Subscribe via RSS Feed Connect with me on Pinterest

Make it Fit

[ 11 ] 09/04/2009 |

Every single one of us has more than we should on our plate. Most of us are parents. Some of stay home, and some of us work outside the home. Each of these factors creates a specific set of challenges when it comes to mapping out our daily schedules.

Here’s my story:
I have 2 children and I’m a stay at home/work at home mom. My son just started kindergarten and his school is 32 miles from our house. I am on the board for the PTO at my son’s school. I have a 21 month old daughter, I think that’s all I need to say about that! I am co-manager for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I also co-own a blog design firm. Plus, I try to blog on my personal blog as much as possible. I love photography and spend as much time as possible behind the camera. I prepare 3 meals a day, pack a lunch, help with homework, do laundry, feed the pets, clean the house, drive a lot, squeeze in some reading, and try to bathe everyday. Did I mention that my husband works in a different city during the week?

I get up at 6:15 a.m. and try to get in bed before midnight.

I’m not telling you all this so you’ll feel sorry for me, because I know your life is just as busy. I am not complaining either. I love my life. I choose to do all of these things (well, except the whole laundry and cleaning thing. Damn those necessary evils!).

Fitness has never fit into my schedule. Let me rephrase that. I have never bothered to fit fitness into my schedule. It wasn’t a priority. Call it one of those darned necessary evils, if you will. I had enough to do, and was already scheduled to the hilt each day. Plus, I’m not a big fan of sweating.

It wasn’t until recently, I realized fitness needed to be part of my daily routine. It was kinda like, huh, all the cool kids are doing it, and it seems to be working for them. Okay, let me be honest, it was a purely selfish decision. I was tired of my butt jiggling and the whole ‘hi Helen’ affect of my upper arms. Sheesh. If I was going to work SO hard to lose all of this weight, I might as well look good when I was done. Selfish. Vain, if you will.

So, I started Shredding with the Sisterhood. During the first week, I went from amazing energetic highs to soreness so intense I would cry out in pain when my kids jabbed their bony elbows into my thighs. I may or may not have even gotten stuck in the sitting position once or twice. You’ve been there, right? When I was done with the 30-Day Challenge, I felt so much better. I looked better. I was less jiggly.

Since then, I’ve been working hard to fit fitness into my routine. It may not happen every single day, but I’m more aware of how I feel when I don’t make time. I also more aware of how wonderful I feel when I do make time. I’ve come to accept I’m not going to be one of those people who becomes addicted to working out. I do feel better, and I know I look better, and I do have that wonderful energy, but honestly I still struggle daily with motivation to fit it in.

So tell me, how do you feel about exercise? Is it part of your daily life? Is it something you struggle with? Do you lose your motivation easily? What keeps you motivated?

I do know one thing for sure. The EA Sports Active 30-Day challenge might just change the way I feel about this whole fitness craze. One day at a time.

Related posts:

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Category: Challenges

About Christy: Thirty-six year-old wife and mom to BJ (8) and Mia (4). I'm the editor at the Sisterhood, a Feingold mom, I really love to run (really), read, cook amazing things, and photography is my fledging passion. My motivation is motivating other people to realize they can do this whole weight-loss and exercise thing. I'm living proof! View author profile.

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    I am so with you on this and I know our stories are similar since I have 4 kids and no husband for weeks on end (he'll be home next week after being gone for a month straight!!).

    I do feel so much better (physically & mentally!) when fitness is a regular part of my schedule, but I have a hard time keeping the motivation, especially during the summer!

  • Lisa_ShrinkingJeans

    So you know my story already- I have 3 kids, husband works away from home, and I am about to lose my mind. Some days, I do. I love exercising, I love sweating, I love how it makes me feel afterwards. Sometimes (OK, a lot of times), life gets in the way. BUT, I find that doing exercise challenges with the Sisterhood helps keep my going in the exercise arena.

    I vote that we do an exercise challenge all the effing time. Back to back, baby.

  • http://www.grayandbecca.com/ becca

    I know that I only have a husband and my life is chaotic! That's why I'm taking a class, so that I have to exercise. It makes it easier to fit in when you pay for it. :)

  • http://thesassymama.blogspot.com Heather

    I hear ya! But I only have one kid, and no formal money producing job to speak of.
    I hate exercising. Let me rephrase that. I hate thinking about and preparing for exercise. Once I'm doing it, I'm generally okay.
    But that procrastination is a killer.
    I work out for vanity too. I hate hiding every time someone pulls out a camera. Craning my neck and pushing my chin out and up to hide the extras. However, I am now exercising also to stay as healthy as possible, to keep my energy level up close to my child's (HA) and as a natural anti-anxiety solution. And it works.
    I'm with Lisa, back to back to back exercise challenges. I like to know everyone else is suffering with me!

  • http://www.whooosthatgirl.com Lissa_ShrinkingJeans

    Great idea! I loved aerobics in college!

  • BrookeF

    i'm an exercise addict. i sign up for races i'm not qualified to run to keep my butt moving. :)

  • SJs_April

    We all know I'm an exercise nut!

    I love this post, Christy! And I'm so so so so so happy that you're getting into exercise!!

  • http://elfteajusthealthier.blogspot.com/2009/08/ds-challenge-30-days.html Tira

    I have two children, a girl 4 and a boy 1.5, and they to jab their bony elbows into my thighs and belly.
    I have yet to meet my goals with any of the Sisterhood Challenges. My current self challenge is my DS 30 day Challenge, I bet my husband I would lose 10 pounds in 30 days to get a Nintindo DS.
    So far, I have not been able to make fitness a true part of my routine. I will never be a gym rat. However,I hope to push myself to go more often.
    I feel that exercise is something I should feel happier about doing.
    People at the sisterhood and other blogs sometimes Motivate me. I get all hyped up then a few days pass and I fall back to my old habits. I still trying. I fail a challenge and link up for the next one.

  • BrookeF

    i actually think i'm the only woman in the world that isn't stressed out because of her workload. and i like it this way, which is why i always steer the conversation another direction when jay mentions having kids one day.

    exercise to me is that thing that makes my life interesting, it keeps me moving and not sitting in front of the couch. races motivate me to follow through :)

  • http://elfteajusthealthier.blogspot.com/2009/08/ds-challenge-30-days.html Tira

    I have two children, a girl 4 and a boy 1.5, and they to jab their bony elbows into my thighs and belly.
    I have yet to meet my goals with any of the Sisterhood Challenges. My current self challenge is my DS 30 day Challenge, I bet my husband I would lose 10 pounds in 30 days to get a Nintindo DS.
    So far, I have not been able to make fitness a true part of my routine. I will never be a gym rat. However,I hope to push myself to go more often.
    I feel that exercise is something I should feel happier about doing.
    People at the sisterhood and other blogs sometimes Motivate me. I get all hyped up then a few days pass and I fall back to my old habits. I still trying. I fail a challenge and link up for the next one.

  • BrookeF

    i actually think i'm the only woman in the world that isn't stressed out because of her workload. and i like it this way, which is why i always steer the conversation another direction when jay mentions having kids one day.

    exercise to me is that thing that makes my life interesting, it keeps me moving and not sitting in front of the couch. races motivate me to follow through :)