Find the Workout You Get to Do

We all know that exercise is great for us both physically and mentally, so why is it sometimes so hard to find the motivation to do it? As a former gymnast, I've always been active. But as an adult it took me a long time to find a workout routine that was challenging, fun and gave me the results I wanted. On top of that, once I had kids, it had to be accessible, as getting a babysitter or paying for gym "childcare" seemed crazy on top of the monthly membership fee. It took some experimenting, but I've finally found the workout that checks all the boxes and truly feels like something I "get to do" not that I "have to do".

At first I tried ALL the classes - spin, pilates, yoga, barre, cardio sculpt etc., but fitting these into my schedule was challenging and I wanted to know what would happen if I stuck to something consistently. At the same time though I did not want to get bored or burned out. One day a friend mentioned the Tracy Anderson Method and the incredible results she had with it and how easy it was to do from home. I admit I was skeptical about the prospect of working out at home as I loved the energy and motivation I got from being around other people at the gym. However I couldn't deny that I wasn't making it there regularly enough and the idea of being able to fit in a workout during naptime or before the kids woke up was tempting. So I decided to give it a try. I started by renting her videos on Amazon and was amazed at how difficult they were while only using body weight. I remember being so sore! I did those workouts consistently for about 2 weeks and saw results pretty quickly. Then I decided to do her Metamorphosis series, which is a 3 month program where you do the same workout for 10 days at a time. While I did get a bit bored with the cardio component (this stayed the same for the 3 months while the mat workouts changed every 10 days), the rest of the workout was challenging both physically and mentally so I really wasn't bored or burned out. Plus, the results started to show quickly.

Due to my genetics, I can put on muscle easily (typical gymnast body) so not bulking has always been very important to me. Right away with this method I noticed longer and leaner arms, and with time, a more lifted and toned butt without bulking the thighs, feminine abs and overall balance throughout the body. This is because the moves in the workouts focus on using and strengthening the smaller supporting muscles instead of the bigger muscle groups (quads, hamstrings, biceps etc.) which are easier to access. To do this, Tracy comes up with movements I have never seen before. Her creativity is truly incredible. These days I stream her workouts at home and am able to do them consistently 5 days a week. Similar to the Metamorphosis program, the workouts stay the same for 1 week and then new ones are released. They moves are so physically and mentally challenging though that I'm never bored. In fact, just as I think I'm getting good at them, it's time to move to a new workout! Now, 2+ years since my first TAM workout, at the age of 38 and with 2 kids, I can confidently say I'm in the best shape of my life. Much of this has to do with nutrition and my overall lifestyle of course, but these workouts have played an integral role as well. If you’d like to try it out, they offer 2 weeks free! Just click here.

While I am a huge proponent of this method, the most important thing is to find the workout that you GET to do, not that you HAVE to do. For you that could be yoga, boxing, hiking, biking, or some of all different kinds of workouts. Find what kind of exercise you look forward to doing and it will be so much easier to do consistently!