Happy Monday, friends, and welcome back to a new week! I hope you had a wonderful weekend celebrating the men in your life. We had much to celebrate, between Fathers’s Day and the Collection launch, yesterday was also our 22-year wedding anniversary! (See my post to Mr. SP HERE.)
You know you’ve been married a long time when you both forget your anniversary until the day before! We kept it low-key and found a fun spot to watch the sun set, and talked about the next 22 years. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m proud of how we’ve honored our vows and the family we’ve built.
Today we’re talking about something that’s important to both Mr. SP and me… fitness! It’s also something we often do together, which not only keeps us both motivated and on-track, but allows us time together. The endorphins don’t hurt, either!
Let me first preface by saying I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, fitness trainer, or any sort of expert in any health-related field. But I do know my own (over 40!) body, and there are three key elements that have proven to work well for me to stay in shape and feel my best.
It’s also worth noting that my mom is quite petite, and my dad was always very lean. So while fitness and nutrition play a big role, so do genetics. I also learned early on that it’s easier for me to maintain a healthy weight, than lose weight! So while my size and weight vary a little depending on the the time of year and our schedule, I strive to keep myself within a 5-10 pound range all the time.
**Amazon is kicking off a huge Big Style Sale today, and many of the items I’m wearing are included! Find the Sale HEREÂ and be sure to check-in each day for giant daily deals!**
My 3 Key Elements to Being Fit
Sandwashed Hooded Pullover | Sandwashed Jogger Pants | Yeti Coffee Mug | Collagen Peptides
one. Daily Supplements
This one may be unexpected, but I added Collagen Peptides to my daily routine a couple of years ago, and swear by the results! Natural collagen production slows as we age, so adding it to your diet helps muscles heal faster, eases joint pain, improves skin health and hydration, and aides in digestion.
It also really helps with regularity, which leads to less bloating and a flatter stomach. I put a scoop in my coffee every morning… it has zero flavor and only 35 calories.
I also take a daily Women’s Multi-Vitamin to help fill in the gaps of my diet, and support bone health. There are a ton out there, but I’ve been taking this one for years.
Sandwashed Hooded Pullover | Sandwashed Jogger Pants | Yeti Coffee Mug | Collagen Peptides
Keurig Coffee Maker & Frother | Yeti Coffee Mug | Collagen Peptides
Yeti Coffee Mug | Collagen Peptides
two. Intermittent Fasting
I’ve talked about the practice of Intermittent Fasting several times, including this full Q&A post HERE, and it’s the single biggest impact I’ve seen to controlling my weight, especially around my mid-section. It does take some time to expand your fasting window, and I don’t always follow it, but there’s no question I feel 100% better when I’m practicing Intermittent Fasting.
The fasting allows your body to go into full digestive rest, which helps with weight loss, reduced inflammation, improved digestion, reduced bloating, increased mental clarity, better sleep, and reducing sugar cravings. All good things, right?! Find my full post on it HERE.
Fit Tip: This lounge set is incredibly soft and a great lightweight for Summer around the house. It comes in a range of colors, and I’m wearing XS in both pieces. It’s included in Amazon’s Big Style Sale!
Sandwashed Hooded Pullover | Sandwashed Jogger Pants | Yeti Coffee Mug
three. Exercise & Weight Lifting
For me, maintaining a healthy weight is mostly about diet, but having a healthy mind and body comes from exercise. My main focus used to be cardio, but now that I’m more ‘mature,’ weight-lifting is a bigger part of my exercise routine.
We were avid fans of Orange Theory classes, but the pandemic put an end to that. Thankfully, my friend (and former college roommate!) Angi Abercrombie is a personal trainer, and agreed to train me on Instagram Lives several times a week throughout the stay-at-home period… and many of y’all joined us too!
And even though things are opening back up, I grew spoiled by personalized instructor-led classes at home… so Angi started a Sugarplum Fitness Class on Zoom just for us! Every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30am CST, she kicks our booties for 45-minutes of sweat, cardio and weights… and I love it!
She emails the recorded workout, too, just in case you can’t make the time or you just want an extra workout. It’s honestly the best $20 I spend all week! (Yep, only $20 for two amazing workouts with a pro and other Sugarplums!) We’d love to have you join us!! Registration is open every week HERE, just select the ‘Sugarplum’ option for the discounted classes.
Adidas Cap | Twist-Back Workout Tank | High-Waist Leggings | Sneakers | Water Bottle
I love the accountability of showing up with so many of you each week, plus Angi keeps it fun and challenging with new exercises and combinations every class! I’m so spoiled by the ease and convenience of working out at home now, I honestly don’t know if or when I’ll return to a gym.
Adidas Cap | Twist-Back Workout Tank | High-Waist Leggings | Sneakers | Water Bottle
With more workouts comes the need for more cute workout wear… and Amazon’s house brand, Core 10, offers great styles with incredible quality. These high-waist leggings are thick and offer a lot of support and compression, plus a cute scalloped trim.
If you prefer a more lightweight legging that feel like a second skin, THESE are my hands-down faves! I have them in long and cropped in a range of colors.
I love the twist back tank, and already ordered it in gray camo and black. Tons of styles are available in their Big Style Sale, starting today!
Fit Tip: I’m wearing XS in both tank and leggings, but would recommend sizing down if in-between. The brand runs a little big.
Twist-Back Workout Tank | High-Waist Leggings | Water Bottle
In addition to weight-training with Angi, I try to get outside several times a week for walks. Of course the pups are always game!
Camo Hooded Top | Adidas Cap | High-Waist Leggings | Sneakers | Water Bottle
This hooded top is super soft and lightweight, with open sides. The twist-back tank comes in camo, too… find it HERE.
I don’t always eat well, or get enough water and sleep, but I know if I can stay fairly consistent with these three key elements, I have a better chance at keeping my weight and fitness in check.
We’d love to have you join us in a Sugarplum Fit Class on Zoom… registration is HERE. It’s for all fitness levels, and I promise it will be the best 45-minutes you do for yourself!
As for the Amazon Big Style Sale, be sure to check in HERE each day for incredible new deals! I’ll be sharing my top picks on Facebook, too. Happy Monday, lovebugs!