Ever meet people who add so much positive value and leave you wondering how on earth are they able to do it all? That’s how we felt when we found Fit Bottomed Girls. Powered by trio Jennipher Walters, Erin Whitehead and Kristen Seymour, Fit Bottomed Girls is a website that features fresh fitness content for real women (and dudes) interested in improving their health and their lives through tips, workouts, honest reviews, personal accounts, and more. The FBGs pride themselves on their inclusive and fun-loving approach to everything and, at the same time, aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.
FBG came to be when Jenn and Erin met while working for a magazine publishing company in the Kansas City area. Fast forward a few years later to a fitness event where Jenn meets Kristen, who was at the time an editor at an AOL fitness blog and based in Florida. Since then, the three have been very busy, adding a sister site, Fit Bottomed Mamas, to its line-up, as well as Fit Bottomed Eats, and their book: The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti-Diet, published by Random House. Their latest endeavor is the recently-launched Fit Bottomed Zen, their approach to mindful and whole-heart living.
We caught up with Jenn, Erin, and Kristen who shared the stories behind their favorite pieces of jewelry, the kinds of advice that they’ll never forget, and, of course, what each of them considers their urban island, that one place they can count on to get centered when life gets a little crazy.
What is your “urban island,” that oasis in the big city that helps your find balance?
Kristen: I find that spending time on the beach (which is just a couple of miles from my house) in the morning is one of the most calming, peaceful things I can do. It can get a little crazy over there later in the day – music, tourists, kids! – but in the morning, there are fewer people and those who are there are generally just running, walking, reading, meditating, drinking coffee.
Jen: Besides pretty much any spa or yoga studio, I’d have to say the gym. Yes, the gym I go to isn’t sparkly or doesn’t have any zen-producing waterfalls, but it’s filled with friends, laughter and support. No matter what kind of day I’m having, I always leave feeling uplifted (and challenged — in a good way!) after a workout.
Erin: The gym for me too. It gets me some quiet alone time that I need with three loud kiddos!
What is your favorite adventure?
Kristen: I love hiking (as long as it doesn’t involve steep and scary cliffs), and I love it even more when my hike takes me to a waterfall or lake where I can take a dip.
Jen: I love trying new foods and tasting new wines. I also love hiking and backpacking in the mountains. There’s nothing like getting away from everything to really connect to yourself.
Erin: I love to travel. It doesn’t matter where, it can be an easy local hike, but I love seeing what’s out there.
If you were an island, which one would you be?
Kristen: Maui. I love everything about it and feel so at home there.
Jen: I’m not sure I’ve been to enough islands to answer! I need to do more travel, ha! But, there’s something about Fiji that I’m just drawn to, so I’ll go with that.
Erin: Exuma in the Bahamas. It’s laid back and relaxed and inspired me to be more so!
If you were a city, which one would you be?
Kristen: Maybe San Diego? But I also really like Seattle. And I was just in Toronto and dug that. And Austin is pretty rad. Ugh.
Jen: I feel very much drawn to my hometown, Kansas City, Missouri, where I went to grad school, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Paso Robles, California. KC is in my blood and has such a great urban core of art and music and food. Minneapolis has such a hip yet down-to-earth love of the outdoors (in ALL kinds of weather which is awesome). And Paso Robles has THE BEST WINE. And a landscape that just takes my breath away.
Erin: Portland. It’s quirky.
What are your five island essentials?
Kristen: Sunscreen, water bottle (with water, obvs), a book, my phone (loaded with great music), and something active to do (paddleboard, volleyball, etc.)
Erin: I ditto Kristen on the sunscreen and water! Also, a journal and pen for brainstorming and just writing and probably an umbrella for shade (I’m so fair!).
Jen: Sunscreen, shade, drinks, a lounge chair and a swim suit.
What wellness trait do you think is the most underrated?
Kristen: I think people should put greater value on workouts and activities they love rather than how many calories something burns. After all, if you don’t like doing something, you’ll avoid it and then it really doesn’t matter whether it’s a killer workout or not.
Erin: To echo off what Kristen said, I think doing lesser intense activities is underrated. Right now there’s a big trend of high-intensity and really tough workouts – which ARE awesome. Don’t get me wrong; I love them. But there’s something great about just going for a stroll or doing some easy stretches. Not every workout needs to destroy you.
Jen: What they said!
What trait wellness do you think is the most overrated?
Kristen: Tons of tiny movements designed to “sculpt” your muscles. Work the big muscle groups, feel strong, be badass.
Erin: A hyper focus on how much you weigh or how many pounds you want to lose. There are so many other ways to determine your health and success. Don’t get obsessed with a number, period. Focus more on feeling good and energized — do things that bring out more of that.
Jen: The trend of trying to look long and lean or have a body like a dancer. If you dance, you have the body of a dancer. And you can’t change your length.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Kristen: Just breathe.
Erin: “Can you imagine what the women of this world could do if they weren’t so concerned with the number on the scale?” Followed closely by: “Just do it.”
Jen: Always trust your gut.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?
Kristen: Anything truly worth doing is likely to begin with a moment of terror. Don’t let fear hold you back.
Erin: You’re more than the number on the scale.
Jen: Be yourself.
We believe all jewelry tells a story. What is the story of your favorite piece of jewelry?
Kristen: I have a ring that my husband picked up for me when he was in Hawaii for a work trip, and he came home the day before my 30th birthday. It was a locally-made piece made of this beautiful light blue seaglass, but the design is spiky and funky. I not only love the ring itself, but also the fact that he knows me well enough to be aware that I’d far rather have something cool and unique and meaningful like this over a diamond.
Erin: I have a simple silver necklace with a lowercase “g” that I feel is almost a part of me. I got it just before my daughter Gwen was born, and I’ve never taken it off since.
Jen: My husband got me a really pretty diamond band to celebrate our 10th anniversary. My favorite thing about it though was that it was a complete surprise — I had no idea he’d been spending his lunch hours scouting out jewelry stores trying to find me the perfect ring.
Photos courtesy of Fit Bottomed Girls. Follow them at @fitbottomedgirl.
What’s your urban island? Tag @kalakiriot on Instagram and use the hashtag #myurbanisland for a chance to be featured on our site.
Kalaki Riot
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