Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Fitness in 2015

Training for Tuesday snuck up on me pretty quickly this month. That's what happens when I've been playing Santa, battling that holiday anxiety and trying really hard to prepare for our tropical vacation coming up in six short months. 

Since it's the end of the year, this post is fit to be dedicated to my fitness past from 2015. While I can look back and laugh that 2014 was the year of sweaty selfies, 2015 was the year of "look where I'm working out" and more recently "partner workouts gone undocumented". While some of my fitness goals went unconquered, there's a lot that I've learned about myself in the past twelve months.


January - June: ClassPass

It seems like all I could talk about in the first half of 2015 was this fairytale concept of ClassPass. Where with one monthly membership I gained access to over 120 studios in Portland that offered the best in group fitness. I was able to try so many new fitness classes that I had never dreamed of experiencing. A pumped up sweat party with drumsticks? A fear-testing fly with aerial yoga? The soothing meditation through visualization or those delicious restorative yoga sessions? All new to me and all very much missed and adored. I had even broke up with my gym for ClassPass.

Here's what I was able to try:

:: TRX
:: Pound!
:: Bootcamp
:: Yoga (aerial, vinyasa, hot, restorative, yin)
:: Meditation Therapy
:: Spin
:: Crossfit
:: Mobility training
:: Barre (ballet and cardio)
:: the Megaformer


July - August: Moving to Memphis

In the first month of the move, I was unemployed and seeking to fill the void that was created after ClassPass was no longer an option. I took to the Internet to see how I could avoid going cold turkey and to my delight I found a new barre studio that was offering free grand opening classes. I was then brave enough to meet new people early in the morning on a high school track all because I met my fitness hero in a Starbucks and I laughed at her joke. These are some of my warmest first memories of Memphis and made me realize that I could re-establish my previously known fitness culture if I just looked hard enough. Still on the "to try" list is Bendy Brewski ... or Yoga followed by a pint of beer.

August - December: Settling into Memphis


Once I became employed in August, the freedom of what I'd experienced in the first month was no longer possible and it was time for me to establish a schedule. No stranger to 'switching it up', I turned my attention to the gym. The one with the dudes at the weight racks and the one with the tanning beds and the one with the lightly used cardio equipment. It didn't feel like "my gym" where I was free to take up as much space I needed and use my 12-minute athlete interval app. It was the kind where my guy felt the most comfortable tucked away on an elliptical machine and in an effort to make gym dates 'ours', that's the world I fell into as well.

It wasn't long before I made some me-time to throw weights around, to sprint the stairs in our three-story apartment building and went back to some basics in my favorite workouts pre-studio life. Alyssa sent me some of her favorite YouTube flows and it finally convinced me to bring my mat in from the car to get some TLC.

When the new gym at work finally opened up in November, it gave me much more freedom for circuit training and the option to sweat in the middle of a work day. Now that we instituted a couple's workout tax when we have an unscheduled off day, sweating at work has been a great outlet to make time where previously I was looking for it. This added benefit of a gym at work is $0 and if all I have to do is bring my own towel and toiletries for the shower afterward, I have a feeling this gym will be the headliner of my 2016 fitness recap.

Also planned to be in the 2016 fitness recap will be how we used three key daily check-ins to each lose 10% of our body weight over a span of 6 months. It won't be rocket science and obviously nothing earth-shattering, but will show the importance of tweaking your lifestyle and making good choices that already have both of us 30% toward our goals.

Cheers to 2016 and a happy healthy new year!

I hope you're linking up with Alyssa and Tracy for the final Training for Tuesday of 2015!


12 comments

Ali said...

Great job keeping up your fitness through all that change! I would love if our small town had a cross fit gym or barre, but we just have 2 gym chains and a wishy-washy yoga studio that seems to be geared more towards stay at home moms and retired women. So running and doing workouts via Youtube in my living room seem to be my go to!

BLovedBoston said...

I tried ClassPass this year as well - I think the same time you were doing it!! I think it's hardest to keep with the gym and workouts when a life change occurs, like moving cross country or starting a new job!! Looking forward to seeing what 2016 holds in store for you! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

Kathy@MoreCoffeeLessTalky said...

i found out that toronto has classpass but it's all for gyms way too far from me (like, downtown!!) and ain't nobody got time to navigate tricky and crazy downtown traffic. I'll stick to my awesome muay thai!

now that i'm back at work, i was able to keep my amazing schedule but only until jan where i'll have to switch back to 6am workouts. i really don't know how i'm going to fare with such punishing muay thai workouts at 6am!!

happy 2016!

Life with Lolo said...

I seriously wish we had Bendy Brewski here! I'd be all over that and I've never even done yoga! Honestly it sounds like you pretty much nailed it in fitness over the year, especially with a big move in there. I'm hoping 2016 is a lot better year for me than 2015. Here's hoping!

Amy's Fashion Blog said...

Sounds like you took a lot of fun work out classes this year.

http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home

Tracy said...

It's so hard staying active when life is chaotic (cross-country moves and new jobs definitely fall into that category, I think) but it sounds like you've found a way to make Memphis your own! I feel like I tell you this all the time but I think it's amazing how you're both so committed to your own and to each other's health and fitness! Congrats on making so much progress on your goals. I already can't wait for the 2016 recap ;)

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

wow, what a year! i'm sorry you had to leave behind class pass, hopefully it comes to memphis soon? but yay for finding a new groove anyhow. yoga and beer? now that sounds fun! good luck with the 10% that's an amazing goal and i'm sure you'll rock it. yay beach vacation! my 'beach (cruise) vacation diet / workout' starts (predictably) on Jan 1.

Candace Shiflet said...

You did AWESOME with keeping up with working out this year!! You are goals haha That stinks you had to leave classpass, it sounds like they had awesome classes! But there are tons of gyms that also have really good classes too :) I've been loving doing Jillian Michael's workouts lately!!
xo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants

MacKensie said...

Love this, lady. You've got a way with words and weights. <3

Anonymous said...

You honestly never cease to amaze and inspire me. Just your perspective and outlook and eternal optimism on matters like your health and goals are so fresh and delightful to read about. I love that after your adjustment period you've found something that suits you for 2015 and that you'll carry it with you into the new year. (Still crossing my fingers that Class Pass finds you in Memphis in 2016!) Thanks for linking up!

Amanda Elizabeth - Meet @ the Barre said...

You know class pass finally came to Tampa and I have really been wanting to try it out!

Catarina said...

You did really well! You tried an impressive amount of different fitness classes. Actually, that can be key to success. Some people say you should stick to what you know during periods of change, but that can make your mind and your focus wander if you're too familiar with what you're doing. Changing it up is fun and motivating!

Catarina @ Wild Fitness