As I was doing my 25 minute workout this morning I thought about how drastically my exercise routine has changed since having Jack.
I used to take an hour and a half to get to the gym, change and do a Body Pump class. And I would exercise at least 5 times per week.
Now, I workout 3 times per week maximum for 25 minutes each time. I also squeeze in a shower, get ready and do some work all within the hour that Jack is napping.
You would think that working out less would mean I’m in worse shape, but it’s the opposite. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life. Why is that?
Weight Maintenance
1. It’s easier for me to maintain a steady weight that I’m comfortable with whereas before I would fluctuate quite a bit. Working out longer and more frequently means you have a larger appetite, are hungry more often and have a tendency to consume more calories. More healthy calories to fuel your body is fine, but it’s hard to say no to quick, unhealthy foods when you’re hungry all the time. I used to do a lot more snacking throughout the day to keep my hunger at bay.
Motivated to Work Harder
2. I look forward to my workouts and push myself harder because I know I only have 25 precious minutes to work my body – make it count! Before I would kind of take it easy because I was exercising for much longer.
Exercise Everywhere
3. I take other opportunities throughout my week to “exercise.” I quickly realized that exercising doesn’t need to involve a treadmill and weights. Activities like dusting & vacuuming, playing at the park, speedy grocery shopping and lifting my 22-pound son all day definitely fills the exercise void!
Multi-Muscle Exercises
4. My 25 minute workouts are really productive. I do a 3-5 minute cardio warm-up and 20 minutes of weight-bearing exercises that use multiple muscles at the same time: push-ups to mountain climbers, squats with arm curls, and burpies with shoulder-presses. My heart rate is raised for the entire 20 minutes and I’m breathless. I either do my own circuit or a Nike Training Club exercise.
If you’re a new mom, or you’re too busy with work & life to spend hours working out, you can relax knowing that you only need 25 minutes, the right exercises, and to stay focused; make it count!
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