Author: Brit Rettig Wold

Hey squad - welcome to my blog! I'm Brit (short for Brittani) - hard working boss babe entrepreneur who quit my long time corporate career to follow my passion and start my own business. Currently I own and operate 3 brick and mortar boutique fitness studios and an online virtual fitness studio called GRIT by Brit // GRIT Fitness. My husband Zach and I live in Dallas, TX with our awesome morkie pup, Pearl (no grit no pearl). We just bought our first home and hope to add some cute little mixed babies to our family soon. I started this blog in 2012 it's be an amazing creative outlet to share my life experiences and encourage other women. Come here if you're looking for content about, building your own business, personal growth, trying to conceive a baby, building a family and living an active and healthy lifestyle (at the same damn time). I'm passionate about inspiring women to pursue their dreams and to persevere through challenges, knowing God's got our backs and the best is yet to come! Thank you for visiting and keep in touch!
Posted on

Urban Wandering

This weekend I went to NYC to hang with some friends and scope out the scene. I’ve been contemplating a move from the Big D to the Big Apple over the past few weeks. That said my friends labeled this trip as my “official recruiting” visit.

On Saturday morning I hit up the Derek Jeter 24 Hour Fitness in Midtown to get my usual 2-hour Saturday detox on. I had a sick Turbo Kick workout my girl Natalie (follow her @natalieughling) – one of my favorite NYC group fitness instructors and also the new face of Under Armor Women. After that, I did my 1st full-hour TRX Suspension Training class = KILLER CORE WORK and body weight resistance training. I felt nice and tight for the remainder of the weekend. I highly recommend you give it a whirl.

While wandering the Urban Jungle I hit up a street market in West Village, a roof top party near Gramercy Park, The Ramble and Alice’s Tea Cup in Central Park (you must try the pumpkin/caramel scone) and finally a b-day brunch/Soul Parade in Harlem. Let’s just say, this was a successful “recruiting visit” …

I’m feeling refreshed and optimistic for the week ahead. Here are some of my personal photos for you to peruse. Enjoy and Happy Monday 🙂

West Village impromptu “photo shoot”

(rockin’ my Hadliegh’s Bespoke slippers – constant movement is key)

Roof Top Action

Happiest birthday to my buddy Matt (@mattsalz)

Harlem Shakin’

Happy Birthday to my girl Charlotte (co-founder of www.teamfnom.com – check them out!)

All good things must come to an end…

Toppin’ off the weekend with a cup of Joe on my way home

Posted on

4-week challenge: Lak’s Week 1 Update

Hey Gang – Lakshmi has completed her 1st week of the 4-week challenge and is lookin’ mighty fine!  Keep up with her progress and send in your notes of encouragement.  You can see my comments and words of advice throughout her update.  Have a great weekend!  – Brit

SEXY IN BLACK

Week 1 of my Grit by Brit 4-week challenge is almost done. Here are some successes, failures (let’s call them, “opportunities for improvement” – I don’t like the word “failures”) and things I’ve learned. I haven’t lost any weight, but I’m feeling sleeker:

Successes:

  • I rocked the workout schedule. My muscles have been in a constant state of soreness this week (in a good way) – eat a banana to help with soreness
  • Chugging water like woah. I may have had more than 2L a day
  • I managed to follow the ‘no simple carbs after 4 pm’ rule (for the most part)
  • I’ve only been snacking at night. Breakfast and lunch have become my main meals
  • I’ve been watching my food intake. Just being conscious of the food I’m eating is an improvement

Opportunities for Improvement

  • Well on Sunday, I went to dinner. The menu didn’t say my meal came with rice (I ordered specifically because no carbs were listed). But it did. And I ate it
  • I may have gamed the system. Find me around 3:50 pm, you’ll see me downing some carbs in preparation for my 4 pm deadline – this is okay, it’s a start
  • Perchance all my eating decisions weren’t all perfect before 4 pm. I could have made healthier choices, but the new hires at work were training in the office and there was SO MUCH extra food. Eating for free v. eating right…it’s a toss up. Penny pinching won
  • I could have eaten more vegetables. I found myself having more almonds than raw vegetables
  • I’ve hit the 3 drink limit for the week (it was a social week). And I’m going to a wedding this weekend…uh oh

Things I’ve Learned:

  • Make others accountable for your eating decisions. Everyone at work knows I’m on the Grit by Brit plan. So when I’m teased by some delicious snack in the office kitchen, my co-workers intervened with some humiliating comment like “you can’t eat that.” You lose all your dignity, but hopefully you also lose your weight
  • If you eat a big lunch, you don’t need a big dinner. I’m not hungry right now. I can’t believe it
  • Water makes you feel good. I’m finally hydrated!

Questions for Brit

  • Can I eat quinoa after 4 pm? Yes in moderation
  • Do you have any good recommendations for what to eat at night? Nothing, drink water, why do you need fuel to sleep??

Lots of love boo – keep up the good work!

Brit 😉

Posted on

Grind It Out Workout

Happy Monday

Work hard, be blessed and be a blessing to others!

Here’s the workout I made for myself to do this evening. Try it out and let me know what you think. I’ll do it as soon as I get off work today .

  • Workout Name: Brit’s Grind It Out Workout
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Calories Burned: 400 – 500
  • Focus: Lower body toning and overall calorie burn
  • Equipment needed: Treadmill or outdoor hill, hand weights (optional)

Posted on

NEW 4-week challenge: Chi-town shape up w/Lakshmi

I’m kicking off a new 4-week challenge with my friend, Lakshmi.  Ordinarily, I’d give you my usual song and dance about how we became friends, blah blah blah.  But I think a picture is a worth a 1,000 words when it comes to describing our friendship.  So get to know her, check out her diet and exercise plan (maybe even try it for yourself) and check in every week for her progress reports!

Luv, Brit

Our friendship…

Meet Lakshmi a.k.a “Lak-sheezy”

I’m a girl with good intentions, but I am easily swayed off course. I try to work out each day and am able to eat well until the mid-afternoon. Then I find temptation taking over and a handful of miniature chocolates in my hand. I’ve got some major love for starch and sugar – and I need help curbing the cravings.

My goal is to not change in the short-term, but change in the long-term. I want to fix bad habits. It would be amazing if I could drop some lbs. But mostly I just want to get tone, feel confident about my body, and feel some control in my life.

I’m a consultant with unpredictable hours and very last minute travel. I make it a priority to get to the gym. It’s not always possible, but by in large, I’m there 4 – 6 times a week. My hours are long, which makes cooking and planning meals tough.

Help me!

Exercise – I’m a class girl. Unless someone tells me what to do, I will convince myself it’s okay to stop. The meaner the teacher, the better in my world.

Also, I walk to and from work (25 minutes each way) while listening to a live stream of NPR (how yuppie is that?).

As for my diet…

Breakfast – I try to do oatmeal and coffee. Sometimes I do museli with fruit.

Lunch – Salad or sandwich and a diet soda (I know, I know). On a bad day, I add in chips. And chocolate…

Snack – This is where I falter. My company is really good about supplying snacks. No good deed goes unnoticed, so I find myself often in our snack cabinet foraging for sugar and/or salt. Lately our miniature Hershey chocolates have been by downfall.

Dinner – I like starch, especially potatoes. Today I had some leftover gnocchi. Sometimes it’s a frozen dinner. I am tired when I get home from work (usually 8 or 9), so I’m in no mood to cook for one.

Dessert – I will have a tablespoon of PB. Or chocolate covered bananas from Trader Joe’s (4 pieces)

Here are things I don’t like: Running, chicken (it’s a dirty bird), cold meat on salad (unless it’s tuna), pork, ham, lifting weights

Here are things I’m allergic to: Shellfish, walnuts

Here are things I like: Spinning, yoga, potatoes, french macarons

Also, I’m awesome at taking my vitamins everyday.

Brit’s 4-week shape up plan for Lakshmi

Posted on

Gritty and Nautical

Happy Labor Day everyone!  I hope your weekend was joyous and well.  Mine certainly was.  I went to Boston to celebrate the wedding of one my dearest b-school classmates.  Despite living in Boston for 2 years, I experienced a completely new side of Bean town = Southie.  Usually, I try to stay away from Southie at all costs (read: Gone Baby Gone & The Town), but I was pleasantly surprised by history, “grittiness” and authenticity of the neighborhood.  I enjoyed a nice 5 mile run around the South Harbor and had a killer vegetarian sausage breakfast burrito at Sophia’s.

After the wedding, I hopped a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for a night.  The island exhibited a wealth of racial and cultural diversity (I was expecting to only see Sperry’s and blondes). My friends and I kept up the physical activity with paddle boarding at the beach.  SO FUN!  Took me a while to get my groove.  I definitely bit it like 3 times, but it was totally worth it.  If you’ve never tried paddle boarding, you must.  My core and booty are super sore today 😉

While the food was great and the scenery was unreal, the best part was the company.  As I reflect on the weekend, I’m so grateful for my positive and loving friendships – something I TOO OFTEN taken for granted.  Thank God for good friends.

   

So, here’s to Bean Town, Martha’s Vineyard, and all things Gritty and Nautical.

Me and Dave soaking it all in before heading home

 

 

Posted on

Keep it TIGHT TUESDAY

Here’s the workout I did this evening.  A good mix of cardio and resistance training.  Not too intense, but enough to “keep it tight.” 

Happy Tuesday – enjoy!

Posted on

So…hows your “Personal Vitality” these days?

This week I had to take my annual IBM health assessment to get a  rebate on my health insurance premiums.  I figured it was worth my time to save $150 bucks.  Usually, I breeze through these things because they seems like such a formality, but this time I was intrigued by the survey questions in my “Personal Vitality Assessment.”

I got to thinking…rather than always focusing on my fitness or nutrition, I should frequently take a step back and think about my overall vitality.  Personal vitality measures overall health in 4 key areas:

  • Physical
  • Mental
  • Emotional
  • Purpose – INTERESTING!  (I very much believe that having a sense of individual life purpose is absolutely fundamental to personal happiness and contentment – read more)

Here’s a snap shot of (what I thought) were the most interesting parts of the Personal Vitality assessment.  As you can see, some of my responses are included.  I was going to hide them, but figured you guys would appreciate the honesty/transparency…

PART 1

 

PART 2

I think we could all benefit by asking ourselves these questions on a regular basis.    Doing so may help us understand the areas in our life and in our health habits that need more attention.

Give yourself a Personal Vitality assessment and let me know how it goes – don’t forget an action plan!

Posted on

Fit in 50 Days – GET INVOLVED

Meet my college roommate/basketball teammate and BFF, Sarah!

(see throw back pic to the right…sexy I know)

Sarah is getting married in 50 days,  so she asked me to put a workout plan together for her and her “soon to be hubby,” Jason.  I incorporated several couple’s workouts so they can get some pre-marriage bonding in as well 🙂

Sarah will keep you guys updated on their fitness progress.   Also be sure to stay tuned for pics from the wedding (in which I’ll be a bridesmaid).  By wedding day – these 2 will be  lookin’ mighty fine!

Grab a buddy and try the plan yourself.  You are destined to see results if you STICK WITH IT – enjoy!

Goals & “Before” Pictures

Sarah

  • Height: 5′ 7
  • Weight: 130
  • Goals: lose 5 lbs. More definition in arms, shoulders and back
  •  Diet: Mostly vegetarian with addition of eggs, dairy and turkey

Jason

  • Height: 5′ 8
  • Weight: 177
  • Goals: lose 15 lbs. Shrink belly and build up chest, arms and shoulders. Look killer in a suit! (p.s. Sarah wrote these goals)

         

Workout Plan

Wish them luck!

Posted on

Where Da Ballers At?

  • Workout Name: Basketball Court Workout  by Brit
  • Duration: 45 min – 1 hour
  • Calories burned: 400 – 700
  • Commentary: The fact of the matter is pro basketball players have HOT bodies.  Whether you’re a “pro hooper”, “ex-hooper” or “wanna be hooper,” the basketball court is ALWAYS a great place to get a super effective workout.  The workout I’ve put together incorporates many of the drills I did back in my day plus some basics to burn calories and build endurance.  No matter your skill level, you should be able to get through this workout and increase your fitness level in the process.  Change up your routine and try it out.  Let me know how it goes!

Posted on

4-week challenge ‘Euro Style’ COMPLETE: Sexy, Sexy, Sexy

Jenny has officially completed my 4-week challenge and she looks SMOKIN’ HOT!  Below you can read her final update and see pics from her challenge completion photo shoot.

Lookin’ FIT 50’s style – way to go Jenny! 

Jenny’s biggest lessons of the 4 Week Challenge:
  1. At 28, diet is much more important than it used to be, and all the changes that I used to see so fast take more time.
  2. Also, it is so important for me to keep my workouts fresh, so I don’t burn out or lose motivation.
  3. And finally, slow down a bit – getting sick really sets one back with regard to working out, so it is important to make sure that i’m not pushing myself too hard and wearing myself down.

Regardless, this past four weeks have been great – I look better, feel better  and have done some great new workouts that have really re-motivated me!  I’m more toned, but I still have my curves as you can see above 🙂

If you missed any of Jenny’s earlier updates, you can catch up here: 

Kick Start – Full Plan, Week 1 , Week 2, Week 3