I always enjoy getting glimpses into other people’s routines whether that’s what they’re eating, how they start their day, or move. Today I thought I’d share a bit about how my thoughts on exercising have changed over time, and what exercising looks like for me right now.
I would say that I like being active but haven’t always loved exercising for its own sake. I played soccer for many years growing up, and loved playing defense. Sprinting for the sake of clearing the ball was exhilarating; running just to run? Not so much for me. When I stopped playing soccer in college, I didn’t really exercise much. I occasionally went to the gym with friends. More successful for me were the occasional yoga, dance or HIIT classes I signed up for.
After college, my roommate and I went through periods of working out, especially when we lived two blocks away from the best gym ever, and it was easy to pop in for fun workout classes. I occasionally tried running and signed up for 5ks or 5 mile races, but it never really felt like my thing, and as soon as the race ended, so would my running routine. This pattern continued when we moved to Colorado except I got really into hiking, so we would do that a lot more on the weekends.
Once I had my daughter, I felt drawn to the benefits of exercise, but also had very little free time between caring for her and work. I struggled a lot in the postpartum period and eventually decided to focus on what would feel easy to do every day. I ended up doing the 7 minute workout every day. If I had extra time I would do 2. Was it the greatest workout ever? No, but it really shifted how I thought about working out. I could listen to music or a podcast, workout quickly and move on with my day. I rarely skipped working out because it felt easy, and I felt more energetic. For me, the biggest benefit of working out is my mood. I’m happier and centered when I am moving my body regularly.
How I’ve worked out has changed throughout the last 7 years, and I don’t do the 7 minute workout anymore. But I think that I still look for the same qualities of that workout. I prefer working out at home to reduce transitions and also because I’m an introvert. There’s a set routine that I don’t have to think about. I adjust it as I get bored or my schedule changes, but I don’t wake up each day wondering what I should do. It always feels doable, with options to scale up or down. For me, being consistent is more important than having an optimized workout.
Here’s what that looks like right now. 3 days a week, I do strength training. I’m using the Nerd Fitness beginner dumbbell training plan. Each week I either add reps or increase the weight. It’s short (about 15 minutes), but I notice the workouts getting easier and I’ve increased the weight and number of reps. 2-3 days a week I do an emkfit dance or pilates video on youtube, which I believe I found from Kae. They are super fun because I can pick one with music I like, and I generally choose one between 15-25 minutes long. Right now this works well for me, but I’m sure I’ll adjust the routine when schedules or priorities change.
What does working out look like for you right now? Do you prefer to work out at home or at a gym or class? Has your approach to working out changed over time?
I would say that I like being active but haven’t always loved exercising for its own sake. I played soccer for many years growing up, and loved playing defense. Sprinting for the sake of clearing the ball was exhilarating; running just to run? Not so much for me. When I stopped playing soccer in college, I didn’t really exercise much. I occasionally went to the gym with friends. More successful for me were the occasional yoga, dance or HIIT classes I signed up for.
After college, my roommate and I went through periods of working out, especially when we lived two blocks away from the best gym ever, and it was easy to pop in for fun workout classes. I occasionally tried running and signed up for 5ks or 5 mile races, but it never really felt like my thing, and as soon as the race ended, so would my running routine. This pattern continued when we moved to Colorado except I got really into hiking, so we would do that a lot more on the weekends.
Once I had my daughter, I felt drawn to the benefits of exercise, but also had very little free time between caring for her and work. I struggled a lot in the postpartum period and eventually decided to focus on what would feel easy to do every day. I ended up doing the 7 minute workout every day. If I had extra time I would do 2. Was it the greatest workout ever? No, but it really shifted how I thought about working out. I could listen to music or a podcast, workout quickly and move on with my day. I rarely skipped working out because it felt easy, and I felt more energetic. For me, the biggest benefit of working out is my mood. I’m happier and centered when I am moving my body regularly.
How I’ve worked out has changed throughout the last 7 years, and I don’t do the 7 minute workout anymore. But I think that I still look for the same qualities of that workout. I prefer working out at home to reduce transitions and also because I’m an introvert. There’s a set routine that I don’t have to think about. I adjust it as I get bored or my schedule changes, but I don’t wake up each day wondering what I should do. It always feels doable, with options to scale up or down. For me, being consistent is more important than having an optimized workout.
Here’s what that looks like right now. 3 days a week, I do strength training. I’m using the Nerd Fitness beginner dumbbell training plan. Each week I either add reps or increase the weight. It’s short (about 15 minutes), but I notice the workouts getting easier and I’ve increased the weight and number of reps. 2-3 days a week I do an emkfit dance or pilates video on youtube, which I believe I found from Kae. They are super fun because I can pick one with music I like, and I generally choose one between 15-25 minutes long. Right now this works well for me, but I’m sure I’ll adjust the routine when schedules or priorities change.
What does working out look like for you right now? Do you prefer to work out at home or at a gym or class? Has your approach to working out changed over time?
This is a soar topic for me. I never worked out. E.V.E.R. and I was at 120lbs and 5'7'' my whole life. Granted I grew up starving, mostly, but even when I came to this country and saw the abundance I still wouldn't gain weight. And I wanted to, b/c I wanted boobs and I wanted a butt.
ReplyDeleteFast forward to middle age. I am now in my 40s( soon to be 45) and I still don' t work out. I mean, I walk a lot at work (teacher), I hike but it is very haphazard. And kind of careless.
My weight crept up to 135 at 5"7'' which is still not a concern. What I do want are the mental benefits. On the days that I do lift a little bit, I mentally feel better and I feel like I have more energy. But I'm also lazy.
Daria from momofchildren.com
I think like you I'm less invested in working out than in other things going on in life. If it's something you want to try, you could always start with something really short and experiment with it for a while to see if it's helpful. You also do so much else and have a very active life, so maybe that's what works well right now!
DeleteI never worked out with any consistency in college. I walked a ton when I was pregnant and would walk with tots /babies in a stroller. When Coach started working at a clinic, we got a free membership to the attached health club. I started attending workout classes and dropping my kids off at the free daycare for the hour I was in a class. It was great. I'd go there a few days a week, and I'd walk the other days. Fast forward several years, it was harder to get to the classes with kid activities and my job. I started running and that was hard. Now I love running. I do strength workouts, but I stopped going to the health club during covid and never went back (much). I've found it so much easier to do strength in my home, because I have a daycare in my house. I can knock out a workout before drop off and don't have to add the travel time back and forth to the gym. Years-ago me would never believe that I workout as much as I do now. It helps my mental health. I feel stronger. It gives me energy to get through the day without feeling sluggish and tired. I don't run or walk when the weather in Chicago is snowy and icy, so that stinks - but we do have a stationary bike.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a great exercise routine! It is funny to imagine what past versions of yourself would think about aspects of your current life.
DeleteI think it's fantastic that you found something that works for you (and I think it's normal that it has changed over the years with different circumstances) . The great thing is: you have a routine and stick to it. I think 'knowing' what's on your schedule and just doing it (and knowing that it'll elevate your overall mood) is key. If you have to think what to do and negotiate with yourself every morning, that is usually a setup for failure.
ReplyDeleteI've always been active throughout my life. I was a team sports player through highschool and college and then for a few years went to the gym and ran occasionally, but without a real set schedule. About 10 years ago, I discovered running (for the sake of running) and love it. And as you probably have found out already, I also discovered Peloton 5 years ago and I love the cycling challenges and all the other classes it has to offer.
I'd say that running is my main sport (3x a week, or more) and then I also try to fit cross training around this. It's a set morning ritual and I enjoy it.
It sounds like sports are such a key part of your identity. Agreed that knowing what to do helps a ton and saves a lot of mental energy.
DeleteI surprised myself last year by becoming someone who goes to the gym multiple days a week! Right now, I'm dealing with some back/hip pain and not working out at the intensity I used to. My preference is 3 HIIT classes, a spin class, and then a day to do some concentrated strength training using the machines. But right now, I'm just doing some light workouts on the elliptical/bike. I hope to get back to my routine soon!
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool that you've found so many gym classes you love! Glad you are taking it easy to recover, but hope you back pain improves soon.
DeleteLove this! I have been struggling to fit in my “ideal” workouts and several people on my recent post about this suggested essentially exactly what you’re doing- 3x strength (instead of the 5 day split I’m aiming for.. and often fail to meet….) which allows some days for cardio. When I get home from this trip I think I may try shifting to that for the rest of the year and see how that feels. I think I constantly feel like I “should” be able to do more, and maybe that’s true, but I’ve said before, the workouts you consistently do beats the workouts you want to do but aren’t doing! The you tube videos are such a nice and fun way to fit in cardio at home too.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of doing what is practical/fits rather than the ideal thing. I'll be curious to hear how your new workout routine works for you! And thanks for always sharing what you're doing--the videos have worked so well for me, and I don't know that I would have discovered them without you.
DeleteWell- I'm in a phase of my life where I can really prioritize working out. My son is in college and my daughter is in high school. Sometimes I grumble about having to get up early to get her to school or other chauffeuring duties, but it's so much easier than having small kids.
ReplyDeleteYour routine sounds great- you've figured out what you need to do and how to make it work. A lot of people with young kids just give up on exercise, but I'm sure you feel so much better that you're able to do it.
This is a great point that things shift a lot at different points. I always read your posts and feel so impressed by how much you can do in a week, but it's a good reminder that life shifts with time.
DeleteWhen I was younger weight training was always my thing. When my children were little and life was very hectic I did something very similar to your 7 minute workout, it was an 8 minute Tae Bo workout. I always felt so much better even just squeezing that little workout in. Lately the only exercise I get is chasing my grandkids around. I really should do better. I think you are doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteI HATE the gym because I need NO TRANSITION between exercise and life (because I have a life with no margins-- something that is often problematic)
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a post about this a month ago! First time I had ever done a "my workout routine, then and now" post ever! You can read it here: https://notawastedword.com/working-out-then-and-now/
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you really have figured out the workout stuff.I need to look up your sources and see if I can integrate some of that in my routine.
ReplyDeleteFor the past two weeks I have struggled with being sick and taking it slow and then falling behind and lacking motivation. Usually my plan is strength twice a week, a longer hike on Saturdays and Zumba on Thursdays and yoga on the other days. It's been a while that plan worked out the way I want it too.