A few months ago we started a workout bet at the office, which is right when we took this pic. We all put $100 in a jar (5 of the 6 of us are participating, Ginny isn’t feeling it this time). You have to workout 4 days a week for at least 45 minutes – and not just a power walk. If you fail in making it 4 times you drop out (although you are allowed to buy back in one time). You have one ‘pass’ week and if you are sick you get a pass as well. I’ve done this bet now 5 times in my life and it WORKS. It forces you to workout on those days that you wouldn’t normally. Working out used to be a daily thing I did, but since kids it’s virtually impossible to do unless it’s 5am or 9pm – and both times are extremely unattractive. The goal isn’t to win the bet, it’s to make it last as long as possible to the point where everyone feels so good and reaches their goal. My friend, Bri from Design Love Fest, did a similar one last year and I loved following along so we figured we’d document ours a bit over here on the blog.
Update: That bet ended a few weeks ago. I dropped out a month or so ago, and it was down to Sara and Brady, who both got into killer shape – Brady literally transformed his body into a body builder (that photo above is from the beginning of the bet, by the way . . . you should see his after pics now – proof is in the pudding people – working out really works!!!), and he ended up winning the bet.
We all did a variety of workouts and tried to do a couple together every month (we would have done more but my schedule has been so stupidly insane). We worked out with my fitness expert (and very good friend), Jenny. Let me tell you a bit about Jenny. She is a broadway choreographer who is certified in EVERYTHING fitness-wise and is a total inspiration. In between shows she has always taught classes and had personal training clients. The best part? She is a huge fan of moderation and having fun in your social life. She’s just started a new Instagram called Burn This, Earn This, and it’s a genius and yet totally approachable concept. The more (calories) you burn the more you earn (food and drink-wise). I have followed a decent amount of fitness “experts” over the years on social media (especially as we were researching a marketing and social media plan for her, which was a trade that my company did in exchange for group workouts). Most of them, I’ll just say, I don’t relate to. At all. So it had been killing me that Jenny didn’t have a brand. She’s so modest and un-narcissistic. But she is now taking ownership over her expertise, experience, and general likability and she is looking to help people who want to get into shape realize that they don’t have to give up EVERYTHING in order to do that. Anyway, you’ll hear more about her over the next however many months, but in the meantime please follow her on Instagram as she is not only a good friend, but a total workout and health inspiration to me (she is the one in purple, above and pink, below).
OK. So why am I telling you about a workout bet that we HAD? Well, because we are relaunching next week. All of us, besides Brady of course, feel like we need the motivation (Brady is doing it too, but he never stopped so he’s still motivated). We will be working out 4 times a week, with hopefully at least one group workout in there.
It is INSANELY hard to find the time to workout right now. Elliot wakes up at 6am, and leaving to workout feels so selfish. But she normally goes back down at 7:30am, so I could go then, but Charlie wakes up right around that time.
This is the most boring paragraph that I have ever written.
All you parents know how hard it is to workout when you have kids and you work (and even if you don’t work). Jenny was coming to my house for a while to train me (which is a serious luxury, I know) but she is really busy, too. But, I figure if we are all doing it together then I could sacrifice work time to workout with my team during the day – like we’ll all meet for a SoulCycle class at 8:30am (which we did and it kicked our butts – see below for photo proof), or do a lunch time yoga class. We can do it. I can do it. I feel WILDLY better about my life when I do it. It needs to happen. It’s not just the extra baby weight, it’s the stress, the adrenaline, the endorphins, feeling young, etc. The time that we did do a SoulCycle class together before work I couldn’t believe how much happier and more motivated I was after I walked out of the class vs. the hour before the class.
So, we’d love to hear what you guys find to be the best, most fun, most effective and most endorphin creating workouts out there?
Also (and this is a REALLY L.A. thing to say) I recently started only eating plants. Go ahead. I’ll pause for the deserved eye roll and under-breath laughter. Brian and my father-in-law had a real hey-day with that one. Bob (my father in law) literally didn’t know what that meant. Here’s the thing – they say that after you stop breastfeeding you should do a big detox to reset your body, and despite working out and eating well, I was absolutely unable to meet my goal or even see movement. Even Jenny was shocked at how my body wasn’t really reacting (stopping breast feeding absolutely helped, by the way, turns out I’m one of those women who holds onto fat while breastfeeding).
So, my friend has a sister who is a nutritionist and recommended the SoCal Cleanse, which isn’t cheap ($400), but it gives you a ton of herbs, vitamins, probiotics, etc. for 30 days along with a ‘only eat plants’ mandate. She lost 10 pounds. I don’t think you really need to buy it, and instead just do the food recommendations: Stop eating meat, dairy, sugar, anything processed, gluten, blah blah, you get it. JUST PLANTS (veggies, fruits, grains, beans). I actually still have cocktails on the weekends. Why am I telling you this? Because it has worked and it’s sustainable because it’s a diet that I like and can do forever (when convenient).
I’m not to where I want to be but the needle is moving and I’m fitting in my old clothes and feeling way more energetic and confidant. I’ve tried EVERY SINGLE DIET the last 6 months trying to lose weight in a healthy way, and this is the only one that has worked. I wish it didn’t so I, too, could call BSÂ on it. I’m finding it really easy during the week but I cheat over the weekends and I’m still losing weight. I think I’ll reintroduce fish and small portions of lean chicken, soon.
If I didn’t think I would get a huge backlash from readers I would write a post reviewing all of the ways that I’ve tried to lose weight since Elliot’s been born, but I feel like I would be called a fat-shamer, when my goal is just to get my pre-baby body back and feel fit, not to make myself or any of you EVER feel bad about your size or body. Just pushing publish on this post gave me enough anxiety. But I believe in exercise as a fundamentally successful way to feel happier in life, no matter what your physical goals are. Simply put: The days that I workout are better than the days I don’t. Like many of yours, my life is full of good and bad stress, and exercise helps me (and my team) manage all our stress better.
Alright, back to the workout portion of this design blog.
We live in LA which is MECCA for new workout and diet programs. It’s both hilarious, annoying, and totally wonderful because you don’t have to go far to find the newest Orange Theory, SoulCycle, Freestyle fitness, Crossfit, Brick, Barry’s Bootcamp, or YogaWorks (we hear Aura Yoga in West Hollywood is amazing too – the list goes on and on, and we would love to try them all TBH). We haven’t tried very many of the new classes, but I’ll just go ahead and put it out there – if you are in LA and you have a gym or program that you want us to try, or you are an athletic clothing company with some awesome products we might enjoy and wear, please reach out (email brady@emilyhendersondesign.com) and if we love the class(es) we will give you a big shout out in our follow up posts, and let people know how we liked it and how it genuinely helped us get to our fitness goals.
Everybody here (minus Brady) tried Class Pass which I should try, too . . . Those classes can add up quickly, and I hate forcing people (my employees) to spend money. Obviously you don’t have to do a class, you can always just run, but the group motivation certainly helps and makes it way more fun. I myself am looking for REALLY intense power yoga, Barry’s Bootcamp style workouts, and I’ll definitely keep doing SoulCycle (I love it so much). I was super intimidated my first time by the culture of it but it’s obvious how effective it is and it made me feel EXTREMELY happy afterwards. We’ve got our next class booked this Monday at 8:30am in Pasadena with the EHD crew, so any of you local folk grab a seat online and come and join us for a ride, you have to check it out. Brady looks scary and serious in this photo, but he’s still the same – just serious about fitness now.
Leave in the comment what workout classes or methods you love . . . and wish us luck. Hey, even join us!! We’ll use the hashtag #EHDsweat. We won’t be hash tagging every workout obviously, but every now and again we will, so feel free to hashtag your workout. Let’s get fit and reduce this stress, folks. Happy Friday!!
So inspiring !! And such a good idea to motivate yourself !
I’ve joined the gym at my work building, and try to hit it a few times a week during my lunchbreak. I love how it split my day in half !
But right now I’m full on in the moving process and don’t have a lot of time (ans space!) to really workout like I would like to ! I can’t wait to be in my new neighborhood and be able to include a daily jog to my routine and then lifting some weight at home when I come back from it !!!
I love this plan! I completely understand the difference between wanting to lose weight because you feel “fat” and working out to feel better and more like yourself. Over the summer, I gained about five pounds, but even after I lost it, I still couldn’t fit into a lot of my favorite pants and tailored skirts (junk in the trunk, I’ve always had). I started jogging one night one a whim (for quite literally the first time ever), and I was amazed at how great I felt. It was the first time I realized yoga wasn’t the ONLY way to get that endorphin high, and it completely cleared my head from all the weight of my work day. Good luck on your workout challenge!
I loved this post! I recently turned 30, stepped on the scale, and somehow gained 10 pounds. As a birthday present to myself I decided to splurge for a personal trainer to inspire me and keep me accountable so I actually worked out. It has been two months, and it has been great. I’m eating better, working out more, and while the weight has been slow to come off I feel so much better about my body. I love feeling stronger and just all around healthier, it is so empowering!
Good for you, all of you! I sincerely hope that you only receive positive comments for what is such a positive life goal. Keep on kickin’ ass and taking names!
Omg, Brady’s body transforming like that in a few short months is all I needed for inspiration to keep exercising. WHY DO MEN LOOK FITTER FASTER THIS IS NOT FAIR
Yes, this! My husband stops drinking beer on *weeknights* and loses 5 pounds.
ha. SAME! Brian just eats less philly cheesesteaks and loses weight. He actually for the first time has a teeny tiny belly and of course he carries it so well, but he is bummed and i’m secretly happy.
Right?! It’s so annoying! My husband sneezes and loses 5 pounds which seem to always land on me!
Check out Tone It Up! I love those girls and they make working out so fun! Good for you Emily, taking your health and your employees’ health seriously!
I second Tone It up! Their workouts are on the shorter side, but you will feel it the next day. Especially if you group a couple of them into one workout session.
I have been doing barre 3-4 times a week for the past 6 months and I love it. Totally transformed my body and I can tell a major difference in the strength I have now vs. then.
I was obsessed with Bar Method when I lived in NYC. The thing that’s great is you don’t get too sweaty that you need to shower after (great before work!), and because its not intense cardio it didn’t make me super hungry after either. I got super toned!
I’m also obsessed with bar method – it WORKS.
Same here! If I can get to 2 bar classes (in SF we have Dailey Method) a week, I feel like it pays HUGE dividends in terms of keeping lean and toned. And you make a great point about the lower intensity not spiking my hunger. If I do a really intense morning class, I end up eating WAY more throughout the day, rendering the workout meaningless (if not counterproductive) in terms of calorie burn.
I did a lot of pop physique here while I was pregnant and loved it … i’m going to do it again now that you are all so into it. I am NOT toned right now, that’s for sure.
I too am one of those women who has a body that holds onto fat while breastfeeding. Ugh! So frustrating.
My husband and I started whole30 July fourth; he lost 25 pounds and I lost 15, but we were starting from a eat-whatcha-want place. We feel great, so we’re continuing with minimal sugar, dairy and grain and the weight continues to come off.
I did a couch to 5k this summer (I started out pretty sedentary) and lived that. We’re on vacation right now–SO tough to whole30 when traveling–and I start Orange Theory Fitness when we get home. My best friend started OTF about 18 months ago and she’s an inspiration!
One just opened up not far from me. It looks intimidating but also VERY effective.
I have two kids with the same age difference as yours. Until my youngest was one, I found it impossible to work out regularly because of the guilt. I would try to go after work, but then I would not have very much time with the kids before bedtime. My youngest is almost 3 now, and I no longer feel guilty. It gets SOOO much easier, I promise!
ok good. I hate to look forward to the future, but when people say it gets easier i’m just like ‘GET ME THERE NOW!’. xx
I’ve been using Classpass for over a year and it an excellent option if you live in a city with it! It helps me to stay motivated and not be bored with workouts. I do wish they had a few more options in my city, but overall it is a great deal for what you are getting! We don’t have SoulCycle here (however I’ve been to a class in New York before) and it is such a fun class! We have a studio called CycleBar and that is a fantastic option as well!
Brittany | thechicette.com
Try surfing! It’s a great workout and such a fun couple of hours at sea. I am 38 years old and had my third baby 3 months ago (still breastfeeding) and have started learning for the first time and love it! The way to make exercise sustainable is to find something you enjoy doing!
Emily – I would happily read about all the ways you’ve tried to lose the baby weight. I don’t have babies but can certainly relate to wanting to lose that sneaky 10 lbs! I suspect many of your readers could too. It’s YOUR blog and we love you, so keep doing your thing 🙂
Thank you 🙂
We’ll do a follow up with how its going but I can tell you this, the bulletproof coffee thing did NOT work for me. I feel like I gained weight because of the amount of calories and fat I was trying to process. every body is different, but I think mine likes more veggies, less meat …. for now.
Make your husband and father in law watch the documentary called Forks over Knives – I watched it 6 weeks ago and started the same diet you are on but they call it the “plant based diet”. I’ve gotten the same reaction but then when ppl watch the documentary, they get it (it basically shows that eating meat causes cancer). I was much more motivated to follow something that had a long term health benefit rather than just a purely weight loss component. Still having a hard time cutting the diary (what do you put in your coffee ?!?!) but otherwise it has been super easy.
Forks over knives changed my life too!
Me, my husband and kids are all vegan now. Yes…even my kids (4 and 7.} I always scoffed at the thought but my kids are healthy, my hubbys lost almost 50lbs and no longer has blood pressure/cholesterol issues. I dropped the 20lbs I had still been struggling to get rid of for the past few years after having my kids and have crazy energy now. Definitely worth giving a watch and a try!
Forks ove Knives, Food Matters and Food Inc. should be required documentaries. Also, Fat, sick and nearly dead is a great one too! Good for you for educating yourself on WHY what you put into your body is important. Dairy is hard to quit because of the caesin in it. Caesinite is the component that causes baby calves to feel calm when they nurse. It’s sort of a serotonin effect. So you are actually addicted to the caesin in dairy, not the dairy itself. In coffee use almond milk or any other nut milk you prefer. Just watch for carageenan which is “natural” but linked to digestive problems and kidney cancer! *these points are from my memory which isn’t always great, but it’s close.
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead along with Vegucated helped me to become vegetarian this summer. I really want to go totally vegan, but I struggle so much with cutting out dairy and eggs. I eat a lot of both. I could cut out the half & half from my coffee, but fruit smoothies made with organic Greek yogurt and organic milk from grass-fed cows, or eggs with flax-seed meal toast are my go-to breakfasts. I have tried soy milk, but I worry about getting too much soy, now that I rely on tofu, tempeh, and edamame for protein. I have tried other milks in the past (almond, rice, coconut), and they are okay, but don’t really replace dairy milk for me. I don’t drink milk by itself, but I love including it in smoothies. Also, cheese is one of my favorite foods. I can’t imagine giving it up. I don’t want to be eating a lot of processed food with additives and a lot of weird ingredients; I want to eat real food. Consequently, I have avoided the vegan substitute products for cheeses, yogurt, etc. Maybe I should just try giving up dairy for a while and see if it… Read more »
GAH. I need to watch it. Now i’m convinced that i like being vegan (most of the time) but i’m afraid that if i watch it i’ll never be able to go back and it has been really hard eating out at night. Lunch-time meals are easy to navigate (especially in LA) but friday night out with friends are harder. That’s the worst reason I’ve ever heard to not watch a really important documentary …. I’m the worst. I’m going to watch it. Hell, if it keeps me being vegan than that is a VERY good thing, right? I’m glad i’m not the only one. I was afraid everyone was going to be like ‘you LA girls and your plant-eating lifestyle are the worst’ because it does sound insane. So thanks for chiming in.
That’s my biggest beef (no pun intended!) With drastic diet changes–how it affects relationships. Not so easy to go out to any old restaurant AND not so easy to be a gracious dinner guest who eats what is served. I fear the chasm and uneasiness it creates that way. But in my head, I’d enjoy being vegan, I think.
Same re: dairy and eggs! Try cashew milk in your smoothie.
Recently moved away from LA, but when I lived there I LOVED One Down Dog in Silverlake – if you want a really intense power yoga class, like you said, their “Sweat” classes (nontraditional yoga mixed with pilates and bootcamp style stuff) are amazing, as are all their other classes! Highly recommend.
I go to the one in Eagle Rock and I really like it – it can be hit or miss, though. When we move back to Los Feliz i’ll try the silverlake one as it is meant to be better. x
Love this post! I work out 6 days a week and I am a full-time working mom with a 3 year old. Usually I run 1-2 days a week, lift 2 days a week and then do cardio (HIIT, kickboxing, etc.) the other days.
I can now squat 115 pounds with free weights and I freaking LOVE that! My glutes are rocking.
It is so hard to find the time but I just do. I pretty much only watch TV on the weekends only now if then. FitnessBlender.com workouts (which are always free and have over 400 workouts) are my favorite.
I am intrigued by the plants only diet but honestly I love my plain yogurt with granola and not sure I could give it up. I am mostly trying to follow Michael Pollan’s Food Rules which are simple but truly work.
Emily, Silver Lake yoga has baby and toddler yoga! Granted, it’s not a class that you’re going to leave dripping with sweat, but you do get a workout and my kids (similar ages to yours) really like it. I mean, they’re just playing with a bunch of toys and kids while I do yoga next to them so what’s not to like?
Anyway, many of the times they offer it are probably more convenient for “stay at home” parents but I think they have a weekend class or two. You should check it out, I’ve done lots of LA working out things and this one is my favorite right now!
WAIT. I can bring both kids!??? that would be so fun and insane and weird, but i’m into it. like a baby and a toddler can go?
The “Parent and me” class on Sunday morning at Silverlake Yoga is for Toddlers and babies! You can bring both!
The “Toddler and me” class during the week is for toddlers but babies can come too if you’re brave 🙂
Ohhh I LOVE this post! I’m a working mom of 2, trying to balance the guilt of spending time away from the kids exercising with my need to get my endorphins going. I’m at my pre-preggo weight (youngest kid is 14 months), but I definitely lost a lot of muscle and tone from my pregnancy. I gained 65 pounds with my pregnancy, more than I needed, even while exercising throughout the pregnancy and working up until the day I went into labor. Being a mom with a demanding career, I always look to other working women with demanding careers and see how they fit in exercise and personal health. It’s not all about vanity (but vanity can be a part of it, for me, at least). Anyway, it is hard to be open and honest about the money and time we spend pursuing personal health, but I think the transparency only enhances your friend network. Here is my personal routine and tricks for getting exercise while balancing a career and kids: I do Orange Theory 3 times a week, and I find that is all I need to build muscle and look toned. On my off days, I try to… Read more »
I love this comment. thank you so much. I really appreciate hearing how you make it work. I too would rather sacrifice money than time, but I know that that statement stems from my current position of privilege so I always hesitate to make it. Life is a snow show, but If I can make mine more navigable and the family more sane by hiring childcare and going to Orange theory then I will. Thanks for making me feel more normal. 🙂
Emily – I feel your pain! I have two little kids and a full-time job and have struggled to find the time to work out. I finally figured out that i can only do it first thing in the morning (before they get up). Sounds like that’s hard for you, though, with Elliot getting up so early. I do P90X3 in my laundry room…it’s 30 minutes and you’re done. it’s awesome. I’ve also realized a thing about habits: it’s actually easier to do a 30-minute workout EVERY day than to do an hour workout 3 or 4 times a week. Just my 2 cents 🙂 Enjoyed this post…i know how hard it is to lose the baby weight…i, too, didn’t really lose anything till AFTER breastfeeding.
Thank you. I think this is really good advice. Just 30 minutes. that is WAY less daunting than an hour. I’m thinking …
I dont have socials but I send you my support and I am in this journey too. My favourite class ever is pilates. I like zumba too. I admire you and all you do. By the way your babies are wonderful. Kisses from Greece
I am one of the lucky women who lose weight while breastfeeding. It’s magic. I can (and do, because I’m starving) eat whatever I want and the fat melts off. The problem for me is, the very split second I wean a baby the magic wears off but the appetite doesn’t and I’m still too tired to work out because motherhood and I start packing on the pounds. My youngest is two and I’m just now getting back in shape. My favorite workout ever is weightlifting. It feels SO GOOD and totally transforms my body. I especially love how strong and powerful it makes me feel, but it also magically erases the aches and pains I get from slumping at my desk or carting kids around. It’s awesome. The extra muscle mass helps burn fat too. Cardio of any kind, however, is my nightmare! I do want to try Barre Method, but I was a ballet dancer for 20 years, and the ballerinas I know all hate it, so I’m hesitant.
Ha. I bet you won’t like barre method as a ballerina. It’s like reading Twilight if you are Anne Patchett. You might like it, but you’ll secretly hate it. xx
I too hang on to my baby weight while breast-feeding, times three kids, that’s 36 months of not being pregnant but looking a little bit like I am. My baby is 20 months old and I’m finally feeling/looking like my old self. I enjoyed this post. It’s nice to know that you too are human!
Good to know that 20 months is a goal. I’m justing getting back, but still 7-9 pounds away, so good to know I have some time 🙂
When my babies were littler and I found it hard to leave the house to do, well, anything, I would do Blogilates via YouTube. Her calendar kept me motivated (and it was essentially a to-do list, which control my life) and Cassie is adorable and upbeat and honest and motivating. I didn’t even bother with shoes/socks/shirt because I wasn’t going anywhere and it saved me from extra laundry. She generally has you do four or so 15-minute routines a day, so it’s easier to squeeze it in during naps, etc.
Oh, and it’s FREE!
This is awesome. And good for you. when I was home with Elliot which was WAYYY too short I was unable to do anything during naps other than nap. By the way, i didn’t write this in the original post but I started working out at 6 days after birth. I had to be on camera (target commercials) at 3 weeks. The low-impact workouts made me feel good, and checked off that box in my head but they absolutely didn’t work because my body wasn’t ready. So if anybody is on the fence about when they should start working out, don’t do 6 days. it made me feel good, but so would have sleeping.
I’ve got two kids almost the same ages as yours and it is SO hard to find time to work out. My husband leaves for work at 5 am, so mornings are out, and I’m just burned out by the end of the day. And you’re right, it’s not about weight or size. To be honest, I’m super thin at the moment (maybe too thin because I can’t find the time for me!) and while I look great in clothes, I feel totally out of shape and unfit. I’d be happy to put on fifteen pounds if it were toned muscle!
I hear you .. not about your weight but about the time. Buy some 8 and 10 pound weights and while you are watching RHONY do squats and bicep curls. Or like everyone has commented do pilates, yoga or bar. The skinniest and best shape I’ve ever been in (and healthY) was when I biked everywhere and did yoga every day. I look at those photos like ‘damn’. With an already thin physique you can tone fast, I promise. YOGA. I love it so much.
Loved this post! I’m having a similar issue with breastfeeding and getting fit. The weight is off but the body composition is sooo different pre-baby. I hope I’m holding on to it for breastfeeding purposes. Did you start the plant based eating while breastfeeding? Any advice if I’m currently still nursing? Also I would love a blog about plant based eating and how you’re introducing new foods back in!
I started plant based 5 weeks ago and I stopped breastfeeding at 6 months. Still from 6 -8 months it didn’t exactly fall off despite me working out 5 times a week. My body doesn’t metabolize meat and dairy as fast or efficiently as I thought it would. This change sounds extreme but during the week its easy, just the weekends its hard. But honeslty my two best friends here are doing the same thing so when we order pizza we get normal for husbands/kids and gluten free/vegan cheese for us and its actually good (but we live in LA where, again, being plant-based is a whole annoying (and yet wonderful) industry). xx
Emily, if you like spin you should try Spin Movement in San Marino (not far from Pasadena). They have a class that’s 1/2 spin and 1/2 sculpt (TRX style). I love it because a full 50 minutes of spin is A LOT of cardio and there’s not much upper body focus. This way you get that burn/endorphin rush from spin, plus a full body sculpt!
Also try Centre Fitness in South Pasadena. Miriam is an amazing instructor and I’ve always wanted to try her belly dancing class.. That girl knows how to move. I think it would be SO FUN for the EHD team to try it.
Good luck!!!
OH good to know! yes very close to the office and I do find 50 of spin to be REALLY intense. thanks for the rec!
Rock climbing!
I was terrified of heights before I started climbing. It took a few months to get used to the heights, but now I love it and I’m more toned than I’ve ever been in my life. It’s such a great full body workout that burns SO MANY calories and it’s just inherently motivating. I’ve been climbing for about two years now at a gym (because Florida doesn’t exactly have any mountains), and I go 2-3 times a week consistently. It’s not stressful to make myself go, which is the hardest part of every other kind of workout I’ve done. I feel like I finally found my workout that I can stick to for more than a couple months.
I CAN RELATE!!! I am a mom, just one girl 18 mos, and besides trying to find time when she’s asleep/at daycare, I also founded a startup in April so I’m in up to bangs with work and stress. I feel guilty for working out during the day because I should be working, and I feel guilty working out on the weekends because that’s family time. BUT I’ve also discovered that exercise is *very* important to my sanity…as a solo founder it’s been super stressful, and even in 5 months I’ve struggled with doubts and depression. Here’s what worked for me: I start rounding up free weeks at yoga studios near me, found one that I looooove, and am now committed to going 3x a week after dropping DD off at daycare. I’m also toying with the idea of buying a treadmill for early morning runs, but only IF I can stick to the 3x a week for at least a month. I literally just started today and signed myself up for classes through the next two weeks. Weee! Good luck to you! Know that you are beautiful right this moment, but enjoy your fitness journey and becoming a better… Read more »
I have an elliptical trainer in our guest room that is hideous and expensive and stupid but there are so many times that I use it where i’m like ‘ok, good, i can justify this hideous piece of visual garbage’. So I say if you stick to it long enough you can, too.
Brady looks great! Don’t you just hate how easy it is for guys to build muscle?! Grrrr 😀
This is a great way to stay motivated! As a new mom too, the very hardest thing for me has been carving the time out of my schedule to work out. Getting out of my house or leaving the office mid-day for the gym or a class was just impossible. I’ve finally accepted that the only way I’m going to be able to consistently exercise 3-4 times a week is to do it mostly at home, mostly after my son has gone to bed. I started doing T-25 about 3 months ago (aiming for 5 days/week, but not always getting there) and I have seen a huge difference. Staying home and having a short intense workout to do has taken a ton of barriers down for me!
Try corepower yoga!!! It’s amazing! You feel and see results so quickly and it’s fun too. And free for your first week so good option for your team.
If you like spin classes you should get a Peloton bike. Awesome live and on demand classes, great support from the coaches, conveniently located in your home. Its totally silent (if you ride with headphones) so you can get your workout in without waking your sleeping kids even if you are right across the hall from them. Can’t beat it. I got one 6 months ago after spending way too much money on spin classes in town and it is the best!
OOh … i’m listening .. (with no headphones for now ) 🙂 That sounds awesome. so Soul, but in your own home?
Get it EHD team!! We did a weight loss competition at work (based on percentages) and it was the most motivated I’ve been in a while. I think the workout version like y’all are doing is an even better idea!
Yes, the plant based diet thing has definitely hit the East Coast… my fiance is completely on the bandwagon and while I understand the benefits, I say I stick by it 85% of the time. I want to eat that gourmet hot dog on 4th of July, and I will. Sorry not sorry. It’s all about moderation, right??? I will say I feel the best I have in a while and that’s what its all about for me.
As far as working out… I am personally super into the HIIT (high intensity interval training) According to my small amount of research (reading magazines/pinterest) you burn more calories and are less hard on your body. I set up a little rotation circuit in the gym in my building and yes some of my neighbors think I’m nuts, but I really don’t care. See great results!
Excited to hear more about how it goes!!
You and me are the same person. I do a lot of HIIT and yes, I eat the delicious burger at the bbq. I say when its easy, i’m plant-based, but i’m not going to be that person that eats rice at a wedding. Thanks for making me feel normal while talking about being so weird.
Have you or your team tried the POUND workout? I just tried it for the first time last week with my boss – it was a blast! It wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be, but it was so much fun and the time flew by. Would love to know if you guys check it out!
OOh, i’m interested. We’ll look it up tomorrow and its a really good name for a workout so kudos to them.
“Yoga on Brand” (yogaonbrand.com) in Glendale (right next to Porto’s) has an amazing teacher named Art. He just opened this studio, and many of his students followed him from the place where he used to teach. He has a Dynamic Power Flow class on Wednesday and Friday evenings if you want something intense. He also has a Gentle Vinyasa Flow class on Sunday mornings. On Sundays, there is a children’s yoga class in the next room, taught by an excellent instructor. So you can actually get a real workout while having your child nearby and benefitting, as well. http://www.yogaonbrand.com. I am not affiliated in any way with this studio, except that I really enjoy taking Art’s classes. I finally got my husband to go, too, and he is hooked because he feels is is hard core enough.
SHUT UP. This is amazing advise. its so close!! and so recommended. thank you thank you.
Way to go! I totally understand the anxiety in publishing this post. I also was one of those mommas who stockpiled fat while breastfeeding and had to work HARD afterwards to move the needle. It’s frustrating to not fit into your clothes or feel your best / most confident. My success came from a committed workout routine: hot yoga and signing up for a half-marathon. The consistent running, building over time really kicked my metabolism into gear. The regular vinyasa yoga practice toned my muscles, especially my core which needed the most help. I eat what I consider healthy during the week (mostly plants, lean meats, whole grain small sides) and enjoy no restrictions on weekends. And if I crave chocolate, I eat it. In moderation and enough to satisfy without feeling guilty. I’m with you on the guilt of exercising when you could be spending time with your kiddos instead. It’s hard to leave my little one for a group run, but I try to make it up by spending “special time” with her – totally focused, no phones, no interruptions, play what she wants to play and don’t try to make rules or change the game – regularly… Read more »
Is catcalling in the comments section frowned upon? Hmm, too bad.
You guys all look VERY good in spandex. **insert construction worker whistle here**
Emily, I think its awesome that you’re incorporating wellness as a priority for EHD. Also, if you’re craving a warm and challenging yoga class, check out Evoke Yoga. I loved practicing there when I lived in dtla. I look forward to your fitness updates!
“This is the most boring paragraph that I have ever written.” This made me laugh out loud, loudly, this morning. :)Thank you for sharing your life with us, and reminding us by example that it’s okay to poke fun at ourselves, and also being my home design guru, and now inspiring me to exercise more…you guys at team EH are the best! xox
I’m 9 weeks postpartum and just starting to think about losing the rest of the baby weight. As a feminist I went through this process of thinking, why do I want to lose the weight? So when other people look at my body I look thin to them? So I feel more attractive? (But why do I need to lose weight to feel attractive?) I finally internalized that my body is for me and the people I share it with, and I feel healthier and more athletic and I like how I fit into my clothes better when I’m in a certain weight range. That decision is mine for my body and has no judgement on what anyone else chooses to do with their body. Our bodies are our own, and I feel like that’s really just sunk in for me.
That all said, this post was very inspiring and I’d love to hear what helped you lose weight after Elliot!
I really appreciate this comment, for sure. the most important thing I can say (as a feminist) is that I believe that confidence in yourself is crucial to personal success, and how you get that confidence isn’t any body’s business. For me, I feel confidant when my husband loves me, my kids hug me a lot, my business is profitable and I can reach into my closet and pull out a dress that fits my body. It’s not all based on vanity, but its ok that my health plays a role in my humanity.
Emily, I’d love more details (or a post!) about what you’re actually eating on your all plant diet. What plants = breakfast? How do you actually enjoy a salad without dressing? How do you get to a reasonable number of calories by eating plants alone? Excited for this series!
I would love to see what you eat, too! I want to try eating just plants, but I can’t imagine what it would be like. I gave up meat a few months ago, but I still rely a lot on dairy and eggs. I would love to know what a day’s worth of meals looks like for you. Thanks!
Ok. i’ll do a follow up post. its a lot of salads, quinoa, beans, grains, etc. but I need to be better about making sure i’m getting enough protein. Maybe i’ll do a top 10 favorite plant based meals?
Love this post! I’ve been vegan for 4 years…it was because of those Netflix docs. You’ve been warned!
Protein isn’t the issue for most..but make sure you do take vitamin B12. Even if you take a multivitamin that says you get 100% of your daily dose of B12 your body doesn’t metabolize all of that so taking an extra pill helps make sure you are totally covered.
And for those that argue that this is why we need to eat meat…google b12 and animals. It comes from the plants animals eat…and because of the factory farming most places give the animals b12 injections/pills before they are killed..so you are basically getting a second hand pill.
I fully accept that I am the crazy vegan with this post…haha..but just want to spread the knowledge! Not a mom yet…hopefully soon, but this post is super encouraging!
running 2x wk
jillian michaels videos 2x wk
intermittent fasting 2x wk
that’s how i prevent becoming a giant whale cause this girls loves to EAT.
I’m so glad you posted this even though you were a little anxious about it. I’m moving to a plant based diet, too! Science and my body tell me it’s working!
Can you (or someone) talk a little more about or point me in the direction of information about why it’s important to detox after weaning? I’m about to end the last nursing session for my 17 month old and I have never heard about that, nor could I find something quickly on Google. Also, share what you want- it’s your blog and your brand!
What my friend told me is that our hormones are so out of wack, and that what we eat (meat, dairy) are full of other hormones, so going plant-based resets everything. It may not be a big thing, or just a fad, but i have really liked it.
I get so frustrated with the fat shaming thing! I have been both kinda fat and kinda not. Why is it wrong to talk about working out and feeling healthy?
Of course there are extremes, like a friend who was thrilled about how skinny her mom was, FINALLY…because she has cancer. (What??!! Yeah.) But normal people talking about doing normal amounts of exercise to reach normal health goals is in no way shaming anyone else. Hey, if you’re BBW and proud…that’s awesome! Does you talking about being all about that bass (no treble) count as skinny shaming???
Mommy shaming, body shaming, fat shaming…seriously! It’s like middle class white America needs to invent oppression to feel cool. Everything is not about YOU, people. Get a grip!
Real bigotry still needs to be dealt with, whether you deal with hating your thighs or not!!!
I love you.
Hi Emily,
I’m not much of a blog commenter (really terrible given I’m a blogger, but I rarely have time!), however I’m making time to comment today. I’m so sad that you felt anxious posting this – and I for one would actually be really interested to hear about your post baby weight loss efforts. I still haven’t managed to get back to my pre-baby weight – my eldest is 12 and my youngest, nearly 5! Doh! Such a shame you feel you can’t for fear of the backlash! About time to tell those who have problem with that (and anything else you post on YOUR blog) where to go I think!
Anyway, I’ll stop my mini-rant now. I’m off to drool over your guest bathroom. Have a lovely weekend.
Xx
Thank you!! That made me feel WAY less anxious. xx
I love modelfit!
I emailed Brady 🙂 they do popups in LA and it’s just great for toning and cardio. In spite of the name it’s the most welcoming environment- and their instructors are top notch.
Emily- my mom had four kids and said she lost 10 ish pounds after she stopped bfeeding. I’m for sure in that boat and still feeding my almost 2 year old?! I can’t wait for the end so I can wear my current/Elliott collection.
This is a great post- my friend Nick Pratley formerly a head trainer at Soul in LA is starting his own fitness thing. I would follow him to the ends of the earth if he was running w me.
Have fun and thanks for the inspiration!
Oh also I totally want to hear about your diets.
OOH, I want to hear where Nick goes!!! Keep us updated because if he’s awesome maybe a group workout??
I highly recommend FITNESSBLENDER. If you don’t know them, try it. They have a program for something like 15 $: 8 weeks a workout every day for appr. 30 min. Love it!
I second Fitness Blender. I’ve been doing their workouts since February and I’ve dropped 25 pounds. I’ve never been fitter or healthier in my entire life.
WHAT??? That’s amazing. OK, good to know. On it. thanks guys xx
Ah – I too turned 30 and put on 10 lbs (I feel like Regina George)! But I started taking aerial silks classes instead of hot power yoga and I’m obsessed. It’s the same focus/meditation and yet is super fun and makes me feel strong – I love it!
Ha. our preschool has mommy and me areal fit classes on monday mornings and i’m so tempted. I realize that is the most LA sentence i’ve ever typed but i’m so glad I live in LA sometimes. You bring your kids. its cheap, easy and fun.
The Sweat Spot in Silverlake is SO FUN. They do dance class workouts that appeal to every level of dancer. It feels like being in a junior high sleepover with your friends, getting crazy sweaty dancing to your favorite top 40 tunes. They have cool theme nights too like Beyonce and Gaga. Definitely recommend.
DONE. I’m going to do this next week …. well, i travel next week but the week after. that sounds amazing.
I want to second the “it gets easier” comment. I have 4 kiddos ages 3-12, and I think when the youngest hits 3 it just lightens a bit. But, you’ll make time for your priorities. I’ve found that I am a much better mama when I’ve had some time for myself/endorphins running through my body. I had to sacrifice tv time to be able to get up super early. I lift weights a few times a week and run with a running group and friends – which keeps me accountable. You have to get out of bed when you know your friend is going to be waiting for you. This season, while overwhelming!, is short. Choosing to prioritize and figure it out now will make it feel eons easier when the kiddos get a bit older!
That is really good advice and you sound like a lovely mom, friend and person. I wish you lived in LA. xx
My favorite workout is not a “workout” per se. I was without a car most of the summer, so I went grocery shopping on my bike almost every day. I would ride to one of three local markets, and pick up what I needed for a day or two. When I didn’t need groceries, I would go to the library or the dollar store or the thrift store. My teen daughter often went with me. It was good for both of us to get out and exercise. My bike is fitted with homemade side baskets to hold my purchases. An easy front basket can be made for your bike from a basket style beach bag or purse. Cut off the handles, line with a fabric that coordinates with your bike’s paint color (if desired) and zip tie to the basket to the handlebars. I have also made pannier style bags that hang from the rear bike rack from leather bags, back packs and wire baskets using velcro straps sewn into the seams or zip ties and the existing hardware.
So awesome. when we move to the new house … for sure. …
Can’t believe only one person, so far, has mentioned Zumba!