Since I’ve been in Cali a lot more lately, one of many things I’ve noticed is the insane amount of really healthy people that are there. I’m talking health nut, gluten avoiding, glitz and glam, walking handstand circles around me in a sports bra fit. This is definitely a change for me. Iowans have a week dedicated to eating as much fried food as possible and a season dedicated to hiding your body under as much clothing as possible. When you stop and think about it, for the many ways Iowa exists in its own little bubble, LA does too, but in a different way. Honestly, wearing anything even remotely skin-barring is bound to be met with criticism by at least a few people in Iowa. In California, fashion, fitness, and fame are the norm – no one cares what crazy clothes or lack-there-of you’re wearing. Iowaland knows its whats on the inside that counts and LA says its what’s on the outside. Given that I’ve got the whole inner-awesome on lock, it’s time I really start making the outside shine. Since December, I’ve been adjusting my fitness goals, hoping for some significant changes in my overall fitness and appearance. I dove into a pretty strict diet, and recently I’ve added running back into my workouts.
Saying no to cheeseburgers, fried deliciousness, and basically everything I love eating kind of feels like a nightmare, but cardio and running aren’t new to me. In fact, I used to do track and field in high school, and I took on the high-jump as my mandatory field-event. Just to be clear… I’m not a high jumper. I’m not even a high stander. Really there’s nothing about me that says I can jump higher than anyone, but I liked running, and it seemed like the least-likely field event to result in my injury. But as much as I enjoyed running competitively, when it came to the gym, I got bored. To mix up the cardio monotony, I recently got beats headphones and a Spotify account. Despite the fact that my head is almost too small for the headphones, this has been a real game changer. I can listen to whatever music I want – sometimes I’m that person bopping along on a treadmill – and not get tangled up on any cords.
Another small but effective tweak has been to get myself prepared for my workouts before I leave the house. Taking a gym bag with me makes it basically impossible for me to go by the gym and not work out. I pack water, shower supplies, the world’s best travel dryer, tennis shoes, athletic wear if I haven’t snuck it into my outfit, and my headphones, and I am good to go. I do my cardio first, before any strength training, and I actually look forward to it now. I’ve been finding new favorite snacks to fuel my workouts, and I’m finding different ways to get exercise in every day.
There are still days I think being healthy is actually a scam and that it’s slowly killing me, but overall I’m pleased with the progress I’ve made. Really buckling down and making my gym time and my meals a priority has been crucial to my success. When it comes to fitness, some things never change – focus on what you want, plan what you need to get there, and hold yourself accountable. If you need help with that last step, you can always message me! I love connecting, and I’m even on some fitness apps. Thanks for checking it out and stay tuned for part 2!What’s in my bag:
Bag- Nike
Travel dryer – GHD
Travel hair care – Living Proof
Face: Foreo Luna 2 and PTR face wash
Headphones – Beats solo 2
Shoes – Nike Free 5.0
Bag- Nike
Travel dryer – GHD
Travel hair care – Living Proof
Face: Foreo Luna 2 and PTR face wash
Headphones – Beats solo 2
Shoes – Nike Free 5.0
-MC