I committed to 30 posts in 30 days

Why would I commit to 30 posts in 30 days?

Improved Writing 

Some posts will suck. Some posts will be awesome. I have to practice my writing skills to get any better at it. Hopefully the act of writing and quick edits will improve my overall blogging.

Increased Productivity 

There are months when I may only post once. I have content, I have just been revising it so long it doesn't feel relevant any more, or I just lost interest in the topic. By committing to publish each day I can keep my content fresh.

Finding my voice

The main goal of this exercise is finding my voice. Posting once or twice a week has not been enough for me to feel like my writing is a true reflection of me. My hope is writing a variety of articles will help me solidify my style.

Have you tried daily blogging?

How did you find your voice?

It's day 4 and I'm already struggling. Wish me luck!

Health and Happiness,

Larissa 

Weekend Recap and #NoExcuses Challenge

I had a great time hanging out with family and friends this weekend.

On Friday Anthony and I had a free dinner with The Fundamental Kitchen(TFK). TFK sells high end cookware and in an attempt to show you the value of their cookware they serve you a 3 course meal. A 3 course meal with champagne and wine. The meal itself was very carb heavy, I would have preferred an additional green vegetable instead of all the starch. I didn't know what we would be eating so I ate low carb most of the day so it balanced out.The most impressive part of the demo was their stove top pineapple cake. It was so tasty I forgot to get a photo. We also walked away with a free bottle of wine. Not bad for a free demo!

Then on Saturday my Dad took Alicia and I out to Bikram Yoga Decatur for 90 minutes of Hot Yoga! It has been years since I took a hot yoga class and this was Alicia's 1st time. I was pouring sweat just working through the prana breathing exercises during our warm up. The heat felt amazing and really helped me stretch deeper into each position. Our instructor was great. The class was packed but he called us by name, gave thorough instruction, and gave us a variety of options for each position. He truly taught to all levels and made us feel comfortable working at whichever level we chose. I would definitely come back again.

Sunday we received our 1st week of prompts for the #NoExcuses movement with Fitapproach. I am excited to kickoff the New Year with a new Sweat Pink Challenge! 

You can join me by registering for the #noexcuses movement. Then you'll be eligible to win cool prizes each week. Some of our sponsors are @AugustaActive @ShowerPill @ActivMotionBar 
@FlipBelt @BeamingwHealth. If you're interested in participating and being eligible for prizes use the following link to join me #noexcuses movement 

Below is this weeks schedule of events:

I hope you'll join me, my fellow SPAs, and the sweatpink family for our 1st fitness challenge of the year.

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Have a great week!

Health and Happiness

L

#IAmAFitGk

Challenge Accepted! Let the Games Begin!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Fitness Games through their partnership with Fit Approach. I was not compensated monetarily, but was provided the Platinum Version of the application for review. As always, all thoughts are my own.

I was first introduced to The a Fitness Games (TFG) this year during the Peachtree Running Expo. There I had the pleasure of meeting TFG's creators Arya Farzin and Joseph Phillips.

They were so passionate about their product and I thought it was such a novel idea. The Fitness Games (TFG) turns exercise into a fun social game. You can challenge anyone, anywhere, anytime, to any type of workout. TFG creates a community for fitness geeks like myself to compete against current friends or new friends via the app, Facebook page, and across social media.

Initially I opened the app with the intent of utilizing 1 of the 50 pre-programmed there workouts to compete with others. 

The free workouts were pretty intense; intermediate or advanced. But, I want to start smaller. Then I discovered I had the capability to create my own workout. So I created my own challenge.

The 1st workout I tried to create was a 12 minute fitness test. But, I couldn't get it to function the way I wanted.

On my 2nd attempt I successfully completed the 10 minute "Total Body Blast" Challenge! Within the app I had the option to include reps and sets or a timed workout. The app also includes an exercise library with photos and descriptions of the exercises; their is also an option to create a custom exercise if the movement you want to use is not fount in the app.

Then I challenged my friend, sister, and fellow SPA !

As the app continues to expand I would love to see more beginner level workouts available for free and previews of the workouts prior to purchase.

I look forward to creating and sending more challenges to clients, friends, and fellow fitness geeks.

Check out TFG and challenge me to "Total Body Blast".

Health and Happiness,

Larissa

My Ah-Ha Moment at BlogFest

Last week I took my 1st trip to sunny California for BlogFest and Idea World Fitness.

I spent Thursday and Friday learning from my peers during scheduled sessions and multiple social events. 

There were special guest workouts: Piyo with Chalene Johnson, Yoga with Tara Stiles, and Boot Camp with Shauna Harrison.

We had the opportunity for Q&A with brands and Fitness Celebrities Cassey Ho and Jillian Michaels.

Cassey Ho gave great tips for expanding your brand including considering your brand as part of you. Whether it is a news letter or a product, you are sharing a little bit of you with the product you share. I was really impressed with Jillian Michaels Keynote. She was funny and real, sharing her success and failures, and completely shattered my original impression of her. She encouraged me to have an open mind, to embrace failure as an entry point for learning, and to believe I deserve success; Why Not Me?!

I had 2 big realizations during our conference.

1. I have support, I am part of a community:
When I sit in front of my laptop and begin to type there is this feeling of solitude. Just me, my thoughts, and my keyboard. It can be liberating and intimidating. Being at Blogfest reminded me that I am part of a community. So instead of looking at writing as a solo tasks I am viewing it is a chance to check in with my community of bloggers, fitness professionals, and fitness enthusiasts. Hi there!

Top photo regram from @blogfest @fitappraoch; bottom center photo regram from @gritbybrit

2. Why not Me? :
My favorite part of blogfest was getting to meet a variety of bloggers: Foodies, Photographers, Fitness Enthusiasts, Fitness Professionals, Yogis, Runners, Entrepreneurs, and Trail Blazers. Most of the people I spoke with were very open about sharing their story and their journey.  As I was sharing my story, I realized that some of the biggest moments over the past 2 months had been brewing in my heart and mind but I had not shared them, but I was sharing it now and I was getting the feedback that I needed to move forward. People were relating to what I had to say, we all have a story worth sharing. Some of us excel at video, public speaking, or photography, but there is room for all of us to be successful. So why not me? It is time to "Commit and Conquer" - Amalia

This community is amazing.  I feel energized, inspired, and empowered. Thank you, Thank you, Thank You, Jamie, Alyse, Becky, Fitapproach, and the BlogFest community.

Health and Happiness,

L

Making Every Move Count with EveryMove

Last month during FitBloggin, several people mentioned this New App EveryMove that you can use and get rewards for all the activity that you are already doing. My interest was peaked and I put the name in the back of my head for future reference. This month FitApproach offered me the opportunity to use EveryMove and write a review.

EveryMove came at the perfect time for me! July was full of activity from running the Peachtree, Walking all around Nashville, and Volunteering at SCW Mania. I racked up points and earned rewards fast! 

About the App:

EveryMove allows you to earn points towards rewards from sponsors.

- use any device you like to track your movements, everymove already syncs with some of the top devices and they are constantly adding more

- you can connect with friends and share your fitness journey or compete for a top spot on the leader board

- everymove has a diverse fitness library, the even had POUND and Zumba Listed

- at every level you earn a badge and REAL rewards!

For more on the perks of EverMove visit the FAQ page.

How I used it:

I currently don't own a polar loop, fuel band, jawbone, or any of the current fitness trackers, I am shopping around and EveryMove even has a link to help me choose the right device for me . I used a pedometer (I got it for free at a health fair) to track my daily steps, MapMyWalk (free app), MapMyRun (free app), and the EveryMoveApp(free app) to track my exercise.

During the 4th of July I ran 6.2 miles for the Peachtree. 

Then we traveled to Nashville to watch the fireworks. We really got in our steps walking around downtown Nashville.  

Then I earned major points during SCW Mania July 9th - 13th. 

I leveled up quickly after 5 days of "turn around "- moving fitness equipment around between presenters sessions and attending fitness sessions.

EveryMove encouraged me too move more throughout my day. If I add more steps I can get more points, I love earning points! Gus liked it to, I walk him more, I earn more points ;-) I even connected with an old friend who was also using EveryMove. We can "Share the Love" after active days, a 5 point Bonus! 

Added awesomeness. You can convert your points into a charitable donation if you like.

If you use a Fitness Tracker logging your points is even easier, you can sync your device and load activities instantly.

My favorite ways to earn points and sweat pink are weightlifting and groupfitness. I earned big points during my last lifting session. I have already earned a discount on Cellucor, donated to Make-A-Wish, and I am sweating my way towards 60% off Deluxe Whey. 

I am on my way to my next level and loving unlocking new rewards and sharing the love with my fellow Fit Geeks!

What devices or apps do you use to track your workouts?

Have you tried EveryMove?

Share your experiences in a comment below.

Health and Happiness

L