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IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest with SweatPink 2016 Highlights

July 18, 2016 By Ashley 58 Comments

I’m back! Last week and weekend, I spent five days in Los Angeles soaking up a whole bunch of fitness, food and fun.

Ashley at 2016 IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

What was I doing? This was my second year attending both the IDEA World Fitness Convention and IDEA BlogFest with SweatPink (wearing Fabletics above!). If you’re not familiar, IDEA World Fitness Convention is the biggest annual gathering of 14,000 fitness and wellness professionals usually taking place in L.A., (but will be moving to Las Vegas for its 35th year next year in 2017).

IDEA BlogFest is a smaller exclusive portion of the conference held just for bloggers, and it’s a newer conference, welcoming about 160 ladies (only a couple of guys this year!). BlogFest is only two days, but IDEA is five days. (Details on last year’s BlogFest can be found here: big things I learned and top nutrition tips.)

On Thursday and Friday, I participated in blogging and social media sessions, as well as workouts as part of BlogFest. Then on Saturday, I attended strictly fitness and health sessions as part of the larger IDEA World Fitness Convention.

The time was action packed, with breakfast starting as early as 7 a.m., sessions going through 6 p.m., and social events afterward, so the days were full. But because it was all so enjoyable, I didn’t really get that tired and certainly never got bored. I was in my element!

What I like about attending IDEA BlogFest

The cool things about attending this event …

  • Hanging out with my favorite blogging buddies in person.
  • Meeting new blogging friends in person.
  • Learning some new tips and tricks about blogging and social media from inspirational people like Anna Renderer, Katie Dunlop, Amanda Tress, Ryan Lee and Brooke Bass.
  • Trying new-to-me workouts.
  • Trying new-to-me snacks and supplements at the big expo hall (although the expo didn’t seem as good as last year).
  • Romping around in workout clothes with a backpack and not sitting at a desk all day.

But let’s be totally honest, because the best part of the week and weekend definitely took place after hours when I got to go to dinner with Gina and Jessica on Thursday and Friday night at Faith & Flower and Katsuya, respectively. I met these ladies both in person for the first time last year, but because we’re blogging friends and stay in touch via the Interwebs, etc. I feel like I’ve known them for a very long time. (In case you don’t know them, Gina is a fabulous blogger over at The Fitnessista and Jessica is an amazing Pilates instructor and blogger at Jessica Valant Pilates.) Our dinners each night included awesome food, cocktails and endless chatter about all things life. Too bad I live so many hours away from them, because they’re both in San Diego.

Blogger girls at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Blogger girls at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Highlights from IDEA BlogFest

A few highlights from this year …

  • The IDEA opening ceremony speeches were so incredibly inspiring. Jack Canfield of “Chicken Soup for the Soul” fame gave us tips on using daily affirmations and giving up complaining and blame to find the formula to be successful in anything. Amy Van Dyken, a former Olympian who is now in a wheelchair, told us to live each day to the fullest and Tony Horton, famed fitness trainer, talked about hustling to become who you want to be.
  • Readers saying hello! I loved the fact that people who read the blog came up to me and introduced themselves. I think I’m way less cool in person, so I hope I didn’t disappoint you, ladies hehehe! I was a complete sweaty mess running to claim things I had mistakenly left behind in a workout room when one gal came up to me. #BadFirstImpressions
  • We all know that I’m obsessed with Les Mills group fitness, but I also like to try new things in the group fitness world. This year, as part of BlogFest, we got to try all of the Beachbody Live programs in a small group, and I’m all over the Country Heat Dance Workout, which is fast-moving country-line dancing, which gets you pretty darn sweaty. I seriously died from excitement while trying that class, even though we only got to do a small preview of it. I don’t think it would be very popular in the Bay Area, but if I ever move back to the South, I will totally train to become an instructor of it.
  • I ran into some awesome current and former Les Mills icons, like Amanda Scales, and Josef McMatthews, who is now with Beachbody. I love that I get to see them at events like this. Josef also taught some of the Beachbody Live previews that we did through BlogFest.
  • I did some work for 24 Hour Fitness, which was super enjoyable and enlightening, and I wore my 24 Hour Fitness hat for many of the conference sessions.
  • And this was a quick one, but I attempted a partner acro-stunt for the first time with a very trustworthy instructor, who helped me get out of my comfort zone. It feels good to be challenged!

Tony Horton at 2016 IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Expo at 2016 IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Blogging

As far as what I learned this year about blogging … you’ve got to collect email addresses, send emails to your readers often, build your social following on three channels total and get the heck on Snapchat so people can see the nitty gritty in your life. Done. This is my second attempt at Snapchat, and I can already tell I’m going to become obsessed this time. It’s so messy and fun! Here’s me with Anna Renderer, the host of POPSUGAR Fitness, who talked a little bit about content … 

Ashley with Anna at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Fitness

As far as what I learned this year in fitness … there continue to be more and more workout formats, trends and pieces of equipment coming out, and that’s a good thing for us all in the industry. The more competition, the better. The more programs, the better. The more people moving, the better.  A fitness highlight for me may have been during the Todd Durkin bootcamp that Gina and I went to together, which was super tough, but challenging in a good way. We did box jumps, battle ropes and all sorts of interesting sports drills. And Todd Durkin was intense and motivational. His energy is infectious! Here we are with famed celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, who took us bloggers through a workout using booty bands (ouch!) …

Workout with Gunnar Peterson at BlogFest

Todd Durkin workout at 2016 IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

TRX Training at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Nutrition

As far as what I learned this year about nutrition … well … you have to eat right most of the time, and there are no shortcuts for diets at all. Bone broth and collagen are all the rage for getting extra nutrients, and real food still wins out in the end. Elimination diets are not the ideal way to live, say the experts. And cheat days? Don’t go crazy on them and derail your entire week. Oh and throw out the scale. Your goal weight should be the weight where you feel your healthiest, while being able to fully enjoy your life how you want to. If you have to make yourself miserable with your diet to be a certain weight, then that’s not the right weight for you.

Breakfast bar at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

Lunch at Mendocino Farms by A Lady Goes West

Kombucha tasting at IDEA BlogFest by A Lady Goes West

I soaked up a lot the last few days, and you’ll see more details and insights coming up very soon on the old blog, but for now, let’s wrap it up and get to my usual workout recap.

My weekly workout recap

Here’s a look at all of the workouts I fit in last week …

Weekly Workouts by A Lady Goes West

Weekly Workouts

  • Monday: Taught a one-hour BODYATTACK class
  • Tuesday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class
  • Wednesday: Did a 20-minute weights workout
  • Thursday: Rest day
  • Friday: Did a 45-minute cardio and a 30-minute multi-equipment circuit class
  • Saturday: Did one-hour of Beachbody Live cardio workout classes
  • Sunday: Rest day

How did this past week of workouts go?

This past week included some diversity of workouts thanks to BlogFest, yet I didn’t fit in my typical three-times-weekly resistance sessions, like I usually do. I got more cardio than usual with teaching BODYATTACK once and a couple of sessions at IDEA, but I only picked up real weights one time while teaching BODYPUMP. And I swear, I’m going to get back to yoga one day soon. Overall, the week was fine, and happily included two full rest days.

Learn some quick #fitness tips from #BlogFest #IDEAWorld with #SweatPink ...  Click To Tweet

P.S. Thanks to Meghan for today’s “Week in Review” link-up. 

Thanks for reading guys. And by the way, I’m totally snapping away on Snapchat, so find me at aladygoeswest. Have an awesome day and week. We’ll chat soon!

Questions of the day

How was your weekend?

Do you use Snapchat? 

Filed Under: BlogFest, Weekends, Weekly Workouts Tagged With: Beachbody, BlogFest, blogging, conferences, fitness, IDEAWorld, Los Angeles, social media, Sweat Pink, workouts

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About Ashley

I'm a mom, writer and group fitness instructor, and A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness and wellness tips, as well as stories and learnings from my life in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
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Comments

  1. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    July 18, 2016 at 3:28 am

    SO great to see you, as always! I need to get back to using Snapchat–I have a love hate relationship with it. But it seems to be the new (old) Instagram, which was my jam, so I think I just need to let it inspire me!
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Blogfest and IDEA World Fitness Convention 2016My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:34 am

      I want to see your snaps, Susie!! 🙂 ehehe! So good to see you too!

      Reply
  2. Marielle says

    July 18, 2016 at 5:08 am

    So glad you joined Snapchat…haha it’s way fun and super addicting! 🙂
    I went to Blogfest the first year when I was still living in LA and it was awesome, so bummed I’m so far away now!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:35 am

      Hi Marielle! I know, I know! Maybe next year you can go? At least you’ve experienced it once though! Hope all is well, gal!

      Reply
  3. Courtney Koch says

    July 18, 2016 at 5:15 am

    I love that you got to try Country Heat and hear from some Beachbody peeps!

    That seriously looks like the BEST convention in the world! I’d love to go!

    Happy Monday. Xo.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Have you done Country Heat yet? It was AWESOME! hahahh!! What’s your fave BB program?

      Reply
      • Courtney Koch says

        July 18, 2016 at 7:41 am

        I have tried one of the Country Heat workouts that they made available to us On Demand. I’d say my favorite is either T25 (because I’m an intense cardio lover through and through) or 21 Day Fix Extreme because it really got me into lifting weights and incorporating resistance and weight training into my routine on a more regular basis. 🙂

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          July 18, 2016 at 8:31 am

          Sweet! I did try 21-Day Fix, because you sent me that and I liked it. I also liked the Shaun guy — totally awesome — he was not at BlogFest, sadly. hehehe:)
          Ashley recently posted…IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest with SweatPink 2016 HighlightsMy Profile

          Reply
  4. Fiona says

    July 18, 2016 at 5:18 am

    Looks like such a fun time! Man I’d be so overwhelmed and inspired by all the workouts and new ideas! But when it’s your passion like you said it’s more fun then work!

    Love that your on snapchat now 😉 Though I seem to only bombard people with pictures and snaps of my kid but it’s still fun to play around!

    We had a busy weekend with Sully turning the big 1 year old …so had a bbq with family which totally wiped us all out!!! Here’s to a little more rest this week and the countdown is on until I”m back at work….so things are about to get even crazier in a few weeks!

    Glad you had such a great time!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Oh yay! I can’t wait to see your snaps so I can see your little one!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie says

    July 18, 2016 at 5:42 am

    This has always been a conference I would love to attend! It looks like a blast from meeting up with blogging friends to workouts to food to education. One year I will attend 😉
    Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…What I Eat in a Day at WorkMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:37 am

      Yes ma’am! You would LOVE it, Brie! Hope you can go next year!

      Reply
  6. Jill @ Champagne for Everyday says

    July 18, 2016 at 6:46 am

    Love the recap Ashley!! Looks like it was SO fun! Also, great advice from the experts regarding Snapchat – Instagram is so curated these days, and I always forget to post even when I have something ready! PS. So awesome that you got to meet Gunnar Peterson – he’s a real fitness god, that’s for sure. Welcome home! 🙂
    Jill @ Champagne for Everyday recently posted…The Most Comfortable Pencil Skirt: The Work-It Skirt by BetaBrandMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:34 am

      Yes, ma’am! Instagram is a little TOO perfect these days if you ask me. And yes, Gunnar was cool! So many fitness celebs in one place, I missed a lot of them! Looking forward to seeing you!!!!

      Reply
  7. GiGi Eats says

    July 18, 2016 at 6:57 am

    SAD that I missed you but thrilled you had fun!!! 🙂
    GiGi Eats recently posted…Reeling In The Truth: Can You Poach Fish In The Dishwasher?My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:33 am

      Where were you? hahah! How did we not connect? Hope you had fun!

      Reply
  8. Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth says

    July 18, 2016 at 7:00 am

    Looks like so much fun! I just read Gina’s recap, too – love the amount of fun action to come this year. It’s definitely made me want to try out a Durkin class. It sounds super intense, but do-able. Love that level of encouragement!

    I’m also sloooowly dipping my toe into SnapChat (@SemiSweetTooth), but I think it’s a great way to get more comfortable in a video format. We’ll see where it takes me this time around – following you now, too. 😉

    Have a great start to the week!
    XO, Jessica
    http://www.semisweettooth.com
    Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth recently posted…40 Minute Elliptical WorkoutMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:32 am

      Hi Jessica! I’m finding Snapchat to be quite fun, and it doesn’t need a real strategy as this point, which is nice. Looking forward to seeing your snaps!

      Reply
  9. Bri says

    July 18, 2016 at 7:08 am

    It was so great to meet you! Glad you got a lot out of the sessions and workouts! ☺️

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:30 am

      So great to finally meet you too, Bri!! 🙂 Hope you enjoyed yourself!

      Reply
  10. Emily says

    July 18, 2016 at 7:14 am

    Wow, I think you’ve convinced me to get back on Snapchat. What’s the best way to advertise that you got a Snapchat for the blog? Should I do it on Instagram? Also, it’s neat that you got to incorporate all those workouts in during the whole week. And I didn’t realize that this is the 35th year of IDEA Fit! I would love to go next year, cause I have family in Las Vegas. I was really enjoying watching all the social media updates from all of you.
    Emily recently posted…Recovery Starts with the Mind Not The ActionsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 7:31 am

      Well then next year is perfect for you to go to BlogFest so you can stay with your family. And as far as Snapchat, YES, put it on your Instagram and blog to let people know — then begin interacting via chat etc. with your followers. It’s fun!

      Reply
  11. India says

    July 18, 2016 at 8:36 am

    So glad you enjoyed the conference. Love the blog and appreciate all the effort you put into it! I’m not on snapchat, but it seems so fun. Crazy how much social media is constantly changing – it’s a lot to keep up with!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 11:49 am

      Hi India! Thanks so much! And yes, social media will always be moving fast. We can’t do it all though hehe. Snapchat is super informal, which is what is making me like it so much.

      Reply
  12. Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says

    July 18, 2016 at 8:44 am

    What a wonderful conference. I’m glad you had such a great time and got to connect with bloggers and readers alike.

    I am obsessed with SnapChat. So. Much. Fun.
    Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Week in Review: Ave’s Edition (#40)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 11:48 am

      It is so much fun! I’m getting obsessed with snapping already!

      Reply
  13. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    July 18, 2016 at 10:30 am

    So good meeting you! I am exhausted today!
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Red Pepper Zucchini Frittata {GF, Low Cal, Paleo}My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 11:48 am

      I bet!! It was a busy few days. So glad we met!!

      Reply
  14. Sarah @ The Blonde Giraffe says

    July 18, 2016 at 11:06 am

    IDEA looks like it was a blast!! I attended their Personal Trainer Institute Conference in Seattle earlier this year and was so bummed I couldn’t make it down this weekend!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 11:47 am

      Hi Sarah! Oh too bad! Maybe you can make it to Vegas for next year??

      Reply
  15. Bethann Stenseth says

    July 18, 2016 at 11:50 am

    This looks amazing! I’m love the pics of you and Gina — so fun seeing you two together and glad you met it real-life! Hope you had a blast! xo BA

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 5:03 pm

      I know! Love her! Small world, right?? Hope all is well!!

      Reply
  16. Heather @ Life In Leggings says

    July 18, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    FUN! I’m still super bummed that I had to stay back this year, but it looks like you girls had a fabulous time! Hoping that we get to cross paths before next year 😉
    Heather @ Life In Leggings recently posted…Friday Favorites #150: Week of 7/15My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 5:03 pm

      I know!! We need to plan a meet up– maybe there will be an event?? Hmmm!!! We missed you

      Reply
  17. Kayla says

    July 18, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    Love the recap, I’m totally living vicariously through you and have always wanted to go to BlogFest. Fingers crossed for next year 🙂

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      I know — with the workouts and blogging, BlogFest is totally up your alley. Maybe Vegas is a BIT closer for you next year? heheh! I’d love to meet you!
      Ashley recently posted…IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest with SweatPink 2016 HighlightsMy Profile

      Reply
  18. Christina Gonzales says

    July 18, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Wow! Sounds like an amazing time! Totally my cup of tea. =) I am hoping to attend next year! Thanks for sharing your experience! Catch you on Snap!

    http://www.thehealthfulscoop.com

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 7:44 am

      Hi Christina! Yes! It’s so much fun! Hope you get to go next year. I’d love to meet you! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

    July 19, 2016 at 9:49 am

    WHERE DID YOU FIND THE KOMBUCHA STAND?? I looked for it twice! Noooooooo. So glad to have met you FINALLY
    Erin @ Erin’s Inside Job recently posted…Blogfest 2016 RecapMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 10:07 am

      It was way in the back near the concessions! A hidden gem!!! Hahaha

      Reply
  20. Jessica says

    July 19, 2016 at 9:50 am

    So great to meet you at BlogFest! You’re an absolute doll and we love having you as a part of the SweatPink family — keep doing you 🙂

    See you next year <3 xo

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 10:07 am

      You too! Loved chatting with you!!

      Reply
  21. Ange // Cowgirl Runs says

    July 19, 2016 at 10:01 am

    I’m crossing my fingers I’ll be able to come to Vegas for BlogFest next year!!

    I’m really love Snapchat, but sometimes I forget I have it. Whoops!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 10:08 am

      Oh I will find you so I can see your snaps!! Yay!! And YES for Vegas next year!

      Reply
      • Ange // Cowgirl Runs says

        July 19, 2016 at 10:08 am

        I’m easy to find – cowgirlruns (duh! hahah)
        Ange // Cowgirl Runs recently posted…How to Switch Blog HostsMy Profile

        Reply
  22. Heather @ Polyglot Jot says

    July 19, 2016 at 10:25 am

    ugh i cant get the idea of snapchat to be a fun thing…im putting it off! i need to get on it i guess! Sounds like such a great event! Hopefully i can meet you next year there!
    Heather @ Polyglot Jot recently posted…Get Your Snack OnMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 7:17 pm

      I know, Heather! Only do it if you like it though — when I first tried Snapchat I couldn’t get into it, which made me not to do it. This time, I instantly found it more enjoyable. I would say, only use the social media that you like to do! heheh you don’t have to be everywhere!
      Ashley recently posted…IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest with SweatPink 2016 HighlightsMy Profile

      Reply
  23. Cassi says

    July 19, 2016 at 6:28 pm

    It sounds like this is a lot of fun! I wish that I could go soon. I’m not interested in Snapchat … just too much to add to what I’m already doing.
    Cassi recently posted…The Four Natural Enemies of Olive OilMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 19, 2016 at 7:18 pm

      I get it Cassi!! hhehe you don’t have to do all the social media. AND YES, hope you can make it to BlogFest next year. 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…IDEA World Fitness Convention and BlogFest with SweatPink 2016 HighlightsMy Profile

      Reply
  24. Victoria @ Minus Thirty Three says

    July 20, 2016 at 2:33 pm

    Looks like you had SUCH a great time in LA! Hopefully I can make it to Vegas next year as it looks like such a time!
    Victoria @ Minus Thirty Three recently posted…Tuesday Things – Food & PresentsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 21, 2016 at 9:22 pm

      Hi Victoria! It’s fun and educational! I hope you can go next year too, Victoria! 🙂

      Reply
  25. Liz says

    July 21, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    Ahhhh I wanna go back so much! I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend more time together. Hope to see you soon!
    Liz recently posted…BlogFest + IDEAWorld 2016 RecapMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 21, 2016 at 9:21 pm

      I want to go back too!!! You guys put on a great event, Liz! 🙂

      Reply
  26. Giselle Schroer says

    July 22, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    So bummed I missed it 🙁 Isn’t Amanda Tress awesome!?! She’s such a wealth of knowledge and my upline coach with Beachbody so I get to learn from her all the time 🙂
    Hope you have a great weekend!
    Giselle Schroer recently posted…Breastfeeding ups and downsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 22, 2016 at 3:29 pm

      Oh cool! Does that mean she got you into Beachbody? We missed you !

      Reply
  27. Jamie King says

    July 27, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    I so enjoy getting to see you every year at BlogFest and I so LOVED seeing you so overjoyed about the Country workout, you are seriously the cutest person ever. So much love coming atcha!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      July 27, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      hahah Yes, I can be quite enthusiastic about things like country line dancing. It was awesome spending time with you gals. LOVED the event! THANK YOU for putting it on. 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Going behind the scenes: IdeaFit BlogFest with Sweat Pink - all the secrets revealed here - Jamie King FitJamie King Fit says:
    July 27, 2016 at 7:26 pm

    […] off the heels of our 3rd annual Ideafit BlogFest with Sweat Pink, I realize that an event that is as amazing, inspiring and just plain BIG as BlogFest is can be […]

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I started this blog when I moved from Florida to the SF Bay Area, and I love to help you live a balanced life, making sure you never skip a rest day. I'm a mom and fitness instructor, and A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals and wellness tips with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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Exactly twelve years ago today, I spotted Dave acr Exactly twelve years ago today, I spotted Dave across the bar in Orlando and decided to chat him up. And really, the rest is history, and boy am I glad I made that decision that day. We celebrated today by retrieving our cars that finally made it across the country and returning our rental car. Here’s to making the first move, because sometimes it totally pays off! ❤️
Hi, I'm Ashley Pitt, formerly Ashley Pinder, or AP Hi, I'm Ashley Pitt, formerly Ashley Pinder, or APin or APinder, as my friends used to call me. It's been a long time since I introduced myself here on IG. And even though most of you know a lot about me, some of you don't. So here's a quick download (paired with a sequence of photos that took place yesterday):

-I was born and raised in Florida, I spent the last eight years in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, and I just moved with my little family to Charlotte, North Carolina one week ago.
-I've been a fitness instructor for 11 years, and I started out teaching Les Mills BODYPUMP as a side hobby while I held down a job at a public relations agency in Orlando. By the way, I never imagined I'd leave the corporate world behind, but I'm so glad I did. And now I work for myself with fitness, blogging and Beautycounter as my full-time gigs, in addition to momming, of course.
-I haven't taught an in-person fitness class in 10 months, but I teach virtual classes every week, and I absolutely love it. Send me a DM if you want to work out with me!
-Yes, I'm a mom. But I had a hard time getting pregnant while struggling with hypothalamic amenorrhea. With a few lifestyle changes, I was able to recover, and because of that experience, I've adopted a "no extremes" motto when it comes to food and exercise. Now I have one 3-year-old curly-haired son named Brady, and I have a small fluffy dog named Rudy, and they are the cutest.
-I started my blog, A Lady Goes West, more than 8 years ago, and I write new blog posts every Tuesday and Friday. If you've never read it yet, I'd love to have you come on over.
-Here on my IG profile, you can expect some real talk about wellness, mom life, moving to Charlotte, fitness and all of that good stuff. I don't track macros, I don't create fancy recipes, and I don't do anything D-I-Y, but I still hope to connect with you and add some positive value to your feed. Thanks for being here!
Greetings from Charlotte, North Carolina! We’re Greetings from Charlotte, North Carolina! We’re just finishing up day four of our moving-back-east adventure, and so far so good. Although the planner in me does look forward to some more certainty, we’re enjoying the fun of this transitional time as we look for a house and find our way in a new city. It definitely feels like we are just temporary visitors right now, which is a feeling I felt when we first landed in San Francisco. But that’s just part of the beauty of moving. And by the way, you’ll see me repeating clothes for a bit until our stuff makes its cross-country arrival, so let me introduce you to this outfit:
-Jacket is @fabletics
-Scarf is @ragandbone
-Leggings are @caliabycarrie
-Shoes are @drschollsshoes
-Shades are @vincecamuto
-Brady’s wearing all @oldnavy with some @hunterboots.
Here’s to starting our first full week in the Queen City! Have a good one, friends.
Peace out, California. This lady who went west is Peace out, California. This lady who went west is officially heading back east. Today, we closed on the sale of our home, the movers drove off with our stuff, and we ended an 8-year-and-3-month adventure in the San Francisco Bay Area. What a ride it has been, full of amazing moments, great memories, tough situations, so much learning and even more growing into who we are today. We’re heading to North Carolina with clear eyes and full hearts — so you know what that means.
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By the way, I wrote a post about my best memories from the last eight years, which is on A Lady Goes West right now, if you want to check it out! See you soon from the Eastern time zone!
So many things were tough for us in 2020, but boy So many things were tough for us in 2020, but boy am I glad we went through it all together. The highlight of the year was - by far - time spent with my little family. And we’re looking ahead to the big changes we have in store, with one-way tickets booked out of California next week. Happy New Year, friends! Here’s to change in 2021! 🎉🥂😍
Hands up in the air if you’re ready for a new ye Hands up in the air if you’re ready for a new year? While we know things don’t drastically change just because the date says 2021 instead of 2020, there is some power in possessing a more positive mindset and having your eyes wide open for more good ahead so you can accept it as it comes. Let’s be honest: This year has had some major ups and downs, and I’m definitely ready to embrace change, but I also know that change takes time and I’ve got to keep pushing for it, even if it doesn’t happen instantly.
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Speaking of 2020, today I published the final post of the year on A Lady Goes West with a raw look at a year in review both personal and professional, so head on over if you’re interested in that.
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And finally, this detailed-back bra is from @caliabycarrie and I’m loving it. It’s the Made to Move Strappy Back, and I have it in a ton of colors. #caliabycarrie #ad
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A Lady Goes West is a personal blog meant for entertainment purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for professional advice from your own doctor, trainer or nutritionist. While I'm a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, the workouts, food and plans I post are what works for me and may not work for you. Please enjoy these stories and tips from my life, but proceed with caution. Also, know that affiliate links and sponsored posts appear from time-to-time, and I appreciate your support. For more information about how your data is stored, visit my Privacy Policy. Thanks for reading!

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