Free Brunette Ambition by Lea Michele Page A

Venice-based Gold’s Gym doing a majority of their socializing, people-watching, and mirror-gazing; there are the studio addicts, who are exclusively devoted to SoulCycle, Tracy Anderson, or Pop Physique; and then there are those who take advantage of L.A.’s preternaturally nice year-round weather and spend their downtime biking along the Pacific Coast Highway or hiking in Mandeville Canyon. After a lot of trial and error, I determined that I belong to the last two tribes: I have the luxury of enlisting an amazing trainer, Devon Butler, who helps me make the most of my own backyard for various strength-training exercises, and then I spend my weekends exploring L.A.’s hiking trails and popping into the occasional class.
    I really urge you to try everything, because the right experience can completely change your perspective on exercise and make you actually look forward to moving around. When I started the class circuit, I was initially intimidated to try a spin class, since everyone told me they were so hard. But I discovered that I loved spinning—and what’s even better, I was actually good at it! And same with Bikram yoga: I’d only heard horror stories and been told that I’d hate it, but I actually love stretching it out in such a hot room. Meanwhile, I thought I would love Pilates but found it’s not for me. So, I’ve found that the combination of hiking, yoga, and working out in my backyard makes me the happiest—with an occasional spin class with a friend thrown in for good measure. Scheduling workouts well in advance really helps me stick to them, and I ask friends to text me when they’re going to a class in case I can join, because having company is an extra incentive (also, you feel extra bad when you bail!).

    The reason I love working out in my backyard with Devon is that I can keep it extremely focused—and she makes it so much fun for me, which is the real trick of it all. If you find classes, a routine, or workout buddies that make this a time you can actually look forward to, it’s so much easier to push through a challenging hour. I can accomplish everything there that I would in a gym (without the gym fees or the travel time). I know trainers are really expensive, so that’s why Devon and I have included my favorite exercises in this chapter, which you can do in your own home with just a few tools. (I often do them on my own, though Devon pushes me harder than I can push myself!) In a good week, I try to work out three times: Devon and I will do one session in my backyard, and then we schedule in one hike and one yoga session. Finding local hiking trails and exploring your city by foot is a great way to experience your area and get your heart rate up—all without spending a dime.
Finding local hiking trails and exploring your city by foot is a great way to experience your area and get your heart rate up—all without spending a dime.
    When it comes to fitness, it’s most important to take your own internal temperature and see how you feel: Feeling listless? As counterintuitive as it may be, a vigorous walk will inject so much energy into the rest of your day. It doesn’t really matter how often you work out or how many reps you get in; what matters most is that you’re listening to your body and giving it what it needs. It can be so hard to motivate to get up and moving—so hard!—but you’ll always feel better afterward. Now, of course, I always feel better after sitting on my couch and watching an episode of Don’t Be Tardy on Bravo. Some days, that is what your body needs—and if I’ve been diligent about getting my exercise in, I’ll always cut myself some slack and couch potato it out. But if it’s been a few days, I try to do something small: A quick walk on the treadmill is enough to get me restarted and reenergized, and ultimately back on track.
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SWEAT ESSENTIALS
Devon’s Five Quick Ways To Add More Movement To Your Life
1. Always take the stairs instead of the