I’ve talked about my eating habits, and a few of you have also asked me to share my workout routine, as I do log quite a few hours in the gym a week. Let me preface this by saying that I grew up being (overly) active in basketball, softball, soccer, tennis and track through high school and even went on to play college ball—all that to say, athletic pursuits are in my blood, were something I was raised doing.
In my 20s, I was all about those marathons. In my 30s, long tired of running distance and strapped for time, I’m more focused on a healthy mix of cardio and weight-training—basically, anything I can do to keep me moving and prevent me from getting bored.
While I typically work out five to six days a week, it’s really all dependent on my travel schedule. I try my hardest to do at least one active thing a day even when I’m on the road, but it doesn’t always work out that way. As such, I hit the gym daily (or almost) when I’m home to keep my body in a semi-regular routine.


I also started working out with a personal trainer, Cindy, once to twice a week nearly three years ago, and that’s helped immensely when it comes to varying my weight-training regimen (it’s also excellent for discipline and ensures that, nothing else, I make it to the gym at least a couple times weekly).
Here’s what a “typical” week of sweating looks likes for me:
Monday
I like to kick off my week with a real butt-kicker, which is where Cindy comes in. Monday is usually for an all-body workout where we do monster sets of arms, legs and abs, and I drench my shirt and down 64 ounces of water by the time we’re done some 75 minutes later.


Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, I take a R.I.P.P.E.D. (Resistance, Interval, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance, Diet) class from Cindy at my gym, which is a new obsession. It used to be Zumba, boot camp or Body Pump, and I also like Fit Factory, GetFit615 and SHED Fitness in Nashville for similar such classes.
I used to be a huge fan of Barry’s Bootcamp, as well, until I bought a five-class package $75, went to redeem the first one, and they couldn’t find record of it even though I had my receipt, then treated me as if I was a criminal trying to workout for free. Nope! Ain’t nobody got time for that. (Take my word for it, and don’t go to Barry’s if you want to keep your dignity intact.)
The underlying goal for Tuesday is to sweat a lot and also get some light weights in. This tabatas-style class does just that—and leaves me exhausted, too.

Wednesday
Wednesday is, without a doubt, my favorite day of the week—especially since I discovered AcroYoga a little over a year ago.
I’ve been going to Acro at Steadfast & True—the loveliest, friendliest, most welcoming yoga studio in Nashville—every other week or so since July 2015, and I’m hooked, y’all. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@LunaticAtLarge), this should come as no revelation.


It is just so! much! fun!
Not only is it excellent for building communication skills, but it’s a killer strength workout, too. Plus, it’s a great way to make new friends.
I also try to go to weekend workshops when Jason and Gillian hold them around Middle Tennessee and I happen to be in town.
I think I’m getting OK at it, too.
Thursday
Personal training. This day we either focus on arms or legs—finishing up with a couple rounds of abs—depending on how my muscles feel from the previous three days, particularly acro.
Friday
R.I.P.P.E.D. again! I was so happy when Cindy started offering an 8am class on Tuesday and Friday as it started making my workout on those days a lot more consistent. Because let’s be honest: I’m much more likely to attend a class than I am to workout by myself.


Saturday
On Saturday, occasionally I’ll go to Zumba or another cardio class, but more often than not, we’re working on the house or out in the yard, which is calorie-burning and sweat-inducing in a different way. Or we’ll hike or do pretty much anything that involves being outside and on the move.
Sunday
And on Sunday, we rest. (Kidding! You know we never rest.) Earlier this summer, I purchased a high-quality paddleboard, and our new Sunday ritual includes an early morning paddle on the lake right beside our house.
I’ve been paddleboarding on trips since my first ocean paddle in Barbados in 2008; it’s always something I’ve really enjoyed but it never occurred to me to buy my own board despite the fact that we live within 50 minutes of four large lakes and several smaller bodies of water, until I was at a Nashville Paddle Co. SUP Yoga class in June, and I randomly asked the owner if she had any used boards to sell.
Lo and behold, she had one that had only been used for a year and gave me about 25 percent off what it would have been new. Sold! And now I’m hooked. If you ever want to get your feet wet (har de har har) with SUP, I highly recommend a class with Nashville Paddle Co.
I absolutely love our new Sunday morning routine of getting up early, putting the SUP in the water just 10 minutes away from our house and paddling out with Ella.

I think she quite likes it, too. She promises to update you on her new water adventures on a future City Dog dispatch.
Of course, my fitness plan is always in flux depending on how I feel and my motivation level. Summer months seem easy to keep motivated with warm weather and far more daylight; in winter, I have to workout first thing in the morning, or it isn’t going to happen. I already dread the time change in two months.
Ok soooo I need to try acroyoga! It looks like so much fun.
You would LOVE it. It’s an actual fun way to burn some calories and do a killer core workout—with no crunches involved 😉
I can’t deal with this post 😛 I’m so incredibly unfit it’s insane! I know I’m generally lazy, but being confronted with your post and gym routine is mind-blowing. A year ago I was doing pilates for a month, I loved it. Since I moved to the Netherlands I’ve always had excuses – no gym in the vicinity, no time after work – reading your post is a good kick in the behind for me to start making an effort, so thank you 🙂
Ha! Well, I mainly do it so I can eat all the calories back on my travels, so I do have an ulterior motive 😉
That yoga is INSANE! Thanks for the ideas and inspiration to keep going. The fitness you have is something to aspire to.
Thank you, Janet! I’m definitely not perfect (haven’t worked out a day on this Europe vacation so far, unless walking 11 miles in an afternoon counts, lol) but I’m always trying to do better =)
I cross-train – jogging and kettlebells. I used to go to the gym to strength train but got bored – using kettlebells is a lot more fun. (but I’m going to have to try SUP one of these days – now that looks like fun!) True confession: I’m also leaving a comment to say how much I love your workout clothes! Especially your tennis outfit – did you get that in Nashville?
It’s actually Old Navy! I buy almost all my workout clothes online at Athleta, Gap and Old Navy—but always on sale, never full price 😉
What do you do with kettlebells? I bought some at TJ Maxx but have only ever used them in classes before. Need to integrate them into my at-home routine!
Lord have mercy! And I thought my slow 30mins on the elliptical was something 🙂
I think ANYTHING active is something to be proud of =)
Kudos to you for keeping up a great routine! I just started working out with a personal trainer a few months ago – I can only afford once a week, and honestly, until I get my diet in check it’s not doing much good. It’s a great workout, especially for the accountability factor. I do love swimming, too, and try to swim laps 2-3 times a week.
It’s funny, I get incredibly lazy in the summer – it’s just too darn hot to be active!
It’s perhaps mildly ironic that you’re posting this on day 20 of my Europe trip when I haven’t hit the gym once … Ha! Looking forward to getting back to a Whole30 flex and 6-days-a-week workout routine starting on Thursday =) Scott actually said he’d start working out with me if I’d swim laps, so that will be a new part of my routine (hopefully!).
And yes, I can only afford a trainer because we live in a cheap area of the country where my 90-minute workout is barely more than a yoga class in a big city!