Embracing an Active Lifestyle

Thank you to Specialty Retailers, Inc.  for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are mine.

What I Am Wearing:

Top c/o via Stage stores: here

Sport Bra c/o via Stage stores: here

Leggings c/o via Stage stores: here

One of my daily goals this year is to continue to maintain an active lifestyle. With just 8 weeks postpartum, maintaining an active lifestyle hasn’t been easy. Most times I am too tired or sleep deprived to think of going to the gym. Pre-pregnancy and in the early stages of my pregnancy, I worked out more often by doing Pilates and Barre 3-4 times a week. Currently, I am slowly getting back to an active lifestyle…nothing intense yet. As a new mom, it is important that I find a balance and since I am always on the go, I need workout clothes that I can wear from running errands, dropping off Nolan at school to working out or simply a comfy athleisure clothes to relax at home. I am glad that have Stage stores as my one-stop shop for not only different activewears, but fashion, beauty and home products to help refresh my space. For me, maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is very important not just to lose weight but also to maintain a healthy heart.

For that reason, I have partnered with Stage stores to share how I plan to #BringHeartHome by embracing an active lifestyle. Throughout the month of April, Stage stores will be raising money for American Heart Association (AHA). You can get involved at your local Stage Store or online. At your local Stage Stores, they will be hosting activations and events where you can help them give back to AHA. Online Stage Stores during the month of April, for every #BringHeartHome photo shared as a post on either Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #BringHeartHome, Stage will donate $1.00 to support American Heart Association (up to $25,000). You can find out more information about the Bring Heart Home campaign at Stage.com/BringHeartHome.

How do I #BringHeartHome? To #BringHeartHome, I am embracing an active lifestyle. Since having a baby 8 weeks ago, I have be finding new and different ways to living an active lifestyle. With my new normal as a working mom of two, embracing an active lifestyle is a lot important. Different simple practices that I am implementing to jump-start a healthy habit includes eating healthy, balanced meals and simple workouts. Sometimes I get caught in working and new mom life that I often skip breakfast or eat breakfast really late. Recently, I have made conscious efforts to break that habit by making sure I have breakfast daily even if it means setting an alarm to remind me. Some of my quick and go-to breakfast are: fruits (honeycrisp apple with peanut butter or almond spread), boiled egg or omelet with cooked carrots, greek yogurt with granola or original oatmeal with strawberries. Another thing that I have been implementing is going for walks with baby Nova, morning stretches and simple exercises at home such as 2x 10 lunges, squats, a minute Plank and arm workout using 3-5lbs weights. Some days, I am able to do all the simple workouts that I mentioned; but other days, I simply go for a walk around the neighborhood with the baby.

Simple activities of taking good care of yourself, relaxing and working out can make a huge difference in maintaining a healthy heart. I will love to hear how you live an active lifestyle. What activities do you do? Share your own heart smarts and #BringHeartHome stories to raise awareness on the importance of healthy heart and help Stage store give back to American Heart Association (AHA). Get involved and learn more about the Bring Heart Home campaign at Stage.com/BringHeartHome.