Rachael Zarda

An ongoing goal of mine has been to get up early and get a workout in before heading to work. I know myself well enough to be sure that if I wait until after the work day is over, I may find an excuse to skip the gym.

I’ve finally gotten into a good morning rhythm, splitting my days between cardio and weights and I love feeling like I’ve accomplished something before the sun comes up! Getting it done first thing in the morning leaves me feeling positive, energized and focused for the rest of the day.

Embarrassingly enough, I’ve been working out in some of the same tees I wore in college. I won’t even tell you how old that would make them. New athletic gear, much like a fresh playlist, keeps me excited for my workouts. And if I’m being completely honest, more often than not I’m also wearing them out to run errands, even when the gym isn’t on the schedule for the day. A new set of leggings and pair of sneakers can really do work on a girl’s motivation and productivity.

If you’re on the hunt for some new activewear, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite items for a good sweat session or just a casual weekend outing.

TOPS & OUTERWEAR

I love throwing big cozy sweatshirts over a pair of leggings with my Nikes for casual weekend wear. I got this poncho for Christmas and have been living in it ever since. It’s great for throwing on over a workout shirt as an extra layer when I’m heading to the gym in the morning.

Side Split Tank from Athleta | New Balance hoodie for Jcrew | Tee from Outdoor Voices | Poncho from North Face | Hoodie from Outdoor Voices | Yogi Racerback from Lululemon

BOTTOMS

Workout pants are something I can never have enough of. Working out 5-6 days a week, I go through them fast. I like to have around 10 pairs at a time so that I’m not having to do laundry twice a week. Because laundry is the pits. I’ve been loving the options from Zella lately. Color block leggings are having a moment, a nice change from the collection of black I’m usually sporting.

Two Tone leggings from Outdoor Voices | Fleece sweatpants from Kate Spade | Speed shorts from Lululemon | Crop leggings from Zella | Sweatpants from Jcrew | Capri leggings from Beyond Yoga

SNEAKERS

I live for a good pair of athletic shoes. I have one pair for running and then a few others to wear as my casual kick around shoes. I love my black Nikes and wear them all of the time.

Varin sneamer by Vince | New Balance sneaker for Jcrew | Nike Juvenate sneaker | Techloom Pro from APL | Tennis sneaker from Cole Haan | Nike Air Max sneaker

ACCESSORIES

As I’ve gotten more serious with my routine, I’ve started investing in good quality products like a nice yoga mat, socks and sports bras. Not only has my performance improved, but I started having to replace them less! I’m all about quality over quantity.

Socks from Lululemon | Swell water bottle | Sports bra from Alala | Fitbit | Backpack from Herschel Supply Co. | Foam roller