My Fitness Journey After Becoming a Mom

I started my fitness journey again in March 2020, and this time I knew I needed to find something that actually worked with my lifestyle.

Since becoming a mom, staying consistent with exercise has been one of my biggest challenges. Life with little ones can be unpredictable, and between motherhood, moving countries, and adjusting to a completely new routine, my fitness journey took a back seat for a while.

When my daughter was around 6 months old, I was actually doing really well with my workouts. I was exercising three times a week because I had the wonderful option of leaving her with my mom back in South Africa.

At that stage, going to the gym was my “me time.” I loved attending Zumba classes because I have always enjoyed dance and aerobic-style workouts. There was something about moving to music, being surrounded by other people, and having an instructor guide me that made exercise something I looked forward to.

I had created a routine that worked for me, and I felt amazing

Moving Countries and Losing My Routine

Then, when my daughter was 11 months old, we moved from Cape Town, South Africa, to the United States.

Suddenly, life looked completely different. We had to adjust to a new country, a new time zone, a new apartment, and an entirely new way of living.

During that transition, exercise was no longer my priority. My focus was on settling our family into our new life.

Before I knew it, I started noticing changes. I had less energy, I didn’t feel like myself, and I could feel my confidence taking a knock.

Realizing the Gym Wasn’t the Right Fit for Me

I eventually joined a gym in Seattle hoping it would motivate me to get back into a routine, but I quickly realized something important…

I’m not really a “gym by myself” kind of person.

I need structure. I enjoy following an instructor, attending classes, or having someone guide me through a workout. Being left alone with machines and creating my own routine just wasn’t enjoyable for me.

I also struggled with feeling self-conscious at the gym. Instead of feeling motivated, I found myself worrying about what other people thought, which affected my confidence.

Eventually, I cancelled my membership and decided to find another way.

Discovering YouTube Fitness Channels

That’s when I discovered the world of YouTube fitness channels.

After trying many different workouts, I realized that the best YouTube workout channels for home workouts were the ones that made me excited to press play and actually enjoy exercising.

The biggest lesson I learned is that the “perfect” workout doesn’t exist. The best workout is the one you enjoy and can consistently fit into your lifestyle.

So today, I’m sharing my best YouTube workout channels for home workouts that helped me get moving again.

These workouts are perfect if you are a busy mom, a beginner starting your fitness journey, or someone who prefers exercising from the comfort of your own home.

Mr and Mrs Muscle

This channel is by far my favourite YouTube workout channel.

What I love most about Mr and Mrs Muscle is the variety. Whether you are looking for HIIT workouts, fat-burning workouts, weight loss workouts, or toning and sculpting exercises, they have so many options available.

One thing that really stood out to me is that they offer modifications for different fitness levels. They have low-impact workouts that exclude jumping, lunges, and squats, which is amazing for anyone who struggles with knee problems or needs a gentler workout option.

The workouts are structured in a way that makes them easy to follow. Usually, you will complete around five different exercises in a circuit, repeating each movement for 30 seconds with a short rest period before moving on.

Before each exercise, they explain which muscles you will be targeting and demonstrate modifications if the movement is more advanced.

As a busy mom, one of my favourite things about these workouts is the length. Most workouts are around 20 minutes, which makes them realistic for my schedule.

Some days, depending on my daughter, I might repeat the workout and get a 40-minute session in. Other days, I’ll combine a few shorter workouts to target different areas of my body.

Another bonus?

They are apartment-friendly!

You don’t need a huge space or fancy equipment. You can easily complete these workouts from your living room.

Les Mills

f I’m in the mood to channel my inner boxer, Les Mills BodyCombat is my go-to workout.

Les Mills offers a variety of fitness programs, but BodyCombat is the one I personally enjoy the most.

It combines martial arts-inspired movements like punches, kicks, and combinations to create a high-energy cardio workout.

What I love about these workouts is how they teach you the combinations step-by-step before putting everything together into one challenging session.

The music is energetic and matches the intensity of the workout, which makes it feel more like a fun class rather than exercise.

The instructors are motivating and guide you through every movement, making it easy to stay engaged.

One thing I also enjoy is seeing everyone participating in the workout videos. Watching a group of people exercising together gives me that same motivation I used to get from attending gym classes.

Body Project

When I first started working out again, Body Project was one of the channels that helped me rebuild my confidence.

What makes Body Project special is that their workouts truly cater to everyone.

Whether you are a beginner, returning to exercise after a break, or already at an advanced fitness level, they have workouts suitable for you.

Their channel includes:

• HIIT workouts
• Cardio workouts
• Fat-burning workouts
• Low-impact workouts
• Full-body workouts

One thing I really appreciate is the representation in their videos. They include people with different body types and fitness levels, which is incredibly motivating.

Sometimes you watch a workout and think, “This looks easy.”

Then you actually do it and realize you are sweating more than expected!

The instructors are encouraging throughout the entire workout and constantly remind you that progress matters more than perfection.

HASfit

HASfit is another fantastic YouTube fitness channel, especially if you are looking for variety.

The channel is created by husband-and-wife team Joshua and Claudia, and their goal is not only to help people exercise but also to motivate them to create healthier lifestyles.

They offer over 1,000 workout videos and fitness programs suitable for different fitness levels.

Their workouts include:

• HIIT workouts
• Full-body workouts
• Cardio workouts
• Strength workouts
• Ab workouts
• Prenatal workouts

They also have workouts specifically designed for moms, including exercises that can help women who experience diastasis recti (ab separation after pregnancy).

One thing I love about HASfit is that they show different levels during the workout.

Claudia demonstrates the modifications, while Joshua shows the more advanced versions.

If you are starting out, I would recommend following Claudia first. As you get stronger, you can progress to the advanced movements.

And remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with modifying a workout. I still switch between levels depending on how my body feels that day.

Popsugar

POPSUGAR Fitness is perfect for anyone who loves variety.

They offer so many different types of workouts including:

• Dance workouts
• Cardio workouts
• Tabata workouts
• Ab workouts
• Strength workouts
• Family-friendly workouts

Some days you might feel like doing an intense HIIT workout, while other days you might want something lighter or more fun.

That is why I love having different options available.

Doing the same workout repeatedly can become boring, and your motivation can start to disappear. Having variety helps keep exercise exciting and allows you to choose a workout based on how you are feeling.

POPSUGAR also offers modified versions of many workouts, making them great for beginners or anyone starting their fitness journey.

Final Thoughts

f you have been wanting to start exercising but feel intimidated by going to the gym, I hope this post encourages you to start from home.

You don’t need expensive equipment or a gym membership to begin. Sometimes all you need is a little space, comfortable clothing, and a workout channel that makes you feel motivated.

My biggest advice is to find workouts you genuinely enjoy.

Because consistency doesn’t come from forcing yourself to do something you hate. It comes from finding movement that fits naturally into your lifestyle.

As a busy mom, I’ve learned that even a 20-minute workout is better than nothing. Small steps add up, and creating a routine that works for your season of life is what matters most.

So grab your water bottle, press play, and let’s get moving!

Happy sweating ❤️