One fear I always had before getting pregnant...while pregnant...and now a year after being pregnant...is that I will never get back into shape. I don't mean just dropping the baby weight but really being able to run, hike or bike ride hard. For so many years of my life, I had a drill sergeant of sorts. Either a field hockey, tennis or lacrosse coach kicking my butt for months on end.
Ahhhh, those were the days! We ate whatever we wanted and burned it off the next morning. But, there was no option. You couldn't wake up in the morning, see that it was raining and breath a sigh of relief for the excuse to stay in bed an extra hour. And even now, I always have 268 reasons (laundry, cleaning, blogging, phone calls...) why I should stay in rather than run. Chores are not fun but neither is running.
The other day, the boys got a hold of the remote control and turned on the T.V. It happened to be on one of those non-child friendly channels, Bravo or MTV or something. I think it was Complaining With the Kardashians or Watch the Kardashian Family Implode, whatever the show is called. The smallest of the sisters, who had apparently just had a baby, was at the gym working out, getting ready for a photo shoot. What caught my attention was her reason for the photo shoot. She wants all women to know its possible to regain their pre-baby body.
Ok, I am intrigued...go on.
They show her at her gym...which is not your average YMCA. More like what Scottsdale people would refer to as a "Health Club". State of the art equipment and crazy apparatus that help you tone everything from your love handles to your chin fat. Oh, and did I mention her gorgeously sculpted trainer programing her every move?
Are you serious, lady? That club membership probably costs $5k a month and that angry goddess following you around, yelling in your face is probably another $2k a month. Really, ALL WOMEN??
Unfair. Lady, get out on the pavement, in the heat of the summer, alone (or behind 30lbs of double stroller) in your $12 Old Navy sweats and 2 year old Nikes, and try it the poor-person way. Then, tell me about how ALL women can do it.
A friend of mine (thanks Heidi!) sent me this short article about a similar situation with Gwyneth Paltrow. She had her 2nd baby and claims we new mom's have no excuse. The article details her workouts...2 hours a day with a celebrity trainer. Man, did she get blasted. Everyone commenting had the same view I initially did watching Ms. Kardashian on T.V. But, then I read her actual comment further down the article.
"Every woman can make time - every woman - and you can do it with your baby in the room," she said. "There have been countless times where I've worked out with my kids crawling around all over the place. You just make it work, and if it's important to you, it'll be important to them."
Ok, so it got me thinking a bit more rationally and I think she is actually right. I am a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM, yup...we have an acronym). My kids happen to be the same age and are doing the same things. There is plenty of time during the day that I am sitting in the play room with them, interacting. I could get a little more active. I could even pop in my Wii Fitness disc and do it while they are exploring the 1st floor. On Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, my husband gets the boys and I out for a run down to the park and back. I run much longer with him than I would without. Unfortunately for me, he is one of those guys who could hibernate for the winter, wake up for Spring and run a 6 minute mile. So, its usually me jogging and him literally running circles around me.
But, when we get home, man...I feel so good.
And that, ladies, is what keeps me going. For that hour or so...its about ME. The second I became pregnant...I knew my life was no longer my own. I had two other people whose needs came before mine. Its wonderful and often comes without a thought. But, I can't altogether loose myself in my children or my laundry. I have to have something that is just mine. A couple moments in the day where I am not listening for a need to be met. I can run, push myself, strive for something selfish.
That is my story and I'm stickin' to it!
Anyone else have any great ways of getting back into shape?
