What's Your Movement Type? Find Your Fitness for 2023

What's Your Movement Type? Find Your Fitness for 2023


13 minute read

A new year brings on fresh feelings of excitement, which is perfect for starting healthier fitness habits. But what if you're finding trouble getting excited because you haven't found what fits for you? You want your choice to give you bodily health, sure...
but also some fun.
What should you do?

With so many options, finding the right "fit" for your fitness journey can be a little daunting. You want it to be challenging while accessible for your needs. You also want results that are sustainable and help you reach your goals. Which one is right for you? Take some inspiration from these strong women who've found the love of their fitness lives, ones that fuel their passions and their beautiful bodies!

@theashleyaf first spoke from the rooftops about her love of the stationary bike, the Peloton, over a year ago as a new way to find movement while staying at home. To this day, she's still enjoying her rides that give her the boost she wants in her day to feel strong. With stationary bikes gaining popularity with more of life done at home, Peloton offers not only the aspect of a great low-impact conditioning exercise, but now comes with other types of workouts to join in on. Ashley filled us in on what life was like before Peloton, and how it's changed her fitness routine for the better:


"When we moved out of town, I spent a lot more time on the road going to and from the gym, and less time doing things I loved. Plus, my girls didn't get to see me work out, which was important to me for them to see their mother's example.

 Having a group to lean on or spark ideas from is key to me. And that's when I first got my Peloton. Now I have a workout room, filled with the things that give me inspiration. It was an investment, but so worth it!

The challenge is to motivate yourself. Some days its ridiculously hard to walk down to the gym. You're not having to pay a missed class fee if you decide to ditch. So it's all on your determination to go get it done. But the Peloton community helps so much with that! When I log on for a ride, there's hundreds of other people doing the same workouts I am. You can send out high fives, you can even do it live. And when you meet somebody who has a Peloton, you instantly bond!

It helps clear my head become me again when I feel like I've got the "work hat", "parent hat" and "friend hat" on. And that's why self-love and affirmations inspired the design of my headband. Self-love is one of the most important things to have, because without loving yourself, it's so much harder to accept love from others."


If you're a beginner just getting started with Peloton, here's the advice that Ashley would give:
"Never compare. Not to someone else or to yourself. Instead of worrying what my PR is on a ride or a lift, I focus on what my best is for that moment, that day. And find something you love but also challenges you. If you're dreading doing something every day, maybe that isn't the right thing for you. And stretch, stretch, stretch!"

Our recent post on running tips was partly inspired by @milesthroughmotherhood, a runner who loves putting in the miles to add that fitness spice to her life. She finds it a great way to invest time in herself while building her stamina to keep up with her family. We asked her about life before running, and here's her inspirational story:

"Before I started running life looked very different. I had my first baby, and when I was 4 months postpartum I found out I was pregnant again. It was such a difficult time finding out about another baby, because I was already struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. Over the months as my kids grew older, I realized that I had completely lost myself in motherhood. I had no hobbies, zero confidence, wasn’t taking care of myself, and was constantly in an extremely negative headspace. I knew I needed to make a change for my kids and myself. 

Once I realized that I needed to start making myself a priority, I started walking on a treadmill. I wanted to do something each day that gave me time to be alone and unplug from the demands of motherhood. That time on the treadmill felt like a reset every day. Eventually, the walking turned into running. I started to gain confidence and felt connected to myself for the first time in years!
 Being a mother runner presents a whole set of obstacles. It’s hard to create the time for yourself when motherhood is 24/7! At first, I felt I was being a bad mom for making running a priority and taking that time away from family. But as I've grown as a runner (and a mother), I've learned that in order for me to show up as the mom I want to be, I have to take care of myself, too. 
It’s honestly hard to put into words how running has helped me. Every aspect of my life has changed. I'm a better wife and mother. I'm more confident, positive, joyful, and energetic. I'm setting an example to my kids of the importance of taking care of yourself (both physically and mentally) and making yourself a priority. Running has helped prove to me that I can trust myself and that I can set big goals!"

Running has tons of benefits, including maintaining bone strength as it's a weight bearing exercise. When Morgan first started her fitness journey, she wishes she'd had this advice to help her through:

"I would tell a beginner that it's OK to take time for yourself. I had a hard time prioritizing myself in those early years of being a new mom. I wish I could've told myself that going for a run for my mental and physical health benefits my entire family!"

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Genießen Sie die Meilen

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Sie können davon ausgehen, dass Ihr Stirnband Ihnen Selbstvertrauen gibt, ohne dass die Funktionalität darunter leidet. Die Stirnbänder von Lilac Market wurden entworfen, weil es keine Lösung gab, die den hohen Ansprüchen des Seins gerecht wurde funktional, erschwinglich, zuverlässig. Deshalb haben… Read More

Want to feel like Superwoman? Lift heavy things! That's exactly what @wellnesswithmorgan , who was a recent guest on our blog for wellness tips, does to be her strongest self. A great way to maintain everything else you do, it's also an incredible confidence boost when you can say to someone offering to help you bring in all the groceries "No thanks, I got it!".

"Before lifting, my main goal with exercise was to be smaller. I saw it as a way to have some control over the way I looked. My workouts were mainly cardio, and I always focused on the number of calories burned. I would run, do the elliptical/bike, or do some kind of HIIT/circuit workout.
 
I started lifting in college. While I did my cardio, I would watch other people lifting and finally built up the courage to give it a try. Initially I started lifting because I thought it might help me tone up my body. I saw the way other people looked in the weights section, so I figured they must be doing something right!
 
I’m an introvert at heart, and can be self-conscious when trying something new. To overcome this fear, I started out just using the machines. I liked that each machine had instructions, and in my mind there was less room for error. They were a safer place to start. Once I built my confidence using the machines, I started to incorporate dumbbells and cable exercises. I was lifting for about 2 years before I was confident enough to incorporate barbell work.
 
Lifting has completely changed my relationship with my body. Instead of trying to be the smallest version of myself, I’m instead becoming the strongest version of myself. It's given me more confidence, not only in the gym but in other areas of life. It makes me appreciate everything I can do! Before, I was solely focusing on burning calories. And that can lead to unhealthy, restrictive eating habits. But now, lifting allows me to have a healthy relationship with food, since I’m now seeing it as a way to fuel my body and muscles. I highly recommend that more women start lifting. It’s an amazing way to shift your perspective and change your relationship with your body and food!"
 

When lifting weights as a beginner, it's important to progress slowly so that you can prevent burnout and learn safe form while you gain muscle and balance. Morgan's best advice for someone just starting with weight lifting is this:
"Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. You'll never know how strong you are until you really try!"

Seien Sie freundlich, heben Sie schwere Lasten

Seien Sie freundlich, heben Sie schwere Lasten

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Sie können davon ausgehen, dass Ihr Stirnband Ihnen Selbstvertrauen gibt, ohne dass die Funktionalität darunter leidet. Die Stirnbänder von Lilac Market wurden entworfen, weil es keine Lösung gab, die den hohen Ansprüchen des Seins gerecht wurde funktional, erschwinglich, zuverlässig. Deshalb haben… Read More

This combination of strength and endurance has swept the nation (including our owner Kelsey!). It offers a variety of movements, and a huge community keeps you going on days when you just need to lean on the group for motivation. @heathercbertram loves CrossFit, and pushes herself by signing up for competitions. When asked about what got her started and how CrossFit has changed her life, Heather shared her story with us:


"As a child, I was always very skinny. Once I hit puberty, I started gaining quite a bit of weight. My nutrition for the majority of my life consisted of fast food and microwave meals. I played waterpolo for 11 years, so that kept the weight gain from getting too out of hand. Once I graduated college and my waterpolo career came to an end, all the weight started piling on. I tried going to the gym, cycling classes, Zumba classes and long walks with friends, but nothing helped the weight gain or my confidence. I started developing health issues, I was tired all the time and one day I finally had enough of it.

I woke up early one day and started jogging (my least favorite exercise in the world!). I completely changed my diet and entire lifestyle. I reluctantly joined CrossFit at the request of a friend and was instantly addicted. 

CrossFit reminded me of my athletic career that I had missed so much. With CrossFit, you have coaches - similar to sports. You have classes - similar to a team. You have community- similar to that of family or friends. I love that the workouts are pre-planned and different every single day. And they're universally scalable. Meaning, if you're injured, just starting or pregnant, you can still show up and get in an incredible workout. There's also this competitive element to it, which works well with my athletic nature. As a result, I've competed in 9-mile trail runs with friends, ran half marathons, competed in 5 CrossFit opens and multiple CrossFit competitions!

My goals switched slightly when I had a baby, but CrossFit is still a big part of my life. My husband and I do it together for "us" time. It's a big passion we share, and I love that we get to do that together.
I haven't been on any kind of medication for my health issues in years, and I've met so many people through the community of CrossFit!"


While she was starting up in the CrossFit world, learning new ways to move and build her fitness community, the best advice she would give herself is:
"Trust the process! And get comfortable with being uncomfortable (in the best way of course!). Showing up every day is the hardest part for most, but CrossFit provides the best community for motivation and that team-work-vibe to keep pushing hard and to continue forward."

If you're looking for a mixture of high-intensity and interval training to keep your brain busy while you work up a sweat, F45 is for you! This fun class promises to go through all the motions of cardio, resistance and a hybrid of the two to get you to top physical form in 45 minutes, not a moment more. And the best way to start and maintain a new fitness regimen is to strengthen each in a balanced way. Strong mama @katieannensminger boasts this as the most fun way to get fit! Here's how F45 has changed her life:

"It was the middle of COVID October 2020, my whole family was home most days either doing virtual learning or working from home. We were cooking at home even more. I was using the Sweat app and doing BBG (bikini body guide) for the 5th time. Despite this my overall fitness seemed stagnant.

F45 South Springfield reached out to me to help promote the gym opening which piqued my curiosity, so I started learning more about the company. I read reviews and looked at their social media. I was hesitant to accept, mainly because I was nervous at the thought of working out with people I didn't know and that everyone would be stronger, faster, etc. However, after my first week (only 2 classes) and seeing what workouts were like, I knew that it would help me get into the best shape of my life. The exercises were dynamic and ever-changing. Everything can be done at your own pace, with your own weight preference, which I needed to stay consistent.

The social aspect has become a huge part of working out for me. I look forward to seeing people who have become friends. I enjoy celebrating their successes in class and the community that has come about is incredible.

F45 continues to help me with my overall health, mental and physical. It's my 45 minutes of alone tie 5 or 6 days a week. My children don't need anything; nothing takes priority over what I'm doing while I'm at the gym. I leave feeling refreshed every single time. If you ever thought about trying a F45 location or especially South Springfield, please do!"

Stärker als Sie denken

Stärker als Sie denken

$14.99

Sie können davon ausgehen, dass Ihr Stirnband Ihnen Selbstvertrauen gibt, ohne dass die Funktionalität darunter leidet. Die Stirnbänder von Lilac Market wurden entworfen, weil es keine Lösung gab, die den hohen Ansprüchen des Seins gerecht wurde funktional, erschwinglich, zuverlässig. Deshalb haben… Read More

Shop our special collaboration release, "Celebrating Movement", with each of these strong queens mentioned above. It's the perfect addition to your fitness journey!

Which of these is more your fitness style? Let us know what your favorite way to move is, and tag us in for a chance to be featured in our stories!

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