Hi Friends!
Over the weekend, a pretty huge event took place here in Columbus- The Arnold Sports Festival. It’s a huge deal every year and draws about 200,000 people to Central Ohio for the weekend. There are all sorts of events, including Strongman, fitness competitions, Crossfit, Zumba, Fencing, Ping Pong and Gymnastics…plus a HUGE expo hall filled with all sorts of vendors.
Although I’ve lived in Columbus for several years, I’ve never actually gone to the Arnold. But there’s a first time for everything! This year, thanks to GNC and Fitfluential, several Fitfluential Ambassadors were able to go, with media passes, and it was a pretty awesome experience!
I was super proud of myself for actually going because hubby wasn’t able to come with me. I don’t like crowds and tend to usually stay away from stuff like this…but I did it! I headed down there by myself on Saturday morning and even parallel parked my car (HUGE accomplishment for me!) so I wouldn’t have to pay for parking!
When I walked in, I was totally overwhelmed by all the people and vendors. It was CRAZY crowded. I wandered up and down some of the aisles for a while before I finally found Heidi & Lisa (other FFAs) at the GNC booth. It was so fun to be able to connect faces with some of the names I see flying around Twitter all the time 
After a little while we also met up with Bex and her cute little family.
Ready to get photobombed?
*Competition*
*GNC Booth was rockin’!*
*Crossfit*
*It’s Mario Lopez!*
*We saw Arnold!*
*Heidi*
*Lisa being a badass!*
*Family Love*
After a few hours at the festival, I headed home to run some errands…then I met the girls later for dinner! It was awesome to be able to talk to them. Bex & Lisa are the big time! They were so sweet and full of advice for smaller bloggers like Heidi & I. I love Fitfluential and the opportunities that it’s given me to connect with bloggers like this!
So, big thanks to them, as well as GNC, for helping to make this weekend amazing
Here’s a few more picture courtesy of Heidi!!! She was the photo queen this weekend. Click here to check out all her amazing photos!
*Quick pic with Sahar!*
*Me *
*Fitfluential represent!!*
*Me busting out some pistol squats in the hallway, NBD!*
*Pretty girls*
*Post dinner*
*Wild and crazy FFAs*
And now, before I go, I have a little challenge for you! I’m issuing my very first Fitfluential Challenge! What is it?? Pistol Squats.
Check out the video and then lemme see what you got!
–Lindsay–
PS….If you’re finding yourself a little jealous after reading this post because being part of FitFluential seems so awesome….well, you should be! But after you get over your jealousy, you should consider joining us! FitFluential is expanding and growing every day!! It’s an amazing community to be a involved with and it’s become a huge part of my support system…in blogging, in fitness and in life! If you’re a blogger, check it out here. If you’re not a blogger, you can still be involved- click here for details!
You were the one doing Pistol Squats! I was wondering who the other person was… I didn’t know you went! That is awesome! Thanks for sharing the pictures. And Rebekah looks so cute with her daughters.
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl recently posted..Pandemonium VI MMA Fight
aren’t they the cutest family?!
Holy impressive! I have NO IDEA how many of those I could do — and I’m not going to try while pregnant lol.
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston recently posted..My First Car: Trusty Taurie
haha yes, lets wait til after baby for this challenge!
Glad you had fun a the festival, it looks awesome!! I can do ONE of those squats, HAHA! Two IF you count me falling over!!! Hahahaha, so sad…
Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife recently posted..Luscious German Chocolate Oat Cake
one is impressive. they are HARD!
Looks like you girls had a great time! Way to represent FitFluential! I don’t thinki can pistol squat like you, but will give it a go when there’s somewhere there to pick me up off the floor!
Tamara recently posted..Weekly wrap up: what I did, wore, ate and read this week!
do it!!! i bet you can do it!
How cool that you got to go to the Arnold!!! I bet that was insanely inspiring.
Off to go practice my pistol squats before bed…
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Vegan Salade Niçoise for #GreensLove
get on it girl. i wanna see a video of you doing them!
What an awesome opportunity!
I would have loved to go to that!
Abby @ Abz ‘n’ Oats recently posted..phase 1 week 1
Oh AWESOME!!! I’m so jealous! I wish this all happened in CA! So fun Lindsay! Thanks for sharing. Now I don’t feel so left out. Ha ha!
And ooooo… loving the challenge. 
STUFT Mama recently posted..Oh My Sweet Potato
get on it lady. i know you can bust out some pistol squats!
I’ve never seen these before! They look incredible!! I’ll knock some out and let you know how many I get.
yay!! can’t wait to hear!
SO SO FUN!!
Im going next year
Miz recently posted..Kitchen Workout Challenge sponsored by Egg Beaters
yessssss! please do
Looks like you had a blast! Props on the pistol squats! My center of gravity is so off right now I tip over just trying to tie my shoes haha
It’s so funny you went to that Arnold event … my husband was talking about it this weekend, because he went several years ago. I commented that I didn’t think I would like attending, but it looks like you had a pretty awesome time!! So maybe I was wrong!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..Shin Splints Stink.
yeahhh for an awesome and i’m sure inspiring weekend!!! i suck at pistol squats…suppose thats a good reason to do them huh
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted..Health by numbers: Calories, steps, sleep
Get on with your bad self!!!!
And awesome on the Arnold experience. That is so cool you got to go!
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Move It Monday: Full Body Quickie + Refuel 16 with Sushi
That’s such an awesome event to attend! I love Arnie’s face in the photo – classic
Alissa – Not Just Apples recently posted..baked vanilla barley and a sunny stroll by the sea
haha i know! he looked so grumpy!
OMG, thank goodness for YOU!! This recap is so great!! Love the pics of all of us
I’m so glad you’re doing the challenge. You. Are. Amazing! xo
Bex recently posted..Hey Arnold: Let’s Be Friends Friday ROAD TRIP!
thanks lady
you’re not so bad yourself!!
Um, first of all, SO JEALOUS! I totally would have gone if I had been home. Second, awesome challenge! Can’t wait to try it when I get this suture out on Friday
.
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Bench Dips
yes! i wanna see your video!
SO cool that you got to experience this with some fellow fitfluentials AND that you overcame your fear of going on your own and made the best of it. AWESOME! I’m totally jealous, looks like my kind of event
Jess recently posted..On staying open to change.
you would have been in heaven girl!. next year!
so jealous!
Tara Burner recently posted..Motivation Monday
Great recap. Well done!
Haven’t been to the Arnold yet but definitely hope to make it happen in the future…
Danny
hope you can make it next year!
Awesome experience! And pistol squats look super challenging but I’m going to try them out tonight.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Parita @ myinnershakti recently posted..Homemade Tortilla Chips
let me know how you do!!
Parallel parking is totally an accomplishment. Woohoo!!
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray recently posted..February Foodie Pen Pals!
thanks! i was so proud
so fun!! I would’ve have loved to go…I dream about it every year! I’m glad you have a great time! Any advice from Bex you’d like to share?
Carissa recently posted..Fit2Flex 50 Challenge – Week 3
holy crap did you really just do those??????????
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed recently posted..Driving into Doomsday in the Pussy Wagon.
you know it! now it’s your turn!
That’s so awesome that you got to go to the arnold!! And look at you rockin those pistol squats ;D
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile recently posted..Quinoa This and Quinoa That
it was a great experience!
Oh. so. cool. I’m so jealous! Mark my words Arnold – I’m coming from Cleveland for ya next year!! So glad you all had such a great experience.
Alicia at Poise in Parma recently posted..NASATweetup Recap Part 1: visiting NASA Glenn Research Center & Great Lakes Science Center
we’ll be waiting for yoU!
Oh my gosh. I am so incredibly jealous! What an amazing time you fit, gorgeous women all had! Love it. I am so happy to be a part of FF and hope I get an opportunity like that one sometime soon, too!
misszippy recently posted..That 20 rocked!
looks like such an awesome weekend! i’m glad you had a good time.
and yay for you on parallel parking – i refuse to do it!
sarah @ sarah learns recently posted..the greenest smoothie
ugh it’s the worst! stresses me out so much!
Great re-cap girl! I wish we could have met up too! Looks like you had a great time! I am thinking I have some work to do before I could pull off a pistol squat, lol!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..Gymnastics, and Cheerleading, and…Art? Oh My!
keep trying! i know you can do it!
Awesome pics! SO jealous you got to go. I hope to be able to high-5 you next year!
i hope so too!
Glad we got to meet. Can’t wait to meet up again!! As for your challenge…I’m going to attempt it =)
so glad to meet you too! i wanna see your squats video!
love the recap and TOTALLY jealous of your pistol squat abilities!! i can’t do any!
Lindsay @ Lindsay’s List recently posted..henry and the case of the shrieking eels – vlog
keep practicing!!! it took me forever to even do one!
oh how fun. wish i could have gone! seems like an amazing time!
janetha @ meals & moves recently posted..weekend things.
This looks like so much funnnnnnn!!!! Jealous. I’d love to meet some FitFluential friends, like yourself! It looks like such an exciting event for fit-minded people; wish I could’ve been there! I’m keeping my eyes peeled for events near me
That. squat. is. CRAZY. I’m on it.
Meredith @ DareYouTo recently posted..Check In With Your Goals
you go girl. i wanna see whatcha got!
Oh how much fun Lindsay! You look awesome doing the Pistol squat wow!! I so wish I could meet you lovely FFA’s–some day right?!!!
Jess @ Blonde Ponytail recently posted..New Protein: Vega One Shake
yes!!!! we need one big giant meetup! i wanna see your pistol squats. i KNOW you can do some!
Awesome! This looks like so much fun! I’ll have to check out your video once I’m home from work.
yes!!! i want you to do a video attempt!!
Such a great recap! I’m not jealous b/c I’m not part of the FF family, I’m jealous b/c I wasn’t able to attend and meet you ladies!
Looked like an incredible time…so fun and what a neat world to be opened up to! Thanks for sharing with us Lindsay! 
it was a very cool experience! some day we’ll all be together!!
Looks like a really fun weekend – how cool that you got to go with a media pass and everything! Those squats looks hard-core!!
you should try them! i bet you can do a few!
Love this recap, so jealous you got to hang with fitfluentials, especially my buddy Heidi! You look super cute in that scarf, very lean GREEN bean
and ah Arnold! Mario! What a cool event, good job facing your crowd fears and conquering all, that’s what being FitFluential is all about!
thanks girl! i hardly ever wear that scarf but i was glad i busted it out
Ouch
practicing them now!
Mindy – Clueless Nut recently posted..Biscuits n’ stuff
you can do it!!! good luck!
Hey girl! So glad I finally got to meet you. Sorry it was quick – I was exhausted for some reason. Let me know if you want to get together sometime.
we definitely need to meet up soon!
What an awesome experience to go to the Arnold! I have to say I’ve never heard of a Pistol Squat before. I just got my heart-rate up just attempting it and I wasn’t even able to complete one. I did do a few deep 2-legged squats while I was at it though!
Also wanted to say that I love your new slogan – it’s PERFECT!