Friend Friday: Fashion and Fitness

This was completely unplanned at the time, but these questions come just two days before I’m going to be running the Providence, RI half-marathon and less than two weeks after the historic Boston Marathon. How appropriate that we are talking about fitness today for Friend Friday.

1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why? I never really used to have a workout routine. In fact I never liked to workout at all. Occasionally in college I’d hit the gym with a friend when I got the sudden, and usually short-lived, desire to lose weight. But I didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t have any plans in place. Then when I lived in New York I decided weight loss was a must; but even more importantly I needed to get my daily headaches under control. A doctor suggested working out daily would be a solution and I picked up running. When I moved to St. Louis I joined a gym and started working out four to five times a week. It’s stuck with me. I mostly do cardio work – spin classes, running, and using the eliptical. But now I’ve begun to mix in more core and weights – not to be some buff machine but to have some tone.

Just before running the St. Louis half-marathon in May 2010

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that nature, helped with your own perception of body image? I don’t know if it has changed the way I look at my own body, but it does have solid results that you can see in the mirror, more toned legs from all the  running, a slightly flatter stomach, a thinner face. Just the little changes, that might not be noticeable to others has helped me have more confidence in who I am and to be proud of my body, no matter the size on the tag.

3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion? LOL. I used to go to the gym in baggy gym shorts and t-shirts I had from college. My mindset was that I was just working out, sweating, getting red in the face, looking gross anyway, so who cares what I looked like. But when I cut my hair short a couple  summers ago I realized that I looked more and more like a boy when at the gym. I purchased some more fitted pieces of workout clothing and realized that while it is not about making a fashion statement it is good to still look like a chick when working out. Now I wear mostly yoga pants and fitted t-shirts. (I did a post on this back in 2009 and surprisingly not much has changed in what I tend towards.)

Just before the Chicago Marathon in October 2009 with my sister Emily

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be doing for your own physical fitness? I think there is more a cultural perception that you should be a certain size and your level of physical fitness doesn’t matter as much as the size you are. Unfortunately that is the wrong idea. Someone can be a little on the heavier side but in great physical condition, the same a skinny person can be in terrible physical health. We need to take care of our bodies – treat them right, give them the things they need to carry us gracefully into old age. For a long time I used to focus on how much weight I could lose by stepping up my fitness level. Now, I have a different mentality – how much more can I accomplish by stepping up my fitness routine… run a little further or a little faster, do another set of reps with the weights, 5 extra pushups… whatever. it’s a much more attainable goal and it is much more fulfilling than watching the scale daily.

5.  Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal. No question… The Boston Marathon 2013. Close behind that would be a sub 1:30 half marathon. And ultimately – an Ironman.

What’s your big fitness goal? Leave a comment below and let me know. Maybe we should start a virtual running club together.

Related posts:

1. Friend Friday: Fitness
2. Affordable Workout Essentials for your Fitness Goals
3. Friend Friday: Copycat Fashion
4. Friend Friday: Fashion Week