Home Workouts, Legs

Thursday Thigh Burn

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YO YO YO – Here is the workout I just completed this morning. I threw some new exercises in, so if you get confused, below are some pictures of me doing them to guide you.  The total workout should take you about 30 minutes and you can expect to burn ~300 calories in the process.

Only 3 words can describe my Thursday Thigh Burn = BOOTY ON FIRE!

Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes.

CHOOSE to have a great day 🙂

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Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

Brit’s 5 Favorite (Fit) Things

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If not for these 5 things, I’d have a very hard time living a healthy and lively lifestyle.  Here’s why I love them and why you should love them too – enjoy!

  1. Starbucks Venti iced green tea “Straight Up” (no sweetener no added water) – When I’m hungry (or bored) this is my #1 go to.  It’s filling, hydrating, taste great, loaded with antioxidants and serves as a natural metabolism booster.  Also, by ordering it “straight up” I consume ZERO calories!
  2. Pedometer – If you remember my Pedometer Diary post a few months back, I tested this thing out just for fun, but I find that it really helps me stay more active during the day.  I tend to get up from my desk and walk around every hour or so.  I also intentionally park far away from my office building to meet my step goal.
  3. Daily Devotions – Fitness isn’t only limited to our bodies, it extends to our minds and souls.  That said, I carry a really small daily devotional handbook that I got as a high school graduation gift.  It’s nice and concise and organized by “life topic.”  I find that just taking 5-10 minutes each day to a read a few lines and give thanks to God really helps keep me in a positive mindset and grateful spirit.
  4. Apples – Because I travel every week for work, my stomach situation gets a little “off track” if you will.  Apples are a super fiber source, easy to carry, keep my breath fresh and most importantly, keep me regular 😉
  5. TaeBo DVDs + Billy Bands – I became a TaeBo groupie when I was 15 and Billy still gives it to me like he used to in my teens.  The Billy Bands add resistance for extra calorie burn and toning.  Also, I just pack the DVD and bands in my suitcase and easily workout on my laptop in my hotel room.  Super convenient!

What are you favorite things that keep you fit?  Let me know!

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Inspiration & Motivation

4-week challenge: Sasha O or Prego?

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Lakshmi’s Week 2 Update

Sasha Obama wore this adorable dress to her father’s speech at the DNC. I promptly purchased and wore it Wednesday for a work event. Not going to lie, I felt good in it. It accentuated my waist and was flattering (so I thought). I went to the work event, where the first person I spoke with had met with me a year ago. She said to me, “It’s great to see you again. And I see you have a baby bump.” Pow. All my confidence (I had even posted on Facebook about how great I felt in the dress) just disappeared like that. Unfortunately, there’s something about my body type that causes me to get mistaken for being pregnant all too often (I know, weird). I played the bigger person and instead of socking her in the face I said, “You’d be surprised how often I am mistaken for being pregnant. I must have a pregnant glow. When it does actually happen to me, I’ll be radioactive!” But I can joke all I want. It still really hurts. And when it hurts, I need some carbs. So Brit, I did eat carbs after 4 pm on Wednesday. But can you blame me? I was eating for two (PLEASE NOTE: THAT STATEMENT IS A JOKE).

Really tough to get the workouts in this week. I was in Boston Wed – Thursday AM. And am in Richmond Thursday AM to Friday night. Working a ton – so my options to workout were between the hours of midnight and 4 am. Sooo…I didn’t workout Thursday and Friday. I’ll get back into the groove on Saturday, I promise!

Here’s the dress I wore Wednesday. Isn’t it adorable? (the black and white one). No one mistook Sasha Obama for being prego.

Brit’s Advice for Lakshmi

  • Accentuate the positive – when you reflect on your week, ALWAYS think about everything you did WELL first.  If you start with your “slip ups,” it’s too easy to get discouraged and eventually quit your shape up efforts.
  • Don’t think in absolutes – you will never have a perfect day, so don’t beat yourself up if you sneak a cookie or miss a workout.  Just think about living a “balanced” life and schedule some extra workout time or a super lean meal to compensate for your “slip up”
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Inspiration & Motivation

Urban Wandering

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This weekend I went to NYC to hang with some friends and scope out the scene. I’ve been contemplating a move from the Big D to the Big Apple over the past few weeks. That said my friends labeled this trip as my “official recruiting” visit.

On Saturday morning I hit up the Derek Jeter 24 Hour Fitness in Midtown to get my usual 2-hour Saturday detox on. I had a sick Turbo Kick workout my girl Natalie (follow her @natalieughling) – one of my favorite NYC group fitness instructors and also the new face of Under Armor Women. After that, I did my 1st full-hour TRX Suspension Training class = KILLER CORE WORK and body weight resistance training. I felt nice and tight for the remainder of the weekend. I highly recommend you give it a whirl.

While wandering the Urban Jungle I hit up a street market in West Village, a roof top party near Gramercy Park, The Ramble and Alice’s Tea Cup in Central Park (you must try the pumpkin/caramel scone) and finally a b-day brunch/Soul Parade in Harlem. Let’s just say, this was a successful “recruiting visit” …

I’m feeling refreshed and optimistic for the week ahead. Here are some of my personal photos for you to peruse. Enjoy and Happy Monday 🙂

West Village impromptu “photo shoot”

(rockin’ my Hadliegh’s Bespoke slippers – constant movement is key)

Roof Top Action

Happiest birthday to my buddy Matt (@mattsalz)

Harlem Shakin’

Happy Birthday to my girl Charlotte (co-founder of www.teamfnom.com – check them out!)

All good things must come to an end…

Toppin’ off the weekend with a cup of Joe on my way home

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Inspiration & Motivation

4-week challenge: Lak’s Week 1 Update

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Hey Gang – Lakshmi has completed her 1st week of the 4-week challenge and is lookin’ mighty fine!  Keep up with her progress and send in your notes of encouragement.  You can see my comments and words of advice throughout her update.  Have a great weekend!  – Brit

SEXY IN BLACK

Week 1 of my Grit by Brit 4-week challenge is almost done. Here are some successes, failures (let’s call them, “opportunities for improvement” – I don’t like the word “failures”) and things I’ve learned. I haven’t lost any weight, but I’m feeling sleeker:

Successes:

  • I rocked the workout schedule. My muscles have been in a constant state of soreness this week (in a good way) – eat a banana to help with soreness
  • Chugging water like woah. I may have had more than 2L a day
  • I managed to follow the ‘no simple carbs after 4 pm’ rule (for the most part)
  • I’ve only been snacking at night. Breakfast and lunch have become my main meals
  • I’ve been watching my food intake. Just being conscious of the food I’m eating is an improvement

Opportunities for Improvement

  • Well on Sunday, I went to dinner. The menu didn’t say my meal came with rice (I ordered specifically because no carbs were listed). But it did. And I ate it
  • I may have gamed the system. Find me around 3:50 pm, you’ll see me downing some carbs in preparation for my 4 pm deadline – this is okay, it’s a start
  • Perchance all my eating decisions weren’t all perfect before 4 pm. I could have made healthier choices, but the new hires at work were training in the office and there was SO MUCH extra food. Eating for free v. eating right…it’s a toss up. Penny pinching won
  • I could have eaten more vegetables. I found myself having more almonds than raw vegetables
  • I’ve hit the 3 drink limit for the week (it was a social week). And I’m going to a wedding this weekend…uh oh

Things I’ve Learned:

  • Make others accountable for your eating decisions. Everyone at work knows I’m on the Grit by Brit plan. So when I’m teased by some delicious snack in the office kitchen, my co-workers intervened with some humiliating comment like “you can’t eat that.” You lose all your dignity, but hopefully you also lose your weight
  • If you eat a big lunch, you don’t need a big dinner. I’m not hungry right now. I can’t believe it
  • Water makes you feel good. I’m finally hydrated!

Questions for Brit

  • Can I eat quinoa after 4 pm? Yes in moderation
  • Do you have any good recommendations for what to eat at night? Nothing, drink water, why do you need fuel to sleep??

Lots of love boo – keep up the good work!

Brit 😉

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Cardio, Home Workouts, Legs

Grind It Out Workout

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Happy Monday

Work hard, be blessed and be a blessing to others!

Here’s the workout I made for myself to do this evening. Try it out and let me know what you think. I’ll do it as soon as I get off work today .

  • Workout Name: Brit’s Grind It Out Workout
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Calories Burned: 400 – 500
  • Focus: Lower body toning and overall calorie burn
  • Equipment needed: Treadmill or outdoor hill, hand weights (optional)

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Lifestyle

Gritty and Nautical

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Happy Labor Day everyone!  I hope your weekend was joyous and well.  Mine certainly was.  I went to Boston to celebrate the wedding of one my dearest b-school classmates.  Despite living in Boston for 2 years, I experienced a completely new side of Bean town = Southie.  Usually, I try to stay away from Southie at all costs (read: Gone Baby Gone & The Town), but I was pleasantly surprised by history, “grittiness” and authenticity of the neighborhood.  I enjoyed a nice 5 mile run around the South Harbor and had a killer vegetarian sausage breakfast burrito at Sophia’s.

After the wedding, I hopped a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for a night.  The island exhibited a wealth of racial and cultural diversity (I was expecting to only see Sperry’s and blondes). My friends and I kept up the physical activity with paddle boarding at the beach.  SO FUN!  Took me a while to get my groove.  I definitely bit it like 3 times, but it was totally worth it.  If you’ve never tried paddle boarding, you must.  My core and booty are super sore today 😉

While the food was great and the scenery was unreal, the best part was the company.  As I reflect on the weekend, I’m so grateful for my positive and loving friendships – something I TOO OFTEN taken for granted.  Thank God for good friends.

   

So, here’s to Bean Town, Martha’s Vineyard, and all things Gritty and Nautical.

Me and Dave soaking it all in before heading home

 

 

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Cardio, Home Workouts, Total Body

Where Da Ballers At?

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  • Workout Name: Basketball Court Workout  by Brit
  • Duration: 45 min – 1 hour
  • Calories burned: 400 – 700
  • Commentary: The fact of the matter is pro basketball players have HOT bodies.  Whether you’re a “pro hooper”, “ex-hooper” or “wanna be hooper,” the basketball court is ALWAYS a great place to get a super effective workout.  The workout I’ve put together incorporates many of the drills I did back in my day plus some basics to burn calories and build endurance.  No matter your skill level, you should be able to get through this workout and increase your fitness level in the process.  Change up your routine and try it out.  Let me know how it goes!

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