November and December always feel like the most hectic months of the year for me, but I still try to get some workouts in as much as possible.
With the start of the new year, I really wanted to start tracking my workouts, and Bodi had printable that I thought would be fun to use for 2024.
I don’t know if I will recap my workouts every month, but knowing I was going to share my January workouts was some accountability for me this month.
I’m not sure what it says about me that I’m pretty motivated, for now anyway, to color in the day on my 2024 Bodi workout calendar.
I was bummed to start January off sick…so I really didn’t get started with consistent workouts until Monday, January 8th….like it really bothers me that the “J” has no days filled in. Oh well, I guess it is what it is.
Here are my workouts this month:
January 8th:Job One -HIIT It
January 10th: 21 Day Fix Real Time – Dirty 30
January 11: 21 Day Fix Real Time– Upper Fix
January 13:21 Day Fix Real Time – Lower Fix
Then, I really picked up the pace with a solid streak of workouts. It helped that Hayden’s basketball games hadn’t started yet, so we had more free evenings.
January 15:21 Day Fix Real Time: Cardio Fix
January 16:Job One: 20 Minute Sweat Session
January 17:21 Day Fix: Total Body Cardio
January 18: Upper Body Fire 1
January 19: Restorative Flow 1
January 20: Lower Body Fire 1
January 23:Job One– HIIT It
January 24th:21 Day Fix Real Time: Dirty 30
January 27:Job One:Legs
January 30:Sure Thing:Body weight Burnout
January 31:Sure Thing: Strength and Stability
Also, I did walk one day bringing my total to 16 workouts this month. I’d love to always workout five days a week, but during busier times, four is a reasonable goal I think for me.
I’m still a big fan of Bodi…can you tell? It’s still the easiest thing for me to go to my basement and get a 20-40 minute workout in depending on what I have time to complete. While I like following a program from beginning to end, it was fun to pick and choose workouts that I’m familiar with in January.
I’m glad I have a solid plan…because the Girl Scout cookies we ordered just arrived on our doorstep a couple of nights ago!
It’s my first day of break, and I’m ready for a couple of weeks of no alarm waking me up or bells telling me which class period it is!
I know it’s not yet Christmas, but as the year wraps up, I always like to share a few blog posts looking back on the year. In the next couple of weeks, I will share a blog recap, books I read this year, and a look back at 2023.
Today, I’m starting with a look back on my fitness routine this year.
Before I begin, here are some relatable truths:
I’ve shared a Not Just a Mompost last year about “Workout Places,” and most of it was about how much I like the Beachbody workouts.
While I will be the first to admit that I’m not the most physically fit, I do know there are benefits (obviously) from working out. I also know that I don’t always have a ton of time, so Bodi (formerly Beachbody) has been the best answer for me. Even when I don’t want to workout, I know that I always feel better afterwards. Also, the fact that I can workout in my basement with minimal equipment while streaming workouts on my TV via the Bodi app makes working out pretty convenient most days. And…I’ve used the app on my phone to do cardio workouts while out of town (since I don’t always have access to weights when I’m not at home)
Also, I love that most workouts are 30-40 minutes.
These are the workouts I completed this year:
I started the year finishing Morning Meltdown 100.This program, with 100 days of workouts, felt like a big commitment, and towards the end, I did skip some of the core and yoga style workouts. I did like the workouts though.
Then I did LIIFT 4 which I enjoyed. This workout program definitely focused on lifting weights.
Job 1is my favorite workout find of the year. The workouts are only 20 minutes long, and they are good workouts that will make you sweat. I still do some of them now when I am limited on time.
Fire and Flow was a fun mix of cardio and weights (Fire) and Pilates (Flow). I really didn’t think I would like the “flow” workouts, but I did!
Sweat and Sculptwas a surprise to me because I loved it. This felt like barre work (focus on small muscles) that included weights and some dance movements. I truly would never do this type of class in a studio…because I would feel self-conscious of my dance moves (or lack thereof!), but I really enjoyed this program.
Sure Thingwas another great program. I’ve also completed Muscle Burns Fat (MBF) and MBF Advanced with Megan Davies, and she’s one of my favorite Bodi instructors.
I’ve also completed most of the Get Strong with Kelsey Heenan workouts, but those haven’t been my favorite.
When in between programs, I liked searching the workout library and picking and choosing different workouts to try.
Recently, I’ve turned back to 21 Day Fix which I think will always be my favorite workout program. Also, due to a hectic schedule recently, the Job 1 twenty minute workouts have come in handy.
With Bodi, you can search by instructor, but they also have categories such as:
Weight loss
Strength & muscle
Lean & sculpted
Kickboxing
Barre & Pilates
Mobility & recovery
Meditation
Dance
Low-impact
Pre & post-natal
You can also search for workouts by your favorite instructor(s).
I even earned this badge recently:
Hayden and Hadley like to go to the gym, and Travis will usually take them to lift weights and do agility training. I do like going to the gym when I can to use the elliptical.
Recently, I started doing a program called TRIM. It’s similar to Faster Way to Fat Loss and LEAN that I’ve done int he past.
Right after fall break, I decided to sign up for a seven week round. I just wanted to get back on track, and not put off making mindful food choices until January. I knew having a coach to hold me accountable would make a huge difference in getting through November and December.
I’m glad I joined when I did. After the first round, I didn’t lose much weight…which I’ve noticed being more difficult to do once I turned 40. That being said, I did lose quite a few inches, and I’m glad that they remind you to take before/after pics because the scale definitely doesn’t tell the full story.
After the seven week round, my coach wasn’t doing another round until the new year, but she did continue with her VIP rounds, so I signed up for that to get me through December. Like the other programs, we intermittent fast, track macros in an app and have two low carb days and two low calorie days, and have a workout plan. With the workouts, I used the TRIM ones but mixed in Bodi workouts too.
My coach did “12 days of December” with prizes just for submitting our nutrition for the day, and in those 12 days, I won two prizes: a milk frother and electrolyte powder packets. My coach even texted me the other day because I’d forgotten to post a couple days. I appreciated the accountability without the pressure.
I can definitely say I haven’t been 100% in December with my eating, but I’m still tracking, drinking water, getting workouts in when I can, and following the eating plan. I know I’m doing better just doing what I can with this program as opposed to just “winging it” through December.
Anyway, I can be critical of myself, but I like looking back on the year to see what all I’ve accomplished. Something is definitely better than nothing…and I feel like I’ve done a lot of “somethings” this year!
Well, once April hits, I start getting serious about getting my workouts in.
Honestly, I workout pretty consistently year round. That being said, like most of us, December can be a struggle with the extra busyness of the holidays and then we recommit in January.
In January, I did regroup (at least better than December!) with what I was eating and started to get back in a true workout groove.
Then, usually around spring break when the weather starts to warm up…and I realize I will have to wear shorts soon, I really get a plan for working out and eating better.
So, starting April 1st, I started keeping track of my workouts. While I’d love to commit to five workouts a week, I knew four a week should be doable. I decided to “split the difference” and try to get in 18 true workouts.
While walking counts as a workout, I was really aiming to get in my Bodi (Beachbody’s new name) as well as a few elliptical workouts at the gym.
Here’s my month of movement:
April 1:
I was in the midst of Fire and Flow which is a Bodi program. I did a Restorative Flow workout before we hit the road to Greenville, SC. (Restorative Flow is a yoga type workout)
April 2– This is the day we biked 15 miles and I walked 11k steps. That was definitely a workout!
April 3– It was a rainy day, and I was sore from the bike ride! I could have lounged around the hotel while the kids and Travis went to do a track workout, but I did go for a 60 min walk around town. I ended up with 8,000 steps that day. I’m sure it would have been half that if I didn’t go on the walk.
April 4– We went on a 2 mile trail hike before heading home. Once we got home, I went on a 30 min walk to stretch my back and get a few more steps in.
*same outfit –one on the trail and one in my neighborhood!
April 5 – I did a Mobility Flow workout the day after we got home. I was tired from the trip and wanted to do low impact. This type of workout is yoga/Pilates… but with weights. It’s slow paced but makes you sweat!
April 6 – After a few previous days of lower intensity, I was ready to sweat. I did a Lower Body Fire workout which is weighted circuits and fire finishers (HIIT).
April 7 – I took advantage of a Friday with no school (still on spring break), and went to the gym for an elliptical workout.
April 8 – On this Saturday, I hit the gym again for an elliptical workout before picking up my grocery order. I do like the elliptical because it’s a good workout, it goes by quickly, and I can listen to a podcast and watch tv.
April 9– This was Easter Sunday. After church, we went to Elizabethtown to see Trav’s family. I easily could have skipped when I got home, but I knew life would get busier since we were headed back to school. Also, I wanted to walk off the big lunch and get some steps in, so I walked for 30 minutes.
April 10– We were back to school and the kids had their first track meet that evening. I squeezed in a quick Job One back/glutes/core workout. I finished this program a few months ago, but it’s a great one to go back to because the workouts are only 20 minutes.
**Also, I love when workouts have the countdown clock!
April 11 – Tuesdays are our least busy evenings. I tend to use those days for cardio which also then becomes a hair washing day. haha. I did Cardio Fire which is all cardio…no weights.
The workouts had sets of ladder workouts (20,40,60 seconds) with one minute HIIT “fire finishers” in between and core at the end. The Fire workouts always leave me tired!
April 12– no workout (track meet day)
April 13– I did the elliptical at the gym. Since Hayden had injured himself, he could only do the stationary bike at the gym. With that workout, I ended up getting 10k steps that day.
April 14– no workout. *I will say this is why Friday morning workouts used to be the best idea…because then I could guarantee getting a workout in to wrap up the week.
April 15– I did a 21 Day Fix Lower Body workout. I LOVE 21DF…it’s one of the original Beachbody programs, and I always turn to it if I need a random workout if in between programs or wanting to mix things up. All the workouts are 30 minutes which is a selling point for me as well.
April 16 Sunday is usually a rest day but I decided to walk after being pretty lazy most of the day. My friend wanted to borrow the book I had finished reading, so I walked it to her house and still walked for about 30 minutes.
April 17– I did a quick 20 min Job One workout before a track meet.
April 18– no workout – I was actually “disappointed” in myself this day. I had planned to workout, but it was a doozy of a day…I was up extra early, crazy busy at school, and then had all kinds of evening activities. I was just tired, and wanted to put my pjs on as soon as I could.
April 19– Fire and Flow: Functional Flow (yoga)
April 20– Muscle Burns Fat: Power Ignite– I did both the MBF and MBF Advanced programs last year and really enjoyed them.
I like the Power Ignite workout because she does EMOM – “every minute on the minute” style workouts. There are two five minute blocks and a 10 minute block, so it’s a quick by challenging workout.
April 21 – (Friday) —no workout. I headed straight to the kids’ track meet after school. It lasted until 10pm, but I did get 8k steps that day.
April 22 –I love Autumn as an instructor (from 21DF and other programs), so I did one of her Bod Exclusive workouts —Dirty 30 Sculpt. The 21 Day Fix program has a Dirty 30 workout that’s one of my faves. I enjoyed this one too.
April 23 –Restorative Flow which was much needed because I sore after Saturday’s workout. Finishing this workout meant that I finished the Fire and Flow program.
April 24- No workout (not even a quick one) before the track meet.
April 25 – I clicked around the Bodi programs, and decided to try Get Strong. I’d never seen it before, so I’m assuming it’s a newer program. It only has about two weeks of workouts.
The Strong 1 workout included 3 supersets and one tri-set. I don’t think I’ve ever done a tri-set before!
April 26 – I was so tired and really didn’t want to workout. I rallied and did another Get Strong: Sculpt workout.
April 27– I didn’t do a workout because I had a hair appointment after school. Priorities, obviously 😆
April 28- Another Friday with no workout, and I headed straight to the kids’ track meet after school.
April 29-This was a Saturday that I just didn’t get a workout in. We were up and at my nephew’s baseball game by 10:00, and then had other errands and spent time with family most of the day. It’s not that I was disappointed in myself for missing a workout, but this just reaffirms why I need to get those in early on a Saturday or the day just escapes me.
April 30- I wrapped up the month with another Get Strong workout. This was a Cardio Sweat workout and just what I needed to make up for missing on Saturday.
Fun fact: I hate cardio, I don’t mind walking or the elliptical. That being said, if it’s part of a program I will do it. That’s why I think I don’t struggle to workout at home. I might rearrange days but I will still get cardio in, so I can continue with a program.
So, I had a goal of 18 workouts. My workout total for the month:
Workouts: 19
Walks: 3
No workout: 8
Overall, I think April was a pretty good month of intentionally working out and making it a priority.
Even just knowing I was going to write this post motivated me to workout out a few of those days. It might sound silly, but I knew I was logging those workouts in this post, and wanted to meet my goal. I guess y’all are my accountability partners…and you didn’t even know it!
After completing the Fire and Flow program, I liked being able to turn to the Bodi workout library and pick and choose from other programs that I was familiar with but also a new one to try.
I know many aren’t motivated to workout at home…I’m actually more motivated to just go down to the basement and get the workouts in. Bodi is seriously the best investment for me. There are so many options of workouts, and I look back on some of the days I would have done nothing because I didn’t have a lot of time, but instead I “pushed” play on a 20 minute workout.
Before 2020, I was in a decent habit of getting up early two days a week to workout. On Wednesdays, I’d usually go to the gym, and on Fridays, I’d usually workout at home. That just kind of went to the wayside. Now, that life feels extra busy, I guess I just prefer the extra few minutes of sleep and the guaranteed quiet time I get in the morning with my cup of coffee.
This month, I did try to make better food choices. Again, I wasn’t perfect, but I was intentional with tracking my foods, working out, and limiting sweets as much as possible. I did end up losing 5 pounds which I’m happy about. I will be happy if I can get back down to where I was –5 more to go!
My weakness continues to be drinking water. I do drink water daily and during/after a workout. I’ve found that I tend to drink more water on the weekend, but need to drink more during the week.
Anyway, whether I post about it or not, I think I will track my May workouts as well. It’s almost pool season! 😆
Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday! This weekend, we had a good mix of being lazy, being outside, and being productive. Now, it’s time to start a new week!
I love this little link up that Lauren, Ashley and others do, so I thought I’d join them again this month. Check out the other ladies’ posts too!
This month’s focus is on our fitness routine. I do try to stay active and do a pretty good job working out about five days a week. My struggle has always been more with balancing that with making good choices with eating! I do know that through the years, I’ve learned how important it is for me not only physically, but mentally, for me to get a workout in…even if it’s just a walk around the block.
For the past few years, I’ve implemented intermittent fasting into my daily life. For the past two years, I’ve pretty regularly followed the LEAN program with Amanda Nighbert. Basically, besides intermittent fasting, the program encourages carb cycling, workouts, and tracking the macros of the food you eat.
What I love about the program is that most workouts can be completed at home although I do like to go to the gym to use the elliptical or stationary bike when that’s an option. Most of the workouts are 30-40 minutes, so when I’m in my usual school year groove, I get up at least two mornings a week to workout. I’m not one who can get up early every morning and my husband often runs in the morning, so I have to coordinate with that. The workouts focus on arms, legs, full body, and HIIT (with some other options thrown in).
working out at home
During this time of quarantine, she’s been sharing weekly challenges which I love…and gives me an extra brief workout for the day.
Of course, with the extra time, we’ve been bike riding a lot as a family, and I’ve tried to take a walk most days as well.
Also, to change up my routine recently, I’ve busted out my Beach body 21 Day Fit DVDs. I really do love these workouts…again, they are around 30 minutes, can be completed at home, and really give you a good workout.
Admittedly, I’ve struggled a bit with staying on top of my diet and workouts during this quarantine period. Some weeks, I’m more motivated than other weeks. After giving myself grace for a few weeks, I started back tracking my macros because you can’t out run a bad diet! Also, I’ve still been having back issues which has limited some of the workouts I can do. That’s what actually made me turn to the DVDs because I love the Pilates and Yoga videos that are included. I’m back to giving myself grace, but also trying to keep moving even if it’s just a 30 minutes walk some days.
So, that’s a peek at my workout routine. I really do love the schedule of it and all the factors combined help me be successful.
Next month’s topic is: Fun Facts!
I hope you have a great week! We only have two more full weeks of distance learning. I think we can do it!
Happy Monday! I survived (and had fun!) at a Girl Scout overnight at COSI in Columbus, OH. More about that later in the week…I’m still recovering from staying up until midnight and sleeping on the floor! (plus losing an hour with Daylight Savings Time!)
In other exciting news…Y’all, believe it or not, this is my 100th blog post. I can’t believe it! I’ve really enjoyed blogging so far. It’s fun to share about family, school, what I’m reading, what I’m cooking, etc. AND…I love reading other people’s blogs too.
Linking up with other bloggers led me to reading Lauren’s All About that Mommy Life blog. Last month, I read her Not Just a Mom post for February, and I thought I’d link up with her (and the others) for this month’s post.
This month’s focus is on self care. I’d say that self care is something most moms struggle with. When you are in the midst of laundry, carpool, grocery shopping, homework, working, etc…it’s difficult to find time for yourself. About three years ago, I made self care a goal of mine. It started with focusing on whole food nutrition and getting a workout plan that works for me which is when I started doing the Lean program. Once I made fitness and whole food nutrition a priority, I started to find other ways to take care of myself.
(Also, real talk–I’m not perfect–I fall off the eating healthy wagon, but once the calendar turns to March, I really try to tighten up on what I eat and make sure to get some workouts in each week.)
Workouts/Whole Food Nutrition
I try to workout 4-5 days a week. The LEAN program I follow incorporates intermittent fasting with carb cycling and tracking macros + workouts. I’m a person who does feel better after a good work out, so I do try to make time for that even with having two very busy kids. Progress not perfection is my focus thanks to this program.
Also, I love me some McDonald’s French fries and a Diet Coke. Currently, I can’t quit Peanut Butter Patties #girlscoutcookietime and, for me, it’s all about balance. 😃
Skin Care
For quite awhile I’ve tried to make skin care a priority. While I don’t buy all the fancy products, I do splurge on a few like my daily moisturizer and night time face cream.
Also, I can’t believe I’m admitting this…but I was probably in my early thirties before I made it a priority to take my makeup off at bedtime! I realized, “Girl, wash your face!” before it was a thing…or a book! 😉 So, just finally doing that was a step in the right direction and through the years I’ve added other products into my skincare routine.
Three years ago, I started going to a local med spa once a month. My membership package includes one of the following each month: a facial, a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, or (my favorite!) dermaplane (basically–the esthetician shaves your face!)
Is my skin perfect? Heck no. Am I in an uphill battle against aging ? Yes! That being said, I feel like I’m being proactive with taking the time to wash my face, use a toner and moisturizers as well as taking care of skin with the facials. Plus, it’s just a treat for me once a month to decompress!
Manicure/Pedicures
Before kids, when I had more time and money!, I used to get monthly pedicures and a manicure every two weeks. Now, I save monthly pedicures for April-September, and then get gel manicures 6-8 times a year. I love gel manicures because they last longer (and I always have my nails painted), but, again, I usually get them before spring break, summer vacation, Christmas, etc. Just another form of self care!
Reading
A few years ago, we joined a pool in the summer. My kids are older now, so they run around with their friends and are able to swim (so I don’t have to stress about that!) when we are at the pool. So, while they did that, I got back into reading. I’ve always been a reader, but there were years when I was in grad school, raising two babies while working full time that reading for pleasure was put on the back burner.
Now, I read quite regularly. Last year, I purchased my Kindle which has provided me more opportunities for reading. I keep it in my purse and read while my kids have a practice or any other spare minutes I may have in the day. I am glad that I’ve made reading a part of my daily routine.
Quiet Time
I’ve always been someone who needs to ease into the day, and once I had kids that became even more important for me. So, I get up about 30-45 minutes before the rest of my family on the weekdays. On the rare occasion that Travis gets up early and is hanging around the living room, he gets major side eye from me….like “why are you interrupting my ‘me’ time?” 😂I spend those precious quiet minutes sipping my coffee, scrolling through my phone, watching the news, and reading my favorite blogs.
I need that time to myself to get my mind right for the day. That being said, I need a bit of quiet time in the evening too. I mean, Travis doesn’t get side eye from me at night if he is also in the living room watching a show! It’s just the morning time that I need the time to myself. BUT…it’s also why I’ve tried to be pretty strict about bedtime for my kids (of course, they need sleep too), but I also just need that hour to relax between their bedtime and my bedtime!
Blogging
Last, but not least, blogging has turned into a form of self care for me. I enjoy this creative outlet and carving out a few minutes for me to write as a way to express myself each day. I’ve said it before, but I’m pretty introverted and quiet, so this blog is also a way to share my voice, I guess. It’s fun for me to think of content, link up with other bloggers, and continue to grow in this space. I definitely hope it’s something I can keep doing at least three times a week!
Next month’s Not Just a Mom topic is cleaning routine. Travis may have to write that blog post for me! He’s a cleaning machine! We balance each other out—I like to tidy up while he likes to bust out the broom and the mop!
I love that my 100th blog post synced up with a post about self care since blogging has become an important part of my life. Thanks so much for your support on my blogging journey so far! I really appreciate it.
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