This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The North Face for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

This summer is one that I’m devoting to my health.

The last year was a busy one for me- especially my Spring quarter. With all the senior portraits I photographed/edited/delivered, trying to keep the blog functioning, and being a full-time student, I ended up being too drained to workout. I think a lot of it had to do with me feeling burnt out after my half-marathon. What started as a few days break from exercise to recover turned into a month and a half long affair and it’s been difficult for me to get back into the swing of things.

Luckily, I have a fantastic app that I’ve been using to help me get back on track! I know I’ve talked about it before, but the Mountain Athletics from The North Face App has been saving my butt (literally, it has me squatting so the booty isn’t going anywhere) for the last few weeks. There’s something so nice about having a set workout to do instead of being lost amidst a sea of machines and I absolutely LOVE that they have videos to help show you exactly how each exercise should be done.

I’ve transitioned away from the running training guide and have been trying out the general fitness program. You guys. LOVE. Not only does it help me mix up my workouts, but it keeps me honest since I like being able to check out each day’s workout and it keep me accountable if I skip a day. Here’s the general layout:

Monday: upper and lower body strength

Tuesday: lower and upper body unilateral strength

Wednesday: run
Thursday: work capacity/core strength

Friday: upper and lower body strength

Since I usually keep my workouts around 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours, I complete a 25-45 minute cardio burn before starting on the body and weight exercises. I sometimes add a few of my personal favorite exercises, but the app gives me a fantastic base to build off of.

And being able to partner my Mountain Athletics workout with some of North Face’s fantastic gear from the collection? SWOON. So comedy, durable, and light. The material keeps you nice and dry throughout your sweaty workout and the color combinations they have are right up my alley!

I’m hoping to get my fitness back to where it was when I was lifting more regularly. I know many girls and women think weight lifting makes you bulky, but trust me, the exact opposite is true and I find that I have my best body image when I’ve been pumping iron regularly. Not only does it help you build lean muscle, but it’s also incredibly important for your bones (more on that in a future post!). I highly reccomend starting to incorporate weights into your workout routine- you won’t regret it one bit!

Want to learn more?

Check out The North Face, Facebook for even more!

Make sure to follow The North Face on Twitter

Use the hashtag “#ITrainFor” when posting to social media!

Haven’t gotten the app yet? Download the Mountain Athletics App and start killing your workouts!

Here’s to a healthier summer! If anyone wants an accountability buddy, feel free to shoot me an email! I love connecting with readers on a more personal level and could use the support myself .

 

I’ve been staring at this blank page, trying to think of some sort of witty opening sentence for a blog post about my 21st birthday today, but nothing is coming to mind. It’s funny how things just seem to escape you once you try putting them into words, when other times they just come pouring out. Last night I was up till 1 in the morning, lying in bed and brainstorming possible titles.

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