How I'm staying active!

Before we hop into this topic of fitness, I want to make it clear that the title of this blog is very intentional. I didn’t want to call it “How to get fit!” or “How to get a perfect summer body” because I have found in the past that articles like that are so (unintentionally) disheartening. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve compared myself to others wishing their pre-workout body was my post-workout body. Or the amount of times I’ve seen a blog telling me to drink water and do squats to get in shape… ummm… no thanks, sis. So, because I want this to be a positive and encouraging space, I am really just going to tell you how I’ve been staying active.

I would love to take you through my fitness journey over my lifetime, and maybe I will one day, but for now, just know that I am a pretty active person. I am not one to sit still all day, or even for a couple hours (ask Pete, he’ll confirm haha). I’m always movin’ and groovin’.

I first made the conscious decision to be active out of vanity, great right? Hey, at least I’m being honest! I refused to gain the ‘freshman 15’ during college, and sought out all forms of physical activity to keep me active as an adult.

Fast forward 6 years, and my focus has shifted towards longevity.

I want to live a long and full life. One where I can run around and play yard games with friends (yes, I realize I sound 12 haha) and one where I can chase after my kids playing soccer in the yard. And while that might be far away in life’s calendar, there’s no harm in starting healthy habits now.

Quarantine has been one of the best things for my physical fitness.

With a change in schedule *thanks COVID* I found myself with an additional 2+ hours/day to spend on myself rather than within the confines of my car on the congested highway. Within the first couple weeks I decided to use that time on fitness. It started with walks and runs to get a change of scenery from our one-bedroom apartment. While I felt great physically, I also quickly saw a shift in my mental health.

My Morning routine is EVERYTHING

Now, 3(?) months into this quarantine, I have been trained like Pavlov’s dog to put on my Nike’s as soon as my alarm rings in the morning. I grab my headphones, turn on my best playlist or podcast, and walk wherever my heart takes me. Sometimes it’s 15 minutes to the city center and back, sometimes it’s an hour in random neighborhoods. What I can say is that it ALWAYS sets my day off on the right foot. My mind feels so clear and my heart is way more open to blessings and positivity.

I know not everyone can start their day with an hour walk, but everyone CAN take 5 minutes to breathe, meditate, stretch and set your intentions. Open your mind to good things. The days aren’t always easy and this might be the only moment of peace that you get, so cherish that moment.

find My go-to morning walk playlisT Here

Afternoon breaks

The stress of a hectic morning or the fact that my eyeballs have been piercing a bright screen for hours on end is the exact reason I take breaks in the afternoon. I am not afraid to take a 15 minute break from work and walk around the neighborhood, breathe fresh air and listen to music. It gets my body moving & breathes life into me at a time when my energy is usually dipping.

Nightly workouts

I need to start by saying, I HATED at-home workouts before quarantine. Oh my gosh I can’t tell you how much I despised them. The perky instructor quickly moving through a sequence that had me huffin’ & puffin’ + the off-brand music = a horrible concoction.

But, as I needed a change in my running/walking/biking routine, I decided to try something new.

A good friend of mine turned me on to Whitney Simmons a couple years ago, and I have to say it’s been an absolute godsend.

I first followed her IGTV for quick workouts, and after repeating them to the point of memorization, I decided to download the free trial of her app. The Alive Inside program first caught my eye as a 4-week program curated for at-home workouts that looked simple enough. I grabbed my Campbell’s soup cans, yoga mat and water bottle, eagerly diving into my new workout routine.

Jump ahead to today, nearly 8 weeks later, and I am have almost completed the program 2x through. It’s THAT good. I really wanted to share this with people who aren’t fans of at-home workouts / people who don’t think they have the strength to follow a program. Trust me, you can.

The structure of the Alive Inside program is AWESOME.

It’s 5 workouts/week with rest days built in between, and workouts ranging from 18-60 minutes. At first, the 60 minute time was more than daunting. How the heck would I follow an app for that long?! But, the awesome thing about this app is that Whitney builds in active rest periods between exercises, which means you aren’t jumping around for an hour straight. She also focuses a lot on muscle toning, not just cardio.

I started with soup cans, and have now advanced to 5 lb. weights thanks to my mom so graciously gifting me a pair, and I am feeling alive! I also build runs, usually 2-4 miles, and bike rides into the program because as mentioned before, I’m bad at sitting still.

find My THE BEST HYPE playlisT Here

How I’m feeling

Morning walks are for my mental health, afternoon walks are for my sanity, and evening workouts are… well, they’re for everything.

I have pushed myself to care for my mental and physical health more than ever before, allowing rest when needed and activity when I can. There’s no end goal with being active. I don’t weigh myself or concern myself with caloric intake, heck I don’t even own a scale. I simply listen to my body. I feel my lungs pumping air with each step I take and I feel joy.

I am taking care of myself so that I can be the healthiest version of me, regardless of what shape that takes.

Cheers!!

xoxo - Katie