The Happy Body Checklist: Tip #4

This week we’re sharing the fourth tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week, we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #3: Mix it up!

Although we appreciate having a routine, especially when it comes to Tabata Tuesdays or Friday Happy Hours, we also think it's important to mix it up! 

Here are five ways to breathe new life into your current workout routine: 

1.  Buy a Groupon – This is one of our favorite ways to try a new workout class at an affordable price. Browse the Health and Fitness section for something that strikes your fancy. We've had great experiences purchasing yoga, CrossFit and Barre classes through this website.

2. Join a team – If you played a sport growing up, think about joining an adult recreational team. Many cities have great leagues with all levels of play.  

3. Try a new route – Jogging/biking that same route every workout? Explore a different part of your neighborhood! You will be amazed at how the new scenery will keep your mind engaged through your workout.

4. Hit the web - Browse fitness websites, Pinterest or blogs (wink, wink) for inspiration. 

5.  Train for a race – Check the internet for upcoming races in your area. There are tons of options for all fitness levels, from Mud Runs to a full-blown marathon. 

2014 Pretty Muddy Race with our Fellow Happy Ladies

 How do you keep your workout interesting? Let us know in the comments below!

- Vicki & Julia

The Happy Body Checklist: Tip #3 (and our adventures in stand-up paddle-boarding!)

Hello, Happy Lady! 

This week we’re sharing the third tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week, we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #3: Work it into everyday life!

The best way to stay active is to make it a lifestyle, not a task on your to-do list. Take a look at your upcoming week and think about where you can fit in extra physical activity without stepping foot in the gym.  

Recently, we decided to add a fun workout to a typically inactive brunch outing. Instead of heading straight for coffee and omelets, we decided to try stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) at Lake Natoma with one of our favorite Happy Ladies, Anna!

Although we were initially nervous about our ability to balance on the board, we are happy to report that none of us fell in the water (a miracle, considering our clumsy tendencies). We were a little shaky when first standing on the board, but after we got our footing, it was smooth sailing! We were able to paddle alongside each other, snap pictures and chat as we took in the beautiful scenery. Not only did we have great experience, but our arms, legs and core were engaged the entire time! 

Needless to say, we are officially SUP fans! 

 

If you're located near Lake Natoma and would like to try SUP, check out the Sac State Aquatic Center web page for more information. We paddled for one hour for $13/person. No introductory class required!

Have you made simple changes to incorporate activity into your everyday life? Comment below! We would love to hear new ideas!

- Julia & Vicki

the happy body checklist: tip #2

Greetings! This week we’re sharing the second tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #2: Make it social!

We both work 40+ hours a week, and don’t always have time to socialize and work out, so we decided to combine it. (Who doesn't love to kill two birds with one stone?)

Image from itunes.apple.com

In addition to partnering up for workouts, we like to make the routine as chat-friendly as possible. One of our favorite tricks is to set up an interval timer on our phone so we can catch up on each other’s lives instead of wasting breath on counting reps!

There’s an app for that! We love the “Seconds” app, a programmable timer for our favorite interval and tabata workouts.

Also, as we mentioned in our first tip, we love to workout with our friends via FaceTime! 

Here we are mid-squat with our fellow happy lady, Lindsey! (Lindsey is an original member of our neighborhood workout group and one of our best friends. She broke our hearts when she moved to the East Coast... but no distance can stop us from our social workouts! Love you, lady! Xo)

  
By making it social and enjoyable, we actually look forward to getting in a workout at the end of a busy day!

Do you incorporate exercise in your social life? Let us know in the comments below! We would love to discover new social workout ideas!

Vicki & Julia

the happy body checklist: tip #1

Greetings, Happy Ladies! 

Need a little inspiration? This week we’re launching the Happy Body Checklist. Every Wednesday, we’ll post a simple tip that has helped us stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure to subscribe (right hand side of our blog) so you don’t miss a post!

Tip #1: Partner up!

The best way to breathe new life into your workout routine is to find a partner! Ask a friend, coworker or neighbor (our favorite!) to join you for your workouts. Can’t get together with your partner in person? Use FaceTime so you can complete the workout together, wherever you are.

Not only do workout partners hold you accountable, they also give you new perspective. Typically, we tend to gravitate towards the exercises that are easiest for us.  When you work out with a partner, compromise to include both of your favorite exercises and activities to help maintain well-rounded workouts. 

Take it a step further: Make a schedule. Use that handy-dandy smart phone to create a shared calendar with your workout buddy and add all of your workouts. Once you have an appointment with a set date, place and time, it’s much harder to flake on your workout and leave your friend hanging. 

Ethel and Lucy never leave each other hanging. 

 

Image Source

We have had our share of false starts in the past, but since we became workout buddies, we've consistently worked out together every week for over one year (celebrated with champagne, of course). Not only have we become more fit, but most importantly, we've become great friends.

Cheers!

Vicki & Julia