Raphael Stevens

If the warmer weather and a constant itch to get outside affects how you want to work out, it might also affect your outdoor workout equipment. The barre socks and Bluetooth speaker that you use indoors won’t help, and outdoor workouts come with new challenges like how to protect yourself from the sun and where to put your phone (like seriously, where??). Whether you’re taking your jogs from the treadmill to the sidewalks, laying out a yoga mat in the park, or taking some outdoor classes, bring your workouts outdoor this summer. Thanks to these convenient, smart, and cooling products, exercising in the sun will feel like a breeze (pun intended).

Equilibria
Relief Balm
Whether you’re going on a run or opting for an outdoor HIIT circuit, it’s likely that your muscles will be worked a little harder because of the uneven terrain or unstable ground. Ease sore muscles with our favorite relief balm (we swear by this to relieve shin splints!). Use code “theeverygirl” for 20% off the first order!

Supergoop!
PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract
Sun damage doesn’t just happen at the pool or the beach. SPF is an absolute must, no matter where your outdoor workout is. This fast-absorbing formula won’t stick (no uncomfortable feeling on your skin), is non-toxic (double health points!), and protects from UVA, UVB and IRA. Did I mention it’s sweat-resistant and extremely hydrating?

Sweaty Betty
Swiftie Running Cap
Whether you think of hats as a fashion faux pas or consider yourself a die-hard hat girl (fedoras, beanies, and bucket hats, oh my!), consider adding a cap to your outdoor workouts to give your skin, eyes, and scalp added protection from the sun’s harmful rays. But a regular old baseball cap won’t do: this one is meant for training, so its lightweight, quick-drying, secure, and offers optimal visibility.

Fast and Free Run Belt
In the past, the word “fanny pack” might have been more of a music festival must-have instead of a workout accessory to you, but the latest high-tech belt bags won’t hold you down, even during a crazy fast sprint. Designed for running with lightweight, sweat-wicking fabric, and a low-bounce waistband, you’ll be able to hang on to your wallet, keys, phone, snacks, or mini water bottle without it impacting your performance. 5 colors available

High-Waisted Pocket Legging
If a belt bag isn’t your thing and you just need a place for your phone (AKA the device that plays Lizzo), why not opt for a pair of leggings that’ll do the work for you? The built-in storage on these buttery-soft leggings means you’ll look good, feel good, and finally have your hands free for the best workouts. 10+ colors available.

iPhone Armband
If both a leggings pocket and belt bag aren’t for you, a useful and convenient armband will solve the problem without slipping, sagging, or taking up space. Keep your phone and house key in this nifty accessory that also happens to be water-resistant and has cutouts for headphones (you know, for all that Lizzo). 4 colors available.

Juice Beauty
SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen
Because one sunscreen wasn’t enough to get our point across (yes, you do need SPF, even for a 20-minute run), here’s another great one. This sport sunscreen from Juice Beauty is a favorite for the face because it nourishes the skin while shielding it from harmful rays and free radicals. It also absorbs quickly, doesn’t leave a white residue, and is totally sweat-proof.

Reflective Cropped Top
On the flip side of SPF is the other kind of summer exercise: evening workouts. If you only have time to jog after the day is over or just love taking a walk in the warm evening air (when it’s a little more bearable than peak heat hours), combine safety with style, thanks to a reflective sports bra. It’s breathable, quick-drying, and reflective so you can be seen in the dark.

AirPods
If you have yet to make the switch from headphones to wireless, consider this your sign. Besides the many other reasons AirPods have become a cult-classic, not having a cord makes any workout way easier. Just remember to keep music or podcasts on low volume so you can stay aware of your surroundings when outdoors.

Outdoor Non-Stick Yoga Mat
How much better would a sun salutation be when you’re actually in the sun? Take advantage of the nice weather by bringing your yoga practice onto your front yard or at a nearby park. This mat is non-slip and made of 100% rubber so it’s easy to clean, whether it’s grass, dirt, or sweat. 7 colors available.

No-Slip No-Bounce Sunglasses
Important PSA: do not leave for a run with your expensive, trendy sunglasses. Even if you don’t drop and break them, you’ll still regret taking them with you because of how much they bounce around. These sunglasses are meant for exercise, so they use no-slip and no-bounce technology for you to focus on how much further you have to run instead of worrying about your sunglasses falling off. 3 colors available.

Cellphone Armband
If you couldn’t tell, phone (and key) placement is the #1 biggest problem when it comes to an outdoor workout. Thanks to the products available online, it’s not hard to find the method that works for you. This armband is made with a less sturdy, more sweat-wicking material that might feel more comfortable on you. It also has a reflective detail for added safety in the dark.

Lipfuel Lip Balm
No, this isn’t your average Chapstick. The wild mint scent is intended to stimulate the senses to boost motivation, while the konjac root creates a protective barrier between lips and the environment. The ultra healing and hydrating hyaluronic acid and vitamin E are just a bonus to keep lips smooth, plump, and hydrated. In other words, this is the one lip balm that might improve your athletic performance while also improving your glow. 3 tints available.

Run Flyknit Running Shoe
No matter your style, a pair of shoes with a thick sole (perfect for even tough terrain) and a light fabric (so your feet won’t sweat) is the only shoe you’ll want to be wearing all summer (besides flip-flops, of course, but who can do 100 squats in those?). 10 colors available.

Smartwatch
Besides all the things you know and love about a Fitbit (tracking steps, identifying heart rate—need I say more?), this one is perfect for an outdoor workout because it tracks which areas lifted your heart rate the most. You can also use the GPS to ensure you don’t get lost when you’re out jogging or bike riding. Oh, and if you prefer a backstroke to a bike? It’s also swim-proof.

This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Equilibria, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

Of all of the things that TikTok made me buy, one of my most unpredictable purchases was my weighted hula hoop. As soon as I heard a Gen Z-er claiming it was her main form of exercise and it helped her shed a few inches off of her waist, I was all ears.
Besides the fact that it looked super fun, there were two reasons why I was especially interested in a weighted hula hoop. The first was that, at the time when I saw that video, I was recovering from a minor hip injury I got from treadmill sprinting and weight lifting. The second was that, in just a few days, I was to have a nasal septum surgery that was going to keep me out of my workout routine for at least a month. The weighted hula hoop seemed like a perfect, low-impact way to get my heart rate up during recovery. So, I immediately went to Amazon and hit “add to cart.”

About Weighted Hula Hooping:
I took my newfound TikTok fascination to the internet to figure out 1) if weighted hula hooping was legit and 2) what the actual benefits of hula hooping were. And, to be honest, I was surprised to find that there was a lot of information on the topic.
For a lot of us, the hula hooping we grew up with is already a bit of a challenge, but adding those extra pounds can really take things to the next level in terms of boosting aerobic health. If you’re not too familiar with what exactly that translates to, here’s the rundown: Known benefits of aerobic activity include a stronger, healthier heart, improved blood flow, lowered stress levels, and improved immunity. A strong case for hooping, if you ask me.
In addition, hula hooping burns calories—specifically, 165 calories in 30 minutes, a number you’d see with other types of dancing. And in a randomized controlled study from 2019 that compared a group of individuals who walked approximately 10,000 steps a day to a group that did around 12 minutes of weighted hula hooping per day, the hula hooping group had better results in terms of abdominal fat loss, decreased waist circumference, and increased core strength. This made my near-impulsive weighted hula hoop purchase absolutely worth it in my eyes.

Arrival and assembly:
When it arrived, I had to put it together, which was a bit of a spectacle. Assembly took probably five minutes and, besides the near-tragic mishap that occurred when I didn’t fully lock one of the bendable poles into its adjacent piece (it slingshotted back at my face before I could even blink), I’d consider it fairly effortless to put together. After weeks of waiting, I finally had my weighted hula hoop in hand, and I was eager to take it for a spin. 

Though I would consider myself a prodigy hula hooper (I won a contest at a backyard barbecue in third grade, no big deal), I definitely had to reorient myself on how to use it—especially with the added two pounds that were likely going to throw me for a bit of a loop. After six weeks of turning to my weighted hula hoop again and again, here are my unfiltered thoughts.

The Pros:
First, this thing will get your heart rate up pretty quickly. My typical hula hooping routine consists of hula hooping for six minutes clockwise and six minutes counterclockwise. Within three minutes, my heart is typically pumping at a speed walk or jog rate (for me, around 130 bpm), and I am sweating. After about 12 minutes of hula hooping, I would burn around 80 calories, which, for me, is similar to what I burn when I’m walking or jogging.

Second, as I anticipated, this was the perfect low-impact workout to get my heart rate up without leaving the house. And since I could do it from the comfort of my living room in pretty much whatever attire I wanted, it was really easy to just grab it and start hooping without much effort or planning. 

The Cons:
As with all things, there are a few downsides to it that have kept me from abandoning my past workout methods completely. The first being that, if you’re doing it for long enough, it can be boring as hell. Sure it’s fun for the first few minutes, but if you’re going to do it long enough to see any sort of results—likeburnt calories or a shredded waist—you’ll have to commit more time to it than just 12 minutes. And for me, that’s just about as much as my brain could take before I was ready to jump to the next activity. Picking a playlist I love, watching TV, or listening to a podcast definitely helped to pass the time.
Another big downside to hula hooping is that while you’re getting your heart rate up and activating your core, you’re missing out on opportunities to practice other functional movements. Sure, it’s good as a supplemental activity to get your heart rate up, but for the most part, your feet are staying in one place. I do use hula hooping as an additional way to get some cardio in, but I don’t use it as an excuse to skip other full-body movements like stretching, yoga, or HIIT workouts.

The Final Verdict:
All in all, I love my weighted hula hoop the way that I use it. For 12 minutes a day, it gives me an excuse to have a bit of a dance party, helps me to tap into some aerobic activity for better heart health, immunity, and stress reduction, and is an easy way for me to incorporate activity into an otherwise stagnant day. While I was in recovery, it was the perfect, low-impact solution to make me feel less like a couch potato and give me a taste of being active. Now that I’m recovered, I use it as a tool to help me get moving on days where I’m feeling particularly unmotivated, as a way to make TV time more efficient, and as a warmup to other forms of working out like yoga, lifting, or running.
Can I live without my weighted hula hoop? Sure. But do I want to? Not particularly. I’ve bought plenty of less useful items under the influence of the TikTok Gods, so, as far as I’m concerned, this solid addition to my workout routine is a 10/10 in my book.  More

For a lot of us, there’s no better feeling than knowing you crushed a workout when you could’ve just as easily binge-watched six episodes of Schitt’s Creek. But motivating ourselves to get there is a different story and a struggle that always seems to rear its ugly head. And it’s in these moments that we rely on our go-to workout motivation tips to keep us going.
There’s something about getting our sweat on, pumping up our endorphins, and feeling that “I can do anything I set my mind to” energy that makes working out an obvious addition to our to-do lists. But even though we know what’s good for us, it doesn’t make it easy to find the gusto to get moving, especially when tasks pile up, you’re feeling tired, or the couch is calling your name. Our editors know the struggle, but after plenty of trial and error, we pulled these workout motivation tips that keep us active and ready to be our best selves:

1. Set specific, tangible goals
“If I set a goal for myself, I’m pretty keen on sticking to it. And I’m not saying ‘run five days this week’ or ‘work out every day.’ Goals like that never motivate me. But having specific, tangible fitness goals that I know I can reach will. For all of 2021, my biggest fitness goal has been to do 10 push-ups (it’s my least favorite activity and my chest strength is basically non-existent), so every time I’m at the gym, I do a little work to get there. I have other goals, too, like walk 30,000 steps in a day or reach my personal best on the squat rack. Does it get me up on the days all I want to do is sleep? No, but having goals is what has kept me consistent.”
— Beth, Beauty Content Manager & Associate Editor

2. Track and share your workouts
“I’m an elder millennial and thus, need constant validation and positive reinforcement (hello participation medals!). Anytime I do a run or Peloton, I upload my results in Strava, where my friends on the platform can give me ‘kudos’ for my workouts. When I need an extra hit of attention, I’ll take a screenshot from Strava and share it on my social channels. Am I digging for compliments when I do this? 100 percent. Is it an effective source of motivation? Absolutely.”
— Elle, Chief Operating Officer

3. View your gym sesh as an appointment
“Recently, I saw this viral video on TikTok that resonated with me so much. The content creator was basically saying that if we wait to be in the mood to do something (especially if your goal is being more consistent), you’ll never do it. So instead, she suggested viewing your workout as an appointment. You wouldn’t miss a doctor’s appointment, pre-planned dinner and drinks with a friend, or a nail appointment that you’ve had scheduled, so what makes your appointment with yourself at the gym any different?
If you commit to working out consistently, the odds are that you’re not always going to have the motivation to get there—and that is OK. So if you’re tired, do it tired. Because at the end of the day, the only bad workout is the one that never happened, and the endorphin rush that occurs when you get your body moving is oh-so-worth it.”
— Ashley, Contributing Writer

4. Reserve class spots and commit to certain gym times:
“Having a set time for my classes or workouts keeps me accountable. Whether it’s a live fitness class on Obé or I reserve a spot at my apartment gym (or a fitness class in person one day—eep!), knowing that I have to be at a specific place at a specific time makes me basically never skip my workouts. I want to see what songs my favorite instructor will pick or get the good treadmill at the gym (you know the one), so I’ll stick with the time I set up for myself.”
— Beth, Beauty Content Manager & Associate Editor

5. Assemble the perfect pump-up playlist
“One of my favorite ways to get myself in the mood to get to the gym is to listen to songs that make me want to run through walls and do backflips. Whether I’m listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s Good For You or Eminem’s ‘Til I Collapse (yeah, I have range), I’ve found that listening to my lineup of motivating hits before I even leave my apartment is key to getting me amped up and moving. My tried-and-true pump-up playlist serves as the perfect pregame dance session for any gym appointment and gets me ready to pick weights up and put them down with a little extra pizazz.” (Psst: try out our Workout Playlist!)
— Ashley, Contributing Writer

6. Exercise for the right reasons

“I started feeling motivated to exercise most days of the week when I stopped working out because I’m ‘supposed to’ or to burn off the takeout I ate the night before. I work out consistently because it helps my anxiety and stress levels, and it is the one time of the day where my focus goes into my body instead of my mind. I didn’t always love working out, but I started to love it when I saw it as self-care instead of a punishment or chore. When you exercise for the right reasons, you find yourself craving it instead of dreading it. Rethink your ‘why’ and you’ll never have to ‘force yourself’ to get to the gym again.”
— Josie, Associate Editor & Wellness Content Manager

7. Wear your gym clothes long before your workout
“I really, truly hate the thought of working out. But I know that when I do get past that mental block, put on my favorite leggings, and get to work, I feel phenomenal after. Any stress or anxiety I was feeling is vanquished by my newly released endorphins. I feel accomplished, strong, and healthy. My biggest hurdle has always been working up the courage to simply start a workout. In order to combat this, I exclusively wear workout clothes during the day so that I’m not held back by having to change after work. (I’m fortunate to work remotely and can do this pretty much every day.)
When it actually comes time to do the thing, wearing workout clothes tricks my brain into thinking we’ve already overcome half the battle. This, coupled with the promise of burning off excess energy and anxiety, is enough to get me back on my bike or yoga mat 4-5 days a week.
— Garri, Managing Editor

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