100 Ways I've Sweat Over the Last Year

I’ve done a lot of workouts over my lifetime, and I’ve done some really creative sweating over the past year. As we transition into this new year, I thought it would be a fun exercise to write out how I’ve sweated over the last year. I don’t know what 2020 will bring or how I will sweat from now until December 2020, but I’m hoping to add some new things to this list!

I’ve broken down the list into groups, and I’ve included some commentary on selected items in the list. (Maybe next year I’ll have commentary for each one?) I think it also helps guide my adventures for next year. Maybe I should try to sweat more in the X category, you know? It also helps guide me as I notice fitness trends (existing and emerging) while I build my sweat calendar. Anyway, check it out, and let me know if you have any recommendations for ways to sweat this year!

Outdoors

Solo hiking – This is totally different from hiking with a group! I found it meditative and energy cleansing. Do you ever hike alone?
Riding my bike outdoors
Post-dinner walks – When it’s warm enough out and I’ve finished everything early enough in the evening, I like to go for post-dinner walks. It’s a nice way to talk about whatever is on our minds, plus it’s a great way to get some extra steps in before it’s time to settle in for bed. On rest days, this is particularly great for loosening up without much intensity.
Leading group hikes
Setting up a campsite (this is a lot harder than it looks!)
Lugging camping gear through the sand at Assateague
Attending the Arlington Fitness and Wellness Festival (twice in one calendar year!)
Participating in an Exercise Dress Tour workout
Doing outdoor photoshoots (holding a pose in the heat is no joke!)
Doing a couple of outdoor workouts led by Body by Buckner
Leading pre-hike warm-ups

Gym

Strength training with a personal trainer – This has been a game-changer for me! I’ve gotten stronger, sweated a lot, and have gathered more data to track my progress. I highly recommend hiring a trainer if you can!
TRX class – So hard, but so worth it!
Les Mills GRIT – This class is such a great sweat! FYI, you can try this and other Les Mills classes for free for 21 days! (affiliate link)
Row machine – What a great way to warm up! I often underestimate this machine, but it’s really a great tool to up your cardio game!
Battle ropes – Seriously, 10 seconds of this and I feel like I can go home and finish my workout!
Motorless treadmill
Traditional barre classes
Traditional pilates classes
Community flow vinyasa yoga
leading DMV Fitness Fam workouts
Going through SPARK training
going through APEX training
Yin yoga
participating in my 4k by 4pm challenge
Taking POP Pilates classes
Doing the Lunge Challenge (25 lunges per day for 30 days!)
Les Mills BodyPump – Pumping iron and really breaking a sweat = win-win!
Teaching HIIT classes
CXWORX class
Flipping a gigantic tire
Pilates reformer classes
Kettlebell class at Lifetime Fitness
Using the stair climber machine – Ten minutes of this and my legs are like noodles!

Non-Traditional Workout Locations

Flex & Flow – Have you ever taken a HIIT yoga class? How about during a wellness retreat? I got the opportunity to do that this summer during the EMPOWER Summer Camp!
Ligne Pilates and Movement Class (Eva in DC) – Worked out in an actual grocery store! This pilates class was challenging but oh-so-worth-it.
DMV Fitness Fam x Kiehl’s events – Imagine getting a major core workout in before the mall opens, and then getting pampered by Kiehl’s!

Online/At-Home Workouts

Teaching a Sweat Pink Sweat Fest class
DailyBurn
Workout DVDs – This sounds ancient, but my old health insurance company sent these to me about a year and a half ago, and the workouts are actually really great! I may be the only household in America with a still-functioning, standard DVD player.
Charlee Atkins EMOM legs workout
Taking Les Mills On-Demand Classes

Indoor Cycling

Teaching indoor cycling classes – This is one of the most rewarding activities I do! I have 3 regular classes each week, and I just love it! My students are hardworking and somehow have the tolerance to put up with my ridiculous puns and dad jokes throughout each class.
Taking indoor cycling classes – I know this sounds weird at first, but I think that one of the best things group fitness instructors can do is to take classes taught by other people. It gets you out of playlist ruts, helps you come up with new drills, and teaches you about what cueing means from a student perspective. If you’re a fitness instructor and aren’t taking anyone’s classes but your own, you’re really missing out on some professional development!
Teaching HIIT indoor cycling classes – To me, this is a totally different category of indoor cycling. These classes are really just about 20 minutes’ worth of work, and it’s about giving the maximum effort on each interval. I think it’s easier to build these classes, but I think it’s harder to teach because you’re off the bike more and are really cueing more heavily with timing and keeping everyone working as hard as they possibly can through each drill!

Boutique Studio Workouts

VersaClimber workout at PULSE House of Fitness – Sadly, they have since closed. 😢
The Butcher Shop HIIT/reformer workout – I somehow still haven’t managed to get around to writing a review, but this was easily one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken! It was such an awesome workout, and the studio was inviting while also being challenging.
Taking a kettlebell seminar
Solidcore
Cyclebar
Vortex – This one is also now-closed, but supposedly relocating sometime in the future.
Kettlebell workout
Bootcamp class
Kazaxe
Working out with Michelle Obama’s trainer – Okay, obviously it’s been a little over a year, but how can I not count this?
Filming workout videos for a friend’s online series
Orangetheory
LUMIFIT’s trampoline workout
Zumba
305 Fitness
Learning new exercises
Biker Barre – I haven’t done the “biker” part yet, but I’ve taken a couple of barre classes there.
Vixen Workout – Nikki Major is one of my favorite group fitness instructors in the DMV. If you’re ever here, you need to find her at one of her classes!

Sports (not including volleyball)

Tennis
Golf
Driving range
Shooting hoops
Playing catch
Batting cages

Everyday Activities

Vacuuming out the car – The worst is after a camping trip!
Spring cleaning
Cooking dinner for a large group
Hosting a party
Cleaning my apartment
Getting ready to host guests at home
Dancing
Building furniture
Moving furniture
Volunteering at a diaper bank
Walking to Audi field
Walking to Nats stadium
Cheering on the nats
Sightseeing

Workday

Walking at lunch
Doing event photography
Coordinating award winners at events
Building office furniture
Walking the stairs
Afternoon walks
Working on deadlines

Self Care

Infrared sauna
Floatation therapy – Why was I sweating? From nerves! Once I finally relaxed, everything was wonderful!

Volleyball

Beach volleyball
Grass volleyball
Coed volleyball
Indoor volleyball
Coaching volleyball
Scrimmaging high school/college volleyball players

Running

Hill runs
Trail running
Road running
Treadmill workouts
Track workouts

I’m sure I’ve missed some stuff, but 100 isn’t enough for you? Keep checking back here throughout 2020 to see new ways I’m sweating over the next 365 days!

Conversation starters:
What are some different ways you’ve workout out over the last year? What’s been your favorite workout so far? Anything particularly memorable?