Just for Fun

Just made it to Anaheim, CA for #IDEAWorld Fitness Convention and #Blogfest

August 14, 2014 No Comments

What a day – phew! To give you some insight, my Wednesday/Thursday adventures started off with a 5:30am hotel gym workout in Chicago (I’m currently working on an client project there) followed by a full day of client meetings and managing my consulting project team. Finally, around 6pm I headed to Chicago O’hare airport to catch a flight to LAX – officially on my way to Blogfest in Anaheim, CA for the next 2 days!

Fortunately, I got to the airport a little ahead of schedule, so I chilled out in the American Airlines Admirals club, caught up on email and started winding down with a nice class of Malbec – oh hey 🙂

The “type A” neurotic side of me wrote out my plan of attack of the next 2 days at IDEA Blogfest. As you can see, I have a full agenda ahead of me – lots of cool blogging tips, fitness expertise and business advice to soak up! While I’m taking the time off my full-time job, I still have responsibilities to manage, so I’ll sneak in a couple conference calls throughout the day – double duty! No rest for the weary…

I have been looking forward to this event all week. I totally intend to geek out and take selfie with Chalene Johnson, my #1 fitness icon. As a PiYo & TurboKick instructor, it’s going to be so amazing to meet the person who created my 2 favorite fitness formats!

Chalene Johnson will present PiYo on Thursday, August 14th at Blogfest!

To make sure I’m 100% ready to go in the morning, I went ahead and laid out my outfit. I’ll be rocking’ my GRIT by Brit gear from head to toe. Gotta represent! P.S. isn’t this neon scarf super cute? I think it looks really good with my signature crop top tank.

Alright, I’m off to bed. I can’t wait to meet all of the other bloggers tomorrow! If you are in Anaheim, please let me know so we can meet face to face! Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @GRITbyBrit throughout the weekend – I’ll be posting lots of photos and updates. Nite nite! xoxo, Brit

My hotel room at the Sheraton in Anaheim – can’t wait to count some sheep and rise and shine early in the morning!

Just for Fun

Drop it like a Squat – 1,000 Squats Challenge

July 27, 2014 No Comments

Image: Good luck on the 1,000 Squats Challenge – you got this!

In my PiYo class every Saturday, we always have a lower body section of the class where we bust out about 60-70 squats. This is one of the most challenging parts of the class because the continuous squating motion causes serious muscle fatigue. When I look out at my class I see everyone’s face cringing (they are clearly feeling the burn) and then I give myself a little pat on the back – hehe. Ultimately, squats are the best leg exercise because they engage every leg muscle when done properly. You effectively activate your glutes, hamstrings and quads when performing a squat – talk about an efficient exercise.

That said, I wanted to spread some squat love by creating a 1,000 squat challenge. Each day, you can expect to burn 100 – 150 calories by the doing the reps listed in the Squat Challenge. Let’s take the challenge head on and see our legs become stronger, firmer and sexier. For more intensity, feel free to complete the challenge holding dumbbells in each hand. Share your progress in the comments section below – good luck! xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun, Lifestyle

Double Duty – Pursuing Fitness and Business Goals

July 14, 2014 No Comments

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?

Just for Fun

Target® C9 Activewear Review and Sexy Shoulder Workout

July 7, 2014 8 Comments

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.

Just for Fun

Live More, Worry Less, Have #GRIT

July 2, 2014 No Comments

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

Just for Fun

4th of July Giveaway from Sweaty Bands & 20 Minute Cardio Workout

June 30, 2014 No Comments

Hey Gang – Happy (almost) 4th of July! In honor of the upcoming holiday I’m hosting a giveaway of 2 super cute headbands from Sweaty Bands (pictured below)! I love Sweaty Bands because they come in TONS of bright colors and cool patterns and most importantly, they don’t slip during your workout. To participate in the giveaway, just post a comment telling me your 4th of July weekend workout plans – be creative! I’ll pick a winner and announce on Wednesday, July 2nd! Also, be sure to include your email address or a way that I can contact you if you win.

2 Super Cute Sweaty Bands to be given away to 1 lucky winner! Post your 4th of July Workout plans below to enter to win!

In case you’re pressed for time this weekend, here’s a quick and very effective cardio workout that you can complete in 20 minutes. I do this workout in my hotel room all the time – it’s simple and sweaty! Warning – there’s a lot of jumping incorporated, so if you have chronic knee pain or knee injuries, this is not your ideal workout. For best results, move quickly from one exercise to the next and ONLY rest during the set rest times. You can expect to burn 250-300 calories in 20 minutes or less. Be sure to stretch after you’re finished. If you have questions about any of the exercises, email me at brit@gritbybrit.com. Also, YouTube has tons of example videos to guide you. Give my 20 Minute Cardio workout a whirl and let me know how it goes. Also, don’t forget to share your weekend workout plans to win these adorable Sweaty Bands. Have a great week! xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun

Spreading #PiYo Love all over Dallas

June 23, 2014 No Comments

Hey Gang – Happy Monday! I just wrapped up my first 4 weeks of teaching PiYo on the wetdeck at the W-Dallas Hotel. We have gotten off to an amazing start and have generated a huge amount of Pilates/Yoga fusion energy in Dallas. If you happen to live in Dallas or just be in town for the weekend, I really hope you stop by and sweat with me 🙂 Last week, D Magazine wrote a really cool review of the class. Click here to read the full story.

Also, Chalene Johnson, the creator of PiYo, just launched a brand new home fitness PiYo program with Beachbody. In case you don’t know, Beachbody also created Insanity and P90X – 2 really great home fitness programs. I’ve always been a fan of Chalene Johnson because she created TurboKick (and y’all know I love me some Turbo).

Anyway, I’m super excited and grateful for a successful PiYo class so far this Summer. Here are some photos from our class last Saturday. There’s nothing I love more than connecting with blog readers and fitness fanatics in our community, so please do join us Saturday morning and say “hi” – I’d love to meet you. Click here for class details.

Have a wonderful week! xoxo, Brit

piyo on the wetdeck — PiYo at W-Dallas wetdeck June 21 ,2014 Photo by: Frank Everet, W Insider

Inspiration & Motivation, Just for Fun, Lifestyle

Why I Love Group Fitness…and you should too

June 4, 2014 No Comments

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 Numbers – Nobody 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

Dallas, TX, Just for Fun, Lifestyle

PiYo at W Hotel #wetdeck is back! #WPiyo Summer 2014

May 8, 2014 No Comments

Hooray – it’s that time of year again! I’ll start teaching PiYo classes at the W Dallas – Victory hotel on Saturday May 31, 2014. Classes are held on the beautiful 16th floor beside the infnity pool of the W hotel. We start at 9:00am sharp each and every Saturday throughout the Summer. BREAKING NEWS: Classes have been extended through September 20th!

PiYo is one of my all time favorite fitness formats. It’s a fun, effective fusion of Pilates and Yoga set to upbeat music. If traditional yoga classes bore you, this is the class for you! And the best part is that we can enjoy the best view in Dallas while getting our tummy toning and bun burning on.

Thanks to the W Hotel, PiYo on the #wetdeck is completely FREE and open to everybody – no sign up needed. You must bring your own yoga mat to participate. We also recommend you bring water and a towel.

If you have any questions, shoot me an email at brit@gritbybrit.com.

Just for Fun

Happy Easter #SundayInspiration

April 20, 2014 No Comments

Calimera! Wishing you a very Happy and Inspiring Easter Sunday. I hope you enjoy celebrating this glorious day with your friends and family. Also, I want to announce the winner of the Sporteer Running Armband = Nkoyo. CONGRATS! Please email me your mailing address at brit@gritbybrit.com. xoxo, Brit

“The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.” – Carl Knudsen