We Aim To Slay

As I inch closer and closer to my 30th birthday, I’m coming to terms with a persistent truth: exercising consistently makes me feel better, in every measurable way! I feel well rested, energized, and grounded, making each day feel more productive!

I’ve been cultivating a collection of equipment that helps me get the best workout possible, regardless of the kind of workout I’m doing! 

Traditional Exercise Routine

My “traditional” exercise routine consists of going to the gym for weight lifting workouts – I’ve shared some of them on social media! In an ideal world, I like to lift weights four to five times per week and use the weekends as rest days.

My standard gym bag – a black duffle back from Temu – features many pockets, a must-have for any bag that comes into my life!

This is my standard kit that I bring with my every time I go to the gym and includes: my gym sneakers (by New Balance), a large yoga block, my gym notebook and several pens to record my workouts and progress, a bar pad for hip thrusts, my bluetooth headphones, my swim goggles and swim cap, a tube of IcyHot, a tube of BioFreeze (which is like extra strength IcyHot), deodorant, extra hair ties and athletic watch bands, Aprés Active Beauty wipes, Aprés Active Beauty serum mist, Aprés Active Beauty eye masks, and a pair of pageant shoes to train in!

Having a former body builder, nutritionist, and professional gym rat as a mother has many perks including using her old training programs! This program focuses on specific body parts in each workout such as my “glutes & hamstrings” workout which features moves such as Barbell Hip Thrusts and Single Leg Romanian Deadlifts!

No matter what workout I’m doing, I like to record each move, how many reps and sets I complete, and the weight I used for each! This allows me to track my progress, but it also allows me to take note of the changes in my body and in my environment – not all workout machines function in exactly the same way, and I like to remind myself which machines work best for each movement.

Similarly, some workouts require additional equipment, such as using a barbell pad when completing weighted hip thrusts, or using a thicker yoga block to complete standing split squats rather than the weight bench!

But, no matter what workout I’m doing, the two most important items in my gym bag – my headphones and my shoes! 

I’ve played several sports in my life and one thing remains constant – I like a flatter shoe, with flexible soles, very little fabric, and some mild arch support. The perfect sneakers, with those parameters, are made by New Balance (and no, this isn’t sponsored!).

It may seem counterintuitive to keep a pair of high heels in my gym bag, especially after explaining my preference for a running shoe! But as a pageant titleholder and contestant, it’s important to train for every aspect of the competition and lifestyle – including walking in heels!

Pageant-Focused Training

I first started competing in pageants when I was 11 years old, and not long after that I made the personal decision to practice walking in heels – by wearing heels to school every day. Nowadays it’s not always practical to be wearing heels, nor is it practical to be practicing my stage walk while I’m at work! 

So how does one practice walking in heels? I created a playlist of songs commonly used during pageant competitions – from evening gown to swim wear to on stage modeling – which allows me to practice my pacing, any turns or spins I may want to try, or any new moves!

I also like to bring this shawl-meets-sarong item my mom hand knit for me in order to practice moves that include a prop such as a cape on a gown, or a sarong with my swimsuit!

In a similar vein, I’m not only training for my life as a pageant queen!

Non-Traditional Exercise

For as long as I can remember I have been obsessed with the beach and as I entered my preteen years, I fell in love with the aesthetic and culture of surfing. It wasn’t until I was in college that I went surfing for the first time, and in 2020 I finally decided to take surf lessons! 

Fast forward to now – I love any and every chance I have to surf, but because I live a couple hours away from the nearest break, it’s important that I keep up with my skills when I’m land-locked!

I train surf-specific muscles and movements by using my Indo Board! I bought the original Indo Board kit, which came with the original board, the stationary balance pad, and the static roller. 

I also keep several other non-Indo Board brand items in this bag including: a jump rope, two standard sized yoga blocks, an ab roller, a set of athletic bands, and my boxing gloves (I used to train in boxing when I was in high school, but I’ve never competed!). I don’t always bring my Indo bag into the gym, but I do like to keep it in my car in order to do at least one surf workout a week!

I never complete a workout or go to the gym without my yoga mat, whether I’m stretching (I end every workout with a thorough stretch!), need extra padding, or taking a class, there’s never not a use for a yoga mat! I even keep my old yoga mat in my car, because you never know when you could use a good stretch!

I mentioned above that I’ve participated in several sports throughout my life – cheerleading, running cross country, alpine skiing, swimming, hiking, skateboarding, and probably more that I’ve forgotten! As we transition into spring in the Northeast, I’ll be getting outside more to do more outdoor activities especially when I can bring my dog, Dante!

Recovery Tools

When I said I end every workout with stretching, I wasn’t kidding! The item I use most frequently for recovery is my yoga mat, but sometimes I need a little extra something!

As someone who loves all things fashion and beauty, I often wear makeup during the day. So after a long day at work, I enjoy decompressing with a sweat session – in order to keep my skin looking and feeling it’s best I keep a few Aprés Active Beauty products in my bag!

I’ve spoken previously about my love of the Cool + Glow Facial Towelettes, but in my most recent order I also purchased the On-The-Glow Kit, the Balancing Serum Face + Body Mist, the Lift + Restore Collagen Eye Masks, a new package of the Cool + Glow Facial Towelettes, and was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of a holiday season special where you could get a set of three hair clips for free when a qualifying purchase!

I first tested out the serum and eye masks during my December road trip to Florida. In order to complete the 20 hour drive as quickly as possible, we elected to sleep in the car!

On the drive down I used the pearl eye mask, wearing them beneath my sleep mask, and I do feel as though they made a difference. Similarly with the serum mist, it smelled great and felt even better on the skin! I ended up testing the rose patches on the drive home from Florida and I don’t think I’d buy them again. Firstly, I hate the smell of roses. Secondly, the masks themselves were very thick so they didn’t sit well on my face, and I didn’t feel as though my skin was able to absorb any of the product.

In the same vein of interest, I also keep an array of extra hair ties and headbands, a pair of flip flops to wear in the shower or sauna, deodorant, and my rubber smartwatch bands!

I also like to keep recovery products such as IcyHot, a massage therapy gun, and a lacrosse ball to help stretch out the arches of my feet after pageant training! 

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite ways to get your body moving? And, what equipment helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Let me know in the comments!

I’ll be back next week to discuss one of my new favorite accessories – my upgraded smart watch bands and cover!

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