Source: Photostock
Before I had kids, I wasn’t in the greatest of shape but I did work out regularly. At least three times a week I would do something, whether it was going to the gym or popping in a workout DVD. I was always within five pounds of my goal weight and I was happy with the way I looked.
But since having kids six years ago, I can’t say any of that has continued. For me, it has been one spurt of exercise after the other. You know the drill—workout hard for two weeks, get frustrated, quit. Starting working out three months later, stop once you get comfortable. And so on and so on.
I’ve tried almost everything to find something that could give me some “stick-to-it-ness.” I’ve tried Zumba, circuit training at the gym, regular ol’ running, the 30 Day Shred, a few days of Insanity, one hour of P90X, yoga and more.
But it all comes down to the fact that I feel like my kids have drained my energy. After taking care of them and working all day, all I want to do is relax. And unfortunately, exercising is not relaxing to me.
Another problem is that I lack the discipline to be consistent. I’ll work out for two weeks like a maniac, inevitably pull a muscle and then be sidelined for a week, which destroys my motivation to get back out there. So I don’t.
Read more on my yo-yo fitness routine at MommyNoire.com.
This is my story…except my children are 14 & 9 and between working full-time, graduate school and their activities, I don’t see how exercising is possible anymore. I live at the school for sports and at 2 different churches for boy and girl scouts and let’s not forget swimming! I lost about 40 pounds last year. I have gained back 10 and can’t seem to find the time to. I know I need to and I am parenting alone so there is noone to wash dishes while I go for a walk or pop in a DVD. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has moved, personal fitness, down on my list of priorities!
I blame it on no time …. between single parenting a toddler, grad school fulltime, working fulltime, working on call hours after work and weekend hours then I just can’t find ether tine to be consistent ….. i’m hoping now that winter is coming, school is ending, and i tend to go out my house less i can get those dvd in motion!
That’s definitely normal though. As a mother, it’s not exactly easy adding yet another thing on our very long list of daily to-do’s. And it really is a mission finding time for it some days. However it’s not impossible… I know plenty people who have done it. I think it’s more so about self-discipline than it is about the kids lol.
Don’t beat yourself up! Literally or figuratively! Don’t go so hard when you first start out that is how I ensure i’ll never work out again. lol. Also getting the kids in on the action helps Leilani actually helped me keep up with the 30 Day Shred
Make sure you’re drinking a lot water that helps A LOT