This post contains affiliate links, providing me with a small commission if you choose to purchase an item listed here at no extra cost to you.
Four At-Home Workouts (To Keep You in Top Shape during Quarantine)
Chances are, you’re hanging out at mostly one place these days: Home Sweet Home. How has that changed your exercise routine? Are you missing your regular gym time? If you need some fresh ideas for staying in shape while also staying at home, I’ve got you covered! The bonus is all of these workouts are likely to engage your kiddos too.
Almost a Gym Rat…
A couple of months ago, I was bemoaning the fact that I really wanted to join a gym, but would never be able to conceivably go. With little kids at home, and me right in the middle of my busiest season as a HS Choral Director, I couldn’t justify signing up for a gym.
Enter Covid-19, and so many places, including gyms, are now closed.
Boy, am I glad I didn’t convince myself to sign up for a monthly gym membership!
Still, I’m at a point in my life when I’m really feeling the need to get back in “fighting shape”, aka. “I’m-done-having-babies-shape”. Is all hope lost since I can’t make that happen in a gym?
When I started thinking about how I could get back in great shape at home, I realized that I’ve done it before, so there’s no reason it can’t happen again. In fact, there may be no better time than to shape up at home than in this unprecedented season we find ourselves living in!
I’ve put together four at-home workout ideas that have worked well for me in the past and I’m using again now.
My hope is that one or more of these will inspire you too! Getting in shape from the comfort of our living rooms has never been easier!
Not a Doc…
Important note: I am not a doctor, so please don’t consider me an expert. These are just my personal recommendations because they’ve worked well for me. Always consider your own physical abilities and consult with a medical expert if possible before starting a new exercise regime.
Four At-Home Workouts to Try!
- Walk at Home with Leslie Sansone. I have been walking to Sansone’s walking workouts for decades (why does that read like a Dr. Suess sentence?). Her walking workouts have helped me rebound from pregnancy #1 and before that, drop the freshman fifteen back in college. If you think walking workouts are a breeze, give one of hers a try! Even if you just walk for half an hour, I guarantee you’ll finish feeling stronger and sweaty. The easiest way to get started with Leslie is to search “Walk at Home” on YouTube. If you’re serious about these walking workouts and want more (without the pesky ads), be sure to check out her site and consider signing up for her walking app, which is only $5 a month: Walk at Home.
- FYM by Holly Rigsby. FYM stands for “Fit Yummy Mummy”, and Holly delivers! First of all, she is a great instructor and does every move with you. Second, she’s just a genuinely great and inspiring person (and in terrific shape). It took me a long time to commit to purchasing the FYM digital workout system, but once I jumped in, I was hooked! These workouts move sequentially, so they do get harder as you go along. You will sweat, you will plank, and you will do a lot of pushups. Ultimately, you will grow stronger! Right before I got pregnant for the second time, I was in really fabulous shape because of these amazing workouts. Check it out here!
Not the clearest pics, but I remember feeling Ah-mazing after doing FYM workouts for a while. These are pics I took when I felt slim and healthy! - Yoga with Adriene. Adriene is a YouTube yoga sensation, and for good reason. Her yoga practices are so accessible to anyone at any level- even beginners like me. She’s also funny and not afraid to keep things light-hearted when she’s on the mat. I’ll admit to doing yoga at night when I’m “too tired to sweat”. I try to do my yoga workouts after the kids are in bed, lest they try to join me and take over my yoga mat. It’s happened many times! Check out Yoga with Adriene. I especially love her 30 days series she always releases at the beginning of each year.
- DIY Routine. If the weather is nice enough, it does a body good to get outside. Yes, even yours. My kids are both total home-bodies (they don’t seem to mind that we have to #stayhome all the time right now), but, oh how they love their time outside! One of their favorite things to do is toss a giant ball around in our driveway. It’s even more entertaining for the kids when it’s windy outside. I usually end up chasing said ball before it reaches the street. I’ve also been using my bicycle a little more, and it reminds me how much I love riding and taking in the scenery. What kinds of activities can you do outside with your kids? Even if you can’t come up with any good ideas, chances are, your kids can think of some! The important thing is to get everybody outside and get that good Vitamin D. You can get in a “playful” workout and feel happier at the same time.
Workout Books to Motivate:
I wanted to end this post with two workout books I’ve read lately that I highly recommend if you need an extra dose of inspiration. Ironically, they are both written by two country singers, but these people know what they’re talking about and their bodies are proof!
- Grit and Grace by Tim McGraw. I wasn’t sure how I was going like this book when I first started, but, wow, did I enjoy it! McGraw is obviously in excellent shape, and in his book, he brings you along on the journey he took to get into shape. This book is not just about shaping up physically either. He talks a lot about having the right mentality to fuel your physical efforts. I highly recommend this book!
- Find Your Path by Carrie Underwood. I can’t fully review this book yet because I’m currently reading it and only about ¼ of the way through. But I’m really enjoying it so far. Underwood details her journey to become fit, alongside her rise to stardom. She details her Fit52 philosophy, which is about committing to exercise and eat well 52 weeks a year. She’s also got a section on great snack choices to help fuel your workouts. I’m excited to test out her workout routines, included right in the book!
Hello, Real Pants!
Eventually, our quarantine will be over, and we will emerge back into the world. The question is, will we fit into our real pants after this?
I propose that by working out regularly at home, not only can we fit in our real pants after this is over, but we can look and feel even better than before!
Did I miss an at-home workout that should be on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
