My pregnancy continues to go well. I had to take it easy for a few days after the CVS procedure, but now I’m back to my workouts and I feel great. No complications so far! But I will say that it’s really strange to coach people on their exercise and eating these days while my belly is getting bigger.
As it’s the holidays, I dispense with my usual “don’t worry about that cookie, just get back on the treadmill and let it go.” Now I have to start threatening my clients with, “If you don’t get in your extra cardio and you eat sugar at another holiday party this week, I promise I will work you so hard you’ll puke.” It’s crunch time and my clients need a little pressure to keep them on track or binge eating could last the entire month. Clients with prior sugar addictions (which is almost all of them), need extra focus and incentive during this “eat, drink and be merry” time of year.
I notice there are fewer people in the gym overall and I know that Christmas parties and shopping take time. So what’s the answer when you’ve got less time for a workout? Make it intense and make it count.
You’d be amazed at how hard four 1-minute sets can be of whole-body, high-intensity exercises. You don’t necessarily need equipment. Hell, you don’t even need to change into your gym clothes. If your only time to workout lately is during your lunch hour, just kick off your work shoes and try this:
1 minute each:
- Jumping Jacks
- Pushups
- Plank (straight arm or on elbows)
- Deep Squats
Repeat as many times as you can – or for as much time as you have. Even a pregnant lady like myself can do this routine.
If you’re feeling a little more hardcore and you’ve got some equipment around, try this:
1 minute each:
- Burpees with Dumbbells (10lbs each should do)
- Straight-arm Plank with Alternating Single Arm Row
- Mountain Climbers
- Squat with a Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Again, repeat as many times as you can – or for as much time as you have.
To get the most bang for your buck: Do these routines around ninety minutes after you eat so any sugar in your blood stream will get forced into your muscles to be used as fuel instead of being stored as fat. (For more info about this strategy, see my previous feature: What is the Minimum Effective Dose?)
Happy Holidays!
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.
