Fit Fashion Friday: Dress for the Occasion

There is no doubt about it, we feel ten times better about ourselves when we are dressed well, for any and every endeavor.

Females usually rate 50% of their Saturday night on how pleased they are with their outfit. And there are males who get so excited about buying a new business suit; you'd think it actually did business for them. 

Being well dressed affects us both mentally and physically. Mentally, because you think you look good, and physically because well, you DO look good.

We know this, and we adhere to it. 

• We wouldn't go to a formal event in jeans.
• We know that the "That's What She Said" graphic t-shirt is not appropriate for church. 
• When it's cold outside, we bundle up.
• Bathing suits belong at the beach or poolside. 

These are some absolutes. However, there are 2 of my favorite clothing categories that overlap, and it drives me crazy. 

Pajamas and gym clothes are DIFFERENT.

Yes, I get that we've accumulated a hundred free t-shirt's from college, work and relatives. I also understand that spending money on clothes you're just going to get sweaty in, is difficult to wrap your head around. BUT, how do you expect to feel motivated working out in something you snooze in? At the gym, we're supposed to be active and there are some days we are more inspired to do so. Inspiration or energy boosts of any kind make a difference in your workout, or even with just getting you to the gym!

Don't ditch all of the free tees, but donate a chunk of them - you're not as attached as you think, and those freebies can do a lot more good for someone else than you may even realize. Reserve some of the ones you keep as strictly PJ's, everyone should have strictly PJ's. I know, I do!

Reserving these  for chill/bedtime will add to their value and the "Ahhh" feeling you get when you toss it on after a long day will be that much better. The ONLY thing you should do when wearing PJ's is rest, or drink wine and/or beer. 

Then, go out and buy some workout clothes that you're excited to rock. There's a wide array of styles and gear

to choose from; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I am confident the price points won't disappoint either; even our beloved Target has some awesome activewear.  When you put something on, and your first thought is how great you'll look doing your favorite exercise, PURCHASE IMMEDIATELY, and go exceed your already high expectations!

The point here is this: the gym and working out should be treated as an occasion. One which we gear up for, mentally, physically and fashionably!

You'll see the improvement in your outlook on working out as well as an improvement in how you look doing so!

Happy Fit Fashion Friday!

"If you fall on your face, you're doing it correctly!"

Low and behold, I was. After holding a pose for about 5 seconds, I face planted onto the yoga mat and the instructor said, "Lauren, thats perfect!" Once I peeled my cheek off the mat, I shot him a look that said "that freaking hurt you @ss, why did you have me do that!?"

My face, and my ego hurt for a minute, and it may have been the impact of my face hitting the yoga may that jumbled my brain to my conclusion today. The yoga teachers instruction can, and should be applied to every aspect of our lives.

As a little kid, you could tell me that something great could come from running through a brick wall, and risk vs. reward aside, I would go for it. There was nothing I couldn't/wouldn't do. Even make a mad dash onto the Patriots practice field after training camp to get Pete Carroll's autograph cause Dad told me to. The mad dash was very short by 3 police officers who started for this ambitious 6 year old, yelling "you can't do that!). Horrified, I made an immediate U-turn, my eyes filled up with tears, and I pushed my Dad, who was on one knee with his arms open for a hug. (Oh, hell no.) I think I gave him a fiercer look than I did the yoga instructor. I also refused to speak with him the whole way home, to save my energy to spill my guts to Mom about what Dad made me do!

Despite little and larger instances, I maintained this drive as I grew up, almost as if I couldn't help it. Literally and metaphorically speaking, I've fallen on my face more than once and have hit more than a few brick walls. The face plants hurt, but peeling your face off the ground is a big "screw you" to whatever/whoever put you there.  The brick walls hit hard but the ones that you do barrel through, have better things than you could've ever imagined, on the other side.

Giving it your all, and trying your best are conventional and inspiring notions we all believe in. But how we turn this belief into actual action, is where life changes.

As grown ups, we have more battle scars than a 6 year old and from those we get our reservations. Reservations that remove the justification of risk for our own "protection". They keep us from going on a big job interviews, cause we're comfortable at work, or from taking our relationships to the next level cause you don't want to get hurt/mess it up. Reservations even keep us from trying a new activity cause you might just look a little silly.

It doesn't sound like protection does it? No, it sounds outright inhibiting. But even those with the most drive, can catch themselves stuck entertaining reservations when making decisions. I know of a handful of friends, and myself personally have been here, recently too. I have, we have, once started the sprint through the brick wall, plowed it over or went SPLAT. We've even face planted, but guess what, we're all still here.

Our battle scars should remind us of how tough we are, and the people who keep us that way. Hold onto your 6 year old self, anytime you can and remember that your drive was there before your reservations. It's what has made who you are today.

If you've been heart broken, you've loved someone the right way. If you've been disappointed by not getting a job or not making some team, you've pushed yourself the right way. And if you're ever remotely vulnerable, you're living the right way.

And today, if you're not trying to run through those brick walls and picking yourself up after a few face plants, you're just not doing it correctly. 

Change it.