Credit: D Sharon Pruitt

The following is a post sponsored by Licensed Wellcoach® Terri Robery. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

As you already know, I’ve been going through quite the life journey lately. From running a marathon to surviving an injury (and running after it!) to learning more about me and breaking my own limitations, I’ve been on a bit of personal, introverted adventure lately. Although I’ve been able to reach some of my goals on my own, reader Terri Robery recently reached out to us to see if we’d ever experienced “wellness coaching.” I knew a little about it, but was intrigued to find out more. She offered to coach me just as she would any other client and then we agreed that I would write honestly about the experience for at least one post, more if warranted (full disclosure—we were paid!). This is that post…

Not to be confused with personal training, meeting with a wellness coach isn’t about you being told what or what not to do. In fact, it’s a very collaborative process where you—the client—are totally in charge and held accountable. And while it can be about losing weight or eating better, it’s truly designed to help you meet any wellness goal, be it sleep, energy, work/life balance, stress reduction, happiness and more! It’s really all about you and reaching your goals. (I’m such a fan of goal setting!)

My first consultation with Terri was an informal get-to-know-you session where we chatted about where I was in my life and Terri spoke with me about what wellness coaching is and isn’t. In a nutshell, wellness coaches are facilitators of change. They step out and look at the big picture, working with you to help you identify obstacles that stand in the way of success. And then they collaborate with you to come up with ideas, goals and a path to get there. They are truly coaches of wellness.

After that first short call, Terri had me fill out a short wellness questionnaire that asked me basic questions: Was I happy? Fulfilled? Sleeping enough? Feeling energetic most of the day? After getting the results back (you get a nice little report at the end), my suspicions were confirmed: My work/life balance was nonexistent. And, surprisingly, my energy had some severe highs and lows. While I knew I worked too much, the survey really brought awareness to my daily energy surges and drains—I’d never really thought seriously about the fact that I hard-core crash every day at about 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and that on every Friday night I am dead to the world. Talk about eye-opening!

Soon thereafter I scheduled my first 90-minute Wellness Planning Session. In it, we talked about my wellness survey results, and brainstormed changes I could make to improve my overall wellness (namely my work/life balance and stress). I ended up choosing four different do-able small things to do to get me to bigger, more elaborate goals.

With her help, I also created a wellness vision for myself. This vision is basically a perfect day for me where I work, but not too much, I work out, but not obsessively, I eat right, but with tasty foods, and I live life to its fullest feeling energized. (Sounds great, right?!) From there, I listed my motivators, my strengths, my challenges and some strategies to help me conquer any bumps in the road.

Without giving away too much good stuff, the experience has been EMPOWERING. Meeting with Terri has been an amazing experience and a time to focus on just me. I don’t get to take out a lot of time just thinking about improving me. (We see me-time as a luxury, but it’s really a must, ladies.) It’s been awesome. And Terri is amazing. She’s easy to talk to, she really listens, and she points you in the right direction without doing it for you. Not to mention how helpful it is to have an outside, unbiased person looking at your life from a big-picture perspective.

So I adamantly encourage anyone who feels like they aren’t living their best lives possible, be it extra weight, lack of energy, stress, or whatever, to consider booking some wellness coaching sessions with Terri. Girlfriend just rocks.

Stay tuned for a follow-up post next month on my wellness-coaching experience where I check in on those goals and set more baby steps! —Jenn

The following is a post sponsored by Crystal Light. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Remember that Crystal Light Pure Fitness contest I told you about a few weeks ago? The one where you can win $500 just for sharing your fitness secrets? Well, today I’m going to share another one of my fitness secrets with you (and encourage you to do the same here)! The $500 Crystal Light question? What’s the wackiest fitness fad you’ve tried?

Oh, Lordy, have we tried a lot of fitness products that are out there. From punk rock yoga (no, the two don’t seem to go together) to products that help you, ahem, go on the go to yoga in a 100+ degree room, I’ve personally tried some crazy stuff. However, the wackiest fitness fad I’ve tried? Those darn butt-toning shoes. In the name of fitness and improving my balance and core strength, I put these dangerous-for-the-clumsy (read: me) flip-flops on and traversed my home. I almost died one day trying to get some towels from the basement laundry room upstairs to the guest bedroom. All in the name of improving my fit bottom! Gosh, what we’ll do for fitness…

How about you? What’s the wackiest fitness fad you’ve tried? Tell Crystal Light Pure Fitness for a chance to win $500 and learn more about Crystal Light Pure Fitness (it’s yummy and perfect for hydrating before, during and after workouts!), watch full videos of the Crystal Light Fitness Party (who doesn’t love a party?), and check out fitness tips. Hop to it, fit bottomed gals! —Jenn

The following is a post sponsored by Crystal Light. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Back in college, I drank A TON of Crystal Light. Like, there might as well have been a Crystal Light IV attached to me night and day, I drank it so much. I just loved that you could stay hydrated and not have to drink regular ol’ water all the time. It rocked.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve embraced water with lemon, sparkling water and even herbal tea as a way to switch it up, but I always go back to Crystal Light. Why? Because it’s my best trick to staying hydrated. Have a glass or two of Crystal Light with lunch, and then carry around a big jug of water all day that you sip on continuously, and by the day’s end, you’re good to go for your recommended daily water intake. Simple!

Now, I’m thrilled that the company has introduced its Pure Fitness Line, which is formulated with electrolytes to aid optimal hydration during and after exercise. And with just 15 calories, three tasty flavors, and no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives, it’s the perfect exercise drink for Fit Bottomed Girls who want something other than water when they exercise. As far as I see it, it’s just another way to spice up a workout!

If you want to try Crystal Light Pure Fitness (and, really, why wouldn’t you?!), they’re having a huge sweepstakes where you can win $500 just for sharing your fitness secrets! On that page you’ll also find sweepstakes details, fitness tips and more fun stuff, so check it out! —Jenn

The following is a post sponsored by ExerciseTV. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

“Bikini season” can be seriously stressful! First, you have to go to the store, stand in an over-lit, flaw-enhancing, mirror-surrounded dressing room as you stare at places on yourself that you’ve never even seen before, all the while attempting to select a bikini that “looks good” on you. More than once, I’ve left crying. I have. Then, if you are able to bring yourself to drop the insane amount of money it costs to buy the itsy-bitsy piece of fabric, you get to brave the beach!

Thankfully, the whole scenario doesn’t have to be so terrifying. All you have to do is try out a few bikini-prep steps, 21 to be exact, thanks to the chick who pretty much embodies bikini-perfection: Brooklyn Decker—yes, the 2010 Sports Illustrated cover model—that Brooklyn Decker. She shared her 21 go-to moves with ExerciseTV (yup, the moves she practiced to help her get those gorgeous slim muscles plus the energy she needs to look great both on and off camera!) to help us regular folks prime our physiques for beach season. But do they really work? Um, have you seen Brooklyn’s body?

21 Days, 21 Moves

The concept is this: You’re getting 21 moves to get your bum in beach-sauntering shape. So, for the next 21 days you will visit ExerciseTV’s website for the move and tip of the day. It’s a lot less intimidating to just have to tackle one new thing each day than 21 all at once. Because, realistically, you can’t and won’t do it all in a day. Baby steps, sister! Each day you have one new, goal-oriented move to incorporate into your exercise program, keeping your muscles guessing, your mind engaged and your body dropping pounds like hot cakes…fat-free hot cakes, that is.

So What About These Moves? Well, you need to sign up to get them. BUT, Brooklyn gives us a little taste, saying that “The best part about these 21 moves is that you can combine them to make a great workout that draws influences from everything from yoga to boxing. You can also take each daily move and incorporate it into your existing routine.”

What Else Can You Do Besides the 21 Moves? Brooklyn is also big into cardio and strength training, which you can see from her new ELLE Make Better Program and DVD Series, like Bikini Boxing Sculpt Lower Body—boxing drills that tone your tush and sear off fat—or Venice Beach Skaters—a metabolism-cranking move that ups the calorie burn!

How Does Food Come Into Bikini-Prep Play? More than exercise, Brooklyn believes that nutrition plays a major role in being bikini-ready. “Nutrition is a HUGE factor in slimming down for summer. You can work out all day long, but if you are filling your body with junk, you won’t see the results you want,” she says. “The great thing about consistent exercise though, is that you get to have that occasional chocolate bar if you want…completely guilt-free!”

But It’s Not Just About The Body. Since looking your best in a bikini isn’t just about being thin and tight, the beauty, nutrition and fashion editors at Elle magazine offered up their trade tricks too. It’s good stuff and since you spend your day scouring the internet anyway, it will feel good to know that you are getting some seriously high-quality, tried-and-tested tips! Yes, the chicks at Elle are letting you in on model-secrets like:

• How to incorporate summer runway fashion trends into your swimwear.
• How to exfoliate properly before applying self tanner.
• How to cut down on discomfort after summer waxing.

Come on ladies, that clock is ticking! The longer you put it off, the less time you have, and suddenly you find yourself on B-day (bikini day), encircling yourself with a sarong because you never quite found the time to start your workout. If anything, do it because you’ll feel better about yourself. And even swathed in a sarong, that confidence you get from working out (yes, it’s proven that exercisers feel better about themselves!) can make all the difference.

Need a little extra motivation, or work best in groups? Great! ExerciseTV has formed a community of other bikini body-focused ladies who love to gab about what works, what doesn’t and what to do when you just plain lose steam or totally fall off the healthy bandwagon. After your 21 days, if, that is, you honestly stick with the program—no cheating—you might not have Brooklyn’s dream-making body, but you will definitely look better, stronger, tighter and ready to strut it along the seashore. —Laurel House

A big thanks to ExerciseTV to hipping us to this cool bikini-ready program! —Jenn

The following is a post sponsored by traineo. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Weight-loss tracking sites are a dime a dozen these days (sooo many to choose from), but one site recently caught our eye: traineo. This site is excellent for tracking and visualizing your weight-loss.

All you do is enter stats (weight, height, goal weight, etc.) and then the site works up this pretty little graphic of your current and projected progress over the coming days. Plus, with a free account (gosh we love f-r-e-e), you’re able to chat up other traineo members in the community to swap tips and tricks for staying motivated and on track. After all, we all know how important having a supportive community is for staying on track and being accountable!

And if that wasn’t enough coolness, if you sign up for an annual subscription to traineoPLUS*, which has even more fun, advanced features, you’ll get a free Garmin Forerunner 50, as seen at right. That’s right, a GARMIN. Users can even try the site at no risk for 14 days.*

To sign up for this special deal, all you have to do is enter coupon code “FBG” when signing up for your free traineoPlus trial.

Happy tracking! —Jenn

*The Garmin watch will be sent after the traineoPLUS 14-day trial period.

The following is a post sponsored by Fitness Footwear. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

The FBGs looove our flip-flops. Sure, they aren’t always good on the feet, but this time of year, when the weather is still frigid in the northern part of the country, the thought of a pair of flip-flops sends me into squeals of spring-like delight. That’s why when we got the chance to talk about FitFlops we were thrilled. Flip-flops that are actually helpful to the ol’ bod? Hells yes.

Erin and I are both guilty of buying copious numbers of $5 flip-flops; we need to start Flip-Flops Anonymous. But those cheapies are known more for their beach-readiness than for their everyday wearability. Erin even had to take a month-long flip-flop hiatus after a flip-flop induced injury. But on top of all of the toning benefits of the FitFlop, it is actually built to support you while you’re running errands or going on walks. No injuries from wearing them around all day, every day? Music to our ears!

FitFlop sandals are totally comfy, cute (check out all these styles, including these clogs for those of you who won’t get close to spring-like weather for a few months—I lived in Minnesota, so I feel your pain), and they help tone your legs and bums more than regular flip-flops. The sandals have an over-sized heel for a funky fun look, and the midsole works your balance by slightly destabilizing your footing in the same way that a wobble board would. This then stimulates your fast-twitch muscles in the glutes, hamstrings, calves and thighs, making your legs and booty work harder when walking. Ingenious!

Check out all the cool, funky and fit styles here! Let the toes roam free!

—Jenn

p.s. For those of you wanting to purchase these for spring, note that US sizes are one bigger than UK, so a UK 5 is the equivalent of a US 6. Happy shopping!

The following is a post sponsored by Equinox Fitness Clubs. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

We talk a lot about “fitness journeys” here on Fit Bottomed Girls. I’ve shared my transformation from non-runner to runner, and Erin has been candid about her fall off and jump back on the workout wagon. Working out is a lot like life. You have highs, you have lows but somewhere in the middle you do the dang thing. And, in the end, working out—even though it can take time out of the everyday hustle and bustle we’re all faced with—enriches and improves your life.

That’s why today we’re featuring another inspirational story. Equinox Fitness recently started a campaign that encourages its members to share how Equinox helped, changed and shaped their lives. Equinox held a casting call in both Los Angeles and New York City to choose which members would be featured and celebrate their amazing accomplishments.

One of those inspiration stories is from Anne Hudson-Price from New York. Here’s her story in her own words (better than we could tell it!):

“If one more person told me ‘you shouldn’t be alive,’ I was going to lose it! In August 2009, I was in a near-fatal car accident. I broke my neck in five places—every nurse in the hospital told me it was a miracle I wasn’t paralyzed. The surgery was intense: five hours in the operating room and three fused vertebrae in my neck. Because I was in great shape before the accident from attending Equinox’s classes, I was able to go back to the gym a week after my surgery. Both my physical therapist and my doctor say that the reason I recovered so quickly was 100 percent because I had always been so active.

I think my scar on my neck tells my story best because it symbolizes my recovery from something that might have knocked someone else down. I hope I can help other people realize no matter what you go through, you can come out of it.”

Wow, right? The fact that getting fit and staying fit can so drastically change—and possibly save—your life in ways you can’t fully understand is an amazing and powerful lesson. And one that proves that Equinox is much more than a gym. We thank Anne for sharing her fitness journey and hope that it inspires you to keep going!

If you’re ready to start your own journey, be sure to register for a complimentary three-day guest pass to Equinox. All of their clubs are super nice, and we promise you won’t regret the visit or trying them out! And be sure to pop on over to Equinox’s website to share your own fitness journey or read more stories of people whose lives have been changed by getting fit.

Everyone has a story. Are you ready to start yours? —Jenn

The following is a sponsored post by Equinox Fitness Clubs. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Before I started my personal training sessions last summer, “The Gym” rated very high on the intimidation scale for me. First, you have the super-buff humans moving from machine to machine with authority and purpose. Then you have the machines themselves with their levers and cables and buttons. And then you have yourself, and if you’re like I was, you don’t have the foggiest idea as to what to do on each machine. So you stick with the cardio. Boooring. And not the most efffffeeective.

That all changed once I signed up for personal training at Equinox. Having a trainer put you through the paces and get you comfortable with each machine makes a world of difference. After a bit of hand-holding, I can now comfortably go into any gym and operate machines—and not just the treadmill. My point being: The gym is such an effective tool for fitness and weight-loss, but it does you no good if you’re a) too afraid to step foot inside or b) too intimidated to get off the easy-to-operate elliptical.

If you’re new to gym membership and are shaking in your Nikes, here are a few tips on getting comfortable in this new environment.

Tips for Getting Started

1. Simply walk through the door. Believe it or not, gyms want your business, so they want you to feel comfortable there. When you join a gym (or even consider joining), ask for a tour of the facilities and equipment. Once you’re a member, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Equinox always has staff on the floor to give members guidance. So ask for help instead of injuring yourself. That’s what they’re there for!
2. Personal training. Personal trainers can be expensive, but if you’re totally unfamiliar with the gym scene, it is a worthwhile investment. Your trainer can set up a workout plan for you and familiarize you with the equipment. Then you’ll be set to flap your wings and fly all by yourself!
3. Classes. Group exercise classes are an awesome way to meet instructors and to get a killer workout. It’s like a personal training session, supersized. You’ll likely get personalized attention and specific tips on form, while getting new and different workouts each class. Equinox has ah-mazing classes, including my all-time fave, Cardio Blast. You simply can’t get bored with their classes, so jump around until you find a fave (or 10).
4. Other members. If you’re having problems operating a machine, don’t sweat it! Ask a fellow gym rat for help if there isn’t a trainer around. Sure, some of them are in a zone with iPods blazing, but most of the time athletes are willing to help each other out. Next thing you know, you’ll be schooling a newbie on the squat machine!

Ready to get started at the gym? Equinox is making that first step easy! They are giving all FBG readers a complimentary guest pass to Equinox fitness facilities. Click here to redeem yours. If there’s one in your city, get your bum in there stat!

Plus, Equinox recently started a campaign called “My Body. My Biography.” As we mentioned previously, there are some seriously inspiring fitness tales, such as A.C’s story. Equinox helped him come back from a plane crash that left him with a broken neck and severely burned body to compete in an Ironman. An Ironman! So if your motivation is lacking in the New Year (already!), go check out these inspiring stories. You’re sure to want to hit the ground running. —Erin

The following is a sponsored post by Equinox Fitness Clubs. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

It’s beginner’s week here on FBG, and the first Monday of 2010! Whoop, whoop! To celebrate and to get you all motivated to be your healthiest this year, we’ve partnered with Equinox for a few FBG-insider goodies, including inspirational stories, information on the benefits of joining a fitness club and a complimentary Equinox trial membership! Erin and I have long been fans of Equinox and its facilities, and we’re excited to be able to bring more information from them to you, our dear readers. And, really, the best accessory to any get-fit plan is a quality health club!

Equinox recently started a campaign called “My Body. My Biography.” As one might imagine, the campaign features people’s inspiring fitness tales. Equinox started the site to celebrate its members and show that its gyms are more than just a pretty health club (and pretty they are, no doubting that!)—they really change people’s lives. They first asked members to share with them how Equinox had helped, changed or shaped their lives. They even held a casting call in Los Angeles and New York City (cities that both have a lot of Equinox clubs) to decide who would be featured.

If you go to the site, you can read the motivational tales of who was chosen. While all of them are moving, one quote in particular stood out to us, A.C.’s story:

“I basically had to start from scratch. Eleven years ago, I was in a small plane that crashed. Both the pilot and his daughter and my best friend died. The doctors said I only had a 50/50 chance to survive. Thirty percent of my body was burned, and my neck was broken in two places. I was in the hospital ICU unconscious for 30 days, I had multiple skin graft surgeries, and then, after I fell while trying to learn how to walk, I was put in a halo—a ring that is bolted to your skull to stabilize your neck. I had to learn how to walk again, how to brush my teeth again—you name it. The best part of my recovery was going to Equinox, because I could see improvements every day. Eventually, I was able to compete in the Ford Ironman World Championships Triathlon. A theme of Ironman is ‘proving the impossible possible,’ and that is really what my recovery/story is all about.”

Wow, right?! If that doesn’t make you appreciative for all that you have and want to get up and get moving, I don’t know what will! Now all of us may not have a story as compelling as A.C.’s, but everyone does have a story.

Equinox is encouraging everyone to start their journey, and share their story—dramatic or not—with Equinox today. After all, Equinox helped change A.C.’s life. Equinox could change yours, too. And to help you start your journey, Equinox is giving all FBG readers a complimentary guest pass to try for yourself! If there’s one in your city, you’d be silly if you didn’t check it out.  Click here to redeem yours!

And let us know what you think of the club when you stop in! We know you’ll love it!  —Jenn