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This post is produced in collaboration with Yoplait Go Big, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Yoplait Go Big provided me the product and stipend for this partnership.
Parenting teens is completely different from parenting any other age children. It comes with its own challenges, but it is also one of the most rewarding and fun times to be a parent. We are so proud of all three of our girls, and anytime that we are able to do something special for them, we jump at the opportunity!
Last week we partnered with Yoplait to do something truly remarkable for Ashley in celebration of Yoplait’s new yogurt for teens, Go Big. Go Big is all about recognizing and elevating how amazing teens are, and they gave our family the chance to fuel Ashley’s passion in a way that truly changed her life.
For the past two years, Ashley and Pete have been dedicated to their health. They have been eating well and making exercise a priority with 6am workouts and afternoon training sessions. Ash has long suffered from asthma, most likely from her preterm birth, and when she was younger she missed out on a lot of fun things when she was sick. These past two years since she started making exercise a priority, she has seen a remarkable change in her health. What started as a way to spend more time together as father and daughter and improve her health, has turned into much more for Ashley. She even just signed up for her first big competition!
We knew it was time for Ash to take it up a level and Go Big! So we planned a day that would inspire and guide her as she sets bigger goals for herself.
We woke her up even earlier than normal, surprised her with a new workout outfit, some Yoplait Go Big Strawberry and Mixed Berry Yogurt to eat on the road to help fuel her (we bought Go Big at our local grocery store), and drove a couple hours north for Ash to have a coaching and training session with one of the most amazing female athletes (and people) on the planet, Jamie Hagiya. Jaimie is a very well known Crossfit Athlete who played basketball for USC and professionally in Europe before coming in 18th at the 2016 CrossFit Games! She is also co-owner of Torrance Training Lab where we met up with her for Ashley’s special day.
When I was planning this day for Ashley, she and Pete were gone getting a workout done. On my own, I researched female athletes with very little knowledge of who is who. Jamie was everything I was looking for in a role model for Ashley, and someone she could look up to as she continues her training. As soon as we met Jamie, I knew that I had made the right choice. When I told Pete and Ash about her, they both knew who she was immediately and they were so excited to meet her. Jamie not only is one of the strongest people I have ever met, she is also an amazing person. She is positive, high energy and just radiates strength…just look at her! And I knew she was just the person to help us fuel Ashley’s passion in an amazing way!
I could gush about her for days, but I have so much more to share about our day…
After Ash was fueled up with Go Big for a quick boost of energy, she was ready to begin her training session with Jamie!
Jamie started by talking with Ash about her goals and what she wanted to work on. They went through a warm-up and then it was go time. Jamie coached Ash on a bunch of different moves she has been working on, and then they did a couple workouts together.
Jamie also shared some tips and apps Ash can use at home to improve.
I was exhausted just watching, but Ash never stopped smiling. This really was her dream come true and it took Ash’s passion to a whole new level!
Jamie encouraged, inspired, and had a huge impact on Ash…and all of us really. We left ready and dedicated to helping Ashley pursue her passion of fitness. Ashley was almost speechless as we drove home because she was so filled with ideas on how she is going to take her training up to another level. Ashley was truly inspired after meeting with Jamie because Jamie was so real about the dedication it takes to get to the level she is at. Five hours a day spent working out is not unusual for Jamie, and she pushes herself mentally and physically each and every day. Her guidance was valuable on so many levels and I loved watching Ash soak it all in.
Since we have been back home, Ashley has been working on a new training schedule and is meeting with her home coach more often. She got that extra momentum from this day to take her passion to the next level, it was life changing!
Ash’s big day was fueled by Go Big, a new, large yogurt pouch designed specifically with teens in mind. I love that Yoplait not only wants to shine the spotlight on how amazing teens are no matter what they’re interested in, but that Go Big was developed in partnership with teens. Our family loves that Go Big is made with real fruit and just the right amount of sweetness and that the pouches contain a larger amount of yogurt for a teen’s growing hunger. Even the Go Big pouch was designed for teens and is like nothing you’ve seen before. You just grip & rip! It is very easy to open and enjoy and is great for on-the-go!
Yoplait® Go Big™ Yogurt is available in two different variety packs, each with two different flavors, Strawberry/Mixed Berry and Peach Mango/Cherry and there are 8 pouches in each box. You can purchase Go Big for your teen at your local grocery store like we did and at Walmart or Target.
Ash was especially happy to learn (as was I) that Go Big has no colors from artificial sources, no high-fructose corn syrup, it contains real fruit and is a good source of calcium. It is also gluten-free and Kosher Dairy, if those are concerns for you.
How do you celebrate your awesome teen?
It’s so great that she is pursuing her passion! I would use the $500 dollars to continue helping put my son through college.
That is an amazing goal and she has such a supportive family! Good for all of you! Those yogurts look amazing btw!
Such a strong girl! And you are so supportive, that’s the most important thing!
How cool was that. So inspiring and hopefully your daughter will stay motivated. I’d use the $500 to buy a new laptop for my son.
You are so cool as parents. And I love that you daughter is so motivated in pursuing her passion.
Oh wow, that is awesome. I could never do that, lol… very strong I say! I like it how supportive you all are.
I love that you guys are helping your daughter fulfill her dreams. Way too many parents hold back heir kids from their true potential at times.
I love that you are empowering her. More children need parents like you. I too want my children to aim high!
She is such a strong girl. She is so lucky to have all the support she needs. You both rock as parents.
My kids aren’t teens yet, but I love this. I’d use the money to buy creative toys and activities to help them follow their interests and expand their creativity.
Wow this is great, I’m scared and excited for the teen years ahead with my children.
Go Ashley! It’s awesome that she’s taking charge of her health and recognizing the importance of good habits. That must have been an awesome day for her!
My kids are still young but I am thinking how hard it is once they turned teenage years. Love that you are very supportive parents. I think that’s the best thing I could do for my kids too.
This must have been an awesome time for your daughter to have a training session with Jamie Hagiya. I love how you gave her this awesome day. It is so important that our kids realize how important getting in shape is and they don’t get as sick when they are healthier. Thanks for sharing her special day.
Please tell your daughter to keep up the good work! I am so inspired by her! She’s so strong and so amazing and her ability to set goals and work hard in life will take her so far!!!!
As the mom of a teen I know it can be a real roller coaster ride and I sometimes work over time to ensure that my teen feels empowered and Good about who she is and that I am there to help her every step of the way! As far as helping her stay healthy she is on the track team and we do everything we can to support her passion for running!
wow, you have a very motivated girl right there! She’s such an inspiration. Great opportunity to spend time with coach Higaya!
This is so wonderful to be able to empower your teen by giving her the resources she needs to pursue something important to her. That’s all we can do as parents, help give them the resources and then support them fully. This is awesome!
Wow, that is amazing! It’s so nice to see a kid going for it and even better with such great support. Looks like she had all the energy she needed from that Go Big.
Wow, your daughter sounds pretty incredible hope she accomplishes all her dreams! good to see such supportive parents!
I would totally use the money to pay for an activity or sport they want to get involved in.
Tough lady!
This is awesome. I have always been one to let my kids really go after their passions and do what they really want to do. The support is so needed, so its really nice to see. We need to try these!
What an inspiration you she is! I love how you fuel and encourage her passion. And what an amazing giveaway! I would use it for holiday shopping.
I would use the $500 to have a spa day where she would feel pampered and beautiful. A boost in self confidence when feeling good can be so empowering!
Looks delicious!! So glad she was able to have such an awesome day!!
Wow, looks like she’s doing a great job! I still haven’t seen these products anywhere near me. I need to check again because they look great!
Well done. She looks committed to it!
What an amazing experience for Ashley. It’s great that you were able to do this for her. What a great way to encourage and empower her.
Oh my word! Your daughter is so strong! That’s awesome! I would love to get into weight lifting or at least incorporate some strength exercises into my workouts. I think having somebody like Jamie would help me exercise more too!
I would celebrate my awesome teen with a shopping trip to Buckle, dinner at her favorite restaurant and a movie!
Enjoyed the post!
My boys love the new Go Big pouches. Your daughter is amazing. I am in awe of her desire to workout and be healthy. I wish that is a passion that I had at her age. I think it would have kept me from being obese most of my life.
This sounds like it was an awesome experience and opportunity for her! It’s awesome that you support something she is passionate about.
Silvia
She is a strong woman!
It is good to know that there is no colors from artificial sources in it. Looks delicious!
I recently got more into lifting at the gym and it has been so empowering. Great to see your daughter has figured that out already.
WOW! That is some serious training! We have a gymnast, so we know what it means to try to do everything the healthy way, always keeping health issues and training at the forefront.
Love seeing parents who encourage their daughters to do sports and be active. Your daughter looks so happy and strong and definitely needs high protein to power those workouts.
Wow, you should be very proud of your daughter. Those are some tough-looking lifts she was doing.
It is great there is a program around to elevate teens confidence.
Wow, your daughter sounds so wonderful! Staying active and healthy is so important for teens!
Your daughter sounds awesome.
A lot of young people don’t see how important health is even from right now!
I’d love to put it toward art classes for my daughter. She’s so creative and I think she’d really benefit from some formal training.
Awesome giveaway! I could never do that – I mean being so strong but inspiring story nevertheless. I think it’s important to have a good coach that both supportive and passionate with her/his job.
What a wonderful way to help her with her passion and goals. Great that it’s helping her stay active too. I think this would benefit so many others too.
I’d use the $500 to take my family on a weekend getaway.
What a great way to help her with her goals! She looks like a very dedicated young lady! Oh and strong too!
How great for her to do what she loves! Go get it girl! She is so strong and so healthy!!
Our son isn’t a teenager yet. We’d add the $500 to his savings account for college.
Wow! What a beautiful experience to have! My daughter is just starting into her teen years and I have been trying my best to empower her and find what makes her tick. For her I think it will be playing the violin. She is amazing at it!
Wow Ashley is doing awesome! Do you think she will want to be a personal trainer when she gets older?
Wow, I am so incredibly impressed! It is so wonderful to see parents supporting their children in their passions. It will undoubtedly lead to success.
I absolutely love that she is pursuing her passion! What an amazing thing! My son is almost a teen, and I hope he gets to this point as well!