Live More, Worry Less, Have #GRIT

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Hello everyone! I want to wish you a wonderful week and an even better (US) holiday ahead.  Remember to enjoy some down time with those you love and simply savor the holiday.  Of course I want you to squeeze in a workout at some point, but most importantly, take some time to unplug, relax and appreciate all the good stuff.

Last but not least, I’ve picked a winner for my 4th of July Sweaty Bands Giveaway.  Congrats Christine!  Huge shout out to you for prioritizing exercise while studying for the MCAT – phew!  I hope you make time to sleep.  In case you guys missed Christine’s workout plans, here’s what she has in store…

“This summer, I’ve been spending a lot of time studying for my mcat this coming august. Exercise had been a huge stress relief of mine, and I’ve recently gotten into running! I hope to accomplish a 5k by the end of this summer, so this 4th of July weekend will consist of running along the bayou–my goal is to do a 2.5 mile stretch in one go. I also plan on doing a bit of cross training by getting some laps in at the pool and balancing out my cardio by doing a few Pilates routines. During my study breaks, I want to try your 20 min cardio workout!” – Christine

Also, SURPRISE, I actually got an extra Sweaty Band so I picked a 2nd winner.  Congrats Tory!  You stole my heart when you mentioned Tae Bo.  I always have been and always will be a Billy Blanks fan.  Here are Tory’s workout plans for the weekend…

“I’m planning on working out indoors, because of the heat and humidity that’s forecasted for this week. Over this past weekend I brushed the dust off my old Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVDs.  They are fun and provide me with a great workout. Now that I’ve seen your ’20 Minute Cardio Workout’, planning on alternating this workout with the 30 minute, Tae Bo workouts.  For fun outdoors workouts, it’s all about the water workouts! I’m planning having some playtime with my kids to cool off and get in some laps in the pool.” – Tory

Thanks to everyone who shared their weekend workout plans.  Knowing that others will be up and active always encourages me to get moving. Have a happy 4th of July and remember show your #GRIT.  Lots of luv, Brit  


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4th of July Giveaway from Sweaty Bands & 20 Minute Cardio Workout

Hey Gang – Happy (almost) 4th of July!  In honor of the upcoming holiday I’m hosting a giveaway of 2 super cute headbands from Sweaty Bands (pictured below)!  I love Sweaty Bands because they come in TONS of bright colors and cool patterns and most importantly, they don’t slip during your workout.  To participate in the giveaway, just post a comment telling me your 4th of July weekend workout plans – be creative!  I’ll pick a winner and announce on Wednesday, July 2nd!  Also, be sure to include your email address or a way that I can contact you if you win.

2 Super Cute Sweaty Bands to be given away to 1 lucky winner!  Post your 4th of July Workout plans below to enter to win!
2 Super Cute Sweaty Bands to be given away to 1 lucky winner! Post your 4th of July Workout plans below to enter to win!

In case you’re pressed for time this weekend, here’s a quick and very effective cardio workout that you can complete in 20 minutes.  I do this workout in my hotel room all the time – it’s simple and sweaty!  Warning – there’s a lot of jumping incorporated, so if you have chronic knee pain or knee injuries, this is not your ideal workout.  For best results, move quickly from one exercise to the next and ONLY rest during the set rest times.  You can expect to burn 250-300 calories in 20 minutes or less.  Be sure to stretch after you’re finished.  If you have questions about any of the exercises, email me at [email protected].  Also, YouTube has tons of example videos to guide you.  Give my 20 Minute Cardio workout a whirl and let me know how it goes.  Also, don’t forget to share your weekend workout plans to win these adorable Sweaty Bands.  Have a great week!  xoxo, Brit

20 Minute Cardio Workout

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20 Day Burpee Challenge – When life knocks you down, do a burpee!

Hey Gang! I’m kicking off a new physical challenge to get in tip-top shape for the Summer.  Burpees are one of my favorite exercises – I always try to incorporate them into my Turbokick and PiYo fitness classes.  Burpees are designed to build muscular and cardio endurance, so expect to be out of breath! Not only does the mega move blast calories it also provides excellent strength training for the entire body, especially the core.  Below is a 20-day challenge that I plan to start tomorrow.  The goal is to be able to do 60 consecutive burpees by Day 20…burpee challengeIn case you’ve never done the burpee exercise before, here’s a simple info-graphic providing step by step instructions…

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Once you’ve got the move down, join me for the challenge!  Be sure to share you progress on our Facebook page or post a comment below.   Be strong and have a wonderful week! xoxo, Brit

GRIT by Brit Burpee

 

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Be a Doer not a Dreamer

Strength-GandhiHey gang, here’s little mid-week motivation to keep you going till the weekend.  First off, in case you don’t know what indomitable means (I didn’t) here’s the definition:

in·dom·i·ta·ble

 [in-dom-i-tuh-buhl]  Show IPA

adjective: that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior. (source: dictionary.com)

Remember, the happiest and most successful people don’t always have the most strength,  talent or the clearest dreams, but they do have the WILL and WORK ETHIC to succeed.  On a related note, I was super motivated by Shonda Rhimes recent commencement speech at Dartmouth University.  She kept it extra real while advising recent graduates to be “doers” and not “dreamers.”  I wanted to share the video with you as some food for thought as we wrap up the week.  Keep on fighting the good fight – you got this! xoxo, Brit

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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

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Clear blue skies in Mexico #Bliss

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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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Happy Easter #SundayInspiration

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Calimera! Wishing you a very Happy and Inspiring Easter Sunday.  I hope you enjoy celebrating this glorious day with your friends and family.  Also, I want to announce the winner of the Sporteer Running Armband = Nkoyo. CONGRATS!  Please email me your mailing address at [email protected]. xoxo, Brit

“The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.”   – Carl Knudsen

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