GapFit shorts | Athletic socks | Lululemon tank, similar here & here for under $20 | Asics runners
Hi there! I’m excited to talk about a topic that I’m very passionate about: exercise and fitness. In the last several months I’ve had many different people – soccer teammates, friends, my former personal trainer – say that I’m fitter than I used to be. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that people have noticed and was encouraged to hear so much positive feedback. I must be doing something right! Most importantly, I know the results I’ve been getting. I thought I’d share my fitness routine and the five best things I ever did to stay in shape and feel great. I hope you find it helpful, and I hope to hear your personal fitness routine and your best practices for staying fit.
Exercise has always been a part of my life. Growing up I biked everywhere, played a lot of badminton (#asianstereotype), and went swimming regularly at the insistence of my mother even though I didn’t like swimming very much. In highschool I took up soccer, skiing, and ultimate frisbee, the first two of which continue to be a huge part of my life to this day. In university I became interested in dance and took several dance classes in jazz, bellydance, and salsa every week. For the last couple of years I’ve been the captain of a coed soccer team and take regular tennis lessons. Can you tell how much I love sports? I think the two main reasons I work out is so that number one, I can have a more competitive edge in sports – to be the strongest and fastest that I can be – and number two, to look my best. I also get to enjoy all the other side benefits such as stress relief, a clear and happy mind, a strong immune system and an injury-free body.
This is my weekly workout schedule:
Three days of the week are fixed, and they consist of soccer, tennis lesson, and personal training. Some weeks I schedule a second tennis lesson or second personal training session. I play tennis with a friend and run with my boyfriend at least once a week. All of that sums up to 5-7 days per week where I engage in vigorous physical exercise for at least 60 minutes. Occasionally, when I’m not wearing heels, I let my coworkers convince me to climb 11 flights of stairs with them at work. On rest days I love to go for a massage or roll on my foam roller to loosen my muscles.
So far, I’ve seen many positive results. My sprinting speed, recovery time, and running endurance has improved considerably. My muscles look tighter and more toned. I have a stronger core, which will help to prevent a whole range of ailments down the road. Exercise keeps my emotions in check and I am literally a happier person after working out.
I attribute my results to the following five things. These are the best things I ever did for my health and fitness.
1. Hiring a personal trainer
I attribute the majority of my success to working out with a personal trainer and being active at least five times a week. All of us have a finite amount of willpower and I simply do not have the willpower to get myself to a gym and train hard enough by myself to get results unless I have an appointment with a professional whom I pay to train me. My trainer, who’s experienced with training professional athletes, trains me specifically to help me perform better at soccer and tennis. To be completely honest, the first time we spoke I told him that my priority was to look great, but looking great is now just a side effect of being stronger and fitter. Let me tell you about my workout sessions: they are intense. We do sprinting drills that nearly make me pass out, we do boxing, we do strength training, and we do a lot of exercises that help with explosive speed. And of course, I lift a lot of weights. I occasionally consider the high cost of hiring a personal trainer and debate whether I should continue, but I always come to the conclusion that it’s worth it.
2. Recording metrics
My trainer has his iPad with him and is constantly timing, counting, and measuring my performance against my own baseline performance. He’s constantly pushing me to beat my best time or my record number of reps. Without recording data, how will you know if you’re improving? When I’m on my own I like to track my runs using Runkeeper.
3. Exercising with friends
I love running with my boyfriend and I also have friends who live close by that I arrange running dates with on a regular basis. It’s a great way for me to catch up with them and one of the only ways to get me to go running (see point 1 re: willpower). Nowadays, I play tennis with friends, my boyfriend and my brother. Tip: sharing a personal trainer with one or two friends is a great way to get professionally trained at a lower cost.
4. Making exercise a regular, consistent part of my schedule
I think you are better off exercising 30 minutes 3 times a week than exercising vigorously for 2 hours once a week. My trainer cautions against being a “weekend warrior”, which is someone who goes all out once a week (e.g. sports) and puts themselves at risk of injury. I think the best way to exercise consistently and regularly is to make it a part of your schedule. For me, exercise is fixed on my schedule three days a week. I can’t move them around and I can’t schedule anything else during that time. That ensures I don’t have to rely on planning or willpower to exercise and I can’t put it off for another day.
5. Joining team sports
I encourage people to join team sports every chance I get. I’m like the evangelist of recreational sports for adults. I’m an even stronger advocate of team sports for my single girlfriends who are interested in meeting single guys. Do you know how many cute guys there are in my soccer league? The answer is a lot. Your options are soccer, ultimate frisbee, dodge ball, softball, beach volleyball, flag football, and more. With team sports you get exercise, competition, team camaraderie, and new friendships. Doesn’t get any better than that!
One of the benefits of working out is that you can justify buying cute workout outfits. Everyone should feel great when they put on workout clothes.
My favorite brands are
GapFit: Great styles and price point. Lots of sales
Old Navy: Can’t beat that price! I love their tank tops
Lululemon: But of course. Overpriced? No doubt. However, I have yet to find a better sports bra. Pretty great underwear too. I wear their socks every day.Side note, Damon loves their underwear.
Zella from Nordstrom: High quality and great designs. They give Lululemon a run for their money. Zella “Live In” leggings are my absolute favorite leggings.
Joe Fresh: Cute styles at great prices.
GapFit shorts | Athletic socks | Lululemon tank top | Asics runners
Thank you so much for reading up to here! I would love to know how you stay fit! Please share in the comments
Photos by Petite Amie Photography