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I’ve Always Loved the Idea of Working Out More Than the Actual Working Out
I’ve always loved the idea of working out more than the actual working out. I’ve always loved the fitness girlies, and I’ve had very defined spurts of working out.
What I’ve realized over time is this: I don’t struggle with working out—I struggle with working out without structure. I do best when I’m told what to do, when to show up, and when to just follow the plan.
That’s been the pattern my whole life.
Tae Bo tapes, gym classes, and my early fitness eras
In high school, I was determined to lose my baby fat. A classmate’s dad gifted me his Tae Bo tape after I asked to borrow it every week. I burned a hole through that VHS. The results were amazing.
Then in my early 20s, I was up at 5am—rain, sleet, snow, or tsunami—commuting all the way downtown to Women’s Workout World. The Piyo and Turbo Kick classes were my absolute favorites.
Again, it was always the same thing that worked for me: structure. I didn’t have to figure anything out. I just showed up and was told what to do.
YouTube workouts and the “almost there” years
Throughout my late 20s, I discovered Fitness Blender on YouTube and other workouts that helped me slim down when I felt like I was going from thick or curvy to fat. I’ve always been on the cusp of fat, because like many people, my motivation would show up in spurts and then quietly leave after I reached my goals.
The discipline was always there—but only at a surface level.
Life happens, and after two children, working out became a little more tricky.
The comeback: health scares, YouTube workouts, and losing 45 lbs
A health scare in 2019 forced me to get my life together.
I discovered Chloe Ting on YouTube—she is adorable but will absolutely torture you with a straight face. Then my cousin introduced me to walking workouts, and I fell in love with Grow With Jo. She can get you through a strenuous workout like it’s nothing.
I lost 45 lbs, and you could not tell me I was not hot stuff. I was literally back at my high school weight. It felt so good.
But life started lifing. And momhood started doing its thing.
I moved to Houston, then back to Chicago, and I gained back 35 of the 45 lbs I lost.
Mon Dieu.
What I know about myself now
Knowing myself—especially as I get older—I’ve realized my body craves simplicity and systems as much as it craves carbs.
Gyms can be expensive and not always accessible for someone who needs structure, so I’ve been leaning into the things that actually work for me.
Here are the ways I lost weight in 2019/2020 and what I’m currently going back to now.
Walking (the most underrated workout)
You know how people are always like… “10,000 steps, 10,000 steps”… blah blah blah.
Do I hit 10k every day? No.
But walking is one of the best workouts overall—not just physically, but mentally. A good walk can clear your mind, help you come up with ideas, or solve problems you didn’t even know you were thinking about.
It’s also one of those exercises you don’t have to convince people to do with you. You just say, “let’s go for a quick walk,” and most people are like… ok.
And walks can be scenic. Romantic, even.
I remember really falling in love with walking when I lived in Houston. I lived close to the Houston Arboretum, and it was so calming and peaceful.
It’s also why I love living in Chicago. There are so many beautiful places to walk—the lakefront, the parks, just miles and miles of space to move your body.
So my advice: make your walk interesting. Go somewhere pretty. Search TikTok for popular walking spots in your city if you don’t know where to start.
Gym toys (aka the cutest way to stay consistent)
The next thing that helps me is what I call “gym toys.” (More like gym equipment, but that doesn’t sound as good.)
Building a home gym over time really helps keep workouts interesting. I like to think of it like a cute flat lay of fitness gadgets you collect slowly, not all at once.
There are also tons of YouTube channels you can follow so you’re not just staring at your equipment like… now what?
It’s kind of like when you watch a Disney movie and you have the toy or action figure. Same level of satisfaction.
My favorite “workout toys” are by Bala. I bought the weighted ring in 2021 and it is still in perfect condition. I don’t like the way regular weights feel—they’re weird and rough.
I also have the Bala bangles, which get so much attention whenever I wear them out. They’re so cute they’re basically a fashion accessory disguised as fitness equipment.
I also love mesh cases for keeping everything organized so you can just grab and go.
I bought my Bala pieces slowly over time and I’m still building. I don’t care what TikTok says—you don’t have to buy everything all at once.
ClassPass (my “try everything” era)
ClassPass is one of my new favorite workout options. There’s so much flexibility and so many choices.
It’s an app/service that lets you try different gyms and wellness experiences without being tied down to a gym contract or paying $1,000 a month for niche studios.
I’ve been able to try SoulCycle. The Cowboy Carter ride was magical.
I went to aerial fitness where you gracefully glide and tone using those beautiful ribbons… well, everyone else was gliding. I got stuck twice. But it was still a great workout. There were muscles sore the next day that I didn’t even know existed.
My favorite is the gym pods—basically a gym for one. If you don’t like working out in front of people or you’re still figuring things out, this is perfect. It’s timed, so you go in, focus, and leave. No lingering. No awkward wandering.
You can even book saunas, mani pedis, and restaurants. In Chicago, I’ve found spots like Protein Kitchen and Matcha Cita through it.
I did have one negative experience where I couldn’t get into the gym and people just walked past me like I didn’t exist. But ClassPass immediately refunded my credits.
You can try it free, and plans start at $19/month. Even if you only use it once in a while, it can still be worth it. I remember the days of a 20-step process just to cancel a gym membership—so this alone feels like freedom.
What actually works for me
Starting a workout routine doesn’t have to be a grand New Year’s resolution moment.
For me, it looks like:
- a 20-minute walk most days
- 3 YouTube workouts a week
- trying one new ClassPass workout a month
It’s the small habits that are truly sustainable.
Try new things. Try workouts you’ve never done before. And if you don’t like it, don’t do it again.
I love walking, but I loathe running. It’s kind of like how I like ice cream, but I don’t like milkshakes.
Final thought
Fitness doesn’t have to be dramatic to work.
It can be small. It can be inconsistent. It can be built slowly.
For me, it always comes back to the same thing: I need structure, I need simplicity, and I need options that don’t overwhelm me.
If you’re the same way, start simple. Start small. And make it cute if you need to.
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