Workouts To Do At Home: A Mom’s Realistic Guide To Working Out

Every mom I’ve ever talked to always wants to get in shape or in better shape. They talk about running a 5k or even running a marathon. We look at workouts to do at home or signing up for that gym membership. We look in the mirror and see how our kids totally changed the shape of our bodies. We’ve gone from girlish figures to womanly curves.

We know that we need to work out. Not to get our girlish figures back, but to be healthy. There are so many benefits to exercise, beyond just weight loss. Exercise helps to prevent chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and many more. Exercise improves mood and boosts energy! And we all know that we can use more energy.

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Workouts to do at Home—Let’s get Real

If you are like me. Then you think a lot about working out. You know you should, but time escapes you. It is hard to find time to work out, and I am always tired. Between work, kids, and everything else…this is my normal state. But I know I should. I don’t want to deal with chronic health issues, and let’s be real, I am not getting any younger. So workouts to do at home are necessary. Have I drawn you into my mental quandary yet?

It is also really easy to talk myself out of working out. Did you notice? I will be honest, I really don’t want to do it. I would rather read a book (yes, I do listen to books when I walk, but it is not the same). Working out at the gym would never work for me. It takes too much time to drive there. So if I am going to work out, I need realistic workouts to do at home.

The Criteria for Workouts to do at Home

It is recommended to do 150 minutes of moderate exercises or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise per week. That is 30 minutes 5 days per week, or 50 minutes 3 days per week. For intense workouts that is 15 minutes 5 days per week, or 25 minutes 3 days a week.

Therefore, workouts need to be easily accessible and can be done with limited equipment. Workouts to do at home should also work the most muscle groups in the shortest period of time. We aren’t asking too much, right?

Favorite Workouts to do at Home

Here are my personally tested workouts.

Treadmill

Running is one of my go-to exercises. In order to work the most muscle groups, I incorporate bodyweight exercise into my routine. Here are a few to get you started.

Here’s an interval run that I will do whether I am on the treadmill or outside.

Warmup 5 minutes at 3.0-3.5 miles per hour
Run 1/4 of a mile
50 Squats
Run 1/4 of a mile
40 Lunges
Run 1/4 of a mile
30 Step ups
Run 1/4 of a mile
20 Runner’s choice (do 20 of anything you like)
Run 1/4 of a mile
10 Burpees
Cool down 5 minutes at 3.0 miles per hour

*If I am running on the treadmill, I will also add a set (10 reps) of arms and abs at each interval (push-ups, weights, etc). It is too hard to do these when I am outside.

Bike

A fold up exercise bike is great. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, and riding the bike is a nice change from the treadmill. This exercise bike workout app is great to use. It keeps me from getting bored.

Pilates

This is a great workout, especially if you are recovering from having a baby. Here’s my favorite Pilates workout. They are easy to do, and you really do feel great after a Pilates session.

Tabata or Body Weight Exercise

These require very little equipment. You can make these as low impact or as high impact as you want. These are some of the easiest workouts to do at home, and they really work a lot of muscle groups. Here are some of my favorite exercises.

I know. Adding one more thing to your already growing list of to-dos is never easy. But for the sake of your health, it is so important exercise. If you haven’t worked out in a while, start small. Just get up and move. Set a daily goal to do 3 push-ups every day, or 3 squats every time you use the bathroom. Whatever you decide to do, the most important thing you can do is just start.

For my ideas for workouts you can do, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!