As exciting as my first 5 days in California were with meeting Amy (“FantasticallyFit”) for the first time and getting to do so many fun things..the last 5 days were incredible as well! I mean, I got to work with my favorite all natural protein and supplement company, About Time Protein, with the team members I love like Chanel Collette, at one of the biggest health conventions in the country, the 2014 IDEA WORLD Health and Fitness Convention!!
Where do I even begin…I guess I’ll just go day by day again like Part 1 of my trip (see here)!
Wednesday:
I’ll pick back up where I left off last post. So after surviving my first train experience all by myself to get from LA to Anaheim, I arrived at the beautiful Anaheim Marriot, literally less then a minute walk to the convention center, and met up with the Event Leader of About Time Protein, Chanel Collette. Chanel is someone I have gotten to work with in the past (at my first event with About Time, Europa Orlando), and have also gotten to experience my first fitness photo shoot with her right before she won Bikini Universe earlier this summer. She is not only an inspiration as a dedicated, all natural athlete or someone I look up to as my boss..but someone I see as a good friend that I love just hanging out with whether it be while we are working with About Time, working out as gym buddies before starting our long day (aka, she killing me in her intense but motivating workouts), our lady dinner dates after a long day, or just fooling around in the hotel room and laughing about dumb things as we’re delirious and exhausted.
Anways, back to Wednesday. After meeting up with Chanel, we had a delicious lunch (ahi tuna salad) with Devenee, the owner of About Time, and then all walked over to the convention center to set up our booth. As you can see from the photos, it went from an empty space to a good looking booth in just about 3 hours with us going hard at work. Afterwards we had a delicious dinner at Roy’s and the Chanel and I headed back to our room for what to me was an early night (aka 1030pm, as this girl typically never gets tired till 1am at least), and what to her was a late night (after flying just that day from KY, she was still on eastern time and typically goes to bed by 10).
Thursday:
Boy was I excited for the first day of the convention to begin. And because we went to bed so early for me, I woke up at 7am on my own (which never happens), and Chanel and I headed down to workout before starting our working day. I did more my own thing at the gym this day, and somehow despite doing the typical leg day I always do, was sore for days to come (I’m guessing it was more from the fact of being on my feet ALL DAY EVERY DAY as we worked). I refueled with the delicious Mocha Mint flavored About Time Protein Powder mixed into my coffee, made breakfast, and off we were to begin day 1!
The convention was opened from noon-5pm, in which Chanel and I worked the booth along with the owner Dev the entire time, and on tiny breaks I got to walk around to see other booths and meet new friends from other companies
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We had an awkward hour break after it ended before a Luau began at 6, which Chanel and I couldn’t turn down.
We came back to the convention center and had a great time. And by great time, I guess I should include a video of me living on the edge and trying to walk the high “slack line” from the Slack Line Company’s booth…total wipeout caught accidentally on camera. Go ahead, laugh at me, I sure found myself laughing later that night as Chanel and I replayed the video over and over again..
After the luau we were back at the hotel getting ready for bed and falling asleep by 11 out of total exhaustion of being on our feet all day.
(To skip to what really matters, watch from 35 sec-about 50 secs..from there it’s just me shaking like I have terrets.
[youtube id=”AOYfkI8TbRw” width=”620″ height=”360″]
Friday:
To my surprise I woke up even earlier on my own, around 630am, and I decided I like this lifestyle and should probably start having productive mornings like this more often (not that I wake up super late back home, but college brings a whole new schedule of events not even starting till 11pm!). Anyways, Chanel and I went to the gym again, and she KILLED my backs and biceps with a workout she had done a previous day. I was shaking. Oh and my back ached the next day despite Chanel telling me you “usually can’t feel soreness in your back”. Welp, guess that back of mine was weak enough to be sore.
After our workout, we had a yummy breakfast again, and then it was off to working a noon-630pm day for Day 2 of the convention..Army girl style with our cool About Time hats!
This day was exciting in the sense that I got to meet not only new friends from other companies, but blogger/instagram friends that I’ve talked to over this past year of beginning Fresh Fit N Healthy, but have never met in person.
Like Sara and Liz, aka “GoSuperSisters” and some others “instagrammers” I’ve followed for awhile.
I also of course had to make a reappearance at the ~slack line~ so that I could see my friend Josh and redeem myself from the “little” wipeout the night before.
And get in your typical workout..surfing and hula hooping?
Most of my time however was spent at the About Time booth where I worked the wheel like Vanna White, having so much fun as I met new people (and little nugget kids), talked to them all about our products.
And constantly sampling the delicious food from the surrounding booths like the grilled cheese that a dairy free company was making, goodies like granola and chips from Two Moms in the Raw right across from us, regular and protein coconut water from the booth on the other side of us, delicious turkey and beef jerky of all flavors, and of course, couldn’t resist stopping by Enlightened (at least once a day), the healthy ice cream company that had ice cream bars and sandwiches. Mmmm.
After a long day of work, Chanel and I relaxed for a little at the hotel, and then went to the famous California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, where Amy joined us after getting off work. Then it was back to the hotel for a good night sleep once again
Saturday:
Sad day slightly as I knew it was my last actual day, but I of course had so much fun because of just that..and because of the cool knee high cross fit About Time socks we wore. Because of starting earlier this day, I didn’t have the energy to work out before (and I think my poor muscles needed the break), but I had a delicious yogurt bowl for breakfast with my favorite About Time Protein Granola, and then we were off!
Amy was now working the booth with Chanel, Devenee and I, and I also got to meet new friends again and see old ones again. I got to say hello again to Bruce who I work back and forth with for Quest Nutritionand meet all the Quest Nutrition team.
AND I finally got to meet the famous GiGi from GiGiEatsCelebrities, whom I’ve been blogging friends with for awhile now and made that delicious ~GiGi approved~ Pumpkin Doughnut Recipe for (check back here for it)!
Liz and Sara (GoSuperSisters), joined us once again for a little bit to say hi which was fun, and the booth was crazy busy with it being the last day. Even though my feet and voice were tired from working for the past 3 days at the booth, I also couldn’t have been more happy to be there. I was having a blast. After the event came to a close at 7pm, we spent the next hour or so packing up the booth, jumping into the middle of a Zumba workout going on for a quick 5 minutes, and flexing for a photo as we ended the last day of the convention.
Then we were off to rest our legs for about an hour before having our “last supper” together at Roy’s. Sushi, butterfish lettuce wraps, edamame, roasted brussel sprouts and coconut sake.. come on, what could be a better end to our trip? With tummies full and legs exhausted, we headed back to our hotel to pack up all our stuff unfortunately, talk for awhile, and then head off to bed in order to all catch our earlier flights out of Cali the next morning.
I have to say, normally I am the type of girl that after being away from home for over 3 days, whether being a fun trip or not, I’m ready to go back home (or at elates my pseudo home at college) and to being on my own schedule and such. But not this time. This trip was amazing. I had the most fun time whether it be hanging out with Amy or Chanel, meeting new friends and getting to learn about other health companies, hiking in Malibu and Hollywood, working at the About Time booth and telling everyone why I truly love the company so much, getting to finally meet blogging friends like GiGi and the Supa Sistas, or seeing people I’ve worked with in the past like Bruce from Quest.
I fell in love with Cali.
As I type all this on my long plane ride back to Florida, I’m of course excited to begin my senior year of college and jump into the chaos of all things college; but I’m definitely coming back with an open mindset to future possibilities and a renewed excitement about Fresh Fit N Healthy the the career path I have chosen to follow.
Two big things I was feeling have changed from this trip: 1) I was close-minded to staying in or close to Florida next school year for my combined Dietetic Internship and Masters in Science 2-year program, and 2) I was also feeling a little unmotivated and burnt out of blogging and all things that come with running Fresh Fit N Healthy..
And now, I can say I have a complete open mind to where I end up applying this Fall for that two year program to become a registered dietitian (yes, even Cali all the way across the country from my home and family)..and I also have a renewed passion and excitement for all thing Fresh Fit N Healthy. These are the types of trips that are sincerely so beneficial to one’s life. Whether it be the first part of the trip that was planned solely for fun, or the second half that was planned for work even though knowing it would be a ton a fun as well..
I loved every second of this trip. And I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to have enjoyed beautiful Cali the past 10 days.
