GRIT – Page 2 – GRIT By Brit

Dallas GRIT Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

Dallas GRIT Fitness: My 1st Studio – Progress on Site Renovations

November 4, 2014 5 Comments

Hey guys – happy Tuesday! So I’m back in Dallas and back to work renovating and preparing for the grand opening of my very 1st fitness studio! I can’t believe this is all happening. It’s SO MUCH more work than I anticipated but I’m loving every minute of it.

My studio, Dallas GRIT Fitness, is located in East Dallas at 3821 Ross Avenue. I’m SO excited to bring the very 1st one-stop-shop for a variety of the most energetic group fitness & yoga classes! No more having to drop in to 5 different studios to attend your favorite workouts.

Right now, I’m in the thick of of renovations and managing contractors. We started off by tearing down 6 walls in what use to be a chiropractor’s office. Talk about manual labor. I had a little bit of a hiccup last week when the City of Dallas officials stopped by and said I needed an additional permit for the demolition work that was done – YIKES! We had to stop working for a couple of days until we secured the permit – UGH! Fortunately, everything is squared away now and we are back in business!

My friend Turner, owner of Dallas Fit Body Bootcamp, did all of the demolition work by himself! Talk about GRIT

Turner knocked down 6 walls on 1 Day #BEASTMODE

During the demolition, the flooring guys came by to give me an estimate on wood floor installation

I almost fainted when I heard the price… maybe I can get wood floors installed barter for classes???

At the end of Day 3 all of the wall were gone and the debris was cleared out. Turner and his buddy Glen literally did magic!

Once we got all of the walls knocked down and cleaned out, we did a mini celebration – YAY! Then the painters came in and worked their magic. I decided to go with gray walls and white crown molding. What do you think? My biz partner, Tuner, will run Dallas Fit Body Bootcamp in the suite next door. We’re excited to offer cross-studio memberships and joint workouts 🙂

Painters doing the final touches on the crown molding

All done with painting yay! Now I need to get a “Dallas GRIT Fitness” sign made to go in the entry way behind the welcome desk

Now that painting is done, the flooring guys will install beautiful maple wood floors this week.

Last but not least, we will wrap up renovations with mirrors, wall art and sound/lighting installations. Then we are good to go! I’m having an orientation for all of my rockstar instructors in early December and “soft opening” in late December 2014. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress. In the meanwhile, check out the studio website: dallasgritfitnesss.com

So much is happening so fast!

Thanks for being a part of the journey.

Lots of luv, Brit

Inspiration & Motivation

What Does GRIT Mean to You? Answers from 8 Wonder Women + GRIT Tank Top Giveaway

October 2, 2014 13 Comments

Good morning friends! As promised, I gathered all of your comments from my GRIT Tank Top Giveaway a couple of weeks ago and summarized them into the graphic below. I have to be honest, at first I did this for selfish reasons as these quotes became my morning motivation. I was so inspired by your definitions of “GRIT” I just had to share the goodness. Now you can print, Pin or post this graphic anywhere you like. Also, HUGE thank you to 8 Wonder Women who shared what “GRIT” means to them…

On that note, let’s keep the gritty goodness going. I’m hosting another giveaway for this black GRIT tank top (pictured below). Just like last time, post a comment answering the question, “What does GRIT mean to you?” I’ll read through all of your inspiring words and pick a winner – will announce next Wednesday (Oct. 8). Enjoy!

Just for Fun

Thursday Giveaway! Win a signature GRIT tank top

September 11, 2014 No Comments

Hey y’all! Hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Core + Cardio Workout. My abs are still sore! I just made it to NYC for a work conference. I love it here. Last night I checked into my hotel and caught up on some work. This morning I went to 24 Hour Fitness in Midtown for a 30/60/90 HIIT class. It’s really crazy to be here in the city (in the Financial District specifically) on 9/11. I remember the horrible event like it was yesterday. I was a Senior in high school and we watched the 2nd plane on TV – we couldn’t believe our eyes. On a positive note, I remain so amazed by the resilience and perseverance of the families and friends who lost loved ones. We are so much stronger than we think…

Ridin’ in my cab from the airport to the W Hotel in Midtown

I’m feeling generous today so I’ve decided to randomly giveaway one of my signature GRIT by Brit tank tops. You can choose either the black or the blue – whatever style you prefer. To enter to win, just post comment below sharing what “GRIT” means to you. You guys know what GRIT means to me, but I’d love to hear your point of view and personal stories. Also, I’m a big fan of learning from each other, so let’s spread some gritty love and words of wisdom. I’ll announce the winner next week, September 19th, in my Fitness Fashion Friday post. Be sure to include your email if it’s not already linked to your comment profile so I can contact you for your mailing address and tank top size. Good luck! luv, Brit

Me and my friend Nena, sweaty in our GRIT tanks after PiYo class!

Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

G.R.I.T – The Secret to Success and Happiness

August 26, 2014 No Comments

Hello friends. A colleague of mine forwarded me an AMAZING article from Forbes.com. You can click here to read the full article, but below is an excerpt of the GRIT section by Scott Petinga – it’s just too good not to share…

“G” is for guts, that secret superpower that allows us to overcome adversity and steer a course over, under, around or straight through life’s many obstacles and challenges. Having guts is about living in the moment and doing things you’re afraid of right now — not tomorrow, not five years from now. It’s about being confident in your opinion, voicing that opinion and not being afraid to disagree with people.
“R” is for resilience, which allows us to bounce back from life’s many defeats to enjoy the fruits of our labor and eventual success. Perseverance is a major part of that. The journey that got me to where I am today gave me this insatiable drive, this compulsion to create change — to be change. It also taught me to genuinely care about people, to care about the community around me and to care about the impact I have on the future. Don’t limit yourself to what’s immediately doable. Instead ask, “What’s possible?”
“I” is for initiative, that entrepreneurial spirit that inspires us to act on our biggest ideas and build a life and career for ourselves. With initiative comes the risk of failure, which is why doing so is well worth it. Either it takes you forward into a new direction, or you fail, and those failures take you in a new direction.
“T” is for tenacity, which ultimately determines how hard we fight for our dreams. Tenacity can be summed up as, “improvise, overcome, adapt,” regardless of the odds. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. A tenacious person never has to say “would have,” “could have” and “should have.” Don’t think too long about things, just go for them.

Those of you who have been following me from the beginning know that helping people develop GRIT is the core purpose of my blog. I believe fitness is about so much more than a strong body. It’s about transforming your mind, CHOOSING to think positive thoughts and having the courage to believe in and work for your goals. The great thing about GRIT is that can be developed. Unlike talents, we aren’t born with GRIT. This means that each of us has the opportunity and the means to make our dreams come true. True that. xoxo, Brit

What’s your dream?

How are are you fighting to makes your dream come true?

How do you show your GRIT?

Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

10 Thoughts GRITTY People Reject

July 16, 2014 No Comments

Happy Hump Day gang! As I sit in my home office enjoying my week of vacation, I started a stream of consciousness of thoughts/statements that I absolutely hate to hear. So, I wanted to write a post to reject each and every one of them…

My best days are behind me – Gritty people believe that the best is always yet to come. If we can’t hope for a brighter and better future, what’s the point of working hard? Or waking up every day?
My dreams don’t matter – Our dreams are unique. They drive our passions and ultimately our purpose in life. Gritty people value their dreams and pursue them.
I’ve reached my limit – We have no limits! We are only limited by our minds and the restrictions that we put on ourselves. Gritty people continuously work harder, dream bigger and expect more out of life.
I’m cursed – None of us are cursed! In fact, believing that we are cursed will actually bring about bad situations. Suffering is a fundamental part of the human experience, but in the grand scheme of things, good always outweighs bad. Gritty people strive to stay positive!
I’m not supposed to be happy – All of us are given the gift of life and have duty to live life abundantly. That means we are supposed to experience joy, peace, service, happiness and purpose. Why even live if we are doomed for gloom? You are supposed to be happy – gritty people accept this truth!
I’m weak – This is one of the most powerful lies that can ruin your whole life if you start to believe it. Gritty people know that they are powerful beyond measure. You are so much stronger than you think!
This is as good as it gets – When we start to accept this thought, we are likely to settle for less than optimal circumstances. Now I’m not saying that we should never experience bad times, but we must always believe that we can make situations better with hard work, faith and confidence.
What he/she did is unforgivable – EVERYTHING is forgivable. Gritty people understand that holding a grudge is like “drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” – Buddha
I have no control over this situation – While we can’t control all of life’s circumstances, we can always control how we respond. Our responses to situations have so much influence on the outcomes. Gritty people take control of their lives.
I am the victim – Gritty people accept responsibility for themselves and for their happiness. Despite wrong doings by others, gritty people refuse to be the victim. Victims are weak. Weak is not a good look.

I know each of you are gritty already, so help spread these powerful truths to those you love.

xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun

Celebrating 2 years of Blogging! GRIT by Brit #blogiversary giveaway

March 16, 2014 No Comments

Wow – I can’t believe 2 years have passed since the first GRIT by Brit blog post. To celebrate our 2nd blogiversary I’m having a giveaway – yay! The first 10 people to post a gym selfie on Instagram with hashtag #gritbybrit will receive a free GRIT by Brit workout tank top. You can check out the styles at my eStore. I’ll message the winners for their mailing address and size (S/M/L/XL). Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram @GRITbyBrit.

Let’s also take a little trip down memory lane. First up, CLICK HERE to read the inaugural GRIT by Brit workout from March of 2012 – I called it the “Sexy Ladies Sweat Sesh” (wink wink). Also, here’s a recap of the 5 posts I most enjoyed writing this past year. While all of my posts have sentimental value, these 5 especially stand out. Hopefully these can be your pleasure reading for the week.

10 Healthy Habits for Sustained Success – A random list of 10 habits I strive to live by (it’s a lifelong journey)
10 Minute Abs & Thighs Workout Video – My first YouTube workout video
Show some Swagger – Reflecting on the importance of prioritizing our needs/health over pleasing other people.
Love Your Body: Get Hate Your Heart – Exploring the physical healing power of forgiveness.
Why Not Have a Big Life – Just a “feel good” post 🙂

Thanks for joining me on my GRITTY blogging journey!

Lots of luv, Brit

Grinning from ear to ear as I celebrate to awesome years of blogging! #grateful — Grinning from ear to ear as I celebrate 2 awesome years of blogging! #grateful

Inspiration & Motivation

STRENGTH

March 2, 2014 No Comments

I saw this quote and LOVED it, so I wanted to share it with you guys. It’s so true – right? When I think about the key moments in my life that really made me feel strong, each moment forced me to do something I didn’t think I could do. From running a mile under 8 minutes to teaching a group fitness class, each moment pushed me out of my comfort zone.

As many of you know, I’m a not a full-time fitness professional. I work long hours in corporate America and feel most comfortable in a conference room presenting PowerPoint slides. On top of that, I’m not a “writer” and I’ve struggled with my weight over the years. All of these facts make it easy to convince myself that I’m “unfit” to be a fitness blogger. However maintaining this blog has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made my stronger in several ways – my fitness, nutrition, relationships and even my writing skills!

If you’re like me, you typically like to focus on things you’re naturally good at because it makes you feel good about yourself – nothing wrong with that. The only issue is that refraining from pushing ourselves doesn’t make us stronger. It doesn’t require grit. And grit is what elevates our lives from ordinary to extraordinary. So go ahead and do 5 burpees instead of 4, run for 16 minutes instead of 15, start that blog you’ve been contemplating or take on a new project at work even if it feels a little intimidating.

SHOCK yourself – be STRONG!

xoxo, Brit

End of Year Top 10

2013 Year End Top 10

December 27, 2013 2 Comments

Wow! The New Year is upon us and I have so much so much grateful for. Most importantly, I’m so thankful for all of you who follow my blog and send me encouraging messages. There’s nothing more rewarding than connecting with you. Thank you so very much – be blessed exceedingly and abundantly!

This blog started out as a simple channel for me to share my hotel workouts and transformed into my passion-filled prized possession and platform to help us all live healthier, happier and more positive lives. Only a year and half since my first post, GRIT by Brit doubled in size to over 3,000 followers. The 2nd blogiversary is coming up in March. I have even greater expectations for 2014!

So now without further or do I present to you, 2013’s Top 10 Most Memorable moments:

Teaching my 1st Indoor Cycling Class – I got certified in Schwinn indoor cycling in 2012 but didn’t teach my first class until May of this year. It’s so crazy how teaching a new fitness format challenges me, takes me out of my comfort zone and feels exhilarating at the same time. Making playlists full of Jay-Z, Britney and Eminem is also really fun!
Grinning from ear to ear with excitement before teaching my 1st indoor cycling class – May 2013
Turbo NYC – While I was living in NYC for 7 months, I started a pop up Turbo Kick class in Flatiron. It quickly gained traction and my friends (old and new) joined me every Sunday to sweat and bring some heat to the bone-chilling NYC cold. This was a short stint, but boy was it sweet. Here you can read my reflections from my first Turbo NYC class: https://gritbybrit.com/2013/01/27/the-world-is-yours/
Rockin’ it out at my last Turbo NYC class in NYC – May 2013
PiYo on the Deck – When I was asked to teach weekly PiYo classes on the W Dallas Hotel Wet Deck I was like, “ah yea…I’m officially on the map!” This was huge personal accomplishment. Better yet, it was fun, free way that I could share mind-body training with my friends and other members of the Dallas community. Free. Fierce. Fitness = GRIT by Brit core values!
Teaching my 1st PiYo on the deck class – Summer 2013
Lose the Pooch Workout – I had no idea this workout would go viral on Pinterest, but it has! Clearly many of us are eager to work our lower abs and prevent a protruding FUPA. This will certainly be my cue to make more “Lose the Pooch” workouts in 2014. You can get the full workout here: https://gritbybrit.com/2013/03/05/lose-the-pooch-complete-workout-for-your-lower-abs/
Focusing on the FUPA! Lower abs workout – March 2013
GRIT by Brit Tank Tops – We have tanks now finally – yay! Not much to say on this one except that I’m glad I can now “reprezent my clique” in public. And you can too! Buy yours at my eStore: http://gritbybrit-shop.com/
Tank tops officially for sale! November 2013
New workout video with BOOYA Fitness – So in 2012 I released GRIT by Brit Ultimate Body Burn, which I hope you already rocked out. On New Year’s day 2014 I will release my new and improved 30 minute, high intensity, music blasting, cardio workout. Booya Fitness, an online fitness video subscription start-up company, was the driving force behind this collaboration. I’m so honored to be one of their featured instructors. You all must go sign up for your subscription today!http://www.booyafitness.com/
On shoot day with Booya Fitness – September 2013
Dr. OZ Cleanses – Holy Moly! I don’t know if I should be excited or concerned, but when I started posting reviews of the Dr. Oz cleanses, I got over 2,000 hits per day! Now I love a good cleanse, but I was amazed at our intense interest in cleanse regimens. Just remember, cleanses are a great one-off solution, but living a healthy lifestyle consistently (not only for a 3-day cleanse) is where the real work and the real rewards come.
Sharing my bootleg version of the Dr. Oz Juice Cleanse – Summer 2013
Blog makeover – So when I started GRIT by Brit I knew nothing about blogging (I think that’s still the case to be quite honest). However, this year I met an amazingly talented photographer/graphic designer who has become my creative director and my friend. Alivia Duran – thank you! GRIT by Brit is looking better than ever. You are a God-send! You can guys can check Alivia’s website: http://www.aliviaduran.com/
Old school GRIT by Brit blog header from 2012. But look at me now! haha
Sharing my Lean In Story – I heard Sheryl Sandberg speak at a women’s conference in April and I immediately felt a sense of duty to take more risks in my life and to also share my story with other women. On my way home from that conference, I wrote my Lean In story and submitted it to be published. If you haven’t read it, you can check it out here: http://leanin.org/stories/brittani-rettig/ (P.S. I wrote this with a great sense of urgency so there are a few typos – please read with a forgiving spirit).
My story about pursuing my fitness dreams on the official Lean In community site. Summer 2013
Being on TV (Good Morning Texas) – Huge thanks to Sporty Afros for being my fit friends and partners in crime on this. Alex and Whitney, co-founders of http://sportyafros.com/ have been my blog mentors and ongoing sources of inspiration. Thanks to both of you for sharing the limelight with me as you tackled the critical topics of natural hair and health. Together, we are going to win the war on obesity among women of color! Health OVER Hair!

Modeling "healthy hair" in light of a rigorous workout regimen on Good Morning Texas - May 2013 — Modeling “healthy hair” in light of a rigorous workout regimen on Good Morning Texas – May 2013

Well, that’s the end gang. 2013 has flown by, but it sure was good to me. I’m humbled and grateful for all of the blessings I’ve experienced. I wish you an amazing 2014 that exceeds your expectations – the best is ALWAYS yet to come!

Happy New Year! xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun

Cyber Monday Sale! GRIT by Brit Home Workout DVD 50% off, only $12.50 and DVD + Tank Top Gift Sets only $30

December 1, 2013 1 Comment

Hey Yall! Back by popular demand, I’m running my super steep Cyber Monday discount for all my blog followers for 1 day only! Starting now, and ending tomorrow night (Monday, Dec. 2nd at midnight) you can enjoy my original workout DVD for only $12.50.

In order to take advantage of the Cyber Monday Sale, follow these instructions:

Go to my DVD store: https://www.createspace.com/353954
Enter this discount code: EFG4H3UU
Purchase your DVD for 50% off, only $12.50

Here’s quick overview of what my workout video has to offer…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjZR1ClWFbE&w=560&h=315]

As icing on the cake, I’m also extending my Black Friday Sale! You can enjoy a gift set including my DVD + Workout Tank Top of your choice for only $30. The gift sets can be purchased at my eStore: gritbybrit-shop.com

Healthy Holidays and Happy Shopping! xoxo, Brit

Just for Fun

Black Friday Sale at GRIT by Brit eStore: Workout DVD + Tank Top only $30

November 26, 2013 1 Comment

This Friday you can purchase my ultimate fitness gift set = GRIT by Brit Ultimate Body Burn DVD + 1 Workout Tank Top for only $30.

Save 40% from the full price. The deal will begin at 6:00am CST Friday, November 29th for one day only. The deal ends at midnight. A limited supply of gift sets are available – once the inventory is gone, it’s gone for good!

Two gift set options are available:

1. DVD + Black Crop Tank Top: CLICK HERE to purchase for $30

2. DVD + Blue Racer Back Tank Top: CLICK HERE to purchase for $30

Be sure to visit my eStore first thing Black Friday morning for BIG SAVINGS. Show your #GRIT!

Happy Holidays! xoxo, Brit