Breaking a Sweat

Fashion keeps me thin — but not for the reason that you’re probably thinking {i.e. not because of the waifs that parade down the runways semi-annually.}  Rather, I’ve always motivated myself to haul my tuchus to the gym and onto the elliptical via the promise of a thick new glossie, full of new fashion ideas and styling layouts.  In this way, I’ve transformed a typically hateful, sweat-filled hour of life into one of pure joy and bliss: ooh, the new Louis Vuitton ad campaign!  Ahh, an interview with Karl Lagerfeld.  Eee, Taylor Tomasi-Hill’s new accessory picks.  Nothing makes my little legs move faster on the elliptical.  Lately,  I’ve been switching it up and extending my workouts, breaking a sweat on the elliptical for 40 minutes with magazine in hand and then running on the treadmill for 20 to give myself time to mull over all of the styling I’ve just digested.  {And when it’s warm outside, I l.o.v.e. running outdoors, and will spend the duration daydreaming about new closet additions and challenging myself to come up with fantasy wardrobes for random, figment-of-the-imagination events, like a week-long ski trip to Aspen — my latest self-challenge.  Is that lame or what?}  The other source of magpie metabolism motivation?  Kickin gym duds featuring lots of bright / neon pieces.  I’m obsessed with the vibrant shades of Target’s C9 for Champion sport’s bras, which are only $16.99/pop.

I probably own 10 different colors — I like them peeking out from my other workout staple: boys’ Hanes v-neck tees, which I wear constantly ($7.99 for 5, Hanes):

Oh-so-soft, oh-so-breathable, and oh-so-cheap.  I’ll also stock up on brightly colored cotton tees when they go on sale at J. Crew and Gap.  I know that they’re not technically meant for exercise, but hey!  They’re cotton, they’re pretty, and they’re inexpensive, and you’d be surprised to see how happy a neon pink sports bra against a day-glo citrine tee will make you.  It makes for a little extra pep in the step, and when you’re in the business of burning cals, I’m sure you’re welcome that boost.

I’m something of a Nike addict when it comes to workout pants/shorts — I have essentially had 3 pairs of Nike spandex leggings for the last 10 years, and they just work…and work…and work.  (Seriously.  I work out 5-7 times a week, and they’re still in great shape.)  I love ones with little pops of color on them, like these (on sale for $43, Nike):

In warmer weather, I like solid-colored running shorts — like every other female between the ages of 12 and 40, I have about 3,498 pairs of those Tempo running shorts ($28, Nike), and while they come in fantastic color combinations, I’ve been looking to replace some of them with something new.  I love the cut and color of these Pearl Izumi shorts (on sale for $22, Sierra Trading Post), and I’d pair them with a bright sports bra and a burnout tank (I can’t seem to find them online, but DKNY Active had some phenomenal BRIGHT colored racerback tanks out last season, and I wish I’d bought the entire stock):

For footwear, I buy ankle socks in bulk at Costco of all places, but these inexpensive sets appeal to me just as easily ($6.50 for 3, Old Navy):

(Are you noting a trend here?!  While I’m a serious label-luster in my “real world” wardrobe, when it comes to workout gear, I try to stay on the cheap, because I need my workout clothes to be easily expendable.  Since I work out almost every day, I literally wear my workout items into the ground, and have no problem tossing old, ratty Hanes tees and holey Costco socks out the window after a year of solid service, but I have a hunch I’d feel differently were it Stella McCartney for Adidas gear.)  As for trainers — and this is seriously pathetic — I pick my kicks for aesthetic reasons, which I know is a wretched statement for a serious gym rat, as the wrong shoe can seriously mess with your knees/your ankles/your gait.  But I’m impractical like that, and always need to have hot pink on my sneaks — I’ve been wearing something very similar to these gray and pink Nikes for awhile (on sale for $78, Amazon):

But I’m due for a new pair (I try to replace mine once a year or so, as per my father’s urging — he runs 6 miles a day, and he’s in his 60s.  He knows what’s up.) — and I kind of want these retro-styled Nike Free Runs ($84, FinishLine), which are apparently not only chic but light on the foot:

I’ll pack up all my gear in a lightweight tote — I love my canvas Anya Hindmarch carry-all (I snapped mine up at Sassanova in Georgetown, but Anya releases clever new ones each season — $98, Anya Hindmarch):

However, I recently joined Balance Gym, which is conveniently located en route to my office, so I’ve been hitting the elliptical pre-work.  {L.o.v.e. Balance Gym — it feels like I’m working out at a spa, and it’s never over-crowded.}  Ipso facto: I’m officially a bag lady.  I’ve been walking around with an armful of totes (I’ll usually carry my Anya, my Louis Vuitton Neverfull, and whatever other stray possessions find their way under my arm) in order to accommodate my shower gear and change of clothes.  It’s getting ridiculous. This uber-bright Mulberry mini-duffel caught my eye as a suitable substitution ($265, Net-A-Porter) — it’s foldable and lightweight:

Perfect, too, for toting my wimpy little 5-lb weights.  This is going to sound uber-germaphobic-freak-ish of me, but I’m pretty much grossed out by touching the free weights at the gym.  When are they cleaned?!  Ever?!  People wipe down the machines, but I constantly see grubby, sweaty, germy hands on the weights, and not a wipe in sight.  So.  I occasionally bring my own weights, which make me color-happy ($10 apiece, Amazon):

And, of course, a trusty water bottle.  I’m considering upgrading to one of these eco-friendly Bobbles, which filters water as you drink and lasts for like a million years ($8.95 for mid-size, WaterBobble).  Rachel Bilson uses them…and so will I.

The other items always in my gym bag?  My trusty ol’ UVA hat — for some reason, I was drawn to the camo style as an undergrad, during a strange getting-in-touch-with-the-South moment, and I just can’t bear to give it up now ($19, Mincers):

I also always carry a lightweight sweatshirt / long-sleeved tee — I’m preternaturally cold at all times, so I need it until I warm myself up — and these kids’ size Splendid sweatshirt tees are unexpectedly chic in a lived-in, beachy kind of way (and would probably fit me in the size 14 — $66, Nordstrom):

Then I have a whole mess of bobby pins and my new best friend, these snag-free elastics (note: occasionally I see girls who wear their hair down at the gym and I don’t…get it.  Why?!  Sticky sweaty hair on the nape of the neck gives me the willies — $3.50 for 8, Sephora):

I store both hair tools, along with a handful of beauty necessities (including my Fresh Sugar Rose lip balm — $22, Fresh; my Benefit Posie Tint Cheek Stain — $28, Sephora; a little tub of Tocca solid perfume in the Cleopatra scent — $30, Tocca; and of course a little travel-size sample of the love of my life, DiorShow Mascara — $24 for a full-sized tube, Sephora) in a punchy makeup bag (I just discovered the line 1154Lill, and am ob.sessed with their punchy prints — $38 apiece, 1154Lill):

And — of course — the newest fashion mags.  When they’re unavailable (or I’ve read them cover to cover at least twice), I’ll downgrade and snap up the latest trashy tabloid.  I like to see what the stars are wearing and…you know, get my Kardashian gossip while I pride myself on preventing a Kardashian-sized tuchus.

The other key to success, aside from the latest glossie and uber-bright workout gear?  A killer playlist.  I spend a fortune on iTunes, buying the latest heavy-on-the-beat jams.  {See below for my current picks.}  I like hip hop and techno, and all of the recent blends thereof, and I blast them on my little iPod shuffle, which is teeny-tiny, weightless, and clips right onto my running pants (I also love that it doesn’t have any fancy display screen that I have to worry about scratching up — $49, Apple):

I pretty much buy earbuds in bulk — for some reason, I’m constantly misplacing them and/or getting grossed out by thinking that they’ve collected lots of germs, and I like the JVC Gumy line, which comes in eye-pleasing colors like the grape and melon variations featured above ($10, BestBuy).  If I’m not showering up to head straight to work, I’ll pull on my trusty Patagonia fleece (I know this will sound odd, but something about the style and oatmeal color of this pullover read “retro” to me, and that just.makes.me.happy — $119, Patagonia):

I’ll also pack a lightweight field jacket in army green (love the peach lining on this style — Barbour, $328, My Wardrobe), or a candy-colored anorak (side note — I have excellent luck in the little boys’ section of Gap with this sort of thing — they always have cute styles, and they’re cheap! — check out this $46 classic slicker, or this $46 rugged “grunt” jacket):

If I’m showering, I try to scale back on the 53-lb bag of products I want to bring by sticking to the essentials: travel-sized Frederic Fekkai volumizing shampoo/conditioner, razor, MoroccanOil (arg, can’t get enough of that stuff), and Bliss body butter lotion.  {Side bar: um.  I don’t know if I’m the uber-prude of the century, but I find it very difficult to strut around in the ladies’ locker room in the buff.  And today I made the mistake of planning an outfit that involves black Spanx.  Imagine how hard it is to wriggle into those puppies while other women are watching.  Am I lame on this front?)  I store my sweaty gym clothes in these handy, machine washable nylon Baggus ($7 each, Baggu):

(Don’t you dig the prints?!)  All in all, if you can find little ways to make the workout a happier, peppier experience: do it — whether it takes a couple extra dollars for a bold set of exercise bands, or a spiffy set of colored tees, I guarantee it will pay off.  And if the duds don’t do it, check out what’s currently getting my heart rate up on my iPod:

Magpie Metabolism Booster

Take Over Control / Afrojack

6 Foot, 7 Foot / Lil Wayne

Dog Days Are Over / Florence & The Machine

Monster / Kanye West

Party and Bull**** / B.I.G.

No Hands / Waka Flaka Flame

Mean / Taylor Swift*

Thriller / Michael Jackson

Right Above It / Lil Wayne

Xxplosive / Dr. Dre

Queen of the Night / Whitney Houston*

We Love Deez Hoez / Outcast

Alors On Danse / Stromae and Kanye West

Bottoms Up / Nicki Minaj

*Don’t judge.  Everyone needs a little T Swizzle and Whit Whit in their lives.

Anyone else geared up for a solid workout!?