Brit’s 5 Heart Pumpin’ Pumpkin Exercises

October 26, 2015 No Comments

Hey Friends! I made this workout just for you and just in time for Fall! Below, I’ve put together five of my favorite HIIT (high intensity interval training) exercises and substituted a medicine ball with a pumpkin – so festive! To complete the HIIT circuit, do each exercise below for the time duration indicated. Once you finish, rest for 1 minute and then repeat all five exercises 2 more times. The total workout will take you 16-20 minutes and you can expect to burn 250 – 300 calories – woo hoo!

BONUS: I made an instructional video to guide you (scroll to the bottom to watch!)

Pumpkin Jack – Holding the pumpkin at your chest with both hands, press the pumpkin up as you jump your feet together and lower back down and you jump your feet apart. Do as many reps as possible to elevate your heart rate. (40 seconds)
Reverse Lunge with Pumpkin Chop – Holding the pumpkin straight out in-front of your chest with both arms straight, swing the pumpkin down by your right knee as you do a reverse lunge with your left leg. Twist your torso to the side and engage your core and your gluten with each rep. Repeat on the other side. (20 seconds right, 20 seconds left)
Side-to-Side Pumpkin Push – Hold the pumpkin at your chest with both hands then forcefully push the pumpkin away as your turn your body and lunge to the right, then to the left. Alternating lunging and pushing the pumpkin away side to side as many reps as possible. Feel the burn in your shoulders and in your legs. (40 seconds)
Straight Arm Pumpkin Hold With Side Leg Lift – Stand tall, holding the pumpkin straight out in-front of your chest with both arms straight. Balance on one leg and then raise the other leg out to the side to work the core and oblique. Try not to shift your weight side-to-side, but rather keep all of the weight in your stationary leg. Repeat on the other side. (20 seconds right, 20 seconds left)
Pumpkin Squat Jump With 180 Turn – Holding the pumpkin at your chest with both hands, do a deep squat and then jump and turn 180 degrees to face the opposite direction. Keep squat-jumping and turning 180 degrees back and forth for as many reps as possible. (40 seconds)

Cardio

GRIT Game Day Workout

September 21, 2015 No Comments

Who’s enjoying football season?! I am! In fact we are hosting a special GRIT Game Day Workout at my studio on Oct. 17th – all of our clients are wearing their favorite team’s football jersey or t-shirt and we are serving treats and goodies throughout the morning. If you live in Dallas, you should definitely join us for a class or 2, CLICK HERE view the schedule and register. We’re all about FUN + FITNESS 🙂

While Summer is my favorite season, Fall comes in a close 2nd mainly because I Iove football and love the crisp weather. That said, today I’m sharing a super athletic, agility cardio workout that will get you sweating and make you feel like superstar athlete!

Before I get to the workout, first I want to express my sincere apologies for going MIA on the blog the past 2 weeks. As you can imagine, being a small business owner is quite a demanding job. Lately I’ve spent a TON of time trying to standardize and document my processes so I can bring on some full-time help! I’m happy to announce that starting next week I’ll have a full-time front desk staff at GRIT Fitness – yay! This means I can go home at 6pm each night instead of 9pm.

Aright, so here’s the workout you’ve been waiting for. I’m calling it my GRIT Game Day Workout because is focuses on speed and agility – 2 skills needed to be victorious on Game Day! Just watch the video to gain and understanding of the exercises, then put on some of your favorite JOCK JAMZ and get to work!

As an added bonus, here’s a throwback to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Football Field Workout that I created a about a year ago – it’s great in this lovely Fall weather!

Who’s your fav football team?

Have an awesome week! xoxo, Brit

Cardio

20 Minute Cardio Tabata Workout

August 5, 2015 No Comments

Happy Hump Day Friends! I hope your week is going well. I’m counting down the days until my boyfriend and I jet set to Mexico for a much-needed vacation! The past couple of weeks have been crazy busy planning social events for my fitness studio, teaching classes and attending fitness conferences BUT I wouldn’t have it any other way.

While we intend to spend most of our time being lazy on the beach, we’re both gym rats so we made up some efficient and effective Tabata workouts to knock out in the hotel gym. Tabata is a Japanese form of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). You can click here to learn more. Here’s the workout we tried out last week and really enjoyed.

If you want to try the workout, be sure to warm up with light/moderate intensity cardio for 3-5 minutes (e.g. jumping jacks, jog, stationary bike). Also, you will need 1 set of medium/heavy dumbbells (5-10 pounds) and a jump rope. You can expect to burn 200-300 calories in 20 minutes. Better yet, interval training shocks your body so you keep burning calories even after your workout. YEAH BUDDY!

I hope you enjoy and have an awesome day! xoxo, Brit

Cardio, Total Body

Summer Slim Down Circuit

July 22, 2015 No Comments

Image: GRIT Fitness Body Sculpt Classes showing off their strong, sexy bodies after tonight’s class! #nogritnopearl

HELLO FRIENDS! I hope this post finds you joyous as well! We’ve had record class attendance at GRIT Fitness this week so I feel compelled to show some sweaty love and share a new workout I created! Our Body Sculpt and GRIT HIIT classes are very popular for clients who are trying to slim down, so I put together a quick 25 minute Summer Slim Down Circuit that they can do on the road when they can’t make it to the studio. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think. Much love! xoxo, Brit

Cardio, Just for Fun, Total Body

Celebrating 5 Months of Business at GRIT Fitness

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Hey friends! I just finished teaching my 6am GRIT HIIT class at my studio and I’m feeling energized and ready to take on the day. Here’s the workout we did this morning in case you want to give it a whirl on your own! (Do 20 seconds of each exercise then rest for 20 seconds, repeat each round 4 times continuously before moving on to the next round)

GRIT HIIT – June 18, 2015

Round 1

Triple step side to side
Skater leap holding medicine ball

Round 2

Plank Froggers
Forward lunge with medicine ball overhead press

Round 3

Hop on one leg, side to side and front to back (2 rounds right, 2 rounds left)
Side squat with knee raise back to center holding medicine ball

Round 4

Wood chop jumps swinging medicine ball between legs
Chair pose twist jumps alternating sides

Round 5

Plank spider knee pulls (same knee to same elbow)
Full sit up with medicine ball

Today is an extra special day because we’re celebrating 5 months of business of GRIT Fitness! (check out the little slide show I made in honor of our clients and staff) Time flies when you’re having the time of your life. I’m so grateful for every single person who’s taken a class, attended an event or simply shared an encouraging word. I have 100% confidence that the best is yet to come. Here’s to the next 5 months…and the next…and the next!

Have an awesome day! xoxo, Brit

Cardio, Dallas, TX, Total Body

Spring Shape Up Circuit: Running & Strength Interval Workout

March 30, 2015 No Comments

Hello friends! Spring has officially sprung here in Dallas, TX. We enjoyed a gorgeous weekend of sunshine and 75 degree weather. Some of my friends even enjoyed time by the pool. I’m so glad that Winter is over and cannot wait to spend more time outside, especially partaking in outdoor workouts. This week I plan to hit up the Katy Trail and knock out this running and strength training circuit. I made the perfect 40 minute playlist to energize my sweat session – you should too!

In addition, my friends from Studio Hop and Lorna Jane NorthPark and I just finished planning the premier fitness event of the season! We are hosting a free outdoor workout at NorthPark center on Saturday, April 11th at 10:30am. If you live in Dallas, you should DEFINITELY join the party! There will be a lot of sweat, a lot of shopping and a lot of smiles! What’s not to like? So grab your yoga mat and a friend and join the party. CLICK HERE to RSVP at the Facebook event page.

Spring into shape! xoxo, Brit

Cardio

4 Calorie-Blasting Cardio Circuits

December 18, 2014 4 Comments

Hello friends! In honor of “Throwback Thursday” (#tbt), here are 4 of my all-time favorite cardio workouts from the Grit by Brit archives. If you’re traveling for the holidays and unable to attend your favorite workout class, these circuits are an excellent alternative that can be done on your own. I hope you enjoy. Stay Sweaty 😉 xoxo, Brit

Treadmill Calorie Blaster – 20 minutes
DIY Kickboxing Workout – 30 Minutes
Skip into Shape Jump Rope Workout – 40 minutes
EXTREME Bikini Body Workout – 60 minutes

Cardio

Tread & Train: 45 Minute Treadmill + Resistance Training Workout

December 17, 2014 8 Comments

Hey guys! Happy Workout Wednesday. So lately I’ve been teaching a new group fitness format called Tread & Train and I love it! Here’s the workout the that I led yesterday for the employees at Fossil Corporate HQ here in Dallas. The total workout is only 45 minutes and it’s INTENSE!

So the way it works is that you do a set of speed intervals on the treadmill followed by an upper body resistance training circuit off of the treadmill. Then, get back on the treadmill and do a set of incline intervals followed by a final set of lower body resistance training off of the treadmill.

This is a wonderful, efficient way burn off extra calories from your holiday parties. It’s a also a nice way to shock your body because of the cross training and interval work. Be sure to wear a pair of high quality running shoes to protect your knees during the run. Also, you will need a pair of medium (5-10 pound) dumbbells to complete the resistance training parts of the workout.

If you have any questions, just post a comment below or shoot me an email to [email protected]. Okay, I’m off to spin class – ttyl! xoxo, Brit

Cardio

Home Workout Routine & Video for Agility Drills

October 23, 2014 5 Comments

Hey Gang! Here’s your workout for the week. I wanted to change it up and incorporate some new moves that I don’t typically do so I designed this 20-25 agility drill circuit. You can do this workout in your living room – no equipment required. I promise you will be sweaty by the end and your legs and glutes will get a good burn. For best results, move from one drill to the next without resting – only rest at the end of the circuit as instructed above. If you have knee issues, it’s probably best that you pass on this workout as it requires lots of jumping.

You guys seemed to like the instructional video from my Hardcore HIIT Workout last week, so I made another for this agility workout. Feel free to watch me demonstrate the moves if they sound at all confusing. Also, be sure to blast some of your favorite jamz while doing this workout (makes it so much more fun!) Expect to burn ~250 – 350 calories. ENJOY!

Luv, Brit

Here are some more of my sports drills & plyometric workouts:

Cardio, Home Workouts, Total Body

Hardcore HIIT Workout

October 15, 2014 3 Comments

Good afternoon friends! Here’s a HIIT workout I designed to really kick our butts into gear. HIIT stands for high intensity interval training – it’s the most efficient way to burn calories and strength train at the same it. This workout is quick and effective. No equipment required so you can do it in your living room, just like I did. It’s the perfect solution for days like today when my schedule is completely full with teaching classes, making playlists, meetings and writing blog posts.

As an added bonus, my mom came over this morning and helped me make this instructional video. Yay! Now we can sweat together 🙂 I hope you enjoy the workout. Let me know how it goes!

Here are some more of my HIIT workouts:

Last but not least, the winner of my Lorna Jane product giveaway is Lisa! She works hard as full time as a nurse and a single mom of 4 and plays hard by incorporating extra time playing with her kids. Congrats Lisa! Email me your mailing address to [email protected] and your prize is on it’s way.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your week! Lots luv, Brit