My Weekly Fitness Routine

Being a mom back to work has limited my spare time drastically. Gone are the days of long leisure walks, midday windows to be active, and searching for things to do on maternity leave. Now it’s most important to create time for fitness in order to feel strong enough to keep up with my ever-busy and growing toddler. Working out is also imperative for my mental health and keeps my anxiety more controlled, so it’s a priority to stay consistent. After two postpartum years of waiting endlessly for a cardio machine to open up at the gym, I noticed the Skillz Kickboxing venue and it grasped my interest immediately. I used to love kickboxing many years ago as part of a different gym membership, and what I remember enjoying most was the combo choreography that came along with it-not to mention the best workout I’ve ever had. You can expect to burn between 400-800 calories in an hour-long class, and by learning the fundamentals of kickboxing, you’ll strengthen and tone your core while also enhancing your balance. Video below shows you the gist of the class.

• 10-minute high intensity warm-up of the core, push-ups, and running
• skipping
• 6 rounds of kickboxing on individual bags
• pairing up to spar with a partner
• final intensity workout
• stretch and back home all within an hour!

After three 45-minute classes with Skillz, I was once again hooked and signed up with the mindset to commit to 3-4 classes per week and quit my gym membership. As a gym person, I wasted a lot of time doing the same thing expecting to see results, and weighed myself frequently as an indication of being fit. I was lean prior to joining but lacking tone, strength, agility, and endurance. I haven’t stepped on the scale for months because the weight may have actually increased from muscle mass, but I don’t want that to throw me off because I feel good. I also find that motivation from the instructors is necessary to hold me accountable both to attend regularly and push myself harder- and Skillz has an amazing staff who authentically love the sport and make the venue feel like a personable community. The class sizes are usually around 8-10 people, but some have been as low as 2 people, and at that point, it feels like personal training! No matter what, though, with Skillz, you’re always guaranteed to get a great workout, all you have to do is show up. As it turns out, the kickboxing routine has opened up more available time and has also proven better results in my core and quads than ever before. In just 3 weeks, I noticed the definition in my lower abs and thickening of my upper thighs, but most importantly I felt STRONG.

Below: before and after 2 months of kickboxing

Although kickboxing is a total body workout, on my off days I try and make a point of supplementing with cardio or light weights at home. A healthy cardiovascular system is an integral piece of overall strength, so I’ll keep up with running which has been a fitness favourite since the beginning. If I can’t make a class, I will take some of the HIIT (high-intensity interval training) I’ve learned from Skillz to the backyard and mix in some weights to maintain muscle memory. As someone just starting out, the most important component of the sport is proper form. Skillz kickboxing is equipped to train thoroughly and beginners should not shy away! Your first orientation will consist of a personalized sit down to discover your goals and a quick sparing with one of the instructors to ensure you feel up to speed. If you’ve EVER considered joining kickboxing, then I’m excited to extend an exclusive offer for my readers to embark on this journey.

Text “Skillz with Mills” to 778-350-2924 and try a FREE class with provided boxing gloves.

If you enjoy the class and want to sign up, you’ll receive 33% off your first payment and gloves to keep.

 (a $70 offer!!) Locations in Victoria, Langford, Duncan, Ladysmith and Nanaimo

Thanks for following along on this post and I hope you discover new avenues to achieve your fitness goals too! It can be so easy to plateau doing the same things, and sometimes we need to branch out and be trained in new ways to discover our potential. Please share your fitness stories and successes in the comments below!

Love,

Momma Mills