Workout Queen No More

I used to be a workout queen – hardcore, 60-minute, high-intensity workouts 5-6 days per week. I did the Insanity Beach Body Program back-to-back a couple of times followed up by some weight lifting at the gym and 10+ mile runs a few times each week. Needless to say, I was in GREAT shape. Well, since getting pregnant with my first it has not been so. Not even close. The mere thought of using my son’s naptime as an opportunity to get in a hardcore workout was enough to stop me before I even started. When my son was around 8-9 months, I started hitting the gym again and I will admit – I mostly went because it was Equinox and I could bask in the steam room afterwards. Even if I just did a few pull-ups followed by some foam rolling, the steam room and luxury shower combo had me leaving feeling like a million bucks. But when we started cracking down on our spending upon getting pregnant with Baby #2, that one had to go out the window too.  

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At this point, I decided to try a couple at home programs including 21-Day Fix & 80-Day Obsession but I’m truly a weight trainer down to my core. For me, it feels more fulfilling, and ultimately what transforms my body the most. So I bought some free weights and a kettlebell. It took all of 24 hours for me to fall IN LOVE with the kettlebell. Regardless of what exercise you’re doing – it’s pretty much a full body workout. But I realized quickly that my love for working out, even with weights, had severely dwindled in this latest season of my life. It now felt a little bit like what I would describe as “loathing.” But knowing how important it is for physical and mental health (coupled with the latest research showing how beneficial it can be for your baby) – I didn’t want to give it up. Yet still,  after getting home from a long day at work, spending time with my LO and finally sitting down to relax during his final nap for the day – the last (and I mean LAST) thing I wanted to do was workout.

*Disclaimer: Christine Gurry is an independent Team Beachbody Coach

Rethinking Working Out

So what is a fitness-loving, workout-loathing, soon to be mama of 2 to do? Well, I made working out work for me. One day, Holy Spirit whispered – “Bring your kettlebell to work.” This changed my fitness-loving, workout-loathing life.

The new goal became to get a full workout in before leaving work for the day, by splitting it up into smaller blocks of time. This became much more mentally attainable for me for a few reasons:

1. When I’m at work – I’m in beast mode. Get stuff done. Work stuff. Personal Stuff. All Stuff. So when I get home, all I have to do is love on my little and my hubs and then RELAX. Now, the only change is adding “Working Out Stuff” into the mix.
2. When tasks get mundane at work, and that 2nd cup of coffee is no longer an option (hello, the joys of pregnancy) to keep me focused and alert – I do a quick 10-minute workout. I’ve found this actually works better for energizing and focusing me than – dare I say it – yes, EVEN CAFFEINE.
3. I feel like even more of a #momboss when coming home from work, because all my necessary boxes are checked. My crap is done and thus, relaxing is SO MUCH MORE satisfying. No mom-guilt here. Can I get an AMEN?

Can Smaller Bursts Really Work?

So after doing this for a couple of weeks, my research mode kicked in and started wondering – could this really be as effective as a full 30-40 minute workout with sweat pouring down your face and your heart racing? Turns out – it most definitely can be!

New research shows that discontinuous exercise or smaller bursts of exercise throughout the day, can be just as beneficial as a full non-stop 30-minute workout. So, to make sure my short bursts of exercise are as effective as possible I just make sure to:

1. Exercise continuously for the 10 minutes
2. Use enough weight or do enough reps to get my heart-rate up
3. Try to keep my body working after completion – aka don’t just sit down, slouch and go back to hunching over a computer screen

The way I managed to accomplish item c actually came about as a by-product of incorporating working out into my work routine – extra motivation, anyone? In other words, I wanted to keep the fitness mindset going because I was already focused on it. How did I do this? Standing desk and ball-chair combo! I spend about 75% of my day standing and working, and when I sit – I sit actively with my ball chair.

This is the desk I use: The VIVO Height Adjustable Standing Desk.

But here are some other options as well:

And if you’re using a standing desk, be sure to get yourself an anti-fatigue mat – so your feet don’t get sore. This one encourages varied stances which I love.

And if you’re a work-at-home mom – I highly encourage you to try out the FitDesk.

Below is a sample schedule of my varied kettlebell routines to get your brain and body moving. As always, be sure to consult your doctor before starting anything new (especially if you’re pregnant or postpartum). And don’t forget to consult a trainer or fitness professional for proper form on the exercises referenced.

My heavy weight is a 25lb Kettlebell, my medium is a 15lb, and my light is a 10lb – for now. But feel free to vary the weights as works for you!

Kettlebell Routine #1

00:00 – 01:00 – Kettlebell Figure 8 Going Right (Heavy Weight)

01:00 – 02:00 – Kettlebell Figure 8 Going Left (Heavy Weight)

02:00 – 03:00 – Kettlebell Chest Row (Medium Weight)

03:00 – 04:00 – Kettlebell Shoulder Halo (Medium Weight)

04:00 – 05:00 – Kettlebell Sumo Squat (Heavy Weight)

05:00 – 06:00 – Kettlebell Hip Halo (Medium Weight)

06:00 – 07:00 – Kettlebell Lunge Hand-off Left Leg (Medium Weight)

07:00 – 08:00 – Kettlebell Lunge Hand-off Right Leg (Medium Weight)

08:00 – 08:30 – Kettlebell Right-hand Row (Medium Weight)

08:30 – 09:00 – Kettlebell Left-hand Row (Medium Weight)

09:00 – 10:00 – Kettlebell Goblet Squat (Heavy Weight)

Kettlebell Routine #2

00:00 – 01:00 – Sitting Kettlebell Twist (on Exercise ball w/ Heavy Weight)

01:00 – 02:00 – Side Kettlebell Pull – Right (Heavy Weight)

02:00 – 03:00 – Side Kettlebell Pull – Left (Heavy Weight)

03:00 – 03:30 – Right-hand Overhead Extension (Light Weight)

03:30 – 04:00 – Left-hand Overhead Extension (Light Weight)

04:00 – 05:00 – Side Lunge Twist – Right (Heavy Weight)

05:00 – 06:00 – Side Lunge Twist – Left (Heavy Weight)

06:00 – 06:30 – Kettlebell Curl – Right (Medium Weight)

06:30 – 07:00 – Kettlebell Curl – Left (Medium Weight)

07:00 – 08:00 – Alternating Goblet Side Lunges

08:00 – 09:00 – Kettlebell Chest Row (Medium Weight)

09:00 – 10:00 – Kettlebell Goblet Squat (Heavy Weight)

Kettlebell Routine #3

00:00 – 01:00 – X-Man Kettlebell Squats (Medium Weight)

01:00 – 02:00 – Kettlebell Shoulder Halo (Medium Weight)

02:00 – 03:00 – Alternating Toe Sumo Squats (Medium Weight)

03:00 – 04:00 – Kettlebell Hip Halo (Medium Weight)

04:00 – 04:30 – Kettlebell Right-hand Row (Medium Weight)

04:30 – 05:00 – Kettlebell Left-hand Row (Medium Weight)

05:00 – 06:00 – Kettlebell Switch Swing (Heavy Weight)

06:00 – 07:00 – Side Lunge Twist – Right (Heavy Weight)

07:00 – 08:00 – Side Lunge Twist – Left (Heavy Weight)

08:00 – 09:00 – Kettlebell Switch Swing (Heavy Weight)

09:00 – 10:00 – Kettlebell Goblet Squat (Heavy Weight)

Sometimes I do the same routine 3x/day and sometimes I switch it up.  As you can see, some of my favorite exercises repeat or have slight variations.

And if the 10-minute workouts are too much for you starting out – do a few minutes here and there to work up to it. Check out this awesome TED article on “Snacking on Exercise” for more motivation.

Happy fitness!

Right there with ya!

Niki from,