Becoming More Comfortable in my Own Skin with New Activewear

“I am obsessed with becoming a woman comfortable in her own skin.” Unknown, but I want to give her a great big hug, whoever she is. And be her friend. I am working really hard on becoming comfortable in my own skin and becoming comfortable in the knowledge that it is a process. It is not something that will happen overnight for me, no matter how badly I want it. I am used to being a “go-getter” and someone who expects instant results. But self-love is a process, a battle even, where doubt and judgement try to get me at every turn.

Zella Wrap Sweater,  Zella Floral Leggings,   Nike Free Rn

So I’m working hard to change my mentality about working out. It is not a form of punishment or something I HAVE to do. It is something I want to do. It is a form of self-love and a natural anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medicine. It makes me happier, a better Mother, a better wife, a better me. If I have something in my life that is “that good” then why wouldn’t I make time for it?! Why wouldn’t I prioritize the heck out of it?! Your guess is as good as mine. But for some reason working out is a struggle for so many of us. So I’ve made sure to choose workouts that are challenging, but not so challenging that I injure myself, whether that’s mentally or physically. Lately my workout have been a combination of yoga, barre classes, and cardio either with Fit4Mom or using workout videos at home.

While I may not love myself yet, I like myself and that’s a start. Part of liking myself is wearing clothes that fit me properly and are flattering. So at least once a year, I buy myself some new workout clothes to help keep myself motivated and to remind myself how important movement is for me. I used to work out in baggy old t-shirts and loose pants and did not feel good about myself in that kind of an outfit. I actually think it made me feel worse about myself and added to my body distortion. They were comfortable, but I did not feel comfortable in them. Now, sometimes I have glimpses of feeling comfortable in my skin and even if it’s just for a few minutes, it makes me feel good. Even great sometimes. I still feel anxious about how I look before I go workout, but as soon as I’m in the zone, this feeling passes. And I do think what I wear at least partly influences that. Which is why I’m talking about my favorite activewear picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.

Every year, when the Nordstrom Anniversary sale happens, I love to stock up on cute, high-quality workout clothes that really do help me feel good. If you’re unfamiliar with the Anniversary sale, it takes place once a year and all the clothes for the Fall season are released with a big sale. The clothes go back to normal price after the sale is over, but typically by that point, the really popular items are sold out. Nordstrom is a high-end retailer, so sales do happen, but the anniversary sale prices, really can’t be beat. Zella is one of the brands that is really worth stocking up during the sale. Zella is made my a designed who used to work for Lululemon and then brought all of their creative genius to Nordsrom to make another high end workout line. Zella is slightly cheaper than Lululemon, but it still an investment. During the anniversary sale, Zella is actually quite affordable and I can attest to their quality. I’ve had most of my Zella pieces for several years and they’re still going strong. Below are my favorite activewear picks from the sale.

Zella Floral Leggings

Florals are definitely in this year and these leggings not only have a fun print, but they feel like butter. They are going to be perfect for almost any kind of workout. I can see myself rocking them both to yoga and barre class, as well as an intense

Zella Uplifted Sweatshirt

This is the perfect lightweight hoodie to throw on after a workout and still look super cute! It comes in this pretty light blue or a lavender color. I think it definitely will sell out!

Rag & Bone Aviators

As soon as I saw these, I knew they were perfect. I rarely see black aviators and I actually like these a lot more than Ray-bans. Slightly over-sized, but not too big.

Nike Free Rn

These shoes are what I’m wearing in all of these pictures and there’s a reason for that. They make you feel like you’re walking on clouds! They are incredibly comfortable and super cute, especially this pretty Lavendar color. These will sell out during the sale. Nike Free’s rarely go on sale and especially when they come out with a new version.

Zella Live-In Leggings

There’s a reason these are called “Live-in” leggings, you truly can live in them. And you will. They are perfect for wearing for most any workout, plus you can easily dress them up with a cute dress/tunic and a pair of cute boots. This year they come in this beautiful maroon, navy blue, and black. Trust me, you’ll thank me once you buy these. $35 is a steal for these!

Zella Mira Tank

True story I used to be scared of wearing fitted tank tops to workout, but they truly do make workouts so much easier. Sometimes it’s hard to find one that is flattering, but this one is tight in the chest and has just a little give in the mid-section to make me feel comfortable. It’s made of a very breathable fabric and the back has a flattering cut.

Zella Cora Sports Bra

You can’t see it in my picture, but I’m wearing this bra underneath my workout top. I would classify it as medium support and I like that it has clasps in the back as well as adjustable straps. For a sports bra it’s quite comfortable. Here’s a picture of the bra and the cute back. It goes really well with the Mira tank posted above!

Here are two other sports bra’s that I think are worth getting during the Anniversary sale. I haven’t tried them on yet, but the reviews look good!

Zella Sneak Peak Sports Bra-This matches the floral leggings!  Nike Indy Sports Bra

             

Below are some of my other Activewear picks from the Nordstrom Sale:

Nike Tank                               Nike Speed Cool Running Tights

I saw in this store and now regret not getting it. Basic, super comfortable, and very breathable. Comes in white, pink, and black! The tights look like they’d be perfect for some HIT workouts

Sweaty Betty Yoga Top                  Sweaty Betty Crop Leggings

Super cute cover up top!                These leggings just look like they would hold everything in and not show sweat-two very important qualities in workout clothes.

              

 

Brooks Sports Bra

Brooks bras are amazing at holding the ladies in. These are my go-to bras for HIT workouts. They are not always flattering, but they work. But this version is surprisingly cute!

Addidas Edge Lux Clima                              Asics Gel

I have not worn Addidas shoes in forever, but these look lovely. And I’m loving the soft peach color! The Asics are the most comfortable workout shoes and I love that they come in wide sizes. Another shoe that rarely goes on sale during the year.

                        

Now that you’ve seen my picks, what are you loving for your workouts?