Our Fitness Goals for the Year


For last week’s style series, we chatted all about our favorite athleisure wear. Those items were some of our favorite for both lounging around the house and in less frequent cases…actually working out!

Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookToday, we wanted to chat a little bit about how we each workout and share a few of our healthy-living goals for 2017.

Shoes: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

Today’s Fashion Staple: Fitness Accessories

Plus, since we didn’t have much time to chat about our workout accessories (water bottles, shoes, bags, etc) last week, we figured today’s post would be a good chance to dive into those tidbits too. It’s quite the agenda for this style series, so let’s get right to it!ย 

Casey

I’m actually a big fan of working out, specifically because I just feel so good afterwards! I feel like I sleep better and have much more energy when I stick to a workout routine.

It's all about the bag: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

But that doesn’t mean that I’m incredibly devoted to getting to the gym everyday. I’d say I average about 3-4 times per week. I specifically LOVE group fitness classes. Maybe because I grew up as a dancer and enjoyed going to dance class everyday? That then continued in college when I was on the pom squad at Notre Dame. There’s just something about being in a room full of other people thatย motivates you to try your best (or maybe it’s just the competitive side in me. ha!)

My favorite workout class is called Body Pump. Any other body pump lovers out there? It has quite the cult following across the country. Essentially it’s a 60-minute strength class using a barbell. It’s choreographed to music, with each music track targeting a specific muscle group. By the end, you leave with a full-body workout. I started incorporating this class into my workout routine 1x per week last August, and have noticed a change in my body. I feel so much stronger and have developed some lean muscles that I didn’t have before.

be flexible with your look: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookI also enjoy doing yoga. It’s wonderful when I want to clear my head and stretch out sore muscles. They offer a yoga class 1x per week at my work, so I usually stay and do that on Tuesday nights.

casey-athleisure-2So essentially my workout routine consists of a mixture of group fitness classes, cardio on the stair master at the gym, and then occasional BBG workouts at home.

Now onto my favorite fitness accessories that are really beneficial to my workout routine…

Hydrate: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookI’m a big H2O lover. While Bridget has a hard time drinking enough water, I drink so much water it’s kinda crazy. I ALWAYS have a water bottle with me, and I recently got 2 S’well water bottles for Christmas.

Swell Water Bottle: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookI keep this gold one in my gym bag and I use it for workouts. I have the larger size (in marble…so gorgeous), that I keep at my desk at work. I fill that bad boy up 2-3x during the workday. The best part about these water bottles is that they don’t “sweat.” I hate when watery residue is left all over your desk, so these have been great. They also keep liquids cold for 24 hours, and hot for 12 hours. And it really does work!

The bag ties the look: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookI also got this new workout bag for Christmas and I’m obsessed. It’s sleek and has so many pockets and compartments. There’s even a little shoe compartment inside to keep your gym shoes from dirtying up anything else in your bag. Before this, I just had a tote that I’d throw my workout clothes in, but now I love having everything organized so I can bring my gym bag to work everyday. This makes me much more likely to stop at the gym on my way home!

Workout bag: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

Another “new to me” accessory is this new twisty hair tie! I had seen them before and was always so fascinated as to what it was, so I picked up a 3-pack at Sephora in January.

Hair ties: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookI’m the kinda gal who always has a hair tie on her wrist, and this would often leave a big mark on my skin. Ouch. These are great because they lightly stay on your wrist and then when you use it for a ponytail it doesn’t crease your hair!ย Sunglasses: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY PlaybookThis has been a game changer for me as I love putting my hair up at night, but then would have to completely re-do my hair the next day. Now I can go another day in between washes and my hair is feeling a lot healthier because of it!

Bridget

Unlike Casey, I’m not as committed to regular gym visits BUT I’m REALLY trying to be better this year.

Hoodies: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

Growing up I was involved in lots of sports and was very active. Even in college when I was no longer in organized sports, I would visit the gym regularly on campus and was committed to an active and healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, though, I have gotten away from these routine gym visitsย over the last few years and NEED TO CHANGE that.
Workout Gear: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

It’s not like I sit around and have lazy days because actually I’m always on the move, partly because I’m busy but partly because I like to “putz” around the house. I’m not one who enjoys sitting down and relaxing because I’m a busy-body. I know that being on the move is a good thing but not regularly stretching or getting my heart rate up (the way “formal” exercise does) is not the routine I want to get into as I enter my 30’s at the end of this year!!! #howdidthathappenShoes: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

So I have been hitting the gym fairly regularly after work to walk/jog on the treadmill. It’s been a sloooowwww stat but I keep reminding myself that just being on the treadmill for any amount of time is more than I used to be.Shoes: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

It hasn’t been easy because I don’t love working out, but I do feel better when I leave so I try to focus on that as motivation to stick with it! Any other tips for me?! Or better yet, does anyone have any suggestions on running workouts to help build endurance over time (for beginners)? I need all the help I can get!It's the complete look: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

My new gray gym shoes have also been a motivator to get my butt to the gym after work. They’re incredibly comfortable (no breaking in time at all) and are pretty fashionable too.

Our Favoriteย Accessories for the Gym

Accessories list: Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

1 Gym bag // 2. No Crease Hair ties ย // 3. Marble Swell // 4. Grey Gym shoes (B’s)
5. Gold Swell Bottle // 6. No-Show Socks // 7. Black Gym shoes (Casey’s!)
8. White Gym shoes // 9. Grey Gym shoes // 10. Greyย HatFlex! Workout Accessories & Fitness Goals for 2017 | DIY Playbook

Bridget&Casey


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.