As you might know, I spent this past week in Los Angeles with a few hundred amazing soccer-loving teens and a few of my favorite fellow bloggers to teach fitness skills, run drills, and host a soccer championship game for them, sponsored in part by Microsoft Lumia, Partnerships for LA Schools, and The Mia Hamm Foundation. This is the kind of stuff I love – love – to do.
Awards! #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/lkkoGbhxyn
— Erika Nicole Kendall (@bgg2wl) December 11, 2014
I must say, this was the most rewarding work I’ve done all year.
I spent several days with 200 high schools who excel at school and are leaders in their local communities, sharing insights and information about fitness and nutrition, sharing simple tips that they could take back to their parents or things they could consider when they make their plates at home, and teaching several classes – 19, to be exact – on pre- and post-workout routines like cool downs, warm-ups, and stretching. It was awesome – not just for the kids, but for me, too.
…they were whimpering moments before. #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/p8j8iHFYUC
— Erika Nicole Kendall (@bgg2wl) December 10, 2014
Had it not been for the grace of someone in my younger life, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In fact, there are several people in my life who thought to extend a hand back to help pull me forward, and that has become a core part of who I am. Having the opportunity to do that, and have the kids come up to me and hug me, thank me for the lessons, and ask to take pictures with me – photos like this awesome shot below – made me feel like I’d done something good, like I’d been a part of something special.
More kids, more fun, more smiles. #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/5moGjGX0iw
— Erika Nicole Kendall (@bgg2wl) December 11, 2014
Since the week was all about “making it happen,” we asked the kids to each make a pledge. It didn’t have to be a fitness-related pledge – one of the kids pledged to read 30 minutes of unassigned un-school-related reading a day – and they had to vow to stick to it. We gifted the kids with a super dope “Get Fit Kit” – a few t-shirts with the week’s slogan of #MakeItHappen emblazoned across the back, a new Microsoft Lumia 635 smart phone, a FitBit fitness tracker, a water bottle, and a notebook that gave them space to track their progress on their goals.
I can only hope I made as positive a difference in these teens’ lives as they’ve made in mine.
I wanna blow this up and frame it on my wall. Luckily, my @LumiaUS 1020 gives great resolution shots. #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/srklLC5A4E
— Erika Nicole Kendall (@bgg2wl) December 10, 2014
As you might realize, this was my first time teaching group fitness. And, though I’d doubted my pedagogy – my ability to teach others and ensure that they come away with the correct and full message – and whether or not I could get the job done, hearing the kids ask questions and being able to give them clear and concise answers, being able to guide them through complex moves and assist students when they needed it, and being able to command the respect of the teens – not an easy feat, I must admit, because whereas adults are polite enough to play it off sometimes, teens are rude – gave me more and more confidence with each class I taught. Eventually, my swagger was on a hundred thousand trillion. (I mean, I’m not gonna lie – I was feeling myself.)
In other words, I feel more confident in my teaching abilities… and now, I’m looking forward to making my sixth certification the Group Fitness one. And I’m looking forward to seeing y’all next #ScaleFreeSummer.
Oh, and I’m giving away stuff.
Contest ends December 20th!
48 comments
My goal for 2015 is to continue making progress with my weight loss and keep up with this healthy journey.
My New Year resolution is too be way more active and save money.
lose weight
What’s your New Year’s Resolution for 2015?
My New Year’s Resolution is to reach out to college students like me with my blog. My blog covers everything from college life to my own fitness journey. I want to be able to help others as I share my stories and experiences.
I don’t make resolutions. I just look at what I’ve accomplished this year and think about what I can do to male things better.
My resolution is to lift much heavier weight than what I’m lifting now.
Commit to clean eating!
I want to better manage my stress and be more present in each moment
My 2015 resolution is to step out of my comfort zone and get healthy and more active.
To take an aerial yoga class
My resolution for 2015 is to enjoy #DefyingGravityPart2. I’ve been working to find my wings of flight in 2014, and 2015 will continue on that journey. Oh yes, and part of that will include taking steps toward a degree in health, wellness, and nutrition. It’s time!
My resolution or 20145 is to get out and about more! Easy to say but oh so difficult to follow thru on.
My new years resolution is focus more on my happiness thru getting hlosing weight, getting more sleep/relaxation time and trying new experiences I have wanted to do for awhile now like the color run 5k.
My new years resolution to to be more consistent in the things I do. From working out to cooking instead of eating out. Just need to learn to stick with things!
My biggest is to get more sleep. I noticed that I gained the most weight when I started having sleep issues. I also plan to add more diversity to my exercise routine. Overall I just plan to put more into myself this year. I have spent so many years taking care of everyone else that I kind of forgot about me along the way.
I really just want to get back committed to living a healthy lifestyle and hopefully lose 100 pounds along the way.
We will continue onward with cleaning our diet. We have almost completely eliminated HFCS, dramatically reduced the number of processed products we buy, and cut way down on eating out. This year, I will work on scaling back the amount of meat we eat.
My New Year’s resolution for 2015 is to strengthen my relationship with God marry the love of my life and to transition to vegan diet.
My goal for 2015 is to lose the last bit of weight that I need to, maintain, and continue on with my new healthy lifestyle.
Love the fitness article…and the get fit give away which I would I so need to get me started on my weight loss journey…I have been going to the gym at my job but have not been consistent…I must say it’s not easy staying motivated and that I need to learn to put myself first but I’m still trying..not giving up…I enjoy see all the wonderful weight loss journeys that give me inspiration to continue on mine!
To learn to be a better person – more positive, caring to others, but to be kind to myself 1st & foremost! If mom ain’t happy, then no one is happy – lol. From my lips to God’s ears ♡
My resolutions, plural, are:
1) Keep up with my fitness goals of hitting the gym 5-6x a week.
2) Try to improve my eating habits, specifically by increasing protein & vegetables (I live off carbs at the moment 🙁 )
3) Finish what I start. I have a nasty habit of leaving projects unfinished & it frustrates me by being surrounded by so many incomplete “dreams” that once held my attention in a vice-like grip.
That’s about all. I’m definitely reposting this to my FB to find out what my friends are hoping to do in 2015… & so they can keep me accountable. It’s always a little easier when your friends have your back.
My New Year’s resolution is to get back on track with my weight loss journey and incorporate strength training along with the cardio into my workouts.
I don’t do resolutions for New Years. Instead I do them on my birthday (December baby) which was yesterday. So my quest is to lose 85 lbs on during my #MargsHealthy46 journey
In 2015, I’d like to run my first marathon. This year’s goal was to learn how to run – I conquered that and lost over 50lbs! I also want to drop an additional 25lbs before Summer 2015.
My New Year’s resolution for 2015 is to be brave and fierce in achieving my goals- I will be more physically active, I will carve out time for me, and I will be open to new challenges.
I always start my resolution on my birthday on December 12th. My resolution is to continue my journey to health, go to an actually gym(I’m kind of afraid of it), and to become a more social person.
I think my resolution is to continue what my husband and I have started..we are two weeks in and several pounds down..I def wanna go hard in the paint thigh..lol I’m ready to healthy:)
My resolution for this year is to keep on keeping on. Doesn’t matter how fast or slow I lose weight, I just want to keep on slogging through it.
I’m not a huge fan of New Years Resolutions. I hate setting myself u for failure. I intend to be under 200 pounds before the end of 2015. I should have been there, but I set myself back. I’m restarting and getting back to my journey. 46 pounds to go so I can be under 200 pounds. I got this!
My 2015 resolutions is to try to lose weight and put the chocolate cookies down.. lol 🙂
My New Years Resolution for 2015 is to get continue my healthy lifestyle, complete the LA Marathon in the time allotted and continue to move my life in the direction I want it to be. Oh and a new car.
I just re-started and my resolution is to keep on going a day at a time.
I’d like to definitely eat a bit healthier this year. I have no problems exercising.. I love it but I don’t always make the best choices eating.
My fitness goals for 2015 are to include more strength training and to eat less red meat.
To invest in myself each day.
My fitness goal is to live life healthily (and to get cut up abs!)
I resolve to give thanks in ALL things, even in this continued weight loss battle!
I’m like Oprah, I’m not giving up on this weight thing!
I want to keep going with building my fitness and work on a foreign language.
To know how to properly relax and totally eliminate stress. My body needs to know how to function at a low anxiety level so it can heal.
In 2015, I want to be healthier, to keep up with my kids!
I would like to exercise a bit more.
My resolution is to continue exercising and eating right, and to gently encourage my mom to get out and walk regularly.
Mine is to work up to a half-marathon in 2015. I’m fighting the possibility of running a marathon in Cuba ONLY because I want to run the NYC marathon when it eventually falls on my birthday again.
Mine is to not only buy better food items that are more healthy for my family, but to also learn how to make healthy meals! I want to switch over to as many organic foods as I can, and learn how to make easy, and simple healthy snacks.
I am going to strive to walk a lot more.
I will be going to grad school
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