I remember the first few times I ventured into a gym. I started on the treadmill because it seemed safe and I could scope everything out. I would then try to find a leg press machine that didn’t seem too intimidating. I would struggle trying to change the setting for my height, while nonchalantly looking around to make sure no one was watching. I would finally get it all right, only to feel rushed because there was someone standing waiting for the machine. I would just leave and try it all again another day.

It took a few different gyms and two patient personal trainers to finally make me comfortable in the gym. I got my monthly lifetime membership and decided I was set.

My routine included driving 20 minutes to the gym, spending one hour working out, then driving 20 minutes home. I did this 5 times a week, and usually spent half of the hour on the elliptical reading a magazine, and the other half walking from machine to machine to lift weights for legs, arms or shoulders.

While I didn’t have my dream body, the weight on the scale hovered around the number I thought I wanted. I did Pilates throughout the week for my core, and between this and my gym trips, I put my workouts on cruise control.

Then I had a baby.

I originally didn’t think much of possibly having to change my workout routine after having a baby. I did some gentle walking to start and waited the required 8 weeks to really start exercising again.

It was then reality hit.

I had a newborn and was running my two Pilates studios from home. I could barely stuff food in my face to eat a meal and couldn’t even go to the bathroom without distractions.

How in the world was I going to find time to go to the gym or Pilates studio, do my workout, and then drive home??

If I was going to continue my regular fitness routine, my workouts would have to change.

I knew I wanted a combination of strength training, Pilates, yoga, abdominal work and cardio. I started reading a few fitness blogs and began piecing together my own home workouts.

I set up a little area on my porch for my “gym”. It included a mat, two hand weights and my phone for a timer. I would run out there the moment our baby fell asleep for her afternoon nap. I grabbed the baby monitor, set my timer for 30 minutes and did anything that came to mind in that time.

I had no plan. I just wanted to sweat and move. I knew I had only 30 minutes so I had to make it count. No checking social media between sets and no talking on the phone.

This was Jessica time.

Eventually I found a routine and my home workouts started to take a little shape. I found a little more time one day a week so I could take a full Pilates equipment or yoga class, which was my special “treat”.

My actual workout time was probably cut in half compared to my fitness program pre-baby.

Yet somehow I had developed into the best shape of my life.

Weird, huh?

It’s been almost three years since our daughter was born. I have refined my workouts and created a program that works perfectly in my chaotic and busy life.

I realized that I could have efficient and effective workouts that torched calories and built muscle faster. The key was spending my time working out smarter, not longer.

I traded my long elliptical sessions for squat jumps and simple bicep curls for lunge/arm combinations.

And of course I throw in Pilates anywhere I can!

You might not have had a baby recently, but maybe you started a new job, take care of elderly parents, got assigned a big work project or travel for your career.

Maybe you are busy just because life is hectic.

In any of these cases, time is at a premium and gyms aren’t always accessible or desirable.

This is why online home workouts are so amazing!

There are so many resources for home workouts these days. You don’t need much to get started other than a mat, a small set of hand weights and your phone.

You can search Google or YouTube and usually find a 5-10 minute video on any body part you want to work. You can watch it on your phone, do the moves and call it a day without having left your house!

While it’s awesome that you can find home workouts anywhere on line, it also means that anyone can post a workout online. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been excited about a workout online only to find it’s a lady in her dirty bedroom doing a move that isn’t even correct, while her cats walk around and the tv is on in the background.

I’m not even kidding.

The other thing I find is that I like to be told what to do every day. I just don’t want to spend the mental energy sometimes deciding if it’s leg or cardio day, if I should stretch or lift, if I should rest or jump or how I can modify if I have pain. I just want someone else to tell me what to do.

But not the lady with the cats.

So I wanted a really high quality fitness and health site with great videos and workouts, AND someone there to tell me what workout to do when to reach my specific goals. Oh, and to be a woman who understands what it’s like to juggle home, work, family and self, while not going crazy.

I never found it, so I created it.

I figured if I wanted some of those things and couldn’t find them, you guys might be in the same boat.

The Happy Hour Mama Membership is for women who want to be healthy but are busy and need to know exactly what to do each day to reach their fitness goals.

Whether you are new to fitness or you’ve been exercising for years, this community can motivate and help you get where you want to go!

You get monthly workout calendars that tell you EXACTLY what workout to do every day. Each home workout can be done in 30 minutes or less and are easy to follow. You get a combination of cardio, Pilates, intervals, yoga, barre and weights so that you never get bored and your body is always challenged!

In addition to the workout calendar, you have access to our entire library of workout videos, many of which are only released on the membership site :).

Want extra inner thigh work? No problem!

Have sciatica and need to modify? I’ve got you covered!

Need a good prenatal workout? You got it!

Because no good fitness plan is complete without meal plans, recipes and motivation, you get plenty of that as well.

My favorite part?

The community itself.

It’s the one place I have a chance to actually chat with each of you! Come to the forums and ask me questions or let me know how your day was. We can have a virtual glass of wine or cup of coffee and catch up!

I’d love for you to come hang out with me there!

Learn more and sign up today so you can have immediate access to our March workout calendar! Don’t waste another month wishing you had the motivation to exercise. Take that one step today to get you closer to your goals. I’m right here with you!