LY: I remember meeting you for coffee a couple years ago and thinking, “Wow you’ve lost weight girlfriend!” And you looked so toned. How did you do it?
JS: I used to go to the regular gym on my own, but I didn’t have any direction. I couldn’t afford a personal trainer, so I did my own stuff – ran on the treadmill, lifted weights based on what I saw in magazines I read, or went to classes. I didn’t really have any discipline, and I wasn’t seeing enough results. Then someone told me about workouts I could do from home and see quick results. I was trying to save money at the time, so I quit my gym membership.
LY: How did you choose which fitness program to do from the hundreds that are out there?
JS: I chose Insanity [a workout program from Beachbody] because I was trying to choose something cardio-intensive that would help me drop weight fast, as well as become fit and active. My husband and I wanted to train for a Tough Mudder race, so I wanted to build endurance for it.
I talked to a friend of mine who had trained for a similar race, and he recommended Insanity. The race was my motivation.
Insanity was great because it was something I could do at home with my laptop in my small apartment. It was a minimal investment, and I didn’t need any equipment. It was just me, a mat, and my water.
JS: My husband did it with me. It’s very helpful to have a buddy because Insanity is a hard workout, and it helps to have a friend to push you through.
Insanity is intense though. It’s definitely hard on the knees and joints so it’s not for everyone. Beachbody has many different workouts so you can choose one that’s best for your body or one with modifications.
JS: I was pretty disciplined. Both of us are. There were days I would feel lethargic, but he would push me, and that’s where a workout buddy is great. I made a calendar, so I stuck to that.
I have to have a goal to keep me going. It could be Summer 2015, my upcoming vacation, or a blog shoot. I need something to motivate me.
LY: What time of day did you workout?
JS: For me, evening was better because I’m more alert and active in the evenings, but it’s different from person to person. These workouts were pretty intense, so having a light snack before was important because it was so cardio-intensive. That just wasn’t going to happen first thing in the morning for me.
JS: I did the Insanity program twice. Each workout is 45 minutes long, and the program is for two months. I then tried a bunch of workouts from Beachbody like T25, which was better because it’s just 25 minutes a day, 5 days/week. People are busy and 45 minutes a day was a long time to workout, so I liked the T25. You just need a pair of dumbbells or a resistance band to do it.
I also tried Insanity Asylum, which was a lot of strength training but also incorporated P90x. I started doing less weight and more reps. Incorporating strength definitely helped me gain more definition, and mixing strength training with cardio also helped.
Today, I mix up Insanity Asylum 2 and P90x to get both strength training and cardio. I always try to change it up every 6-8 months because it challenges my body. Your body gets used to what you are doing. When I was at the gym, my body got used to what I did and I didn’t see as many changes or results.
I will say, however, that 20-30% is your workout and the rest is what you eat. That’s important for everything – how you feel and how you look.
LY: I couldn’t agree more. But, I ever only see you eating pretty cupcakes and donuts on Instagram :)
JS: I have such a sweet tooth! Many people don’t know this, but I went off of desserts for 1 1/2½ months before going on vacation. It was so hard! That’s my biggest weakness. I love love sweets. But, I didn’t crave them as much if I didn’t have them at home. I still do eat dessert every now and then, but if we go out, we share.
Other than sweets, portion control is important. I used to eat until I was 100% full, but now I try to stop when I’m 70% full. I eat smaller portions and more frequently.
JS: Don’t underestimate the power of your house – all you need is a little bit of space. And just setting a goal – like getting into a bikini or whatever it is for you that will help you stay motivated. Saying, “By July 2015, I want to be ____.” It’s definitely important to have a goal and work towards that. It keeps you motivated. It’s also important to have a workout buddy like a roommate or a spouse – even if they don’t workout – to keep you motivated.
LY: You’re certainly proof that setting a workout schedule, sticking to it, and getting a buddy can lead to some amazing results! Congrats!
Heidi Zwart
The Unstuck Life
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