Why I Love Group Fitness…and you should too

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 NumbersNobody 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

 

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10X10 CrossFit-inspired Calorie Blasting Workout

 

Hey Gang!  Hope your week is going well.  I’ve been working away in Chicago and still attending regular CrossFit sessions with my team.  I’ve always had mixed feelings about CrossFit (seemed a little “meatheadish”) but over the past few weeks I’m becoming more of a fan. In fact, I actually created my own “CrossFit-Inspired” workout to do this Friday when I get back home.  I wanted to share it with you guys so you can give it a whirl on your own.  A few things to note:

  • Duration = 15-20 minutes
  • Calorie Burn = ~ 250 calories
  • Rest for 1 minute between each round
  • The workout requires a kettle bell.  If you don’t have a kettle bell, feel free to use a 10-20 pound dumbbell instead
  • Be sure to do full sit ups (not crunches) keeping your feet flat on the ground

 

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#PUMAFitness – 5 Effective Exercises for Sexy, Sculpted Arms!

Rockin' my new gear from #PUMAfitness and loving it! #PUMA #FitFluential
Top: Puma Gym Graphic All Eyes On Me Tank, Pants: Puma Gym Graphic 3/4 Tight

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of PUMA.

Hello friends!  I hope you enjoyed a lovely Mother’s Day weekend.  My 6′ 6″ “little” brother came home to Dallas after completing his Sophomore year of college!  We enjoyed a nice family brunch and church service with our Mom – it was really nice.

Due to the high volume of requests for “tips to tone my arms,” I’ve put together a new workout which combines my 5 go-to arm exercises.  It’s an exercise combination that’s both dynamic (big movements) and isometric (tiny movements like Pilates).  This means you simultaneously build muscle endurance and strength which helps expedite muscle tone!  You need 2 light dumbbells to complete the workout.  I recommend anything from 3-7 pounds.  I’m using 5 pounds in the photos below.  You must complete 50 reps of each exercise.  So 50 reps X 5 exercises = 250 reps of arm sculpting sexiness – yeah buddy!  Rest for 1-2 minutes between each exercise.  For best results, complete the workout 3 times per week for 3 weeks.

Also, I wanna give a shout out to #PUMAfitness for hooking me up with the fabulous workout gear I’m rockin’.   The coral Gym Graphic All Eyes On Me Tank is bright, sleek and supportive.  I especially appreciate the built-in sports bra, and I love the criss-cross design in the back that shows off sculpted shoulders.  The Graphic ¾ Tights have the matching Ombre coral color down the side and come in a ton of different colors and prints.  They’re made of “Drycell” highly functional materials that draw sweat away from your skin and helps keep you dry and comfortable during exercise.   Personally, they fit nice and snug around my waist and give my booty pleasant little lift 😉  To complete your outfit, I also recommend grabbing the Formlite XT Ultra Sneakers.  They’re lightweight with an aerodynamic design.  If you enjoy group fitness classes like me, this a great sneaker because of the snug fit, flexibility and mesh top which allows airflow.  Most importantly, they look great!

Alright guys, that’s all from me for now.  I hope you enjoy your arm workout. Also be sure to get you some #PUMA swag!  Post a comment if you have questions! xoxo, Brit

#1: Dumbbell Alternating Punches

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Alternating punches are a great exercise to warm up your arms. Hold 1 dumbbell in each hand and simply punch forward alternating hands. Be sure to keep the opposite hand (that’s not punching) up by your chin so that your shoulders stay engaged.

#2: Diagonal Shoulder Press

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Hold 1 dumbbell in each hand with palms facing inward. Extend the dumbbells out above your head so that your arms make a 45 degree angle with your nose. Bring the dumbbells back by your sides letting your elbows pull backward. Keep your arms narrow the entire time.

#3: Bicep Curl Extensions w/ Shoulder Isolation

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Hold 1 dumbbell in each hand with your arms extended out front and palms facing up toward the sky. Then bend your arms so that they make two 90 degree angles. Lower the dumbbells back down to a full  extension so that your arms are parallel with the ground. Repeat. Your arms should never come down by your sides. (This keeps your shoulders engaged while working your biceps).

#4: Front Dumbbell Taps w/Shoulder Isolation

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Hold the dumbbells out in front of you with arms fully extended and palms facing up. Simply tap the ends of the dumbells together for 50 reps. You will feel the burn!

#5: Incline Tricep Push Ups

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Find a table or bench and come into a plank position with narrow hand placement. Lower down into a push up keeping your elbows tight so that they brush your sides. Repeat. Focus on keeping your triceps engaged while also getting a great chest workout.

Last but not least, go for a sweaty 20-30 minute run in your #PUMA sneakers to blast some calories and burn fat.  Remember, fat reduction will speed up your journey to sexy sculpted arms!

Sporting my Puma Formlite XT Ultra Sneakers
Sporting my Puma Formlite XT Ultra Sneakers

 

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The cure for anything is Saltwater: Sweat, Tears & the Sea

Hey gang, sorry for my sporadic posting lately.  Fortunately, I enjoyed some much-needed time away in Mexico for my dear friend’s wedding.  The calming effects of the sea are amazing – much like the high after a good workout or relief after a good cry.  Here’s  few pics from my weekend.  I’ll be back to posting workouts, recipes and “fitspiration” over the next few days.  In the meanwhile, check out my Extreme Bikini Body Workout – it’s that time of year.  Love you lots!

Mexico beach photo GritbyBrit
Chillin’ in Riviera Maya, Mexico – April 2014

beach pic
Clear blue skies in Mexico #Bliss

beach pic 2
Sexy Grit by Brit #Surfboard

The cure for anything is Saltwater: Sweat, Tears & the Sea

xoxo, Brit

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WOD: Endurance Pyramid Dumbbell Circuit

Hey Gang!  Hope your week is going well.  I started a new project in Chicago this week.  My team is full of CrossFit junkies and this morning they hit up a 5:30am CrossFit session.  Unfortunately, I overslept and missed it 🙁  But on the bright side, I made a back up “Endurance Pyramid Dumbbell Circuit”  workout and did it in my hotel gym.  After the circuit, I got a quick 30 minutes in on the elliptical.  My entire workout took 45 minutes (so I’m guessing the circuit only takes ~15 minutes).  Try to power through it with minimal rest to focus on building your endurance and to get a good sweat going – post a comment if you have questions.  Enjoy!  xoxo, Brit

Endurance Pyramid

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Spring Time Running Playlist and Sporteer Running Arm Bands

Brit’s Spring Running Playlist

In case you can’t tell, I’m SO excited that Winter is over!  This Spring I’m taking a personal vow to switch up my workout routine by adding in a weekly 5K run.   Obviously, I made a heart-pumpin playlist to energize my stride!  Go ahead and download these tracks for yourself – you will love them 🙂

Also, I want to give a huge shout out to Sporteer for hooking me up with this sweet running armband.  It has a little pocket to store my credit card and my iPhone fits perfectly.  It’s super durable and stays in place during my run.  Sporteer gave me an extra armband for one of you lucky blog readers – woo hoo!  Just post a comment below telling me your favorite running song and I’ll pick a pick a winner this weekend!  Enjoy!  xoxo, Brit

sporteer running arm band
Sporteer Velocity Series V2 Armband for iPhones and Smartphones (Pink)

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Onzie – Trendy Yoga Clothes and Workout Apparel

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Yay for cute workout clothes! I just caught wind of this awesome yoga clothing company, Onzie! Based in California, Onzie reached out to me a few weeks ago to review some of their yoga apparel. The minute I saw their bright colors and modern designs, I was like “gimme gimme gimme!” As icing on the cake, the clothes are really high quality. I was expecting some “Forever 21-level” workout clothes, but the apparel is extremely well made and can endure a sweaty power yoga session. Buying workout clothes can get quite expensive, my friend told me to visit PromoCodeWatch to use some coupons next time I shop. She told me they save her tonnes of money so I’m going to try it soon! I love my pieces so much, I’m actually hosting a giveaway for a $75 Onzie gift card! To participate in the contest, just post a comment below and tell me your workout plans for the weekend and describe your favorite workout outfit. I’ll pick a winner on Sunday evening (4/13/14). Enjoy! xoxo, Brit

onzie apparel
Onzie Elastic Tank – Grey & Turquoise
Onzie Elastic Bra Top – Yellow & Black
Onzie Track Legging – Titanium / Turquoise / Sunset

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Outdoor Fitness Fun for Earth Month: 10 Minute HIIT Workout then #ParkYourThirst with Honest Tea

In honor of Earth Month, I’m encouraging you to spend some time outdoors especially at your local parks!  Here’s a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout I filmed in Central Park – NYC around this time last year.  Try it for yourself during your next park visit.  Outdoor workouts provide  several added benefits over working out indoors.  Not to mention, in great weather they’re just more fun!

Also, here’s a cool info-graphic I received from my sponsors at Honest Tea.  They surveyed over 2,000 people across the US seeking to learn how our parks (both local and national) impact us today.  They learned over 54% of Americans wished they spent more time outdoors, and 41% said they go to the park to get away from the hustle and bustle, and restore mental clarity.  With that knowledge, me and my Honest Tea sponsors are challenging you to return to the parks this spring to refresh—mind, body and soul.  Our goal is to see people empowered to become advocates for their park—be it a national park, or the one just around the corner.   Honest Tea will be rewarding people for taking a “selfie” at any park via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and tag it with #ParkYourThirst.

ParkYourThirst_InfoGraphic-FINAL4Have an awesome time outside! #ParkYourThirst

xoxo, Brit

 

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Good things come to those who SWEAT

Hope your week is off a to a great start – mine certainly  is.  Last week was quite hectic for me. I had to travel to both Memphis and Salt Lake City for work.  When the weekend came I was completely exhausted.  Needless to say, I did not feel like the hitting the gym on Saturday nor doing anything that required even the slightest bit of energy.  Fortunately, the thought of hanging out with my “fit friends” was enough motivation to keep me from skipping my Saturday morning workout.  Afterwards not only did my body feel better, but I was less stressed and had a more positive attitude overall.  It was like magic – lots of good vibes and positive energy.  That’s the beauty of exercise, it’s great for the mind, body and soul.  Activity generates the energy that brings about good vibes.  Good things come to those who sweat!

On that note, here’s some fitspiration to get your sweat on –  20 Minute Calorie Blaster treadmill workout from the GRIT by Brit archives.  You can check out the original blog post for detailed instructions.  I highly encourage you to give this bad boy a whirl some time this week.  I am.

And finally,  check out these 13 Mental Health Benefits of exercise.  On the list, Stress Relief ranks #1.  I can attest to the accuracy of this claim.  Just for fun, here’s a pic of me and my girlfriends on Saturday night enjoying the residual good vibes from my morning workout.

Wishing you a wonderful week with lots of sweat and good things!  xoxo, Brit

Enjoying a lovely Dallas evening with my lovely girlfriends!  Feeling rejuvenated after a solid Saturday morning Sweat session 🙂

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