Ahhhhhhh….. working out. You either LOVE IT or HATE IT. But, YOU CAN look GREAT doing it or pretending to do it. HA! I’m all about having your workout gear transition into running around town/errand wear. And most times in my own sweat. I mean, who has time to go home + shower + get makeup on + get dressed and then go back out into the world?? Yeah, I don’t. If I did that, I’d lose a good hour and half. I’d much rather spray on some odor-masking body spray and add some lip gloss. Sorry people. Momma’s got things to do. That’s typically every Monday + Tuesday + Thursday and Friday for me. Wednesday, yeah Wednesday, I’ll shower and put on real clothes. That’s my day off.

I typically only buy black workout gear. Throwing in the occasional grey or monotone print sports bra. But that’s about the extent of it. Let’s be honest BLACK is slimming. I add texture with a scarf or sweater thrown over top. I love a cute sneaker and a sporty bag. That’s my look. ATHLETIC & CHIC with a touch of dried sweat.

WHY I STARTED

Now, you want to know about the workout plan, right? This is a question I get all the time. In addition to the workout clothing I wear. So instead of a quick: Hey Landyn, I’ve Got A Question…. post, I thought it deserved it’s own day to shine.

I got on the workout train back in 2007. I was 30 and just had my second baby. To be honest, I never really worked out before that. I can THANK Belinda for that. She’s my mom. She gave me some good genes. So, the baby weight wasn’t coming off and I was getting cranky. I hired a babysitter to help me 3 days a week for a few hours so I could do something for myself. I tell you what…..it was LIFE CHANGING. It took about 12 weeks of hard ass work. I was sore. I was tired. I was hungry. I was impatient. I was frustrated. Nothing was really happening, but I remember my trainer, David Prokop telling me, “just give me 8 weeks” and you know what, by damn if on the 8th week it starting falling off. I lost 26 lbs and 14 inches over the next couple months. I never looked back and it’s been almost 10 years. I was on my way to a better body than before baby # 1. It was a freakin’ miracle. I felt so strong. I felt happy. I had a pep in my step. People were starting to notice. It was awesome and that wasn’t even the best part. The best part….what it did for My mood. My marriage. MYSELF. That’s the important part. It became part of MY LIFE. My new life.

I’ve since treated it like a very important doctors appt. I’ve got to get to. It’s on my daily calendar. Even though I know I’m going, I still write it down. It feels great to check it off and it keeps me accountable. BEST. DECISION. I’VE. MADE. Besides marrying my husband and having my kids. I need it daily and love what my body is capable of. You’d be surprised what you CAN do.

all photos / lindsey grace photography

WHAT I DID

Ok, enough of the motivational speaking. But I could go on and on. When I moved to Nashville a few years ago, I left behind my most favorite place to workout. The place that gave me a butt lift, great arms and taught me all about the burn. Tiger Fit Athletic Studio. It’s led and taught by Stacie Clark and her husband Chris. You may remember Stacie when she was named named America’s “Next Fitness Star” by Women’s Health Magazine. She’s a sight to see and one of the most motivating people I know. I loved my years there. If you’re in the Minneapolis area, GO! Check it out here to see more info and class offerings. My favorite classes were: FIT + RIDE CORE + ARC. They’ve got a great thing going over there. For my people: 10 class pack is now 20% OFF using promo code or mention LANDYN20 till NOV. 15th 2016. Try it. You’ll love it.

WHAT I’M DOING NOW

We were so excited to move to Nashville. First up, finding the perfect home. Next would be a great school for the kids and then came, WHERE AM I GOING TO WORK OUT? You have to remember, at this point working out is part of my regular life. I was worried I wouldn’t find the right fit and to be honest I don’t love gyms. I like a small class size. Not too dancy-dance. No flipping tractor tires. I wanted weights, cardio, a challenge and not to be killed. I wanted a clean, friendly and not crazy expensive place to go. So I looked and looked. Then one day I saw this sign going up right next to a grocery store I frequent. SHED FITNESS COMING SOON But, what was SHED FITNESS?

Come to find out, SHED FITNESS was exactly what I wanted. I tried a class or two and I was hooked. Big time. Each day of the week focuses on a different muscle group. It’s trainer led, working through 3-5 stations of moderate to high intensity exercises. Each station lasts approximately 5-8 minutes. I’ve been there for over a year and have NEVER done the same workout class twice. That’s the part I love. There’s nothing worse then knowing what’s coming in a workout. Cause if you dread a certain move or class. You’ll make every excuse NOT to go that day. Never happens here. Funny part, the exercises I hate the most give me the best results. Go figure.

WEEK AT SHED

Monday – “Upper”
Start your week off right by working those upper body muscles. Classes are designed to work the back, chest and assisting muscles.

Tuesday – “Lower”
You simply cannot miss lower body day. Your legs and booty will thank you!

Wednesday – “Arms, Abs, etc.”
Just in case you want to look good in a tank top.  We hit arms, abs, shoulders etc..

Thursday – “SHREDDER”
The SHREDDER workout focuses on raising the heart rate.  While our other classes include set times for each station, Shredder is based purely on how long it takes you to make it through the posted workout.  It’s up to you how hard you want to go!

Friday/Saturday – “Full Body”  Working you from top to bottom.

Sunday – “Sunday Circuit”

Owned by Amzie Williams. He’s just plain fun to be around. And his daily Instagram post are really where it’s at. The trainers + staff are some of the best. It’s no wonder some of country music’s biggest names come here to get their sweat on. The changes I’ve seen since coming to SHED are worth every hour I’ve put in. Get your butt in there- 3 locations. Your body will thank you. If you need a little push to change things up, This may help you take that jump. Mention or enter promo code LANDYN20 for 20% OFF classes + packages! Click here to see times + what SHED package fits your lifestyle. See you there! Ooooh, Maybe I should host a LWL workout class here sometime? Would you like that? 

RECOVER

Hydration is VERY important to flush all the toxins and keep that hard workin’ body replenished. You may spend hours in the gym, but what you do afterwards is just as important. Not just food. What about the recovery. It’s not something I used to pay attention to, but once I discovered. THE SWEAT HOUSE. It’s now part of the process. How I recover and get rid of all the unnecessary. What is the SWEAT HOUSE? Good question. I’ll let owner Kayla O’Nan explain.

Where to even start with infrared heat! It is magic and widely under used but the benefits are amazing. It’s basically a magic pod that cures all.

An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. These saunas are sometimes called far-infrared saunas — “far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.

It is a great way to burn calories and rid your body of unwanted toxins.  Infrared saunas help your body release a number of toxins, including heavy metals like mercury and lead, and environmental chemicals. Infrared saunas allow you to release 7x more toxins than a traditional sauna or workout sweat.  The benefits don’t stop there. With infrared sauna technology, you can also lose weight, help lower blood pressure, relax, relieve unwanted pain, boost your immune system, increase your circulation, flush out lactic acid from a hard workout, and purify your skin. I mean how much easier can it get?

You are in there for 30 minutes, sweat your bum off, and poof magic happens.

Infrared heat therapy is also picking up a lot of momentum in the cancer treatment realm. Studies show that cancer cells don’t like heat, if you heat your body up and raise your core temperature (which infrared does) it slows the cell growth rate and can even help destroy the cells!

Sweat is magic that flows through your soul!

My take on the whole thing….. OBSESSED. I try to go weekly, even twice a week. I miss it when I can’t. Oh, and when you go…..ask for the body butter. It’s like a magic fat melter you rub on your trouble spots. To me, It’s just a nice way to unwind + unplug + unleash all the toxins. I feel like a MILLION bucks when I leave. Hubby goes too. They have dual beds, which is great. Sometimes I go with a girlfriend and we spend the entire 30 minutes catching up. Killing two birds with one stone. Cause honestly, I don’t have time to lunch. Ha! Wanna give it a try? Jennifer Anniston, Gwen Paltrow, Selena Gomez, Kimberly Snyder, Jenna Dewan Tatum (she’s even been to The Sweat House), LL cool J do……. Why not you?  All my Living with Landyn followers get your first sweat for $20 (normal $30) and 25% off 5, 10, or 20 packs. Use: LoveLandyn

SHOP THE LOOK

Now that you know where to go and how many days to do it. Let’s talk about what we’re going to wear. Kinda just as IMPORTANT if you ask me. Below I’ve broken it down for ya! From the fun sports bras, to what bag to carry. It’s what I love + wear and it’s all below!

THE TOP

THE SPORTS BRA

THE BOTTOM

THE SHOES

THE BAG

THE GEAR

THE LAYERS