Ever wondered that there might be workouts to fit your lifestyle?
Tried a workout and loved it, but tried another and hated it? Oh, the world of fitness and workouts can be a real minefield but no need to stress anymore.
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to exercise and workouts. Everyone has different likes, preferences and lives so everyone has also got different jobs and their days are structured differently. Some people can only fit their training in the morning while some can fit it in during the evening. The point here is everyone is different, it is all about finding workouts that fit YOUR lifestyle.
If you’re wondering if there is an effective workout program out there for your busy schedule, you’re in luck. I’ve found several right here. Let me introduce you to some effective workouts to fit your busy lifestyle perfectly..
Home workouts
Ideal for: Busy moms, businesswomen
Home workouts are ideal for those ladies who don’t feel comfortable hitting the gym, prefer to exercise alone, or only have time to slot one in at home. There are several different ways you can enjoy home workouts.
Firstly, YouTube is a mecca of home workouts. Whether you want to try yoga, Pilates, Cross-Fit, or a killer booty workout, and you can copy the instructors in the videos as they do the exercises with you. Videos are an excellent option for those who can benefit from that extra instruction.
Secondly, there is a wide variety of fitness DVDs and downloads you can easily fit your busy lifestyle. As an example, Beachbody on Demand is a popular option and personal favorite.
Contrary to popular belief you, don’t need equipment to get in a great workout at home. Try developing your own circuit-style workouts like the one I’ve listed here:
- 20 x Squats
- 10 x Push-ups
- 20 x Lunges (10 per leg)
- 20 Star Jumps
- 20 Sit-ups
Complete all exercises and rest for 1 minute. Complete the circuit a total of 3-5 times. Circuit training workouts are super effective for your busy lifestyle.
If you are not sure what other exercises you can put together for your own circuit, you can try my At Home Body Weight Workout Plan available here:
Gym-Based Fitness Classes
Ideal for: Everyone of varying fitness levels
Gyms and fitness centers offer a vast array of different classes, and all fitness levels are welcome. You might be a complete beginner, or you may be an experienced fitness class attendee.
Yes, classes might be daunting if you are new. Don’t let that dissuade you! Excellent instructors can make the experience much more pleasant and very accommodating. They are used to people not having a clue what to do.
The great thing about booking onto a fitness class is that it holds you accountable. Getting to a class is the hard part. Go anyway. Follow through and try the class! You’ll feed off other people’s energy and the general buzz of the class. The instructor will try to keep you motivated, and your energy levels up.
In fact, a lot of women prefer fitness classes as a great way to meet like-minded individuals and create a social life outside the house and usual activities. Give it a try!
If you’re not sure what’s out there or what the classes are about, here are a few popular fitness classes you might have heard about. All are incredibly effective workouts for your busy lifesytle.
BODYPUMP
BODYPUMP combines weight training with barbells and aerobics to give you a total body workout. Light weights and high reps are the key to this fat-burning workout designed to help get you lean, toned, and fit.
Spinning
Spinning is a brand of indoor bikes and indoor cycling instructions. Spinning, or cycling as it’s sometimes known, is a high-intensity indoor cycling class. Classes are held in a darkened studio with hard pumping music led by an enthusiastic instructor. You compete against others in the class to take first place at the finish line!
Zumba
Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness dance class that blends low and high-intensity dance moves to get your heart pumping and burn calories. Variations include Zumba Step, Zumba Toning, and Aqua Zumba, to name a few.
Boot Camp
Boot camp mixes traditional gym class calisthenics (think jumping jacks, push-ups, crunches, jogging in place) with weight training and interval cardiac training. Some may follow a 4 – 8 weeks schedule, much like military-style boot camp training.
Virtual Fitness Classes
Ideal for: Those who want the experience of a fitness class at home
Want to go and enjoy a class at the gym but either don’t have time, or the means of getting there? Don’t worry because virtual classes are a real thing!
Virtual group fitness classes are ideal for building your fitness and confidence levels before maybe giving a live class a go. The virtual format means more classes can be put on each week, making it easy to make up for it if you miss a session one day. All you need is a laptop or TV!
You might have seen the sexy and impressive TV ads for Pelton and Mirror. Peloton and Mirror Home Fitness are two virtual fitness programs using proprietary equipment to deliver classes on a regular schedule to a community of online members. Both offer that real-time class experience that virtual fitness is known for.
With the coronavirus pandemic still ravaging many parts of the world, virtual fitness classes are an excellent option to stay safe and maintain your fitness.
Yoga & Pilates
Ideal for: Those who want to work on mobility or need de-stressing
You know, fitness and exercise don’t always have to be about slogging your way around a track or throwing weights. Lend a little ‘Zen’ into your regime!
Ever thought about Yoga or Pilates?
Yoga is a real treat for your body and mind. If you are tired of feeling the tensions of life and maybe feel a little stressed, then this form of workout will suit your lifestyle perfectly.
Yoga provides a whole host of health benefits for those of any age. These include:
- Increased flexibility
- Increased muscle strength and tone
- Improved respiration, energy and vitality
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism
I avoided trying yoga for years, as it just seemed like a lot of heavy breathing and stretching. After my surgically repaired hip began to fail, I decided to give it a try. After the first class, I was hooked. Much to my surprise, I came to crave that time on my mat. It gave me peace and serenity and allowed me to recharge my mind and my soul.
Pilates is a low-impact exercise that strengthens muscles, improves postural alignment and flexibility. Practiced regularly, Pilates can increase muscle tone, improve balance and joint mobility, and relieve stress and tension.
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of mat Pilates. I am wild about reformer Pilates. When I could no longer weight train as a result of that same surgically repaired hip, Reformer Pilates helped me maintain my strength. My surgeon credits both yoga and Pilates for my quick recovery.
Reformer Pilates uses a tower of springs, push and pull bars, and a carriage, which adds resistance as you move through the full range of motion of a variety of exercises.
HIIT Training
Ideal for: Those who really want to go for it
HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training. It is a form of cardiovascular training that is designed to burn a lot of calories and work your heart hard. HIIT is intended to raise and lower your heart rate over the course of the session. To do that, you do a steady interval, followed by a fast interval. It is excellent for burning calories and torching body fat. HIIT is great if you haven’t got much time to work out but really want to make the most of the little time you have. You don’t even need a gym for it. Talk about an effective workout for your busy lifestyle!
HIIT is usually performed in 15-20 minute sessions as this is all you need, and frankly anymore will floor you if you are doing it right. You don’t even need a gym for it.
If you love running, an example of a 20-minute HIIT running session will look like this:
- 1-minute steady jog.
- 1-minute fast run.
- 1-minute steady jog.
- 1-minute fast run.
It is easy to design your own HIIT session. Choose your exercise, be it running, walking, swimming, or cycling, and plan your session using slow and fast intervals.
Cumulative cardio
Ideal for: Everyone
This might be a new one to you but it’s a good bit of advice I have picked up on my journey, and one which personal trainers use for their clients. Cumulative cardio means the amount of ‘cardio’ you accumulate throughout the day.
Walking everywhere rather than taking the car or bus is a cheap and easy alternative to hitting the gym every day. It’s a cheap and easy alternative to the gym and contributes to your cumulative cardio. It costs nothing, and the health benefits are enormous. If you need to take public transport to work, why not get off the bus or train a few stops early and walk the rest of the way?
Invest in a step counter and see how many steps you can get in each day, aiming for 10,000 for a good calorie burn. The cumulative cardio method keeps you on your toes and active throughout the day.
Cumulative cardio is something you can do anytime, anywhere. This makes it a perfectly effective workout for your busy lifestyle.
Conclusion
No matter what type of lifestyle you have, you can work in an exercise regime that suits it perfectly well.
In this day and age, we have so much going on. Hectic lives with competing priorities seem to be the norm these days. Careers, kids, family, life, jobs – you name it, and it’s not always easy to contend with. Finding an exercise regime that can fit into your busy lifestyle can be tough.
A lot of it is trial and error; many, including myself, don’t always find their way immediately. Sometimes things take time, don’t be afraid to try new things.
Hopefully, you now understand what your fitness options are, you can find an effective workout that fits your busy lifestyle.