My Workout Routine

Since March 2020, my workouts have had to take a major pivot. We couldn’t step foot in a gym, we couldn’t be motivated by the people around us in group classes or even in the weight room. We had to motivate ourselves, which can be a challenge for a lot of people. I am going to share what I “try” to get in during the week. Obviously this looks different when I am working (my business is a lot slower these days with COVID) and a lot of you are working women and I know it is hard to find time. I will get up at 5:30am to get it done if that is the only time I have – I just know it will make my day a lot better if I do. (I haven’t had to do that over Covid – this girl finally learned how to sleep! Don’t call me before 8am if we are remote! haha!)

Like I said in my “what I eat in a day” post, I started modeling at 14. With that came a certain way to eat but also to take care of my body. I was a competitive cheerleader until 14 (it IS a sport ha!) and was the base, so I was strong. I had to slim down and make my bigger muscles long and lean in order to be a model. I started walking on the treadmill when I was 16 and could drive myself to the YMCA. That started a routine that to this day, I haven’t missed a week of. (MINUS freshman year of college when I ate terrible and smoked cigs) Jack and I workout on vacation. It is a part of our life and I enjoy it. It is a big part of how I manage stress and make my mind clear.

A friend introduced me to Y2 Yoga when my son Wyatt was 12 weeks old. I was so stressed with feeding him (check out our cleft story on the side bar) and having a 2.5 year old to also take care of on top of the extra worry with Wyatt. I started going to the 8:30pm classes when Jack was home from work and I felt comfortable leaving Wyatt. Heated vinyasa. It cleared my head, it was the only thing I thought about for one hour. I would tear up at the end because it was changing my life. I have gone to yoga 2x a week since. Still can’t do a damn handstand but whatever 😉 Since covid, I have streamed classes, which you can do from anywhere. For me, it isn’t the same – I want the heat and I don’t get the clearing of my mind at home. I am back in the studio now, but with a mask on. It isn’t easy in the heat, but damn it’s good for me. I had really missed the stretch, and what it did for my mind.

I started training with a trainer once a week 4 years ago. I was always so scared to use heavy weights because I thought they would bulk me up. DON’T BE!!! I make sure I do heavy weights once a week. Cross fit isn’t for me but you need to do weights to 1. slim down (yes, this is true!) 2. burn fat 3. keep your muscles strong as you age. I have noticed such a difference in my arms, abs and legs from just adding one day of heavy weights. I have to pay someone because the hell if I am going to do that and push myself like a trainer can! I know a trainer can be expensive and doing that is definitely a stretch for us, but it really makes both Jack and I happier people and we just adjust the budget and not order out as much. If that is not an option for you, I also do SWEAT with Kayla once a week. This is a FANTASTIC app and it will FOR SURE change your body. You may think 30 min? Is that enough? YES! OMG the legs I die!!!

Hilliard Studio Method. This is a workout I have been doing for 10 years! This is ALWAYS on the list for the week. Once or twice a week. This uses heavy and light weights and is between barre and pilates. It is so much fun and HARD. I couldn’t do a push up to save my life before these classes. The best part of HSM, is you can do it from anywhere. I have been streaming now for 2 years – they have over 170 videos to chose from! This is a no brainer. $20 a month.

If you like HIIT workouts, which I love to do in the spring/summer in my garage, follow Cindy Yu Fitness and Diana Mirgon on Instagram. I downloaded the Tabata Pro app and you can be ON 40 sec, REST 20 and do that for however long you like to workout with different exercises. This is one where you really have to motivate yourself – you can do it!! My neighbor came over a few times this summer to do it with me and we had fun!

These are all a few things that I mix up every week and will also be adding in some classes from Fit Atelier that I posted about. They have so many options from dance cardio to low intensity toning (which I tried and loved). There are so many options out there now! Melissa Woods is a wonderful option if you like slow, toning and don’t like to break a sweat. A lot of my girlfriends love her classes. Burnbootcamp is AMAZING to stream. I haven’t ever taken a class in the studio, but I know some of my friends who go (or used to before covid and now are streaming it) and say they have lost inches!

Everything in moderation right? I like to mix up all of these workouts so that I never get bored. I love to walk with a friend, yoga, HSM, weights training, and just making myself sweat with HIIT workouts. Maybe, just maybe I won’t yell as much that day if I can get a workout in 😉 Now, if I can just add meditating to my schedule….yep, probably not.