She's a GirlTrek Leader and Former Bodybuilder, and This Is Her Workout Routine
This is Meet My Workout Routine, where we profile weekly workout routines — unvarnished and imperfect — from women across all walks of life. Check out our past profiles here.
Ebony Andrews
A former fitness competitor, Ebony Andrews is the director of strategic programming and production for GirlTrek, a health, empowerment, and social-justice movement for Black women centered on the power of walking.
1 Week of Workouts
The Details
"For me, being active is self-care, survival, and JOY!" Ebony told POPSUGAR. "It's as necessary for my happiness as it is for my health." Ebony describes this as a central philosophy for her life and her work with GirlTrek, explaining, "I was built to move, explore, and seek adventures, and I'm really at my best when I stay true to that." For exercise, Ebony opts for activities that feel good or pique her curiosity, both "traditional" exercise and beyond, and loves getting into "random" adventures on the weekend. (This week: kayaking!)
Keep reading for an up-close look at a week of Ebony's workouts.
Monday, May 24
Peloton bike class
"Kicking the week off with a 'Feel Good' ride with Ally Love. Her rides are a whole vibe for me and really do make me 'feel good.' This morning, I got an early start and hopped on my Peloton before work. It was 30 minutes of good music and motivation. It left me feeling energized and ready for my 30-minute daily walk-and-talk meeting with the GirlTrek national staff."
Tuesday, May 25
Lower-body strength workout
"As a former bodybuilder, I love strength workouts. Love them so much that during the beginning of quarantine when everything was closed, I started to convert my garage into a home gym. So now, I have no reason to ever miss a leg day. Today, my focus is lower body, and squats are a must. I also like to mix my strength training with some power moves to really get the most of my workout. Between squats, leg curls, and leg extension, I add in box jumps, skate jumps, and even some burpees. And once I wrap up, it's time for my daily walk-and-talk team meeting with GirlTrek, which serves as the perfect cooldown."
Wednesday, May 26
Bike ride
"Starting hump day with my walk-and-talk meeting with GirlTrek. It's a dedicated daily 30 minutes for us to connect on priorities, give updates, and get outside to walk together virtually as a team. After work, it was time to go for a ride. During quarantine, I got my first road bike. I named her Matty May. She's a matte-black beauty, and hitting the streets with her has been one of my favorite things over the past year. Now that the weather has been consistently nice, I'm happy to be back rolling weekly. Today's ride was about 10 miles and included a nice pit stop at my favorite local park."
Thursday, May 27
Upper-body strength workout
"Today's focus is upper-body strength training. Sundress season is coming, and back and arms are an essential part of my dresses fitting just the way I like. I did a mix of shoulder, back, and arm exercises. To get my heart really pumping, I also added some jumping jacks and mountain climbers. And finished it off with the daily walk-and-talk team meeting with GirlTrek."
Friday, May 28
Hike
"Winding down the workweek with an early morning hike at a neighborhood park. Thirty minutes on a trail surrounded by the lushness of the trees and the quietness feels soothing. For me, these kinds of hikes are great for reflecting on the week, clearing my mind, and doing a little daydreaming."
Saturday, May 29
Kayaking
"Weekends are for adventure. I have a whole list of outdoor summer activities that should keep me busy for the next few months. There's probably over 30 activity ideas on my list, ranging from soaking up the sun while strolling through a sunflower field to white-water rafting. This Saturday, I decided to check kayaking off my list. The weather in DC was perfect for it. I had the best day chilling on the water with friends. And I'm looking forward to getting into a new adventure next weekend."
Sunday, May 30
Stretching
"One thing about me is that I love a good sunset! And one of my favorite things about my home is that the lawn out front is perfectly positioned for spring and summer sunsets. It makes it the ideal place to rest, reset, and welcome in ease and gratitude. On Sundays, I love grabbing my yoga mat and heading outside for a good stretch while I watch the colors of the sunset dance in the sky."