week.  Keep on fighting the good fight – you got this! xoxo, Brit

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Why I Love Group Fitness…and you should too

Circa 1990 I had my first group fitness experience which entailed me attending a Jazzercise class with my mom at our local recreation center. All I remember is the instructor yelling at my mom because I was too young to take the class. So, I sat on the sideline and moped for an hour every week. Never did I think that I’d eventually become a group fitness instructor.

3 years ago, today, I completed my first instructor certification. It was for TurboKick which remains my favorite group fitness format of all time. As you guys know, I’ve always been an athlete and active on sports teams ranging from intramural to NCAA Division 1. If you prefer to work with a personal trainer there are plenty available, for example if you’re looking for personal trainer in Melbourne, you could check out getgoingpt.com. But group fitness has allowed me to experience a different kind of passion, motivation and fun that I never experienced in team sports. So, today I wanted to do a special tribute to Group Fitness. No matter the format (e.g. Zumba, Spinning, Yoga, Pilates, Kickboxing, CrossFit, etc.) , group fitness is all good…If you’re thinking of starting up a fitness business, take a look at the revenue management system offered by TSG so that you can keep a close eye on your finances.

It feels so good to hear everyone’s experiences with fitness. One of my fitness friends told me how she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to exercise after having children but she found out about au pairs (visit Cultural Care Au Pair to find out more or to become one) and because she had room in her house she decided to host one so she was able to keep up her fitness.

Pics from some of my favorite group fitness classes across the country: Vixen Workout (Miami), TurboKick (NYC & Dallas), PiYo (Dallas W Hotel) , Les Mills Body Pump (NYC & Dallas

Here are the reasons why I love group fitness and you should too!

  • FUN – I wholeheartedly believe that the only way to commit to a regular fitness regimen is to a find a workout that’s fun for you! Group fitness has a fun factor that I can’t experience while working out alone. My advice: Find a group fitness class that you enjoy and you’ll always be fit. Fitness should be enjoyed as a hobby rather than dreaded as a chore.
  • Passion Once you find a class that you enjoy, you’ll naturally want to get better and learn more about it. It becomes a passion. Now, I actually look forward to my workouts and want to continuously improve in them.
  • Fit Friends – I’ve met some of my best friends in group fitness classes. Knowing my”fit friends” religiously attend class helps keep me accountable for showing up.
  • Effective – Most classes are designed to deliver a comprehensive workout meaning that you’ll work all major muscles groups during a strength-focused class and/or adequately elevate your heart rate during a cardio-focused class .
  • Positive Vibes – Group fitness instructors are trained to motivate their classes. While some are better than others, it’s nice to have someone leading you through a workout and encouraging you along the way. Also, unlike sports, there’s less competition so you can focus on your workout and enjoy the process.
  • Music – Most classes are choreographed or motivated by music. Music is a natural energy booster and encourages us to work harder without realizing it. (P.S. Have you checked out my latest playlist?)
  • Save Money – While I’m a big fan of personal training, I simply can’t afford it on an ongoing basis. I’ve found that small group fitness classes such as Nike Training Club or other boot camps provide similar results at much lower price.
  • Power in NumbersNobody wants to be the weakest link. Being surrounded by other people who are working hard provides instant motivation to do 15 push ups when we only want to do 10.
  • Variety – Workout routines are continuously changing which is great for muscle confusion to prevent fitness complacency. When working out alone, we often stick to our usual program (30 minutes on the elliptical + some abs) which is not effective for increasing our fitness level or losing weight.

Hopefully this post inspires you to check out a group fitness class this week. If so, let me know how it goes! xoxo, Brit

 

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5 Tips to Ensure Good Health

breathe-deep

I’ve been getting over a cold the past few weeks which had me feeling pretty groggy.  Thank God I don’t sick very often, but when I do I recognize a pattern of  lifestyle changes that largely contribute to my lack of health.  For instance,  I get sick when I overindulge, get stressed out or spend minimal time doing activities that energize me (like teaching fitness classes).  I saw this quote and loved it because it rings so true to my personal health.  Of course I added some “GRIT by Brit flare” and elaborated on each point with my colorful commentary.   I hope these words of wisdom keep you healthy today, tomorrow and forevermore! xoxo, Brit

1. Eat Lightly

Eating well and eating lightly are two different things.  I have several friends, including me, who overeat because we are eating “healthy” foods.  This is not a good look.  Hopefully you read the guest post I featured on Intuitive Eating.  If not, go check it out.  Bottom line is that overeating may cause temporary satisfaction but it ultimately leads to sickness, obesity and even depression.

2. Breathe Deeply

Breathing deeply requires to us to tap in to our diaphragm and “fill up our bellies” with air. I learned the technique and value of breathing deeply through my yoga practice. I find that deep breaths calm my nerves and help me process my thoughts. “Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.” (Source: Harvard Medical School)

3. Live Moderately

It is possible to have too much of a good thing.  As much as I love to travel and socialize, I have to be mindful of getting burnt out.  The same goes for sipping wine, shopping, investing in relationships, etc. Every few weeks it’s a good idea for me stay in, not make any plans for the weekend and just chill on my couch with a few good books.   To ensure good health, we must be mindful of aiming for moderation in all aspects of life – even the good stuff.

4. Cultivate Cheerfulness

Nothing brings about sickness more than sadness.   Go out of your way to be cheerful.  For me, the trick is to never allow myself to get really down in the dumps.  I mean, obviously life brings about some serious challenges and it’s healthy to grieve.  However, I believe in the laws of Physics.  A body in motion, stays in motion.   A mind that starts cultivating negative thoughts continues to cultivate negative thoughts.  It takes a TON of energy to perform a 180 degree turn.  It’s a lot easier to move forward in the direction you are already headed.   So make a conscious effort to cultivate cheerfulness even during tough times – Fake it till you make it!

5. Maintain An Interest In Life

I find that my interest in life diminishes when I’m feeling hopeless.  To me, being hopeful about life and being interested in life go hand in hand.  Life is crazy complex but it always works out for the good.  So stay hopeful.  Be interested in helping others, observing beauty and seeking the happy ending.  This curiosity will initiate a personal vitality and internal energy to help ensure good health.

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