Survival mode workouts.

This is for the tough times.

As a parent, you are already a caregiver. If you suddenly have a family member fall ill, or are underwater with your kiddo’s travel soccer, or have a bunch of work and life to do at the same time, I’ve got you. 

As a trainer who works virtually, scheduling is everything. Communication if you’ve got a partner, too. It’s the difference between getting results or staying exactly where you are. The reality is, if you want results, you have to do the things. It might feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall until you have an established routine. It’s also going to feel very rocky if you’re going through a hard time. 

I can’t tell you how many times I have helped someone navigate these hurdles. When you’re in deep it’s very hard to get out. I’m telling you that it can and will get done, but you need to give yourself a lot of grace. You might need to ask for help. You will need to do things differently. 

Your marathon training might derail, and you might be swapping trail runs for pool laps or indoor bike hills. You might skip the gym for a week while you’re family is in town, but you can absolutely lock yourself in a closet and get a 20 minute workout that gives you the energy (and mood boost) you need for the rest of the day. You might need to get up earlier, ask someone else to pick up your kids so you can go for a run, or have your partner take over a task so you can take a yoga class. Survival workouts are there for you to help you stay sane, and stay healthy. Staying on track with your exercise, even if that means a quick walk 2x per week, will keep you alive longer. I don’t think I need to cite anything here. Exercise will delay your death and make the time before that comes easier. Your sleep will improve, your mental outlook and emotional wellbeing will too. It doesn’t come in pill form, and there is no quick fix. You simply must be willing to be flexible for your own sake. 

I say this as someone who has done hard things, as I’m sure you have. I’ll just leave this here:

 You just never know when a sprint of life stress is going to turn into a marathon. 

Some loving examples: 

If you can’t find the time to exercise when you have a newborn, you are going to struggle to make time when they are down to one afternoon nap. For school-aged kids, August turns into New Years in a second. If you don’t have an established routine that fits your life in October, you aren’t going to find one in January. I say this not to be mean, but I’m being completely honest. I see it all the time. Start routines when you are ready, there is no magic date that makes it better.

So, when you are truly going through a hard time, sacrificing yourself is not going to make it any better. Giving yourself the time to take a 20 minute walk, sneaking in a quick workout behind a closed door or at the gym, or signing up for a Yoga class in advance will only make this hard time better. I know as moms, and especially if you are female, we tend to put the caregiving role first. But you absolutely cannot. Ask for help, and be selfish with your health. It’s all you have.

Often my clients and I will navigate shorter workouts, and they have to communicate in order to make these happen. I promise you that you can get results from shorter workouts. It’s the 20 minutes that keep you healthy, not the 60 minute workouts that rarely happen. Even if you have 10 minutes 3 times a week, that’s something. You don’t need fancy equipment or 2 hours to spend at the gym all day. 

Creating a routine that works for you, even when times feel heavy or hard, will help the harder times seem easier. I promise you can find the time from somewhere. We’ve all heard the phase, “if you want something done, give it to a busy person”. Time is like a gas, it fills the space it has. This is a barrier that every single one of my clients will deal with. I’m happy to be that person who helps you create a workout program that helps you accomplish your goals in the life that you have. Of course, I preach taking calculated rest days and lots of breaks. I will never encourage you to sacrifice sleep or to take time away from your family. I will also tell you how to get the workouts in so you have more energy. As someone who is not athletically gifted at all, I had to work really hard to find the joy in exercise. Now it’s something I do every day and has kept me from frequent injuries and has improved my outlook on life. 

If you want something to try, please go to my Workouts Page to do a quick workout you can do at home or the gym. I’ve got plenty of prenatal, postpartum, and quick workouts for moms on here. DM me if you want to book a time to work together. I hope I am only encouraging you to take time for yourself and bring you some endorphin-fueled joy when times are hard. 

Sending you huge hugs and strength, 

SA