Today is one year ago. I had just completed an eight-week workout challenge. It consisted of a 30-minute workout three times a week. I noticed a huge improvement in my strength & endurance. It felt easy to do three days per week. I was feeling great, even though I was lifting heavier weights. So it felt like the perfect time to up my workout routine—and that’s when things got interesting. The next thing I knew it was June 2021 and I had completed five to six workouts every week. It was December and I had already completed more than 250 workouts on my activity tracker. And I’ll be honest, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.
Obviously, developing the habit of working out made a huge difference in my ability to keep it up this year, but finding ways to keep my workouts interesting and enjoyable made me stick with it on the days I’d really rather keep watching TV on the couch. The first thing I relied on was Obé Fitness. Obé is my favorite streaming fitness app because the classes are so fun and varied, the energy of the instructors is infectious, and it’s pretty inexpensive. Here’s a peek at my workout routine and how I used Obé to get in the best shape of my life.
My Workout Routine
Over the last year, building a routine took some time, but now that I’m ahead of it, I’d say that’s what kept me accountable the most. In a typical week, I’d weight train at the gym three times a week, do one other strength workout at home, one cardio workout a week (like a short HIIT class, dance, or a long walk), and one yoga class a week.
During lockdown earlier in the year, I was doing all my workouts at home. I utilized Obé’s live class feature and took five classes a week. I’d start my week with a pilates class, then do strength on Tuesdays and Fridays, sculpt on Wednesdays, dance cardio on Thursdays, and yoga on Sundays. And when I could, I’d take a long walk on Saturdays.
How I kept it interesting
1. Tested New Classes
My workout routine was varied, unlike previous attempts to create one. I wasn’t expecting that I would go lift weights at the gym five days a week and never get bored. Instead, I made it a point to try new workouts every day. Obé offers a plethora of different classes and is always adding new ones (they recently added stationary bike Ride classes as well as Jump!I set out to try each one.
Some, such as pilates, became a staple in my daily routine. It was so hard, but it made you feel strong in a way no class has ever (and it made your abs sore). EverywhereOnly one time. Others, I only did once or twice (looking at you, Bounce—the mini trampoline class that kicked my butt).
Classes weren’t the only change I made. I definitely get in the habit of thinking that my workouts have to be a 30-minute class or gym session to “count,” entirely forgetting all the exercise I do just living in a city and walking everywhere. I enjoy a long walk every day and started to see it as an opportunity to exercise. This made me pause to remember to rest more, as I realized that I was very active and it became a routine part of my exercise routine. I look forward every Saturday morning to my walks around the neighborhood.
2. Leveled Up When It’s Necessary
After a few months of exercising at home, I felt a bit bored. I decided to not give up and keep going. I felt an immediate improvement in my weight and felt it immediately. My workout was difficult again, making me sweaty and sore (in a good way).
But there were other ways I could level up. I added ankle weights in my sculpt classes, and wore them on my walks. I began to modify in classes. Obé’s instructors give great ideas for making your workouts a bit more manageable or more challenging, and I’d always leaned somewhere in the middle. I began to occasionally use the modifications to make it easier for my wrists and to engage my core more. Because I was constantly trying new things, my workouts felt more exciting and interesting.
3. Changed up the music
I pretty much always listen to the same music during my workouts, or I’ll just listen to whatever is playing in the background of a class. This becomes boring and distracting after a while. After a yoga class with Beth C. on Obé during which she has you stand up and dance around to ’90s punk rock, I knew that I needed to change it up. I tried a variety playlists that varied in genre and I decided to go with them. I’ll always go back to my rap/hip hop, but having some options made me excited on the way to the gym.
I started listening to podcasts and also started working out. It’s amazing how motivated I feel working out while listening to people talk. Instead of motivating me, it distracts from it. I’m too busy paying attention to the pod that I’m not thinking about how much longer the workout will be and when it’s over. This is best for long sessions on the stairmaster or treadmill, 12-3-30, or setting your own yoga flow.
4. Invest in New Workout Gear
Because I would be working out from home, I had to give myself a studio-apartment-sized at-home gym. I purchased a good mat so I could do everything from Russian twists to Warrior 2 on it. I then added some dumbbells to my arsenal. As I gained strength and added more dumbbells, I was able to add a set for cardio boxing and pilates, as well as a kettlebell and a heavier weight. As I began to take more classes, I found myself wanting more equipment to make the workouts more enjoyable. This included a bar ball, resistance bands, and ankle-weights. Before I knew what, I had an entire home workout station that I was excited to use.
5. Changed My Scenery
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I started going to the gym halfway through my year. It was a great investment in my personal journey. After so many years of being indoors, this made me extremely motivated to get back in shape. I’d walk in and be excited to try a new machine or station every single time. I started to attend studios once or twice per month.
But it wasn’t all the gym and in-person classes. When I wasn’t feeling a typical workout on my bedroom floor, I’d go to the living room and take a dance class from the TV. I’d take a walk around the neighborhood. I even did yoga on my rooftop in the summer. Making it fun is a better way to keep your workouts interesting than making it a chore. The one constant of my workout routine has been Obé classes because I can easily make it work for me and my needs. I can take a class from my bedroom, my rooftop, my parents’ backyard, a hotel—you name it.
Ready to try Obé for yourself? Use code TEG2for2 for two months of Obé for just $2—offer valid this month only!
This post is sponsored by Obé Fitness, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
Source: The Every Girl
