grit by brit – Page 14

Double Duty – Pursuing Fitness and Business Goals

July 14, 2014 No Comments

Happy Monday everyone! Today I’m celebrating my 30th birthday – woop woop! I threw a massive “GRIT by Brit” themed birthday party last weekend. Long story short, it was the best night of the my life. DJ, dancing, cupcakes, family and friends – what more could I ask for? I have lots of pics and stories to share with you guys so be on the lookout. I’ll post them soon! Here’s a sneak peak in the meanwhile…

Celebrating my 30th Birthday in Herve Leger!

In honor of my milestone birthday, I decided to use an entire week of vacation time to stay home from my corporate career and teach fitness classes all over Dallas! If you are local to Dallas, come join me for a class! My schedule is below. Also, I’ve added a new Google calendar (to the right side panel) so you guys can keep up with my teaching schedule each week. YAY!

Brit’s Group Fitness Teaching Schedule, Dallas, TX

Mon 7/14, 5:30pm – Indoor Cycling, 24 HF Royal
Mon 7/14, 7:00pm – Turbo Kick, 24 HF Mockingbird
Wed 7/16, 12:00pm – Indoor Cycling, 24 HR Downtown
Thurs 7/17, 6:30pm – Turbo Kick, 24 HF Coit/Campbell
Fri 7/18, 6:00am – Indoor Cycling, 24 HF Downtown
Sat 7/19, 9:00am – PiYo, W Dallas Hotel Wetdeck
Sun 7/20, 3:00pm – TurboKick, 24 HF Mesquite

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while know that fitness is not my full-time profession, but rather a passion that I pursue in conjunction with my consulting career. While balancing the two can be challenging, I find that writing this blog and teaching fitness classes actually helps me in my corporate career. Recently I did an interview with my alma mater, Harvard Business School, to share details of my “double duty” life. You can read the full article here. I hope my experiences encourage you to pursue your interests and put in the work to get everything you want out of life! Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done – with hard work, faith and confidence, ALL THINGS are possible. Have a great week. xoxo, Brit

Do you have a passion that you wish you spent more time pursuing?

What’s your side hustle?

Just for Fun

Target® C9 Activewear Review and Sexy Shoulder Workout

July 7, 2014 8 Comments

I’ve always been fan of “Tarjay” so when I was asked to review the new Target® C9 activewear, I gladly accepted! Better yet when I went to purchase my gear, I stumbled upon the surprise of finding C9 activewear on sale – buy 1 piece get the 2nd half off! There were tons of bright colors and pattern combinations so you can mix and match the tanks and shorts. I bought both the light pink and navy Sporty Layered Run Tank + Run Shorts for under $30. This is a perfect example of why I love Target®. The product styles are always on trend and the price is affordable. One of the GRIT by Brit core beliefs is we do not have to be wealthy to be healthy. To further that, we also don’t have to be wealthy to feel and look good while living a healthy lifestyle 🙂

Now, a little more about my C9 activewear…

The tank top is layered with a sports bra built-in – YES! Not only is the design cute, but it’s also functional. It provides good bust support and the material is light and breezy so I stayed cool while working up a sweat. I also appreciate the vertical stripe pattern on the back which has a slimming effect (a good look). The shorts have a wide knit waist band that’s made of this dri-fit material. Like most running shorts, they also have built-in underwear that are made of the same dri-fit material. I spent about 10 minutes on the rowing machine and another 15 minutes on the Stair Stepper – fortunately, the shorts didn’t ride up my thighs or annoyingly rub against my skin as I moved.

Overall, I’m very happy with my purchases. I do wish that the shorts had the same cool multicolored design as the sports bra. However, my friends always make fun of me for being too “matchy” so maybe it’s a good thing that the shorts are a simple navy with light pink trim. What do you think?

Target® C9 activewear GRIT by Brit — Rockin’ Target® C9 active wear before my workout – posing pretty 🙂

Along with my product review and I want to share this workout video. You guys know I’m always creating home workouts and on the lookout for new moves to incorporate into my routine. This Sexy Shoulders workout definitely gets my stamp of approval. I did the workout after my cardio and felt very toned and confident in my racer back tank top – I encourage you to give the Sexy Shoulder Workout a whirl!

Hopefully you guys enjoy the workout AND head to Target® to get some super cute C9 activewear. Personally, I felt good and still looked (pretty) good after finishing the Sexy Shoulder Workout – see my sweaty photos below. Lots of luv! xoxo, Brit

picstitch (1) — Sweaty (but still in style) post Sexy Shoulder Workout. Top: Target® C9 Women’s Sporty Layered Run Tank; Shorts: Target® C9 Women’s Run Short with Knit Waistband

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.

Just for Fun

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

June 30, 2014 No Comments

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!

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

Just for Fun

Spreading #PiYo Love all over Dallas

June 23, 2014 No Comments

Hey Gang – Happy Monday! I just wrapped up my first 4 weeks of teaching PiYo on the wetdeck at the W-Dallas Hotel. We have gotten off to an amazing start and have generated a huge amount of Pilates/Yoga fusion energy in Dallas. If you happen to live in Dallas or just be in town for the weekend, I really hope you stop by and sweat with me 🙂 Last week, D Magazine wrote a really cool review of the class. Click here to read the full story.

Also, Chalene Johnson, the creator of PiYo, just launched a brand new home fitness PiYo program with Beachbody. In case you don’t know, Beachbody also created Insanity and P90X – 2 really great home fitness programs. I’ve always been a fan of Chalene Johnson because she created TurboKick (and y’all know I love me some Turbo).

Anyway, I’m super excited and grateful for a successful PiYo class so far this Summer. Here are some photos from our class last Saturday. There’s nothing I love more than connecting with blog readers and fitness fanatics in our community, so please do join us Saturday morning and say “hi” – I’d love to meet you. Click here for class details.

Have a wonderful week! xoxo, Brit

piyo on the wetdeck — PiYo at W-Dallas wetdeck June 21 ,2014 Photo by: Frank Everet, W Insider

Arms, Lifestyle

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

May 11, 2014 No Comments

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

Puma-Arm-Workout-020 — 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

Puma-Arm-Workout-017 — 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

Puma-Arm-Workout-016 — 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

Puma-Arm-Workout-015 — 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

Puma-Arm-Workout-014 — 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

Dallas, TX, Just for Fun, Lifestyle

PiYo at W Hotel #wetdeck is back! #WPiyo Summer 2014

May 8, 2014 No Comments

Hooray – it’s that time of year again! I’ll start teaching PiYo classes at the W Dallas – Victory hotel on Saturday May 31, 2014. Classes are held on the beautiful 16th floor beside the infnity pool of the W hotel. We start at 9:00am sharp each and every Saturday throughout the Summer. BREAKING NEWS: Classes have been extended through September 20th!

PiYo is one of my all time favorite fitness formats. It’s a fun, effective fusion of Pilates and Yoga set to upbeat music. If traditional yoga classes bore you, this is the class for you! And the best part is that we can enjoy the best view in Dallas while getting our tummy toning and bun burning on.

Thanks to the W Hotel, PiYo on the #wetdeck is completely FREE and open to everybody – no sign up needed. You must bring your own yoga mat to participate. We also recommend you bring water and a towel.

If you have any questions, shoot me an email at [email protected].

Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

5 Tips to Ensure Good Health

May 4, 2014 No Comments

I’ve been getting over a cold the past few weeks which had me feeling pretty groggy. Thank God I don’t sick very often, but when I do I recognize a pattern of lifestyle changes that largely contribute to my lack of health. For instance, I get sick when I overindulge, get stressed out or spend minimal time doing activities that energize me (like teaching fitness classes). I saw this quote and loved it because it rings so true to my personal health. Of course I added some “GRIT by Brit flare” and elaborated on each point with my colorful commentary. I hope these words of wisdom keep you healthy today, tomorrow and forevermore! xoxo, Brit

1. Eat Lightly

Eating well and eating lightly are two different things. I have several friends, including me, who overeat because we are eating “healthy” foods. This is not a good look. Hopefully you read the guest post I featured on Intuitive Eating. If not, go check it out. Bottom line is that overeating may cause temporary satisfaction but it ultimately leads to sickness, obesity and even depression.

2. Breathe Deeply

Breathing deeply requires to us to tap in to our diaphragm and “fill up our bellies” with air. I learned the technique and value of breathing deeply through my yoga practice. I find that deep breaths calm my nerves and help me process my thoughts. “Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange — that is, the beneficial trade of incoming oxygen for outgoing carbon dioxide. Not surprisingly, it can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.” (Source: Harvard Medical School)

3. Live Moderately

It is possible to have too much of a good thing. As much as I love to travel and socialize, I have to be mindful of getting burnt out. The same goes for sipping wine, shopping, investing in relationships, etc. Every few weeks it’s a good idea for me stay in, not make any plans for the weekend and just chill on my couch with a few good books. To ensure good health, we must be mindful of aiming for moderation in all aspects of life – even the good stuff.

4. Cultivate Cheerfulness

Nothing brings about sickness more than sadness. Go out of your way to be cheerful. For me, the trick is to never allow myself to get really down in the dumps. I mean, obviously life brings about some serious challenges and it’s healthy to grieve. However, I believe in the laws of Physics. A body in motion, stays in motion. A mind that starts cultivating negative thoughts continues to cultivate negative thoughts. It takes a TON of energy to perform a 180 degree turn. It’s a lot easier to move forward in the direction you are already headed. So make a conscious effort to cultivate cheerfulness even during tough times – Fake it till you make it!

5. Maintain An Interest In Life

I find that my interest in life diminishes when I’m feeling hopeless. To me, being hopeful about life and being interested in life go hand in hand. Life is crazy complex but it always works out for the good. So stay hopeful. Be interested in helping others, observing beauty and seeking the happy ending. This curiosity will initiate a personal vitality and internal energy to help ensure good health.

Just for Fun

Spring Time Running Playlist and Sporteer Running Arm Bands

April 16, 2014 No Comments

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)

Inspiration & Motivation

Weekly #Fitspiration

April 9, 2014 No Comments

This is my favorite “fitspirational” quote. Hopefully it provides some mid-week motivation to move!

You’ll never regret a workout. xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun

Nutritional BANG for your BUCK: Tips for healthy grocery shopping on a budget

March 30, 2014 No Comments

Guest Post – For more nutrition advice visit www.lknutrition.com

As a self-proclaimed “FalafeLover” (and “many-other-foods-lover”) in Brooklyn, grabbing a yummy meal at one of the Big Apple’s thousands of amazing eateries is pretty par-for-the-course when it comes to socializing & enjoying New York City life.

BUT, eating out’s not always super budget friendly…

(9 bucks for a measly chicken sandwich… Say what??)

In an effort to save some moola, I committed to avoiding (*almost* all) restaurant-dining in March – as part of my blog series, where I challenge myself to add or eliminate a new “habit” each month. My overall goal for this challenge was to food shop and cook more frugally, without sacrificing the nutritional quality of my meals.

One major take-away has been learning how to better navigate the aisles of my local grocery store, and identify the most low-cost/nutrient-dense foods. News flash to the health-and-budget conscious: healthy home-cooking can still be quite expensive (especially in the city), IF you’re not savvy about it….

….But have no fear, Falafelover is here! To let you know that it IS possible to eat well without breaking your bank account. And now presenting…

FalafeLover’s TOP HEALTHY/CHEAP GROCERY LIST

Grains/Starches

Brown rice
Whole wheat pasta
Whole wheat bread
Oatmeal
Potatoes (white or sweet)

Protein

Canned beans (any kind – but my fav is Garbanzo, obviously, being a Falafelover, and all :))
Tofu (extra firm for highest protein content)
Eggs
Canned tuna or sardines (in water)
Cottage cheese (plain, low-fat)

Fruit

Bananas
Apples
Oranges
Pears

Non-starchy veggies

Kale
Collard greens
Tomatoes
Carrots

Healthier fats

Peanut butter (without added sugar/salt)
Avocados
Raw nuts (unsalted, in bulk – more cost-effective)

Bonus tips for getting most nutritional bang for your buck:

Go for the generic brand whenever you have the option– there’s almost always no difference in the quality
For canned beans, make sure to rinse out the excess salt
Cook a big pot of rice or pasta for the week, and then portion it out and use as a base for different stir-fries, soups, etc.
Produce prices ebb and flow big time depending upon what season we’re in. Berries are cheaper in summer, and squash is cheaper in fall/winter, for example. Go for the produce that’s in-season when you can (it’s fresher and yummier, too).
Don’t worry about buying organic. It’s not worth it, in my opinion. Just wash your produce well, and you’ll be good to go.
Skip the protein/granola/energy bars and make your own healthy snacks, like a DIY trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit and little pieces of chocolate.
Invest in a water bottle and enjoy nature’s healthiest and cheapest form of hydration, H20! Skip the vitamin-infused stuff (way over priced for the lack of nutritional value it offers) and the juice (fresh fruit is cheaper – 30 cents for an orange versus 1 or 2 bucks for a bottle of OJ).