GYM CLASS HEROES

Instagram via @basebodybabes

I just looked up lethargic in the thesaurus. Slothful. Somnolent. Spiritless. I'm trying to figure out what word would best describe me for the past 7 years. It's not that I haven't been active because I have young kids, so that's impossible. But let's just say that I used to be really active, really toned, really strong. And then suddenly, I wasn't. I worked out at least 3 days a week, quite religiously in fact, for most of my life. And then suddenly, I didn't. I used to feel like I was missing something when I didn't exercise because I craved it. But for the past 7 years, I honestly just wasn't interested at all.

Turns out my total lack of motivation coincided directly with having kids. And while having babies provided loads of convenient excuses, I realized that my reasons for not working out had morphed from valid to ridiculous. With a 5 and 7 year old, I found myself still saying things like 'I don't want to mess with their schedules,' or 'I'm just too tired.' I work from home. They're at school all day. They sleep like rockstars. Like I said: ridic.

This past fall, that all changed. I decided it was finally time to get to the bottom of things. And by bottom, I mean my own. My formerly perky, well, everything, had begun migrating south and it wasn't even winter yet. I'd been making a monthly donation to my gym for the past 7 years but only ever went a handful of times. Still, I refused to give up my membership because it felt exactly like that: giving up. But I finally did. Turns out breaking up with your gym is a lot like quitting a job or ditching a bad boyfriend - sometimes you have to leave to find something better.

In September, at the urging of a fellow mom, I reluctantly signed up for a Bums & Tums class at a local community centre. Despite the cringeworthy name, the instructor more than made up for it. Every Tuesday, I'd meet my friend for our weekly B&T and found myself, for the first time in 7 years, actually enjoying a workout. Then another mom and I decided to try bootcamp. So every Thursday, we had a date at the XTreme Fitness Torture Chamber where Pedro threw tires at us until we begged him to stop. And somehow, I found myself hate-loving it. Before I knew it, I'd done 4 straight months of consistent workouts and I hadn't once made an excuse. For the new year, I've signed up for an evening pilates class while my son does ball hockey in the gym next door (no mom guilt - yay!) and two lunchtime B&Ts. I haven't felt this good, this strong, this healthy since my pre-baby days. 

After all these years, I finally figured out the 3 things I need to stay on track with my workouts. (If you're feeling similarly derailed by your lack of motivation, maybe these will help you, too)...

GYM CLASS HEROES

via ELLE

Originally posted in The Fashion Scoop

Wearing your gym clothes outside of the gym used to be a fatal fashion offense. Bright white running shoes worn with a dress would just never have happened a few years ago. When it came to footwear, comfort equated with totally out-of-touch. And then there were the leggings. Girls who wore Lululemons in public after yoga class were publicly (make that behind-your-back, semi-privately) shamed. 

But like everything in fashion, what was once a faux pass has become a big fashion do. From Gigi Hadid to Karlie Kloss, I'm sure that models started this whole athleisure trend. Instagram shots of leggy supers leaving their ballet classes, yoga studios and boxing rings in their classic old-school Adidas gear made us collectively want to look just like them. And since the fitness movement has recently turned sedentary stylistas into goal-crushing workout freaks, everyone is wearing gym gear 24/7.

This summer, a little sporty goes a long way. An old-school Nike swoosh or Adidas symbol will help you look right on point when wearing black & white. Prefer to keep your logos on lockdown? Look for mesh fabrics and sporty sandals or shower slides to look athletic, no push-ups required. Hair can stay a little roughed up (did you hear sugar spray is the new salt spray?) and makeup should stay minimal, but a bright orangey-red or bright pink matte lip never hurt. After all, even hardcore athletes like to have a little fun. 

See below for some sporty summer outfit inspo. Come on. Just do it ;)

READ MORE...

WORK IT | Spring's Most Stylish Workout Gear

Karlie Kloss via Nike

Originally posted in The LOOK

I don't know about you but it's really easy for me to get to the gym. It's the staying at the gym that's a problem. Every year around this time - you know the time where you see ads everywhere for beautiful girls in bikinis - I realize how badly I need to get my butt in gear. But this year, it feels different somehow. 

From Instagram to Snapchat, fitness fanatics are everywhere right now. And while getting fit is an especially huge trend at the moment, it feels less like a passing fad and more like a movement. Women I follow on social media not only look amazing in their bright workout gear but they look strong, powerful and crazy confident as they run marathons, hit the boxing ring and do mind-blowing yoga balances. Instead of models simply posing in pretty workout gear, you get the sense that they're actually doing the workouts in their daily downtime, too. Since having kids, I've never been so inspired to get fit.

While I think personal trainers are great, nothing motivates me to get my body moving more than cute workout gear. Luckily this season, the stores are loaded with the prettiest printed sports bras, bright tanks and sleek bottoms that will make you envy of any fitness class. As they say, looking good is half the battle ;)

Scroll through the slideshow for my top spring workout gear picks. You can do it!

 

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