fitness | The Sweaty Betties

Ambassador Spotlight: Namaste Mari

August 21, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

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.

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.

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!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: expert personal trainer, fitness, gastric bypass, goals, happiness, healthy, inspiration, mari, namaste mari, PCOS, real talk, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, weight loss surgery, weightloss

Fitness Hag vs. The Fashion Police

August 6, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 1 Comment

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)

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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bexlife, danny j, easy recipe, expert personal trainer, fashion, fitness, fitness hag, goals, healthy, real talk, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, yoga pants

Ambassador Spotlight: Life As the Fat Friend Blog

July 10, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

What a great title, no? It brings many images and I’m sure many can relate.
I was never “the fat friend” and yet I have so much empathy and I was intrigued by this blog.
Deanna is the amazing creator of this brand, and she gives encouragement and talks openly and honestly about her struggles of the journey she is still on.
Deanna has lost 84 lbs. to date, and I’ll be honest, even if she had 184 lbs. more to go, I’d still have her as a Sweaty Betties Ambassador!

I told my team: I didn’t ask for a picture. I didn’t ask for your weight. I asked for STORIES.
What matters to me is that Deanna has an amazing story. She hasn’t always had the perfect life and she still struggles and she’s REAL. She’s relatable, she’s funny, she’s sarcastic at times, insanely creative and smart.

She is on a journey that many women struggle with in her weight-loss, she is open about her health, her kids, her family and yet she changes her attitude to make the most of it daily.

Deanna also runs an awesome business as an Origami Owl Consultant, where she helps design beautiful and personal lockets. They are great as gifts for new moms, remembering the loss of someone, graduation gifts, friendship gifts and more!

Filed Under: ambassadors, Blogs, Featured Tagged With: danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, goals, healthy, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training

Best Things in Life Workout

July 9, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

Here is a great workout sure to make you sweat– and remember– tag @SweatyBetties on Instagram or on Facebook with #SBSweatYourself and you’ll get free stickers!! yay!
Then make sure to SHARE and PIN the workouts!

Filed Under: Featured, Motivation, Training Tagged With: abs, Burpees, cardio, Crossfit, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, healthy, metabolic, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training, WOD, workout

Ambassador Spotlight: Crystal Honeycutt/Train Dirty Fitness

June 27, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

What can I say about Crystal Honeycutt?
First of all, I have to give her credit for giving me the idea to have an ambassador program. I really wanted to find a way to get more women involved in the mission of The Sweaty Betties and share their stories and my ambassadors make me so proud.

Crystal has quite a story and if you’re lucky enough to know her, you instantly love her.
She is a booty poppin’ Southern Belle who tells it like it is and has a 100 lb. weight-loss story—> sweet southern charm with a little sass!!
Crystal is the owner of Train Dirty Fitness and she and I actually run online group weight-loss coaching together (which will start again in the fall)

Recently Crystal hosted the very first Train Dirty Fitness and Sweaty Betties Bootcamp certification, so now other fitness instructors can be certified to teach her methods.

Training Dirty is no Joke!!

If you want to find out more about Crystal’s Programs check out all her links!!

Iron Bombshell 12 week lifting program
http://traindirtyfitness.com/iron-bombshell-muscle-builder/

Bombshell Bootcamp
http://traindirtyfitness.com/bombshell-bootcamp/

Filed Under: ambassadors, Featured Tagged With: certification, crystal honeycutt, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, inspiration, metabolic, metabolism, real talk, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, Train Dirty Fitness, training, weightloss, workouts

Steve’s PaleoGoods GIVEAWAY!

June 25, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 35 Comments

First off, watch my video and see what I’m really like…. yeah.

Now that you know I’m so thug, guess what?! You have a chance to win the awesome PaleoKits AND a skype session with me, which can be personal training or business coaching… bam!! $200 value! HOLLA!!
Make sure to tweet the giveaway for daily chances to win!!

PS Coupon code: sweatybettiespaleo at checkout will give you 10% off of your order!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Blogs, Featured, Nutrition, Product Reviews Tagged With: challenges, clean eating, danny j, expert personal trainer, fitness, giveaway, gluten-free, goals, healthy, low-carb, nutrition, paleo, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, training, workout

Whole to Healthy: Ambassador Spotlight

June 12, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties Leave a Comment

Whole to Healthy is the name of Christy’s blog, business and page. I fell in love with Christy’s story because she has struggled with something that MANY, many, many women deal with– thyroid issues. Not feeling well, doctors not finding anything wrong, getting prescribed medication for depression, yet knowing there was something else. She is almost done with her Master Nutrition Therapy Degree and will be offering raw vegan and paleo 30-day programs soon.

CHECK OUT HER STORY HERE

Christy Beauchot Smith, a Certified Nutrition Therapist, didn’t always have the passion for nutrition that she has today. Her younger years were spent eating large amounts of cookies and candy with no care, or side effects, until she developed Hashimotos Thyroiditis at the age of 25. What she ate, and how she felt, quickly became a concern for her. Her once thin frame began carrying more and more weight that seemed impossible to lose. After being introduced to the all natural, whole foods way of eating through a wellness program that she eventually worked for, not only did she lose the weight, but she found her true calling. Now, a busy mother of two young boys, and the owner of two businesses Whole to Healthy Nutrition, and DipSticks Gourmet Pretzels, she is currently enrolled in the Nutrition Therapy Institute and will earn her Master Nutrition Therapy degree by fall of 2013. Her love of cooking and helping others, combined with this nutrition degree will give her the tools she needs to help people take back their kitchens, and begin their own healthy paths, without feeling like slaves to the diet world. Christy was also featured in an article about juicing for Shape magazine online and was asked to create 5 heart-healthy juice recipes for Omega Juicers. Beyond the kitchen, Christy loves hiking, box jumps, listening to all kinds of music, hanging with her family and her lovable golden retriever and rescued yellow tabby cat, watching The Walking Dead and Downton Abbey, playing piano, and obsessing over all things monkey-related.

Filed Under: ambassadors, Blogs, Featured Tagged With: clean eating, danny j, easy recipe, expert personal trainer, fitness, gluten-free, hashimotos, healthy, hypothryroid, inspiration, metabolism, nutrition, paleo, raw, vegan, workout

Sexy Summer Shoulders

May 24, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 5 Comments

This is a great shoulder sculpting routine that combines weights and resistance with a little bit of metabolic calorie burning-

Start with 3 types of Raises (3-5lb. Dumbbells suggested)

10 Front Raises

10 Lateral Raises (Thumbs up)

10 Lateral Raises (Thumbs down)

Then….

8 Front Raises

8 Lateral Raises (Thumbs up)

8 Lateral Raises (Thumbs down)

Then repeat for 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2

Sumo Squat to Upright Row— 20 times

LAST

10 Push-ups

10 Shoulder Taps

8 Push-ups

8 Shoulder Taps

6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2

and done!

Filed Under: Featured, Training Tagged With: expert personal trainer, fitness, fitness expert, goals, healthy, metabolism, motivation, Push-ups, sweaty betties, the sweaty betties, toning, training, workout

Egg Whites & Ezekiel French Toast

May 22, 2013 By The Sweaty Betties 3 Comments

I have mentioned many times that I am not a cook.
I actually ate virtually the SAME breakfast (oatmeal and egg whites) everyday for over 7 years.
Then… all of the sudden…. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
So lately, I’ve been looking for other ways to have a protein and slow-digesting-carb breakfast that I enjoy.
Protein Pancakes are great, but honestly, I really suck at pancakes (burned, crumbled, flat, you name it!!)

I was sent a few loaves of Food for Life’s Ezekiel 4:9® Sprouted Flax Bread and I wasn’t really sure what I could do with it, I mean, besides making toast.
Toast is just so dry and I don’t have any butter, so that was no fun… but wait!!
What about FRENCH TOAST?!?!?!
Ding Ding Ding!!

OK this could either be AMAZING or it could be a disaster….

Luckily, it was pretty damn good if I do say so myself!!

So, if you’ve ever tried Ezekiel Bread before, you will know it can be a little dry. It tastes much better toasted, because its dense. Well, I was worried that the french toast would be the same.
So, instead of real eggs, I used Egg Whites International liquid egg whites.

I have been using Egg Whites International since 2005 when I first saw their booth at the Olympia. They ARE real egg whites, but they have been filtered so there is no slimy texture, this made it so the egg whites just SOAKED into the bread, instead of just coating the outside like normal egg whites… THIS, it turns out, was the key!!

Here is all you need:

2 slices of Ezekiel 4:9® Sprouted Flax Bread

1/2c. Egg Whites International (or store bought) liquid egg whites

1 tbsp. coconut oil (for the pan)

Honey, real maple syrup, berries, etc. for topping (I used honey)

Instructions:

Cut the Ezekiel bread in thirds to make French Toast “sticks”

Poured about 1/2 c. of egg whites into a bowl

Dip the bread into the bowl but make sure the egg whites saturate the sticks (not to the point of being soggy, but fully saturated)

Heat a tbsp. of olive oil in a pan and place pieces of bread in the pan (on med-high) for about 2 minutes.

When the back side is browned, flip over and cook the other side..
VOILA!! CLEAN & LEAN French Toast

I dipped mine in honey and it was amazing! Because of the egg whites the toast was actually much less dense and tasted more like real bread. I really enjoyed it!

Nutrition Facts: (without topping)

Calories: 220

Fat: 2g

Carbs: 28g

Fiber: 8g

Protein: 23g

What do you think? Comment below and let me know how else to use this stuff!!

DISCLAIMER: Food for Life provided the Ezekiel Bread for review. I am not an affiliate, nor do I receive commissions on the sale of the above products. The recipe, nonsense chatter, critiques, positive praise and ways to use it are all my own.