Image: Showing off my “washboard abs” during a styling session at Lorna Jane (love this outfit BTW – I wear it to teach cycling all the time)
Hey hey – happy Workout Wednesday! As promised, here is your workout of the week – Washboard Abs. I’m getting floors installed at my studio, Dallas Grit Fitness, today . Yay! This is the last major renovation milestone before I can start decorating and, ultimately, teaching classes. I’ll be hanging out at the studio all day, so I plan to knock out this ab workout while “overseeing” contractors. Should be good fun.
It’s been a while since I posted an ab workout, so today I’m bringing you my most comprehensive, complete, core exercise routine. During this workout you will engage your abdominals in 3 different positions: 1) Standing Up 2) On you hands and toes in the plank position 3) In the traditional position, on your back. This helps ensure we work the complete core for washboard abs!
Warning: This workout takes about 25 minutes to complete. You can’t rush through it. BUT, I promise you will feel the burn. For best results, do this workout 2-3 times per week for 4 weeks along with rigorous cardio workouts.
Give it a whirl and let me know how it goes. If you have any questions about the exercises below, just post a comment and I can explain. Have a wonderful Wednesday! Love, Brit
Hey hey it’s workout Wednesday! In honor of Halloween I made a “Spooky Shoulder Sculpting Workout.” All of the exercises are pretty straight forward, so grab a pair of dumbbells and get to work. Shoot me an email to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Do you know what you are going to be for Halloween? I’d love to hear your costume ideas! Have a wonderful Wednesday. Luv, Brit
I’m always impressed by women who can “do it all” – workout, kick butt at the office, maintain a social life and look fabulous. I like to think I do decent job of tackling everything on my To-Do list, but the reality is I have to make some trade offs. For instance, I don’t watch as much TV as I did in college. However, I still have plenty of “me time” to hang with my friends, get a pedicure and rock out a cycling class. I’ve found that sticking with my weekly workout schedule actually gives me more energy to execute all of my other commitments . I wrote this post especially for those of you who have everything on your “to do” list. Here are 3 activities that help me “do it all.”
1. Prioritize
My day planner is jammed packed, so I include my workouts on my “To Do” List
In business school I learned that is everything is important, nothing is important. This means that prioritization is the key to identifying what really matters and what kinda matters. My day planner is my life-line for prioritizing. I live by it. That said, my To-Do list can get a little out of control because I write down everything. Each day, I prioritize the things that I really have to get done, and then move the lower priority To-Do’s to tomorrow’s list. This keeps me from feeling overwhelmed and helps me knock out each action one by one. And oh yes, you better believe my workouts are included as high priority (I highlight those in blue).
2.Opt for Active Social Events
Me and my friend Leslie playing giant chess at a local Dallas bar
Kill 2 birds with one stone: Instead of our usual sit down dinner, my friends and I seek out active ways to socialize. This way if we have to work late and miss an evening yoga class, we still keep our bodies moving.
3. Invest in Awesome Activewear
Loving my lucy sports bra, Hatha pants and bright tank top!
Nothing motivates me to move more than awesome new workout clothes! Recently I picked up some excellent gear from lucy. I love the performance style and versality – I can wear these pieces to yoga, kickboxing and indoor cycling. The bright colors, snug fit, and trendy designs make me feel confident, stylish and strong! Stocking up on high-quality activewear definitely helps me stick to my weekly workout schedule.
While these 3 tips help me “do it all,” I have to admit that it’s not easy. What woman can’t use a little help? Fortunately, lucy is hosting a wonderful “You Time” Giveaway! Each week you can win your choice of a year of housecleaning, babysitting or meal delivery. One grand prize winner will receive all three. This means more “you time” to do the things you really love (like getting in your favorite workout).
This is for you. The ones who have it all…on their to-do list! Let lucy take away the small stuff that stands between you and a good sweat. Giveaway ends December 16th.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by lucy through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about lucy, all opinions are my own.
Hello friends! Hope your day is going well. SO…I finally finished a big project I’ve been working on for a quite some time. After I reached my 2 year blogiversary this March, I decided to put together my top workouts, detox tips and nutrition advice in to a best in class 4-week shape up plan. I’m finally done and my first GRIT by Brit 4 Week Shape up Plan is ready for you to download. Yay!
I really hope that this is a community effort where we can share our progress and encourage each other to be our healthiest, best selves. That said please email me at [email protected] if you have any questions about the plan. Also, I highly encourage you to team up with some friends and do the plan together. There’s power in numbers! Share your workout photos and healthy meals on Instagram and Twitter with hashtag #GRITshapeup – I’ll start doing product giveaways for my favorite pics!
A core value of GRIT by Brit is “FREE” – I believe that we don’t have to be wealthy to be healthy. That said, I made my printable GRIT Shape Up plan 100% accessible to everyone. Just enter your email address in the subscription box to the right (below the search bar) and a link to download the plan will be sent to you. If you have any issues downloading, send me an email ([email protected]) and I’ll help you out. Be sure to keep us updated by posting pics or updates with hashtag #GRITShapeUp. I can’t wait to hear your success stories. Show your GRIT! Lots of luv, Brit
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
Happy Fitness Fashion Friday! We are officially at week 3 – are guys liking this new tradition? Let me know! (Here’s links to my outfits from week 1 and week 2 in case you missed them.)Today, I wanna show off my new, super sexy activewear from Onzie. Now let me preface this by saying that I NEVER show off my tummy when I’m working out so this was a bold move on my part. This week I stepped out of my “gritty” comfort zone and rocked this bustier and matching leggings to yoga class. The top isn’t super supportive so I couldn’t wear it for a Turbo Kick or cycling workout. I added my Vinyasa scarf from Lululemon for a little coverage before and after class. BTW, this scarf is amazing! You can wear it like 10 different ways, even as a vest (as I am doing below). All in all, I felt strong and sexy in this outfit. Better yet, on the Onzie website they put together cute outfits for styling ideas – you can check them here!
Added the Vinyasa scarf from Lululemon – wearing it as a vest! (you can wear it like 10 different ways – amazing!)
And now it’s giveaway time! First off, the winner of last week’s GRIT tank top giveaway is Chelle! I was very inspired by her personal definition of “grit.” This is what “grit” means to Chelle: “GRIT is that rod of steel that runs through the backbone of every woman out there kicking butt in the world, corporate, fitness or otherwise. She may greet you with a gentle smile or look perfectly polished and pulled together even during the toughest times but the thing that keeps her going when she wants to stay in bed kicking and screaming and crying about the inevitable trials in her life is her inner GRIT.” Congrats Chelle! Your tank top is on it’s way to you!
In fact, I was SO inspired but all of your comments, that I’m actually combining them into a cute quote printable. I’ll post it so you can each have a copy. The energy that I feel from hearing the voices of so many powerful, positive, gritty women is absolutely amazing – thanks again for sharing you guys!
Today I’m hosting ANOTHER giveaway thanks to Onzie activewear! In case you can’t tell, I’m an Onzie junkie. Did you see my outfit from their Spring collection? The wonderful folks at Onzie hooked me up with this adorable, one-size fits all, knot-back tank top from their Fall collection. I’m feeling kind of random (and nosy) today, so I just wanna know what your weekend plans are? Football game, dinner with friends, family time, working out? To win this tank, just post a comment sharing your weekend agenda. I’ll announce the winner next Tuesday, September 23rd. Happy Friday! luv, Brit
Post a comment to win this adorable Onzie knot-back tank!
Good morning friends! I hope your day is off to a good start. I overslept and missed my spin class, so I did the T25 Core & Cardio Beta workout in my living room this morning. You can see me action on Instagram (Warning: I’m hot sweaty mess – don’t judge!) Also, I want to share this print I discovered from Lulu & Georgia. I LOVE it so much that I bought a copy and am going to put in a really cute frame. Does this quote inspire you? To me, it’s so simple and direct. Pearls are created when little piece of sand or dirt (grit) enters an oyster shell. Then inside of the oyster the grit gets coated and over time becomes a pearl. Isn’t that beautiful? It captures the reality that the greatest things in life are simply “trash” transformed into “treasure.” Through patience, pressure and persistence anything is possible – that’s the truth!
Speaking of grit, tomorrow I will announce the winner of my signature GRIT tank top giveaway. It’s not too late to participate – just post a comment telling me what “grit” means to you. I’m loving the responses so far – very inspiring!
Last but not least, I’m officially encouraging all of the Dallas readers to sow their grit by waking up bright and early this Saturday morning and join me for the very last PiYo class on the wet deck of the W Dallas Hotel. As usual, class it totally FREE! We start at 9am (arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a spot) and bring your own yoga mat. To celebrate a super successful Summer, we are having a special “Burpees & Breakfast” event. After class you can enjoy FREE snacks from Cook Hall and drink specials – yay for $5 Mimosa pitchers! Am I the only person who enjoys vino after vinyasa?
Last #piyo clas @wdallashotel is this Saturday – see you there!
See you Saturday and show remember to show your GRIT!
OMG I cannot believe it’s September – my Summer flew by! Fortunately it was filled with lots of fun in the sun, beach time and quality moments with friends. I don’t know about you, but I love the transition from Summer to Fall because the weather is still warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities all while a crisp autumn breeze starts to fill the air – it’s amazing! Here are some of my favorite end-of-Summer activities that prepare me for a fabulous Fall…
Planning my Fall Workout Routine
I like to switch up my workout routine for the Fall. In the Summer I take advantage of unique exercise experiences (e.g. paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean, hiking, etc.). It’s always best to switch thing up a little. If you are in the Salt Lake City area of Utah, you could try to look into tennis lessons Salt Lake, to find adult tennis classes. However in the Fall, I follow a more consistent fitness regimen that fits well with my work schedule and personal commitments. There’s something about Autumn that naturally motivates me to develop a workout plan and stick to it.
Shopping for “Back to the Gym” Clothes
The one thing I hate about no longer being a student, is not being able to partake in “back in school shopping.” Alternatively, I now go “back to the gym shopping” in preparation for cooler weather and more indoor workouts. I always hit up Target® and check out the Champion C9 activewear department. Every time I go, there’s always a killer sale! Personally, I’m a fan of Target® C9 Activewear because the styles are on trend and functional – yay for bright colors, leggings and racer-back tanks! Honestly, I wear my C9 gear on the weekends as casual wear, even if I’m not working out.
My PiYo Classes on the W Hotel Roof-deck
I love teaching my end-of-Summer rooftop PiYo Class at the W Dallas Hotel!
So I’m a little biased on this one because I actually teach this PiYo (Pilates / Yoga) class in Dallas, TX. But I’m super excited that classes have been extended to last throughout the end of September – yay! We have an amazing view, great playlist, effective workout and it’s all free and open to the public! I highly encourage you to check out some free workouts in your local community – there are often free “back to school bootcamps” at local parks.
Running/Jogging at my Local Park
Going for an outdoor run in Dallas is one of my favorite end-of-Summer activities!
There’s a beautiful window of time during late September/early October that’s perfect for outdoor runs. In the middle of the Summer it’s way too hot to run outside in Texas – temperatures are over 100 degrees! While I live an active lifestyle and teach lots of group fitness classes, I’m not an avid runner. However, during this sweet stretch of time I like to go for a 5K jog once or twice a week. I find it very therapeutic, especially when I have a good playlist to energize my stride. In fact, I’m about to peace out and go for a run right now – see ya! Lots of love, Brit
What are your favorite end-of-Summer activities?
How do you stay active in the Fall?
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.
As we savor the last few days of Summer, I wanted to share a workout my friends and I did last weekend in Miami. The workout is fun, simple and effective (instructional photos are below). Give it a whirl this Labor Day weekend and let me know how it goes. Lots of love, Brit
Yo Yo – Summer is sadly coming to an end, but I’m very much looking forward to the Labor Day Weekend. My company gives us the Friday before Labor Day off too so I’ll enjoy a nice 4 day weekend – woop woop! As usual, I want to encourage you to enjoy the holiday, relax and take some time off. BUT don’t skip out on your workout! Here’s a quick and effective leg workout that I did on Labor Day last year. You guys liked it so much, I figured I’d pull it out and “beef it up” a bit. This year I added a few more intensity intervals to elevate the heart rate. Give it a whirl and let me know how it goes!
Also, 24 Hour Fitness in Dallas is having a special event for Labor Day – FREE ADMISSION to all clubs all weekend as long as you attend with a club member! If you live in Dallas, come take my Turbo Kick class at 3pm on Sunday, August 31st in Mesquite. Click on the image below for details.
And now for the fun stuff – I’m hosting a giveaway for a pair of Lucy Powermax X-Training Pants (Black, Small, Wide-Leg). These things retail at $89 but I’m giving them away to one lucky reader. Just post a comment telling me your favorite leg exercise and why. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you! I’ll pick a winner next Tuesday, September 2.
Happy Labor Day! Lots of luv, Brit
Tell me your favorite leg workout and enter to win these cute Lucy training Pants!
