Home Workouts I've Been Trying

Like many other Californian’s, over the past three months I’ve had to adjust my workout routine from the gym to my living room. It’s been a bit of a struggle at times, and I will admit that I was naive in thinking (*hoping*) this would only last a month. Through it all, I’ve tried a few different things in an attempt to keep me motivated with my fitness and also prevent boredom from doing the same workout routine.

I want to preface this by saying there is no pressure to workout during this time just because you might have more time on your hands. We’re all still in a very unusual situation with new and different obstacles coming up each day. 

The reason I’ve chosen to prioritize my fitness during this time is because working out has become so valuable for my mental health. It’s become an opportunity for me to set aside an hour or so to myself each day to focus on me and my own growth.

Everyday before I workout, I make sure to stretch. This helps a ton in just clearing my mind and getting my body warmed up for the workout. My favorite part is using my foam roller to crack my back.

Post run, catching my breath because I’m very dramatic.

One of my main goals for 2020 was that I wanted to improve on my running. Ideally I want to lower my mile time to be below 8 minutes. So I made a commitment to myself that once a week I would dedicate my cardio to be running. When the Safer-At-Home orders were first put into place I mapped out the perimeter of my block and realized that if I ran around it 4 times it was a little over a mile in distance. 

So for the past 3 months, that’s what I’ve been doing. To be completely transparent, I hate it. I’m very dramatic when it comes to running. But, I have definitely improved. I wouldn’t say it’s gotten easier, but I am able to push myself more. This week I discovered that just in the time I’ve been stuck at home, I’ve brought my mile time down by 2 minutes! And that’s with the added element of wearing a mask (which I truly only find to be a minor inconvenience, be responsible and wear a mask). I’m very curious to see how running outside will compare on the curved self powered treadmill I use at the gym.

On the other days I make sure to leave my home to go on a walk around my neighborhood. I usually walk around 2 miles and use the time to call friends and family to check in.

My personal preference for workouts has been writing a list of different exercises to do and repeating each “set” three times. I try to pull from things I would do at the gym that don’t require machines. It’s a mix of core exercises like planks, crunches, lunges, and squats while incorporating some minor equipment such as dumbbells, a yoga ball, and resistance bands. I’m also very fortunate that my trainer has sent me workouts that follow this format which helps when I feel I’m running low on ideas.

Back in April I decided to give Peloton a try. One of my friends is truly their biggest fan. We had even planned to go to their homecoming convention in May before it was cancelled. She mainly does their bike classes but she had always told me that they offered other classes in strength, mediation, and had recently come out with treadmill classes. Interestingly enough another friend of mine was eager to try their strength classes as well so the two of us gave those a go and loved them. 
The coaches are really good at what they do but also in keeping you entertained and focused throughout. They have a huge catalog of classes as well, many of which only require a yoga mat. I especially appreciate that you know how far along you are in the class as I tend to get antsy if I don’t know how much time I have left. While you do have to pay for the membership, they offer a free trial to really give you an idea for the workouts.

Another video workout I’ve tried is through a Los Angeles based boxing studio called BoxUnion. The reason I wanted to give their “BoxUnion Digital” streaming service a go was because I had written an article about them back in early March because of their unique “Box to the Beat” style and wanted to write a follow up on how they transitioned their classes to a digital format. 

Last August I started getting into boxing and found it to be not only a great workout, but stress reliever. I have really been missing punching it out during this time and I’ve found the classes through BoxUnion Digital really help to fill that void. Since I don’t have a punching bag in my apartment I take their shadow boxing classes that allow you to mimic the movements without having to put on your gloves. In addition to boxing glasses, which they also offer ones for if you have a punching bag at home, they also have strength and mediation classes. 

If you go on Youtube, there’s no shortage of workout videos. Recently a few of my friends and I decided to take on the Chloe Ting 2 week ab challenge. I’d say the videos on their own are a solid workout regardless of if you’re a beginner or someone who works out regularly. The downside is that they’re very repetitive. It’s basically the same two videos everyday with a third or fourth sometimes mixed in. Because of them being so repetitive you’re also mainly focusing on the same area every day, which is something I prefer not to do. 
I try to rotate between upper body, lower body, and core because it gives that area of my body time to rest. I ended up having to stop partaking in this challenge because of the pressure the exercises were putting on my wrists and the pain it was causing. During that one week of following the plan, I did start to see visible results. It was also fun to be doing it with my friends as we would check in with one another and help hold each other accountable.

So those are the main things I’ve been doing to stay active. If I have one tip it's to invest in some equipment. My top picks would be a supportive yoga mat, resistance bands, dumbbells (both light and heavy options), and a yoga ball. There’s a lot of variety you can do with those items and even as the gyms start to reopen, having the option to workout from home is one you’ll definitely appreciate.

Stay Safe.

---