My Actual "Workout" Today Was Just Putting on a Sports Bra
A Post on the Days When Existing Feels Like a Marathon
The "Swoop-and-Struggle" Phase
I’m a professional mover. I teach Pilates, I lift weights, I train clients, and I chase my kiddo. My business literally depends on me appearing like I have boundless energy and can effortlessly execute a perfect Turkish Get-Up. (I love that I say this ish and then have to remind myself what the hell this move actually is…)
But today? Today, I thought I’d need to mainline coffee just to get out of bed.
My entire scheduled morning workout went sideways the moment I encountered my sports bra. You know the ones—the industrial-strength compression gear that requires a full-body dry-land swimming maneuver to put on. The minute I finished the swoop-and-struggle phase, I was already breathing heavy. Y’all. On Mondays, I get up at 5am and put on that sports bra promptly after waking up - i.e. no coffee has even been smelled, much less ingested.
Actual Training Stats for the Day:
Warm-up: Waking up and getting out of bed.
Main Set: The Sports Bra Battle.
Cool-down: Pouring coffee and staring blankly into the distance.
At that point, I looked at the clock, then at my to-do list, then at my own face in the mirror (which was telling me to go back to bed). I realized: This is my movement for the day.
The Difference Between “Movement SNACKS” and a "Workout"
As your trainer and coach, here's the honest-to-goodness wellness truth:
Not every day can be (or should be) a workout.
A Workout is structured, goal-oriented, and creates a degree of metabolic stress necessary for change (like building muscle or endurance).
Movement is everything else. It’s what keeps you human. It's the "Movement Snacks" that add up:
The 10-minute walk while your kiddo is on their scooter.
The three flights of stairs you took carrying laundry.
The stretching you did while waiting for the kettle to boil.
The effort it takes to put on a high-compression garment. (Seriously.)
On my non-glamourous, single-mom, trying-to-run-a-business days, I’ve learned that sometimes the best choice is Active Recovery—which means low-impact movement, or even just rest.
Core Thought: Validation is Wellness
If you're reading this and you also feel like your arms are too short to put on your own sports bra today, let me validate you:
Consistency always beats intensity.
Showing up for a 20-minute gentle stretch or a walk is infinitely better than skipping a workout, feeling guilty, and then skipping tomorrow, too.
Wellness isn't about constantly grinding. It's about listening to your body. Today, mine just needed me to breathe, teach my classes, and maybe avoid any overhead movements.
Your success is not measured by the calories burned, but by the health you sustain. If putting on the gear is your win today, then celebrate it. You showed up.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to figure out how to take this thing off... I think I'll need a full team of spotters.