Winter Workout Routine

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Last week I talked a little about my winter workout routine. It can be tough to workout or it just gets plain boring when you’re in a cold climate. So here are the workouts that I do to stay fit during the colder months.

I’m used to California winters where you can still get in a hike or a walk on the beach. However, in Chicago this time of year, I don’t even want to go outside (and neither do most people). The streets are noticeably more empty than summer! I didn’t understand it my first winter here but now, I get it. Sometimes, you just don’t even want to deal.

I’ve been trying to mix it up a little more this year because I’m not seeing as many results as I used to back in LA. It could be the food (which is why I’ve tried hard to find the healthiest eateries in Chicago). However, I’m trying to combat it with workouts and also switching my diet to be vegan. I shared my tips on going meatless and/or dairy free here. So what am I doing?

MY WINTER WORKOUT ROUTINE

I love Pure Barre. I’ve been going for 5 years. I originally started it before our wedding to slim and tone. It’s the only workout that I had any luck with in making my thighs slimmer. I have an athletic build so I tend to bulk up but not in the good way. It’s not a defined kind of bulking up. Just a bunch of mass. Pure Barre helped a ton with the slimming and also helped me become a little more flexible. I also love the workouts and the teachers especially the ones in Brentwood back in LA. It’s like a little community and it’s a great way to start my day.

I haven’t been able to maintain my weight since I left LA. Something about the Midwest just makes it harder to stay fit. I knew I needed to change things up so when Pure Barre came out with their Empower class, I tried it. It’s more cardio, a shower class, and you wear ankle weights the entire time. The movements are bigger (versus the inch sized movements in regular Pure Barre) so it’s a different type of workout but similar. I try to make myself go once or twice a week to Empower. Since it’s shorter, that leaves more time in the morning to get ready and do the OOTDs for you guys!

Since Pure Barre alone isn’t helping me fight off all the carbs, I also do cardio in our gym. I mix it in once or twice a week as well. I usually do the elliptical or the bike and try to get up to at least resistance 5. One of the things I recently read about was walking at a fast pace with an incline. Apparently that is supposed to be an amazing booty workout so I’ll be trying that this morning.

Cardio is always my “easy” day at the gym. I write blog posts or watch Netflix while I’m doing it. It’s my favorite way to decompress but it also means that I often let myself slack. I could literally sit on the elliptical for a day and be completely happy. I’m contemplating getting a Fitbit with a heart rate monitor (similar idea to the Orange Theory Fitness class we took) to start tracking my heart rate so I can make sure I’m pushing myself.

I’ve also been working in BBG workouts but I tend to modify them. I pull inspiration from the leg days and add my own moves that I know really work my thighs and butt. I will sometimes do arms and abs day but Pure Barre is already a really good arm and ab workout for me. Since my butt and thighs are my problem areas, I try to go a little extra hard on those areas. Matt has also been a great resource for workout moves on these areas. I love it when he helps me!

I’m also going to try to go to one new class a month and am also trying to convince Matt to sign up for a month of OTF with me. Stay tuned for more on my workouts! I will keep sharing on Instagram.

What is your winter workout routine? Do you have something you swear by that I need to try?