exercise – Page 7 – GRIT By Brit

September Shape Up: Blake’s Week 2 in Review

September 17, 2013 1 Comment

Hey gang. I hope your week is off to an excellent start. Blake, my fit friend from binanutshell.com has officially completed Week 2 of my September Shape up plan. Are you trying the plan for yourself? Do it!

If you were around last week, you’ll remember that Blake got off to an amazing start losing over 2 pounds in Week 1 – woo hoo! During Week 2, however, she’s experienced some setbacks. BUT we are all about showing our GRIT – passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Even though Blake had a “less than stellar” Week 2, we KNOW that she will keep on truckin’ and be successful in the end! Here’s her update. Wish her luck, strong to the finish! 🙂

Blake’s Week 2 in Review

Overall, I am saddened by my progress in week 2. I was really excited to keep up with Brit’s Shape Up September, but I wasn’t able to due to health reasons. I am just going to be upfront and say that even knowing that there are 2 weeks left in the month, week 2 was definitely the most difficult. Early in the week, I was plagued with a summer cold that left me lethargic, sneezy and coughing – which of course resulted in my not working out.

Also, I have an inordinate amount going on in my personal life – some really great things that I am not quite yet ready to share on the blog, but stay tuned for a personal life update soon!

Here is how last week panned out:

Diet

I managed to get two nights with smoothies in, one night without dinner at all, one business dinner, and two dinners out with friends. Unfortunately, most of those events were planned way before Shape Up September, so I worked around the dinners out by eating really healthy breakfasts and having a smoothie for lunch! Smoothies for the win!

Exercise

Monday: Brit’s GRIT Ultimate Body Burn workout video – seriously folks, if you don’t own this video, you should. Buy it on Amazon!
Tuesday: Brit’s 10 minute HIIT circuit – I had a super late meeting and didn’t get home until almost 10 and was starting not to feel well
Wednesday: Skinnygirl Yoga at home (note to self: downward dog does not feel good with congestion)
Thursday – Sunday: Sick, sick, sick

Hydration

Still focusing on having a full glass of water on my desk at all times. Hooray for this. Also, I think the water was really helpful from keeping me on the healthier side of sick… since the hubs was knocked out for twice as long as I was.

Week 3 Focus

This week’s focus is definitely going to be CARDIO! I am excited to get back to working out now that I don’t feel like walking up the three flights of stairs to my bedroom is going to make me winded.

Here’s a quick cardio workout I recommend for Blake in case she is pressed for time time next week – cardio is KING (wink,wink) xoxo, Brit

Cardio, Home Workouts, Total Body

Puppy/Dog Friendly Park Workout

August 26, 2013 2 Comments

So… 2 of my best friends have recently gotten puppies and I’m obsessed with them. One of the puppies, Hank (chocolate lab pictured above) is especially sporty. The first time we met we worked out together. It was awesome. Hank’s mom is a Cross Fit superstar (thus the Again Faster equipment and dumbbells in the photos). However, it’s hard to regularly attend CrossFit or fitness classes if you want to spend time with your dog. Since I figured many of you may have dogs yourself, I decided to create a “dog/puppy friendly” outdoor workout. This way you and your dog can work out together and stay in shape while strengthening your bond 🙂 Even if you don’t have a dog, this is a great workout to try on a nice summer day. Enjoy! Lots of luv, Brit

grit by brit dog workout — Me and Hank workin’ out back in April this year!

Yay for "fit" puppies! — Yay for “fit” puppies!

Just for Fun

Healthy Way to Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks

August 25, 2013 8 Comments

So if you’re like me, you LOVE to workout but you also LOVE to eat. I have to admit, I’m a fat kid at heart. Luckily I’ve learned to love healthy food and control my portions (for the most part). However, there are times that I get a little side tracked and don’t monitor my calorie intake the way I should. All of sudden I begin to notice that my favorite skinny jeans are barely zipping up and that’s my reality check that I need to refocus. I put this 2 week plan together about a year ago – it’s an oldie but a goodie. It helps me when I need to regroup my wellness regimen and drop a few pounds. I love that every “rule” is a healthy action that actually does my body good! Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes! You can definitely expect to shed some weight, of course results will vary based on your body composition and your overall calorie intake. Good luck – lots of luv, Brit

For the next 14 days, do the following 5 things each day…

Just for Fun

5 Super Smoothie Recipes: Lo SUGAR Hi PROTIEN

August 12, 2013 No Comments

Since I travel for work every week, I often need a nutritious filling meal on the go. Lately, I’ve gotten really into smoothies (as you know from all of my Dr. OZ Drink Cleanses). I like smoothies because they’re an easy way work in my daily serving of fruit & veggies as well as other vitamins and protein. BUT, I have to be careful to choose the RIGHT smoothies. By “right” I mean smoothies with low to moderate sugar and lots of protein. While smoothies are tasty, they can be loaded with sugar which packs on the pounds and makes us hungry. Keep in mind that smoothies are good forms of “meal replacements” not “appetizers.” Often, I unintentionally consume too many calories in 1 day because I’ll have a smoothie PLUS my meals – not a good look. If you are trying to drop a few pounds, be sure to drink a smoothie INSTEAD of eating a meal. Keep this in mind as you enjoy these 5 Super Smoothie recipes! Lots of luv, Brit 🙂

Brit’s Berry Blast Smoothie

3/4 Grapefruit Juice
1/3 Cup of egg whites
1 Cup frozen or fresh mixed berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries)

Carob Nut Banana Smoothie

1 banana (small) cut into pieces
1/4 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon dried carob powder*
2 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter
1/2 Cup of ice

Apple Cinnamon Soy Smoothie

1/3 Cup egg whites
1 Sweet, crisp apple (medium size) peeled, chopped red apple (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 Cup refrigerated vanilla soy milk
1/4 Teaspoon ground cinnamon

Lean Mean Green Smoothie

1 cup kefir
2 T ground flax-seed
1 1/2 cups spinach
1 banana
1/4 quinoa (prepared with milk)
1 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Copycat Gladiator Smoothie (Smoothie King)

This recipe is great because you can alter it to fit your own preference and change it up as much as you’d like! (My favorite is vanilla protein powder with strawberries and banana!)

1 serving of whey protein powder (any flavor you like)
1 Cup of fruit
1 Cup of water, or milk of choice
1/2 Cup of ice

Inspiration & Motivation

Don’t push deadlines…push your limits!

August 9, 2013 No Comments

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and encouraging you to make the most of your time! Often it’s easy for us to procrastinate and push the deadlines for our goals. BUT this weekend I encourage you to schedule some “YOU” time. Make time to exercise, update your planner, spend time pursuing your goals and most importantly, spend time with the people you love. We can accomplish so many things when we JUST DO THEM. Shock yourself this weekend! Lots of luv, Brit

Inspiration & Motivation

Healthy Habits for Sustained Success

August 1, 2013 14 Comments

I made up this healthy habits list about 2 years ago when I got really serious about taking control of my health, my weight and my life. While these habits may seem a little extreme, they are doable and beneficial! Personally, I have not mastered the list, but each day I try to do a little better. It takes a lot of GRIT to develop healthy habits. But healthy habits are the only way to a sustain a healthy lifestyle. While these habits can take a lifetime to develop, we should strive to perfect them EVERY DAY. Doing so helps us be our BEST SELVES! If we focus on 1 healthy habit at a time, soon enough we’ll be living by the full formula. GOOD LUCK! Luv, Brit 😉

BRIT’S LIST OF HEALTHY HABITS – MY FIERCE FORMULA…

0 – Hours of television

1 – Hour of exercise

2 – Liters of water

3 – Cups of hot green tea

4 – Short mental breaks

5 – Small meals

6 – AM wake up time

7 – Minutes of laughter

8 – Hours of sleep (at least)

9 – PM end of the day and off to bed

10 – Prayers of gratitude (list 10 things you’re thankful for)

Inspiration & Motivation

It doesn’t get easier, you just get better!

July 25, 2013 No Comments

Hey gang – hope your week has exceeded your expectations! Just wanted to spread a little mid-week motivation. I saw this quote and it really hit me. Throughout my life, I’ve always operated under the assumption that some day…when I’m “happily married, super skinny, working at my dream job with 3 adorable kids,” then suddenly my life would be EASY. The reality is that day will probably come, but it won’t be BLISS. It’s going to be freaking HARD. I’m going to have to continue to work my butt off every single day to maintain a healthy and balanced life.

Hardships in life are inevitable, they will never go away. But the good news is that we are constantly changing, growing and adapting. Those hardship will likely feel easier because we get stronger, healthier, more patient and smarter. We are powerful beyond measure and more than capable of handling anything that life throws in our direction. So keep working hard and continuously improve at whatever you love (and at whatever you hate). Life doesn’t get easier, you just get better!

Good, Better, Best, never let it rest until your Good is Better and your Better is BEST! xoxo, Brit

Inspiration & Motivation

Always be Joyful!

July 12, 2013 2 Comments

Happy Friday! I hope you guys are looking forward to an awesome weekend. I certainly am. This is my birthday weekend – HEY! On Sunday, July 14th I will turn 29 years old…the last year of my twenties has come.

To celebrate my b-day I’m having a pool party at my parents’ house. But this isn’t your ordinary pool party. My mom ordered the most AWESOME slip-n-slide in the world (see below)! Talk about being “young at heart” 😉

So, in the spirit of growing older, wiser and more awesome, I wanted to leave you this little nugget of inspiration….

HAVE SOME FUN THIS WEEKEND! Choose to be happy! Reward yourself with some good times and positive energy. We often take ourselves so seriously that we forget to stop and enjoy this one precious life that we have. So, rest assured, I will be living it up (and working out) this weekend and I hope that you will too!

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” –Henri Nouwen

Have a ball! Lots of luv, Brit

Abs, Home Workouts

Goodbye GUT: Lower Abs Workout

July 9, 2013 4 Comments

Hey gang! Happy “Tone it up” Tuesday. Since I know you guys LOVE ab workouts, here’s a new one I designed that really focuses on the hip flexors and the lower abs. For best results, do this workout 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Let me know how it goes!

Enjoy your sexy abs! Luv, Brit 🙂

Inspiration & Motivation

Clear Your Mind of Can’t

July 4, 2013 4 Comments

Happy Independence Day to my US blog followers! I hope you enjoy some rest, relaxation, quality time with the people you love and (of course) a good workout! For those of you outside of the US, this blog post is also for you 🙂

On this day of freedom, remember that we are free in every capacity: emotionally, physically and spiritually! So, relish in that fact. Clear you mind of can’t. Anything you want in life, anything you desire to experience, all of it, IS YOURS! So, today, let’s accept our freedom. Be grateful for it. And let NOTHING hold us back from pursuing our dreams!

Let Freedom Ring! xoxo, Brit