For the first time.

 

For the first time on social media, I feel comfortable. For the first time, I recorded a live video and didn’t feel nervous or worried I’d screw up. For the first time, I felt nothing but passion and spoke my mind to a screen knowing that I believed in what I was sharing and that the people on the other side of the screen believed it as well.

What brought me here? Every single person who has stood up and declared #IAmLimitless. In under two weeks, #IAmLimitless has become so much more than a hashtag. It’s a movement. It’s an action. A decision. A mindset. It’s the reason that I get up and workout. It’s the reason I encourage so many others to do the same.

Flex & Flow Run Club (every Saturday A.M. and always FREE)

I first came into contact with Sweat Pink when I started teaching at Flex & Flow (the Sweat Pink studio in PDX) 2 years ago when we opened. (You can read more about this and my decision to answer a Craiglist ad, here.) It was there where I was welcomed with open and sweaty arms into the most amazing community. It was there where I decided to try out the run club thanks to all the runner babes (Jamie, Liz, Hope, Kristina, Robyn, Kelsey, Celia, Emma and more – I’m talking to you!) and fell in love with trail running.

My first #SweatPink event was the United Relay of America 5K in Seattle with AfterShokz and these lovely humans and pup.

After some time, I joined the Sweat Pink team and learned what it was like to blog, to constantly post to social channels (as well as how to stalk some of my favorite peeps), and most importantly, what it was like to make online friends. I never realized how inspiring someone on a social media channel that I have never met could be, while at the same time being so personable, friendly, and supportive. I still find myself in shock somedays at the power of this online community and how much love I feel from it.

Now, I find myself more inspired every single day that I get to see what you all are up to, where you’re running, what yoga pose you’re working on, what you’re eating (YUM!), and how you are working to better yourself. The Sweat Pink community never ceases to amaze and inspire me – this community is truly special!

That’s me – live, passionate, and wearing a scrunchie. That’s as real as it gets for me.

In my Facebook Live video, you know, my first-time-feeling-so-passionate-one, I talked about some of my favorite quotes and lessons that I’ve picked up in just a few short weeks thanks to everyone who has stood up and declared #IAmLimitless. Here they are again, if not for you, for me. The thing about this movement that is so powerful is that it will stand the test of time – I will continue to feel the power and passion behind it; I will repeat these quotes to myself and others; It will fuel us in all our ups and downs for a long time to come. 

The first quote comes from  Debbie of Coach Debbie Runs:

Debbie quotes, “You can always tell who the strong women are. They’re ones building other women up instead of tearing them down – Anonymous” 

This, I think, is the backbone or foundation of this community. We are in this together, stronger together, and better together. I’ve watched Sweat Pink sisters team up for races and blog posts; some are even starting podcasts and going on fitcations together. We’ve joined together for retreats and conferences (hey, BlogFest 2018!). There is no limit to what we can do together.

Next is a phrase a lot of us are telling ourselves, every single day: I CAN.

De from Faith Fueled Mom, who, with an injured foot, is still working out every day, strengthening other parts of her body that she can and doing pull-ups like a pro! ]

De says, “I could focus on what I can’t do or strengthen what I can!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdy5YjaBHw_/?taken-by=collectivelychristine

Christine from Collectively Christine says, “This year is about defying the odds and getting “I CAN’T” out of our vocabulary!”

And Genevieve of Fitty Foodlicious, and a dear friend, who also has an ankle injury (what’s with the foot injuries, y’all?!) declared, “Whether you can or can’t, you’re right.” She’s saying I CAN even with an injury. She’s not letting that stop her from lifting all the weights and getting after her goals.

The mindset of I CAN is stronger than anything. Practicing thinking and saying I CAN will bring positive results – the opposite is so true as well. So YOU decide how you will think and act in every moment – may as well choose positive, right?!

Audrey from Running the Alley has been crushing the inspiring messages lately, and I LOVE it. She said in a post this week:

“I run to win. But I’m already winning. Every day I wake up, get to do what I love, and live, and laugh, and run, and be surrounded by people like you all…I’m winning.”

This is such a great reminder to stop, slow down and think about what you’re grateful for. For me, gratitude fuels more action, love, and support. Gratitude makes me limitless.

Last but not least, Autumn, from A Whole Story, has been laying down the tracks for a healthy, supportive mindset, and I needed to hear it when she said,

“Deciding to not believe the stories I tell myself? Felt so good. That adage; “Don’t believe everything you think.” Loud and clear this morning.”

The mind is such a powerful instrument that can be used for good to inspire yourself and then, in turn, inspire others, but it can just as quickly bring you down if YOU let it. Stay positive, stay strong, and keep telling yourself that YOU are limitless.

GIXO

Now that I’m all kinds of pumped on the energy of this community, let me tell you about the Gixo app which is another force driving the #IAmLimitless movement.

          

It’s a no-excuses, easy to use workout app. You can sign up ahead of time (hello, accountability!) and even invite your friends to join (hello, sweaty dates!). There are classes every ½ hour with a live coach who leads and motivates you the whole time. Depending on the class (endurance, speed workout), the app will even set goals for you so you can crush them!

And the BEST part is that you can work out with your friends near and far – yes, you can virtually work out with your favorite sweaty friends. I did a workout the other day with Autumn, Carleeh, Jamie, Liz, and Kelsey – and none of us were in the same place! It was so motivating to see their names on the screen and, of course, so fun to send emojis and messages back and forth. It felt like a virtual run club, which was awesome because running with friends has been the driving force to keep me running consistently.

Want to keep feeling inspired and motivated? Join the #IAmLimitless challenge, try out a Gixo class (get 1-month FREE when you download here), and post all the sweaty selfies or photos of what #IAmLimitless means to you – make sure to tag #IAmLimitless #sweatpink @gixo @fitapproach so we can see your posts!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Gixo. All opinions are my own. I truly appreciate all the brands that support the Sweat Pink community!