I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter which category you are in.  There are going to be people to cheer you on, give you advice, keep you motivated and be there to support you when you need it for whatever reason.

One of the groups that really caught my attention was the Sweat Pink community.  There are so many wonderful ladies in this community that are raising awareness, doing great things in the fitness community.  I wanted to be a part of this movement to help motivate and get people moving.  I applied to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador awhile ago because I feel like I have something to offer others.  I am not an expert, I’m not perfect and my mind, body and spirit are a work in progress but I wanted to help.

I was accepted as a Sweat Pink Ambassador!  I got the email to let me know and I almost started screaming at work!  I was so excited and honored to be a part of this.

This means that I am going to help as much as I can when someone says that they want to get healthy.  I have already encouraged two people to run their first 5k.  One friend did her first one two weeks ago and she was so proud of herself.  She cried as she crossed that finish line because she pushed herself and beat her goal time by 5 minutes!  The other friend is training for her first one and we will be doing that one together in two weeks.  I cannot wait to run across that finish line together with her.

I was so happy to receive my official Sweat Pink tank top and pink laces.  As I find those special ladies who have pushed themselves and completed things that they didn’t think they could do, I will be giving them those pink laces to let them know that I am proud of them, that they did it….all on their own.

I finished my last 5k in my Sweat Pink tank and here’s the pic:

I don’t know if I can change the world but fitness and running has changed my life and I hope to help others find what makes them happy and fit and encourage them to change their lives.

The best part is, she’ll never let you give up as she chants, “again! again! again!” until you really can’t do anymore.

Miya knows the key to a workout is having a great partner…

Check out her amazing video: youtu.be/KmsnZGPJAfk and subscribe to SweatPink with Miya on the FitApproach channel.

I suppose my “aha moment” began my freshman year of high school.

Always being the chunky/overweight one in middle school, when a friend asked me to try out for freshman field hockey, I jumped at the chance. Although I had never played field hockey before, I was huge tomboy and athletically talented, so I figured why not. It seemed fun and because I would be starting at a new school, this was my chance to make friends and “fit in.”

Well, friendly competition quickly led to teammate competition, both on and off the field. Not only did I want to be the best, I wanted to be the quickest and the skinniest and my weight quickly dropped to almost fatal. But, I was finally the “skinny” girl. I thought if I wanted to be healthy, this is what it meant.

Boy was I wrong. I spent the next 8 months in and out of eating disorder treatment, realizing that I was wrecking my body shamelessly and that I needed to treat my body better. My idolized position on the girls’ basketball team was also taken away from me.

It was at that point that I realized that skinny doesn’t equal beautiful and it’s simply not worth the consequences.  I began spending the majority of my time studying fitness and nutrition trends, in order to be healthy but not self-destructive. I began taking various fitness classes here and there, and found that I really enjoyed running, boot camp classes, and yoga.

That love of fitness stayed with me all throughout high school as well as into college and due to my journey with fitness and health, I decided to pursue my passion for nutrition and my love of helping others find THEIR healthy balance.

There are still days I avoid mirrors or pinch the little bit of fat that I now have, but I’m comfortable with where I am at and can only hope to help others find their body happiness as well.

I can honestly say I have found my healthy balance and it has been a wonderful experience. I am so fortunate that I have found my true calling of being a Dietitian so that I may be a voice for nutrition, fitness, and overall health and well-being!

Check out @alyse_mb, @goldenbearbecky and @jamiewalker19 getting a little #SweatPink yoga crazy and well, jazz handing it up!

It doesn’t really matter when we get it, just that we do get it at some point before we die. Obviously if we get it sooner than later, we and those close to us enjoy the rewards.

I got it two and half years ago and I am grateful that I did.

I am a recovering alcoholic and to stay straight about things in my head, I run. I find, just as your thoughts can sink you, they can also keep you afloat when it feels like you’re drowning. My “Aha Moment” comes in two parts.

I thought I was happy and I guess I was, it was just an unfulfilled kind of happy. The kind of happy that lasted until the alcohol wore off. I had family, a home, friends and a job. If those are the pieces that make a happy picture, then I had a portrait.

But I didn’t. Happy doesn’t come from external things, other people or a bottle when the problem is internal. I drank as many drinkers do, to cope with the internal stuff.

There’s some stuff from when I was a child that I don’t talk about, there’s my Mom’s sudden death at 47 years old, when I was five months pregnant with her first grandchild, there’s parenting my now, nine year old (just recently diagnosed) autistic daughter, there was a job that was full of stress and liability and I held it all together by soothing myself with alcohol.

The first of my “Aha Moments” came after I missed a parent/teacher meeting because I was drinking and had forgotten. My husband took care of it as he always took care of all the things I couldn’t or wouldn’t because I was drunk. When he came home from the meeting, he suggested I think about sorting out the drinking patterns that had become such a crutch for me. In that moment I saw a sad version of me and my potential life. This vision included the loss of my home, husband, kids and employment.

In the next week, I experienced an event at work that was more stressful than usual. I was a Labor and Delivery RN with 10 years experience. Most people hear this and immediately gush over what a happy job I have and on some days they would be right. This particular day, they would be wrong. When things are bad in a L&D unit, the stress is amplified. With 10 years to my credit, I could handle anything, but on this day, I went home from work and drank.

I was still drinking the next day and had no desire to stop even though I had to work that night. I placed a sick call to work and kept drinking. I was trying to drown out the distress I felt from work, the loss of my Mother, the shitty job I was doing as a parent, the absent wife I was and the overweight, unhealthy, alcoholic I had become. I knew I didn’t want to lose everything I loved, I just didn’t want to face the emotions and difficulties that came along with all the things I loved.

I did confide in my Doctor, with my husband by my side. That was the day that gave birth to the new life I enjoy. There have been many struggles over the past two years, but I have gotten through them by being strong and healthy and supported by a solid group of people that love me whether I am good, bad or ugly.

The second part to my “Aha Moment” could only have been made possible through sobriety. Instead of drinking, I run. When I feel bad, I run farther. Running has been my AA, and for me it’s working. I needed all the benefits of exercise to help me build not only physical strength, but emotional and psychological fortitude as well.

I eat a plant based diet, I drink 4-6 litres of water a day, I get plenty of rest and I run. These are the changes that have kept me sober. I have gained a positive attitude and lost 40 pounds. I have changed my nursing job. I have embraced my daughter’s uniqueness along with the challenges her diagnosis brings. I appreciate all that I am and all that I have.

These really are the best “Aha Moments” because they are the strong foundation from which everything else is built upon in my life.

As co-founder and president, Jamie drives the vision and strategy for Fit Approach. She is dedicated to helping others achieve their own fitness goals and healthier lifestyles. Jamie’s athletic pursuits include tennis, cycling, snowboarding, swimming, dancing, and running. A competitive ultra-marathon runner, Jamie has won Ohlone, Dick Collins, Chimera, Cinderella, and Skyline to Sea ultra marathons. She also placed first overall at the Solana Beach triathlon.

For the last four years, Jamie has also trained and taught bootcamp classes, helping her students lose weight, gain strength, increase flexibility and endurance, and develop healthy habits. She has also developed healthy meal plans for her bootcamp clients and regularly does kitchen makeovers to help her clients achieve their nutritional goals.

Jamie has been practicing yoga for over 11 years.  As a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor, she shares her love for athletic, challenging yoga with her students.

She graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley, and completed her 7 year corporate career in PR and marketing to create Fit Approach.

Jamie is an experienced spokesperson, group instructor, and presenter. Contact her for booking information. 

As co-founder, Alyse handles the operations and brand strategy for Fit Approach.

She believes that cheese and chocolate are essential to a healthy lifestyle, and is committed to finding alternatives to the treadmill to stay active. She studied ballet and modern dance for twenty years, and now spends her studio time in yoga classes, working on her down dog and handstands. She also dabbles in TRX, aerial silks, urban cycling, swimming, and running.

When she’s not riding her bike up and down the hills of San Francisco, you can find Alyse editing for Art Practical, tirelessly searching out the best coffee in the bay area, and playing with her dogs.

Alyse earned an A.M. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley.

Growing up, Rebecca dedicated her time to gymnastics, cheerleading, snowboarding, and running. She is now an avid runner/cyclist who loves yoga and the outdoors. Rebecca is committed to living a healthy lifestyle where modification is key and activity is a must.

Rebecca is a student at UC Berkeley. She is majoring in Business with a minor in Nutrition and Toxicology. As a Sweat Pink College Ambassador, she promotes #SPAU on the UC Berkeley’s campus, and helps college students find a balance between college temptations and healthful living.

She spends her days running the streets and trails of Berkeley, studying, socializing with her sorority sisters, and communicating with Sweat Pink Ambassadors worldwide.

If you would like to work with Fit Approach via social media, contact Rebecca for more information.

Anyway, I feel like I channelled my inner Kelly Ripa by trying out the brand spanking new SoulCycle in Marin this morning. I have attended one other SoulCycle class in New York and fell in love with it and was so thrilled to hear that they were expanding to the West Coast. WOOT WOOT! So for all you local SweatPink’ers, you’ve gotta go!

I arrived a bit early for my 7 am class so I could scope out the facilities and am so impressed! The new studio is beautiful, inviting and just totally rocked my socks off. Despite the early hour, the whole SoulCycle Marin crew was amazingly helpful and friendly. After I got my snazzy clip in bike shoes, I made my way into the studio to get locked and loaded on my bike. Only I forgot how to clip in. I know, I know, I struggle. One of the lovely ladies in yellow came over to help me get clipped in and properly adjusted on my bike. I warmed up my legs and got more and more excited for class to start…

Our instructor Jenny came in bursting with amazing energy, enthusiasm and so much ooomph (not to mention a rockin bod). She had an amazing and energy filled playlist and led us through one of the BEST workouts ever. Within the first five minutes, I was one big giant ball of sweat. Literally drenched to the bone. We did an amazing arm workout mid way through – who knew such little weights could pack such a big punch – oh, and New Yorkers, I’m sorry I’m not sorry we stole Jenny from you. She is fabulous. I am so glad we West Coasters are getting the chance to get to know her kick ass classes.

Check out my SoulCycle Marin video review and awesome swag here.

#SweatPink ya’ll!