Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit

I (like most people) bought my Peloton during COVID. I had previously been attending weekly spin classes at the local YMCA with a friend and it had come to be something I looked forward to each week. When I was cut off from that, I bit the bullet on what seemed like an insanely pricey splurge, not really understanding at the time that it would completely change the way I work out for the next several years. Here I am, five years later, still an AVID Pelotoner, but having expanded much further than just the bike workouts.

After doing over 3,000 Peloton workouts (yes, really, but as you can see in the screenshot below, they count meditation, warm ups, cool downs all as separate workouts, so it’s probably not as impressive as it sounds), I’ve learned a lot—about fitness and motivation of course, but also even more than I previously did about how to make movement a sustainable, consistent part of life (especially entering my 40’s, which, YIKES). Whether you’re thinking of joining Peloton, are just getting started, or are a longtime user like me, here are some real talk takeaways from years of sweat, effort, skipping burpees, and chasing “just one more” blue dot.

1. I don’t always use the workouts the way the instructors intend.

For a Type A freak like me, this one took a long time for me to learn. I want, nay NEED to follow the instructions I’m given by a fitness instructor to a “T” or else … it just doesn’t count, right? One of the beautiful things I’ve come to learn about using Peloton is that I can tailor the workouts for myself. Some days this looks like pausing the strength workout to gain more rest into between sets. When doing something like this, I remind myself that there are 18 year olds using the same workouts as me so the trainers MUST make it challenging enough for people that are surely in better shape than I. Other times, I use regular rides (usually 90’s themed) as VO₂ max training—not in the way they’re programmed, but by doing four minutes “on” and four minutes “off,” ignoring the instructor cues. I’m not tired at the exact same time as everyone else in the class, maybe, but I accomplish my goal and get to listen to some rockin’ tunes.

Another note in this section is that I find MOST Peloton workouts to be very cardio heavy … even the strength workouts. I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts that suggest it’s better for a 40 year old female to have 1-2 dedicated, specific cardio sessions per week, so in addition to pausing the workouts for more rest, sometimes I also “skip” the finisher prescribed by the instructor and just do another set or two of heavy lifting.

2. 20- and 30-minute workouts often pack the same punch.

Sometimes I waffle bigtime when trying to choose between a 20 minute strength class or a 30 minute. After taking a bunch of both, I’m convinced there’s almost no difference in the work load for these—it just comes down to how much rest time the instructor gives throughout class. SO, taking a 20 minute class and creating my own rest periods usually means I do about the same as if I’d taken the 30 minute. In fact, frequently, I’ll take 45 minutes to get through a 30-minute class or 30 to do a 20-minute one because I pause and take extra breaks. It works for me and still gets the job done.

3. Strength splits changed everything for me.

Peloton (specifically, my favorite instructor, Rebecca Kennedy) introduced me to strength splits (essentially, they drop 3-4 preset workouts to do each week and then you do the same workouts week after week, progressing your weights as you go), and it’s made a huge difference in consistency and progress. I love knowing what muscle groups I’m training each day, and I’ve seen much better strength gains by sticking to a structured weekly split. These DO wear me out more (no surprise, given the gains), so I usually have to take de-load weeks (where I lift lighter or even skip lifting in favor of yoga or Pilates) to avoid burnout, over fatiguing and injury.

5. Those blue dots are surprisingly motivating.

Peloton knows that gamification motivates people. Is it silly that I’m motivated by a blue dot? Maybe. But there’s something satisfying about seeing that little completion badge and keeping your streak going. Right now, I’m on a 413 day streak!

6. The Peloton Facebook groups and community are gold.

If you ever need accountability, support, or someone to geek out over foam rolling with, the Peloton Facebook groups have your back. There are groups for moms, strength lovers, and some instructor-specific devotees – just about every niche you can think of. I’ve picked up great tips and found a real sense of camaraderie there. People share their favorite workouts or tips for modifying strength splits – very helpful!

7. Your core is sneakily weak—and it takes constant work to maintain.

Ever since I had my second kiddo, my core has been hit or miss (I even had a bulging disc in my lower back for a bit that DEFINITELY got worse because of a weak core.). With Peloton, I did a core program designed by Rebecca Kennedy that was unbelievably tough, but by the end, my benchmark test showed great improvements. YET, a few months later, I repeated the benchmark test and… oof. Most of that progress had faded. I’m finding through consistent Peloton use that core strength is one of those things you have to work on consistently, or you lose it quickly. AND it really does inform so much else of what you do – leg day, upper body day, etc. They don’t call it CORE for nothin’!

8. Lifting heavier isn’t always better.

There have been times I got so focused on upping my weights (see section about strength splits above!) that my form went out the window. Now, I make space for workouts or at least sets within workouts where I intentionally go lighter, slow down, and really focus on proper range of motion. It makes a big difference—and I remember that going as heavy as humanly possible is NOT always the point.

9. Variety is baked in.

Whether it’s the bike, treadmill, rower, outdoor runs and walks, plus yoga, barre, Pilates, and strength training, Peloton programming has something for every season, mood, and energy level. I love being able to shift between modalities based on how I feel that day. It really takes away the “I don’t feel like it” excuse because there is always SOMETHING I can try to tackle, even if it’s only a ten minute session. There are different lengths and music types and instructor personalities to choose from – and variety is the spice of fitness!

10. Peloton brought me back to yoga, barre, and Pilates—and I’m better for it.

Because I’m met with these options every time I go to select a workout, I’m constantly reminded to mix them into my week whenever I can. Not only do they improve flexibility and recovery, but they strengthen the little muscles and connective tissue that keep everything else running smoothly. I love some of the Peloton yoga instructors and again, I love how there are even 15 minute options for a quick morning session so I don’t have to commit to a full hour of yoga to fit it in.

11. Recovery starts the second you’re done.

This gem from one of Rebecca Kennedy’s hikes stuck with me. I’ve learned to prioritize my post-workout recovery with breathing exercises, stretching, foam rolling, hydration, electrolytes, and even short meditations. Peloton offers all of this in class form too, which makes it easy to stay on track.

Will Peloton be how I workout forevermore? I honestly don’t know. I really do love it, but I’ve been tempted by some other programs lately, so it is possible I will take a break for a bit. Two years ago, I turned down my subscription (which actually, worked out really well because even though I cut my cost in half, the only thing I really lost was the ability to do the spin workouts through the bike’s screen – I just have to use my iPad instead, which is no big deal). Sometimes I wonder if I’d do better just going back to designing my own strength workouts, rocking out to my pre-set Spotify playlists in our home gym and tracking my progress instead of trying to follow classes all the time. But, even if I do leave the community for a little bit, I cannot deny how great this option has been for this season of my life, particularly doing COVID, when I was abruptly stopped from going to in person fitness classes, including spin.