I'm often asked where I find my workout clothes and the answer is always everywhere! I love Lululemon, Alo, and Beyond Yoga (some of which I buy online and some at my local athletic store/Pure Barre), but I have also found some great options at places like Forever21 and Old Navy.
Both of the pieces shown in this look are super affordable. I wanted a pair of Alo moto leggings but bought the Spanx motos the same week, so I knew I didn't need to spend over $200 on two pairs of leggings... lucky for me, I found these from Old Navy and they are very well made, super comfortable, and have the compression factor that I always look for in my workout leggings. There's nothing worse than leggings that stretch out!
I also can't say enough about this adorable cropped workout bra. It is a mix between a sports bra and a workout tank and it is honestly so comfortable. It comes with built in support which is great so you can skip two pieces and just opt for this one item. For sizing reference, I got the medium.
For sports bras, I love Alo as well. I normally opt for light to medium support as I really don't need much more than that, and this bra is great if you're looking for something in that level. It also comes in a lot of great colors!
Workout Looks Under $50:
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As we dive into the new year, I want health to be a priority. It's very easy with my schedule to slip into terrible habits: pizza for dinner, skipping workouts because of a long day at the shop, etc. One thing I'm trying to do more of is building my workouts into my schedule. This time of year is difficult because it gets dark so early and it is so cold! Summertime makes it easier because I love getting outside with Sophie and I'm much more motivated after work. Despite all of that, scheduling my workouts in is making me commit a little bit more, but I'm also trying to extend grace when I've had a full work at the shop and just need a few minutes on the couch.
Right now, when I put on a swimsuit, I'm not 100% confident. I think we can all relate to that in various points of our lives. For this spring, I'm focusing less on the number on the scale (which I have often gotten way too caught up on), and instead, I want to think about how I feel. I hope to have a stronger core by the time summer rolls around for two reasons: 1) abs are always great and 2) when I have a stronger core, my back hurts a lot less, which should of course be a priority!
Another area I'm trying to improve is my food choices. For the longest time, I was pretty conscious of what I ate, but as of late, I have opted for more fast food and less cooking at home. Cooking is not something I overly enjoy, but I've been exploring more recipes to see if I can find things that are great to cook but also great for my body.
I'm also thankful that we have a Chopt in the same shopping center as my store. I absolutely love their salads and most recently tried one of their warm bowls. It's a healthy lunch that I actually look forward to. I'm still trying to find that perfect "take-to-work" lunch, so if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!
One other thing that I've found is that when I deprive myself, I end up having cravings that outweigh the healthy efforts I put in throughout the day. I've definitely added on some "holiday fluffiness," and need to lay off the cheese croissants and sugary coffee drinks, but I do think life is about balance, which is one area I'm working to achieve. When I make healthier choices during the day, I feel less guilty having that small piece of candy and I will say, I never, ever turn down a piece of cake.
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I mentioned in my confessions post on Monday that I've been having a hard time sticking with my fitness goals. Over the last couple of weeks, I've been doing some soul searching in what I want out of a healthy lifestyle, especially as we head into bikini season (and my bridal portraits are only a half a month away - yikes). Fitness and health is very important to me - but I love tacos, too so it's all about finding that balance.
Ever since I started working full-time after college, I've found that I often get in a rut with maintaining my fitness while also being behind a desk all day. To top it off, I also have this blog which means even more time on the computer when I get home. I have started scheduling my Pure Barre workouts in advance in an effort to stay in a routine, but even that can get difficult when you factor in the offerings for the class schedule, friend and family time, and working late.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally took a Pure Barre Platform class. I've been going to Pure Barre for about 8 months but I had yet to try the platform class that had been introduced into the schedule. Platform includes just that - a platform in which you step off and on and utilize throughout the class in various ways. The movements are a lot bigger than in a normal barre class and there is definitely a harder cardio element added in. I checked with my veteran barre friends to get their opinions and the thoughts were mixed - some loved it while others preferred their normal barre class.
I started my Pure Barre adventure last October and very much on a whim. I had planned to walk with a friend but she wasn't able to, so I decided to sign up for that afternoon's class as a spur-of-the-moment thing. I had taken several varieties of Pure Barre in the past -- FlyBarre, Carolina Barre, etc. -- but it had just been a class here and there and never something I committed to. As soon as I finished my first class at Pure Barre Wilmington, I knew I needed to sign up for at least a month of unlimited classes. My instructor had been so welcoming, the class was full of highly motivated gals, and I loved the atmosphere. After that first month -- and experiencing a variety of instructors, all whom are dedicated to the PB lifestyle -- I fell in love even more.
Free People sweater, Forever21 sports bra (also love this one), Ugg boots, Banana Republic sunnies, North Face leggings
Athleisure wear is all over the place -- brunch, the grocery store, shopping, all the places. If I could get away with wearing cozy sweaters and leggings to work every day, I can guarantee that I would. Unfortunately, this casual of athleisure wear isn't quite acceptable at work, though I could maybe get away with some of these looks on occasion. I love looks that can take me easily from the gym to the next step in my day or pieces that don't have to be used strictly for working out or going out. Next on my list to add to my athleisure collection? Chic tennis shoes like these.
Beyond Yoga leggings c/o Pure Barre Wilmington, Alo extreme racer tank c/o Pure Parre Wilmington, F21 sports bra, Pure Barre socks, side zip tunic (I sized up for an oversized look | also love this one), Tory Burch boots
Here's the dilemna - you want to hit the early morning Pure Barre class but your girlfriends have planned for a nice brunch right after the class ends, and you know they'll all look adorable. Or you head to the evening class after work and your guy calls to meet you for dinner. You're in workout clothes - so what to wear? So it's not a huge dilemna, but it's nice to feel cute and atmosphere-appropriate no matter wher eyou are, and that's where these incredible Beyond Yoga leggings come in. I love how stylish they are -- and they can take me straight from barre to brunch or even barre to the bar. They are seriousy the most comfortable leggings I've ever owned - and they fit perfectly to get me through an intense barre class. I paired the leggings with an Alo top for class and a side zip tunic sweater to throw on after. I love these pieces because they layer so easily -- add in sticky socks for class and Tory Burch boots for after and I'm all set.
Happy Friday! Excited that the weekend is here! A few weeks ago, I started taking Pure Barre, and it's safe to say that I'm obsessed. I've taken barre in the past but never committed to a lot of classes, but as of late, I've desperately been wanting to get my body back into the shape it once was. I love working out with a trainer, but that's not always feasible, so I knew I needed something engaging and instructor-lead.
About a month ago, I was interested to ClassPass, and all I have to say is amazing. Workout out is a love/hate thing for me. I love the results, but I don't always love the actual workouts. I also have a hard time staying motivated, so ClassPass is the perfect opportunity to try new classes without an extensive price. For your monthly membership, you can try a variety of classes at a variety of fitness studios, so you're not limited to only one place. Shelby from Pretty in the Pines and I did the FlyBarre class together and it was a blast. To say I'm hooked on FlyBarre would be an understatement. If you live in a city that offers ClassPass, I would highly recommend it! And classes are the perfect place to show off your cute workout gear, too.
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It’s Fit Week on Southern Style! A few days this week, I’ll be sharing some things that are helping me stay motivated this year, starting with the 5-Week Workout Challenge. I always use pinterest to find fun new workouts, and I’ll favorite some that I really want to try. For this workout challenge, I combined a variety of workouts that I’ve come across to make a plan that works for me. It starts out slow and gradually increases – check out that last day!
What’s great about this workout is that it doesn’t require the gym. Though I plan on going to the gym most of the days so I can do cardio as well, this is a workout that you can fit in right before you hop in the shower or in your living room. I did a variation of this a month or so ago, and I was even able to squeeze in my workouts at a bed and breakfast that had no gym!
For some, this may be too easy and for others it may be too hard, but I really just created this challenge as a way to jump start my fitness, and maybe it’ll help you, too. Feel free to adapt to fit your needs and find what works best. If it’s too easy, add weights – especially in the early days. If it’s too difficult, do less reps or whatever works for you! I would love to hear any suggestions you may have. I’m hoping this plan will get me in the habit of getting back to the gym more often, and if I have this calendar to check off – as well as a few blog friends to hold me accountable-- I’ll be more likely to stick to it! If you share any fitness posts on Instagram or Twitter, feel free to tag them with #SSWorkoutChallenge.
Can’t wait to hear what works {and doesn't work} for you. And for me, I always feel more motivated when I have cute workout gear, so here are a few favorites to shop.
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