*Image above from TorySport, showcasing this tee shirt.
My commitment to exercise has been spotty at best for the past two years, since becoming pregnant with Hill. I have not been able to get into a routine that I can stick with, as I consistently prioritize other things in this busy season of life. I’ve been making peace with that reality, but wanted to be honest about it here: I do not have it all together in this regard (and in many other regards, come to think of it)! I exercise when I can and try to enjoy focusing on other things when I can’t. I know I’ll find my way back into a routine at some point in the next few years. I’m too vain not to. (Ha!)
Chic athletic clothes make it easier to clip back in to my running regimen from time to time though…below, a few recent finds that have motivated a delinquent return to fitness:
JUST ORDERED THESE LEGGINGS IN THE LAVENDER SMOKE — PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH HOW FLATTERING THESE ARE
ALSO EYEING THE COORDINATING BRA — I LIKE THE SKINNY STRAPS (#90SAREBACKBABY)
ORDERED A HANDFUL OF THESE LOOSE-FIT TANKS ($12?!?!? AND COME IN GREAT COLORS) — I PREFER TO RUN IN LOOSER FIT TOPS LIKE THESE; WISH THEY WEREN’T SOLD OUT IN THE LONG-SLEEVED STYLE IN MY SIZE
BALA WRIST WEIGHTS (THESE SELL OUT CONSTANTLY — CURRENTLY 25% OFF WITH CODE HURRY25; MORE HERE; IF SOLD OUT BY THE TIME THIS POST GOES LIVE, TRY THESE SIMILAR ONES ON AMAZON)
TORY’S TIE DYE LEGGINGS AND TOPS ALWAYS SELL OUT
I’M NOT USUALLY A CROP TOP GAL BUT I LOVE THE CASUAL STYLE AND COLORS OF THIS TANK
I’M A TOTAL CONVERT TO FEETURES RUNNING SOCKS — THEY ARE DELICIOUSLY CUSHIONED AND THEY HUG THE FOOT SO NICELY
FUN SCALLOP-BOTTOM SWEATSHIRT ($20) FOR POST-WORKOUT LOUNGE
CONSIDERING THIS SWEATSHIRT IN THE COOL PUTTY COLOR — LOVE THE FIT/STYLE
FINALLY PULLED THE TRIGGER ON A PAIR OF THESE HIGHLY-PRAISED $30 LEGGINGS — WILL REPORT BACK
WELL-PRICED RUNNING SHORTS WITH GREAT REVIEWS (UNDER $20)
ALSO SMITTEN WITH THESE PAINT-SPLATTERED LEGGINGS AND MATCHING BRA
Lastly, running gear I’ve owned for awhile and can’t live without:
MY PLANTRONICS WATERPROOF EARBUDS (CONNECT TO PHONE USING BLUETOOTH — VIRTUALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE AND WILL NOT FALL OUT OF EARS WHILE ACTIVE)
OBSESSED WITH MY RUNNING SHOES
DORKY BUT I LIVE FOR THIS NO-BOUNCE RUNNING BELT BAG TO CARRY MY IPHONE, KEY, AND CREDIT CARD
I OWN BOTH A GARMIN RUNNING WATCH AND AN APPLE WATCH (I USE AN INEXPENSIVE PINK ATHLETIC BAND WITH IT)…BOTH ARE GREAT BUT GARMIN IS BETTER FOR SERIOUS RUNNING: EASIER TO USE, MORE ACCURATE, AND HOLDS A CHARGE FOR LONGER
THE ALIGN 25″ CAPRIS ARE STILL MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE (MOST COMFORTABLE) LEGGINGS FOR RUNNING…AND RUNNING ERRANDS
ALSO LOVE THESE HIGH-WAIST MOTO LEGGINGS — CURRENTLY ON SALE FOR 40% OFF!
NIKE RUNNING HAT — KEEPS SUN OUT OF MY EYES
I DON’T CARRY WATER WHILE RUNNING, BUT THIS IS MY FAVORITE SPORTS NOZZLE BOTTLE WHEN I AM HIKING/DOING OTHER EXERCISE
P.S. On maintaining hobbies.
P.P.S. Tennis-inspired finds, whether you play or not. (This $27 tee was very popular from this post.)
P.P.P.S. On self-image after giving birth.
Ooh so many good recs here, thank you! I’m ordering those olo leggings, and in your lavender smoke color… I would normally just order black, so I’m going wild here!
So with you on the cropped tops trend.. I was at Dick’s Sporting Good’s recently, and every time I thought oooh this is cute… I pulled it off the rack it was cropped. Um, I’m 41, I going to need the other half of that top, ha!
And, the running shorts…with pockets!! Yes!
Reminded me of a hilarious tweet I read a while back:
“I have a question and it’s real damn urgent.
Why do my infant son’s pants have full pockets and mine don’t?
WHY? WHAT’S HE GOT TO CARRY? THE KEYS TO THE PATRIARCHY?”
Well, it made me laugh, at least 😉 Thanks as always for such good stuff! xo
Haha!! 🙂
I hear you on the crop top situation – it’s too much!
xx
I love Emily’s tip about committing to a run (or other exercise) every other day and not giving yourself an “out” — I’m going to adapt this technique when I’m back from vacation next week! I need a bit of motivation to help me get back into a mindful exercise routine.
I finally received my Bala bangles after waiting for four months (!) — curious to see how much I like them!
Also: thanks for the tip about those Target running tanks! I’m the same; I must have a loose top for exercise and these fit the bill. <3
xx
Yay! I think you’ll love the tanks and you seriously can’t beat the price.
Agree on Emily’s tip – have adopted and am already seeing the results pay off.
xx
Yay!! Kudos to you 🙂
xx
Woot woot woot!
This will be so good for our mental health! Sometimes I promise myself that after the run I can walk home listening to a podcast 😉
Ooo I love that! A little reward after the effort!
Hello! I was in the very same boat re working out post second child. I decided this spring to make a commitment I wouldn’t break no matter how tired I was – I decided to go running every other day. It’s not a decision – it just is, no excuses. That works for me because if I stopped to consider “should I or shouldn’t I?” I’d skip it! I use the app Aaptiv and that is incredibly motivating. I know that all I have to do is put on clothes and shoes and one of my favorite trainers will curate the workout, correct my form and push me! It’s a game changer. Anyway, thought I’d share these tips as I’ve felt so much happier taking the decision making out of it. I now look forward to my runs! I know I’ll always feel better afterwards.
Emily – Wow! This is such incredibly good advice. I have been in the mode of running every other day, too, for the past two weeks and I just sort of fell into the habit by accident but now I see that it makes the commitment so much easier to maintain and I totally see the logic as you write it here. I really enjoy the day off in between runs. It gives my body time to recover and it makes it so much easier to mentally commit to running the following day. Love this tip. Will be sticking with this for some time!
I do always feel SO SO much better after running. Even when my pace is so pathetic! I’ll get there…
xx