Last week’s workouts focused primarily on strength training for two main reasons. First, strength training is my favorite and the kind of workout I enjoy doing most. Second, at this stage of pregnancy, strength training feels the best to me and my body.
It’s a million times easier for me to motivate myself to work out knowing a strength workout awaits me because super-sweaty cardio doesn’t appeal to me and this big ol’ belly too much lately! Walking is my absolute favorite kind of cardio, though I’ve found myself oddly missing and craving spinning classes right now. Since that’s not happening anytime soon, I’ll stick with what’s working for me and that’s garage strength workouts and plenty of walks around the neighborhood with the boys, Ryan and Sadie.
WEEK OF WORKOUTS: June 2020
MONDAY: REST
Monday ended up being a rest day for me. I took most of the weekend off from blog work to spend extra time with our family for Father’s Day (I usually work several hours on both Saturdays and Sundays to get ahead for the week) so I needed every minute of my early morning workout time on Monday to work before the boys were up for the day. I wasn’t feeling a workout anyway so this worked out just fine!
TUESDAY: BICEPS, TRICEPS, SHOULDERS WORKOUT + 10 Minute Tone It Up Bikini Arms
Tuesday’s workout was a good one, though it’s no surprise I loved it since it focused on upper body muscle groups which are forever my favorite to strength train. I created a superset/tripleset workout and it passed by in a flash as I blasted the Jess Glynne Pandora Station. I rounded this one out with some light weights as I followed the 10-minute Tone It Up Bikini Arms workout video on YouTube which I love to use as a finisher since it always gives my arms a great final burn after some heavier strength training.
WEDNESDAY: 30 Minute Lower Body Dumbbell Workout (Video)
Oh my gosh, this workout from Nourish Move Love was such a sweat fest! I’m not sure if it was the workout or the fact that I completed it outside in my driveway with a TON of humidity in the air but I was dripping after this one. We’re talking sweat coming out of my knees, my friends. Lindsey’s workouts are always great and I love her as a virtual fitness instructor because she’s upbeat and encouraging without being the least bit annoying.
Thursday: Off
I wasn’t feeling a workout on Thursday so I opted for another rest day. It was another active day outside with the boys so I still felt like I moved my body a good bit but in a low key way. I’m kind of curious to see how my rest days may change or stay the same once “normal life” resumes again, though I don’t see this happening until after our baby arrives and I’m ready to work out again in the postpartum period. I was so into taking Saturdays and Sundays off from the gym for so long because I love that time for family time but there’s admittedly something nice about taking random weekdays off and also working up a sweat on the weekend on occasion.
Friday: Chest + Back Workout
On Friday morning, I took myself through this chest + back workout and my chest was sore for two days after this one! (I swear something about chest flyes get me every time.) I loved the formatting of this workout and always feel like timed intervals of strength training pass by faster for me than counting reps.
Saturday: Quick Leg Strength Workout + 10 Minute Glute Workout Video
Saturday morning I was in the mood to work up a sweat before the boys were awake for the day but, once again, didn’t want to spend a ton of time in our garage working out. I ended up making up this quick strength workout and went through two rounds of it before completing Jessica Valant Pilates’ 10-Minute Pilates Booty Workout. I know I’ve mentioned this video on the blog before but it’s one of my favorites to follow when I’m looking for a killer glute burn in a short amount of time.
Sunday: Off
Another rest day popped up again on Sunday. I realized that lately I’ve been falling into a ‘two days on, one day off’ pattern for my workouts and this week was no exception. Something about that cadence seems to be working well for me right now and seemed to evolve quite naturally. Though we began the day with a four mile walk, the rest of our Sunday was pretty low-key from a fitness standpoint and I’m looking forward to getting a good workout in first thing this morning! One of my favorite perks of a good rest day is the way it seems to reset my desire to exercise and move my body the next day. Rest days are great for my body and my mind!
Question of the Day
Has your workout routine changed over the course of the past few months? If so, how?
Have the number of rest days you take from workouts changed at all?
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Since my gym closed, I haven’t picked up a weight. I’ve been forcing myself to walk 2 miles first thing in the morning, but it’s not the same. I have got to get back into a routine of some sort lifting weights. I think this post might be the kick in the rear that I need. Thanks!
Walking is seriously the BEST and I think it’s awesome that you’re sticking to that right now. We’ll all eventually get back in the gym when the time is right — I miss it a TON. It’s definitely a lot harder to motivate myself to work out without a gym so I feel you. I do hope this post helps give you some ideas if you’re hoping to do some strength training though!! <3
With a 5 month old baby my workouts are definitely shorter, often interrupted, and much more efficient! I recall reading a post of yours about how your workouts have changed and I now 100% get it!
Pre-pregnancy/children I was a runner but pregnancy had me gravitating towards strength training and spinning, and now with a baby, I tend to focus most on strength and walks with the babe as I don’t have the energy for much more since we are still not sleeping well over here.
I found a really good used spin bike (Keiser – the guy who had owned it had only put 400 km on it – around 250 miles maybe so it was practically brand new but less than half the market price) and use it all the time with the Peloton app. It was great for 20 minute classes while pregnant.
This is a really great post, Julie! And I say that as a reader who would remind you of your husband’s adorable late grandma…I love your blog minus the healthy recipes and fitness posts – ha! That doesn’t mean I don’t like those posts…I just prefer ones about your family, books, and your daily life! But, deep down, I know I really want to start working out more and eating better, not just to look better but to feel better! IF schools open in the fall, both of my boys will be in school full day for four days per week (my 4th grader is supposed to go five full days and my 4 year old’s special education preschool program at the same elementary school is 4 full days). If that happens, I will have much more time to devote to taking care of myself. (My plan will be to go back to work the following year, at least part time!)
Quick question – how heavy are the weights you use for all of these exercises? Or do they vary?!
LOVE that you remember Bubbee’s words! Haha! She definitely made me smile with those comments!
As for the weights, they definitely vary depending on the exercise and muscle group. 🙂
Would you say between 5 lbs and 15?? Or more? What do you suggest for someone like me who is just starting out? 3 lbs to 5 lbs?
I’ve been working out more frequently, actually, despite being pregnant (34.5 weeks now), since I don’t have to leave the office and choose between a meal, an errand, or a workout. Well, that, and gym clothes all day, every day. I’ve been loving strength training too, plus battle ropes. I’m a little slower these days and I take rest days whenever my body tells me to, though it’s pretty much like your cadence or maybe one more day of strength training, depending how I’m feeling. Thanks for posting the workouts, it’s nice to not have to worry about how I’ll modify/change them up, given my “current state” :D.
Yes!! So glad you’re able to move your body and get workouts in that feel good to you right now! I’m definitely feeling a little slower lately but feeling grateful strength training feels so, so good and helps me feel strong right now… even if everything is slower and I’m lifting a bit lighter, etc.
I LOVE that you do these workout round ups.
With being home it is so huge to get ideas and good workouts so we feel effective without getting bored and losing motivation! Keep them coming! Thank you!
So glad you like them, Laura!!
Julie! You are CRUSHING this fit pregnancy thing! Way to go mama! And thanks for giving my leg workout a shot. It’s a tough one (without a baby bump), you’re a rockstar! Nice work!
I was honestly pretty terrible at working out on a regular basis but this quarantine has whipped me into shape! We have an 11 month old puppy and while we used to do the easy thing of walking once a day and then throwing toys in the backyard the rest of the time now I’ve started walking her twice a day. I started waking up an hour before my usual wake up time and we go for 1.5 miles in the morning and another 1.5 miles in the afternoon. I’ve also started following the MadFit dance parties on youtube (I used to be a dancer so this doesn’t feel like working out to me which is great!)
Working from home has definitely allowed me to start routines I never thought I would have time to do!
Can I just say you’re amazing for getting in workouts, taking care of your cuties, being pregnant, taking care of your home AND working? You’re a rockstar! I’m 19 weeks pregnant, still nauseous (which is absolutely so sad) and having a hard time working out. You go, momma!
Loving all these weight training circuits! Weight training is one of my favorite was to exercise too but I struggle to find my balance between that and cardio. But I’m excited to incorporate these into my routine, thanks for sharing!
I’m thinking I need to buy some dumbbells and/or kettlebells for at home workouts since I’m finally accepting I probably won’t be back in a gym for months…at least. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!