prepping for gym success

I haven't been fitting in the gym.  Over our belated Valentine's dinner this past weekend, Rhett and I discussed what needed to happen so I could be successful and decided that realistically, the gym has to happen in the morning, or it's probably not going to happen.  We also decided that it would be best if I could get ready for work at the gym, rather than going back to the house to get ready for work.  

We backed into how long my workout needs to be (45 minutes to start), and determined what time I need to leave the house to make it the gym, get in my workout, be dressed for work, and in my office by 8am.  Rhett had serious doubts about me getting ready at they gym.. mainly because, "well babe.  You usually change your outfit 5 times before you get out the door."  True, True, True, True, TRUE!  It's true.  I am totally that girl.  So, I told him about a little thing called "closet shopping" that has been storming blog world, and how I have paid close attention to how Shanna, one of my favorite bloggers, has personal style services where she goes in and "shops the closet" to create outfits, and how she takes pictures of each outfit so there's an outfit guide to lean on when you're staring at your wardrobe wondering what the heck the wear, and how I would do something similar... so my outfits would be planned.  By doing so, I'd know exactly what to take the gym every day, and I'd know exactly what outfit I was putting on.  One day of outfit planning, a week full of setting myself up for success.  

And so I did it.  My President's day was spent "shopping my closet" and getting myself ready for gym readiness.  

First.  

I laid out everything I needed in my gym bag.  My workouts (that I want to laminate), ear buds, wrist weights, curling iron, shower bag, flip flops, & swim wear (hoping I'll have a time or two I can slip into the hot tub).  

Second. 

I put together work outfits.  

Third. 

I put together a slight alteration to the work outfit that I could put in the "after work bag" to take into work, to change into on my way out of work, to take my work outfit to casual.  Why?  Cause here's my deal:  I get home, strip off my work clothes, and promptly slip right into my yoga pants.  And hey, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.  But I can tell you that I am in a dang rut.  I don't want to only wear work clothes all week!  And I swear to god, those expandable yoga pants are doing me no favors when I get home and decide, well hell, why not have a bowl of ice cream, my yoga pants will stretch.  

So with this in mind, here's what I came up with... 

(note, shopping your closet by yourself is NOT the same as having someone else style your closet!
I still ended up with the same black and white 'ish I always do)

the work outfit is displayed in the middle of the frame, the accessories needed on the left side of the outfit.  To the right, is a slight variation ~ typically jeans and shoes to change the outfit up a bit to something I'll wear after work.   

THEN, I created a Secret Pinning Board called "My Private Closet".  And I pinned my outfits to it.  

The Secret Board is PRIVATE.  You can pin all day long to a "Secret Board" and no one else can see.  I thought it'd be the perfect site to host all the outfits.. from MY closet.  I can open it up day or night and grab the articles of clothing needed to create each outfit.  I detailed each outfit, so I'd know exactly what article of clothing was pictured.  

And voila!  I'm ready for a week of gym going.  Does this guarantee I'll be successful?  No.  I still have to get my butt up every day, and I have to commit to the 15-20 minutes every day of loading and unloading my bags, but I'm hoping this is really going to help.  Here's to Hoping!!  And gym going.  And 10 lbs vanished from my bod.  ;)