🙌 Are you Ready for a Miracle in March?

Sweet friends,

March is here! Your dedication and motivation throughout February truly inspired us and we had such an incredible month in the studio with you all. Pam’s Esther Bible Study has helped us stay committed and grow our faith. We are so blessed to spend time with TransFit Girls every Wednesday, helping them learn more about body, mind, and spirit! And wasn’t Valentine’s week SO much fun? We ended February strong with our Self Defense lunch & learn— we absolutely loved spending time bonding with you all while learning valuable skills to protect ourselves!

Please send us your February calendar challenge sheets. We want to see your hard work and reward you for it! You can post it to social media (make sure to tag us), text it to us, or email it to us at transfitathens@gmail.com!

Fit for a Miracle 5k

Exciting news! We are absolutely thrilled to announce a project we’ve been working on— our first annual Fit for a Miracle 5k benefitting ESP, hosted by TransFit Athens and scheduled to take place on May 4, 2019 at 5:00 pm. We will also have a Miracle Mile (1 mile fun run) at 4:30 pm. Registration for each event will begin the hour before it starts. The race is dedicated to helping the Athens community live transformed in body, mind and spirit. All of the proceeds from this event will be donated toward Extra Special People and help to fund the new Miracle League Complex. If you or your business would like to help sponsor this event please email us.

ESP creates ​opportunities for people with disabilities and their families to engage connect and thrive ​through summer camp, after-school and family support. The ESP Miracle League will provide transformative experiences for individuals of abilities to thrive​ through the magic of accessible play and inclusive baseball. The ESP Miracle League complex will include a rubberized baseball field, inclusive playground and splash-pad.

We have an awesome Couch to 5K ebook on our website HERE that you can purchase to help you train for our upcoming 5K! You can also get our kids version of the Couch to 5K plan HERE.

Entry is $15 with a t-shirt for the Miracle Mile. Entry for the 5K will be $25 with a t-shirt until April 26th, or $30 with a t-shirt on race day (while supplies last). You can register for this event online at active.com or click the button below to download our mail-in registration form. If you or anyone you know is interested in sponsoring this event, you can download the sponsor form by clicking the second button below!

The Fit for a Miracle 5K is not only an amazing opportunity to increase your fitness, but it’s also in support of an incredible cause. ESP is very near to our hearts because Kaeti Shurling, our incredible registered dietitian on staff, has a daughter with disabilities. Please read Kaeti’s story about her little miracle below!

“Almost exactly a year ago Nick and I found out we were going to become parents. And a few months after that, in a single day, we found out that our baby was a GIRL, she had Down syndrome, and she had 3 cystic hygromas that were likely going to inhibit her from making it into this world. That day is a blur and crystal clear all at the same time. It remains the scariest day of my life. For a moment Nick and I felt completely helpless. But it didn’t last long. God quickly wrapped us in hope as friends, family and even strangers flocked to us with their prayers, kind words and gestures. In a matter of days I was praying for a miracle that I KNEW God was capable of preforming. And he did. Less than a month later, Wynnie’s hygromas had completely disappeared! Yet the miracles kept coming. Among those that filled our hearts with hope was our ESP family. With every Java Joy coffee cart visit, we’ve grown more and more close to ESP. Nick and I are so fortunate for Laura Graben and Laura Whitaker who’ve treated us as part of the family from the start. We are in love with the participants we’ve met and how they love on our sweet Wynnie who arrived healthily into this world in October. ESP is part of our miracle! They get us excited for what’s to come with our differently-abled little girl!

We hope that our story will shed some light on how wonderful ESP’s mission is and we encourage you to help them continue to touch so many families as they have ours!”

A new month means… you guessed it, a new calendar! In February we did cardio every day in honor of heart health. This month we are focused on being ABSolutely motivated in March! Print this calendar out, write down the abdominal exercise you do each day, and color it in! You can download a printable version of the calendar by clicking the button below or grab one in the studio.

Fun March Events

HIIT Tuesdays

You asked, we answered!! We will now be offering our HIIT cardio classes on Tuesday’s at 5:30 am. This is an incredible workout and we guarantee you will leave feeling amazing- transformed in body, mind, and spirit! You can sign up for these sessions on our app HERE. Read our blog about the benefits of HIIT here.

Lunch and Learn

Save the date! This month’s lunch and learn will be Thursday, March 28th from 12-1 pm. In honor of our Fit for a Miracle 5K, we are focusing on healthy and efficient running form! More to come on this informative, fun lunch and learn!

Running Group

Starting March 4th, join us for this group on Mondays at 8:20am outside TransFit. Improve your running efficiency with proper form, increase your strength and balance with running-specific exercises, expand your cardiovascular capabilities with an outdoor runners workout. Revive your body practicing essential stretches for runners! This session is designed for every level. Whether you are new to running or looking to increase speed and efficiency, this group will be beneficial for you! Sign up for this on our free app HERE. Email Lisa HERE if you have any questions.

TransFit Girls

We’re so excited our TransFit Girls sessions will continue through March, Wednesdays at 4:15! This class will not meet Wednesday, March 13th. It’s never too late to sign your girls up! You can purchase the sessions on our website HERE or our free app HERE.

Contact a TransFit Staff Member

Lisa Patton: As mentioned above, Lisa is available to train you or provide you with a plan to accomplish your fitness goals, whatever they may be! Want to run a 5k or a marathon Lisa can create the plan to fit your needs. To schedule a one-on-one with Lisa, contact her HERE.

Eliza Harris: Eliza is our amazing new personal trainer who is so excited to meet everyone and help them with their personal fitness goals. If you haven’t read our blog on Eliza’s introduction, check it out HERE. Email Eliza to schedule a one-on-one HERE!

Kaeti Shurling: Kaeti is our amazing registered dietician here at TransFit! She can help you with nutrition and meal planning to meet your goals no matter where you are in your journey! Additionally, she has experience working with various dietary restrictions. Contact Kaeti to set up a one-on-one HERE.

Caroline Ward: Meet with Caroline to discuss any of your whole body health and fitness goals for the month of March. We are excited to serve you! Message Caroline HERE.

Pam Adams: Pam would love to meet with you about any of your spiritual goals or prayer requests! Email her to set up a meeting HERE.

If you would like to meet with any other TransFit Personal Trainers or staff, email us HERE!

Check out our website for more blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and more!

Let us know how we can serve you! We are so excited for a miracle in March! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a on-on-one!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

🔥 The New HIIT Workout Will Transform Your Metabolism!

Sweet friends, 

We hope February is off you a great start for you! We have some exciting things going on in the studio this week for Valentine’s Day, so make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date!

We wanted to share the importance of High-Intensity Interval Training and how HIIT can help you reach your goals and transform your body, mind, and spirit! Each of our TransFormer sessions in the studio this month will have multiple High-Intensity Intervals throughout the strength workout and we have dedicated sessions for HIIT Cardio workouts every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30!  

High-intensity interval training, or HIIT for short, was named one of the top fitness trends in the world for 2019, based on an annual survey by the American College of Sports Medicine. HIIT is comprised of short, hard bouts of cardio exercise—anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes in length—broken up by brief recovery periods.

How hard is hard? That depends on the interval length and your body, but the key is to go as hard as you can for the duration of the effort. So, you’re working in your VO2 max zone, or about 90-95% of your max heart rate (or a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10) for the duration of the high interval.

Then you recover - your bring your heart rate down.
How much recovery you take between intervals depends on your goals. Short intervals are usually paired with equally short or even shorter recovery periods so your body can adapt to repeated maximal efforts. And because your heart rate stays elevated during the recovery periods, your aerobic energy system gets a training benefit, as well.

New studies on the benefits of HIIT make the news regularly. Take, for example, this one from the November 2018 issue of American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. Researchers found that just two minutes of sprint interval training (in this case, four 30-second max-effort sprints followed by four and a half minutes of recovery for a total of 20 minutes) improved mitochondrial function—when your cells can change fuel to energy quickly—just as well as 30 minutes of moderate exercise in a group of active men and women. In other words, going ALL out for two minutes of really hard INTERVAL training can give you the same fitness benefits as a 30 minute steady, moderate pace workout.

No surprise, HIIT training is outstanding for your cardiovascular system. Research shows, depending on how fit you are when you begin, HIIT can boost your VO2 max (how much oxygen you can use) up to 46 percent in 24 weeks. It can also increase your stroke volume (how much blood your heart pumps out per beat) by 10 percent after eight weeks of training and significantly lower your resting heart rate. ♥️

It also makes your body a furnace of a fat burner. 🔥HIIT fires up production of your body’s growth hormones that help you maintain muscle and burn fat for hours after you’re done, and it lowers insulin resistance for better blood sugar control.

And it does more than benefit your body! HIIT is amazing for your mind. Research shows that high-intensity workouts improve cognitive function and increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) more than an easier exercise. BDNF is essential for learning, memory, and mood regulation, and your brain uses it to repair and maintain brain cells.

3 Ways HIIT Can Help You Live Transformed:

1. Lose abdominal fat: In a study of sedentary women, 20 minutes of HIIT were compared with 40 minutes of steady-state exercise, and the HIIT subjects were the only ones who lost fat— primarily excess abdominal fat!

2. Protect your heart: A study of nearly 5000 people with heart disease showed that HIIT did more to protect them from future heart problems than moderate workouts.

3. Recharge your cells and boost your hormones: HIIT is proven to make more proteins for your energy-producing mitochondria, which helps slow down aging and boost youth hormones!

Check out our NEW Transformer HIIT workout! The photos throughout post demonstrate different high and low intensity exercises on the workout below!

Try this Transformer HIIT workout to revive your metabolism and live heart healthy this February! No matter your age or activity level, YOU can do some form of a HIIT workout — your body is a temple! You can still get the benefits of HIIT just by adjusting whatever exercises you do!

View all of your exercise as a form of worship and get moving today!

Click the button below to see us a video of us doing this workout on our YOUTUBE!

Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s lunch and learn! It is on February 22nd from 12-1 pm and we’ll be doing a self defense class taught by Borders! Spots in this event are limited so sign up on our app HERE before they run out! Cost is $15 to cover lunch from The Pine.

We hope you will join us in the studio for any of our sessions to transform. Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

❤️ How Can You Live Heart Healthy in February?

Sweet friends,

Last week we had such an incredible time celebrating TransFit’s 3rd birthday! We loved your TransFit Spirit— you came dressed up and ready to work hard every day! We hope everyone was able to join us in the studio to celebrate and experience the fun!

Can you believe it’s already February? February is all about living heart healthy and committing to everything with our WHOLE HEARTS!

This month, we have an amazing deal for you all! You can get 10% off ALL one-on-one sessions with the code “WHOLEHEART”. Make sure you take advantage of this and schedule your session on our FREE app now!

Just like every month here at TransFit, this month is full of awesome events!

Lunch and Learn

This month’s lunch and learn will be held on Friday, February 22nd from 12 - 1 pm and will feature a self defense class! We will have lunch from The Pine. The cost is $15. Sign up on our app!

HIIT for your Heart

HIIT is such a great workout for heart health! Revive your metabolism with these fun, upbeat cardio workouts every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30!

Bible Study

Pam will continue to lead us through the study of Esther this month! These sessions are from 12 - 1 on Thursdays. Please join us as we learn how to have the courage to commit!

TransFit Girls

We are still having our TransFit Girls sessions every Wednesday from 4:15 - 5:15! You can sign your girls up on our app!

Meet our new personal trainer, Eliza Harris!

“Hi TransFit Family! My name is Eliza Harris. I am a recent graduate of the University of Alabama (I know... I love the Bulldogs too)  where I studied exercise and sports science with concentrations in fitness, nutrition, and coaching. While at UA, I spent 3 years assisting with the strength and conditioning programs of various sports. Most recently I worked with the dance and gymnastics teams. I also earned my certification as a strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA. 

My love for exercise started at a young age. I was a competitive gymnast for 7 years and then ran track for 3 years in high school doing the triple jump, long jump, and hurdling.  While in high school I began working a few hours a week at a gym where I taught a workout class to middle school girls as well as teaching gymnastics at the gym where I competed.  In college, I found that I missed being an athlete but I started to truly realize my passion for fitness and coaching. I knew that I wanted to pursue those areas as a full-time career, and the Lord has opened doors for me to make that a reality by working as a Personal Trainer at TransFit as well as a gymnastics coach.

I know that exercise has made such a difference in my life, not only physically but in all areas and I hope to help bring that to anyone that I get to serve in personal training.  2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, "For God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." That truth near to my heart and I hope to share my love of whole body health with you!  I will be in the studio teaching TransFormer and small group sessions and will be taking clients 1-1 or semi-private for specific goal achievement. 

I would love to help any young gymnasts, dancers, cheerleaders or female athletes of any kind get stronger for their specific sport. I have experience as a gymnast and a track athlete and have worked with athletes of various sports up to the college level. Whether high school, middle school or younger we can work to increase your sports performance or overall fitness through strength training and cardiovascular endurance training in a fun and safe way. Additionally, I would love to work with any college students to help you meet your fitness goals! 

I am so excited to be in Athens and look forward to being a part of the TransFit community.”

If you haven’t tried our Transformer Plate yet, grab one after your next session!

These delicious lunches are made by The Pine and have a delicious quinoa cake on top! They are $12 and you can pay with cash or we can charge your account.

In honor of heart health, we encourage you to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day this month! This calendar helps keep you accountable when you write down your exercise each day and color in each box RED! When you reach the end of the month, you want your entire calendar to be red!

You can download and print this calendar HERE or pick one up in the studio!

How AMAZING is our new prayer space? We wanted to provide you all with a comfortable area where you can come and spend time with the Lord. You can also submit your prayer requests here. We are so blessed to share this space with all of you!

We are so proud of you all for staying strong throughout January and we can’t wait to see you all live transformed in February! As always, you can sign up for classes on our FREE app!

We are here to serve you! If you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one session, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings,

Team TransFit

🔥 7 Foods that Balance Hormones and Help You Lose!

Hey friends,

What an awesome week it’s been at the studio! We are so proud of you all for showing up and starting January strong. If you haven’t read about Paige Colquitt’s Holiday Extravaganza transformation, check that out on our blog HERE.

Have you ever felt like you’re exercising and eating a better-balanced diet, but still seeing no progress? Still feeling sluggish? Often, unbalanced hormones can sabotage your goal of feeling your best. Your body’s hormones help control everything from your metabolism to your body’s fat storage. Today we want to introduce you to 7 superfoods you can add into your daily nutrition plan to revive your body to help you feel your best!

Avocados

Avocados contain a substance known as beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol has been shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels, balance cortisol levels, and decrease inflammation in the body. And, you can add them to literally anything! Who doesn’t love another reason to eat avocados?

Nuts

Almonds contain protein and fiber, and are known to slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the body. Studies have found that walnuts are also a good source of the hormone melatonin, which helps promote more restful sleep.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has the ability to speed up the metabolism and stabilize blood sugar levels, which can help with weight loss. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help keep your body healthy. In fact, it’s the cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon that naturally helps balance the body’s hormones. Add some cinnamon to your oatmeal or sprinkle some on an apple and enjoy a healthy snack!

Green Tea

Studies have shown that green tea extract increases metabolism and helps the body burn fat. It provides a boost of energy while blocking the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which helps gut the accumulation of belly fat! It also helps you warm up on these cold winter days! Purchase our team’s favorite green tea on Amazon HERE.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates have amazing anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help keep the body healthy and fight off disease. They also provide the same estrogens that the female ovaries produce – estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Adding pomegranates to your diet can help reduce mood swings while helping your body combat breast cancer and heart disease.

Turmeric

Adding turmeric to your meals will do more than just spice things up. Turmeric naturally reduces inflammation, pain, and swelling in the body. It also helps to balance your hormones and keep your immune system functioning properly! Sprinkle it on your food or make Turmeric Tea or Golden Milk for a warm drink. Get our team’s favorite Turmeric from Amazon HERE.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains high amounts of photochemical called indoles, which play a large role in estrogen metabolism. Indoles work to convert estrogen into a safer form for the body to metabolize, which reduces the risk of estrogen-linked cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Try introducing some of these super foods and drinks into your daily nutrition plan and see how much better you feel! Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrients will revive your body and help you live transformed.

We’ve included a tasty recipe below that incorporates a few of these foods! Try it out and let us know what you think— we love when you tag us in your social media posts!

Superfood Salad

Ingredients

• 4 cups of leafy greens 

• 1/2 c chopped broccoli  

• 1/2 c chopped red apple

• 1 avocado sliced 

• 1 pomegranate seeds removed

• 1 cup walnuts roughly chopped

Dressing

• 1/2 cup avocado ripe

• 1 tsp seeded mustard

• 2 tbs lemon juice

• 6 tbs olive oil

• 1 splash apple cider vinegar

• 1 pinch sea salt

• 1 pinch black pepper

  
  Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.

• Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and process for 20-30 seconds or until you reach a smooth consistency!

• Enjoy! Top with grilled chicken or salmon for more protein.

Remember you can always find recipes, workouts, and inspiration on our FREE app!

Don’t forget to sign up for sessions in advance on the app!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one or nutrition counseling session, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

🎉 Jump Start Your 2019 with Our New TransFit Packages!

Sweet friends,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family! To those of you who are participating in the Holiday Extravaganza, finish strong and remember your goals as we approach the last challenge day- NEW YEARS! Remember the goal of this challenge is not to restrict you, but to help you treat your body consistently as the amazing gift it is!

Let’s all stay motivated and active this holiday! Don’t overindulge in leftover holiday treats. You can find workouts and recipes to stay on track even while traveling on our website or on our TransFit app HERE.

During this time of rest and relaxation, we encourage you to take time to focus on your goals for 2019— through health and all other areas of your life.

As we transition into the New Year, we are so excited to announce our TransFit January Jump Start Packages! Are you ready to jump start your body, mind and spirit for a successful year in 2019? These packages will provide you with a healthy all-inclusive approach to help you meet your fitness goals! The January Jump Start packages will get you on the right track to live transformed and make 2019 the best year for body, mind and spirit!

January Jump Start Package - $49

(4 week body, mind and spirit plan to jump start your transformation)

4 weeks of healthy lifestyle meal plans, recipes, shopping lists (over 40 recipes)

• Blank Meal Plan template for you to customize

• 2 home workouts per week (8 total home sheet workouts) plus weekly inspiration

• One month Transform Your Body Exercise Plan

• January Jump Start Getting Started Guide and 10 New Year's Steps to Success

• 2019 TransFit Goal Work Sheet

• Transform Your Body Accountability Chart

• TransFit January calendar with weekly challenges to keep you motivated

• Weekly inspiration and email support

  ***Jump Start Package will be emailed to you via PDF on January 1st! This package can be purchased on our website by clicking the button below.

January Jump Start Package Elite - $85

This package includes all of the above benefits, plus a 25 minute personal consultation with body composition (body fat & % measurements) with any of our Certified Nutrition Consultants or Personal Trainers. This will completely assess your body and create an individualized plan to help you reach your goals for 2019. This can be purchased on our website by clicking the button below!

January Jump Start Package Platinum (*most savings*) - $195

This package includes all of the above benefits, plus 8 transformer sessions to be used in January 2019! You will have all our meal plans, recipes, home workouts, and consultation to help you develop your transformation plan and add additional strength, cardio and flexibility sessions in the studio. This package can be purchased on our website by clicking on the button below so you can receive and book your 8 transformer sessions as well!

January Jump Start Package ULTIMATE - $395

This package includes all of the above plus an additional weekly 30 minute session with one of our Personal Trainers or Nutritionist to customize your transformation and help keep you accountable for your goals! With this package, you are guaranteed to reach your goals and rest your body, mind, and spirit. This package can be purchased on our website by clicking the button below!

If you have questions about any of these packages, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com for more information! January Jump Start packages will be emailed to you on January 1st. We can’t wait to see you in the studio in 2019 ready to start your transformation!

TransFormer Power Lunch

TransFormer Power Lunch

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped baby spinach or kale

• 1 medium pear, chopped

• 1/8 c dried cranberries

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or cashews

• 1/4 cup edamame or chickpeas

• 1/2 cup any roasted vegetable leftover (roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes are best)

• 1/4 avocado

• 1/4 cup quinoa

• 1 oz. (1 tbsp) goat cheese, crumbled

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine the greens, pears, cranberries, nuts, quinoa, roasted vegetable beans and cheese.

• Drizzle with vinaigrette.

• Toss for 1 minute, coating every leaf.

• Add avocado on top and top with fresh ground pepper. Enjoy!

Here is one of our favorite workouts of 2018! Try this out at home over the next few days to feel recharged and strong headed into the new year! You can also check out workouts on our app HERE or on our YouTube channel HERE.

Last, we want to thank you all so much for another amazing year! God has truly blessed us, and we have loved watching Him use TransFit as a ministry to inspire and encourage us all to transform body, mind and spirit. We could not be more grateful for you all! If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one or nutrition counseling session, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

❤️ Try Our Holiday Hustle Workout with Your Family!

Sweet friend,

It was a great morning in the studio! We are so grateful for each of you! We are off to a great start this week in the studio, we hope you can make it to our sessions this week before we are closed for Christmas! We are open Monday - Friday, so come in the studio with your favorite Christmas gear and let’s worship together with a transformational workout! We also have a special Holiday Hustle workout for you to try at home with your family this week!

We invite you to try this fun, energizing holiday workout with your family this week! Our Holiday Hustle is one of our favorite workouts, and we are excited to share it with you! Please share your photos or videos of your family with us by using hashtag #TFHolidayHustle on social media! We want to see you sparkle!

As we approach our second challenge day Holiday Extravaganza with Christmas approaching, we want to encourage you to keep up the good work! The pot of cash this year is over $2,000, and we can’t wait to see who our winner is! We are so proud of each of you!

Try these Frosty the Snowman Energy Bites with your family this week! Your kids are sure to love how they turn out!

Frosty the Snowman Energy Bites

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw cashews

• 1 cup dates, pitted (I soaked mine in water for 10 minutes to soften) 

• ½ cup oats

• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes  (Pulse in blender to make a snow-like flakes)

• 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips (for eyes & buttons) 

• 1 baby carrot cut small (for nose)

• Any pretzel or creative food for arms or hat!

 Directions

• Using a blender or food processor for 3-5 minutes, blend together the nuts, dates, cinnamon, oats and vanilla extract until they become a well combined "dough".

• Transfer the dough to a bowl for easier use. Refrigerate for a few minutes if necessary.

• Pick up enough dough for a walnut sized ball. Knead it in your hands a bit to get it to stick together well.

• Roll the balls in the coconut flakes and stack them.

• Use mini chocolate chips for the eyes and a tiny little strip of carrot for the nose and whatever else you think would make the snowman look like Frosty. 

• Have fun and enjoy a healthy, tasty Christmas treat!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your family! We can’t wait to encourage you in the studio this week. Over the next few weeks, please sign-up for sessions in advance as we are operating on a holiday schedule. Please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

4 Exercises to Improve Your Posture

Good morning sweet friends,

Do you ever slump your shoulders? I often I catch myself with a rounded upper back and shoulders. I know as a middle school girl I was embarrassed by my chest... or lack thereof. I vividly remember my friends complaining of having too much in that department, but I always slumped forward in shame. My mom would always come behind me, tug my shoulders back and tell me to hold my shoulders back and head up high. “Remember your posture, Caro,” she would say on rewind. Now, with my own girls and clients, I hear myself saying the same cues hourly. All this talk about posture had me diving into how to improve our body posture. God then whispered, “nothing happens in isolation— everything is connected, body, mind, and spirit. Your physical posture is important but how is the posture of your heart?”

All this posture talk coincides with a term we use at TransFit “Exercise is Worship.”
Really?!?! Are 50 kettlebell swings considered worship?

But here is what we mean by “exercise is worship”: authentic worship is less about the movement of our body and more about the posture of our hearts.

The posture we assume when we come to know Him instead of trying to do for Him.

The posture we take when our spirit is in awe of the gracious and loving mercy-giver who created everything, yet who loves us so.

The posture we need when we feel at our weakest but through a relationship with Him we can be made strong.

Exercise is worship! Let’s stand tall with our best posture keeping our eyes and heart focused on Him.

Worship is an attitude rather than an activity.

Worship is a gift not an obligation.

Worship is the posture of our heart toward our Savior.

Let our worship be in every minute, every movement, and in every day. Let our hearts remember His loving-kindness toward us, which never ends. Why? Because, He is worthy. He deserves the praise of our whole heart - our best posture.

Let our worship as the posture of our hearts be the way we are inside, instead of something we do or who we are on the outside.

Moving into this holiday season help us all to remember:

It is not the posture of our body, but of our heart, that is most important. Everything we do “flows from our heart.” When we worship, let our hearts be lifted in adoration, gratitude, and humility to our gracious God. Let’s stand taller today, sweet friends, shoulders pulled back, head held high because we have been given the most amazing gifts.

“Lord, direct our focus always toward you and teach us to follow you in gratitude and love. Adjust the posture of our heart to be fixed and focused on your love and grace. Amen”

For your physical posture here are 4 exercises you can do today to improve your posture. Maintaining the natural lumbar curve in your low back is essential to preventing posture related back pain. This natural curve works as a shock absorber, helping to distribute weight along the length of your spine. Adjusting postural distortions can help decrease back pain.

Frequently getting up from a seated position and doing these 4 quick and easy realignment exercises can help you re-educate your muscles and improve your posture.

 1. Wall Angel

Stand with your back against a flat wall with your feet about four inches from the base. Maintain a slight bend in your knees. Your glutes, spine and head should all be against the wall.

Bring your arms up with elbows bent so your upper arms are parallel to the floor and squeeze your shoulder blades together, forming a letter "W" Hold for 3 seconds. Then, straighten your elbows to raise your arms up to form the letter “Y.” Make sure not to shrug your shoulders to your ears.

Repeat this 10 times, starting at “W,” holding for 2 seconds and then raising your arms into a “Y.” Do 2-3 sets.

2. Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel onto your right knee with toes down, and place your left foot flat on the floor in front of you.

Place both hands on your left thigh and press your hips forward until you feel a good stretch in the hip flexors.

Contract your abdominals and slightly tilt your pelvis back while keeping your chin parallel to the floor. Hold this pose for 20-30 seconds, and then switch sides.

3. The X-Move

Kneel onto your right knee with toes down, and place your left foot flat on the floor in front of you.

Place both hands on your left thigh and press your hips forward until you feel a good stretch in the hip flexors.

Contract your abdominals and slightly tilt your pelvis back while keeping your chin parallel to the floor. Hold this pose for 20-30 seconds, and then switch sides.

4. The V-Move

While standing, stagger your feet so one is slightly behind the other. Grasp the handles, or the ends, of the resistance band and lift your arms upward and slightly outward away from your body about 30 degrees.

Keep a slight bend in your elbows. Stop at shoulder level; hold 3 seconds and return slowly.

Make sure to keep your shoulder blades down and back straight. Repeat this exercise for 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

Click on the button below to view a demonstration of each exercise from Caroline! You can also view other exercise and stretch videos on our YouTube channel HERE.

We want to encourage you to finish the last week of November nourishing your body and with the best posture! Please let us know how we can help you live transformed. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Secret to finishing the last quarter of 2018 STRONG!

Sweet friends,

No regrets! Max out your full potential in 2018 by achieving your goals and dreams. We want to serve you and hold you accountable to finish the last quarter of 2018 strong!

To Finish 2018 Strong, You Need To:

1. Write out your goals

2. Meet with an accountability partner

3. Take action and renew your mind daily

To help keep you accountable, we will be offering FREE 20-minute client check-ins with one of our trainers next week! These sessions are designed to help you set goals and create a plan to achieve these goals for the last quarter of the year. Let us help you transform your mind body and spirit!

To set up your check-in, e-mail us at transfitathens@gmail.com!

Our Fall Meal Plan is still on sale for $9.99 until the end of this week! This plan was created by our registered dietitians Katie Woodall and Kaeti Shurling and includes four weeks of meal plans, grocery lists and recipes. Buy it at the link below to help transform your nutrition this month!

Chopped Kale Salad with Butternut Squash & Chickpeas

Yield: 4 as a meal or 8 as a side

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 1 large bunch of kale 

• 4 cups of any other green lettuce (chopped spinach, broccoli slaw, more kale)

• 2-3 cups large diced butternut squash

• 1 15 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon curry powder

• ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper

• Kosher salt

• ½ cup toasted pecan

• OPTIONAL: Chopped chicken or other protein, pomegranate

For the Dressing

• 2 tablespoons tahini

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon honey

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

1. Prep kale by cutting out the tough ribs of the kale and discard. Chop kale and add to a large bowl.  

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Add the diced butternut squash and rinsed chickpeas to a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil, curry powder and cayenne. Mix until the squash and chickpeas are well coated. Sprinkle with kosher salt and bake for 20-25 minutes or until squash is tender and chickpeas are lightly browned.

3. Meanwhile add the dressing ingredients to a small mason jar. Shake to mix and taste for more seasoning or vinegar if desired.

4. Transfer the butternut squash and chickpeas to the bowl of kale. Add the pecans and drizzle with the tahini dressing. Toss to coat. Allow to rest for 10 to 30 minutes before serving so kale softens. Add chicken or other protein! Enjoy!

We are halfway through October, and we challenged you to be active and stretch every day this month! Here is a stretch video that you can do this week to reach your goal! You can also visit our YouTube channel HERE for more stretching videos.

Don’t forget to sign up for our Lunch and Learn on October 23 from 12-1 in the TransFit studio! We will be welcoming Kisa Raye, who is an exercise physiologist and facial stretch therapist, and she will be teaching us about stretching! The cost of attendance is $12 and includes lunch from Maepole. Register on our app at the link below under “Special Events".

Tight hips? This is the stretch for you!

If you have any questions or want to set up a one-one-one session, email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

5 New Exercises You Need To Tone Your Glutes! 🔥

Sweet friends,

We are so proud of you for starting September STRONG! As we work towards Strength in September in all areas of our lives, here are 5 new exercises to tone and strengthen your glutes! Of course we all want our glutes, hips, and legs to look tight, toned, strong and lifted... but there are so many other great benefits to a strong and healthy lower body!

Strengthening your “gluteus maximus” (also known collectively with the gluteus medius and minimus, as the gluteal muscles,) is the main extensor muscle of the hip and can help improve your posture, help you lose unwanted body fat, as well as improve your athletic performance. “Buns of Steel” can also help get rid of that pesky lower back, hip and knee pain! These back side muscles help support the lower back and are a hip stabilizer, so the stronger your glutes are, the less other muscles have to help them do their job!

Strengthening the glutes can also help increase bone density. As we get older, our bone density begins to decrease. Exercises that place stress on the lower body such as lower-body weight training, running and yoga can postpone and reverse age-related bone density loss.

Here are 5 new exercises you should try today to tone and strengthen those glute muscles! Let’s strengthen our whole bodies so that we can love and serve our families, friends, and this community well, friends. Living transformed means taking ACTION on with your health!

Squat + Side Leg Lift

Deadlift + Leg Lift Back

Glute Bridge + Band

Clamshell + Band

Step Ups + Knee Up

If you need more tips and guidance on toning and strengthening your glutes or need coaching on walking, jogging, or running, join TransFit Trainer and Running Coach, Lisa Patton, this Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. for our NEW TransFit Outdoor Runners Workout!

TransFit Outdoor Runners Workout is a 55-minute session that includes essential dynamic warmup sequences, running form drills, strength exercises for runners, a heart-pumping outdoor workout, and an inspirational cool down and post-run stretches. The full body TransFit Outdoor Runner's Workout is an amazing opportunity for woman of all fitness levels to transform through running!

Join us this month for a Bible Study on Thursdays from 12-1 starting THIS Thursday, September 13th at the TransFit studio! The study will be lead by our Director of Spiritual Development and Outreach, Pam Adams! Pam will be leading us through the Live Transformed Bible Study, which will guide us through God's Word and teach us how to live transformed! You can sign up on our website HERE or on the TransFit App HERE!

For our September Lunch and Learn, we will be partnering with Action Ministries for a service project! The goal of the service project is to serve the Athens community by providing lunches and hygiene kits to the homeless and impoverished. We will be assembling these kits on Wednesday, September 26 from 12-1 and delivering the lunches and kits on Friday, September 28! You can sign up on our TransFit app HERE under "Special Events"! Come join us! We can't wait to SERVE with you!

If you cannot make it on the service projects dates, you can still help by donating items to make these kits. You can drop off any items by the TransFit studio between now and September 26!

Items We Need:

Hygiene Kits

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

• Shampoo/conditioner

• Baby wipes

• Socks

• Soap

• Lotion

• Deodorant

Snack Bags

• Granola bars

• Apples

• Other types of snacks that can be easily eaten on the go

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We are so thrilled to encourage and inspire you this month! We are #StrongerTogether!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Stronger Together! Don't Miss This Exciting TransFit News!

Sweet friends,

Happy September! We can't believe that September is here already! Let's start the month STRONG and work to transform our body, mind and spirit! We can do this TOGETHER with dedication, encouragement and the guidance of HIS love! We have so many exciting, new things happening in the studio this month! Come join us!

In September, we are focusing on STRENGTH and being ACTIVE EVERY DAY! We challenge you to be active for at least 30 minutes each day and incorporate STRENGTH TRAINING at least three times a week! Stay active by taking a walk around the block, going for a jog (try our new track workout) or hike with your family, going to yoga, coming into the TransFit studio for a session! Just make sure that you are getting strength training in at least three days a week (30 minutes is a goal) and staying active on a daily basis! 

Click the calendar below to download the September Strength Challenge to help keep track of your exercise and progress! Fill in each day with your activity and then e-mail it to us at the end of the month for a chance to win a month of FREE sessions!

We thrilled about our September Service Project! Let's be stronger together and change this community! We can do it ladies! 

For our September Lunch and Learn, we will be partnering with Action Ministries for a service project. The goal of the service project is to serve the Athens community by providing lunches and hygiene kits to the homeless and impoverished. We will be assembling these kits on Wednesday, September 26 from 12-1 and delivering the lunches and kits on Friday, September 28! Come join us! We can't wait to SERVE with YOU!

To assemble these kits, we need your help bringing in supplies. Feel free to use this list as a guide!

Items We Need:

Hygiene Kits

• Toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Baby wipes
• Socks
• Soap
• Lotion
• Deodorant

Snack Bags

• Granola bars
• Applies
• Other types of snacks that can be easily eaten on the go

This month, we are so excited to welcome a new face to our TransFit team! Pam Adams has joined our TransFit family as the Director of Spiritual Development and Outreach. Sweet Pam will be leading weekly bible studies, prayer time and coordinating outreach for us in the community. She is such an inspiration and devoted friend to so many women, and we are so excited to have her with us!

Pam will be leading a NEW Bible Study on Thursdays this September starting September 13 from 12-1pm at the TransFit studio. The study will go through the Live Transformed Bible Study to guide us through God's Word and teach us how to transform!

Email Pam if you have any questions or prayer requests at pam@transfitathens.com.

We also have NEW session times available at the studio this month. Our 4:30 sessions on Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays will be moving to 4:15 this month. Come take a TransFormer class with our Personal Trainer, Mallory Gilliam to end your days STRONG! 

We are also offering TWO Saturday sessions! We have classes at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings, so that you can begin your weekend transformed! Come get moving and get your daily exercise in with a session with one of our trainers!

View our class schedule HERE on the website or click HERE to sign up for a session on our TransFit Athens App! We can't wait to see you in the studio soon to start September with STRENGTH!

It has been a FULL month at the studio with our middle school girls! We welcomed 4th through 8th graders into the studio, and it has been such a blessing! Our trainer, Mallory Gilliam has been working with the girls on seeing their lives as the true gift that they are and knowing that their beauty is rooted in Christ! Each Wednesday night, the girls are such a light in our studio!

Make sure you sign your middle schooler for the next session starting in September! You can register your child on our website HERE or on our TransFit App HERE! We can't wait to see your girls again in the studio!

Let's start September with good nutrition to help our strength this month! Our Director of Nutrition, Katie Woodall shared this recipe for Oven Baked Fajitas that you can try with the whole family!

Oven Baked Fajitas

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pound chicken breast or cutlets
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• Taco seasoning (no msg)
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions

• Combine seasonings and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, cut chicken into slices, then add sliced veggies.
• Add seasonings
• Stir well until the chicken and veggies are evenly coated with seasonings.
• Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray and add chicken and veggies.
• Pour chicken broth over the top.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Serve in corn or whole wheat tortillas or lettuce wraps with all your favorite fixings like rice, black beans, shredded cheese, salsa and avocado slices!

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We are so thrilled to encourage and inspire you this month! 

Blessings,

Team TransFit

How Can You Finish August STRONG and COMMITTED?

Sweet friends,

Can you believe the month of August is almost over? We are so excited to energize and inspire you this week! Let's finish the month strong and stay COMMITTED to our goals and dreams!

Remember our great COMMIT acronym to help you finish strong this month! 

C- CONFIDENCE- "You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7

O- OBEDIENCE- "He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'" Luke 11:28

M- MOTIVATION- "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

M- MINDFULNESS-  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phillippians 4:6-7

I- INTENTIONAL-  "Commit to the Lord, whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3

T- TRANSFORM- "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

Here is what is true: you are strong, you are confident, you are enough just as you are, and you are a beloved daughter of the King. Renewing your mind is a minute by minute decision to think thoughts that are true about the person you really are!

Believe it beautiful friend, and transform your life by taking action on your goals and dreams and LIVE transformed by His amazing love for you. 

Commitment is an ACT, not a word! You can determine the person you want to be! Take action each minute this last week in August! Commit to being all in TODAY!

Be inspired by our August client spotlights Erika and Marren! 

This month, we focused on staying COMMITTED to being ACTIVE EVERY DAY! Stay strong in the last week of the month, and go on a nice walk around the neighborhood, a hike with the family, swimming with your kids, coming into the studio for a session or stretching! Just make sure that you are moving for at least 30 MINUTES each day!

We also focused on staying hydrated and drinking at least 80 oz of water each day! Please turn in your calendar at the end of the month to be entered in to win your FREE MONTH of sessions! 

This month, we also COMMITTED to transforming our health and our nutrition! Though preparing healthy, wholesome dinners can be challenging during the busy week, we want to serve you with this meal plan to make it a bit easier! Our nutrition consultant, Katie Woodall, and dietitian, Kaeti Shurling, shared this plan to help! Let's finish out the final week of August strong and try some of these healthy recipes that your entire family can enjoy!

Click HERE to access our FREE recipes and meal plans!

Ladies, make sure to sign up for sessions in advance, so that we know you are coming and can plan for you! Don't forget about our new sessions and we have some exciting events and news transpiring in September so get ready!

You can sign up on the app HERE!

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We are so thrilled to encourage and inspire you this week! 

Blessings,

Team TransFit

COMMIT to Your Goals! Walkers & Runners- These Exercises Are For YOU!

Happy Friday!

Good morning beautiful friend! What an amazing week in the studio as we are getting re-energized for this new school year and month! Our COMMIT August challenge goal is to move 30 minutes daily. What better way to get active this month than to prepare for a race! Whether it's a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, or the race of LIFE... we want to encourage you and help you allow your body to feel its best! Today, we want to share with you our Glute Exercises for Walkers and Runners! These exercises are great to add to your training! 

October in Athens= ATHHALF! We hope that you will join our TransFit team, as we prepare for the race! This year, AthHalf is offering a 5K and half marathon! Whether your running or walking, we hope that you will set a goal to come out and be with us! Here is the Half Marathon Training Plan! This week will wrap up the first week of the half marathon training! It's not too late to get started! Click HERE to download the FREE half marathon training plan! 

In addition to your training, here are TWO amazing meal plans to help you continue to live transformed! Don't forget to check out our website for access to healthy recipes on our HEALTHY LIVING tab of the website! 

Ladies, we can do this! Let's make it a goal to complete a race before 2018 ends! If you would like to meet with one of our trainers for more information on how to prepare for a race, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com and check out our website for more information! 

Sessions are filling quickly, so make sure to sign up in advance!! You can sign up by clicking the link BELOW! We can't wait to see you in the studio! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Tips to Make The Second Half of 2018 Your Best!

Clean slate, yes, it's Sunday! Let today be a fresh start for YOU! You can make the 2nd half of 2018 your best! Today, shift your thoughts... focus on being thankful for the body that you have and set a new goal (or two) to ensure you are treating your body with care and respect! Write this goal down, put the goal as a reminder in your phone, and tell a friend- that is how you make your goals become reality! 

One new goal could be to increase the amount of high-quality protein that you include in your daily nutrition plan!  Protein is an essential food for repairing muscle tissue,  building and toning muscles, and for keeping you feeling full for longer. High protein snacks should be consumed after 30-45 minutes after workouts for maximum muscle building and repair benefits and should be consumed as a snacks during the day to fight cravings and help manage weight.

Here are some of our Dietitian, Kaeti Shurling's,  favorites:

• 1 hard-boiled egg- 8g

• 1/2 cup chickpeas- 18g

• 1/2 cup cashews- 16g

• 3 oz of tuna- 25g

Try out these great high protein snacks and start your healthy lifestyle with a delicious, higher protein nutrition plan!

Here is a high protein healthy popsicle to try this week! 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup – strawberries

• 1 1/4 cup – coconut water

• 1 teaspoon – honey

• 4 teaspoon – chia seeds

• 1 1/2 cup pieces – mango

Directions:
Puree strawberries (fresh or frozen) with half of the coconut water in a blender or food processor. Taste the mixture and blend in honey to desired sweetness, if needed. Stir in 2 teaspoons of chia seeds. Set aside. Puree mango (fresh or frozen) with the other half of the coconut water in a blender or food processor. Taste the mixture and blend in honey to desired sweetness, if needed. Stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons of chia seeds. Alternately pour each fruit mixture (for a marbled look) into popsicle molds and freeze until set. Makes 10 (3 ounces) popsicles. If you have an Ice Pop Maker let it freeze for 45 minutes and then add wooden sticks so they stay in place better and the lid will come off easier.

Additionally, here is one of our favorite workouts you can try today! Add this workout to your week and then enjoy a high protein popsicle after! Let's do it, ladies! 

We hope that this second half of 2018 is your best! We believe in YOU! Let us know what your goals are for the second half of the year. We want to encourage you, as you prepare for a great rest of 2018! If you would like to schedule a 1-1 appointment for nutrition or personal training, you can purchase a package on our FREE app or website, or you can email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Toned Arms For the Summer?! Your NEW Favorite Arm Workout! 💪🏼

Sweet friends,

Summertime is a perfect opportunity to show off those strong arms you've put such hard work into all year. If you're not quite there yet, don't despair because this amazing 20 minute TransForm Your Arms workout will whip your arms in shape in no time! Try doing these exercises two-three times a week in addition to your normal exercise routine and see the difference it makes in not only the appearance of your arms and shoulders but your total upper body strength. Remeber to get in at least 3 sets of the below exercises! 

Add this Transform Your Arms workout to the push-up challenge! You will be stronger in your upper body strength and it will help to increase the number of push-ups that you are able to do! Remember that anyone who completes our July Push-Up challenge will be entered into a drawing for a MONTH of FREE sessions! Let's do this ladies!

  We would love to hear your favorite arm exercise! For more arm workouts or any workouts, and yoga sequences go to our TRANSFORM section of the website! You can also download our FREE app for workouts, inspiration, and recipes! Keep pushing yourself, as you complete the push-up challenge! 

Mark your calendar for our Middle School Girls Sessions starting August 8! The session will meet on Wednesday's from 4:30-5:30! You can sign up on the FREE TransFit app! You can purchase the 4 pack of sessions or the individual sessions! We hope to see you or your friends/daughter(s) on August 8th! 

Let us know if there is anything we can do to help you reach those goals for July! May you rest in His love for you, today, beautiful friend! Through His love and grace, you can find FREEDOM!  We have loved DIVING into the book of John with you this month. Be on the lookout as our TransFit Bible Study will start in September! 

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Ready, Set, RUN!

Let us encourage you! 

Yes, we have completed 1/2 of 2018! Finishing 2018 with excellence, success, reaching your goals and dreams is within your reach! We believe in you and know that achieving your dreams does not happen by accident!  Are you ready to come out of your comfort zone to accomplish a new goal? Let's re-light the flame and come fully alive, renew our minds, and believe you CAN do this! 

Summer is a great time to be outside -running, walking, or jogging for fun or training for a new race.

If you are not a "runner" walking, jogging, and movement is important for your transformation. Meet below, Lisa Patton, our TransFit Running Coach and Personal Trainer, Lisa tells us her Top 10 Reasons to Run below!

Come out of your comfort zone and try something NEW! The Athens Half Marathon and 5k is the October 20th/21st weekend and now is the time to start training to walk, run, or jog this amazing event!  We have a FREE training plan below! 

Lisa’s Top 10 Reason’s to RUN! 

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.”

10. To achieve goals! 

There is a variety of goals to be set for a run; finishing a workout, going farther, going faster, and more. As an added bonus, setting and achieving goals boost your confidence and self-esteem!

9. To tone legs and butt! 

Not only is running an awesome heart-pumping workout, it also serves as strength training for your legs and booty! When running your lower body carries your entire body weight and with each run, your bones and muscles get stronger.

8. You can do it anywhere. 

At the park, in the city, in the neighborhood, or on the beach you can run. If the weather doesn’t allow, hit the treadmill.

7. Running burns serious calories. 

Typically running can burn an estimate of 100 calories per 10 minutes depending on pace. Jogging/Running helps us keep a healthy body weight. After a run be ready to fuel your body with healthy food choices.

6. Running gets you outdoors to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. 

God has given us such an incredible world to enjoy. Even if you're not going to stop and smell the flowers during your cardio workout, you can look around and smile and thank God for His awesome work.

5. Running reduces stress! 

Not that any of us have stress in our lives, but just in case please note Minutes into your run your brain begins to release hormones that naturally improve your mood, making you calmer and more relaxed... YES, PLEASE.

4. Running can be family time. 

Your run can include the kids biking beside you or a chat with your husband about weekend plans. A run can look like a fun game of chase with the entire family. When its race time the family can be there cheering you on or running beside you.

3. Running is SOCIAL! 

It is amazing how much better you feel after a run with your friends. It’s a time to encourage each other, sometimes vent, and then encourage again. It’s a recipe swap and family activity planning. It’s also a chance to get to know someone new and make friendships that will always share a special bond.

2. Running can be Quiet time. 

I know I just raved about running being fun with family and friends, but sometimes it also a time to be alone. A time to clear your mind, to be quiet, to think, to daydream, to pray, to listen.

AND MY NUMBER 1 REASON TO RUN... 

1. WORSHIP! 

God has given us such amazing gifts; our bodies, our friends, our health, our minds, our world, our community, and our families. These are just a few of the things we are reminded of and can praise Him for on a run or walk! 

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous”

Psalm 139:13-14

October in Athens= ATHHALF! We hope that you will join our TransFit team, as we prepare for the race! This year, AthHalf is offering a 5K and half marathon! Whether your running or walking, we hope that you will set a goal to come out and be with us! Here is the Half Marathon Training Plan!

We believe in each of you and know that each of you can do it! In preparation for the half marathon or any race and distance you need, Lisa and Caroline have made a full performance runners package just for you! This eBook includes a full performance health and fitness package with a detailed running plan leading up to the race, runner's specific strength workouts, best stretches for runners, top foods list for runners and a meal plan specific for runners! Click HERE to purchase the eBook! For a limited time, the eBook will be offered for $4.99! 

Enjoy your week! Remember the July goals you have set! If you would like to have a running training session with our running coach, Lisa, you can purchase a session on our website or email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Let us know how we can encourage you! We can't wait to see you in the studio this week! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Dive Into Grace This July!

DIVE

(v): To intentionally jump or plunge headfirst

July has officially arrived and we are ready to dive in! We lit the SPARK of whole body health and wellness in June and now let's dive deeper into nutrition, exercise, and scripture! I love the word INTENTIONALLY in the definition of DIVE. To keep moving forward this July in our goals and dreams, let's clean the slate starting today and dive in by intentionally doing one thing new for your body, mind, and spirit.

What is that one thing you CAN do this month? 

INTENTIONALLY: 

OPEN HIS WORD DAILY

DRINK ONE EXTRA GLASS OF WATER DAILY

MOVE YOUR BODY DAILY

EAT MORE GREENS DAILY

ENCOURAGE SOMEONE DAILY

TRY THE JULY ARM CHALLENGE DAILY

________________   DAILY (fill in your blank)

Write your one thing down, tell a friend, and stay accountable! Dive in deeper this month and challenge yourself to a new goal! We are excited to hear about it!  Remember, His grace is sufficient for us!! Release the past and reset for a new day! Let's dive into all that He has in store for us this month!

This month, we are challenging you to our Transform Your Arms in July- Push Up Challenge. Each person who completes this challenge will be put into our drawing for a MONTH of FREE sessions!!! Send us your calendar filled out each day and you could be the winner!! Commit to one thing a day- try doing push-ups daily and if not push-ups, then hold a plank for the number of seconds on the push-up challenge calendar! We hope that you will join us this month, as we transform our arms, our minds, and spirits for the summer! 

If you want more of a challenge, try doing the push-ups on a medicine ball! We believe in YOU!

We pray that this month you rest in His grace! This month, we are encouraging and challenging all clients and friends to join the TransFit Team, as we study the book of John together! What an amazing way for us to build community than going through the Word together! You can follow along as we read through the book of John this month! 

If you completed our June squat challenge- please email or text us with a picture of your completed calendar, so that you can be inserted in the drawing for a month of FREE sessions! 

We want to remind you that our studio will be OPEN on Monday ONLY and 1-1 appointments will be available all week; however, the studio WILL BE CLOSED Tuesday-Saturday due to the 4th of July! We hope that you will continue to live transformed on vacation!

Don't forget about our FREE workouts on the website and app, as well as workout videos on the website and YouTube, plus fun and healthy recipes to try for your 4th of July festivities! 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

How to Live Transformed on Vacation! 5 Tips You Can Take ANYWHERE!

Friends, it’s sweet summertime! The kids are out of school and that much-anticipated summer vacation has finally arrived! Each of you has worked so hard in the studio toward your summer fitness goals. Thank you for giving your best! 

Just because you’re traveling and away from your normal daily routine, doesn’t mean you must compromise good nutrition and exercise! You’ve put in too many hours of strength training and cardio sessions to throw it all away! Right?!

You want to feel your best before, during and after your vacation! We want to help you enjoy your vacation and come home feeling relaxed and refreshed — instead of feeling guilty or like you’ve blown your transformation goals!

Just like with everyday life, preparation is key! Planning ahead can help you avoid any slip-ups with your goals and your whole body transformation! So let us help you with 5 simple strategies for Living Transformed when you’re on vacation!

1. Pack smart!

First things first, grab your workout gear! Throw your tennis shoes and exercise clothes into your suitcase. Take your tennis racket if courts will be available. Bring a resistance band or an ankle band! 

Pack your favorite healthy snacks. Lots of fruit, nuts and protein bars. Apples and oranges are easy to throw into your carry-on luggage or purse. Pick up a box of the 100-calorie packs of raw nuts. On-the-go packs of roasted edamame can also be found at your local grocery store. And protein bars are an easy snack to pack — just remember to check the nutrition labels and pick bars with 5 grams or less of sugar!

Also, consider packing a shaker bottle and a few servings of protein powder. You can portion out individual servings in snack-sized Ziplock bags. Or Blender Bottle has a shaker bottle that comes with separate containers for storing protein powder.

2. Research ahead of time!

Get online and see what’s close to your hotel or condo. Is there a grocery store nearby? What healthy, local restaurants are close? There are app delivery services that will deliver groceries to your condo where-ever you are! 

Also, if you’re staying in a hotel, find out if there’s a kitchenette or mini-fridge available in your room.  Ask for a mini fridge! Does the facility have a fitness center available?

3. Hydrate!

So many of us neglect to hydrate our bodies while traveling even though dehydration is very common during trips. Pack extra water bottles (in a cooler if there’s space) or take your favorite water bottle to refill along the way. Drink water as soon as you get up in the morning, and when you sit down at each meal, drink a large glass of water first! You can still get in your 80oz daily on vacation! 

4. Make smart choices when dining out!

Most importantly, choose restaurants that offer healthy options that support your lifestyle! So many restaurants post their menus online now so you can look it up before you dine. Then you’re prepared to order when you arrive and aren’t tempted with less healthy options. You can also check the entree on MY FITNESS PAL! The food journaling app! 

Don’t be afraid to ask for a healthier option or to customize your meal. Most restaurants are used to this now and don’t mind accommodating your needs!

Choose seafood, chicken or another lean meat option and order them steamed, broiled, grilled or roasted. If fried is your only option on the menu, remember don’t be afraid to ask for another option!

Order your potato baked, boiled or roasted instead of fried! And ask to leave off the butter and sour cream! Consider ordering a sweet potato instead of white potato!

To avoid over-eating, eat small meals throughout the day so you’re not starving at dinner. Take your time eating your meal, enjoy every bite as well as your company at the table!

Of course, it’s vacation, so relax and enjoy a cocktail! Just don’t overdo it! And make sure that you’ve hydrated throughout the day.

5. Sweat!

You know the feeling you have after you’ve worked out, so why sacrifice a good sweat session when you’re on the road? That’s why you packed your workout gear — so use it!

Lace up your tennis shoes and hit the pavement (or sand!) This is a great way to explore the city you’re in, too. And since you researched ahead of time, you already know the parks or running trails nearby! We promise that you will not regret a workout! Don't forget about our FREE workouts and workout videos on our website and YOUTUBE channel! 

If you want a good strength workout during your trip, here are a couple options you can do anywhere without any weights:

Five, simple things you can do to take your transformed lifestyle with you on the road! We are so proud of you and all the hard work you put in through the spring months! Enjoy this quality time with your family!

If you would like to meet with our Nutrition Consultant, Katie Woodall, or our Dietician Kaeti Shurling to discuss nutrition and assist you in meal planning, please contact here. Additionally, you can purchase our eBook- Healthy Families Handbook. This eBook has a full week of meal plans, "family-tested" recipes, family devotions, a kid's couch to 5K program, and workouts for the whole family!  

Awesome new sessions have been added in June — check them out on MindBody! Sign up for something new this month! Come out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself on vacation or here in Athens!

If you have any questions about MindBody or our summer schedule, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you in the studio and hearing about your summer travels and your new summer goals!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Want Toned Legs for the Summer?! We've Got The Perfect Workout For YOU!

Ladies! 

June is off to an amazing start! WOW! You sure have lit a SPARK inside, let's keep the fire burning as we continue daily to be ALL IN! We are so proud of each of you. Thank you for committing to living transformed! Today, we wanted to share one of our favorite leg workouts! The Transformer Sculpted Leg Workout will ensure that you will sculpt those legs and tone them for the summer. Check out the video below to follow along! Don't forget that we have a HEALTHY LIVING tab on the website where you can find FREE recipes, meal plans, workouts, and workout videos! You can also check out the TransFit app for workouts, recipes, and inspiration! 

We hope that you have lit a SPARK inside to live transformed this June! Don't forget about our NEW summer sessions!

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 9:30 AM- HIIT CARDIO

WEDNESDAY @ 6:30 AM- HIIT CARDIO

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY @ 4:30- TRANSFORMERS

Sign up for all sessions in advance on the FREE TransFit app, so that we can prepare the sessions specifically for you! 

You can live transformed! Let's make this June our best month yet! 

Don't miss out on our giveaways, posts, inspiration, and more on Instagram! Make sure you are following us, @transfitathens for weekly giveaways and more! We also have highlights of our favorite recipes, post-workout snacks, an exercise of the day, and daily inspiration on our Instagram page! Follow for a chance to win FREE sessions and merchandise! 

If we can help you achieve your goals for this June, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

DRUMROLL... Our May Transformation Challenge Winner Is...!!!

Happy Tuesday, friends! 

We hope that your week is off to a great start - we want to help you light that SPARK!  May quickly came to an end, and we were so thrilled to see all of your total transformations in the May Total Transformation Challenge! Thank you! WOW, each of you worked so hard and were truly devoted to living transformed!!! We are excited to announce our WINNERS! 

DRUMROLL...

Our May Total Transformation Weight Loss Challenge Winner is...

HOLLY GARCIA! 

Holly Garcia! 

Holly pushed herself this May and committed to the May Transformation Challenge! Holly, we are so proud of you! Thank you for inspiring us to live transformed! 

So many of you were so generous to donate, that our top 5 winners won a large monetary prize!! 

2. Jennifer Christenberry

Jennifer Christenberry and family 

3. Jennifer Rickard

4. Cress Johnson

Cress and her daughter, Read

5. Leah Hobbs

Leah Hobbs

Our May Transformation Calendar Challenger Winner is...

KAREN PAVAO! Way to go ladies for getting those points on the calendar! 

Thank you for committing to our May Calendar Challenge! We are so proud of you and your dedication to healthy living. 

Don't worry if you missed our May Transformation Challenge! We just started our June Squat Challenge! Download the calendar HERE and complete the challenge this month for a chance to win a MONTH OF FREE SESSIONS!

In case you missed the Friday email, we are offering a FREE summer meal plan and recipes on the website HERE! Click HERE to download!

Next week, in addition to our squats we are challenging YOU to our 5 DAY My Fitness Pal Challenge. This will be a food journal challenge through the My Fitness Pal app! We will start all together next Monday for added accountability! Go ahead and download the My Fitness pal app HERE! We hope you will join us for the weekly challenge! 

We believe in you! Let's make this June our best, yet! If you need help lighting that SPARK inside of you schedule a 1-1 with one of our trainers! We would love to help you reach your whole body health goals!

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in the studio! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Need To Light YOUR FIRE? Here's How To Ignite A New Fire In You This June!

It's time to turn the heat up! In the TransFit studio, your home, your workplace, or vacation destinations! I love the theme for the month of June! Light a Fire in me!!!

 Our prayer for each of you this month is to light a flame of passion in YOU for your whole body health journey! Enjoying exercise, eating nutritious foods, drinking water, and staying focused on what really matters in life. I know many of you are in and out of town for the next two months, but try to get in 2-3 strength workouts and 3-4 cardio workouts each week! Spice up your workouts with our new HIIT Cardio Sessions! You can go the HEALTHY LIVING of our website for FREE recipes and workouts! 

To help you light your fire, here is a NEW FREE summer meal plan!

Keep checking our emails and blogs to see the announcement of our May Transformation Challenge WINNER! If you missed our May Transformation Challenge, don't fret! This month we are challenging you to a squat challenge! Let's tone and strengthen our legs and glutes for the summer! Each day you will complete a set number of squats! By the end of the month, you will feel stronger and determined to add squats to your daily routine! Not only is this a great way to strengthen your lower body, but the clients who consistently adhere to the challenge will be entered into a raffle to receive a MONTH OF FREE SESSIONS! Each day you successfully complete the day's challenge, check the chart attached or take a picture of yourself doing an exercise and post to social media using the hashtag #tfsquatchallenge.

Let's relight the flame within! Set a goal to complete the squat challenge! Continue working hard this week, getting in your workouts and cardio!

Don't miss our NEW summer sessions and session times! 

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY @ 9:30 AM- HIIT CARDIO

WEDNESDAY @ 6:30 AM- HIIT CARDIO

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY @ 4:30- TRANSFORMERS

Sign up for all sessions in advance on the FREE TransFit app, so that we can prepare the sessions specifically for you! 

Thank you for your feedback on our client survey! If you haven't filled it out yet, it's not too late! Click HERE for the survey! 

In response to your request for more accountability via the awesome survey responses, Caroline will be offering a limited number of FREE 25 minute accountability check in 1-1 sessions on Monday afternoon from 2-6 PM! These sessions are limited. Book your session by emailing caroline@transfitathens.com. If Monday does not work for you, please email Caroline for any other availability. Summertime is a great time to reset goals and assess your fitness routine. We would love to schedule 1-1 with you. You can book these sessions on the app or email us for other availability. Remember, our trainers would be happy to do weigh's and body comp anytime you need!  We want to help you transform!

 If you have any questions or would like assistance with your goals, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit