Happy Tuesday, y’all!!
I know I rarely do posts on Tuesdays, but I have a packed Thursday for content *spoiler alert: I have one HECK of a Mother’s Day giveaway coming atcha!*, and I wanted to make sure you don’t miss this post. Something I truly do get asked regularly (not like “oh my gosh, like so many of you ask me this…” when really it’s, like, two haha) is what my workouts are, what I eat, and all that jazz. Really, just overall lifestyle and what I do to fit it all in.
Here’s the deal: The journey to finding a rhythm and figuring out what’s best for me has been LONG. And, just when I think I find something I love, my season of life changes and I have to adapt. I was a dancer my entire life, and that’s how I stayed fit for the majority of my childhood and into young adulthood. Then I “retired” when I graduated from college, and took up Crossfit. Then we moved, and our CF box was too far so I started to try out cycling and Pure Barre (by far two of my favorite workouts of all time!!). Then I had a baby and couldn’t make any PB classes anymore, and my cycling studio was way too far to keep up with when we moved even further north.
All that to say… The last year has been so hard trying to find something that works for me. I had to join a gym with my husband for the first time in my entire life. All I had ever known was somebody telling me what to do for my workouts, so just walking into a gym full of equipment was horrifying to me. I literally walked in with my head down for 8 months straight to the corner of the gym where I would just do an elliptical for 45 minutes. 8. Freaking. Months. Y’all. All because I was uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do. Does my gym have classes? YEP. But, again, I was too uncomfortable to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. In addition to all the changes and having to adapt to a new routine and workout style, a year ago I literally couldn’t gain weight for anything.
I always teetered around 113 pounds before baby, but because of breastfeeding I was dipping below 100 pounds no matter what I tried. I ate a ton, I wasn’t even working out at the time to be honest, and frankly just felt JUDGED 90% of the time by people. I couldn’t keep up with the calories breastfeeding was making me burn, and I was losing so much weight. Post-baby, I literally weighed less than I did when I had an eating disorder. I am excited to say, I am now 10 pounds heavier than I was 1 year ago, and have more muscle than I have honestly ever had in my entire life!
I tried out 4 different apps this year that would walk me through workouts in addition to challenging myself to 3 class workouts at my gym a week. This has made me do 3-5 workouts a week! I usually do 3 cycling classes a week + 3 days of the 12 week program that is custom tailored to my goals for 3 workouts a week. (I double up a lot of the time and do the app toning workout before or after cycling.)
Below are the apps I used in order of least favorite to THE BEST.
- Peloton: I liked this one, and it was great if you have access to a cycling studio at your gym. I just didn’t prefer their other style workouts as much as others. } $19.95/ month
- BBG: Yes, everybodyyyy does this and it’s great! Definitely would suggest it if you want good HITT workouts and a lot of sweat! $48.92 for 12 week program
- Centr: This one is cool! It gives you recipes and workouts depending on your goals, male or female, etc. I did a lot of pilates and core stuff with this app. I appreciated their video option to follow a lot. It is a VERY well-made app! Price ranges from $19.99/month all the way to a one time 12 month payment for $119.99.
- Bode by Lex: MY FAVORITE. Honestly, this one is arguably the most simple app. And that might be a top reason it’s my favorite. I love the aesthetics… it’s all blush pink. And, I love that it’s by one of my favorite bloggers @alexajeanbrown. It gives you quick workouts that go no longer than 30 minutes, but I usually finish in 15-20. I chose the 12 week Intermediate Program, and am currently in it. I honestly have seen the most results from this one, and am only 3 weeks in! It also has a blog with recipes and community aspects to the app, which I like a lot. $14.99/month
As far as food goes, I have shared quite a few times about “what I eat”, which feels so odd to share. But, I don’t mind it at all! Because of food allergies to gluten and yeast, and my husband’s allergy to casein (basically, dairy), we have to eat pretty clean by force. We eat a lot of eggs, protein, nuts, avocados, etc. A normal day of food for me is 2 eggs and nuts or a half an avocado, a kale turkey patty from Costco + 2 veggie cakes from Costco, and a meat + starch + veggie. … For real. That’s it. We are basic. I make other things, for sure. But this is a pretty normal, everyday weeknight kind of situation.
Whatever you choose to do, just figure out something that you love. It’s so important to devote some time to you every day. It’s just a fact that the healthier you are, the better you do in all areas of your life. I am better mom, wife, business owner, and boss when I get to the gym. I promise you won’t regret feeling awesome!
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