I know someone who is looking for ideas for workout streaming ideas. She asked me for recommendations, and I shared the few I’ve tried personally:
- Bodi.com (formerly Beachbody; I’m currently using this for cardio only because I got a super good year-long deal)
- Emkfit Dance videos (YouTube)
- Yoga with Adrienne (YouTube)
Her requirements are:
- can do at home
- combines cardio and strength (could be some days of each, or more HIIT-style strength/cardio in one workouts)
- not super “girly”; she’d like to do these with her husband sometimes
- relatively short yet fairly intense. Probably 30-45 minutes.
- able to do with pretty minimal equipment; not sure she even currently has a full set of dumbbells (though could probably expand eventually.) Full body stuff like planks, burpees, lunges, jump squats, etc would be good to start though.
- looking to workout 3-5 times per week.
I said I’d ask my amazing readers! I know LOTS of you guys work out, or have worked out, at home.
Some I’ve heard of but haven’t tried personally are Peloton subscription, Fitness Blender on YouTube, Caroline Girvan on YouTube (is this strength only, or cardio too??)….
Of the ones I’ve done, only Beachbody seems like a possibility. I don’t think her husband would like Emkfit, lol!, and Yoga with Adrienne is awesome, but not really what she’s looking for.
What else is out there?? Please share!
Thanks guys! 💗
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for getting my Halloween decorations all taken down today! It was getting awkwardly past Halloween now, but I didn’t have a chance last weekend, so…. here we are. Next up, Christmas decor. Probably pretty soon….
GRATEFUL KAE 
I co-sign Caroline Girvans workouts…I’ve never been able to do any consistent strength training until I tried hers and I think they are effective. She does have a number of body weight only workouts if they don’t have access to weights. She does have both pure strength (although some are intense enough to get heart rate up too even if they’re not tagged as cardio/HIIT), as well as cardio or HIIT workouts (I personally don’t like these as much but I prefer to run for my cardio so I just skip them). She has different programs varying in size from 6-10 weeks (at a 5 times per week frequency, but you can do them at a slower pace). It takes me longer to get through them since I combine them with running and probably do strength 2-3 times per week.
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I also really like the Caroline Girvan workouts. What I like is that she does not talk to you during the workouts. Sometimes the banter drives me crazy. She explains the moves up front snd then there are demonstrations during the without but there’s no annoying commentary. She has different programs and some include HIIT, some are just strength. I prefer her strength only ones since I get my cardio from running during the nicer months of the year.
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Oh I didn’t know that about the talking during the workouts! I agree that can be annoying. Sometimes I like it, depending, but other times it’s too much. I should check out her cardio videos since that’s the area I personally need more help…
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Her HIIT workouts are HARD. But very effective. They are harder than the cardio workouts from MM IMO. I will do them during the winter though since they are a good replacement for running.
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following (cardio junkie here!)
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following (cardio junkie here!)
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What do you currently do for cardio, Alyssa? I guess I was thinking you were a runner? But maybe I have that wrong.
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before I had my kids (currently 3 and 1) I ran a lot- marathons and beyond. Now I’m on my peloton 75% of the time and run the rest- just easier to be able to exercise while still being in my house.
Ever since I had my second, though, I’ve had SI joint pain off and on and I know it’s because I need to strengthen my glutes and core 😭
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I can vouch for Caroline Girvan. Her strength is very good and I know she either has straight cardio, or HIIT type classes. I don’t do those because on my non-running days, I’m just looking for strength.
Peloton is great, and of course there are male instructors so it’s less “girly.” But it’s kind of expensive (IMO.)
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I’ve never tried either! But based on multiple comments on these two, I am interested to try!
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pretty sure they know about peloton but they are not on the list so adding :). Strength, yoga, barre and can do cardio w treadmill or bike.
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Yes, I know you’ve been a big fan of Peloton! The nice thing, from what you’ve said, is that I think there’s quite a lot of shorter workout options? Right?
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I like this website: https://www.gethealthyutv.com/
great variety of work outs. They regularly have sales for new subscribers, I think I paid .79 cents for my first year and just under $3 for the next year- it’s my favourite that I’ve tried!
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I used to do Fitness Blender HIIT workouts and you can search “body weight only” and get ones without weights, which I prefer because I don’t want to buy equipment and/or I am traveling. It is a man and a woman and they both demonstrate the activities so I think it could be good for both genders.
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That’s nice to be able to filter by body weight only! I should keep that in mind when we travel, etc. I usually just cop out and don’t exercise since “I don’t have any stuff”…. lol.
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I am a novice when it come to the best workout. I have done Yoga with Adrienne and liked it but everything’s else I am not sure. If they are in the Apple universe apple fitness might be an option because it just has everything. I am thinking about signing up for that.
Will you share what you gathered in the end?
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Ooh I forgot about Apple Fitness! They are good too. I forgot I used that for a bit a couple years ago when I got a free 6 month subscription when I got my Apple Watch.
Yes, I’ll have to compile the various suggestions and will share!
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Caroline Girvan is fantastic and she has tons of workouts on her YouTube channel that are entirely free (as opposed to the app) so low barrier to entry! I think she’s equally good for both men and women. However, I would recommend your friend get at least one, preferably two, sets of dumbbells to start if she really wants to get the most out of CG’s workouts. Or she could start with her HIIT/cardio workouts (most of her programs have no equipment HIIT/cardio every fifth day, or just search for the no equipment workouts on her YouTube page). Then if she likes them, get a set or two of dumbbells and mix in the strength ones.
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Thanks for that feedback! Good ideas. I agree, it’s hard to ONLY use bodyweight forever and really gain strength, though there’s a lot of good cardio/HIIT options that are bodyweight only.
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I need to up my workout game, so this post is really helpful, thank you! I do yoga every morning, Yoga with Adrienne, but that is more flexibility and mental health. I sometimes do some free weights, but not consistently, hence needing to up my game.
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I am a big Caroline Girvan fan. I also love Sydney Cummings Houdyshell (YouTube). She has a good mix of cardio and strength and many bodyweight workouts. She talks a lot. I find it motivating but you could maybe mute? She has a ton of content.
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I like Lindsay Bomgren (https://www.youtube.com/@nourishmovelove). She may be more girly so perhaps this doesn’t fit all the criteria, but her workouts are very accessible even with limited workout equipment. I like that her workouts are time-based so there are a variety of options depending on how much time you have (even 10 min!). I don’t do her cardio/HIIT content though since I run but her strength stuff is good.
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I am very surprised to see that no one has mentioned FASTer Way to fat loss! That’s the program I currently use. The workouts are 30 minutes and are scalable. It is definitely a program her spouse can do too (with her, or on his own). My “coach” is actually a guy (Drew Bullard). there are two hit workouts a week and then the other three are legs, arms, and full body. I think it’s a great mix and the workouts are different every day. It costs $70/month I believe. Hope she finds something she loves!
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I am very surprised to see that no one has mentioned FASTer Way to fat loss! That’s the program I currently use. The workouts are 30 minutes and are scalable. It is definitely a program her spouse can do too (with her, or on his own). My “coach” is actually a guy (Drew Bullard). there are two hit workouts a week and then the other three are legs, arms, and full body. I think it’s a great mix and the workouts are different every day. It costs $70/month I believe. Hope she finds something she loves!
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I’d like to just weigh in and say I don’t care for Caroline Girvan outside of her Iron series. Her workouts are too long and repetitive for me (and, honestly, maybe too hard? I found it hard to get motivated/demotivating to have to modify all the poses and she doesn’t show any modifications). I prefer Sydney Cummings, Fitness Blender or MadFit. I mute them all and have captions on so I can listen to my own music/podcast/audiobook.
For yoga, Adriene is great. If your friend wants something more hardcore, TwoBirdsYoga and Breathe and Flow yoga are the channels my husband gravitates towards. Those Breathe and Flow practices are intense.
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Well, you know I drank the Peloton kool-aid and think you should at least give it a try 🙂
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I love the FitOn app. There’s a pro option, but you can also just use the free option. There are all kinds of workouts that you can sort by type, time, trainer.
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