My Workout Routine + Meal Plan

I posted a picture a few weeks back showing you my fitness progress in the last few months. Y’all asked so many great questions and while I’m NO PRO, I’m really happy to share what has worked for me. I’m also not perfect. My skin is loose from carrying 3 big babies and I have some stretch marks that you can see. But since I started switching up my diet and exercise, I’ve become stronger, more lean and toned. 

Here are the questions y’all wanted the answers to! If you have any others, feel free to ask away!

Workout Related Questions:

• How often do you work out and for how long?

I do a 45-60 minute workout, 4-5 days a week.

• What workouts were you doing and what did you change it up to?!

I used to run or do the elliptical 3 days a week and then sometimes do a P90X workout with The Hubs.

• Wondering if you had ab separation after your babies and whether or not you needed to work on that first before starting your workout regimen?

I did with #3. I still have a little bit (about 1.5 finger width). I didn’t do anything specific, just started working out and it has naturally come back together.

• What do you do to get rid of lower tummy flab?

I really think that is all diet. At least for me, I can tell a huge difference in my lower stomach when I have eaten junk on the weekend.

• How do you find the motivation/energy to get up so early for your workouts?

At first, it was really hard. But now I really look forward to it. It totally changes my day to get up early and get it done!

• Do you do more cardio or strength training?

I actually don’t do much cardio. Usually once a week for a bootcamp style workout.

• What time do you go to bed and how do you get everything done early enough to get to bed and get up for a 5am workout?? 

I need to sleep more! I usually go to bed at 11 or so. It’s only 2-3 days a week I do the 5am classes, so on the other days, I usually sleep until 6:20 and then workout once the boys go to school at 7:10.

• Any home workouts?

Yes! They’re so easy to fit in. I love Beachbody programs.

• How you make time for working out and how did you ease back into things after your littlest was born?

I didn’t really workout until Lincoln was about 7 months old and I didn’t do this much until he was 18 months. It’s something I have time for now, especially with 2 in school, so it’s easier. I am a firm believer that nothing in life should stress you, if you can help it. If you’re not sleeping because your baby is up at night, then wait awhile to do anything extreme.

• What workouts are you doing? 

Here is what I did last week, for reference.

Monday: P90X Core Synergistics

I really like Beachbody workouts. I need to mix it up, so doing them everyday isn’t for me, but I love this one in particular.

Tuesday: Row Class, P90X Ab Ripper 

In this class, we row, then jump off and do squats/lunges with weights, back on the rower, repeat, repeat, repeat. I love rowing! Ab Ripper from the P90X series is a KILLER ab workout that is 350 or so moves in about 15 minutes.

Wednesday: Bootcamp Class

This is typically the bulk of my cardio for the week. Bootcamp is interval training, along with bodyweight movements like squats, pull-ups and pushups. Your heart will race and you’ll burn fat in this type of class.

Thursday: Muscle Sculpt Class (much like body pump)

This is the class that I think has help change my body more than anything else. You use a barbell with weights to work every muscle group. I’ve been able to continue to increase my weights and I feel so much stronger! We do things like squats, lunges, chest presses, overhead presses, dead lifts and bicep curls. Each muscle group gets 5-6 minutes in the class and it really hits every body part!

Friday: 22 Minute Hard Corps, Ab Ripper

22 Minute Hard Corps is also a Beachbody workout. I threw it in that day because it’s quick. I also love Bikini Body Guide for a fast, yet effective workout.

I have done some spinning, I really like the Jacob’s Ladder for some cardio at the gym and I will throw in a Barre class or outside run based on my schedule. But adding in weights to replace a good bit of my cardio has been the biggest and most effective change.

Food Related Questions:

Let me just start by saying, I don’t do anything 100% with food. I did a Whole30 last year and it really changed the way I eat. I highly recommend it! I would say my diet now is about 90% what I’m going to share and 10% fun. I’ll eat some french fries, have pizza night or make sundaes with the boys. I refuse to limit myself so much, that I feel like I’m missing out on life. For me, limiting the junk works better if I separate it into acceptable days. So Saturday or Sunday are usually my days for more fun foods. Mostly because if I eat something terrible, it often opens the door for me to eat more junk. So if I limit the days, I stay on track better. I have realized though, that too much junk makes me feel crappy, so it’s a good reminder to keep it low.

• Do you drink a protein shake? If so, what kind?

Yes. I use Plant Fusion protein powder mixed with about 6 oz water and 2oz orange juice. On the days I workout early, I get home around 6:15am. I get a quick shower and get the boys ready for school and I have a shake while I’m doing all of that. I don’t have breakfast until around 9am most days.

• My most important question is eating and then alcohol consumption.

I try to stick to no alcohol during the week and then have it on the weekends, if I want. I usually just drink red wine and if I make a cocktail, it’s liquor with a flavored (unsweetened) seltzer. But let’s be honest. I have 3 kids and sometimes, all I really want at the end of the day is to put my feet up and have a glass of vino!

• Would love to see some of your go-to meals for busy weeknights with kids.

I’ve become a sheet pan meal crazy person! I even line the pan with tin foil for easy cleanup. Several are linked in October’s meal plan and there are a lot on my whole healthy pin board.

• What would you say was the biggest change? Diet or exercise? 

I think diet is huge. I’ve added in weights much more, but I think diet is the biggest part for me.

• Counting macros?

No. I don’t even know how!

• What do you eat around the house when you’re home during the day?

I try to not snack, but if I do, it’s veggies and hummus, nuts, fruit, or some rolled up deli turkey. I love Riceworks brown rice chips and will eat them with guacamole sometimes.

• Any foods you have completely eliminated? 

Nothing completely. My focus is no dairy, sugar or additives and light on the grains. My only grain is pretty much brown rice and legumes. I really just try to stick to clean foods with few ingredients. That basically eliminates most of the junk!

• I would love to hear about your lunches.

My go to lunch is a rice cake with turkey and avocado or guacamole. It’s fast and easy and I always find myself grabbing it on the way out the door. Other lunches I often eat are leftover dinner or salads with grilled chicken or canned tuna.

• Do your kids eat the same meals you do, or do you make separate meals for them?

They eat the same dinner. Their lunches for school are usually a sub with turkey, lettuce and tomato. And I always want to eat it!

• How much time is between the 2 pics? 

There is almost 4 months between the 2 pictures.

• Give us the calorie count.

I actually don’t count calories, but I did it for 2 days just for this post. I ate about 1500 calories each day, but I eat until I’m full. I feel like I eat a lot!

• Are you eating a Paleo based diet?

Yes, basically. We do eat brown rice or beans occasionally (about 1x/week).

• I’d love to hear about what your typical day of food looks like and how you resist snacking on the kids junky snacks. 

Here are a couple days I recorded:

Breakfast: Protein shake, sweet potato, turkey sausage, spinach scramble with 1 egg, 1/2 avocado

Lunch: Rice cake, guacamole, turkey

Snack: RX Bar

Dinner: Meatloaf (made with egg and almond meal), Mashed potatoes (made with coconut milk), brussel sprouts with walnuts and butternut squash.

 

Breakfast: Protein shake, 2 eggs scrambled with spinach, 1/2 avocado

Lunch: Kale Salad, grilled chicken, 1/2 avocado

Dinner: Pesto Chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans

I love a good snack! Haha. Its hard to resist the kids snacks sometimes, but I just try to not be hungry. Eating enough fats and protein really help fill you up. I also love an afternoon cup of coffee, so that usually helps my snack craving if I sip on that. Drinking works well. Flavored seltzer is good to help the munchies, too!

 

Here are some posts you might like to look at:

My menu plans: October’s Meal Plan | September Meal Plan

My healthy recipes Pinterest board

A full 7 day,  Whole30 compliant meal plan that I made

My kitchen must haves and the things I can’t leave the store without

This whole process has made me more disciplined and I’m just feeling more well rounded. The Hubs has been working out with me a lot and my sweet neighbor has been going to classes with me. It’s always great to have a buddy to keep you motivated! Like I said before, I am seriously no pro, but I’m happy to share what I’ve gotten my best results from. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!