Keeping it Clean

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This summer is like most summers, very humid and going by way too fast!
I love spending time outside going for walks, drinks, dinner, runs - you name it, I do it outside - weather permitting. 

Before and After - 10 Day Cleanse

While I don't think I have been slacking on my workouts, I am slightly more lenient on my diet.  It comes with the laid back attitude of summer. "What's one more drink?", "It's hot, I need that frozen yogurt!" It's easy to convince myself to enjoy the moment and not worry about the scale.

For the most part, that is how summer should be. It's how life should be, within reason of course.  As someone who has always struggled with her weight, I work on maintaining a balance for the sake of my sanity and waist line.

Gym Bag Staples

My Gym Bag Goodies

::Deodorant::
Let's start with the obvious, this should be a staple in everyone's gym bag. This should also be a staple in your desk and car. I've forgotten to put deodorant on enough times to realize I should never NOT have it on hand at all times.

::Brush::
For the times I shower at the gym or just need to brush my mane, this little guy has been with me since AT LEAST 2001. True story.  I have a massive amount of hair and this thing gets it done every time.

::Hair Tie::
Ever gotten to the gym only to realize you have no hair tie? Rubber bands are murder on your hair. No for real, it feels like my hair is being murdered when I have to take one out after a sweaty workout.  I also have these in my car. We can talk about what I don't have in my car in a later post.

::Smell Good::
On occasion I've met coworkers for drinks after the gym but before showering. Gross? I suppose. I can guarantee I still smelled better than most of the people I smell on a daily basis. I work in Manhattan, trust me on this.  Happy Hour waits for no workout, hence the deodorant and body spray. Get it now?

::Shower Flops::
My gym bag has a ventilated compartment for sneakers/flops/other smelly items you don't want in close proximity of your intimates. These are from one of the several weddings I've been in. They're very cushy and paired well with my black bridesmaid dress at the time. Now they live in my gym bag for the days I shower there.

::Lifting Gloves::
I feel a little silly when I wear these but they save my hands from gross callus'.  They also help me get a great grip while I'm trying to perfect my pull ups. I got these from TJ Maxx for a whole $7. 

::iPod Nano::
It's old school, with old school music. I don't think I've actually added any new music to it in about 2 and a half years.  I used to distance run a lot more so this thing is loaded with heart pumping musica to keep me going. There is also some terrible music on there and I live in fear I'll forget it one day where it will be found and laughed at. Worth noting, I also love the stop watch/timer feature on these.

::Face Wipes::
I love these. I've used several brands, I don't discriminate but this particular kind, alba, is dual sided.  One side is smooth for removal and the other side is slightly raised for exfoliation. It's gentle enough that it doesn't bother my skin while exfoliating. I wear face make-up daily, so aside from preventing breakouts, removing my makeup before a workout eliminates the embarrassing make-up marks on those pristine white gym towels. I found these at Target.

::Notebook & Pen::
I leave this in my bag for keeping track of my workouts. I don't track every workout, but there are days when I have a great workout and know I'll want to duplicate it in the future, so I write down what I did while it's still fresh in my mind.  It's great for the times I also take a killer class at the gym and know I'll want to try it again on my own.   

::Lock::
Locks are a must to keep your valuables safe and sound. When I say valuables, I mean dirty tupperware containers.  I like this one because it's a code I picked on my own and can easily change if need be. It's very user friendly and it doesn't require me to carry a gym key onto the gym floor. I used to work at a gym (which is where I got this one) and I've had to cut my fair share of locks off of members lockers because they lost the key or forgot the code. This lock eliminates all that fun stuff.

The Difference Exercise Makes

Infographic by Alissa Scheller for The Huffington Post.

Work it Out

I killed my workout today. There was sweat, a lot of it. Some grunting, sprints, wall balls & squats. The stuff fat burning is made of. I didn’t want to go to the gym today. I wanted to run home from work and sit on my couch feeling sorry for myself.

You see, I was dumped yesterday. It’s a re-occurring theme in my love (lack of) life so although I knew it was inevitable in the back of my mind, I was blindsided by the timing. 7:30 AM is no time to dump anyone, let alone via text. If I hadn’t just finished a yoga class, I would have been less Zen in my response.

I felt drained and beaten down by the game and just wanted to hide out. I passed out on the train on my commute home. My mouth open, kind of sleep.  I woke up in time for my stop, feeling even less enthused for a workout. But as I dragged my pathetic butt to my car, I knew that I’d regret not going even more than agreeing to date a guy 6 years my junior in the first place.

What’s that saying? ‘The only workout you regret is the one you didn’t do.’  Well it’s true. I’ve never regretted showing up and sweating it out, even on my tiredest of days.  Not every workout is a killer. Some days I know I’m going too easy on myself but at the time, its all I have in me and it’s better than not working out at all.

When I workout I focus on my form, my breathing, getting lower, going deeper and feeling my body work for me.  Feeling the sweat, sometimes literally pouring off my face, is the most cathartic feeling in the world.

Do I still feel sorry for myself? Always. I also felt fantastic at the end of my workout knowing I gave it my absolute all. In the gym, as in life, sometimes that’s all you can do.