#184 - The Workout Videos of 2025

Getting back in shape is really annoying and difficult.

But << Galinda voice >> I'm determined to succeed.

And while I know there will be days I miss or forget to write things down, I think it's important to believe in my ability to...try! Because that is, after all, the first step.

So, I'm going to try something a little different and attempt to record a log of what (if any) workouts I do on any given day. I don't think I'm going to track my steps on here because this isn't turning into a Fitness Goals Tracker it's just more of a log and hopefully some attempt at self-accountability.

I did a good job starting my (late in life but shame will keep you trapped forever so we must move forward) positive life habits these last few years, but where I've always struggled is consistency and that's the goal for this year. Hence, this diary/log thing of free workouts I do off of YouTube with commentary that I will add to throughout the upcoming year (the specific challenge to myself is going to be logging them right after I work out because I always have an awkward cool-down before shower period anyway that I never know what to do with myself during!) and yes I am riding that overly-ambitious high of the New Year but so what we'll never know what's possible if we don't allow ourselves to tryyyy!

Okay here we go!

January 1

This is one I did a lot last year, but since learning more about my actual form and how to engage my core, doing it again was fresh and far FAR harder!

I give a lot of credit to this one for helping me regain my sense of balance after a foot injury really threw me off for over a year.

While this instructor doesn't give a lot of queues or describe proper form, I like this one because I can put it on low volume, listen to a podcast, watch it in the mirror, and still hear the beeps for when to stop.

(I also walked a bit but I have two very bad blisters on the soles of my feet and the walk made it clear I need to give them time to actually heal so I'm staying low tomorrow!)

January 2

I found this instructor via a viral TikTok video about her 30 minute pilates ab-workout. I did that video last month and uhhhh it took me like 3 days to be able to laugh again without being in pain, so I thought a 15 minute version would be friendlier.

And WOWZA does she really kick your ass without making it seem like the moves are going to be that hard. I do think you get out of Pilates what you put into it, and oooooh babes ouchy wowchy I am a-smartin' but I feel ALIVE and I felt every single second of this workout in my lower ab region and I got so sweaty that my mat had to be wiped down yaaaay 15 minutes of absolute bangers in terms of body usage. Pilates is incredible! Our bodies are so weird!

I feel very weak and simultaneously noticed just how strong my arms are compared to last year. I may not have been consistent throughout the entire year but my random bouts of weight workouts definitely added up. The "easiest" part of this for me was the pushups which would have definitely not been true last year!

The feeling weak thing is also just an out of shape thing. I'll get it back faster than I realize if I stick to Doing Things but it's also one of the major reasons I know I don't push through – because feeling weak sucks. Having a grudge form against your past-self for their lack of care??? Lame! A series of feelings that are necessary but ultimately must be gotten over/left behind in order to proceed in any real way!

January 3

Ouch ooch ouchy yowch!
- My thighs & glutes every time I sit

This workout rules, I did it last year the first time I ever used the kettlebell and it really helped orient me to how to use it and what my body should be doing throughout the workout, plus she's got a fun Aussie accent and that's always a fun sonic experience.

I don't use my kettlebell the entire time I do this, I switch to an 8lb dumbbell for some of the floor stuff because I am not prepared for holding 15lbs above my body at that point in the workout.

Between re-learning how to breathe and realizing that I had never not once properly engaged my core until like August of last year, workouts have gotten both easier and harder. I understand how to breathe, what to focus on, and to be very much in the moment throughout the movement, so that makes it easier. It's harder physically now that I'm actually doing it correctly and not just getting away with whatever form I thought I was supposed to be achieving.

My squats are not nearly as deep as hers, but that's uhhhh fine! I'm not a pro! And hey that's something to work towards so that's great too. Mark that down, me!

January 4

When in doubt, stretch it out!

After the Great Thigh Aches of yesterday, this one felt really good. I always forget how much of it is spent on all-fours but it's a great one to keep in rotation while I'm rebuilding wrist strength.

Another fun side bonus of working out is not being able to look at my phone during it! I will break my phone addiction via having a full life this year if its the last thing I do!

January 5

Well it's already working I definitely forced myself to work out at 8:30 because it was going to be annoying to me if I didn't fill this out we did it gang we annoyed ourselves into consistency!

Today: dance! Specifically this dance livestream but since there's every chance I won't continue to subscribe to the membership (it's good I just don't do this as my Main Form Of Exercise as often as I used to) I'll also link one of their free dance videos below.

I like this group because they choreograph to modern music, what I don't love is that they often keep the exact same choreo throughout a song regardless of if it heavily baises one arm/leg/side and I think for dance workouts that's actually unacceptable. Gotta switch it up! I don't find their friend banter as charming as a lot of commenters but clearly that's a personal taste thing and I enjoy following along so really, nothing to complain about! Oh except sometimes they include Chris Brown songs and like, ew, skip!

I'm so sweaty and it's 9pm but the good news is: I did this to myself!

January 6

This is the first video on my YouTube playlist that I save workouts on so it feels like a default to throw it on when I'm not looking for anything too difficult. I do it with 8lb weights and have enjoyed getting noticeable better at keeping my elbows in place when I do the overhead stuff.

Fun! I didn't really feel like doing anything because I was exhausted today emotionally and a little physically but then I remembered one bicep curl is better than none so I did 10 minutes which is exponentially better, yay!

I've never done something like this before, but I do think adding some sort of practice to this routine is important, if nothing else because I like looking back at lists and seeing evolutions and I am tired of feeling like I can Get It Together but I can't Keep It Together.

I won't be sending this out as a weekly post. I thought about just posting it and not sending it, but there's an added layer to making a the intention public. I'm honestly just much more likely to follow-through! So that feels worth it!

What I will be doing, is updating it regularly! And if you'd like to pass along any free video suggestions, please do!

I will be getting back into longer zen yoga for the next few days but I almost always try and end every workout with stretching and this Yoga With Adrienne one is a faaaave:

Reworking my relationship to Working Out by understanding it as a greater Life Thing instead of keeping it in a weight loss category that–frankly–I still don't know how to healthily engage with and therefore won't be! Numbers are a no-go for me and therefore won't be introduced to this process this time! Step counts are already something my brain really latches onto (the average tabs are mean don't let me play with math I WILL become competitive with my past self in a way that makes me feel weird!) so beyond "I feel good/exhausted/satisfied/sore" I don't plan to analyze Myself. (or, more importantly, my body!)

Okay well, here's the funniest Sweaty Selfie I've taken recently (it was after a pilates workout that I was INCREDULOUS about the difficulty of!)

And I'm out! (But will be back!)