How I’m rebuilding my exercise routine in Belgium (one small step at a time)
Hello Belgium,
Can we talk about exercising for a second?
Since we moved here, getting back into a routine has been harder than I expected. We still don’t have a car, so everything involves catching a bus. The gyms are not exactly close, and the idea of taking a bus just to work out… it feels like a mission.
I do want to get a bike soon. Honestly, it feels like a life skill here. But until that happens, I had to stop waiting for ideal conditions.
So I told myself: just move.
Starting With What I Have
I found this 20-minute functional workout on YouTube and it became my little reset button:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gld5_qx3F4E
It’s short. It’s simple. It’s doable.
And right now, doable is everything.
When we first moved, I didn’t even have weights. I was literally using a bottle of fabric softener as resistance. Not glamorous. Not aesthetic. But it worked.
I also realized how important it is to have a mat. A simple yoga mat changes everything. It makes the space feel intentional. It protects your knees. It defines “this is my moment.” Even if that moment lasts 12 interrupted minutes.
Exercising With a Toddler Around
Now let’s talk about the real challenge.
Working out with a toddler in the room is… something else.
Sometimes he wants to climb on me during planks.
Sometimes he copies my squats.
Sometimes he decides my yoga mat is his new racetrack.
It’s not peaceful. It’s not Pinterest.
But here’s the thing. It also becomes play.
He sees me moving. He joins. He laughs. He jumps next to me. And somehow it turns into this little shared moment instead of something I’m trying to escape from him to do.
Is it ideal? No.
Does it count? Absolutely.
Small Upgrades, Big Difference
Now things are slowly leveling up.
My husband found this Adidas indoor bike for a really good price and decided to get it. It’s been such a game changer because now we don’t depend on weather, buses, or timing.
And I just ordered a 2kg weight that should arrive next week. I’m weirdly excited about it. It feels like a small promise to myself. Like, okay… we’re building something here.
I’ll leave the link for the weight I bought and some heavier options too, in case you carry more weight than I do.
The Real Change Isn’t Physical
The biggest thing I’ve noticed so far isn’t even physical.
It’s my mood.
I feel more stable. More energized. Less overwhelmed.
My son caught a flu from daycare this week. My husband is starting to feel sick too. And somehow, I’m still feeling well. I’m not saying it’s magic. But moving my body definitely feels like it’s helping.
Let’s Keep Moving
This isn’t a dramatic transformation story.
It’s just me, rebuilding a routine in a new country, with buses, rain, daycare germs and fabric softener weights.
And honestly? Starting small still counts.
Let’s keep moving.