30 mins. That's it.

I think all humans are naturally hedonistic. It’s good to feel good. Sleeping in is infinitely easier and more appealing than getting up for a gym class. Obvs.

The other day I saw a viral reel about a woman who is jacked, being candidly honest about what her life is like. She gets up at 4am to exercise for two hours before work, does her 9 to 5, goes home to meal prep/muscle soak/cold plunge and is in bed by 8.30pm to start the process again. She does this 7 days a week, never goes out, doesn’t socialise, she’s sore most of the time but it’s the lifestyle she chose and it’s kind of miserable but she feels it’s worth it.

Good for her but I’ve long since given up on washboard abs, it's just not part of my genetic make up. I could crack a walnut with my butt cheeks though. Disappointing ab-related results aside, I’ve been consistently exercising most days for at least 20 years, since I was a teenager. I’ve done everything - VHS aerobics tapes, Geri Halliwell’s yoga DVDs, YouTube workouts, Les Mills, straight up gym sessions, boot camps, Crossfit, F45. Disclaimer, I am not jacked but I can keep up with my little kids and out run (some) of the 20 year olds I play netball with and that’s really the whole point right?

My 2 biggest takeaways are these - lift heavy and 30 mins is plenty.

I came of age in the early oughts and it was disgustingly toxic. I’d be at the gym for 1.5 hours most days, often more. I lived on an estate and if I ran around the cluster of 100 houses four times it was about an hour of cardio and I went through a phase where I did this morning and night. Entirely unnecessary.

Here are some thoughts.

1. When it comes to structured exercise less is more. I’m talking about classes or structured training. I do 2 x 1 hour 6am gym classes a week (I would do three if they were available though) and that’s my main exercise. I’ll sprinkle in some short, hard 30 mins sessions at home and a game of netball and I’m set for the week.

2. When it comes to general movement more is more. Since October last year I have walked 10k steps minimum every single day except for around 4 days when I was truly very sick. Every time I mention 10k steps someone comes in with ‘Well ACTUALLY it’s an arbitrary number and you can walk less to get blah blah blah…’ and yeah fine. In my test group of one person, I’m telling you the benefits of walking of at least 10k steps every day religiously has been phenomenal. And that’s all the boring stuff, walking instead of driving, taking the stairs, playing a game of soccer with the kids, walking around the pool while they’re having lessons, walking around the oval while they’re at footy training, walking to go get your lunch, walking while you’re talking to your friend on the phone. Just remember ABW - Always Be Walking.

   

Do a few structured workouts a week, with heavy weights. 30 mins is ace. Move every chance you get. I work out in our dusty old shed with daggy adjustable weights and I bob around like a derp on my walking pad in most meetings. It doesn’t have to be fancy it just has to happen.

Reading

Jane Harper’s Last One Out. It was fine, I smashed it out in two days but I keep chasing that high I got from The Dry and I haven’t found it with any of her other books.

Watching

The Comeback. This show is so delightful, Lisa Kudrow is an unholy genius.

Listening

The White Lotus season 2 soundtrack. We’re late to the party on watching Lotus but Steve Coogan is in the upcoming season 4 so we had to brush up. Fab Italian vibes for working.

Wearing

The weather is starting to cool down which is lovely. Outfit on the left I wore to a friend’s birthday lunch which was utterly delightful. We all brought a dish to our local town hall and had a lovely child-free sit down lunch together. Can highly recommend - dress from Dissh, shoes are ancient Joanne Mercer, ceramic necklace. Outfit on the right I wore to my little one’s bestie’s b’day - pants from Variety Hour, Radical Yes shoes I got for a steal on Depop, Uniqlo jumper and Oroton coat.

Doing

Not much we’ve been a touch under the weather and laying low. Went to my mates 40th on the weekend and that was fab. Netball season kicks off tonight and I’ve been stalking netball influencers for defence drills. Looking forward to giving them a whirl on the court.

We have visitors this weekend which will be delightful.

How have you been? Swimming I hope!

Have a rad week,

Carly

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