get fit, part 1: get moving.

capris. shoes. long sleeved shirt. tank. sports bra. socks. flip belt. fitbit.

This month we are focusing on ideas for making January awesome instead of what it usually is, the most depressing month of the year…

Get up and get moving.

In 2014 I went through a major bout with anxiety.  When I have anxiety I lose my appetite, and many months of it meant I lost a lot of weight.  I wasn’t healthy, I wasn’t even working out really, I felt like crap, but I was skinny, really skinny for me.  And mentally a mess.  In 2015, I worked through my anxiety, got better, and then started eating again.  Not unhealthy eating.  Just eating at all.  And I gained it all back, plus an extra 5-7 pounds that I never had before.  Welcome to my 30’s I guess, right?

I’ve never had an issue with my weight.  I’ve never been an overeater, and I’ve been fairly consistent with working out and staying active in my adult life and I’ve always stayed around the same weight plus or minus 1-3 pounds.  Until last year.

I know an extra 5-7 lbs is nothing to cry about, but I definitely don’t like having that extra padding, but mostly I want to feel fit and I haven’t felt that way in the last six months.  I’m a big believer in the whole “if you don’t like something, change it” thing and as I get older I realize exactly how much I want to be/stay healthy.

I feel better when I work out and eat healthy.  So in January.  Let’s just do that.

Part 1: Get moving.

I’ve found that the best way for me to stick with working out is to keep it simple, by doing what works for me, my life and my schedule.  I have four kids and two businesses I run, so fitting in my workouts has been historically tricky, but I’ve finally figured it out.

Here’s what works for me:

I do a quick 20 minutes of cardio every morning at home, I can easily waste 20 minutes just checking instagram in the morning, so instead I do a quick cardio routine before I jump in the shower.  It gets my blood moving and helps me feel good, but I can still be ready early in the day, and get my kids off to school on time.  I started using an awesome new app called SWORKIT a couple months ago, and I am obsessed.  It’s perfect for working out at home.  You can get customized workouts (based on what you want to work/do) right on your phone, with demonstrations, for as few or as many minutes as you want.  They have a prompt before each move change and  you can also still play your own music while you’re doing the workout.  Seriously, I can’t say enough good things about this app.  I also like to do Insanity. (I just skip the warm up and stretching– I know, bad) and do the 2 circuits.

At night, I go to the gym and lift weights for half an hour, I’m currently doing this program. (I’ll let you know how it goes)  Then I do 10 minutes of ab work (again using my SWORKIT app and it comes up with a routine for me), and finish up running on a treadmill for 25-30 minutes.

Voila!

This is what is working for me.

I like doing my major workout at night because it really helps me relax and unwind before bed.  Plus I’m finding that I sleep much much better.

a few extra tips for success:

-Buy the right workout clothes, for you; the workout clothes that give you the support you need, that you feel good in and that you like.  If neons really get you moving, go for it!  I’m not really into bright/big patterned workout gear.  I like my stuff to be pretty low key, so I mostly just wear black and gray, but I am super picky about my workout pants.  I love this nike pair (it’s pretty much the only kind I wear) because it’s got the best waist band.  (It’s all about the waist band.)

-Get a flip belt.  This thing is a total game changer!  So convenient, keeps everything neatly tucked (including my phone and chapstick) without having to fumble with it.  And it’s comfortable to wear!

-Make a good playlist.  Then crank it.  The second I hear myself breathing heavily I lose all desire to live.  If I can drown out the noise of my own death, I work so much harder.

-Make a plan.  Don’t just show up to the gym and see what happens.  Do some research, put together a plan before you start.  You’ll workout so much more effectively and in so much less time. Create your own fitness pinterest board and pin away.  (Here’s mine.)

-Schedule it.  And treat it like an appointment you simply can’t miss.

-Find active ways to relax.  Yoga and pilates are a great way to get a little extra toning in while also easing stress.  I always feel like I’ve been to a spa after I’ve done pilates.  I love Stott pilates.

What are your tips for getting/staying fit?

Next week, I’ll be talking more about the food side of all this…