fitness | The Sweaty Betties

Always in Beta Lifestyle with New Balance

September 17, 2015 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

Consideration was provided by New Balance

I’ve always been inspired by women with stories of challenge and triumph. One of my first and favorite books I ever read was called, “Don’t You Dare Give Up,” a book about a gymnast who was paralyzed doing the sport she loved, but out of her tragedy she reinvented herself, and continued to inspire and work in other ways. I am a student of personal development. I am constantly looking to improve my lifestyle in so many ways, and always looking for something that can make just that 1% change. I am “always in beta.”

“Always in Beta. Beta is a state of relentless improvement. Where there is no finish line to what’s possible. We dream. We wake up. And improve upon yesterday.”

I am teaming up with New Balance to promote women who also live the “Always in Beta” Lifestyle. The new Fall Catalog is packed with awesome new gear, but also lots of women’s stories that will inspire you, push you, and motivate you!

If you download the Blippar App, you can Blipp the page to see awesome content, videos and get to know the NB Women and their stories in a really cool way! I was obsessed with this new collection, especially the colors and feel of the NB Ice Collection! The contrast of the blues and bright yellows makes me feel unstoppable!!

The Capris have an awesome, wide and flattering waistband and feel amazing on my skin.

Let’s talk bras. Let’s get real here, sports bras are my best friend, but I don’t always like how they can smash everything and make me look like I wasted $4000 on a boob job (hahaha) The “Tenderly Obsessive” bra is seriously genius. I need one for every day of the week.

First, it’s cute and matches my hot shorts. (Bonus) There is a soft, shaped, cup on each side, with a nice bit of padding for smoothness (but not those awful removable pads that bunch up and you can never fit back in!!) It’s comfortable, stylish and gives great support and lift. #winner Speaking of shorts. I’ve never been a shorts kind of girl. Mostly because I was too worried about things being squeezed and creating more bulges and bumps than necessary. The Premium Performance Hot Shorts are so flattering, with the wide waistband, great coverage, and they stay put when running or stretching.

Last, it’s fall, and I LOVE the weather and cozy, soft sweaters, jackets and windbreakers. New Balance nailed it with the Heat En Route Jacket; it’s gorgeous, comfy, has the fun thumbholes that I love and feels so soft!

I’m so excited for fall hiking, long walks, trail running and pumpkin lattes and of course, Always Living in Beta. What are you excited for this fall and what pushes you to always live the Beta Lifestyle? WE THE WOMEN of New Balance have created this collection of fitness apparel and footwear inspired by our shared LOVE OF SPORT, drive to discover what’s next, and passion for WHAT’S POSSIBLE. Welcome to NB WOMEN where every tight fits right, every layer works hard, and every shoes lets you moved with perfect freedom. Take a look and find WHAT YOU LOVE. www.newbalance.com

Filed Under: Blogs, Product Reviews Tagged With: always in Beta, Crossfit, danny j, Danny Johnson, fall catalog, fitness, goals, health, hiking, motivation, new balance, personal training, reviews, running, sponsored, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training, workout

Walk Out Wednesdays

March 21, 2015 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

Sooo I’ve been living in a van….. down by the river, for a good 8 months now.

Alright, so it’s an RV and it’s not really by a River, but still.

I spend a LOT of time working in a small space, and while it’s fun, I’ve been really neglecting my fitness, because I “don’t have a gym or space”

Then my trainer head was like

“WHOA NELLY!! Stop right there! You have all you need with your shoes and two legs”

However, have I mentioned, I hate running?

So, I was asked to do a product review of the new Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker (HJ-327T)

Our most advanced tracker yet, the Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker (HJ-327T) is petite yet powerful. It allows you to transfer your fitness data wirelessly to your smartphone with our free Omron Fitness App. Featuring Bluetooth® Smart technology, the Alvita Wireless Tracker records regular steps, aerobic steps, distance and calories burned so you can set realistic goals and check progress along the way

I was actually REALLY excited about this little gadget because I needed a little push. I wanted to see how this baby worked and I ripped it open and went straight for the instructions….

uhhh….

OK, I admit, I freak out at gadgety things… BUT this was so easy. The instructions were basically: pop in a battery. Download an app. Now WALK!!!

OMG OMG. I have never been so excited to get out since my first pedometer in 7th grade! I grabbed my two #dogjerks and told my hubby “you’re coming with me!!” and off we went!!

I had to fight the urge to keep looking at it and checking my phone to see my progress. It certainly was fun to see how it shows your activity by time of day.

I realize that between taking care of work, my pups my husband, etc. I don’t always leave much time for myself and I forget how good FRESH AIR and a quick walk feels.

The hubs and I got to chat and reconnect and it was FUN.

Omron is encouraging women like us to #walkoutwednesdays where we schedule a walk with a friend and get out there on Wednesdays!

Why is it important to walk with a friend and not alone?

Many studies have shown that working out with a partner or group of people encourages you to stay on track and motivated. Many people choose to workout with someone who lives within close proximity.

I am excited to see how I can increase my daily activity and also reconnect with a friend or my husband once a week, just getting outside.

The awesome thing about this little tracker is that it is only $40!

It syncs to your phone and you can also sign up for a free account at www.omronwelllness.com where you can:

Download and share fitness activity from their personal dashboard
Participate in fitness and other health challenges
Easily view data on a mobile device or PC
The website syncs with the Alvita and our new line of connected blood pressure monitors where you can analyze your data, set goals and track your health progress

If you want to see more, make sure to go to their website www.omronwelllness.com

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Omron. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Motivation, Product Reviews, Real Talk Tagged With: cheap, danny j, fitness, Fun, product review, review, sweaty betties, walking

6 Morning Habits That Will Set You Up For a Wildly Alive Day

November 22, 2014 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

** guest post

Something I hear from my clients often is that around two or three every afternoon, they start to

feel exhausted. They feel worn down, and they reach for some afternoon caffeine or sugar to

perk them up. Hours later, they feel exhausted again. It’s a vicious cycle. I tell them a secret

I’m here to let you in on today –

If you’re feeling worn out every afternoon, it’s because you’re starting your morning off in fight or

flight mode! Think about it – you wake up, you check your phone, and you rush around getting

ready while you run over your mental checklist of all the things you need to get finished that day.

You feel stressed and defeated before you even walk out the door!

Here’s the thing – the first hour of your day sets the tone for how your entire day will go! You

want to feel productive? Have energy for that post-work workout? Avoid sugar cravings in the

afternoon? The key is setting yourself up for a wildly alive day within minutes of waking up.

Here’s how both my coaching clients and myself start our days off on the best possible tone –

Cuddle your loved ones

When your alarm goes off, spend a few moments snuggling with your partner, your pets, your

kids – whoever you share a bed with! Wake up slowly, soak in the love of the people you share

your home with, and be thankful.

Talk with the Universe

Spend a few moments visualizing how you’d like your day to go. Say some prayers for yourself

and others. Mentally review all of the things you have to be grateful for. In my program, my

clients make goal cards that I encourage them to review at this time, but you can do the same

thing by spending time thinking about what your long term goals are, and what small actions you

can take today to reach them. It’s all about putting good juju out for yourself and the people you

love!

Keep your phone out of reach

It only adds stress to your morning to begin checking email, Facebook and text messages as

soon as you wake up. Wait until you’ve moved through your morning routine and are feeling

nourished, reenergized and ready to face the day before looking at a screen.

Boil a pot of water

Instead of jumping right into your morning coffee drinking, boil some hot water and add a slice of

fresh lemon. Hot lemon water is a soothing, detoxifying way to get your body moving every

morning. For an added detoxifying boost, add some cayenne pepper to the mix.

Make breakfast a priority

After going without food for 8-10 hours, your body needs to be refueled! I tell my clients to focus

on eating a healthy, nourishing breakfast within ninety minutes of waking up. If you wait much

longer, your body will begin craving sugars, caffeine and other not-so-healthy foods, setting you

up for a day of poor choices and irritable behavior.

Have fun getting ready

Enjoy getting ready for your day by first taking a relaxing shower. While you’re standing under

the warm water, imagine all of the stress of the day before melting off of your body and washing

down the drain. Once you’re feeling clean and refreshed, spend some time jamming to your

favorite uplifting music. Put on makeup, choose clothes that make you feel great, and do your

hair. My clients hear from me all the time that when you feel fabulous, you make fabulous

choices in your day!

Nichole Kellerman wants to live in a world where women actually enjoy the process of losing

weight and connecting with their bodies.

When she’s not fearlessly (but lovingly) pushing her clients into the lifestyle they dream of, you’ll

find her laughing with friends, connecting with nature and loving up on her boyfriend and two

dogs.

Her business, Wildly Alive Weight Loss, is for women who want to stop dieting and re-frame

their minds so they can reshape their bodies. Her teachings are like nothing you’ve ever heard.

Discover how you can lose weight by feeling #WildlyAlive at WildlyAliveWeightLoss.com.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Motivation, Real Talk Tagged With: challenges, coffee, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, goals, inspiration, mornings, real talk, the sweaty betties, toning, weight-loss, weightloss

GymDoll Giveaway

June 16, 2014 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

WHAT?!?!? It’s in PINK????!! (I need)

OK Ladies… we all know that motivation is hard to come by.
Like Zig Ziglar says:

This is why I LOVE the GymDoll apparel.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I have a new outfit, workout shoes or gadget, I’m FIRED UP again!!
I especially love fun tanks with quotes because you KNOW someone is going to look at you, and read it out loud, then you’re gonna go:

“Yup. That’s right.. I’m a Bad @$$!!”

So, I have this lovely Black & Yellow “Suck it up” tank.. but I want to give away a few as well…

so this may be your lucky day!!

Do me a favor and go to the GYMDOLL FACEBOOK PAGE… first “LIKE” them.. and then post on their wall that they’re awesome or that Danny-J or The Sweaty Betties sent ya! Then make sure to comment on MY Picture, that you did it!
That’s it!!

I will pick a winner on FRIDAY and announce it on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK

Let’s go girls!! SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP!!

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Product Reviews Tagged With: Crossfit, danny j, fitness, goals, inspiration, motivation, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, weightloss

How to use a foam roller

February 8, 2014 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

Foam Rollers are a great form of Self-Myofascial Release.

You may see many in the gym, white, blue, grey, bumpy ones, smooth ones and people rolling around like its fun

(I’m telling you, its not! LOL)

Foam rolling helps relieve muscle soreness and tension, loosens knots, allivates IT Band syndrome and helps with full range of motion and increasing mobility.
Its one of those love/hate things. I’ll be honest… its hard to “not be a bitch” when I’m lying on one… I whine, cry and all but curse my mother.

But afterward… wow! I’m a new woman!
Here are a few techniques I use and teach my clients for IT band, inner thighs, upper back, traps, lats and even feet for plantar fascitis.

The foam roller I use in this video is from The Pro Unit
*I am not a paid affiliate for The Pro Unit

Filed Under: Featured, Real Talk Tagged With: danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, foam rolling, goals, how to foam roll, how to help ease soreness, how to loosen muscle knots, how to use a foam roller, IT Band, IT Band syndrome, personal trainer, plantar fascitis, plantar fascitis relief, self myofascial release, shin splints, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training

How can I get rid of loose skin on my belly?

January 9, 2014 By The Sweaty Betties 118 Comments

this picture is more likely a candidate for a tummy tuck ** always consult a board certified plastic surgeon and get more than one opinion**

I get emails with training and diet questions all the time. I also get this question (or version of it a lot)

<<<Q: I used to be a size 18 and now am a size 2. I eat clean, weight train and do cardio, but I still have this loose skin. How can I tighten my belly?? (or I have loose skin after pregnancy)>>>

these stretch marks will not go away, but her skin most likely will still tighten more

There are many factors

*age

*amount of weight lost

*how long you were overweight

*how fast you gained the weight

*how fast you lost the weight

……….and a lot of genetics.

Some people gain and lose a ton of weight and have hardly any issues while others are covered in stretch marks and are trying to fix that sagging skin.

You can cry about it or just learn what you can do and accept what you can’t.

There are tips for preventing stretch marks; like cocoa butter and moisturizing, but honestly, if you’re bodies’ genetics are likely to get stretchmarks, no amount of cocoa butter is going to stop that. At this point, the damage is done. So….what is my answer for what you can do?

Assuming you already eat clean, lift-weights and “do what you’re supposed to”…. you may not like the answer.

Preparation-H does not work.

Saran Wrap does not work.

Crunches, reverse crunches, planks or any abdominal exercise you can think of will not work.

There are a few lasers (usually very painful, expensive, and not largely effective) that are available that MAY have some effect on small areas or small amounts of skin “wrinkling”

this picture is more likely a candidate for a tummy tuck ** always consult a board certified plastic surgeon and get more than one opinion**

The only true thing that can actually get RID of loose skin is a tummy tuck.

They actually CUT. IT. OFF.

Even this only works if you have a significant amount of skin…. annnnnnnnd $8-$10k and about 3 months to recover.

Sooooo– the BEST thing you can do is: love yourself, don’t stress over it (its probably worse in your head) and think of it as a symbol of your hard work or your souvenir of your beautiful child or your hard work on losing the weight.

Surgery is a personal choice but realize that if you aren’t ok inside, it’s not going to fix everything. That being said, if you worked hard, there’s no reason you should be held back because of some loose skin.

Whatever you choose, be ok with that.

I would never judge and I’d be in line for a tummy-tuck if I worked my ass off to lose a bunch of weight and it was really bothering me.

We don’t all look/stay young forever.

Just be strong, be healthy, be beautiful.
and sorry I wish I had some better tips… but I am here to tell you the truth, not what you want to hear. Please Leave your comments!

you are MORE than some silly scars :)

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Real Talk, Uncategorized Tagged With: abs, clean eating, danny j, fitfluential, fitness, healthy, inspiration, loose skin, nutrition, pregnancy, Q&A, real talk, surgery, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training, truth, weightloss

My 3-Day Juice Cleanse

November 26, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

I was one of those people, whom if you mentioned a juice cleanse or fast, I would say:

“WHY do you need that? Your liver should detox everything… just make healthy choices! Duh!!”

Then…. I saw the movie “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”

I became a little more open-minded, yet still, strongly skeptical.

In the movie, a man goes on a complete juice fast for something like 90 days! It’s a little extreme, but he explains that he is getting enough calories and the juice is taking the concentrated nutrients from the fruits and vegetables.
I was intrigued enough to want to try it, or at least add a green juice to my daily routine.

However, I looked into juicers and got overwhelmed and then dropped that idea.

Ha!

So… in comes Skinny Limits!!

Two of my dear friends, Rebekah Borucki (Bexlife) and Sarah Dussault (Sarahfit), both did a Skinny Limits juice cleanse and review, and since I highly value their opinions and friendship… I totally asked them on the side,

“sooooo… tell me the truth… what did you really think?”

They both came back with REAL rave reviews.

Ok, Ok.. let’s do this!

I got ahold of the company and decided that the BEST time for me to try the cleanse was after I returned from Chicago, it would be my last weekend of travel after 3 months on the road. A really good time to detox!!

I chose the TROPICAL 3-Day Cleanse, because I saw that pineapple juice was in it… and… well…. pineapple juice.

So, since it arrived pretty early in the morning, I decided to start right then!

I busted open my first juice… and….down the hatch!!

Mmmm!! Not bad! It was green, but it didn’t “taste green” if you know what I mean?

I stacked all the drinks in number order in my fridge and I was really excited to do this!

I did get a little hungry, but there were 6 juices a day, so I never really felt deprived.

The morning of Day 2, I felt a little achy. I did read that there might be detox-like symptoms; headache, fatigue, etc.

It was to be expected. The hunger wasn’t too big of an issue and I really did enjoy each of the drinks. In fact, I was really looking forward to trying each one, so I kept looking at my clock to see if it was time yet!

Unfortunately, on Day 2…. I got into a car accident on the way home from a hair appointment.
ugh!!! Needless to say, I cried and went to bed skipping the last two juices.

(Note: everyone was ok. My car, the other guys car, ego and bank account were the most hurt)

Day 3 I woke up a little hungrier (from skipping a few hundred calories) and had to make some calls to insurance.

I ended up going to get my car looked at and had to drop it off for repairs, pick up a rental, etc.
That ended up taking over 6 hours… and, did I bring my juice?
No.

I ended up eating a meal out because I knew I wasn’t going to be home anytime soon.

I felt like I failed, for not doing the cleanse “right”

The good news was… I had some drinks left over for Day 4!!

I realized how much I was really looking forward to my daily juices and I was definitely starting to feel better!

I definitely WILL do this cleanse again and I can see the benefit of having 1-2 juices a day just to add to your daily routine.
I love the convenience of having the juices made and shipped to you (it would be a TON of work, to try this by juicing your own!!)

this was like dessert! The last juice of the day

Conclusions:

I loved this cleanse. I do NOT recommend getting into a car accident while you’re attempting to cleanse. (I also don’t recommend it at any time.. it’s really a bummer)
I will most likely do a FULL 3-Day cleanse once a quarter and also try and get some of these juices going in my daily or at least monthly routine. I think I’m addicted!

*All reviews posted on my blog feature my own views and opinions. There are instances when I have reviewed or featured a product and I have received compensation in the form of product for my personal use or for use in a giveaway, discounts toward purchase for my followers, monetary compensation, or any combination of those three things. I never accept payment for favorable reviews.

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Nutrition, Product Reviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: challenges, Cleanse, danny j, Detox, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, healthy, inspiration, juice, juicing, nutrition, weight-loss, weightloss

Routine Refresh Indoor Edition

October 23, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

I’m in New York City all week at the weather has been pretty amazing, however, I packed ready for the worst! I totally planned on freezing my tush off outside and trying a few indoor classes for a workout.

Indoor cycling or SPIN are one of my favorite indoor workouts. I love classes in New York like Soul Cycle and Fly Wheel Sports that make spin classes a little more fun and competitive.

My friend Rebekah (Bexlife) and I took a Flywheel class put on by the Biggest Loser Trainer, Brett Hoebel.

Then I headed to Boston for a Blogilates meet up! Blogilates is a company owned by my good friend Cassey Ho.

She had over 450 raging fans waiting to take her POP pilates class. It was intense and FUN. I sweated and I also met a fellow ex-gymnast and we finished off with some handstands 😉 Always a great shoulder exercise!

I also have a friend, Erin Stutland, who happens to be on of my AMZING, beautiful guests at Inspiration and Perspiration this year and she teaches a class called Shrink Session.

Shrink Session is something you just have to experience!

I can tell you the basis is that it is a cardio dance class with affirmations, but that makes it sound kind of weird, and it is super amazing and you leave feeling like you’re on top of the world!

So what are your favorite indoor activities? What can you do to refresh your routine for the season? I’d love to see your comments!!

adidas Women designs innovative performance products to help women commit to their best self and conquer their fitness goals. We inspire women to look and feel their best – be pretty, be tough & be confident.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are all mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas

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Routine Refresh: Outdoor Edition

September 3, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 2 Comments

If you are on my email list, you know that I just sent an email last week about how I cancelled my gym membership.
This doesn’t mean that I have completely given up training or thrown in the towel, but I need to get a little more creative. I realized that in Texas, the weather is the fall is PERFECT for some new outdoor activities, so I was inspired by adidas Women to write a post about a Routine REFRESH: Taking it outside!! Nothing like a few new pieces of workout gear to get your wanting to move it again!

Texas doesn’t have a whole lot of mountains, but I did find a hiking trail which was pretty flat but had some beautiful scenery. A nice trail run and a snake.. OMG!! I think I’ll continue the trail runs, but I’m going to carry a stick with me, in case I need a spear next time!

Besides jogging, which to me, gets a little tedious, I’ve been toying with other ideas for cardio. Tennis is a sport I have NEVER played, but my husband and I thought it would be fun to play FIVE YEARS AGO when we bought rackets for Christmas. Needless to say, they sat in the closet… until now!!
We live in a new place with a tennis court and its been too hot this summer to play. The weather has finally gotten cooler so we took ourselves outside and had a blast.

Who knew tennis was so great for your abs?? (From laughing so hard!!)

I have also found, that living in apartment has more than just the tennis court perks. We have a lovely swimming pool that I have been doing laps in about 3 days a week. I’m a terrible swimmer, but just being out in the sun makes me feel pretty alive! Especially working from home these days, I think this is JUST what I needed.

Then.. when all else fails, I have me, my shoes, and some stairs. I am starting with 50 laps and my goal will be to do 100 laps by the end of the month!!

So what are your favorite outdoor activities? What can you do to refresh your routine and maybe take it outside? I’d love to see your comments!!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are all mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: abs, adidas, challenges, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, glam, goals, healthy, inspiration, outdoors, promo, shine with sweat, sweat yourself, sweaty betties, tennis, the sweaty betties, workout

Ambassador Spotlight: Brooklyn Fit Chick

August 29, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

My next ambassador spotlight is Margo, the writer and brains behind Brooklyn Fit Chick!! I will be honest, often I just want to call her “Brooklyn” and I’m sure she gets that a lot! A really cool thing about Margo, is that I actually WENT to New York City in June and she totally helped me find my way around Brooklyn and the city and I was so intrigued with her city life! Margo has some cute kitties, lives in a cool New York neighborhood and is one of the sweetest, coolest people you’ll ever meet… and she has lots of stories of celebs she has worked with over the years!

My name is Margo and this here is my very own Blog (www.brooklynfitchick.com) I like to write about fitness, health, Paleo living, music and pop culture. Brooklyn is where I both live and work with my certifications in Group Fitness and Personal Training from NASM, AFAA, ACE and TRX. I am an ambassador for Fit Approach/Sweat Pink, Fit Mapped and Sweaty Betties. You can also find me was a writer for Fit Bottomed Girls www.fitbottomedgirl.com)

I got into fitness a little over 11 years ago when I quit smoking for good. (I was a two-pack a day smoker for a while there. Gross!) It’s not easy to give a bad habit for a good one (bad habits can feel more fun sometimes) but I know I am adding years to my life and will be around a little longer with those who love me.

When I am not working, cycling, reading, listening to music, shopping, cooking or attempting a power chord on my dusty guitar–you can find me catching up on my favorite shows on my DVR. I am a big fan of furry creatures with two kitty cats (Sarah & Tennessee.)

In my “day job” I work as a PR/Marketing consultant and have worked with everyone from Queen Latifah to Elmo (before we knew about Elmo…)

Follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/BrooklynFitChik

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooklyn.fitchick

Instagram: http://instagram.com/brooklynfitchick

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/brooklynfitchik/boards/

I earned my degree in Speech-Communications from San Jose State University.

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