When it comes to getting sweaty, going to the gym is pretty low on my list. There are plenty of other activities I like to convince myself are burning calories. Chief among them is eating super spicy food on the couch while watching TV with the air conditioning off. Sure, it’s economical, but probably not as erotic as you were expecting. To be honest, I’m betting a couple of you can relate.
Now, full disclosure. I’m the kind of girl who never really needed to work out. (Hold your boos until the end, please.) I could eat an entire bag of douche chips (salt and vinegar) and polish off a bottle of screw-top wine without gaining an ounce. My skin might eventually start looking like Ray Liotta and my liver would probably be calling the cops, but you get my point.
I had it all under control through my twenties, got married, had kids in my thirties and bounced back pretty well. Then I hit my forties and…well…shit got real. It wasn’t anything drastic, but my body had clearly decided we were playing by a new set of rules.
I realized pretty quickly that not only was I going to have to stop stuffing my face, I was also going to have to embrace the dreaded “E” word.
Exercise.
It had been a long time since Jane Fonda was yelling at me through the TV, so I figured it was time to drag my workout routine into the 21st century.
I managed to dodge the Freshman 15 years ago, but now I was battling the “Fortyish 15.” I joined a yoga studio and committed to going three to five times a week. It was one of the best decisions I’d made, but I still wanted to add a little more variety to my routine. That’s when I stumbled across Aaptiv.
Aaptiv is an audio fitness app that offers guided workouts with trainers coaching you through everything from yoga and meditation to treadmill workouts, strength training and cycling. What I liked most was the flexibility. Some days I had forty-five minutes. Other days I was lucky to find ten. There was always something that fit my schedule.
The yoga classes were a natural fit since I’d already learned many of the poses in the studio. The ab workouts absolutely kicked my butt, and the meditation sessions usually ended with me falling asleep. Not exactly the goal, but I’m counting it as a win.
Then there was my elliptical.
You know…that expensive machine in the bedroom that’s usually covered with yesterday’s laundry.
Apparently it’s exercise equipment.
Who knew?
Having a trainer in my ear made a huge difference. Before Aaptiv I’d watch cooking shows while halfheartedly pedaling, which, yes, I realize is wonderfully ironic. Now someone was actually pushing me to keep going instead of letting me convince myself I’d earned a break after three minutes.
The app also offers programs for 5K and 10K training, treadmill workouts, indoor cycling, outdoor walks and running.
Running might be a stretch.
The only time you’ll catch me running is if someone yells, “Free wine!”
For someone like me, Aaptiv fits my life perfectly. As a mom, my schedule changes by the hour. I don’t always have time to drive to the gym, work out and drive back home. Some days those extra thirty minutes are the difference between getting a workout in and talking myself out of it.
I needed something ready whenever I was.
If I wanted 13 minutes of “Absurd Abs,” 37 minutes of “Chill Pop Vinyasa” or 15 minutes of “Legs Like Fire,” it was sitting there waiting for me with a pair of headphones.
So maybe it’s time to stop sitting on the couch eating spicy food and pretending that’s cardio.
Aaptiv offers a free seven-day trial, and I’ve always believed if it’s free, it’s for me. If you’re looking for a workout that’s convenient, motivating and doesn’t require leaving the house, it’s definitely worth checking out.
After all, the only thing you have to lose is the butt-shaped dent in your couch.
The convenience, versatility and motivation of the Aaptiv program inspired this review. I received a complimentary two-week trial, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
