April 24, 2014

Why I Want To Be Fit

Some days I struggle with eating right and exercising.  It's true.  Some days I am like "wahhhhh I just wanna plop on the couch and eat ice cream".  Heck yesterday I would have rather done laundry {my most awful wife task} than workout.  And then I did two T25s, back to back.  Some days I love it, some days I hate it but no matter what I do it and I always feel better when I do.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to Kendall's preschool Easter party.  It was fun.  I always love observing her in her classroom setting, seeing her interact with her friends, it's really a joy to watch.  I'm very thankful that I'm able to be a part of those types of things.

While the teachers were setting up for "The Easter Bunny" to visit the kids were dancing to music on the boombox.  The kids who had moms with them were all "MOM!  Jump and dance with me!!!".  And I did.  I didn't even hesitate. I just got right in there and jumped and twirled and danced.  It was awesome and the kids got a kick out of it.

I felt so good about myself.  Forty plus pounds ago I would have never had the confidence to jump in there with the kids and boogie down.  Forty pounds ago I would have been the mom sitting, observing, wishing I were in the mix with them.  I would have smiled so no one would know that I was insecure but inside I would be sad.

Then there was the day that Kendall wanted to race up and down our insanely long, gravel driveway.  Three months ago Shannon would have been, "Oh why don't you ask daddy, I'll sit here and judge the winner!".  But instead I got up and raced her no less than twelve times.  She won all twelve times, of course, but it still felt good to be able, have the ability, to get up and do that with her.

Being fit, in shape, healthy is so much more than looking good in a bikini this summer.  It's feeling good.  It's feeling capable.  It's feeling confident. It's playing with your children.

I feel like we {people who workout more days than we don't} get a lot of gruff from outsiders.  "You are crazy!" "Take a day off!" "Is it even healthy to workout that much?" And so on and so forth.  It is so ironic to me because I feel that everyone should be taking the time to get some sort of physical activity in their day.  Being active is not something that should be shamed, it should be applauded and encouraged and something we all should strive for.

I know I'm a little bit more intense than some people.  I hate to not workout.  I don't take rest days and when I do I feel guilty and make up for it the next day.  It literally keeps me sane, Jimmy can tell immediately if I haven't worked out by the time he comes home from work.  It's just part of my life in a way that makes me feel so much better.

Of course I want to look great, who doesn't?  My current goal is to look and feel the best I ever have, even after two kids.  But even more important is ensuring that I live a long, happy, healthy life.  One where I am able to keep up with my kids for years to come.  Growing up my family wasn't the most active.  I did cheerleading until junior high school and then never played another sport or got involved in any other activities.  Hopefully I will teach my children the importance of taking care of yourself and they will want to be active in their lives.

Some days I do feel guilty making my exercise such a big priority.  There are times when I feel like I should be doing something one on one with Kendall during that time and then I feel selfish for choosing working out over that.  But then I realize, most days, it's just 25-30 minutes and we still get to do plenty of fun things.  I also hope that in seeing me make such a commitment to being fit and healthy she will too {when she's older, of course}.  It's definitely a balancing act, especially since I work out at home, but it's one that I've {kind of} mastered and feel good about.

20 comments:

  1. Before I hated working out, and thought that I would have never been the work out at home type. That I needed to get a gym membership, and then it would be money lost because I would never use it. Well, I'm proven to myself that I don't need a membership, that I can do this on my own, in the privacy of my own home, and it feels damn good!! And I owe you mostly, because seeing the transformation you've gone through has helped me to get off my ass! Thank you!

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  2. Being in the best shape of my life AFTER two kids is something I will never, ever regret. It's one thing to be all "In college I was an athlete and in awesome shape!"--well, that's great (I wasn't, at all!)--but, now that you have kids, don't you want to feel that great, again? I think people just forget that working out daily (or 5+days) is actually recommended. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in women---I think--so, um, yea, I'd rather combat that and do what I can to be here longer ;) you get it, lady!

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  3. Love this. I told my husband the other day I see so many people doing the beach body thing I want to do it. I'm blessed with good metabolism but I know there will come a time when people will stop being shocked I had twins a couple months ago. I'm definitely going to have to do some work to look good in a bikini and eating a box of cookies a day is probably not going to extend my time here on this planet. I was so shocked this weekend I showed hubby and my mil a picture of a twin mom that has been working out and looks awesome. My mil said she must not spend very much time with her kids. It floored me. Really?! We are going to add this to the mommy wars? It you take time to be healthy it's not ok?

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  4. I have to say my husband gets pretty irritated with me when the dishes aren't done and the house is mess and off I go to the gym. I can't blame him really but exercising is more of a priority than a clean house, should it be? I'm not really sure but I know I'm much happier after my workouts.

    Working out 6/7 days a week is totally fine as long as you feel fine. Rest days are only necessary if you're feel like you need one. I workout 6 days a week. I do take one day off because if I don't I know that I can't push myself as hard especially when I'm lifting super heavy. My body needs a day to recover, somedays I'll go for a walk or a bike ride on those days.

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    Replies
    1. Gah! I tried to edit and deleted it! #isitFridayyet?

      I'm exactly the same as you. Some days I get home from work at 6:15, I've chased preschoolers all around my classroom all day long, I've eaten child size portions of veggies for lunch and I'm suffering from caffeine withdrawals - all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch Cake Boss. But getting dressed into my workout clothes and bouncing around with Shaun T makes me instantly feel better. Hello endorphin's! Hello weight/inches lost! Hello healthy lifestyle!

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  6. I love this post! You are such an inspiration to me as I journey to lose 40 pounds. I'm so like you, if I don't work out I feel guilty and have to make it up the next day.

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  7. Your email subscription button isn't working. It's easier for me to follow by email than RSS now, so I want to switch.

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  8. To be honest, I don't think I've ever been judged for running or working out. In fact, I'm probably guilty of judging others for NOT exercising. I get tired of reading or hearing people complain about not losing weight, feeling crappy, etc and I want to shake them and tell them they have no excuse. Oh, you don't have time? Well guess what, I'm sure you do have time but you choose to do other things instead. I'm up everyday b/w 4:30-5:00 (even when I'm off work on Fridays) to run before Lucy is up. Am I tired? Yes, but I'd be more tired if I didn't get up and work out. Sorry, I'll get off my soap box :)

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  9. Also, I've loved watching you on your journey! You look great and are an inspiration!

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  10. I saw this post on another blog and it made me think of you. It's about a Mother's Helper, maybe it will help given you some sanity in the midst of little James' fussy periods.

    http://www.babymakingmachine.com/2014/04/5-signs-invest-mothers-helper.html

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  11. You inspired me to get on my feet and be the best I can be. I don't ask for anything at home but 25 minuted to work out and then my boys and I will go for a walk. Oli in the stroller which he loves and gets excited when he is put in it and Carter loved to "race the walker" which he always wins and when Tim is home he goes with us too. If I can have 25 minutes to myself then I will talk with them for 30 and spend the rest of the evening dedicating myself to them.

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  12. I love this! I'm just getting into a good spot with working out, where I'm actually enjoying it & seeing/feeling some changes in myself. We don't have any kids yet, but I get the guilt feeling anyway, because I'm not doing something else, or spending time with the husband. But he totally encourages me to keep going, so that helps a lot. And in the long run, the time I spend now working out, is only going to benefit the future, so it's worth it right?! = )

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  13. I've really come to enjoy working out. Even though the scale isn't moving for me quite the way I'd like it to, I feel better and I can see results. That's totally worth working out.

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  14. I've been doing T25 for over 2 months - although slacked the last couple of weeks as my wedding is next week and I've been a bit busy! The two back to backs are rough but I agree - always feel great after! Are you doing Alpha or Beta?

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  15. I feel ya, it's amazing looking good which so helps with self-esteem but it's so much more than looking good. Working out (and taking care of your 1 and only body) is about being healthy, being active with the kids (as you wrote) and showing younger generations that ya, life is busy and it's 100x easier to plop down at the tv after work but that will cause loads of problems later. So take care of our body now.

    I can't begin to tell you how inspirational you are. I love seeing more people become more healthy.

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  16. I have recently started working out in an attempt to get healthy and lose weight. I agree with you, I can't skip a day due to guilt and I just don't feel as good. I have a long ways to go but I am amazed at how much better I feel.

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  17. I feel the same way! Working out really does make a huge difference in my mood. I also feel incredibly guilty if I skip a workout. I started the Beta round of T25 3 weeks ago and I love this round so much more. I actually look forward to it!
    You are doing great! Love reading your progress posts!

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  18. So what is the T25 all about, and what kinds of foods and snacks have you been eating?

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  19. I feel like you lost so much weight really quickly! Do you know how much? And tell me what you are eating!! I feel like it's not all just from working out! Otherwise I'd be rail thin, ha ha!

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