Mandakini: FBFF – fitness and fashion!

happy friday! this week's FBFF topic is something close to both of these little bird's hearts. fitness! megan and i are what you might call fitness nuts! we both love to work out and be as healthy and in shape as we can be. we are not crazy about it. and neither of us necessarily works out to lose weight. we both actually really like working out. it makes us feel good and healthy and happy. and that makes those around us happier and healthier, too! oh, and these birds do not eat like birds! we love food and if we are active then we feel we can eat whatever we want (within reason and mostly in moderation-although i will not lie. if i have food in front of me, it is hard for me to stop eating sometimes! and i know for a fact that megan does not get full.) without regret!

1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why?

nora bird

i do. i hit the gym every day of the "work" week (i put that in quotes because i do not actually work outside of the home except for a couple of shifts waiting tables at a local restaurant) if i am able. mimi and i will get up around 6:30am, eat breakfast and then head to the gym. normally i will take a class. i love yoga, pilates, zumba, boot camp...and if i can't make it to a class i will use the elliptical or treadmill for 30-45 minutes and then lift free weights. in the spring and summer months i love to run outside. i have a jogging stroller that i can strap mimi into for a quick run. and i am actually planning on starting to do a couple of workouts a day once the weather changes...gym in the morning and a nice, long run at night once mimi is in bed. we'll see if i can keep it up! i take the weekends off from the gym, but mimi, jim and i will usually take nice long walks on saturday and sunday if the weather permits! sometimes we just walk over to megan's for a few beers on her patio...does that count??? as to why, i think i answered that above.

megan bird
i do, as well. i don't have a ton of free time, but i always make time to work out. i work out six days a week, but nothing too stressful. i am lucky to have a gym at my work, so over my lunch hour, i work out on the treadmill and do some weight lifting. and at home we have an elliptical machine, so i use that on days when i can't work out at work. i also love yoga, and really wish that i did more. i will try to do 10 minutes when i wake up every morning, but that doesn't always happen. in the spring and summer, i bike to and from work, and like nora, i love running. minneapolis has some of the most beautiful parkways and running paths, and i live a few blocks from one of our great lakes, so i run that a lot.

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that
nature, helped with your own perception of body image?

nora bird

i have never trained for a marathon, although i really want to. and when i say that, i mean i want to do the training, but not necessarily the marathon! ha! but yes, when i am active and working out frequently, my body image is much more positive. it just makes me feel happier and healthier! and that is reflected in the way i see myself.

megan bird
i have twice trained for a marathon (but only ran one), and i don't know that it did anything for my perception of my body image. in fact, it may have been detrimental...after i finished, i felt guilty for "only" running 3 miles instead of 18! but working out in general does make me feel good about myself. i know that my body is the best it can be. and while i know there are flaws with it, i can't complain because i work very hard to be healthy and fit, and i am happy with the results, even if i don't look like a super model.

3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what
do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion?

nora bird

it is all about function! although i do have a few pair of yoga pants and some workout tanks that i think are cuter than others. but if those are in the laundry pile i am not going to skip my workout! i definitely don't look my best when at the gym or out for a run. but i am also not there to impress anyone! this is not to say that i haven't bought a cute new workout outfit in order to motivate myself! sometimes you need that extra little push to get you out the door! as far as fashion, i always look and feel better in my clothes when i am feeling healthy and in shape!

megan bird
i am not one of those people who tries to look cute for the gym (because the end result is never cute anyways). i have to be comfortable when i work out. my general outfit is a long and lean tank from target, and champion leggings and sports bra. i always buy my sports bras a size too small...that stemmed from training for a marathon when i was breastfeeding and i was a double f (yep!). i like to have no jiggle when i work out, so i always go smaller on the sports bra!

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be
doing for your own physical fitness?
nora bird

i kind of feel like there is a new "it" thing in fitness every week! and i have tried them all! and in doing that i have figured out what works for me and my body and lifestyle and now that is what i do. i don't think that there is one workout that works for every person. or one thing that i "should" be doing. but i am always willing to try something new and see if i like it! mostly i think you should be having fun (at least a little bit!) or you won't stick with it.

megan bird
not really. i don't think anyone would look down on me if i didn't work out. but i am definitely proud of myself for doing it.

5. Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal.

nora bird

i dream of passing down a healthy body image, active lifestyle and a love of fitness to my daughter and any future children that my husband and i may have. that is so important to me! oh, and maybe training for that marathon!

megan bird
i love nora's answer...i really want to make sure that both my children have healthy body images. i didn't growing up, and that is a horrible feeling that has stuck with me for many years. as for myself, i would love someday to participate in a triathlon. there is an amazing one here in minneapolis, and once i become a better swimmer, i think i will go for it.