POWERGIRL Marissa will inspire you to do EVERYTHING on your bucket list

Are you guys enjoying learning more about the POWERGIRLS?! We LOVE that you guys are getting to know them better because they are such a huge part of the Popster community! Our hope is that they inspire and represent all of YOU!

Anyway, this week's spotlight is on Marissa, aka @marissar_, from Honolulu, Hawaii! You guys, her Instagram is FULL of inspiring lifestyle and workout posts, gorgeous Hawaiian scenery and her adorable pup, Cilantro!

Another fun fact about Marissa - she's always down to try a Blogilates 30 Day Challenge!!! She's done the full 100 Squat Challenge AND 100 Glute Challenge on her IG and it's pure motivation!!! Check out our Q&A with her below and find out how YOU can get 25% off her fave POPFLEX item!

💕 Q&A WITH MARISSA! 💕

1️⃣ Give three words to describe yourself!

Passionate, driven & creative

2️⃣ What's one thing on your bucket list you haven't done? One that you have?

Ooooo there’s so many, where do I start!? 🤷🏻‍♀️

The first thing that came to mind is to complete an Ironman!  It consists of a 2.4- mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2 marathon (done in that order and on the same day!) Crazy, I know! 🤪 I’m currently training for my fifth marathon and I can barely keep up but there’s something about endurance sports that makes my heart go pitter-patter haha! I don’t know when I’ll be able to do this as it takes A LOT of time to train but I can’t wait! 

Other things on my bucket list include seeing the Northern Lights, seeing a giant starling murmuration and of course funding animal sanctuaries around the world…. Wait, you said only ONE thing right!? Lol! 🤣 Okay, moving on…

As far as things I HAVE done from my bucket list… there’s ALSO a lot, where do I start!? 

One of my favorites is spending the day with an elephant family! We went to Thailand in 2016 and we got to visit a beautiful elephant sanctuary (no elephant riding!), it was MAGICAL! We spent the day feeding them, watching them interact and giving them mud baths. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced!

3️⃣ What is your usual workout routine?

My workout routine for the next 6 months is a little more intense and rigid than normal because of marathon training (I’m running the Honolulu Marathon in December!). 

I like to start my day REALLY early so on days I run I like to wake up at 4:30am to start before sunrise. On the days I take a fitness class I usually sleep in a little more. Overall this is what my workout week looks like: 

🔸Monday: rest day! I sleep for as long as I want, go to a hot yoga class and foam roll.

🔸Tuesday: Run 3-5 miles + yoga or pilates at home

🔸Wednesday: Yoga and Sculpt at a studio

🔸Thursday: Run 3-5 miles + yoga or pilates at home

🔸Friday: Sculpt class, yoga and then I teach a Sculpt class 

🔸Saturday: I teach a Sculpt class, then I take a yoga class

🔸Sunday: Long run (usually between 9-18 miles). If I finish early I’ll go to a yoga class.

4️⃣ What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Gratitude, self-awareness and self love… these things are EVERYTHING.️

I wish I would have learned and really paid attention to these things when I was younger but I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey and I hope that I can inspire others to love themselves FIRST.

5️⃣ What's your fave YOLO meal?

Right now I’m really into veggie burgers with homemade fries and lots of ketchup! 🤤🤤🤤 Mmmmm. I’m also a huge fan of rice, Mexican candy, chips and vegan pastries!

6️⃣ What do you eat in a day?

I’m vegan and my husband is vegetarian so all of our meals are usually plant-based (unless it’s date night which is when we usually end up at a vegan sushi place or pizza!)🥳

 We love to meal prep and keep things as simple as possible so this is what a typical day of food looks like for me:

🔹Morning: coffee + protein shake

🔹Lunch: big tofu/tempeh bowl with rice

🔹Snack: almonds, matcha latte, protein shake

🔹Dinner: giant tofu/veggie stir fry with noodles 

7️⃣ What's one song you put on every workout playlist?

Oooooo this is a good question because I have a lot of favorite songs! 🤩

I know this doesn’t sound like it would belong in a workout playlist but I’m really into adding ‘Shallow’ by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper to my workout list. The EMOTION in the lyrics and melody is so intense and I’m obsessed with it. Any song that can make me FEEL, whether they’re happy or sad feelings, I’m a huge fan of.️

8️⃣ Who's your role model? Why?

My parents. The level of my dads work ethic and my moms loyalty inspire me and motivate me everyday. 

I have a lot of people I look up to for different reasons and my parents may not be the traditional definition of role models but I am who I am because of them… and to me that’s what makes a true role model. 

9️⃣ What's one secret or hidden talent not many people know about you?

I know how to sew and I made my own prom dress! 🤩 I learned to sew as a child (from my mom and aunt) and I was OBSESSED as a teenager. For college I attended a fashion school but I didn’t study fashion design. I was more interested in the business aspect of things so I studied Merchandise Marketing! I’m glad I stuck to marketing because I was never really that good at sewing anyway!

🔟 How do you feel when you're wearing your POPFLEX?

I feel inspired, graceful and empowered.

It’s inspiring to know the story behind the clothes I wear and that I’m part of a world wide community of POP love! I feel graceful because Cassey is practically a ballerina in disguise and she designs all of the clothes! And I feel empowered because POPFLEX is more than just “cute workout clothes”, it’s about body love, inclusivity, celebrating your beauty (inside and out) and following your dreams!

1️⃣1️⃣ What are some POPFLEX items you can't live without?

I absolutely adore color but when it comes to my staple items, I can’t live without these:

▪️Highness Legging- Night

▪️Heart Strings Bra- Night

1️⃣2️⃣ How has being a POWERGIRL changed your life?

A few years ago I wrote down the names of TWO activewear brands that I wanted to be sponsored by…

POPFLEX was one of the brands on my super short and specific list.

At the time, I didn’t consider myself “fit”, strong or an athlete AND to top it off, Cassey hadn’t said anything about an ambassador program, but I allowed myself to dream just for that moment...

Fast forward to 2019 and I’m one of the first sponsored POPFLEX ambassadors! 🥳 There are not enough emojis or words to express how unreal this experience has been for me so far. 

Being a POWERGIRL has been the biggest reminder to never stop dreaming and to stop doubting myself. ️ It’s so easy to get caught up in “what other people are doing and all the things they’re achieving” and sometimes you end up questioning whether you have something to offer… becoming a POWERGIRL has shown me that EVERYONE (even lil’ ol’ me!) has something to offer.

Even if that “something” is simply your story and your truth, it IS worthy. Knowing this and knowing that my story can inspire someone to smile, take action or follow their dreams is so incredibly empowering and life changing. Thank you POPFLEX!

Xoxo, -M 

Thank YOU Marissa, for always being a source of positivity and light! ☀️ To celebrate, we're giving YOU 25% off her fave Heart Strings Bra in Night with code "MARISSA" 🎉! Code expires next Tuesday, 10/29.

Check back next Tuesday to see which POWERGIRL we're spotlighting next! 🌟