Sweat Diaries: Weekly Fitness Routine
Let’s talk SWEAT! Now, I want to start this blog post to say that my current fitness routine is what works best for ME. Everyone is different. I truly believe that the most important part about your fitness routine should be finding something that you enjoy and look forward to! If you’re waking up and DREADING going to whatever class or workout you’re signed up for – something needs to change. Not saying that I look forward to every workout. However, it should make you feel good about yourself, accomplished and HAPPY at the end.
In this post, I’m going to REALLY break it down – what my typical schedule looks like as of late, workouts I’ve loved in the past, why I absolutely LOVE low impact workouts and finally, when I prefer to workout! Oh, and most importantly, how I keep my workout routine budget friendly.
Typical Weekly Fitness Routine
To preface this, every Sunday I plan out my workout schedule for the week. Not to say it can’t be adjusted, but I find that this keeps me more accountable. I put the workouts on my work calendar so that it’s something I’m looking at daily.
- Monday: Typically something low-impact. I’m obsessed with the Melissa Wood Health Method so I would typically do a 40 min pilates flow or something along those lines. If you can swing it, never miss a Monday! It really starts the week off on the right note. It sets the tone.
- Tuesday: Here, I like to incorporate some sort of treadmill movement with sculpting. Whether this is a sprint workout or a Melissa Wood Health Treadmill Workout (mainly walking on incline), the treadmill portion will last 20 -30 minutes. My sprint workouts are typically 1 minute on, 1 minute off – I like these for burning fat and building muscle! I will then do either a MWH 20 minute series such as an arms toning or abs OR I do my own circuit of abs or arms. If you have trouble knowing what to do – use Pinterest or Instagram! I have a ton of workouts saved on my fitness board on Pinterest or in my sweat highlight on Instagram.
- Wednesday: One day a week I like to do a class like a barre class such as Pure Barre Empower, Corepower Yoga Sculpt, Pilates, Les Mills Bodypump or Barry’s Bootcamp. This is my limit for ‘boujee’ workout classes to keep it affordable! I feel that doing one class a week pushes me and keeps things different. I think this is important to continue to see changes in your body.
- Thursday: Back to my girl, Melissa Wood! Here I would do two of her flows. This would most likely be a lower body focused paired with a full body to incorporate a full 60 minute workout.
- Friday: Depending on how my body is feeling, this may be a rest day. If I’m feeling OK, I would usually do a 30 minute treadmill series, most likely Melissa Wood Health again. OR I would do a normal Vinyasa flow yoga class.
- Saturday: I usually love doing a low impact style class on Sundays OR doing something active outside such as riding a bike, going on a hike, shopping (hey it’s walking!) or just getting some movement in. Depending on what I’m doing I may or may not get a workout in, and that’s OK!
- Sunday: If I am working out on a Sunday, it’s typically a Yoga class. I very much love Sunday’s to be a relaxation day and I want to really stretch my body and feel ready for the week ahead.
Timing is Everything!
I feel that when you workout is a super personal thing and you need to figure out what works best for your lifestyle. However, for me personally, I absolutely LOVE morning workouts. Let me tell you why:
- Starting the Day Off Right: You feel SO accomplished when you check your workout off of your list fist thing in the morning. Also as Elle Woods said, working out gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy & happy people just don’t kill their husbands! LOL. #FBF.
- Burning Fat for Fuel: When you workout on an empty stomach, it encourages fat breakdown. As Kelly LeVeque has said, doing this “can increase human growth hormones that will help preserve muscle tissue and cause lipolysis, or fat breakdown.” Check out more tips from her in this Harpers Bazaar article here!
- Better Sleep: Because of the endorphin side effect of working out, I’ve found that I sleep much better when I’m waking up early for workouts. If I workout too close to bed, I’m on a high and want to do so much. I feel very productive…which is great, but not for when you’re trying to catch some z’s!
Budget Friendly Fitness
We all know that pretty much every boutique fitness class can cost ya an arm and a leg! I’m ALL FOR investing in yourself (my mom always says – better to invest in your health now than pay for the medical bills later.) However, you can do this without having tons of extra cash to blow!
- Online Streaming: If you haven’t already noticed, my online workout of choice is Melissa Wood Health Method which is SO affordable at just $9.99 a month. However, if that isn’t your style there are a ton of other streaming and workout guide options such as obe, p.volve, Studio Tone it Up, Sweat, BBG, TSC Bombshell Body Guide, etc.!
- First Timer Discount: MILK this like no other! I’m always on the Mindbody App looking for studios that have first timer rates or packages to get a deal. This is something awesome to look into while traveling as well.
- Invest in Some at Home Workout Equipment: I know this technically qualifies as spending money, but it will save you money in the long run and also make it more accesible for you to workout anywhere, anytime. Here are my staples:
Sweat Diaries Concluded…
In conclusion, all that you can do is your best. There are CERTAINLY some weeks that I only workout 1-2 times, and you know what, that’s TOTALLY ok! You have to do what works for you. Another rule I totally live by: sleep over working out. If you end up getting to bed super late and you have to sacrifice your sleep, SLEEP is more important. Always listen to your body, and find what works for you. Workout because you love your body, and for no other reason! You’re beautiful, strong and you can accomplish WHATEVER you set your mind to.
Happy sweating!
xoxo
Alysia (Purely)Pope
