Brittani Rettig – Page 3

SWEATWORKING | Workout + Professional Networking

April 9, 2016 No Comments

ATTENTION ALL GIRL BOSSES! Join me in partnership with Ellevate Network for DFW’s first ever “Sweatworking, ” an innovative, fun (and not to mention efficient!) way to combine networking and exercise all into one.

Before kicking things off, I’ll share a little background about how I started my company and our plans for expansion. We’ll then jump into a 30-minute cardio-inspired workout, followed by refreshments and mingling with fellow Ellevate members and other DFW professional women.

Grab a friend or co-worker, throw on your favorite workout gear, and join us for a fabulous night of calorie-burning and networking. See you there! xoxo, Brit

Dallas GRIT Fitness, Total Body

6 Sculpting Exercises to Spring Into Shape

March 28, 2016 1 Comment

Hey Hey friends! I hope you had an awesome Easter weekend! I enjoyed some much-needed family time and good food. Also did quite a bit to shopping for equipment for the new GRIT Fitness Flagship Studio. It’s almost time for the Grand Opening – eek!

My sister/workout buddy and me after church on Easter Sunday!

With warmer weather on the horizon, I want to share my 6 favorite sculpting moves to help us get “Summer Body ready! As a group fitness instructor, I get asked all the time, “How can I get more toned and defined?” The simple answer is, “Start strength training 2-3 times per week.” Now let me clarify, the 5-minute arm circuit with 1-3 pound dumbbells during spin or barre class doesn’t count. Our bodies need real resistance training with weights that are heavy enough to actually build lean muscle mass and increase metabolism. Also, there’s no need to worry about getting “bulky” with high repetition workouts, such as this one. So let’s get started!

For a super sweaty sculpting session, start with a 5 minute warm up jog. Then grab a pair of 5-10 pound dumbbells and complete 20 reps of each exercise below. Repeat the entire sequence 3 times. Be sure to stretch for 5-10 minutes once complete.

1. Squat with Upright Row – Start in a wide stance, with your heels pointing in and toes pointing out. Hold both weights down in front of your hips then lower into plié’ squat so that weights come near knee-level. Push through your heels to stand back up while driving your elbows upward so that weights come up to chest level. Repeat.

2. Reverse Lunge with Bicep Curl – Stand with you feet hip-width apart holding one dumbbell in each hand. Take a big step back with one foot, and then lower your back knee into a lunge position so that both legs make 90-degree angles. In the lunge position, curl both dumbbells up towards your shoulder for a bicep contraction. Lower the dumbbells back down by your side. Then push through your front heel to stand back up and step your back foot forward to meet the other. Repeat.

3. Push Up with Shoulder Tap – This is a body weight exercise (no dumbbells needed). Start in a plank position either on your knees or your toes. Do a push up and ensure your chest comes down to elbow height. Between each push up, tap your hand on your opposite shoulder alternating hands between reps.

4. Plank Row – Start in a plank position holding one dumbbell in each hand. Keeping your hips square to the ground, row one elbow up so that the dumbbell comes level with your chest. Lower the dumbbell and repeat on the other side.

5. Bridge Pose with Chest Press – Lay flat on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Hold one dumbbell in each hand at your chest. Raise your hips off of the ground into a bridge pose and then press the dumbbells up so that your arms are straight. Keeping your hips off of the ground, lower the dumbbells back to your chest and repeat.

6. Russian Twist – This is one of my favorite ab exercises! Start in a seated position on the ground with your knees bent. Hold both weights at your chest and lean back into a 45 degree angle. Twist your torso side to side and feel a deep contraction in your oblique muscles.

If you live in Dallas and want more sculpting exercises, join me and my team for a Body Sculpt class at GRIT Fitness. Make it a great week! xoxo, Brit

Dallas GRIT Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation

Dallas GRIT Fitness Flagship | Construction Progress

March 14, 2016 1 Comment

Hey hey friends! I’m SO THRILLED to share a construction progress update today because SO MUCH has been accomplished in so little time.

So, this week all of the former walls in the facility were demolished leaving this huge open space…

and by the end of the week, the new wall frames and sheet rock were constructed – YAY!

This is a major milestone because the new GRIT FITNESS flagship studio will have 2 studios under 1 roof: 1 group fitness studio + 1 indoor cycling studio. (It’s also just super cool to actually see the future floor plan in real life – not just on construction drawings).

I’m big believer that variety is the spice of life and the key to an effective fitness regimen, so I’m super keen on providing continuous variety to my clients AKA the #GRITFAM. Offering cycling classes in additional to our 7 original group fitness classes is a phenomenal sweaty combo!

Furthermore, we made more great progress on the locker room. Last week the locker room looked like this (NO plumbing)…

This week the trenching for plumbing got underway and we are on track to install showers!

We still have lots of work to do (e.g. flooring, lighting, sound, decor) but the BIG construction efforts are well underway and almost done. Summer will be here before we know it and I can’t wait to offer more of our fun, fierce fabulous fitness classes to the Dallas community.

It’s not too late to back our campaign and help make this vision come to life. We can’t do it without you! Thank you so much for the contributions, kind emails and words of encouragement so far. You are loved and appreciated. #thebestisyettocome

xoxo, Brit

Inspiration & Motivation

The Power of Vulnerability

March 6, 2016 No Comments

Hey friends! Happy Sunday. I hope you had a fabulous weekend! My weekend was super busy, but I don’t mind (I like it like that). Last week, I hosted my best friends at my bachelorette pad for a LOOOONG overdue book club meeting/wine night. We start the book club over 3 years ago, but unfortunately have not met in the last 18 months. Needless to say, we very much appreciated the time together AND thoroughly enjoyed our book, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown (yay Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday crew).

Daring Greatly is all about the power of vulnerability. While putting ourselves in vulnerable situations often makes us feel weak, it’s actually one of the most empowering actions we can take to strengthen our relationships and our sense of self-worth.

The week I had a unique opportunity to “choose vulnerablity” by sharing a video that I think makes me look “weak.” Here’s a little back story…last summer I met an awesome producer, Clint Howard, via Thumbtack who developed the GRIT promo video that’s my studio’s website. A few days ago he sent me this “behind the scenes” video he created. I hesitated to share it because I want to put on a “strong/girlboss” image, but after thinking about it some more I decided it’s good for me to be totally transparent and let my clients and blog followers know exactly why GRIT exists and why the #GRITFAM means the world to me. You can watch the video below…

Grit Behind the Sceens from Clint Howard II on Vimeo.

While I run the risk of being made fun of, negative feedback, etc., I’m comfortable enough in my own skin to face whatever outcomes may be. Most importantly, I believe in the vision of GRIT Fitness so much that I want to make intentions crystal clear. Quite honestly, this is the first time in my life that I’ve felt this way and it’s so liberating! Having a truly unique personal passion/ life purpose is simply the best. And for it, I’m forever grateful.

Dallas GRIT Fitness, Dallas, TX

GRIT Fitness Flagship Video Tour & Update

February 21, 2016 No Comments

Hey Friends! I hope you had an awesome weekend are looking forward to an even more awesome week ahead. We are enjoying AMAZING weather in Dallas – I’m talking patio chillin’ with no sweater on – HEY!

I have so much exciting news to share with you! First, we have raised over 20% of our goal for the new GRIT Flagship on @indiegogo. Thank you to everyone who has helped so far, we luv you! Click the link at the bottom of this post check out the campaign and help us make the Flagship the best it can be!

Second, I shot a little video tour of the new FLAGSHIP so you can see what’s in store. 7 Original GRIT Fitness classes + GRIT Revolution (our new indoor cycling format) ALL under 1 roof! This means more BANG FOR YOUR BUCK for the #GRITFAM. Take the tour and get excited!

Last but not least, our construction plans were approved by the City of Dallas last Friday – YAY! This is such a big deal, because often this step in the process can take WEEKS! On Monday morning I have a meeting with our design team to pick out the final materials and confirm the final plans so we can start construction ASAP! Wish me luck! I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m pumped up but also feeling a little anxiety because I want to create the BEST fitness environment for the #GRITFAM.

I’ll post continuous updates here on the blog so you can closely track our build out and ramp up in the coming weeks. Thanks for all of the love, kind emails and contributions to our campaign. I APPRECIATE YOU! xoxo, Brit

Dallas GRIT Fitness

GRIT Fitness Opening Flagship in Dallas’ Design District

February 14, 2016 3 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day Friends!

I’m so excited to share, that GRIT Fitness will open it’s 5,000 square-foot Flagship Headquarters this Summer! This milestone is an absolute dream come true. Never did I ever think that in only 1 year of business, we would get the opportunity to expand. When I opened the Dallas GRIT Fitness studio last year, my only goal was stay alive, haha. But that’s what happens when you have GRIT (passion and perseverance for LONG TERM goals) – you don’t just survive, you thrive!

Seeing this vision come to life has given me so faith that the best is yet to come! I came up with the idea for GRIT about 3 years ago after realizing the ONLY reason I had a gym membership was to take group fitness classes. I thought, “why don’t I create a place that offers a variety high-energy, music-driven classes all of the time?!”I became obsessed with creating innovative fitness classes by taking standard workouts and making them “gritty” with added intensity and motivating playlists.

The idea spun around in my head for over 3 years, but not until 1 year ago did I take the leap of faith and quit my high-profile consulting career to work on GRIT full time. In the beginning it was just me, teaching free community classes on the weekends and moonlighting as a fitness instructor to get away from my “real job.” Now we’ve grown to 7 original class formats, 14 instructors (pictured below), 35 classes per week and a family of over 2,500 active members!

But…we are SO MUCH MORE than another fitness concept – we’re a fun, fierce, fabulous fit family!

Monthly social events (e.g. Cardio & Cocktails, Vino & Vinyasa)
FREE community classes attracting hundreds of participants
Building deep personal relationships (#GRITFAM for life)
Passion and perseverance for long term goals

That’s what GRIT is all about!

This is ONLY the beginning, we’re determined to transform the fitness industry into one what welcoming, hard working and focused on helping you live your best life! The next step is build out our flagship studio in Dallas, TX. I’ve secured an amazing 5,000 square foot location in Dallas’ Design District which we are transforming from an art showroom to our flagship studio!

I’ve hired architects and contractors to build 2 studio rooms: 1 multipurpose group fitness studio and 1 cycle studio for our newest indoor cycling format, “GRIT Revolution!” The flagship will also have a locker room with showers, offices, a stretch bar and a lounge area! This will be the official GRIT headquarters where we innovate new class formats and host instructor certifications, social events and lots of sweaty classes!

I’ve raised almost all of the money for the nuts and bolts of the finish out (e.g. demo, construction of new walls, plumbing, flooring, etc.) BUT we still need funding for class equipment, awesome lighting and killer sound systems for each studio room.

If you’ve taken one of our free community classes, joined us for a cardio party, followed my blog for a while or if you’re simply on board with our mission – help us build this FIERCE flagship studio to better serve the #GRITFAM and the world! We’ve got a LOT of work to do, but with your help we CAN make this bold, gritty vision come to life. BE A PART OF THE GRIT MOVEMENT!

Lots of luv,

Brit

Dallas GRIT Fitness

BIG NEWS at Dallas GRIT Fitness

February 13, 2016 1 Comment

Happy Saturday friends! Over the past 10 days, my #DREAMTEAM at GRIT Fitness and I have been counting down to a really BIG announcement…

And we’ve finally made it to the last day! Tomorrow is the BIG announcement and I’d love to share it with YOU = my beloved blog community who’ve been a part of my journey long before I was a fitness entrepreneur. Sign up for my special newsletter that will be sent tomorrow morning and be the first to hear the good news!

Sign Up Now For Email Newsletters you can trust.

Hint: My dreams are really coming true!

xoxo, Brit

Fitness Fashion

Fabletics Fitness Fashion Friday

February 12, 2016 1 Comment

Hey friends! I want to bring back old tradition, Fitness Fashion Friday! Every Friday you can check out my my most favorite workout clothes from the week.

This week I want to show off my newest outfit from Fabletics. I was SO excited last Spring when Fabletics asked me to be one of their Master trainers. I wasn’t too familiar with the brand at the time, but since then I’ve gotten to experience a ton of their styles and I must say that I’m now a Fabletics junkie!

This outfit is called the Supernova. It’s 3 pieces all for only $69.95 when you become a VIP:

Off the shoulder top
Strappy sports Bra
Black leggings

I’m obsessed with the look because it’s athletically chic! Don’t you think?

What your favorite winter workout look?

Total Body

5 Body Weight Sculpting Exercises

February 11, 2016 No Comments

Hey Friends, I hope your week is going well! Today I want to share some body weight, sculpting exercises that you can do at home. I get asked all the time, “How can I can tone up if I don’t like lifting weights?” Well, you can actually use your own body weight to get awesome resistance training and build lean muscle mass! Here are 5 of my favorite body sculpting exercises and we’ll sculpt every part of the body 😉

Try this workout on your own:

Warm up with a 5 minute jog OR 2 sets 50 jumping jacks
Complete each exercise above for 1 minute (do as many reps as possible – Right side only)
Rest for 2 minute
Repeat all 5 exercises for 1 minute each (do as many reps as possible – Left side only)
Stretch for 5 minutes

Here’s a little video I made demonstrating the moves so you’ll know exactly what to do.

Enjoy your sexy sculpted body 🙂

xoxo,

Brit

Lifestyle

Celebrating 1 Year of Business at GRIT Fitness

January 28, 2016 No Comments

Hey hey friends! My baby (GRIT Fitness) turned 1-year-old this week – YAY! It feels like yesterday I wrote this post recapping our grand opening party. It’s crazy how much good stuff happens in 365 days.

We kicked off the business birthday celebration with a Friday night VINO + VINYASA (wine + yoga) party at my studio. Over 50 members of our GRIT Family came out to celebrate! The party was complete with wine, cupcakes and my favorite birthday jamz (e.g. Rhianna Birthday Cake).

We’ve kept the party going all week with themed classes. (See above our full list of themed classes – I’m pretty proud of our creativity here). Today was our final round of themed classes, “Crunk Party HIIT’s” = High Intensity Interval Training classes set to our favorite party songs. Lots of sweat and lot of smiles guaranteed!

Some of my rockstar instructors and advisory board members at the Vino & Vinyasa party. From left to right: Emily H. Emily T., Annabel, Ariana & Tarra

As I reflect on the past year I pinch myself because I can’t believe this is really happening! Just over a year ago I was a traveling management consultant, disengaged with my career and pouring myself into this blog as a way to escape my “real life”. But now this is my life. We really did it! We built a business and a community out of a simple idea and lot of hard work. The accomplishments and experiences (good and bad) from this past year give me so much confidence and hope that the best really is yet to come…

Me and Jenny, our VERY 1st member at GRIT in January 2015 – thanks for the loyalty Jenny!

In only 1 year we’ve grown to over 2,500 active members, 15 instructors, 35 classes per week and 7 original class formats – WOW! As I said in the last post, “teamwork makes the dream work.” But the best part of the journey are the personal relationships I’ve made with the #GRITFAM and they’ve made with each other. Nothing is more important than family – #GRITFAM included!

Sophie (Maria’s Daughter), Me, Maria & Jenny smiling after the sweating Flexin’ Flow class at the Vino & Vinyasa party

Stay tuned my friends…this is only the beginning of the GRIT Fitness revolution. I have some exciting news to share in the coming weeks and I want you to be the first to know!

THANKS SO MUCH for following my journey to and through healthy living and entrepreneurship. xoxo, Brit