How to reinvigorate your fitness routine for spring

This post is sponsored by Zappos. Thanks for supporting our sponsors!

Happy spring, folks! This week marks the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and while some of us are still having rather dreary weather (lots of rain in the Bay Area), there is a certain mindset shift that occurs when we know that spring is in the air. It’s fresh. It’s change. It’s brightness. It’s the perfect time to make a move …

Today, I thought it would be fun to chat about how you can switch things up in your fitness routine now that spring has arrived — both to make things more interesting and to naturally flow with the seasons and be happy. Seasonality is a thing, I promise.

How to reinvigorate your fitness routine for spring

Do one. Do them all. Or just let these ideas inspire you to find a way to reinvigorate your fitness routine all on your own …

Move one of your workouts outdoors.

If you’re like most people, you do your sweat sessions in your living room or in the gym. Right? Well guess what, there’s a whole big world out there outside just waiting to be the backdrop to your workout.

I’ve done yoga on a rooftop in San Francisco, done a bootcamp along the San Fransisco Bay coastline and recently even tried a resistance session off the play-set in my own backyard, and there is something so healing and beneficial about being outdoors while you exercise. It’s super engaging and moving, and the positive benefits of it are backed by science too. Trees and greenery are just plain good for you.

(Bra and tank.)

If you’re a runner, you know that a pavement or trail run pushes you way harder than a treadmill run, so get out there when the weather allows and see how it feels. And if you like circuits, maybe try some tricep dips, planks and push-ups on a park bench, in between some walking lunges on the sidewalk, to switch it up as well. The world is your playground.

When you do choose to move your workout outdoors, don’t forget to bring water and wear sunscreen and soak up that vitamin D and fresh air. It’s good for the soul. (Fun fact: Do some googling to see if your community has free classes in the parks on the weekends in the spring and summer months, because there may be some opportunities to get outside right under your nose.)

Try a new class.

As a group fitness instructor and group fitness lover, you know I can’t write a fitness post without mentioning group fitness. A lot of fitness studios offer the first class for free, so you don’t even have to commit without giving it a shot. And maybe this is the perfect time to try out a dance class, a yoga class or even a bootcamp class that’s been on your mind. 

The craziness that is a gym during January has worn off by now, so it’s actually a really good time to go to classes and be new. In case you’re not yet sold on group fitness, here are a few posts to help you out:

• Six tips for taking your first group fitness class
• Six ways to be a polite group fitness participant
• Why group fitness classes are good for you

Switch up your rest day.

Over the years, I’ve switched my rest days up time and time again, and I love doing that. While I would say that Sunday is the most common rest day, I also think that a weekday (or two) works well.

In fact, when I worked in the corporate world, taking Mondays off was my favorite, because I was already a little tired from the weekend and overwhelmed by all I had to do at the job that week, so it was nice to know that exercise wasn’t on the agenda that day. And that saying “never miss a Monday” — well, who cares. Miss whatever day works best for you.

(Shoes and crops.)

You see, Sunday is such a wide-open time to take a class, get outdoors or do something super active when you hopefully don’t have to worry about work too. Switching up your rest day may give you more time for one workout that you were just trying to squeeze in on a full and busy day. And it also may give you more time on the new rest day to take up a new hobby or maybe even spend time cooking up some fresh vegetables or trying a new wellness effort like meditation.

And if you’re not yet taking a rest day, you SHOULD be. Please read this one:

• How to talk yourself into taking a day off from exercise each week

Invite someone to sweat with you.

Do you know what feels really good? Working out with a friend, family member or significant other, whom you don’t normally work out with. That’s right. Maybe what’s missing from your routine is that social connection. So now is a great time to invite someone on a walk or jog outside, to the gym for a class or to sign up for a charity 5K race that you can train for together. 

And if you’ve got a friend who isn’t into fitness, try this:

• How to motivate others to work out

Invest in some new workout gear.

Hey, I don’t know about you, but something about wearing new sneakers and workout wear gets me extra motivated to move!

I’ve recently been sporting a lot of Brooks clothing I purchased through Zappos, and I’ve taken it all through a few home workouts, classes and power-walks with the stroller around the neighborhood too. It’s all put a PEP in my step, if you will. Love this stuff …

If you’re in need of some performance attire to inspire your spring workouts, go for it! You can find some great deals on Zappos, and it’s so darn easy to order.

Money invested in workout clothes that will be there for you on your health and fitness endeavors is money well spent. And don’t forget to change out your sneakers no less than every four months or so, so you don’t wear them down and develop foot or knee issues. Because that’s just NOT fun.

(Shoes and crops.)

I’m on cloud nine in these super comfy Brooks Levitate LE sneaks, because they are sooo darn comfortable and make walking and running a very happy thing. The only problem is that I’m scared to get them dirty hehehhe! But hey, a small price to pay for stylish AND functional sneakers.

Spring clean your current fitness program.

Perhaps the best thing you can do as the seasons change this spring is to do some spring cleaning of your fitness routine. Sit down, get pensive, ask yourself these questions and proceed accordingly:

• Are your workouts stagnant or energizing?
• Are you getting stronger or faster or more mobile with what you’re currently doing?
• Are you enjoying what you’re doing? Or are you dreading your sweat sessions?
• Are you forcing yourself to like something that just doesn’t mesh well with your personality or body?
• How does your body feel with your current workout routine? What do you think needs to change?

Life is too short to do workouts that you don’t like, so take this time to STOP doing anything that isn’t serving you and start to search for something that does. This point is definitely one for me, because I had been getting very bored with my home workouts (even when I follow all my rules about how to get motivated to work out at home), and I’m starting to try new things too. I’ll talk more about that in a future post.

But take it from me — out with the old and in with the new — your fitness routine will be clean and shiny and ready for better weather ahead. Three cheers for spring!

All about Zappos and the Brooks outfit 

Now, let’s talk more about Zappos and the head-to-toe Brooks gear I’m wearing this spring, which inspired this post …

(Hoodie.)

I’ve actually been a fan of Zappos for a long time, and my mom and I both recently ordered my older brother’s birthday presents from there, because the shipping process is so quick and they have so much to choose from. (Don’t tell him though, but we both ordered his gifts just three days before his birthday this year, and so Zappos was a life-saver. Good news, he doesn’t read the blog!)

Anywho, Zappos shipping is guaranteed and quick, the ordering is seamless, and you don’t have to be worried about not liking your purchase, because you have free returns 365 days of the year — woohoo! Also, I love that many of the products have customer reviews, tons of pictures and even 360 videos, which is so helpful to get a better idea of what you want.

By the way, I think Zappos used to just have shoes, but they have way more than just footwear now, including clothing, swimwear and all sorts of stuff, so it’s worth a visit if you’re in need of some gear or gifts.

Back to the Brooks pieces that I selected …

• The shoes. The Brooks Levitate LE. Hands down, these are some of the most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever owned. And I’m not just saying that. They have the most cushiony feel to them with the DNA Amp midsole. In fact, when I came out to model the outfit for Dave, he immediately said, “Don’t you love the gum bottom on the shoes?” And I was like, “How do you know these have gum bottoms? But yes, I love them.” hahahah! I didn’t know that was a commonly-used term for sneakers, but apparently he did. Anyway, they give the perfect roll to the foot and have a lot of support, while still being light — for maximum energy. I’d LOVE to wear these for sprinting on the treadmill and for walking and running outdoors and jumping too, because there’s plenty of shock absorption. Also, they look fly. Just sayin’. One thing to note: They run half a size too small, which is the only downside, because I hate ordering shoes bigger than necessary, because I already have big feet. So beware if you order to go half a size up.

• The crop leggings. The Brooks Ghost Mesh Crop. Upon first touching these leggings, they feel very thin, which worried me, because I like a thick legging. Well, when you put them on, they give all the support that you’d expect of a quality legging, and the waist is nice and high, yet they are a very breathable and movable light fabric — very cool. All my ladies out there know that NOBODY has time for low-rise leggings, am I right? I love that these are just slightly cropped and not full capris. The mesh-inserts make the leggings interesting, while also being neutral enough to pair with anything. (I’m wearing a medium.)
• The tank. The Brooks Ritual Tank Top. Who doesn’t love a good breathable tank? My current workout look is always tight pants and a loose tank, so this one fits the bill perfectly. I love the detailing, crossed back and stripes, and I love that it’s polyester, spandex and rayon, so it won’t shrink or lose its color. Overall, it’s a winner, because you get plenty of airflow during your workout. (I’m wearing a small.)

• The bra. The Brooks FastForward Crossback Bra. We all know that you need a quality sports bra, especially in the postpartum phase. Well this one is quality. It’s got a crossback and has just enough form to keep good shape, without heavy pads (it has small removable ones, but they stay in place — thick sports bras with pads can be so annoying anyhow). There’s a clasp in the back to help you get the part around your body as tight as you want, but I actually pull it over my head with the clasp fastened. Definitely a fan of this bra, and I think it would hold up for running, but maybe not for plyometrics, because it’s for medium-impact — which is fine by me, because I’m not doing a lot of plyometrics right now. And the colors? SO fun. (I’m wearing a medium.)
• The hoodie. The Brooks Dash Hoodie. Something about a white hoodie just feels fancy, right? This one is made of polyester and spandex and it is slouchy, but somehow looks put together. There are thumbholes to keep your hands warm and looking good and the cowl-neck is super stylish. You get a light layer of warmth too. You will definitely see me wearing this one around quite a bit.

Overall, a solid outfit and a super convenient ordering process from Zappos.

I’ve got to thank Zappos for making the quest to get some new workout wear for the spring so darn easy for this busy momma, who always has her hands full. Love it!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, my friends!

And if you’re in need of it, I hope you find a way to make some sort of a shift to reinvigorate your fitness routine this spring. 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Zappos. I received compensation as well as complimentary gear, but all opinions and words are entirely my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support A Lady Goes West.

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Questions of the day

What’s your favorite way to break a sweat?

How are you planning to refresh your fitness this spring?