I went away, now I'm back. Literally. Figuratively.
There's been lots going on, and hopefully, eventually, I'll tell you about some of it. Jacob turned 10. (Wow!) We went on a mini-vacation. (Fun!)
For today though, today is about me. I went to the doctor today. I've been dreading it. Really that's not a strong enough word, but since it's about all I can come up with it will have to do. You see, I haven't been feeling well lately, and I assumed my blood pressure was going to be out of control. Surprisingly, pleasantly, it's fine. Big relief. It's not where I'd like it to be, but it's under control and hanging in there, and for now, it's all good. However, I'm feeling like I got a wake up call. My doctor gave me the talk he occasionally gives me about needing to take care of myself first, needing to take care of myself physically, mentally, spiritually, so that I can be there for other people. Like a lot of us career moms, I tend to put myself last. I don't like to say no to the people I care about, I don't like to disappoint, I don't like to put myself first. I need to work on that.
There's a lot changing in my life right now. Too much to talk about, but I guess the biggest change is getting ready for Rebekah to go off to school. Then too, there's Jason and Lori moving to town. Wonderful changes, exciting changes, but change nonetheless, and I feel like I'm at a bit of a crossroads. I also feel like it needs to be my time now.
It's going to be tricky for me. I have the rest of the summer off, but in the fall I'm back to work. The last few weeks of summer are filled to the brim with this activity or that, so finding the time to take care of myself is not going to be easy. I'm learning though that it doesn't matter if it's easy or not, I need to do it.
Those of you with young kids, how do you find time to exercise? I swear there already aren't enough hours in the day to clean, do laundry, take the kids to their activities, plan meals, shop for meals, cook meals, go to the pool or other outings, babysit for Jason and Lori...etc., etc. Some of those things are things I have to do, but they also are all things I want to do, because they allow me to take care of my family the way I want. Somehow, I need to learn to do all that and take care of myself too.
I'm struggling with that. Part of it's motivation, part of it is honest-to-goodness time. Part of it is how out of shape I am. I need to lose a lot of weight. For now, my goal is 30 lbs. That won't get me anywhere near my ideal goal, but it would be great. It's enough that I know I would feel better and I believe I would see some health benefits. I've created a food journal, but I know the biggest change I need to make in my life is exercise. I just need to do it.
So...even though it scares me a bit to put this out there, I'm telling you I'm going to find a way to do it. Walking is the best form of exercise for me right now, so I'm going to find a way to walk four times a week. My goal is to exercise 4-5 times a week for the next 6 weeks. Towards the end of August our local community center will be having a personal training special. My goal is to have incorporated exercise into my routine by then and purchase 6 personal training sessions to take myself to the next step--strength training.
Wish me well. I think the hardest part will be remembering that I'm worth it. That it's necessary. That the time spent away from other things is okay.
How do you do it? Is exercise easy for you? Is it a natural part of your day? Got any advice for me?
[Sidebar--There's a medication my doctor could prescribe that might do a better job of controlling my BP than the one I'm currently on. The thing is you have to be 100% certain not to become pregnant while on it, it's absolutely incompatible with pregnancy. I was surprised that I'm not ready to make that commitment. I'm 99% sure we're done having children, we use birth control, but I'm definitely not comfortable saying with 100% certainty that I will not become pregnant. It's definitely been a day of epiphanies.]
6 comments:
I totally get that it's scary to take a look within. Good for you for doing it anyway - remember, that means you're "courageous"! LOL I suck at the exercise part of life, unless you count shopping. Perhaps you can motivate me!
My exercise of choice is also walking.....I walk 30-60 minutes almost everyday. It is AMAZING how much better I feel and how much more energy I have on the days I put my shoes on and go. When my kids were little I had to get out the door and back again before my hubby left for work. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! I've lost 10 pounds and I am sure the walking has been a big factor in that.
If it's a choice between exercise or cleaning, I ALWAYS choose exercise. (which is why my house looks like it does.) Also, I read while I walk, or if I'm not on a treadmill, I take my phone and call someone I normally don't get to chat with because there are children all over the place all the time.
I get the kids to exercise with me if I cannot get somewhere away from them. I really like Leslie Sansone's walking DVDs. It isn't just walking. It is fun for me, and the kids when they join in. I have been having a hard time this summer. I have not been working out at all, and I can feel the difference. My self-image has plummeted. THAT was my wake-up call - realizing why I was feeling so awful and depressed. My hubby is also feeling it, and we have had some good conversations about what we are going to do for ourselves. Thanks to an initiative by his company, we both have pedometers, and are keeping track of how much we are, or are not, walking each day. Very interesting! We are now walking as a family in the evenings. I finally decided that if I can't get the time to do it alone or at the gym, they were all just going to have to join me!
Exercising while taking care of young kids is incredibly hard. It only becomes a priority if you MAKE it a priority, and that takes work, which (also) is hard.
The best advice I can give you is routine. If your goal is to exercise 4-5 times a week, 6 days a week, do it. Do not skip a workout for any reason (baring an emergency). Once exercise becomes a routine part of your life, it will be much easier to get your workout in.
Also, find the times of the day when you can get it done with minimal impact. Can you walk for 45 minutes before Mark leaves for work? Can you run to the gym when he gets home and before you start dinner? I literally plan out my runs and cross-training workouts each week, because it's not always possible for me to do them at the same time every week because of scheduling issues.
If this is something you REALLY want (and it sounds like it is) only YOU are going to make it happen. It sucks that it's often so hard to do for us moms, but it is what it is.
Just know that you have a huge cheering squad in me standing behind you all the way!
I seriously need to get in to some kind of exercise routine but have no idea how at the moment. I would like to get to a gym but don't see that happening any time soon. Walking is an obvious thing I can do, but it's so dang hot and humid here. I should try and do some type of exercises at home - sit ups, tricep dips, arm curls, lunges etc...those I don't need a gym for. I just need the motivation. If you can do it I can do it! :)
Post a Comment