Looking to get fit for 2020?
Did you, like me, resolve to get more fit in 2020? For me, it means getting back on the intermittent fasting bandwagon. For you, it may be to exercise more. If that’s true, I may have something that can help make exercise a part of your daily routine. Here you will find a list of the top 10 YouTube workout channels for moms.
(There is no compensation to me for mentioning them, but if there is a link to an Amazon product, I may receive a small fee if you click that link.)
I work out seven days a week. Not at the same intensity every day, but I make sure I get in at least a half an hour daily. Trust me, this doesn’t make me an ultra fit mama. It makes me a person who wants to continue to eat what I like. My secret weapon is YouTube. I use free YouTube workouts to keep me on track. At the end of this post I’ll describe my unconventional multitasking method for exercise.
Criteria for choosing the channels
Why do I consider these 10 to be useful for moms in particular? They offer workouts that vary in:
- Length.-You can find workouts as short as 5 minutes and as long as 60 minutes. For busy moms, it’s important to be able to squeeze in what you can when you can.
- Intensity.-I prefer low impact workouts with strength training, but high impact cardio and HIIT (high intensity interval training) routines are available too. If you need no impact, you can tune into some chair workouts.
- Skill level needed – Beginning exercisers as well as Cross Fit mamas and everyone in between can discover something to fit their needs.
In addition, all workouts can be modified to best suit your needs. Swap out lighter or heavier weights than what the trainer uses. Make a high impact routine low impact or vice versa. You can use several short videos to make up your own workout.
One more plus, most (not all) of these channels feature women modestly dressed. That may not matter to you, but I don’t need one of my younger kids asking, “Why is that lady’s belly showing?”
The Top 10 Free You Tube Workout Channels for Moms
1.JessicaSmithtv – Jessica is by far my favorite trainer. She has been at this game for a long time. She offers a huge variety of workouts: pilates; pilates inspired; kickboxing; walking; walking with weights; weight training; HIIT; standing abs, and many more. She also has an adorable dog, Peanut, that wanders in while she is exercising.
Here is one of my favorite walking with weights workouts
2. Up to the Beat Fitness – The majority of the workouts here are fast paced walking workouts. Some include weights and others are dance inspired. There are a few toning videos offered as well. The routines are fun and the trainer, Gina B., provides enough variety in them to keep things interesting. Click on the link to try out a fun 20 minute fat burning walking workout.
3. Pop Sugar Fitness – The workouts on this channel tend to be more challenging than the ones I have mentioned thus far. That said, they do have a nice selection of beginner workouts. Here you will find full body workouts, specific area toning, dance inspired routines, weight training and more. My all time favorite is this standing abs and arms routine. Belly alert here!
4. Bodyfit by Amy – Amy’s channel is another favorite of mine. Like Jessica, she also has a wide selection of workouts for anyone. Her channel is unique in that she has a huge collection (at least 40 videos) having to do with pregnancy. She has had two babies in her time on YouTube and so includes pre and postnatal workouts. In addition, she addresses issues such as exercising after a C section and diastasis recti repair.
I love her newest video 30 Minute Full Body Dumbbell HIIT Workout for Strength & Cardio.
5. Ellen Barrett (not a channel, but you can search her name and workouts will show up) – Ellen Barrett is the queen of fusion fitness. Her focus is on developing “long lean muscles” through barefoot workouts. Some routines include 3 lb weights. Those are light, but with high repetition exercises, they can start feeling heavy! Be on the alert, there is some belly exposure here. My favorite of hers is the Sleek Sculpt Express workout.
6. HASFit (Heart and Soul fitness) – A husband and wife team (Coach Kozak and Claudia) are the trainers on this channel. They describe their channel best, “We offer over 1,000 full length, free workout routines and complete 30 – 90 day fitness programs for all goals and fitness levels. Our free workout plans include exercise routines, meal plans, and the best motivation to keep you moving forward. “ Look at the size of the weights Coach uses in this “Total body workout with dumbells” video. Borderline ridiculous.
7. Pahla B fitness – Pahla has recently re-branded her channel to cater to women over 50. Don’t let that chase you away if you are not a woman “of a certain age.” If you go farther back, you will find running, kettle bell, Metcon, Tabata, weight training exercises and more. If you need a more mellow workout, she also has a few seated routines. A number of her videos are labeled one through five based on their difficulty level. It’s easy to find those if you go to “playlists” on her channel.
Here is a Level 4, 35-Minute Low Impact Cardio, Toning + Strength Workout
8. Denise Austin – Denise has been in the fitness industry for decades, selling more than 24 million exercise videos and DVDs. She’s 62 years old but you would never know it by looking at her. She has only 5 full length free videos on her site, but they’re worth trying, I like the “Fit and Fab Fat Blasting Cardio” workout.
9. Walk at Home by Leslie Sansome – Leslie is the “OG” of walk at home workouts. Her workouts are easy to follow and a good entry level point for those getting back into working out or just starting. She has four basic moves to make things simple. She has added new trainers to her videos to provide more variety. You can click here to try a 3 mile workout.
10. XHIT How to Lose Arm Fat video – I am mentioning this video by itself because I have never tried any other workouts on the XHIT channel. This particular video was all over Pinterest as the miracle cure for flabby arms. I haven’t used it every day like some, so I can’t claim the same results. Still, it’s a great arm workout that’s only 10 minutes long. Oh, and belly alert.
My multi-tasking workout routine
You may have noticed I have not discussed how annoying or not annoying are the trainers. That is because I don’t hear them. No, I’m not hearing impaired, I just have their videos on mute.
Here’s what I do. I bring up a video on my Kindle Fire and set it to the side of the television. I will then workout while I am watching an early morning news show. Boom, multi-tasking workouts, I get my exercise while I get my news. If morning workouts don’t work for you, you can schedule it for whatever time is convenient. The workouts are not so complex that you can’t figure out what to do. The important thing is to get moving.
I’d love to hear how you fit in your workouts!
If you need a set of weights, here is a set of three (3lb, 5lb, and 8lb) that should fill your needs.