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| Do we ever grow out of playing dress up? |
Fit moms are always slicing and dicing their day to squeeze in a workout, so it goes to reason we'd skip on the beautification process. Still, I want to look like I tried. Over the 8+ years of being a fit mom, I've accumulated my top ten beauty shorts cuts:
Daily showers are non-optional, so make them quick. Sure, like most postpartum moms--crusty with a mix of bodily fluids that were mine and the babies--the days blurred together and I lost track of my mornings and nights and personal hygiene, too. But once the fog lifted I realized that not only did having human beings change me profoundly, they profoundly changed my body odor. The miasma of motherhood.
Only wash hair if you have to. Typically my rule is to wash my hair either after a good sweaty workout or after two days, whichever comes first. The fun in this is to try to coincide the sweaty workout on the second day. Still, there are times when the washing and drying and styling eludes you. And that's when you...
Hide dirty hair with a hat. Hats are all the rage. Most definitely capitalize on style trends and hide your sweaty hair under a stylish hat. Fashion with purpose!
Grow a high-tolerance for body hair. Here's where I luck out. The hair on my legs is light and fine, grows in relatively soft--and bonus! The longer it gets the softer it is! Even the underarm hair is understated. So, yeah, I take advantage of this physiological windfall and shave twice a week, picking up a third day in the summer. Still there are times when I should but don't and that's when you have to camouflage. Hirsute moms, can use this option when they need to to take a break from the razor, too. Cover the legs, skip the tank, and use the extra insulation to sweat a little bit more in your workout.
Keep nails short and unpolished. I file when necessary and every now and again buff them for shine. For me, having long painted nails is a major time suck. My toes are a different story. I really like pedicures. That's my summer-time treat.
Don't fall prey to the anti-aging industry. This one is a "do as I say, not as I do" tip. Now that I'm in my 40s I'll admit I've succumbed. A few years ago I used a single jar of face cream from the drug store. That was all. Now, I own two different kinds of cleansers (one exfoliates!), a moisturizer for day and one for night, and--here's where they can really suck you in--an eye cream. Once you start I don't know if you can ever go back, so hold off as long as possible!
Prioritize make-up application. You and only you know what you need to feel good when you walk out the door. The lucky ones can get away with nothing at all. I go with a slathering of tinted moisturizer and mascara as my bare-bones basics. If time permits my cheeks get color and my nose gets a dusting of powder. On rare occasions I break out eye-liner. I think I wear eye shadow five times a year. I carry Burts Bees lip tint in every bag I own and keep some in the car.
Accessorize light. Bling. It's important. I have a drawer full of goodies. However, on a day-to-day basis I stick with the basics so I'm always adorned: Wedding ring and the diamond studs my husband gave me 15 years ago. They never come off so I'm always accessorized. If an occasion calls for a different look, then I can switch out, if time allows. But if it doesn't, I still have my sparkle.
Take time to eat nutritiously. A healthy meal takes effort, but eating healthy food is important for your inward and outward appearance. Taking the time to treat yourself to good nutrition is more effective than face creams or make up.
Redirect with self-confidence! There are days when I leave the house ready to be featured in a fashion magazine "Don't!" Here's when you let your inner-beauty shine. Especially if you've successfully finished a workout, let your sweaty glow ooze that inner-confidence and own it sister!
I'm sure you have your own fit mom beauty short-cuts to share. Let's hear them!
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3 comments:
I like this post and I really relate to "The fun in this is to try to coincide the sweaty workout on the second day."
One word of warning is not to overthink it. There is always the danger that you will get a surprise opportunity for a bonus workout -- and when that happens, the right answer is "Yes, take the workout!" not "But I ALREADY washed my hair today!!!!"
Here's my beauty tip, which took me a while to figure out after I started the exercise habit.
Carry a "complete-minimum" toiletry kit in the gym bag -- every thing you need to get ready to your own minimum standards, whatever that is, for going out or to work or whatever. Hair stuff, skin stuff, tools, shaving supplies, etc. If you wear makeup, include at least a minimal makeup kit. If it's all ready to go, then you are much more able to fit in a workout and subsequent clean-up while traveling or on the way to or from work or whatever. And then take the gym bag with you if there's a chance you can use it. It sucks to realize you *could* have had a workout if you'd only been better prepared.
Bonus: the gym bag can then double as an always-ready-to-go overnight bag.
Here's a new nifty item I just added to my bag: the Hot Sock. It's a flexible, lightweight, packable diffuser that fits onto any hand hairdryer, including the ones in the locker room at my local YMCA.
Love your additions! So true about the hair. You just gotta run with the opportunity when it presents--clean hair or not!
I teach fitness classes Wed and Fri mornings, and on Mon, Tues, and Thursdays I work out with private clients in the afternoons/evenings. Thus, I tend to feel justification for wearing my exercise duds ALL DAY LONG.
I've tried my hardest to "dress up" (i.e. jeans and a sweater vs. sportsbra and yoga pants)... But I found that changing my clothes multiple times a day just wasn't going to happen.
So rather than trying to change myself, I now embrace my sporty self! Like you said, I always wear my diamond (well, fake diamond) studs and I've really enjoyed the "fascinator" trend. It's amazing what a feathered, fabulous faux flower can do for my confidence when I stick it next to my ponytail! It makes me feel feminine and sassy.
I love your blog, Kara --- thanks for meshing femininity and fitness!
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