Back to school. Ugh. I know. I don't even want to say it. But if we're going to go in pouting and stomping, we may as well do it in style, right? So let's get to it and check out my picks for the fashionably fit teacher in us all!
1. Scout bags. Love this multi pocket style in Flamingo Road. Perfect size for your laptop, tablet, papers, and pockets to specially fit your water and shake bottles. Doesn't get more perf than that!
2. How cute are these meal prep containers? You know you can't actually leave the building for lunch, so you may as well prep healthy in advance and add a little motivation to the hour (or 20 minutes.. whichever ;)) as well!
3. A cute coffee mug to go. Even with the Shakeo, I will always love my morning coffee or tea. I don't even think it's about the caffeine need necessarily, but just a habit I've gotten into and an aroma I need to start my day. I literally feel like I'm in a Folgers commercial somedays. The smell really is that amazing.
4. Lots of black leggings and long tunics. Like I mentioned earlier in the spring, I love simplicity. I no longer have time to be choosing outfit pieces and gathering a new look each day. I want something I can consistently feel good in that will transition easily from the school day to my workout. Just a quick shirt and shoe change and I am ready to go! Picked up these basic tops from Kohls to pair with my favorite LuLaRoe and that's my wardrobe. Done and done!
5. A doable program that takes 30 minutes or less! Again, these days my life is a race to get my kids as quickly as possible. I am committed to not letting my kids stay in daycare for any more than 9 hours a day. Which actually sounds like way to much... but it's the best I can do. For now.. Anyway, a quick workout and one that I can do at home has become an absolute necessity. And as it turns out there are a LOT of them out there. Recently I have become a HUGE advocate of Beachbody On Demand because it allows me to stream a variety of workouts and I can do it from anywhere that I have internet access. No more DVDs. Just me and my laptop. So whether I end up in the kitchen, the living room, the patio, or my own classroom, it doesn't really matter. I'm equipped for success. Contact me to find out how you can try it out for 30 days FREE!
It started off slowly. Actually, I started off "anti". I was totally into my own routines and saw no purpose in including others. In fact, it's weird because I am definitely NOT a person who has ever needed anyone to workout with. I'll even go to the extent of saying I hated working out with other people. I was self motivated enough to commit to my own goals and introverted enough to enjoy the workout silence. It was my thing, for myself, by myself, and I didn't really want to share that part of my life with anybody. I enjoyed my solitary therapy. And so I've said "no" to basically every fitness group that has crossed my path.
Fast forward a few years. As a mom, I can't say I am getting out much. The social aspect of my life has done a complete 180, and my kids are honestly the most socialization that I have. I love the mom life to death, but it's definitely caused me to go about "socializing" in a whole new way. Thank you Jesus for Facebook, Instagram, and everything else that some people tend to avoid for whatever reason because they are "fake" or "distracting" or whatever negativeness you want to assign to social media. For me, the positives outweigh the negatives. Hands down.
This brings me to challenge groups. To how they have allowed me to connect with soooo many amazing women who I definitely never would have connected with before. Challenge groups give me a reason to reach out to people I wouldn't have otherwise. People that I have only admired from afar and thought to myself, we could totally be friends. But of course I never really spoke with them for fear of seeming "weird" or "awkward".
Running challenge groups has given me balls. It's given me confidence. It's given me a social circle of amazing people, without bars or alcohol involved, who inspire me in the best way. Of course, it also keeps me accountable as far as health and fitness are concerned, and I know that is really the primary purpose of them. But truly there is a different, underlying reason why I continue to hold them and reach out to those around me. And it honestly has nothing to do with me. It's because I love the camaraderie and friendship that the challenge groups spark. I love sharing my struggles with people who truly relate and helping one another to become the best version of ourselves. Because although I am definitely in the business of helping people to reach fitness goals, it really is so much more than that. It's about connecting a lifestyle that fulfills us, fulfills our family, and helps us to achieve each and every one of our personal goals.
So are you ready to join the next group? Reach out to be added!