Monthly Archives

November 2015

Must Have Fitness Apps For Your Smartphone

by Nellie November 23, 2015

Must Have Fitness Apps For Your Smartphone

Must Have Fitness Apps For Your Smartphone
Sworkit – I love this app! I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of this awesome app two years ago at Fitbloggin in Portland. My favorite part about this app is that it is completely customizable. You only have 7 minutes? Sworkit has a seven minute workout! You can also choose which body part you want to work! Perfect for those who want to do something but have no clue what to do.

MyFitnessPal – I have been a long time fan of MFP. Although I haven’t tried the premium version the free version is still pretty great. MyFitnessPal helps you to track your daily food intake and activities. It will guide you when you are eating too much sugar, carbs or even saturated fat. I have used it on and off for at least 10 years. When used properly it is super effective!

Nike Training App – This is my favorite hardcore workout app. This app plays no games. It will have you doing super effective body weight exercises while incorporating your own music. Equipment not a requirement but they have complete routines if you are in a gym as well.

Pit Fitness – This is my favorite fitness app for the gym. Sometimes you are surrounded with great equipment and you have no idea where to start. PIT Fitness lets you choose what type of tools you want to work with whether it’s kettlebells, dumbbells, or barbells and they will design a workout that will allow you to progress as you go along.

Wellcoin – I have blogged many times about how awesome Wellcoin is. Wellcoin is an amazing app that rewards you for making healthy choices. You can get all kinds of fun things from gift cards and sneakers just for logging your workouts and meals. The best part is the community–they inspire each other and cheer each other towards healthy living greatness!

Runkeeper – There are lots of apps available to help track your miles, but when it comes down to it Runkeeper is great for tracking so many different activities including running, cycling, walking and so many other exercises. Plus there is a great Runkeeper community that is super supportive and encouraging.

For more great fitness lists check out:

7 Beginner Strength Training Workouts

10 Strength Training Exercises for Strong Legs

10 Beginner Strength Training Arm Exercises

Top 10 Fitness Channels on YouTube

5 Awesome Yoga Resources For Runners

What fitness apps do you use on your phone?

12 comments

goals

6 Simple Tips to Help You Tackle Big Scary Goals

by Nellie November 16, 2015

6 Simple Tips You Need To Tackle Big Scary Goals

In order to move to the next level we need to set Big Scary Goals

In July of 2014 I decided I wanted to run a 10k. I was a sporadic runner, running fun 5k runs and doing all I could to avoid running seriously. A 10k goal at the time seemed impossible but I was up for the challenge.

Right before I took the plunge I consulted with one of my running mentors if I could do the big one–run a half marathon. She said Yes! I had seven months to train and I did it.

Not even 3 months after that (starting to notice a pattern here?) I watched the NYC Marathon and decided right in that moment I would become a part of the one percent and run a full marathon. Crazy right? But I did it.

Setting big goals are terrifying. They honestly make me want to crawl under my comforter and take a nap. But we can’t deny the deep transformational change that happens when you set a big goal and successfully complete it!

Here are my six important steps for reaching a big goal

Be Patient

Because big goals come with time. It’s so tempting to compare to the next person or doubt your ability because you are still not where you want to be. As long as you are moving forward or taking steps to move forward you are getting closer to your goal.

Have A Plan

It’s so easy to say things right? “I want a million dollars” “I want a better quality of life” so many thing we say we want but never quite start the work. Have a plan–whether you hire a coach, download a free business model or simply list your steps to success in your journal, having a plan and executing it is key.

Expect The Unexpected

So now we are being patient and we have the perfect plan and everything goes haywire. All of a sudden you are derailed, unmotivated and ready to give up. The trick is to keep going. So many people (myself included) have given up on BIG dreams because of SMALL setbacks. The trick is to keep going–consistency always wins!

Find A Mentor (or three)

I have a lot of mentors (that may not even know they are my mentors!) I have so many people that I want to emulate whether it comes to running, blogging, parenting or just being a overall better person. Find people in your life that you want to be like and seek their advice, 99% of the time, they will give it willingly.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

The minute you decide to do something amazing and HUGE is the exact minute that everything you can imagine will start happening. Things WILL get crazy. It will seem like too much, but it won’t be. Ask for help, gather the troops, adjust the plan and keep going the same way you started.

Document Your Progress

Whenever I am losing weight I love to use MyFitnessPal–every time you lose a pound they celebrate not only that pound but ALL the pounds you have lost so far. When you start moving towards a goal, write down your successes whether they are big or small. Registered a new EIN number for your business? That’s a win. Made your first sale? Huge WIN! Writing down your progress can not only help you make better decisions in the future but it can be your motivation for when things get tough.

[Tweet “Six Simple Steps For Reaching Big Scary Goals #goalsetting”]

What big goals have you tackled? What advice would you give?

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BAM Travels

My Trip To Israel: Eilat

by Nellie November 10, 2015

Eilat Welcome to part two of my work sponsored trip to Israel. In part one I explored Tel Aviv, learned a lot and spent some time near the Mediterranean Sea.

Party Time

I really didn’t know what to expect–I mean, it was a super weird situation–I was traveling abroad to the furthest I’ve ever been with no family or close friends and only my coworkers.

The second half of the trip required that we fly (500 strong) to the southern tip of Israel to a very Vegas-like Desert city called Eilat. We would be staying here for two fun filled days then heading back to Tel aviv and then home. The plane ride to Eilat was only 30 minutes but we got to see the Dead Sea with a birds eye view.

When we arrived in Eilat everything went so fast, we grabbed our bags, jumped on a bus and five minutes later we were at one of the most insanely gorgeous resorts I’ve ever been to. Breathtaking is a bit of an understatement.

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Currently. #travel #Israel #eilat

A post shared by Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama (@glamnellie) on Oct 14, 2015 at 3:58am PDT

From the moment we walked through the lobby the music was pumping loud and there was alcohol everywhere. There were chefs that were making these delicious sandwiches with hummus, cheese, tomatoes, olives and more. It was one of the freshest, tastiest things I’ve ever eaten. Eilat-9822

We quickly got changed into our swimsuits but I was less eager to jump into the water. Did I mention that most of my Israeli coworkers were under the age of 25, with the most perfect bodies ever? To show you how hesitant I was to get in the water, look at my completely black coverup in the desert! EILAT_2015_0323

Finally I loosened up and decided to yell YOLO and jump in because when will I ever be at a crazy fly pool party in Israel?! I’m so glad I did. I (pool) danced a lot, I met new people (all KINDS of boundaries are broken when you are in a pool half naked with your coworkers so it’s a lot easier to chat with someone new), I got nice and wrinkly and had such a great time.

After HOURS in the pool dancing and such we went upstairs checked in, got ready and prepared to go to …

The Desert

Let me set the scene for you:

Eight or nine busses drop you off in the middle of the dark desert. Just as quickly all of the busses speed away. There is nothing but sand and gravel beneath your feet and you have no sense of direction because you can’t see anything. Your coworkers are all speaking a different language and you wonder quietly wtf is going on. You hear drums, fireworks and see a camel. The lights went on and just like that it was time for dinner! EILAT_2015_0623 Eilat-9877

We also got to see this amazing band that I fell immediately in love with called the Balkan Beat Box. EILAT_2015_0773 Eilat-0025 Eilat-9932 Eilat-9946 Eilat-9973

I danced, a lot. 🙂

The Beach

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The beach was just beautiful–and that doesn’t even seem like a strong enough description. We spent the entire day there and although I didn’t get in the water I really took sometime to just take in the sights and really be in the moment. EILAT_2015_0977

SAMSUNG CSC

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I even fell asleep on a boat in the middle of the ocean. It was glorious!

Later on that evening, we flew back to Tel Aviv and from there right back to NYC. It was a trip that exposed me to so much and the travel bug has officially bitten me! We have already started planning a trip to South America in 2016, hopefully we can make it happen!

[Tweet “#Eilat #Israel is one of the most beautiful places on the planet! #travel”]

What would you do if you had to wear a swimsuit in front of your co-workers–yay or nay? Do you have any international plans in the near future?

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races running

Officially a Marathoner: My 2015 NYC Marathon Recap

by Nellie November 6, 2015

2015 NYC Marathon Recap

The NYC Marathon was physically the hardest thing I have ever done. It also taught me a lot about myself, my limits and how to keep going even when you really don’t want to.

But let’s start from the beginning shall we?

I opted to take the latest ferry going to Staten Island because I wanted to be as relaxed as possible before running. The ferry ride was full of excited runners speaking in different languages and calming each other’s nerves. I met 3 or 4 other runners that had me laughing and loose the entire way to the race.

2015 NYC Marathon Recap

The start

2015 NYC Marathon Recap

By the time the ferry got to Staten Island and we were loaded on the bus, it was time to jump in my corral! The start line was uneventful–I just said a little prayer and started running on the bridge when I heard the final loud boom of the canon.

2015 NYC Marathon Recap

The bridge was a little tough, I was trying to be smart about discarding my extra hoodie but after the first mile my temperature shot right up. As soon as I got into Brooklyn I threw the hoodie away and I didn’t even miss it!

Brooklyn my favorite borough

Running through Brooklyn was incredible. I gave so many high (and low) fives to cheering kids (and adults)–it was amazing. The crowd support was unlike anything I have ever experienced. So many people called my name and they absolutely love it when you cheer with them–usually results in louder cheering!! 2015 NYC Marathon Recap

By mile 8 I saw my Godmom and Godbrother who was squealing how proud she was of me–I was just so excited to see her! 2015 NYC Marathon Recap

Miles 8-13 I actually stuck with the 6 hour pace group and although I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick with them the entire way, it was nice to run with a group for a portion of the race.

At the halfway point, right before I got to the bridge that led me into queens, my best friend showed up with lip balm, water and of course a sign with our nickname for each other. (Long story!) tcsnycmarathon9 2015 NYC Marathon Recap

At this point I was sad because I was leaving Brooklyn for good and headed into Queens for a little bit. When I got there I saw my friend Victor who ran the race last year and again had an awesome sign with my name on it.

tcsnycmarathonrecap1

I made it through queens pretty uneventfully and just like that I was in Manhattan. I was getting super tired. But I definitely had over 8 miles to go. Remember I had never run past 20 miles on the training plan so I was quickly getting into unknown territory.

At Mile 19 with just over seven miles to go, I started feeling an intense pain in both hips. Everytime I picked my legs up to run, my hips said no way. Everything else was fine, except for my hips.

Knowing that I would have to complete this race by likely walking the next 7 miles was just spirit breaking. Mentally I didn’t want to do it anymore. I had been on the course now for over 4 hours. I was exhausted I didn’t want to walk anymore–I just wanted to tuck it all in.

Then one of my old friends literally popped out of nowhere. I had no idea she would be coming to see me so when I saw her I was so overwhelmed that I immediately stopped, covered my face and promptly burst into tears. It was like seeing her allowed me to really acknowledge how hard this truly was.

She enveloped me in a big hug and told me that I was an inspiration to many. She told me to keep going because of how many people loved me and how many people are cheering for me. I boohooed for a good 5 minutes in her hug. It was like she came prepared to pull me out of the sewer. It was the most perfect timing ever. She saved my race by taking me out of my own head. She sent me on my way but not before she took this picture of me. tcsnycmarathonharlem

After that I headed to the Bronx which was still super live for the back of the packers. There were still plenty people cheering, lots of salsa music and Halloween treats being offered to runners. Finally it was time, I had made it to the last borough.

At this time the sun was setting and I was starting to feel like I was losing it a bit. I was walking but I had no focus in what I was doing and everything hurt so bad that I just wanted to sit down for a really, really long time. At mile 22 I met my coworker who gave me skittles and also had a pretty awesome sign! tcsnycmarathonrecap11

The final miles were hard. I sobbed, a lot, quietly and to myself. I felt somewhat embarrassed but I let them flow anyway. I pushed through the cops letting us know that “the New York City marathon has now concluded” about 80 times as I pushed to get closer to the finish line. I just kept pushing.

The finish line was glorious. It was everything Carly said it was going to be. I didn’t smile or throw my hands up, I simply ugly cried. I didn’t want to forget how hard it was by faking a smile with hands over my head. I crossed the finish, took all I had and smiled with my medal. I gave and recieved congratulations from strangers.

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It's #medalmonday and I was way too tired to post this last night so here it is! I am officially a marathoner!!! #tcsnycmarathon

A post shared by Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama (@glamnellie) on Nov 2, 2015 at 6:10am PST

I walked and walked with feet that burned in crazy pain until I got to the poncho section. The elderly woman looked at me with my crazy hair and tear stained face looked me square in my eyes and said “I’ve been waiting for you” as she wrapped me tightly in that cozy, warm, beautiful lined poncho. Yes, you guessed it–the tears came, again.

Afterwards I had no idea where I was but I found some steps to sit on with other marathoners. I chatted with another awesome woman named Helen–she was one of those people you knew you could bare your soul to–it’s hard to explain but she was the perfect person to sit next to. We shared war stories about training and she told me that she has done the NYCM 9 times IN A ROW!

Would I do this again?

Not sure. This was hard but a small part of me wants to avenge this time. Really put my all in training, really committ. I am qualified and it will be a major decision I’ll have to make in about 2 months. Now that I’ve done it once I kinda wanna do it again. I blame Brooklyn, too much great energy and cute kids, and awesome music.

Crazy right?! Yes. I know.

I’m a marathoner y’all!!!!!

[Tweet “The #TCSNYCMarathon was long, hard and full of emotion. This is my story. “]

Did you watch the marathon coverage on TV? Did you track me?!

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