It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and the dread of holiday weight gain that comes with short days, long nights, big sweaters and many holidays one after the other is lingering in the back of your head. Weight gain seems inevitable, doesn’t it?
I get it. The sun is down by the time you leave for work/home every morning and evening, and it’s just chilly enough outside that it’s hard not to succumb to the temptation of bundling up on the couch and snacking while watching TV. Sometimes it feels better to be home, but that doesn’t mean that movement needs to end.
Push your excuses aside, my friend! It is the 21st century after all. You can pair a good diet (I can show you how!) with a fantastic training session right from your living room.
Lis, my energetic assistant, lights up when she talks about the following two YouTube programs: FitnessBlender and Yoga with Adriene. She has used both of these programs to move herself from not-well to very well. Check it out in her words.
1) FitnessBlender with Kelli and Daniel Segars
“I cannot express how much I absolutely adore the husband and wife-owned company called FitnessBlender. I found them during my senior year of college in 2014, when I was significantly heavier and desperately trying to find a relatively easy avenue for losing weight. At this point I had already tried the ever-popular Insanity and Beachbody workout programs, but I found them both to be a) too redundant, b) too expensive, and c) a little too corny for me. Close to giving up any hope, I randomly came across FitnessBlender while perusing YouTube for a workout, trying to see if there was any possibility for a non-corny-but-halfway-decent workout program available for free. With low expectations, I began my first FitnessBlender workout in the middle of my living room, expecting to hear elevator music in the background while a god(dess) of a person told me what to do with awful catch phrases and without breaking a sweat. Boy was I surprised with what I found.
Don’t get me wrong, Kelli and Daniel are both gorgeous people, but they also look and act like real human beings. They have a strict no Photoshop policy, they don’t cut out the parts of their videos where they’re struggling through the routine, and though they can be awkward at times on screen, it’s a cute awkwardness that you enjoy watching–not one that makes you cringe. Unlike with many workout programs you actually feel as though you can relate to them, you feel as though you really are exercising with them, and when you’re improving you find yourself feeling proud during those the moments where you can do more squat jumps than they do (sorry guys but I have beat you from time to time!).
If this isn’t enough, due to their over 500 different (FREE) workout videos they have essentially endless options for exercise routines; perfect for people like me who get bored easily, as you will never find yourself murmuring their words while you watch their videos for the umpteenth time. And for those of you who don’t want to listen to anything other than music? Have no fear, as FitnessBlender puts each upcoming exercise in the top left corner of the screen so you don’t even have to have the video’s volume on (disclaimer: do make sure you are doing each exercise with proper form, as you can seriously injure yourself if you are not careful, and Kelli and Daniel are fantastic at explaining how to properly do each exercise). They also offer different workout programs on their website where they organize up to 8 weeks worth of their workouts onto a calendar for your convenience. Though these programs are something you have to pay for to access, you would pay at most $15 for up to two months of personal training-quality exercises that you can recycle as many times as you’d like. Still want that gym membership? Didn’t think so.
2) Yoga with Adriene
“For those days that I’m recovering from the more intense FitnessBlender workouts, I go to the Yoga with Adriene channel on YouTube to help me relax. To be completely honest with you, before discovering Yoga with Adriene I didn’t use to enjoy yoga very much at all. To me, it usually felt more like a chore than it was relaxing. How can I possibly control my breathing through this uncomfortable position? And how is this supposed to help me feel relaxed?
Adriene Mishler shares her passion for yoga through her free YouTube videos and online classes to people of all ranges of experience in the practice. I cannot express in words how awesome Adriene is as a yoga instructor, but I can say that she alone changed how I view yoga as a form of exercise. Her mantra, “Find What Feels Good” (FWFG) truly speaks to her way of teaching during these sessions. With her comforting voice and lighthearted personality, Adriene talks you through each pose to help you understand how to properly feel and enjoy the movement and stretch. She doesn’t tell you what’s wrong or right but instead asks you to FWFG, whether that’s shifting your weight back and forth while in the downward dog pose or staying stagnant to fully bask in the stretch. She will make you laugh, she will help you find your center, and she will start to feel like your new best friend while you stretch your way towards a stronger, more flexible you.
P.S.: Though Yoga with Adriene may be slightly more catered towards women, it’s great for men, too. This video is my boyfriend’s favorite to help stretch his back after an intense workout the day before.”
3) Jamberri Fit with Kendall Nations
Are you a mama with exercise curtailed by your new addition or older kids that need you at home? We have you covered! You need to run to Jamberri Fit workout programs by founder Kendall Nations. Jamberri Fit is catered to moms who want to both spend quality time with their children as well as stay fit and healthy. With the help of her son Keagan, Kendall realized that she wanted to create the perfect option for exercising “without the limitations that parenting and location can present.” Therefore, her professionally recorded, easy to follow videos offer endless options of at-home yoga and barre fitness routines that you can do with your children- or without your children.
Kendall’s style is warm, welcoming and no-nonsense and she will have your burning (in the right places) in no time. There are over 70 routines with options on time, age of your child so you can include them, prenatal or no-child routines ranging from quick 5 minute videos to 60 minute videos. Try the trampoline Barre.
For you, my subscriber, Kendall has kindly offered a limited time offer deal on her programs – just $15 for two months of access to her amazing programs! Let her know we sent you, and she will hook you up with your free month!
4) Aaptive: App-Based Fitness
Download this gem. It’s a simple, easy program and will be with your anywhere you have your phone. Yes, we know your phone is everywhere, so that means no more excuses when you travel.
Great music, great instruction, you can use a treadmill and be guided through a workout or take it on your own. You just hit play and do what they tell you for the session. You can even train for a 5K, 10K or marathon with the support of a trainer.
Because it’s an app, all the deets from your exercise will show up in the health app. Easy peasy if you like to keep track.
Let me know what you think about my top 4 ways to stay fit without leaving home!