It’s easy to vow to get healthy on Jan. 1, but actually committing to that resolution throughout the year — let alone for the rest of the winter — is a different story.
That’s where Megan Roup comes in.
The Los Angeles-based celebrity trainer and founder of The Sculpt Society workout program — which combines body-sculpting and toning exercises with dance cardio — works hard to let people know that less is more. “What you want to do is start with smaller chunks and then build it up,” she says. “Make it sustainable so you’re still showing up for yourself in a joyful way 10, 15 years down the line. Motivation is really key to start building a habit, but it needs to be a habit beyond 30 days in January.”
To help spread the message, Roup recently partnered with Astral Tequila for its Good Energy Movement. The nationwide initiative, which launched in December 2023, promotes positivity and community via various virtual meet-ups, in-person pop-up experiences and sweepstakes. “It’s so important to foster connection and uplift one another in the winter months,” she explains. “And I love that Astral wants to give back.” (The tequila brand upcycles the spent agave fibers from its distillation process into adobe bricks.)
And yes, Roup adds that the occasional alcoholic drink is OK by her: “I’m not a trainer telling you to only drink green juice and do hours of workouts every day. I love going out with my husband and friends and connecting over cocktails like everybody else. That’s how you share happy moments. In the world of fitness, you must have a truly balanced lifestyle.”
So, how do you get a leg up on movement in 2024? Below, Roup shares her fitness essentials with CNN Underscored.
“I don’t know the technology in these socks — I just know that these are the ones I gravitate to because they’re so comfortable and supportive and cover the entire heel,” she says. A few specific details: With its cotton, polyester and elastane blend, each pair features blister-proof tabs, seamless toes, cushioned footbeds, arch support and a Y-stitched heel.
“I keep this in my gym bag and spray it on my face, neck and chest to feel refreshed,” she says. Made with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial hypochlorous acid, the pH-balanced and alcohol-free toner treatment helps purify and calm the skin.
Roup keeps an array of water bottles at home and the gym, but her trusty grab-and-go comes from this brand, which uses vacuum-insulated construction to keep beverages cold or hot and condensation-free. “I like the size and that it’s made from stainless steel,” she says. “There are really fun colors too.” (Like this bright design!) For an electrolyte boost in the water, she recommends Waterboy powder packets and LMNT mixes.
This mat’s lightweight and foldable design allows for a range of movement and extra-thick cushioning for the head, wrist and knees. “There’s just something clunky about constantly rolling a flimsy mat,” Roup says. “This one folds like an accordion and protects you. It just makes your workout easier.”
Roup gets support from these sneakers, which have a Fresh Foam X midsole that delivers extra cushioning for comfort. “It’s a lifestyle shoe that’s fashionable but also allows for different modalities, whether you’re going for a run, doing dance or going for a walk.” Plus, she says, “I really just like a nice squishy sole.”
She approves of this leggings brand’s quality (“It’s really, really nice”) because its smooth fabric composed of polyamide and spandex lifts the butt, smooths the stomach and includes built-in pockets for phone storage. “These are high-waisted, and the compressions are really beautiful,” she says.
Given that she lives in activewear, Roup says "there’s something nice” about just throwing on a sweater with a pair of leggings to go from a workout to a Zoom call. “Have it in your closet so you look presentable,” she says. She loves this full-length, roomy, “super-cute” sweater made from knit fabric that has a collar and a partial zipper at the front.
The app features more than 600 on-demand workouts and multiple live classes each week, with exercises ranging from five to 50 minutes. Roup stresses that the classes are for everyone, from student novices to fitness pros. “We are there for women at every stage in their life cycle,” she says. “The method is not about working up a sweat — it’s about mindful movement.”