[Chelsae Anne | Photography]

DESIGNER JACKET, TEE, SPORTS BRA, LEGGINGS, SNEAKERS, YOGA MAT, KETTLE BALL: (c/o) Marshalls

You know the drill. Every new year you make a promise to get back in shape. If you’re eager to succeed this year, keep reading today’s post!

I’m no personal trainer but I’m definitely a fitness geek. I love being active. I have a ton of energy! I use exercising as a way to calm myself down and clear my mind. My motivation to workout is not to look a certain way. I do it because I need to! #formerhyperactivechild

My motto has always been, do something active once a day. Whether that’s a long walk, working out at the gym, taking dance or yoga classes, I aim to get up, get out and push my body at least once a day. If I can’t, I try to workout at least 4-5 times a week.

I start my workouts with a light stretch. If I overdo it, my muscles will feel too loose and wonky. So I just focus on arms, legs and a light back stretch. That’s it.

Then I run. I run 20 minutes to get my heart pumping and to warm my body up (you can also warm your body up by wearing layers the first couple minutes of your workout, like this designer jacket from Marshalls). I listen to gangsta rap (yes, that’s right) to help tune out my thoughts. Everyone seems to laugh when they discover this about me. Whatever, who cares! I know people who listen to classical music when they workout. I recommend listening to music that motivates you! Don’t worry about what others think.

After I run, I’m ready to lift weights. When I say lift weights, I mean do a “cardio circuit.” It’s a great boredom buster, especially for me. It’s also what works best with my body. As a former professional dancer, I’ve tried every workout under the sun. This approach is my favorite. Consult with a professional trainer to determine what’s right for you.

I focus on one area – legs, arms, back and stomach. Or do a full-body workout if I’m feeling super energized that day. I choose three moves with weights (usually between 10 to 25 pounds) and perform each move for 40 seconds. In between each move, I rest for 20 seconds. Here’s an example of one circuit:

.40 seconds of squats

.40 seconds of kettle ball swings

.40 seconds of jump squats

I repeat this circuit three times. Then, I do two more circuits. Like this:

.40 seconds of single-leg raises

.40 seconds of wide leg squats (or what I like call, grande plies)

.40 seconds of jumping lunges

Repeat three times.

.40 seconds of single leg jumps

.40 seconds of full kick-ups

.40 seconds of burpees

Repeat three times.

After doing this for about 30 minutes, I’m spent. To calm myself down, I do 7 minutes of something – can be biking, walking uphill or jogging.

Then, I stretch for a LONG time. To me, this is the most important part of my workout. Since I’m quite petite and prefer a long, lean look – I stretch for 10-20 minutes. I wear comfortable clothing, like these designer leggings from Marshalls, so that I can move freely while I stretch.

And there you have it! That’s my workout plan.

Need some inspiration to get moving? Stop by your local Marshalls to pick up new workout gear. From yoga mats to sporty tanks to comfy sneakers, they have everything you need to look super stylish at the gym this new year!

Xo, Stephanie

[Thank you Marshalls for sponsoring this post!]