Fine Tuned Babes Fitness

12/13/2023

Dear Best Friend Ida Renee Mccarthur-Gray,

I originally wanted to write you a letter about why you’re my best friend and saturate it with all the generic reasons and adorable anecdotes, but I’m not going to do that because you already know why you’re my best friend, duh. If you didn’t, we probably wouldn’t have remained friends all these years. 15 years? 20? 30? I actually have no idea.

Of course I don’t — I have no concept of time whatsoever. If it were up to me no one’s birthday or graduation or other important event would be remembered, because that’s the type of person I am; I can’t make it anywhere on time, or even on day, and I tend to forget where I’m going to begin with. But you remember things like this (Well you used to!), and you know exactly how long we’ve been best friend’s or do you 🤔. That will be the first thing you tell me after you read this I think 💭.

Thank you for always being closest to me even when we were in separate time zones, different countries and separate stages of life. Thank you for not letting us get split by dumb facts like distance or time 🕛. Thank you for never giving up on our friendship 👯‍♀️, for never shrugging and being like “Eh, things change, people change” and drifting away vaguely because we’re victims of circumstance. We all get distant to a certain degree when we make huge transitions but you didn’t let me get very far because you knew what was truly important.

Thank you for taking care of me in every way possible, for being there when no one else was or wanted to be and when you didn’t even have to be. Everyone has those friends who are close but not really; who you always feel kind of awkward and weird about asking for help and like you have to clarify you’ll do them some kind of favor in return, but you’re not one of those. You never got mad when I didn’t call you for weeks on end because I was too busy being someone’s mother and wife, but you were right there to pick up my heart-splinters when things predictably shattered. You were and try to be there for everything, no bargaining or explanations needed.

Thank you for being a different friend than everyone else, different from the friends who are only there for the fun things, the art museums 🖼 and shopping 🛍 and benders and brunch. I’ve never been to an art museum with you because I’m sure we would end up arguing over whether or not Basquiat was any good, and we both know going on a bender isn’t worth it because you always pass out first, but I still feel like I can do anything with you and it won’t suck. Thank you for always being fun even when we’re not having fun. I don’t know how else to explain that.

Thank you for believing in me when I was too weak and exhausted to believe in myself. Thank you for pushing me, for repeating those affirmations that don’t mean anything in inspirational films but mean everything when someone who cares about you says them. Thank you for not judging me when I did something really stupid, but also thanks for telling me I was an idiot and probably shouldn’t have done the stupid thing. Thank you for always being honest.

Thank you for doing all the things a real best friend does; for letting me sob into your shoulder when I need to and handing me the flask when there aren’t any more words. Eventhough, we both know I don't cry. It sounded good while I was writing. Lol! 😉 Thank you for always knowing who I am and reminding me of that when I forget. Thank you for being genuinely concerned with the outcome of my life and always listening, even when you’re tired. Thank you for telling me the things no one wants to hear and sparing the bu****it advice. I can’t think of many other people I’d actually take a bullet for.

And yeah, I know everyone likes to make grand emotional claims like that in Courier typeface against some Polaroid of a lonely lamppost, but the difference is I’d actually do it.

Love ❤️ always,

Your Best Friend 👯‍♀️For Life

Cassandra Thorpe-Broome

P.S. Happy Birthday!!!

11/04/2021

11/04/2021

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” -- Epictetus

It’s Plan to Prosper Thursday and I’m so excited to talk about your futures!

There are things that YOU want for your future that not everyone wants. Some people want to make a million dollars, some people don’t. Some want to live on 10 acres out in the country and some want a
downtown studio in the heart of their city.

I want you to take a moment to feel gratitude for YOUR unique desires. These desires make you who you are. They set you apart from anyone else. What you want from life sets you apart as an individual who’s going to have a totally future life than me or anyone else will ever have.

Can you feel how fun that is to think about? How your future is going to be shaped by who you are and what you want? How it’s all unique to you? It’s exciting! It’s exciting to think about how

Now that we’re in this fun “I’m special” vibe, why not start thinking about what you want in your future? It could be 3 months from now or 3 years from now. Where do you want to be living, what do you want to be driving, where do you want to go on vacations, etc. Thursdays are a fun day to dream big and be grateful that we can create the future we want so let’s have some fun daydreaming about it today!

*Thankful & Grateful Mini-Challenge: What is something you desire for your future?
Then just for fun, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to live?

11/04/2021

Want to join us this month! Comment below 👇

10/28/2021

You are all invited to join my teammates and I for a Virtual Monster Mash Workout. Comment “I’M IN!” 👇

10/24/2021

Trick or Treat! In a month where jumps and scares are around every corner, who’s ready
to be strong and courageous?

And I’m not just talking about physical strong either, because muscles aren’t everything!

I’m talking about emotional strength, mental strength, and more!

I’m hosting a special 5-day Halloween-themed group called “Too Strong to Spook”
where we're going to focus on becoming strong in our bodies and minds, learn to be
ourselves AND learn to trust ourselves! At the end, I might have put a spell on you,
because you’ll feel super fine and fearless. ; )

If you’re looking for an incredible supportive and fun online community (we’ll be talking
about the importance of this, too!) come join us for a few days to get stronger in every
single way this season! Drop your fave “strong” gif in the comments and I’ll message you with all the info!

09/08/2021

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed."

It’s We Got This Wednesday, so tell me what do you got?This month is all about community and supporting one another, but it’s also about realizing how strong and capable and incredible we are! All of us do so much in our lives and work and our families and we don’t always give ourselves enough credit for just how much we’re juggling!Deadlines, sports practice, working out, getting enough sleep, spending time with friends and family, it’s A LOT, but we’re all handling it every day! We’re all DOING the thing! Instead of feeling overwhelmed by
all there is to do, give yourself a pat on the back and be proud of everything you’re doing!

But it's also totally okay to feel overwhelmed because sometimes just being a human is hard. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help! Find out what someone else is doing that helps them manage all the things.

That co-worker who goes to the gym on her lunch break? Ask her how she feels motivated to do it every day!

The cashier at the grocery store who’s always talking about the latest book she read? Ask her how she makes the time for it!

The fitness influencer on social media who shares her meal prep every Sunday? Ask her what tips she has to help save time prepping!

Acknowledge how incredible you are for all that you’re doing, and don’t be afraid to ask others how they’re doing things you want to be doing too! We got this (together)!

Buddy Booster Mini-Challenge: What’s something you feel like you have a handle on? Making time for self-care, grocery shopping on a budget, spending less time on your phone? Share with us how you do it! We’re here to learn from one another. ❤

Buddy Bingo: What bingo activities are you knocking out today? Tell us now and then let us know when they’re complete! Tag your partner!

09/07/2021

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." – Henry Ford

We all know that two is better that one or else we wouldn’t be here!

We know that doing things by ourselves is HARD. We feel alone, we tend to over-dramatize what’s true, we get down on ourselves faster. Our feelings can trick us into thinking something is true – like we’re
not strong enough to do something – when that’s actually totally false.

That’s why I love these groups! I love the support! I get to feed off of everyone’s energy, positivity, personal power, and take it into my own life! When you’re sharing how awesome you feel, I get to share in that awesomeness! I get to see all of you doing incredible things and it motivates me to keep going!

I also love how everyone is different and supports in different ways! Some people leave a like, some a comment, some a message! Remember that everyone is here in supporting you in their own unique way
because they wanna see you succeed!

Buddy Booster Mini-Challenge: How do you like to support others in person and over
the internet? Are you a high-fiver or hugger? Do you like to send people encouraging notes? Are you all about the gif? Let us know!

Buddy Bingo: Complete an activity on your bingo board and share with us in the comments. Make sure to tag your partner! The first team to complete a bingo by the end of the week (through Saturday) will
win!

09/05/2021

Meal-Prep Recipe of the Week:

Sweet Potato & Pomegranate Salad

Serves 6

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, chopped
3 cups broccoli florets
6 cups spring greens
¼ cup all-natural peanut or almond butter
¼ cup veggie broth (or EVOO)
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
½ tsp pure maple syrup
½ tsp sea salt, or to taste
2 green onions, minced
¾ cup pomegranate arils
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp slivered almonds or chopped peanuts

Directions: Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast
them for 25 minutes or until cooked through at 400F degrees. Set aside to cool. Lightly
steam your broccoli for 3 minutes to make a little bit tender and not so tough. Rinse
under cold water and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the nut butter, broth,
lemon, ginger, syrup and salt. In a large bowl combine the sweet potatoes, broccoli and
green onions. On separate serving plates, first add 1 cup of spring greens then top with
some of the potato broccoli mixture. Garnish with cilantro, pomegranate, nuts and
drizzle of dressing. Enjoy!

09/05/2021

“Great things in business are never done by one person; they're done by a team of people." – Steve Jobs

Happy Sunday! It’s time to share and prepare!

All of us here are doing something different. We’re going after something and doing it in a way that feels good, that’s unique to us! And maybe there’s something that you’re doing that can solve a problem one of us is having!

Let’s talk about Pinterest for a sec, alright? The reason Pinterest is so popular is because it inspires us by showing us what’s possible, right? It shows us what someone else did and if they can do it, we can do it,
too!

So let’s make this our own little Pinterest thread! Share with us how you’re preparing for the next week! Give us your tips and tricks and hacks for success!

Buddy Booster Mini-Challenge: We all know how important sleep is so share with your
partner how much sleep you want to get this week and brainstorm ideas or take inspiration from the comments about how you’re going to make it happen!

07/31/2021