Hey Girl, I Workout!

It's a gorgeous day and it beconed me to come out and play in it today. Aubrey's grandparents took her out for the afternoon and left me with strict instructions not to do any housework. I was only happy to follow their orders. :) I decided that I just needed to be outdoors and decided to go for a walk. That turned into the start of me beginning the Couch to 5K program. I have this longing to be a runner. I don't know where it has come from but it's just this thing in me that makes my feet move. Late last summer and into the fall I dabbeled with some jogging. This year I'm committing to running. I'm starting with the Couch to 5K program.

                 

                                                                           Source: Uploaded by user via Mandi on Pinterest

So all of this got me thinking about fitness. This weekend I discovered that I had officially dropped a pants size and with that momentum, I'm committing to tracking my Weight Watcher's Points+ diligently, and committing to exercising. It's time to kick this weight loss thing into overdrive.




Here are some tips, tricks and tools that I'm using to help.

      

                                                                                         Source: fitsugar.com via Mandi on Pinterest

1. Loving My Workout Gear


If you're going to commit to working out, honey, you need to look good doing it. Wear something that makes you feel fantastic. Why schlep around in a baggy, ratty tee and loosey goosey pants? Invest in some quality pieces that will make you excited about working out. I fell in love with a pair of workout capri's from Old Navy. They have moisture-wicking fabric and they really do keep me cool and dry. I also love that they kind of suck and hold me in. I love love love these pants! They have fantastic reviews with one reviewer comparing them to Nike's workout pants. Choose tee shirts or tank tops in colors that you love. Love your workout clothes and it won't be such a drudge to put them on.

2. Keep It Together


I keep all of my workout tees and pants together in one area. My shoes are always in the same spot too. I'm not searching through drawers or the dirty laundry to find something to workout in. It's all right there.

3. Keep It Clean


I just heard this tip recently and loved it. As soon as you are done with your workout, toss your sweaty clothes into the washing machine so they will be clean and fresh for the next day.

4. Get That App


Okay, so I'm new to the whole cell phone thing. I've been without a phone for a few years now so when I finally got an iphone 4S in January, I fell in love. And, you bet your boots that I found some great (FREE!) apps to help me on my fitness journey. I'll share them all in another post, but two that I'm really loving right now are:


MapMyWALK
MayMyFITNESS


Both are awesome apps that allow you to use your phones Bluetooth technology to record your routes as you go. They also record your calories burned, time spent doing the activity, miles walked, speed...and on and on. MapMyWALK is strictly for walking but MapMyFITNESS also allows you to record your time/pace for different activities such as leg lifts and crunches, walking the dog, cycling, swimming and push ups. You are able to keep your stats and compare them to previous workouts. You can also choose to share your stats, routes and workouts via Facebook and Twitter. I'm not going to go that far but I'm kind of really falling in love with these two apps!

5. Commit To A Time


I know that if I don't get a workout in in the morning that it's going to be hard to squeeze something in during the rest of the day. What does your schedule look like? Are you someone who can get up a little earlier to workout? Are your evenings free? Or does your schedule change daily and you need a little more flexibility? Whatever it is, evaluate your time and determine when and how you can get some physical activity into your day.




I'm curious what your tips are. Fill me in. How do you commit to moving each day?