Fitness Update + Boden’s New Activewear Line

Recently I was sent pieces to try out from Boden’s new activewear line, so I figured now was a better time than ever to give an update on my fitness situation.


Before now, I didn’t work out for two years. Yep, two whole years. In my first trimester, my OB recommended that I slow down since I had been doing pretty intense workouts with a trainer. On top of that, I was nauseous every single day from about 3 p.m. until I went to sleep and I could barely function after work because I was so exhausted. I had good intentions and promised myself I would start back up in second tri when the nausea and exhaustion improved, but by then, I had zero motivation.


Fast-forward to post-baby and my postpartum complication, which set my recovery back another six weeks, plus the fact that I was falling into a routine as a new mom, going back to work, and bogged down with pumping around the clock— fitness was truly the last thing on my mind. When the heck would I fit that in? It seemed impossible at the time to even consider it. I gave myself a break and remembered that my priorities were different at that time— and that was okay. It was better to focus on the things I felt I could manage and not worry about all of the extras until I was ready. 


As Harper’s first birthday drew closer and closer, I started to think about working out again. When I weaned from pumping, I got more serious and signed up for The Bar Method. I loved the classes before I was pregnant and they were a great way to ease back into working out. For a couple of months I went once or twice a week (on weekends only), but they didn’t have any classes late enough in the evening during the week. Plus, it was a 20-25 minute drive from my house, which I didn’t want to do just hours after dealing with a frustrating work commute (thank you Houston traffic!)


I don’t know about you, but I’m the type of person that needs as little obstacles as possible in order to stay committed to a workout routine. When Kevin and I were doing boot camp five days a week, the gym was walking distance from our house. My trainer after that was a 5-7 minute drive from our house. That’s when I was sticking to my workouts and I knew it was the only way I’d stick to it now, too. In fact, Kevin now goes to my old trainer three days a week and he absolutely loves it! It was one of my birthday gifts to him because he really wanted to get back into a fitness routine, and he has been kicking butt, which was another motivator for me.


So I finally found a gym near my home that has some later evening classes (I go after Harper is asleep for the night) and it’s also a full-on gym with lots of equipment, so I can do my own workouts there on days there aren’t classes at 8.


The boot camp class I take twice a week is an intense 30-minute class that helps keep me on track. I love the people in the class and the trainer who teaches it. Going to this class motivates me to go on days there aren’t classes, too. On those days, I try to leave my house right after we put Harper to sleep for the night and I’ll go for about 45 minutes. I usually start with a warm-up (like the stair climber) and then I do different moves like squats, lunges, planks, etc. I also go into one of the group class rooms that is empty at that time and use the barre there to practice some of the toning moves I learned at the Bar Method and Define studio.


I really hope I will continue on this track. Even three days a week of workouts is a good start for me!


Now, onto Boden’s new line, which I got to test out for the last few weeks. There’s something about new workout clothes that is motivating to me, so the timing was pefect!


I selected their Run Faster Leggings and Run Faster Sweatshirt. The fabric is super smooth and sleek— it’s kind of hard to explain, but it almost feels like a silky second-skin. It’s also super lightweight and has mega stretch. The leggings even have little zippers on the bottom, which came in super handy when I went for a pedicure recently. You can use code YOGA for 20% off of your order!