Blogfest Day 2

Good Morning!

Welcome back to Day 2 of my Blogfest adventures 🙂

Friday morning I started with a 6am lift before the conference started. I hit some triceps and you know no gym session is complete without a little posing.

At 7am we started with a pretty good bootcamp class. It involved some cardio bursts, squats, lunges, pushups, burpees, and some cool partner work for abs. I forgot to take some pics for this one, so I’m referring to my blogfest friends on this one. Here’s our group shot!

I also took a picture with Kasey over at powercakes. She’s such an inspiration to young women everywhere. Her motto is “be true to you”. I love it. And speaking of be true to you… I wore no makeup for the whole day. Felt pretty good!

We then went for a coffee run together. We have a lot in common and it was so fun talking to someone with similar goals.

Next up was the FABULOUS Cassey Ho, she talked about the blog business and how she built her brand. I learned so much this session and was even able to ask her a question about building my blog a bit more. Her outfit was awesome  by the way.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, who came next? The one and only JILLIAN MICHAELS.

You guys don’t even understand how exciting this was for me. I have seen every season of the biggest loser from the very beginning. Jillian was one of the reasons I started lifting. I used to look at her arms and just idolize them. She made me realize muscle is where it’s at and “buff is beautiful”. Plus she curses like a sailor, and anyone that knows me in person knows that’s my own vice! So she is definitely my woman crush wednesday today.

Her talk was so inspiring. She focused on working towards your goals and being the best version of you. She left a lot of time for a Q&A and hands shot right up. I was very lucky to be picked! My question? You might laugh but I really wanted to know.

“As a blogger, we deal with negativity, and people disagreeing with our fitness opinions and goals; as a person in the public eye how do you deal with the negativity?”

For the most part my blog readers and followers are AWESOME, but you can’t please everyone, so I do get my fair share of the negativity.

Jillian gave me a great answer and a lengthy one at that, and basically she deals with it by not letting it happen and deleting it. Negativity breeds more negativity if you let it stand. I work too hard on my blog to let a few people try to bring me down!  So thanks Jillian 😀

After these two sessions I headed to Kasey’s bootcamp at Ponderosa Park. It was about a 25 minute walk so I ended up coming back with a pretty decent sunburn, ouch!

We had an awesome time, using bands, jump ropes, and doing full body movements, even sprinted! It was so much fun to get outside, burn some calories, and be surrounded by positive people!

My partner Jill.

Later that afternoon, after a snack…. another protein waffle anyone? Seriously I ate 10 of them… no joke…

Under Armor came to talk to us about their new campaign “I Will What I Want”. It was such an uplifting session. You guys know I’m ALL ABOUT making strong women a focal point in society. Their new campaign does just that. No matter what your background, athlete or not, you have the will to do whatever you want!

After being so inspired I thought about “I will what I want” in terms of bikini competitions. I get a lot of opinions on why I compete. I’m questioned, I’m knocked, but it really comes down to it making me happy. I compete for me. So next time I’m asked why I do it… “I WILL WHAT I WANT!”

I’m getting there! 9 weeks to go. 

Another outfit change came later and a blogfest wrap up party.

Here are some pics from that event and other friends I made along the way!

Reunited with Bobbi over at Nhershoes.

And also all these lovely ladies! Gina, Julie, Monica, Me, Heather. Everyone minus Monica, I spent time with in Portland last year. Monica I met this past blogger trip in Savannah!

Sarah and I finished with dinner at this AMAZING place called the Fire & Ice Grill & Bar.

Basically it was all you can eat of veggies, salad, and protein and they cooked it on a giant hibachi circle grill.

There were a ton of sauces, but I was the freak who brought my own balsamic vinegar. Dillon was a little cutie pie and cooked my food using it. He was also a fitness person so he understood and didn’t judge me 😉

I loaded up on veggies and did a little protein with chicken and a small piece of salmon. Then I went back for a big bowl of veggies to fill me up. I had some serious issues with trying to get in veggies this trip so I got them where I could! This was pretty much it for me the entire trip.

I was dreaming of blueberry cheesecake though, but there will be time for that after my show! Top 3 here I come!

So as you see a great time at blogfest! Tomorrow we talk the rest of the Idea Fit conference.

Have a great day 🙂

XOXO With a Cherry On Top,

-Minnie