- Essential Footwear for Athletes: Four Must-Have Shoes for Peak Performanceby BrandyIf you’ve been a reader of The Gym Bag Journal for a while, you’re very aware of my passion for CrossFit. NOBULL was the official apparel brand for CrossFit from 2021 to 2023, and while they’ve since parted ways in the business world, NOBULL still provides the perfect footwear for the demands of intense WOD’s. …
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- CrossFit Games Athlete Shelly Chapple Shares Her Storyby BrandyIt’s easy to be astonished by today’s top CrossFit athletes in the individual division (ages 18-34). Their actual jobs are to train multiple times a day, day in and day out, maintain a rigorous, individualized nutritional routine, maximize recovery, and therefore, they understandably earn the title of Fittest on Earth. But what is more astounding are the age group athletes who have careers beyond fitness and families to prioritize over their training. That’s why I couldn’t have been more excited to share Shelly Chapple’s story.
- From the Emergency Room to the Leaderboardby BrandyHow being in the best shape of my life helped me tackle my biggest health obstacle. I am coincidentally writing this post on National Kidney Day! September 21, 2022, began like any other typical Wednesday. My back was a little sore, but the evening before, I had done a 30-minute EMOM of snatches. I thought …
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- Learn about my athletic background (or lack thereof) and relationship with CrossFit on HANDSTAND TALK #226by Brandy
- Plateauing in your Weight Loss? Consider Intermittent Fasting!by BrandyWhat is intermittent fasting (IF)? In a nutshell, IF is giving yourself a strict window of time to eat and to not eat. How does it work? Science! IF affects hormones like insulin and glucagon which control blood sugar. Since I’m not a certified nutritionist, I’ll just recommend that you do your own research on …
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- Failing 75 Hard Still Felt Like Successby BrandyLast spring I was introduced to Andy Frisella’s 75 Hard program. A couple of my friends from the gym were doing it, but at the time, I had zero desire to follow suit. As a teacher, I was heading into my summer break, and depriving myself of alcohol and tasty food did not sound like …
- How Attending the Rogue Invitational Reignited my Love for CrossFitby BrandyHow and Why I Fell in Love with CrossFit in the First Place Before I began CrossFit in April of 2017, the only type of workouts I had ever done were in-home, body weight HIIT-style, and if I were to ever venture into a “Globo Gym,” I wouldn’t even know where to start with all …
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- Spring Clean Your Life By Going Paleoby BrandyWhen people hear “paleo,” they tend to instantly think about one of two things: cavemen or food. While there is a “paleo diet,” the lifestyle itself goes beyond just food. In every issue of Paleo Magazine, they include a page titled “Paleo Quick Start Guide” which lists six ways to implement the paleo lifestyle. In …
- March 2021 Favorite Product (Yep, just one!)by BrandyThis month, I only have one favorite product. I’ve tried a few things out, and this is the only one I stand behind for March. However, this bad boy is worth your time, I promise! Hot Logic Food Warmer As a teacher, I’m given a 30 minute lunchbreak where I used to have to decide …
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- 4 Ways to Navigate Life’s Busy Seasonsby BrandyFirst, I want to preface this post by saying that I am in no way perfect at navigating my busy seasons. When things do not go according to plan and/or life gets overwhelming, I have meltdowns just like the next person; however, I’ve collected a few tricks that make it a little easier to not …
- Suck at cooking? No time? Tired of making a mess?by BrandyThe questions in the title are all the reasons I love Icon Meals. I am not a talented cook, and my Sundays are usually spent playing golf and doing laundry. Also, cooking is messy! Meal prep is a really good idea for helping people stay on track with their goals, but it just doesn’t work …
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- February Favorites (Survival Mode – 2021)by BrandyWhat an unusual month here in Texas! Between the weather and power outages, I’m completely surprised to get this article written before the end of the month. Honestly, I almost skipped this month’s favorites, but I didn’t want to go another month without talking about this first product. Without further ado, here is what has …
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- Mindset + Faith: Rosa Strongby BrandyOn Halloween morning, 2020, I was at work looking forward to the evening when my husband and I would join our friends for a costume party. Little did I know, my friend Rosa, who was hosting the party, was going to see her doctor for a colonoscopy that same morning. She said she had been …
- January Faves – Ready, Set, Goal!by BrandyThe great (yet cliché) thing about a new year is the sense of a fresh start. While we can probably agree that new year resolutions are overdone, let’s not get complacent. Make small adjustments to your daily routine, mindset, and/or nutrition, and results will follow! Here are some tools that I am currently using or …
- Detach from Guilt and Own your Choicesby BrandySo, how did everyone do the holidays? I am certain that I’m not the only one who fell off the wagon when it comes to workouts and nutrition. If anything, I think I cut loose much more this year than I typically do because instead of visiting family, I went on vacation. I stayed at …
- Don’t Let Self-Image Dictate Your Happinessby Brandy…if you wait until all your boxes are checked before you go out and live your life, you will be waiting forever. It started in 2010. I boarded my first commercial flight, beyond excited for my first real vacation. Destination: Maui. I wore my cutest outfits and bikinis every day without hesitation. I had a …
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- The Art of Hand Maintenance — Product Reviewsby BrandyAnyone who has ever attempted CrossFit knows how frustrating it is to struggle in a workout not because of your strength, but because of the skin on your hands. There really is nothing more irritating than ripping your hands mid-workout. You’re faced with the choice to keep going through the pain and risk getting your …
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- Frogs for Breakfast?!by BrandyIf it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first. Mark Twain Okay, so we are not literally talking about eating frogs here. The point Mark Twain makes with this …
- Why the Scale is a Waste of Timeby BrandyYour mindset is one of the most important elements to your fitness journey.
