We Aim To Slay

As we round out the first month of the year, some of us may be struggling with our New Year’s Resolution of getting into an exercise routine. One of my favorite ways to motivate myself to get to the gym consistently is buying cute activewear! This week I’m sharing my go-to workout brand –  Astoria Activewear – and some of my favorite exercises to help get you back on the bandwagon!

About Astoria

I first learned about this brand in Summer of 2023, through an Instagram ad. Unbeknownst to me, Astoria is the sister brand of Haute Swimwear – a brand I also have a discount for! 

Astoria was founded by April Nottinham, and is based out of Miami, FL. According to their website, “Astoria Activewear is a lifestyle brand focused on the promotion of health and fit-focused active-wear. We will always bring you quality active-wear to empower you to reach your goals.”

I’ve been wearing and repping Astoria since 2023, in that time I’ve amassed quite the collection of Astoria sets – all of which can be shopped directly through my LinkTree Shop! 

Why Fitness Matters to Me 

Growing up with a mom that was extremely conscientious about health and nutrition laid the foundation for my health-mindset. My siblings and I have all participated in multiple sports as well as pageantry, both of which encourage being active.

But there is a stigma surrounding pageantry – the idea that we don’t take proper care of our bodies, or that we only exercise in order to “look good” in a swimsuit. While that may have been the case in decades gone by, today, many pageants don’t offer a swimsuit competition, opting instead for “fitness wear”, consisting of athletic sets similar to the ones I’m talking about here! 

I hope to shift the emphasis from “looking good” to “healthy eating and exercise for the betterment of ourselves.” Because at the end of the day, exercising and making healthy food choices does so much more than promote weight loss or help you “get jacked” – it changes your mindset! 

When I’m exercising consistently I notice that I have much more energy during the day; it’s easier for me to get out of bed in the morning; and I tend to have a much more positive and “let’s find a solution” mindset! 

When I’m making nutritionally sound food choices, I notice much fewer cravings for junk food. When I drink more water than sugary beverages, I can see an obvious difference in my skin. And, when I’m getting a full night’s sleep, I wake up more motivated to put time back into myself! 

Astoria In Action!

With fitness as one of my top goals for this year, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my favorite exercises and online fitness gurus with you as a way to help motivate you!

My Favorite Exercises!

Cardio

I will always prefer cardio over lifting! This is a habit that started when I was in high school. Whenever I would feel overwhelmed or upset, I would go out for a run. That has continued into my adulthood, and I’m even working on training my dog, Dante, to go running with me! For me, there is no better way to work through the chaos in my mind than by going out for a run throughout my neighborhood. But there are many ways to get effective cardio including swimming, spinning or cycling, taking a walk, or even running around the yard with your dog!

Yoga

back when I first started competing there was a workout craze called P90X – we had all of the videos and I absolutely hated them; except for the yoga routine. From there I started doing yoga on my own, reading books about the history to learn different poses, and taking classes on my college campus! Eventually I made my way to YouTube where I’ve found a bunch of yogis that share routines at all different difficulty levels, styles of yoga, and that focus on different body parts!

• Yoga with Allie Van Fossen (previously “The Journey Junkie”)
• Boho Beautiful Yoga
• Yoga with Adrienne

Lifting

If you want to tone up your muscles or burn body fat, you’re going to need to start lifting! There is a common misconception that weight lifting will make your muscles bulk up – and while that is a possibility, you’d have to train specifically for that goal. Personally, I prefer to train my lower body, as my legs are much stronger than my arms overall.

• Single leg Romanian Deadlifts
• Deadlifts
• Standing Shoulder Press
• Walking Lunges
• Assisted Pull Ups

What Do You Think?

What are your health and fitness goals for 2025? Share them below, and let’s help motivate each other throughout this year!

You guys know I’m obsessed with Astoria Activewear, but I want to hear your thoughts – have you tried Astoria? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below! And, remember to use the code ‘WATS15’ to save 15% off all Astoria Activewear orders!

I’ll be back next week to share a brand that is new to me, Vessita, and the adorable dress I ordered!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!