'I'm a trainer and mum of 2. Here are 5 ways to get fit without hitting the gym.'

I'm a fitness trainer and I've barely set foot in a traditional gym for almost 15 years. 

"Hate" might be too strong of a word to describe how I feel about the gym scene. I admit, big gyms have come such a long way since I began my career as a trainer back in the early '00s. They look and smell better, the crowd is more diverse, there’s a lot more support, but still, I’m not all that interested in setting foot in many of them.

Even though I know exactly what to do in a gym, the whole scene has always felt like a waste to me, from the weights room where everyone’s waiting to use the same equipment, to the sad lines of cardio machines and the grating “fitness music” playing in the background. Looking back, it’s never been my preferred space for staying active and getting that much-needed mental health release.

Watch the controversy around the Bluey exercise episode. 

If you’re like me and need some other options, here are 5 ways to stay active and feel incredible without ever setting foot in a big gym.

1. Do more of the most underrated cardio exercise ever… 

I'm talking about walking. But not just cruising around, but nice brisk walking. It can change a person’s entire WORLD by adding more brisk walks into their weekly schedule. From body shape to health markers and mental clarity and happiness, it all changes. 

Now, you can manipulate this any way you want: You can walk as 'moving meditation' or a form of 'nature bathing' by going ‘nude’ (not without clothes but by walking or hiking without listening to music/podcasts) in the great outdoors and appreciating the world around you. 

Another option? You can increase the intensity of your walk by playing musical intervals. Load up your favourite playlist, and walk briskly through every verse, then either jog, walk faster, or do a bodyweight exercise (like squats/lunges/step ups/push-ups) through every chorus. 

Micro walks is another good option to add more movement to your day. You can do this by taking your work calls while walking, bringing a team member on a walking meeting or listening to your fave podcast while walking. Do a brisk five to 10 minutes before or after your lunch break, or get off the bus/train a few stops early and power-walk the final part. 

At home, take a ‘night walk’ with the family, before or after dinner. It's an incredible habit to get into and really helps your body metabolise food better in the evening/overnight.

2. Home workouts are great, but add community.

Transforming a corner of your home into your personal fitness sanctuary, and finding an online workout you love can be a game changer. But, it's even better if it comes with a community to keep you accountable and excited about your workouts. 

We create this at my studio, The Upbeat, by opening up every class to a livestream community. You can literally join any studio class from afar, and work out with not just the trainer but the whole class. 

I also really love My TXO by Tiffiny Hall for mums who want to ‘bounce forward’ (I’ve created some great HIIT workouts with low-impact options there, too). 

Apple Fitness+ is also amazing for variety, great music and optimising your Apple Watch experience (perfect for data lovers!). Or, try something like The Pilates Class for a fancier, and more chill, workout experience.

3. Get into an active hobby.

Learning a new active/adventure skill for yourself, or with your partner/best friends/kids is an amazing way to get fit and stay motivated. The obvious ones are team sports, but there are less conventional options like dancing, kayaking, martial arts, rock climbing, obstacle racing, parkour, skating, surfing, canyoning, SUP, and hiking to camping spots. Activities like these can bring so much joy to your life while keeping you fit. Roping in a friend or family member doubles the fun.

Listen to this episode of The Quicky on fitness challenges. Post continues below.

4. Walk into a group training ‘studio’.

Okay, so a studio is technically a gym, but it's the polar opposite experience. In fact, I’m totally obsessed with group training studios, whether that’s my own space, The Upbeat, or a Pilates/yoga/strength/HIIT/boxing/bootcamp experience. 

For me, there’s a HUGE difference walking into a smaller studio with guided classes targeted at a specific audience. There’s minimal time wasted, hopefully some good quality guidance, no waiting around for equipment and you typically know the kind of crowd and experience you’re going to get, which makes the whole game less intimidating and more satisfying. Walk in, move, hopefully connect with a few awesome people, walk out, move on.

5. Try 'strength snacking'.

You can build strength in so many ways, and although heavy weights are incredible for your health, you don’t need to be deadlifting 100kg to be strong and healthy. 

Try 'strength snacking'. These are tiny 5-minute strength workouts spread throughout your day, habit-stacked with other things you do regularly. For example, you might do 20 squats and 10 push-ups before every shower, rep out as many reverse lunges as you can while the kettle boils, or keep a set of dumbbells at the top of your stairs and do 20 rows every time you pass them. 

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Taking the kids to the park? Set up an obstacle circuit of bodyweight exercises like push-ups and step-ups every time you take your kids there to play. Sneak some cardio in by leaving a skipping rope on your porch, and do 50 skips when you walk outside (the impact work also builds strength in your muscles). Or, just load up some music for your walk/run and every time you hit a chorus, stop and do a strength exercise until the verse comes in again.

At the end of the day, keeping your focus on creating a ‘movement culture’ for your life and just looking for opportunities to add more fitness and active fun into your lifestyle can take you just as far as a gym. You'll often score bonus mental health and positivity points, too. Who knows, these habits might even help get you ready to walk into that big gym after all.

So, what do I do to keep fit? 

Because everyone loves to know what the trainer gets up to ;)

For me, it’s a combined routine of dance conditioning (for targeted core and cardio) and functional fitness work, which means a mix of choreographed Pilates, strength and muscle endurance work with my own bodyweight, plus dumbbells and kettlebells, dance cardio and the odd HIIT session. This style of training has kept me fit through an entire career in this space and two pregnancies and c-sections.

But that’s me, not you. Whatever gets you excited, do that… And when it doesn’t excite you anymore, try something else. Fitness isn’t really about finding “your one thing”, so much as it is about continuing to move and adapt to your circumstances, age and ability, At any given moment, for example, you may have to pivot if you get an injury, have a baby, or hit a new life stage, and do a different kind of workout to what you’re used to. And that’s so fine! Mix it up but just keep moving forward. 

As long as you’re building strength in your muscles and conditioning your cardio system, you’re cool, however you do it. 

More real food and less ultra processed food will help too, but that’s a whole new topic... 

Libby Babet is very busy mama-of-two, trainer and multi-preneur, having founded fitness studio The Upbeat, collagen brand Beauty Food and activewear Earthletica. You can try her fitness classes for free over at The Upbeat On Demand or Optus Sport Fitness Apps.

Feature image: Supplied.

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