Dallas GRIT Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle

What Motivates You? How to Set Positive and Powerful Intentions

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Often we set intentions to fix things that we think are “wrong” with ourselves (i.e. “I’m fat so I wanna lose weight” or “I don’t like my job so I want a new one”). However, I’m big believer in the Power of Positive Thinking.  This means our intentions should focus on what motivates us, not on what frustrates us. In doing so we generate natural energy and positive thinking to support our desired outcome. “We are authentically inspired by [our] goals [and] empowered to make them happen.” (Source: Oprah.com)

As you start the week answer the question, “What Motivates You?”  Use your response to set your intention for the week – I can’t wait to hear your success stories!

Lots of love and joy to you this week!  xoxo, Brit

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Weight Loss

Soup Up to Slim Down: Delicious High-Protein Spring Soup Recipe

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It’s Spring – yippee!  In warmer weather I often feel weird eating soup because it seems like such a “cold weather thing.”  However I’d like to keep up my soup consumption because doing so is great for weight management.  Studies show that people who sip on soup before their meal are more likely eat fewer calories at their meal.   Better yet, soup eaters often skip on dessert because they feel full.

Unfortunately, I can’t get down with most Spring inspired cold soups like gazpacho and chilled veggie puree concoctions – just not my thing.  So I researched some nutritious and delicious, hot “Spring Soup” recipes to share with you guys.  The following Spring Minestrone by Hank Shaw intrigued me because it’s low in fat yet high in protein.  More importantly it sounds light and tasty and seems pretty simple to prepare.  If you don’t spend much time in the kitchen (no judgement here) I highly recommend the soup bar at Whole Foods – particularly the Moroccan Lentil and White Bean Kale.  Try to avoid cream based soups since they are higher in calories and fat.

Hope you like – let me know! xoxo, Brit

Spring Minestrone Soup from Simply Recipes

spring-minestrone

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6.

You can either make fresh pesto for this recipe, or you can just buy some high-quality pesto in the market.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 6 green onions
  • 2 green garlic stalks, or 2 large garlic cloves
  • 1 pound baby potatoes, or Yukon gold potatoes cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 quart vegetable or chicken stock
  • Salt
  • 1/2 pound artichoke hearts (fresh or frozen), chopped roughly
  • 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas
  • 1 cup peas (fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 cups greens (dandelion, chard, spinach, kale, arugula, etc), sliced into thin ribbons
  • Up to 1/4 cup pesto
  • Grated parmesan or pecorino cheese for garnish

METHOD

1 Chop the green onions and green garlic and separate the white and light green parts from the green tops. If you are using regular garlic cloves, put them with the white parts of the green onions. Slice the potatoes and artichoke hearts into chunks you would want to eat with a spoon.

2 In a large pot set over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil for 1 minute. Add the white parts of the green onions as well as the garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the potatoes, stir to combine and cook 1 minute.

3 Add the diced tomatoes with their liquid and the quart of vegetable or chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, add salt to taste, then cover and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.

4 Add the artichoke hearts and cook another 5 minutes, then add the chickpeas and green peas and cook another 5 minutes. Remove the cover from the soup and add the asparagus. Cook 2 minutes. Add the greens and the green parts from the green onions and green garlic, if using. Stir well to combine and cook 1 minute.

5 Turn off the heat and stir in the pesto. Serve topped with grated cheese.


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Just for Fun

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

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Nutritional BANG for your BUCK

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).

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Just for Fun

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

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cupcake2

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.

  1. 10 Healthy Habits for Sustained Success – A random list of 10 habits I strive to live by (it’s a lifelong journey)
  2. 10 Minute Abs & Thighs Workout Video – My first YouTube workout video
  3. Show some Swagger – Reflecting on the importance of prioritizing our needs/health over pleasing other people.
  4. Love Your Body: Get Hate Your Heart – Exploring the physical healing power of forgiveness.
  5. 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

 

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Inspiration & Motivation

STRENGTH

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strength

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

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Legs, Lifestyle

Valentine’s Day Giveaway + Love Yourself Legs and Booty Workout

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love-yourself

Hello lovely guys and gals!  I personally wanted to wish you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day and week full of love and joy.  Hopefully you have a special someone in your life, but if not, know that I LOVE YOU exceedingly and abundantly!

To show my love, I’ve partnered with Socialite Pink Jewelry for a special V-Day necklace give away.  Just copy the picture BELOW, post to your Facebook page, and tag Socialite Pink + 4 friends.  After doing so, you’ll be entered to win the lovely necklace below.

Brit by Grit Posting

But that’s not all.  I’ve also been intrigued (yet kinda grossed out) by all of the #Belfies I’ve been seeing on Insta which has motivated me to make a Love Yourself Legs and Booty Workout just in time for Valentine’s Day 😉  The workout is a great warm up or finale to 30 minutes of cardio training.  It goes like this…

  • Plie’ Squats – 25

  • Regular Squats – 25

  • Squat Jumps – 12

  • Wall Sit – 45 seconds

  • Single Leg Step Back Lunges – 20 Right, 20 Left

  • Single Leg Side Step Lunges – 20 Right, 20 Left

  • Regular Squats – 50

Have a wonderful week with filled hugs and kisses.  

xoxo, Brit

 

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Just for Fun

Perfect Holiday Fitness Gift: GRIT by Brit Workout Tank Tops are now Available! Show your #GRIT

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GRIT-tanks-insta

Get ready to Show Your GRIT in some of my signature GRIT Swag.  Treat yourself or your friends to a tank top or DVD today!  You can shop directly through my eStore: gritbybrit-shop.com

I created GRIT by Brit apparel and DVDs to help me stay connected with my virtual “fit friends.”  Hopefully you will become a part of our “GRIT Gang” and enjoy these products as much as I enjoyed creating them.  Tank tops and gift sets are available while the limited supply last – when they are gone, they are GONE!

Thanks for supporting my small, but growing, business – ENJOY!

Lots of luv, Brit

For questions please contact me at [email protected]

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Just for Fun

Fierce & Fabulous

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FIERCE Brit
FIERCE Brit

Hey hey GRIT gang!  I hope you are enjoying a WONDERFUL weekend.  I was just thinking, I’m so grateful that I discovered FIERCE fitness. Now I’m not talking about casually going to the gym or a nice easy jog every once in a while,  I’m talking about sweat puddles, sucking air and shocking myself during workouts.  Not only does fierce fitness improve my physical appearance, but it also makes me fabulous!  By “fabulous,” I mean more confident, fun and optimistic about life.

If I can push through a tough workout, I can handle any curve ball that life throws my way – I’m sure of it.    It’s amazing how the self-confidence, resilience and GRIT from overcoming a physical challenge spill over into all aspects of my life.

If you have been casually going through the motions, today I challenge you to take it up a notch!  You are stronger than you think.  Be FIERCE and be FABULOUS!  Lots of luv, Brit

“It’s better to commit and go for the gold, rather just show up for practice everyday” #GRIT

FABULOUS Brit :)
FABULOUS Brit 🙂
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