Yesterday, as I was signing up for the group fitness classes I want to take throughout the week (Btone, Barry’s, a yoga class, spinning), it dawned on me how completely different this is from what I was doing a year or so ago. It was last June when the company I worked for laid off a bunch of employees (what an AMAZING blessing in disguise!), and I made the transition into blogging full time and pursuing a career in fitness.
While some things have stayed the same—I still don’t have a gym membership and try to spend as little money as possible on working out—the career change has had a huge affect on my workout routine. Ultimately, I think the best workout routine is simply one that you stick to—there is no wrong or right. I think switching it up as my life has changed has helped me hold on to this crazy love I have for fitness.
My Workout Routine while Working a 9-to-5 Office Job
While I definitely relate to the struggle of finding time to workout while holding down a 9-to-5 office job, I have to admit I was spoiled at my old company. We had a small gym space in the building complete with machines, kettlebells, med balls, jump ropes (all the things I love!) that we could use at any time, and a group HIIT class was offered in the cafeteria twice a week for employees.
Every morning, I would wake up at 5:30AM and go for a run—nothing crazy, just 3-6 miles around Castle Island or the Charles River (depending on where I was living). I’d make myself breakfast, do a little work on the blog, then I’d commute to work. On my lunch break, I’d make up a workout for myself and head to the office gym for a sweat (most of the P&I workouts posted in the first year of the blog were made up on these lunch breaks!). If it was a group HIIT day, I’d skip my lunch break workout and do the class after work if I didn’t have any plans that night.
On the weekends, I’d run and workout in my apartment one day, or maybe just run. And on busy work days when I couldn’t take a gym lunch break, I’d do P&I workouts in my apartment after work. I really tried to limit the post-work workouts though because I had such a hard time motivating myself to do much of anything after working all day and commuting back to my apartment through Boston traffic. The best way to make sure I got a workout in was to do it all before work or on my lunch break (or, as was usually the case, a little of both).
And that was it! Running and P&I workouts. I honestly couldn’t afford to do anything else. I would take the occasional class at fitness studios if they were running a special on Groupon or Gilt, but that was rare. And back then, this totally worked for me!
My Workout Routine Now while Blogging from Home & Teaching Fitness Classes
Fast-forward to today and I work from home/coffee shops/libraries as a blogger and teach nine Lagree Fitness classes at Btone throughout the week. Talk about a 180! It has impacted my weekly workout routine in several ways:
I take a Lagree Fitness class at Btone 3(ish) times a week.
I do teach there, after all! I am so passionate about this workout, and in addition to instructing nine classes each week, I try to take three or four classes. Not just because it’s an amazing class and free for me, but also because I really do think it makes me a better instructor. Knowing how different exercises and combinations make your body feel, helps when planning classes for others.
And I should probably clarify that I’m not actually doing the workout when I teach—just demonstrating and then walking around the studio helping/adjusting/torturing/etc. 🙂
I take more group classes in general.
When I spend the day at home working on the blog, the last thing I want to do is also workout there—get me out of the apartment! And as a fitness instructor, it’s nice to be told what to do for a change. Instead of focusing on motivating other people, I can let someone else push me through the workout. Similar to what I mentioned about Btone, I also think taking other instructors’ classes (regardless of the mode of fitness) makes you a better instructor—you pick up on techniques you like and don’t like and incorporate them into your own classes.
The workouts I post to P&I are less frequent, but more effective.
I am still such a huge believer in high-intensity training and the short-but-sweet workouts I post to the blog each week, but I’m not doing them every day like I used to last year. I’d say I do them two-three times a week, and I think the smaller quantity is balanced by improved quality.
I remember when I was making up P&I workouts on my lunch break, maaaaaybe one or two out of five would be keepers and make it onto the blog. The others would, well, suck. I’d finish them and feel like I didn’t get a good workout in at all. So sure, I was doing these types of workouts 5-6 days a week, but I was probably only benefiting from them a couple times a week.
After years of practice and fitness certification courses, I am so much better at putting together a workout routine that will kick my (and your) ass. I can’t remember the last time I made up a workout, did it, and then thought eh, that’s not good enough to post on the blog.
Working out is now, literally, my job. So I do it…a lot.
When you get paid to do what you love, you do a lot of it—whether that’s painting, managing stocks or working out. For years, working out has been my favorite part of every day, and now I (directly and indirectly) get paid to do it. “Blessing” doesn’t even begin to describe it. Every morning I wake up excited for all I’m going to do that day, and I’m filled with so much happiness and gratitude.
I, of course, listen to my body and still take rest days and don’t overdo it, but I definitely workout more now than I used to. Between my flexible self-employed schedule, frequent free classes (a perk of blogging and being an instructor!), and an ever-growing motivation to reach new professional and personal fitness goals, I am more active than I’ve ever been.
Dangit I always do this!! I intended this to be a fun, quick post, and instead I’ve written a novel.
Has your workout routine changed over the last couple years? How so?
Hey there! I'm Nicole, a group fitness instructor, healthy lifestyle blogger (you probably figured that one out by now) and Certified Personal Trainer living in Boston, MA.
3-5 years ago – I was a gym rat. Probably was at the gym 5-6 days a week, doing 45-1hr of cardio with strength. I also did cross country running competitions with high school.
Last year: I was going to a group-class only gym. I’ve never been so fit before, I loved it but unfortunately there was too much fitness instructor/gym owner politics going on, I quit. Good part was I learned so much on how to just put together my own HIIT and kettlebell workouts.
This year I’ve struggled, I’m back at a normal gym (while getting my man into it too!) and now training for my 2nd half marathon and my 1st marathon. Fitness-wise I know I have to crank it up a knotch (in order to not die during my marathon) but at the same time I’ve spent so many years putting fitness first, to the point where I’ve missed out on some fun. (The key to this is becoming a morning person again so I get my workout out of the way… I got this! hehe)
Thanks for the post, it’s interesting how your employment can deeply affect your routine/lifestyle.
Looking back the last 10 years from when I was in college I have definitely seen a decrease in the time I have to workout. When I was in college I could workout at any time and for however long I wanted. But as time went on of course I have more responsibilities. I got a job, got married, have a baby and with every added responsibility more of my time was taken from working out. Now I’m lucky to get in 20-30 minutes a day to workout. Also, when I was younger I worked out to try and look good, but now I try to workout to be healthy for a lifetime. So I figure anything is better than nothing.
That’s great! When I was in the corporate world in PR, I worked out before work, every morning at the 6 a.m. hour, teaching BODYPUMP or running on the treadmill. Then, after I left my corporate job, I taught a ton of group fitness classes (and would do the classes at the same time), so that was the most I was ever working out. Fast forward to today, and I’m a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor. My workouts now are more strength based and take place in the middle of the day between clients, so they are often more rushed than I would like. I don’t spend as much time on my fitness now as I used to, but I am working SMARTER, which in the end is a good thing. I used to only want to workout first thing in the morning, but now I know I have to fit it in whenever there is a free moment. It’s mostly done at the gym (Equinox) where I work.
This post was absolutely amazing. I can’t even describe how I felt reading this. You are seriously an inspiration. You turned a bad situation into a new career and are having the time of your life, while motivating and changing the lives of others!
I am currently working an 8-to-5 job and can relate completely with what your workout routine used to be! It can be so challenging and exhausting to stay with it (especially with a blog), but at some point it just becomes a part of your lifestyle.
I actually just celebrated my 1-year anniversary today, but I know deep down I want to eventually make the transition from the 8-to-5 job to a personal trainer and hopefully a full time blogger. I have such a passion for writing, inspiring and working out that this post showed me it can happen and will happen when the time is right! Thank you for everything you share and for being such an inspiration!
You’re so sweet–and giving me way too much credit! The great thing about both blogging and becoming a PT/fitness instructor is that you can get a start on both while still holding down a full-time job (I wish I had started studying for my personal trainer cert while employed so that the transition would have been less stressful for me!). It can and will definitely happen–you got this, girl! 🙂 Shoot me an email at if you have any questions about transitioning–happy to help any way I can!
Great post!! I’d love to take one of your classes in the future 🙂
My workouts always revolved around running and going to the gym (Golds in Southie to be specific ;)) But I gave up the gym a few months ago and have added more yoga & barre classes to my life. I’m also pregnant so my workouts have definitely changed more recently – more power-walking + light weights, less everything else.
Good ol’ Southie Golds! I did a month-long trial membership there a couple years ago and I thought it was so funny–I’d see the same people in Golds in the morning that I would then see in Lincoln and Stats that night.
Oh man! I’m a one-time couch potato turned endurance athlete. I’m currently training for my first half Ironman this fall! The “old me” would have thought this was nuts. Now, I balance 10 to 20 hours of workouts with a near three-hour round trip commute and a 40-hour work week. H’mmm…still nuts…
Haha nuts, but so inspiring! Good luck with training–that’s so exciting!
I think it’s awesome what you’ve done with your career! Sounds like an awesome gig. 🙂
My routine has changed a ton over the years! Most recently, I JUST started a new job that has kind of thrown a wrench in things. It seems every time I change jobs/workout routines I have to start from scratch and re-learn how to manage my time and still leave space for other things I care about. And time for sleep, hah!
Wow 9 classes is no joke! I love taking other’s classes as an instructor for those exact reasons you mentioned! It def helps us grow and it is nice to just blend into the crowd! 🙂
I’m so jealous!! One day I’d love to make working out a necessity to my job! YOU ROCK LADY!
My routine has changed significantly! Growing up a dancer/athlete, I never had to think about working out, it just happened…all the time. Going into college, I was still dancing, but not enough to keep up with my lovely new college diet of late night pizza and beer. Toward the end of college, I started running a lot and doing more intense weight training and since graduation, I’ve completely changed how I work out and I’m obsessed with it. I run a lot, take spinning classes 3x per week and rotate in btone / barre and love the mix. I only wish I had time to do more! I’ve also started working out a lot in the morning, which was unimaginable during college. The biggest thing I love is the fitness community in Boston, it’s very encouraging and exciting to be a part of!
I was the same way! I danced and played sports growing up and never even thought twice about fitness…and then came college. Haha. The Boston fitness community is the best–big enough to offer variety and the chance to meet new people and trainers, but small enough to feel like a family! 🙂
I’m glad you posed this! I would love to read more about how you went from a full time office job to working from home as a blogger!
I’ll do a post on the whole transition soon–I get a lot of questions about it! It was basically one big messy quarter-life crisis haha
Really enjoyed reading this! I assumed you did this as a full time job because your blog is AWESOME! 🙂 This time last year I had no idea I would even have a blog! Now look at me: a small blogger with the opportunities to follow the great bloggers such as yourself 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Aw thank you! And isn’t blogging the best?? Anytime someone tells me they want to start a blog, I’m like “careful, it’s addicting…” haha 🙂
This was really informative for me. I’m on a similar track. I moved from the 9-5 work, to the same 9-5 job but at home, and thinking about switching completely to just fitness! I actually just looked up an old blog post of yours about your certification. Just dreaming for now, but it’s a wonderful day dream!
I say go for it! The great thing about a career in fitness is that you can start gradually and still get the ball rolling while holding down your current job 🙂
I’m giving it serious consideration! Thank you for your advice!
Oh how the workouts have changed throughout the last 6-7 years. When I was in college, I was on the Varsity soccer and track teams, so I was obsessed at working out and training 6-7 days a week plus two a days:/. When I first graduated, I still had a thirst for competition so I started training for races of all distances. I was also new to personal training so I lifted more than ever so I felt more confident working with clients.
Fast forward to now and I have 2 daughters (6 and 4 yrs) so I have to be more creative with my time. Though I work in a gym, I am just like everyone else on that once I am finished with my work day… I want to be gone!!! Currently, I am waking up (on off days from work) before my hubby heads into work so I can get a 20-30 min run and a HIIT workout (maybe a P and I workout:)) before the kiddos wake up. I am finding this to be my favorite routine because I feel like a better Mom throughout the day.
Thank you and all the best!
Morning workouts are my favorite, too–I feel so much more productive throughout the day! And dang–TWO college sports?? I’m impressed! I always admired the dedication my friends who were college athletes had 🙂
Uber inspirational & damn girl, you workout a ton! But you’re right, if you love it – you do it a lot. Go you, living the dream 😉
I used to ONLY run. For years, I ran 6-7 days a week and did minimal ab workouts, maybe once or twice a week. When I moved to Denver, I quickly realized that this wouldn’t work very well come winter. I joined a gym and started doing yoga and a few other classes and I was hooked! Now, I do strength, yoga, barre, or any other workout 2-3 times per week and run 4-5. I can honestly say I am in the best shape of my life, and my body is much happier since I am using different muscle groups and not wearing down the same ones all the time.
Variety is the best! I love how different modes of exercise seem to help strengthen my ability in others (yoga especially–it’s so helpful!).
I think it’s great for people to see that fitness doesn’t have to be black and white. I NEVER get to workout at the same time every day, and that’s OK! As long as you get it in and give it all you have, you are going to see results.
I am wildly envious of your present lifestyle. Oh how amazing it would be to work out for a living and blog. Someday.
A year ago, I was a corporate zombie by day and a gym rat by night. However, after a long day at work, I often found it difficult to find the motivation to get in a good workout. I was merely going through the motions. In January I switched to CrossFit, which makes me so much more accountable for my a) attendance and b) effort. While it’s not for everyone, I have come to love it!
I hear you–that accountability is so important! (Especially when a busy schedule makes it soooo easy to find excuses NOT to work out haha).
A few years ago I was the type of runner that lived and breathed by the theory “to get better at running you need to run more”. There is a lot of truth to that statement but I also discovered you don’t need to run more you need to run smarter. I didn’t think strength training was a priority but I recognize how important it is now and I always make time for it and my running has improved so much. It’s funny how things can change so much over the years as you learn more.
Totally agree! The whole concept of training SMARTER vs. MORE has been such a slow, ongoing epiphany for me haha
That’s wonderful that you’ve found something you absolutely love! My workout has changed over the years. I used to go to the gym and participate in the classes every morning. Now I do CrossFit twice a week and run three days a week. I’ve been thinking recently about changing my running to something else, but we’ll see. I agree, I think changing things up only makes you stronger and helps keep it all fun!
~Bre
I LOVEEEE your blog!! I am so thankful I came across it and will continue to check in… You are so beautiful and your workouts are great, especially since I am at work all day and sometimes just want a quick and effective workout without the weights. Anyway keep up the awesome work!
xo
Aw you’re too sweet, Barbara! So glad you’re loving the workouts–they were my lifesaver when I worked an office job (and still are!) 🙂
I’m so jealous of your transition… one day I hope for that to be the same with me! Right now, i’m just trucking along, teaching 3-5 fitness classes a week, blogging and working my “9-5”. As a group ex instructor (BSC’s and YMCA’s in and around Boston), I totally understand how important it is to TAKE other instructors classes. there was a time when I was teaching 6 classes a week (and doing 90% of the class with them) and I just didn’t have time to get to the gym for myself… I felt like my classes got boring because I wasn’t able to learn any new things! Having a lighter schedule now has allowed me to go to other classes and has made me a much better instructor! Hopefully we can meet sometime- I’m good friends with Athena (Fitness and Feta) and she suggested your blog when I said I needed new reading material!
Oh that’s awesome–Athena is great! The Boston fitness community is so small, I’m sure we’ll meet–and looking forward to it! 🙂
Hi Nicole!
Great blog post!! I love it. I am aspiring to do the exact same with my life! I’m currently teaching group ex classes (Providence, Rhode Island area, so we’re somewhat close!) and got my certification in December; I’m also a fitness blogger (just started that up in October). I plan on studying for my PT cert this year in hopes of eventually getting into the fitness industry in a larger scale than just the small-town studio I’m teaching at now. I’m also a 9-to-5er like you were, but the transition with this job is really tough (as in they will have to hire a replacement and the training I’ll have to do with them is a lot).
In any case, I’m curious if you have any recommendations for someone who doesn’t have an abrupt end in sight with their full time job on how to transition into the fitness industry. I’ve been thinking of going down to part time at my current job once I get my PT cert so I can try to apply to PT positions at local gyms. How did you make it happen? Hoping for a little advice, ’cause I’m lost and the transition seems quite daunting!
Anyway, I love your blog and look forward to reading more about your journey!
Best,
Ellyn
Hi Ellyn, I’m actually in the process of putting together a post on my transition into the fitness industry right now, so you have perfect timing with this question! Stay tuned for it to be published in the next week, but for now, I’d say your idea to stay with your current job part-time for now is smart (I wish I’d had the option to do a more gradual switch like that!). Also, it’s great that you’ve started a blog because a web presence really helps build up your “in-person” career (teaching/training). And if you choose to do independent personal training (as opposed to working for a gym)–boom!–your blog will be the best free marketing you could ask for. The career change is scary, but it is SO WORTH IT to be able to do something you’re passionate about for a living.
Thank you so much for writing this post! I am currently a spin instructor and work a 8-5 type job. I stumbled across this article and I am so glad I read it! I am taking my certification exam to become a Group Fitness Instructor tomorrow and plan to begin studying for my PT certification after I pass (hopefully!) and make the transition to a full time fitness career. It is very inspiring how you have been able to take something you love and make it a full time job. I hope to do the same very soon! Thanks for your inspiring words 🙂
So glad you found the post helpful! And best of luck with your transition into the fitness industry–you’ll love it! 🙂
Thank you!!
This post could not have come at a more perfect time! I’m currently working the 9-5 gig and have made it a goal to switch to full-time blogging/group fitness/personal trainer within the next year. I really appreciate how open you are about your transition – truly an inspiration:)