My Current Health and Fitness Routine (and what's on deck!)
Life seems busier this year, doesn't it?
If you've been looking at your calendar lately and thinking "I thought it was supposed to slow down after December? When exactly am I supposed to dive into my fitness goals?" - welcome. You are my people.
I’m a fitness nerd (affectionately self-proclaimed), and I’ve coached high-achieving women and men for 10+ years. But I’m also a real human with deadlines, travel, hormones, cravings, and a brain that occasionally wants to shut itself down and just not.
Where I used to push myself into daily, hour-long workouts, not I'm challenging my body with shorter, more focused workouts and honoring my days off. Where I used to get up at 5 a.m. for spin class, I'm prioritizing sleep and recovery. January is no longer the time to "turn up the dial", but to tune in.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure of a New Year's Resolution kind of fitness goal, I get it.
That's why this year, I've been really excited to change nothing.
Seriously.
I had a conversation a few weeks ago with my husband:
Husband: What are your goals for 2026?
Me: Just keep doing what I'm doing.
This is the first time - maybe ever - that I've felt really comfortable exactly as I am. I don't really want to change much. So, this year, I'm leaning in to being present, maintaining my health on all levels, and listening to my body.
An uncomfortable mindset
It's actually a really strange feeling for me...this idea that I don't need to lose weight, or run a half marathon, or set and "achieve" something in the next 365 days. I have ALWAYS been the kind of person who needs to do more, work harder, be better.
And don't get me wrong: I don't wake up every day feeling like Giselle. But there's something about 2026 that has me really wanting to explore this whole maintenance thing.
When it first flashed across my brain I was a bit uncomfortable:
I'm a fitness coach. Shouldn't I always be striving for that next level?
I'm a women. Shouldn't I always be trying to be thinner?
I've run a half marathon. Shouldn't I be training for a full?
And then I realized that I've literally been working my butt off to be where I am: strong, capable, confident in my skin and comfortable in my healthy routine. That was my "aha" moment. The moment I realize: it's time to just lean in to what already works.
Fitness Habits I'm Leaning Into
Last year I told myself I was going to document my year-long fitness journey as a vlog. That as I phased myself through a lean build, into a fat loss phase and possibly marathon training, I'd check-in about it daily. That clearly did not happen. Ha. And I make no promises this year although, of all years in my fitness journey, I think this one might be the most interesting.
I've never (seriously, never), committed to a maintenance phase. I've always felt like I had something to do, something to prove. And that maintenance meant I was somehow not trying. Now I realize that' couldn't be further from the truth.
My training routine now is about quality of life and longevity, rather than weight on the scale or body composition percentage. I'm excited to lean into what has been feeling good:
Training for strength and function
I've really been enjoying the lower rep ranges lately. Every rep is difficult, which means my body and brain has to stay locked in the whole time. Protecting my time to exercise feels especially crucial when the rest of life is intensely busy.
On top of that, I've had the opportunity to fall back into sports I love, and new sports I'm learning to love (looking at you, pickleball). And it feels great being able to say "Yes, I'll try!" without having to wonder about my ability to keep up.
Volleyball with the fam in Hilton Head. I played volleyball all through high school - and we were great! I didn't realize how much I missed it.
Walking
I feel so much more energized and content when I move my body all day. Since I spend a lot of time on programming, writing and coaching on my laptop, I'll be keeping up my steps on my walking pad.
I do want to be better about getting outside with my dogs. As the temperatures drop and the wind picks up that feels really hard but Koa and Leilani, my two Norwegian Elkhounds, adore these walks -- as do I! I just have to commit to the budle-up.
Mobility
I want to be able to do a backbend again! I was a gymnast for 9 years. Flexible without thinking about it. And mobility makes life so much easier. I'll be working more mobility and flexibility into my daily routine - and I think doing a backbend will be a good measure of my success!
Biking in Hilton Head
Potentially in 2026:
Hyrox. I can feel myself getting curious about this super trendy athletic competition both for the sake of the challenge of it, but also as something my husband and I can train for together.
Food Habits I'm Leaning Into
Food habits have a way of sounding ick, but I'm talking about the good habits here.
Prioritizing protein WITHOUT tracking
Protein is a priority. But even though I've on-and-off tracked macros for many years and it's taught me a LOT, I'm enjoying not tracking at all right now. I've put in a lot of practice: understanding food quality, portion size, timing in general. And I feel confident that as long as I'm hitting my protein goals, the rest will fall into place.
Not skipping breakfast
This was my M.O. for a long time. I'd tell myself I wasn't hungry. Or didn't have time. Or that I couldn't eat eggs anymore so what was I supposed to eat?
But I realize in hindsight that it was a bad habit leftover from years of disordered eating. And it was not doing me any favors. Plus, it's really tough to hit 130 grams of protein a day when you skip the first meal!
My go-to, non-egg breakfasts right now:
4 ounces hot smoked salmon with sourdough bread, avocado, hemp seeds and berries
berry-forward protein shake with silver-dollar protein pancakes
Greek yogurt with homemade granola and berries
Skin Care Habits I'm Leaning Into
I spent the first 30 years of my life not paying any real attention to skincare. But the more I learn, the more I realize how important it is to prioritize skin care and skin health. Plus, it's fun.This year, I'm committing to taking action with preventative care as well as a little pampering self-care, too.
Being in the know about what's in my skincare
I spent a lot of years buying whatever was trendy, or the cheapest, and slathering it on my face. But since really starting to understand that our skin is our largest organ, and that it absorbs everything, I've been putting a lot more time, effort and yes, money, into understanding my choices.
I love using the EWG website to stay informed. They have great resources, guides and a massive database that I use to look up clean skincare products, makeup, household cleaning products and so much more.
SPF
Ohhhh the good old days of slathering on SPF 4 tanning oil and sitting out in the sun for hours. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good tan, but I'm also seeing the repercussions of years of lax attention to SPF, and there's no time like the present to start levelling up. We've even been making our own natural sunscreen!
Sleep Habits I'm Leaning Into
No blue light 1-2 hours before bed
When I was 18 my favorite phrase was "sleep when you die". I no longer know who that girl thought she was, ha. Sleep is crucial for recovery: physical, hormonal, mental. If I don't get at least 7.5 hours my brain doesn't work properly. And I know that blue light - like the kind projected from a phone or TV - throws me off. 2026 is bringing:
a 365 days a year commitment to wearing my blue light blocking glasses in the evening
putting away my phone and turning off the computer/TV a couple of hours before bed
switching bedroom lights to amber bulbs
Fresh air and natural light in the morning
Good sleep hygiene starts as soon as you get up. Studies show that exposure to natural, outdoor light in the a.m. hours causes a beneficial cortisol peak early in the morning, improves mood, energy and alertness, and helps you fall asleep more easily. Sign me up.
Mental Health Habits I'm Leaning Into
Mental health is just as important as physical health. I love to read. I love to learn. I've started making more time for it during the day.
Brain games
I have always been a fan of word games and logic puzzles. I think it's an inherited trait. Right now, I love spending a few minutes waking up my brain with my morning coffee. This is what I'm into right now:
NY Times games likes Betweenle, Connection and Pips
Crossword puzzles - I have books of them!
GeoGrid - this is a super fun way to learn about countries and maps of the world
Unfollowing anyone who gives me the ick - following anyone worth it
I am on social media way more than I like to be. Not scrolling so much (although I do have my moments), but as an entrepreneur and fitness brand, I know that's where I can connect to the most people. I have a rule for myself: every post needs to be either a) value adding or b) positively entertaining.
And I'm making another rule for myself: if someone I follow gives me the ick, is demeaning, negative or otherwise makes me feel not awesome, I'm immediately out. Even if I've been following them for years.
Daily Routines I'm Leaning Into
One of my favorite conversations with my clients starts like this:
"I never usd to XYZ. Now I can't imagine not doing it! It feels so natural."
When the healthy steps on your to-do list start to feel like habit, you know you're on your way to "lifestyle fit". Which is an incredible feeling because you get to enjoy the journey - not just check boxes. These are the routines and habits that I've been loving, and want to do more of in 2026:
Not checking into work mode for at least the 1st hour
I work 70 hours a week, minimum. There's a lot to do for a fitness entrepreneur with clients in multiple time zones. And I am eternally grateful! But I cherish the moments of time that I can call my own. Often, those moments only happen right after I wake up and right before I go to bed. So I like to protect them by not reaching for my phone right away in the morning.
Walk the dogs daily
I live in the mountains of Vermont. When it's winter, it is WINTER. Which means temps in the teens, snowy weather, sloppy roads. But even when it's colder than I want it to be, taking my dogs for a walk always feels restorative. Plus, they love it. And I love the sleepy-dog aftermath.
Connect with people I love
Again, mountains of Vermont. It's not easy to see my loved ones as often as I'd like. But it's always worth it. This year, I vow to take more trips to see my friends and family, to call when they're too far away to see frequently, and to just generally put in the loving effort.
Walking after meals
Taking a short walk after meals is one of the simplest ways to support better metabolic health. Just 10–20 minutes of helps your muscles use circulating glucose, which can temper post-meal blood sugar spikes and support steadier energy. It also encourages digestion, reduces bloating and that heavy “food coma” feeling. Over time, making post-meal walks a habit can improve insulin sensitivity, support heart health, and make it easier to maintain a healthy weight—just as simply as that!
Presence and Mindfulness Habits I'm Leaning Into
These are the habits that I want to use more to calm my mind and prioritize being present. Life has been speeding up over the last few years and there's no sign of a slow down. I'm grateful, but want to make sure that I'm taking preventative measures to stay present, avoid burnout and continue to love the life I've built.
Cold/heat exposure
My husband built us a cold plunge unit in the basement over the summer. Though it's still a challenge to get into, it's far less daunting now than when we had to tiptoe across the snow to get to our horsetrough style plunge from last winter!
The cold plunge is much a mental test as it is physical. It never gets warmer, and it always requires a deep breath of self-encouragement, but I tell you what: nothing feels as good as getting out of that tub feels in the morning. By 9 a.m. you've already taken on the most challenging part of the day.
I'd like to spend more time in the sauna this year. Again, the mental benefits are just as huge as the physical benefits for me. Physically, the sauna is incredible for my recovery. Mentally, I find that it's one of the only places where I can shut my brain off from thinking it needs to be doing something "productive".
Breathwork
I swear, sitting down and taking 4 minutes to do some breathwork feels like an impossible task some days. But having this gentle concentration practice as a routine part of my week grounds me, calms me and seems to reset my mood.
Acupuncture
I found myself feeling incredibly stressed early on in 2025. I did some research and found a local acupuncturist who I really connected with. Ironically, this is another practice that while obviously a physical release, also allows me the space and time to disconnect and be present in and with my body. You really don't have the option to get up and do something "productive" during an acupuncture session!
Ready to Make Healthy Your Norm This Year?
I spent many years complicating my health journey. I'd use the new year to get excited about building my best self, and make enormous plans for change. But I've realized: your health journey doesn't have to be complicated.
In fact, small, actionable, simple-to-repeat changes add up to the biggest transformations and health wins.
If you're looking to add some "big rock" habits to your routine this year, check out my curated list and think about what makes you feel the best in your day to day.
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