...expanding the TOPIC, not me. Just to be clear.
I'm still processing a lot of what I wrote about last. I recently borrowed an exercise video from a friend, and believe it or not, have actually been following it pretty religously. For me to follow through on any sort of exercise regime for longer than a week is a pretty big victory and it's been a month! Good thing I have mexico to motivate me.
Anyway, yesterday was a day where Tyler refused to nap which means I wasn't able to find some quiet time to do my workout. I finally resigned myself to working out with Tyler next to me. Between him trying to grab my soup cans I was using as weights ever time they came near him and VERY quickly figuring out that I was busy and he could therefore get into things he's not supposed to without immediate repercussions, it was somewhat a failed attempt. My abs got half a workout and my living room got completely redecorated.
I think many of the people who wander across my blog are new(ish) moms and I'm sure you would all agree - the pressure to look good post baby is huge. Fitting into that pair of post pregnancy jeans is proclaimed over facebook triumphantly the MINUTE you can get the button done up...and then are taken off as soon as you let your breath out. I'm definitely realizing something though...not losing baby weight is NOT an indication of being a lazy mom. Like, not at all. I would say it's rather an indication of a busy mom. I run after Tyler all day. If he doesn't get a nap, I don't get my workout. I actually find myself getting frustrated if he doesnt' give me that me time because I gotta look good! STUUUPID. Sorry, but it is. My number one priority should be my son, not my son's nap time.
Now I'm not saying that I'm going to stop working out because I still think it's important. But if I don't have time one day because Tyler needs me to be with him while is busy not napping, I will gladly do that. I've read so many articles that are like "Moms! take time for yourself! Your kids can wait!" I don't think I want to think that way. Just like I want to live a life of moderation, I also want to live a life of balance. And if that means that I just don't get to work out one day or I regress in weight every now and then but yet my child is happy and fully loved, so be it. I'm still going to work at looking and feeling good, but not at the expense of time with my kids.
But. Truthfully most of this came out of my fingers without me knowing I thought these things. What do YOU think?
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I feel a little sheepish after reading this with my recent facebook status about my post pregnancy jeans...sorry! I know I am in a different situation but at the same time I hear where you are coming from. I felt a ton of pressure after Alexis was born. For me I finally gave up running on the treadmill and working out with a video and found ways to work out that included her. We took some Mom and baby fitness classes, I took her swimming, and I walked with her in the stroller. All of those things she loved and enjoyed and I loved being with her so it worked out great for us. Alexis is a busy busy kid so it had to be about what worked for her. I agree that loving our kids and giving them the best of us is the most important thing!
ReplyDeleteI think I agree very much with your philosophy on all of this. As much as I want to have a fabulous body and to be one of the moms that everyone else wishes they were, I also need to be spending time with my girls, keeping the house at least somewhat in order, and catch a minute of rest myself. Sadly, in all of that, squeezing in a work out is last on the list. That said, I want to be healthy and teach my children to be healthy as well. So it really is all in the balance... I'm pretty sure chasing after active babies all day long burns a massive amount of calories anyways.
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