If you’ve ever restarted a fitness routine because you overthought it, burned out, or couldn’t stay consistent long enough to see results, this series is for you.

I shared the why behind using ChatGPT as my trainer back in December. This post is about what it actually looks like in real life. This is Day 2, a lower body and core workout done in my garage, with limited time, minimal equipment, and zero motivation to make it complicated.

This is not a transformation post.
It’s a consistency post.

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. A few of the images were created with AI tools — because I’m a real mom on a real budget, doing my best to make it all look pretty.

Why I’m Using ChatGPT as My Trainer

I didn’t set out to “use AI for fitness.” I was looking for a way to remove the mental friction that keeps me stuck in restart mode. I also needed a plan that is tailored to where I am in life.

I’m almost 48. I’m a mom of 4. I work from home. I’m deep in perimenopause and my body is not responding well to the one-size-fits-all fitness apps built around other people’s seasons of life.

Using ChatGPT as my trainer works because it:

Removes decision fatigue
Gives me structure without rigidity
Keeps workouts simple enough to repeat
Eliminates the urge to constantly change plans

I’m not outsourcing effort. I’m outsourcing planning, so I can focus on showing up.

Why This Works for Busy Moms and Professionals

Busy mom working out in her garage gym, building muscle at 48 and in perimenopause while kids are home. — Pin now to save for later!

This approach works because it respects real life. I’m not trying to fit my life around a trainer’s schedule, a class time, or a workout designed for someone else’s goals or season.

There’s no assumption that:

You have an hour to train
You want to think about programming
You’re chasing aesthetics over sustainability

Instead, the system adapts to my needs based on the parameters I give ChatGPT:

Short, effective workouts
Minimal setup
Movements that build firmness and strength over time
A structure I can return to when life gets messy

Consistency beats intensity every time.

Day 2 Workout: Lower Body & Core (Firmness Focus)

This session is about building strength where firmness comes from—glutes, hamstrings, and core stability.

Warm-Up

Bodyweight squats
Glute bridges

Simple. Enough to get warm without overdoing it.

Main Work

a mom of 4 working out in her garage gym using minimal equipment to build muscle — Pin now to save for later!

Goblet Squat (Dumbbell or Sandbag)
3 x 8–10

Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbells)
3 x 8–10
Tightening hamstrings and glutes here supports whole-body firmness.

Step-Ups or Split Squats
3 x 8 each leg

Band Glute Kickbacks (Low Anchor)
3 x 12–15

Core

Dead Bugs or Plank
2–3 sets

Nothing fancy. Just controlled, intentional work.

Real-Time Reflections

a mom working out in her garage gym using resistance bands to build muscle. — Pin now to save for later!

What Felt Hard

Unilateral work always exposes imbalance. The step-ups were humbling, especially late in the workout.

What Surprised Me

How effective this felt without being exhausting. No burnout, no dread—just solid work.

What I Modified

I slowed the tempo on the Romanian deadlifts instead of increasing weight. It made a noticeable difference without adding stress.

The Equipment I Actually Use in My Garage

Most of my workouts happen in my garage, so space and efficiency matter. I’m not interested in clutter or complicated setups—just equipment that makes it easier to stay consistent.

I’ve shared a full breakdown of my garage gym setup and why it works for this stage of life in this post:
My Over-40 Garage Gym Strength Routine: Building Muscle at 47 as a Mom of 4

For this workout, I used adjustable dumbbells from PowerBlock. They work well in a garage setup because they replace multiple sets of dumbbells, allow quick weight changes between movements, and keep the space organized.

If you use my referral link, you’ll get $30 off your order, and I’ll receive a $30 credit as well.

a 48 year old mom of 4 working out in her home gym using powerblock dumbbells to build muscle — Pin now to save for later!

What’s Next?

Day 3 is coming up next, and starting January 9, 2026, I’ll be sharing weekly workout recaps every Friday through the end of March.

These recaps will be shorter, more reflective, and focused on:

What worked
What didn’t
How this system holds up over time

No hype. No perfection. Just showing up and tracking what actually works.

a 48-year-old mom of 4 working out in her garage gym to build muscle and core strength — Pin now to save for later!

TL;DR

This is Day 2 of my “ChatGPT Is My Trainer” series
Lower body + core focused on strength and firmness
Simple, repeatable, real-life friendly
Weekly recaps start January 9 and run through March

If you want a system that supports consistency instead of sabotaging it, you’re in the right place.