Over the last few months I have been recommitting myself to the fitness struggle. I am tired of starting over, if I’m being honest. I used to be all over it when it comes to my fitness. Pre-marriage, I was a beast! Of course it was so much easier then. I’d hit the gym before work five days a week and then go again on Saturday mornings. I’d spend 2 hours working out. One hour hitting the weights and the elliptical and then another hour in a class. With all this time in the gym I was somehow able to maintain a relationship and hang out with my friends. Go figure.
Well after getting married, I kept it up. Working out only during the week before work was my jam! I even had the eating down. Back story: When I first moved to LA I’d hit the gym and this trainer befriended me and would train me for free while he worked out his clients. He’d simply add me into the rotation. He was also a nutritionist. He’d talk to me about his family (he was married with a daughter) and give me nutrition advice too. He wasn’t hitting on me AND and I was getting training for free. Win!
You know when things got tricky? You already know it’s when I joined the motherhood sorority. Doing anything before work was a joke and after work there was no time. Still, I ordered every piece of home equipment I reasonably could. I also had workout DVD’s to keep me going with home workouts. The problem came with being consistent! When you’re at home, it’s easy to just do something else. When you actually go to the gym, there’s nothing to do but workout. As a result, I would ebb and flow with it. When I was good, I felt awesome. When I feel off, I fell hard!
How it used to be
Instead of working out before work, my fitness struggle moved to before bed. Instead of packing all my healthy meals and snacks to take to work, I’d pack my kids food for day care and end up buying food for myself. It didn’t help that my office was surrounded by awesome food and gourmet food trucks. Plus my coworkers liked to eat well. Sabotage.
Eventually I joined the crazy expensive gym that was in the building of my office. I figured it was worth the hefty price since I was getting my much needed exercise in. I’d go there during lunch and sweat it out. I’d eat lunch when I got back to my desk. Then we made the shift to me being a stay at home mom. Workouts got harder to come by because I always had my kids with me and there was always something for me to do. Exercise got real spotty for a while.
What changed?
It is feeling really good to be consistent these days. What changed? Well, my determination and my priorities are the big motivators here as with anything, right? I started looking at what time I have while the kids are at school and what I was doing with that time. Instead of some of the other things I was doing that seemed to get me nowhere I decided to focus on something that would have a guaranteed impact. I prioritized my health. I didn’t want to always be getting in shape. My goal is to stay in shape.
So now, I do a spin class five days a week and a HIIT class three days a week. I’m determined. I feel good. A perk of working out for me has always been that I eat healthier. I don’t want to do all that work and then feel like I’m ruining it by eating crap food! Ha! At the end of the day, it’s a process. It’s baby steps. I’m taking them one at a time and I’d love to invite you to join me! Have you fallen off with your fitness? Ready to get popping again? Summertime is always a good motivator to start. I’m hosting a challenge.
Get It Mama Fitness Challenge! It’s a four week challenge to get us moving on a regular basis. I’ll be there to motivate you – of course! There will also be a prize or two. I mean, who doesn’t like an incentive! Wanna join me?
Sign up here!
What’s something you’ve had a hard time keeping up with since having babies? Is working out on your list of things to get back to?
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I don’t have any children but I am trying to lose weight and consistency is big for me. Also, time. I’m always so busy during the day and so tired that I don’t want to do anything but get something to eat quick, which was typically fast food. I’ve been on a new journey and have lost almost 15 pounds in two weeks so this seems to fit my lifestyle the most.
I’m with you on this journey. I’m two months in my journey and down 17 lbs. It is definitely a commitment of time and energy. Keep pushing and inspiring others girl.
Kids have definitely made things more difficult, and it’s hard to add the expense of a gym to everything else. My workouts are more home-based these days.
Oh awesome challenge… and it really is a challenge to stay into fitness with a full schedule. I need this!
It always helps to have a little motivation when trying to stay fit and eat healthy.
Good for you mama! It can be so hard to prioritize your health when you have kids! I need to make more time for myself to exercise too! I used to run and do yoga and now I rarely do either!
I too have recently committed to working out and eating a bit healthier. Even as a vegetarian it’s possible to eat horribly, which is totally what I was doing. I look forward to joining your challenge.
Girl you truly inspire me I still manage in struggle losing 20 pounds after the birth of my second child it is so hard but if you put your mind to it and more post like this I can achieve it
Exercise is important for every one. I admit it took me quite a while before I shed those post pregnancy pounds, but I did! Now that the kids are older, I thought I would have more time to exercise, but no, I don’t because they have more needs now that have to be attended to. The only exercise I do is walking. I do it after dinner. A leisurely walk around the block 5 times is what I have committed doing every single day. So far it has kept my weight stable.
Well done Mama! It can be tough shedding off the weight. For me getting rid of the extra 20kgs I gained with baby #3 was like swimming against the tide. It took me 2.5 years to get back to my normal size this April!
Yes you’re right. Take baby steps. And determination…what made me lose the last 6kgs in two months March and April.
I struggle so much with fitness. Honestly I just don’t make it a priority and I am scared to push myself. I need to sign up for this challenge.
I keep telling myself that i have to to something. I need to either make at least 30-45 minutes before I get ready in the morning or before bed to make this work. Your challenge sounds great to help people be accountable.
I am not even a mom and I struggle with my own fitness/health journey sometimes. Its all about discipline and the will to change so good luck girl you can do it!
I need a fitness intervention. Two years ago I was doing well, working out and my body was looking right. Now, it is a hot mess. I turn 40 next year and I am determined to have a six pack when I turn 40.
Awesome Challenge…a couple of my coworkers and I are challenging each other to do 3 days a week. Its hard to do anything extra once you become a parent but I know it can be done!
With my kids in camp this summer I should really join, I’m just not sure about committing to it. I need to really consider this challenge even though I’m hesitant.
I feel like you were speaking to me with this post here. Once I had a child, my regular routine went right out the window. Luckily, I’m a fitness instructor part time so I got the fitness covered. However, other things in my life are still struggling to make an appearance. I think I just need to accept that I can do everything but I can’t do everything all at once. I also need to rethink my priorities.
This is so true it hard to set a system but now I know how to make it happen
I have never been a gym person. Some months ago I started going and proud I have been getting consistent. I commend you with your journey and getting back into the swing of things.
I’m so far behind on my fitness. It was so much easier when I was single and childless. Like you, I spent my Saturday mornings at the gym. Not anymore. I need a quick jump start.
Man working out is definitely hard for me I have 2 little ones and work full time. My job has a free gym in the building so I think I’m going to try to get at least 30 minutes in durning my lunch. That would be great lol