20 Minute Workouts for Busy Moms

I’ve got less than two weeks to tone things up and I thought I would share how I am doing it.  Why am I doing this?  Well, for one, I am still mortified over splitting my favorite pair of “fat” jeans yesterday.   It was my go to pair for those days when I am bloated and PMS-ing.  (Please note–sadly, yesterday wasn’t one of those hormonally bloated days.  I have just been indulging in too many HOT NOW Krispy Kreme donuts and late at night pumpkin pie slices.)  My goal is not to lose weight.  My goal is to lose an inch around my waist.  So I can wear my jeans comfortably.  Baby steps, my friends.

By the way, I know this will work for me because I lost 4 inches around my waist in two months by eating well and doing these power intervals last summer.  (I’m also a ninja.) I will  try to throw in some superset workouts time permitting, but the intervals are my priority.  Additional workouts would be a bonus.  If you are looking for an easy way to feel better, sleep easier, and look better but you think you don’t have time then 20 minute workouts for busy moms was written for you.

Now I don’t really want to post before and after shots but since I am counting on you all to keep me accountable, I suppose I will post the before picture here.

(Since this post is in real time, if my after picture in two weeks is exactly the same, humor me and clap anyway.)

I am a full time working mom, who though happily married, plays a single mom in real life due to my husband’s job.  Throw in all the appointments  et cetera associated with having a Juvenile Arthritis kid, elementary school “time” requirements,  and this blog,  and I suppose you can say I am a little busy.  It’s hard to find the time to work out.  I drive my kids to two different schools and have a lengthy commute each day so going to a gym is near impossible.  However, working out at home while the kids are still asleep can be done!

Here is a super easy workout that can be done in 20 minutes, which is important for me.  The key is high intensity.  You have to give it everything you have during this workout in order to reap the rewards.  Disclaimer–I am not a medical professional, certified fitness expert, or anything like that.  I am a busy mom who has found a way to make my workouts count.)

Workout equipment used:

speed rope, dumb bells, treadmill or great outdoors

photo credit

Workout 1

2 minutes of active warm ups–stretching, arm windmills, hip circles etc
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute tricep extensions
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute tricep extensions
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute tricep extensions
1 minute speed rope jumping

1 minute tricep kickbacks
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute tricep kickbacks
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute tricep kickbacks

1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute bicep curls
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute bicep curls
1 minute speed rope jumping
1 minute bicep curls

 Workout 2

2 minute warmup
1 minute sprint interval
1 minute brisk walk
repeat until done

photo credit

This seems easy but if you do it correctly it will be the longest twenty minutes of your life.  If you aren’t sweating, you aren’t doing “high intensity.”

This little workout isn’t going to be what makes me lose the inch though.  It’s just a little metabolism booster.  In order to lose the inches, you must fuel the mommy machine with nutritious food.  Keep an eye out for my next post in my two week tune up mini-series for a couple examples of how I eat.

Have you ever tried a speedy workout solution and did it work?