Ambassador Spotlight: Brooklyn Fit Chick

Me on Fear

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!

Me on Fear

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…)

Margo Headshot2

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.

Ambassador Spotlight: Namaste Mari

before and after

I guess you could say the one really cool thing about being head Sweaty Betty, is that I get to meet some pretty “awesome-sauce” people. When I got over 200 applications in January to become The Sweaty Betties Ambassador I had my work cut out for me.

before and after
Many of the people I already knew, or I had seen online, this this “Namaste” chick, I had never heard of!! I was intrigued! I stalked her page a little bit, and then I knew I wanted her on the team!
I had to know more, so I asked her to become an ambassador and I’m so glad I did.
Mari lives in Queens, NY and in my last venture to NYC in June, I was able to meet her in person and she was just as awesome!

Here is some of her story, in her words:

I have been struggling with PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) which is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women, the principal features are obesity, anovulation (resulting in irregular menstruation), and excessive amounts or effects of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly among women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity are all strongly correlated with PCOS. 

I was put on Birth Control which I have been on ever since and was also put on Metformin but that really didn’t do anything for me so I stopped taking it. Having PCOS has really destroyed my self-esteem; I have some problems with my body that is directly linked to this. I won’t get into the gritty details but it’s enough to drive me to tears.
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When I was around 21 I met this guy and we moved in together pretty fast. We were together for about 4 years. He was a big guy and I had the mentality “well if HE is big, I can be too”. All we would do is EAT. I have so many memories of us lying in bed eating huge greasy subs and washing them down with pints of ice ream and chips, this was the norm for us. Before I knew it, I tipped the Scale at 220 lbs.

In the 3rd year of our relationship, my ex suggested that we should move near the beach which I thought was a great idea but I hated the fact that I was far from my family. The rent was pretty steep but together we made it work. As I mentioned earlier my ex was a big guy and he was very unhappy in his own skin. He decided that he wanted to get Gastric Bypass Surgery and I supported him on his decision, in fact I am the one that found his surgeon etc. The morning of the surgery he was crying (tears of joy) but by the end of the day they turned into tears of grief. After hours in surgery, he woke up thinking that his surgery was a success but his doctor informed him that they were not able to perform it. They told him to lose 40 lbs. and they would try again but this time with the Lap Band instead. I nursed him back to health and helped him lose the 40 lbs. and after a few months, the 2nd Surgery was a success. He started to lose weight in rapid speed and here I was still in the 200′s. I decided to start working out and did Weight Watchers; I started to lose weight too but nowhere close to his pace.

After 3 months or so, things started to really change between us and we broke up and I went into a depression. I saw what all my antics were doing to my family and I recognized I had to stop but I knew I could not do it alone. The person that saved my life was my niece; I didn’t want her growing up not knowing the best version of her aunt. I started working out and eating better, and in 8 months I was in the best shape of my life and happier than ever. I now live in New York with my kitty, Namaste Zen and I help others as a health coach! 

mini 10k race

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Sweaty Betties & Train Dirty Fitness Online Group Coaching

Sweaty Betties Fitness Online Coaching

Are you READY to finally take control of your health and weight?

Do you want proven methods and results without gimmicks?

Are you looking for support but don’t know where to find it?

You talked, we listened!

I have been training for over 9 years and online training and coaching for over 7! I get many of the same questions and problems over and over again:

  • I don’t have enough time!  
  • I don’t know what to do ! 
  • I don’t know what to eat ! 
  • My family is picky!  
  • I have no support!  
  • I need motivation! 

We heard you loud and clear!! So, my good friend, Sweaty Betties Ambassador, trainer & owner of Train Dirty Fitness and 100 lbs. weight-loss success story, Crystal Honeycutt and ME are going to personally coach you.
This is a group coaching program that will run in a PRIVATE Facebook group.
In the private group you will get:

  • Access to dozens of downloadable meal plans ($250 value)
  • Access to dozens of downloadable workouts ($250 value)
  • Accountability and SUPPORT
  • Weekly weigh-ins
  • Daily motivation and posts
  • Questions answered by two fitness professionals ($500 value)
  • Paleo weight-loss plans
  • Vegan & Vegetarian Sample plans
  • Weekly webinars for education, motivation & Inspiration ($400 value)
  • Grocery Lists
  • Snack Ideas
  • Healthy Members only Recipes
  • Access to all the past meal plans, shopping lists and plans on SweatyBettiesfitness.com ($300 value!)
  • BONUS: Copy of “The Sweaty Betties Cleanse: REVAMPED” ($49 value)
  • BONUS: mp3 download of “Deciding to Change” ($49 value)

THIS PROGRAM IS VALUED AT $1800-

BUT YOU GET ACCESS TO IT ALL FOR  $149 for one month

(preference is given to existing clients for the next month’s group)

 We want and EXPECT you to succeed! Our goal is YOUR ultimate success and we are going to make that happen.

If you are ready to get the results that you’ve been wanting and just need the tools to get started, the next group begins

Sept. 5th- October 4th!!  Spots are LIMITED and we will only run the groups until December 5th.

Don’t wait– sign up NOW by making your payment of $149 and we will email you the forms to sign and the link to get into the group.

PAY BUTTON

Sweaty Betties Fitness hopes to be YOUR go-to resource for inspiration, motivation, and education in health, fitness and just being awesome.

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Ambassador Spotlight: ALY Warriors (Lindsay Bruce)

Lindsay and I at Dani Johnson in July

Today’s Ambassador spotlight is Lindsay Bruce of ALY Warriors (Always Love Yourself)
First off, you can’t NOT love that name!

Lindsay’s story behind that was that when she was dating her husband they would sign little notes to each other with ALY (always love you) soooo cute!!

ALY1

One thing you may never guess about Lindsay, especially when you meet her cute, little petite self, was that she was actually a COP! So you KNOW she’s BADASS!!
Unfortunately, being around all the stuff that cop’s have to see everyday was taking a toll on her wellness and spirit, so she hung up her gun and put away the dogs and came to the world of fitness and wellness. (and we’re so glad she did)
She shares such an incredible spirit on her pages and in person with her clients and I LOVE following her on Facebook and Instagram where she often employs the hashtag #CreateJoy

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Lindsay and I at Dani Johnson in July

Lindsay and I at Dani Johnson in July

If you live in Temecula and would like to workout with Lindsay OR you would like to work with her online–
Check out some of her programs below! And PS Make sure to stop by her pages and tell her I sent you!

Tuesday September 3,2013 is the start of the new Warrior Group Workouts!!

We will be working out Tuesday- Wednesday-Thursday at 9:15am!!!

~$75 for four weeks

~$99 for four weeks with nutritional training

~ $130 for four weeks of camp and long term nutritional training & guidance

*Bring a friend and receive $25 off your monthly enrollment *

Every other Monday at 9:15am will be a FREE 30minute workout and 30minute group health coaching discussion!

For more details email me at [email protected]

Fun and healthy fitness “dates”

Paddleboarding

Going to the gym alone sounds so boring lately. Sometimes doing activities with someone else may be just what you need to get out of a funk and enjoy fitness again.

Paddleboarding

Not only that, but all those drink-filled nights out or dinner dates could be killing your waistline. How about some ideas for fun activities to do with a friend, partner or a date?

I hear so many women tell me that they love to work out, but their partners don’t, or they are bored hanging out with friends at the same bars or coffee shops night after night! I’m going to share a few fun ideas you can do with a partner, a group or as a fun date – they may end up being some favorite regular activities for you! Remember, exercise increases endorphins, the feel good hormones.

I have come up with a great list of fun, partner friendly activities… to see it all click here

Ambassador Spotlight– Kiki’s Kitchen

Kiki4

Kiki4

I couldn’t WAIT to spotlight my ambassador Kimberly “Kiki” Siepmann. First off, she’s gorgeous and just plain hilarious and second, she has such an AWESOME story. She openly shares her past struggles and current medical issues because of her years of disordered eating. I struggled with bulimia from the time I was 13 years old and I think there’s always a part of you that identifies with others in the struggle and a curiosity of “how are you managing?”
I’m going to have Kiki tell her story in her own words:

Kiki5

“Through my teen and early adult years, I suffered silently with anorexia and bulimia. In and out of hospitals and care facilities, different doctors and therapists, numerous ulcers, kidney stones, a deadly low weight of 82 pounds and osteo-arthritis in my jaw at the ripe old age of 25. 
For so many years, I ignored my hunger and starved myself. Worked out only to burn calories not to be healthy or fit. 
Just when I wanted to love food again I had been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and misdiagnosed with Crohn’s. I was being tested again 7 years later because I was chronically sick every day and not able to leave my couch. After many different specialists, doctors and naturopaths I’ve been diagnosed with Leaky Gut and SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). It’s going to be a long road to recovery healing my gut, and body for that matter but at least I now have an answer and a direction…..It is funny how life moves you into directions without your permission. For most of my life I fought against food, and now I fight for it.” -Kiki

Kiki2What I LOVE that Kiki has done, is that she has been OPEN about her stories, her struggles, her past… and her continued struggle. She even partnered with my dear friend Ashley, of Fierce Forward and created The Gluten Free Intention bracelet to RAISE AWARENESS for Celiac Disease. You can order yours hereKiki3

Currently Kiki has been working on a project to start selling these CUTE Retro Kitchen Aprons… OMG!! I don’t even cook but I may start, just to walk around in one! LOL

If you want to find out more about what she is up to… make sure you follow her pages
FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Kiki6

The Tapping Solution Review

The Tapping Solution

The Tapping Solution

The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living
In another life, I used to be a semi-pro fitness and figure competitor. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this type of lifestyle, it involves extreme dieting, hours of exercise and extreme discipline.
I loved the challenge of it, I felt like a real athlete, but I was judged not on athleticism but on LOOKS.
I would tell most people “Its like a pageant for people with muscles.”

After my last competition, I ended up rapidly gaining 30 lb.

I had never had a weight issue before in my life!

This led me to many months of doctors visits, asking for anti-depressants and feeling anxious about being in public because of my new weight-gain.

Eventually, after the doctors and pills weren’t helping. I started looking into other ways to help myself. I found a hypnotherapist and on our very first session he introduced me to EFT or TAPPING (Emotional Freedom Technique)
I’ll admit, the idea of tapping points of the body to release tension, anxiety, and emotion seemed ridiculous and I felt silly. However, at this point, I had nothing to lose.

After the first session, I was amazed that I felt like a new person.

I suddenly had a new way of instantly dealing with my anxiety besides pills. I started looking more and more into this phenomena and I was happy to pick up this book from Hay House Publishing:
The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living, by Nick Ortner

This book gives the SCIENCE behind tapping and how to use tapping in situations of anxiety, healing the body, letting go of pain, fear, shame and even creating love and relationships and making more money.

I love that each chapter gives specific, concrete examples and even testimonials from people.
I was a skeptic, turned believer and I highly recommend “tapping” to anyone who wants to just get to the next level, release their past and move forward with love and light. The book is easy to read in bits and pieces and you can start to feel better very rapidly.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.






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Fitness Hag vs. The Fashion Police

FANCY

If you have been following me for a bit, you may have heard me recently whining about my complete lack of style and clothing.
You see, while working in fitness has been amazing in the fact that I have been able to wear yoga pants every day for the past 8+ years, its not that great when I am invited to events, networking, etc. and I look like a complete #fitnesshag (that’s a little hashtag my friend, Rebekah “Bexlife” and I say to each other.. LOL)

FANCY
I recently did a trade with a woman to take me shopping, because honestly… I’m THAT clueless. Do you ever feel like society tells us:
“women LOVE shopping and fashion!”
Well… not this woman!! I hate shopping and fashion perplexes me!
Linda Thomas, owner of A Powerful Appearance, came to my house, looked in my closet to see what we could piece together and stated the obvious:
“You really don’t have anything”
“Duhhh.”
Linda and I scheduled an appointment to go shopping at Nordstroms. The first thing she did was teach me how to figure out my size (I had a quick cry in the dressing room over a number… such a girl!)
Then we got to picking out clothes! I got a few dresses for speaking engagements and events, but they were a little pricey, so I took most of them back!! (do you do this?!?! Nordstrom prices just aren’t my thing!!)
Then…someone on Facebook posted about this website called STITCHFIX and I’m OBSESSED!!
The dress pictured above is from there:) So, now you know!!
So, here’s how it works:You create a profile, with your size, and then you click on things you like/don’t like or would/wouldn’t wear…. THEN your own personal stylist sends you outfits and you get to try them on in your own home!! (no more dressing room break downs!!) and send back what you don’t like!!OMG!! It’s so fun!!(My husband also loved the private fashion show)
They send you 5 different things and you only pay for what you keep then send the rest back in a pre-paid bag.
It’s so easy and fun! After you get your “fix” you respond with what you liked and didn’t like about each piece: size, price, style, etc. so that your stylist gets to know you and picks out something better each time!
I ended up getting so excited about this idea, I bought Bex (my #fitnesshag sister) a gift card for her birthday so we can be new fancy fitness business women together in the “real world”.
I know some of you asked about where I got this dress, so there it is!
If you want to get your “fix” you can use my affiliate link: http://bit.ly/SBstitchfix and share with your friends for your own link to get a credit towards more clothes.I scheduled my next “fix” for September, so I can look forward to an outfit once every other month or so and slowly build up my “Big girl” wardrobe. Let me know if you do this or if you know of something else like it!
DISCLOSURE:
Stitchfix did not pay or endorse me for this post, in fact, they don’t even know that I am a raving fan, so I think I’m going to email them and tell them! Ha! All opinions expressed are that of my own. The links above are affiliate links and I may receive a small credit if a purchase is made. You are also able to sign up as an affiliate if you love them like I do.
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