The start of a new year is a great time to refresh everything and that rings true for workout clothes. There is nothing like a new outfit to get you excited to get to the gym, so treat yourself to something new that you can’t wait to wear to your next workout class or post workout class. Besides “Dress Good Do Good” I also believe “New Year, New Workout Clothes”, don’t you?
How many of you have a workout routine? Maybe you take classes somewhere or use a personal trainer or perhaps you workout alone. It’s ok if you don’t, however, it’s never too late to start. I actually never exercised in my mid to late twenties. I was one of those blessed people who could eat anything she wanted and not gain a pound. Then I turned 30 and literally the next day eating anything I wanted came to an end. The scale slowly creep up each time I got on it and my clothes started to get tight. At that point I realized I actually had to workout to maintain my ideal weight and shape. It was a huge bummer, having that happen later in life because it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I struggled for the next couple of years trying to get into a routine. But the one thing that always motivated me to get into the gym was buying cute workout clothes.
I’ll admit it. Cute clothes for any occasion make me happy. Once I became excited to wear workout clothes I became excited to workout too. I was so into it I actually went out and got a personal trainer! Ok I’ll admit I had a Groupon for it at first, but once that ran out I signed up for more classes. It was a great decision to get a personal trainer. The trainer held me accountable and I rarely canceled because I felt bad if I left the trainer high and dry. Working one-on-one with someone was hard at first, but after the initial weirdness, it was great. I stayed with my first trainer for 3 years. He then quit training people to get a job in sales, and I was sad 🙁
I found another trainer through a recommendation and have been with him for 2 years now. I’ll admit it’s a pretty sweet deal. He comes to my condo building once a week for an hour work out in the building’s gym. I consider it one of the perks of city life and I have no excuse to not workout. The gym is literally in my house! Working out with the trainer once a week wasn’t cutting it though. As my age ticked up so did my weight and I realized I can’t maintain my physical shape with just one workout a week. I had to do more. So to get motivated I bought a new outfit and signed myself up for classes at Pure Barre.
I was a huge skeptic at first. How could lifting my leg 100 times with the tiniest movement get me in shape? There was no way this would work, I thought. However, I knew Pure Barre had a cult-like following for thousands of women and I decided to give it a try. I took about 10 classes before I was hooked and eventually signed for a monthly membership. The results I saw were amazing. My body was actually changing before my eyes and becoming toned. For the last 18 months, I go to classes there at 6am almost every day.
Yes you read that correctly. 6am everyday! Is it hard to get up every morning and go there? Sometimes it is, but I truly enjoy the actual workout. I can feel my body changing and getting stronger during each class. The class is broken down into defined sections that target a group of muscles like, arms, thighs, seat and abs. The class is challenging and the instructors are truly amazing. I never leave a class without thinking “How can she do that and talk at the same time?” Trust me, you will think the same thing when you check it out for yourself. You can sign up for classes at the Streeterville Studio, they currently have some great new client specials; 3 class pack for $20 (great offer to test out a few classes), 10 class pack for $89 or an intro month for $99.
So now that working out is part of my everyday routine I still like to shop for new workout clothes that continue to motivate me. I don’t have one go-to brand for workout clothes. Instead I have a brand for each piece of clothing.
Pants
My go-to for pants are GapFit or Athleta. At the Gap I exclusively wear the High Rise Pant. I like my pants high so when I’m bending over nothing is showing. Athleta also has the High Rise Pant, which I like, but the length sometimes comes up short given my long legs. I wear a medium in both of these pants and they are true to size.
Sports Bras
I pick my sports bras based on the activity I am doing. When running I need a high impact bra and am currently using this one and it runs true to size. For my workouts with my trainer or workouts I do by myself at the gym, I opt for a medium impact bra and like the fit of this bra. And for Pure Barre classes I go with a low impact bra and usually buy the bra based on the back straps. There’s no logic here, except I’m a girl and I want something that is going to look nice with my tank. I’m loving the back straps on this one and this one.
Tanks
Workout tanks are such a sensitive topic, because no two ever fit the same. I like a looser fitting top that stays in place while I’m planking and doing mountain climbers. It’s not fun to be doing these activities and your top is in creeping up on you. Athleta has some great tanks right now that I love. This one and this one meet my criteria for a workout top. Target is also a place I look. It’s hit or miss there, but with their new product/design lines they have better options.
Long Sleeve Tops
There is only one long sleeve top I wear for workouts. Its the GapFit Breathe Top. This top is longer in length which is important to me as I’m taller. The sleeves have a thumb hole which provide extra warmth if I’m outside. And it features a super soft fabric that wicks moisture away from my body, which is important when I’m working up a sweat. They come in great colors and the prices are wallet friendly.
Pre-Workout Fleece
What’s a pre-workout fleece you ask? It’s the cozy fleece that provide warmth for your muscles to get warmed up and can be worn as your jacket as you walk to class on crisp cool days. It’s that extra layer that looks sporty and puts you in the mood to workout. My favorites right now are this one, this one and this one.
Post-Workout Outfit
Everyone needs a post-workout outfit. This is the outfit you slip into after you’ve worked out hard and showered. It’s the outfit that rewards you for getting up and getting to the gym. You can also wear this outfit just because :). My go to is the Restore Jogger from Athleta. I’ve got to admit paying almost $80 for comfy pants made me choke, however, its the best purchase I’ve ever made. They are so soft and so cozy, your legs will thank you for buying them. I have two cozy tops I pair these with. First up my Athleta Criss Cross Sweatshirt, which I’ve been known to wear around town because its so cute it doesn’t look like loungewear. Second my Coaster Luxe Sweatshirt its just as cozy as my pants. This top has a looser fit and slits on the side which offer the perfect amount of coziness.
How motivated are you to workout or go shopping for workout clothes? What gets you out there and moving to maintain a healthy lifestyle? I’d love to hear your tips too, share them below!
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