Exercise and Fitness
As a busy mom, I like my fitness to be fast. Workouts like Flywheel (indoor cycling workout with a stationary bike group, led by an instructor) are only 45 minutes, and still get you the benefits of a full body workout. Simply cutting out wine and sugar have given me fast, substantial results. When Im trying to lose weight, sugar is the first to go.
Working out regularly and eating healthy helps me feel more confident. Exercise is truly the best way for me to clear my mind at the beginning of my day. I work out every morning at the exact same time. This holds me accountable and helps avoid any excuses. I have kept this routine for as long as I can remember, regardless of whether I feel like it or not. Just decide to show up each day, and your body will change.
I have always maintained a routine of exercising at least 5 days a week. Before having a family, I used to work out for hours at a time–but no matter how much I exercise, it has always required a healthy diet regimen for me to achieve the results that I want. I no longer stress as much as I used to over my weight. I still work out, but am not as much of a fanatic as I once was. As a mother of two, balance is the reason I’m in much better shape now than I was at 20. It’s all about eating well for me. A strict health regimen helped me shed the 35 pregnancy pounds I gained with each baby. I now limit my portion sizes and make healthier food choices.
During pregnancy, I focused on light cardio and core-focused workout sessions (i.e. Exhale, Flywheel, Body Barre–all of which I still do, just at a more intense pace). I push myself more now that I’m not pregnant.
Some people think of exercise as tiring, but it actually gives you more energy, combats health conditions and diseases and stimulates various brain chemicals that can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem (or leave you feeling happier and more relaxed).
Weight Training
When I weight train, I try to engage my entire body. Squats, dead lifts and push-ups really rev up my metabolism. I like to switch up my workouts because it challenges different parts of my body, resulting in more successful weight loss and helps to avoid repetition and boredom. I also enjoy Pilates (Body Barre) to help build and lengthen muscles and improve flexibility. If I am trying to lose weight at the time, I add anywhere from 25-45 minutes of cardio to this workout. If I am simply maintaining, a 50 minute Pilates class is more than enough. My go-to cardio include the elliptical, treadmill, stair machine or outdoor jogs.
The key for me is to shrink the body and then build muscle. I put my headphones on and zone out! I used to be obsessed with wearing a heart-rate monitor to always make sure I was in my “fat-burning zone” during higher intensity cardio and weight-training sessions. This really helped shape my endurance and fitness goals and trained me to work smarter, not harder.
I am currently focused on toning my body and building muscle. I am still mixing up the same workout routines (Flywheel, Bodybarre, Exhale and Crossfit) but adding additional squats, lunges, and abdominal workouts.
Push yourself toward your goals–this is going to be your best year yet!
XO-
Sabrina
