I totally get the challenge of finding time to workout when you have kids, especially when you are trying to workout at home. There are so many thoughts running through my head before starting a workout: Are the kids sleeping? When will they wake? Do I wake up early to workout or wait until they are in bed? Do I need to shower today or can I use that time to workout? Am I going to need to shower after the workout?
With one and two kids I didn’t have those thoughts running through the my head, but dang, three kids make it tough! Granted Nova is only 10 weeks old, so I know when her schedule becomes set I can plan things a little better. I’ve carved out a few mornings of yoga and circuit training at home, which last until Nova starts her day… sometimes it’s at 7am, other days it’s 6am. I’ve learned to embrace what I get and be thankful for each of those minutes. Every movement makes my body and mind feel that much more alive.
I feel 1000x blessed that fitness is a big part of my life. I get to teach groups fitness classes which brings me so much happiness! Bonus, during body pump and body combat, I get a killer workout in too! No kids are around and I can really take my focus to fitness. I went back to teaching pump and combat last week (love!) and had a realization during the workouts, because they were tough:
Now is not the time to give up. Now is the time to embrace what’s in front of me and give it my all. Now is the time to work hard because the (kid free) opportunity is not always there.
I don’t want to spend hours upon hours working out, no way. I want to get in and get it done, so I keep the intensity high. I don’t leave the workout feeling like I held back. I know there is an end, and that I’ll be heading back to my fabulous mom life where it’s harder to workout, so when I get the chance to fully commit to my fitness, I embrace it.
I went for a run a couple weeks ago, and I don’t consider myself a runner anymore by choice, but I just needed some movement and head space. I could have jogged around town and looked at the trees and kids getting out of school, but instead I found a hill (not hard since we live on a hill) and after a warm up loop into town, I committed to 5 hill sprints. It was a good long hill and sucked everything out of me. I had to fight the urge to walk and kept pushing my body up one step at a time. I was in my mind telling myself I could do this, and I did it! I felt amazing after and knew I left nothing behind. And I was only gone for 20 minutes but made it count. Time well spent.
Sometimes you just need to get in your head and remind yourself to make the workout count. I do this by lifting challenging weights, running faster, pushing and kicking with more intensity and even moving my body gracefully and mindfully in yoga, breathing and stretching through the movements. Be present with your workout, whatever type of workout it may be.
How do you fit your fitness into your life and make the workouts count? Do you go to a gym or workout at home? If you’re a mom, have your workouts changed since having kids?
Heather
2 comments
Aw, this is such a cute picture of you and your daughter! Giving up on a workout is so tempting sometimes, especially when you’ve been so worn out by other areas in your life. Seeing your perseverance is truly inspiring and motivating! This is a great post! Thank you so much for posting!
Thanks you Morgan!