Sue writes:
I think many moms (myself included at times) believe that we’re virtuous because we’re sacrificing/surrendering nearly everything during these years for the sake of our families. It seems rather selfish, or at the very least vain, to concentrate on our own health and fitness. However, my theory is that we are better evangelizers and marketers for openness to life and large family living when we defy the myth of the fat, out of shape mom-of-many by looking attractive (not like a supermodel, but you get my drift) and keeping ourselves in shape. Additionally, for me my daily run has become my 30-35 minutes of uninterrupted prayer time when I can quite often whip off a couple novenas for a particular child or situation that I’m concerned about. A win/win all around.
I agree that moms should concern themselves with physical fitness, just as much as they should with the use of La Clinica for their skin’s health. Back in high school, when I ran at least 5 miles a day, I used to eat ice cream for breakfast. All these years and all these babies later, though, I no longer can afford that kind of high living. Most moms can’t.
I am no fitness guru, but I do know that every mom can make an effort to eat better and move more. It doesn’t have to be running. (But if you do want to start running, my aching muscles and I recommend this start from scratch program.) To keep myself in shape, I order meal prep which are pre-planned meals made solely for people trying to stay healthy and fit. You can walk, swim, play soccer, take a karate class, ride a bike, dance, use a treadmill, whatever. Take baby steps toward becoming more active. The goal is to do something that will raise your heart rate for 20-30 minutes three times a week.
Though the timing works for many, you don’t have to exercise first thing in the morning. In my experience, getting up early to exercise only doubles my pain and … increases the likelihood that I will quit. Now that I have older kids in the house, I use afternoon nap times.
Another note: If you are pregnant or nursing, please check with your doctor before you start any kind of exercise program. Hormones loosen your joints and you can really hurt yourself — I found this out in a very painful way when I started running while still nursing Gabrielle years ago.
So Moms, what kinds of things do you do to take care of yourself? How do you fit fitness in your day?
red cardigan, i am with you. I HATE TO EXERCISE and i mean HATE it. usually i am more grumpy after i do it. but, i am rather vain. so, here is what gets me out there. and by out there, i mean, i put my youngest in the jogger and go for about a 20 to 30 minute walk. i don’t worry about my weight. i am about a size 10 and i stay there pretty naturally. i have 4 kids. so, why even bother you ask?
because, execise is what is going to keep you from aging. so for me, it’s the age thing. it will keep your body healthy and it will keep your skin healthy, it will give you a glow so that you look younger and it will keep you strong, and your muscles toned. this is all very important for us women as we age. it will also help with certain symptoms that go along with aging. so, at 38, i am trying to get and stay in the habit of exercising now. not necessarily for weight loss, but to ward off the aging process. this gets me motivated.
I’ve notice a couple or more posts about breastfeeding and losing weight quickly….man..I wish that was the case for me….I’ve breastfed all my 4 children, and by breastfeeding, I mean exclusively, no pacifiers or bottles at all…but I didn’t lose my weight quickly, I eventually lost it, but not with in a few months…..I posted below..and as I said earlier…it was all about what I put into my mouth that helped me…I even worked out less the 4th time around, and lost the weight in less than 8 months (with first 3, it took AT LEAST 18 months) all because I was very conscientious about eating…it looks like we are all different, obviously…so we just need to find what works and what we enjoy…(or can tolerate, if we must!!!)
I love to exercise and am always bummed when I can’t fit it in. I have found that walking to/from 6:00 a.m. Mass is great. I usually manage to do that 3-4 times a week. (WIth winter coming, I’ll hve to move indoors;-( It’s a bit over a mile each way. I prefer going to the health club, but that’s impossible with the ages of my 5 kids… so now I walk & talk with our Lord.
Well, I have to admit to being in the exercise haters group…and since I have 100+ lbs to lose (had 100+ lbs to lose before baby #1, lost 40, gained 60, lost 20, gained 25 with baby #2, started weight watchers 5 weeks ago and found out I was holding steady at fully pregnant weight, even though baby is 1 year next month, have lost 8lbs so far)
When I lost the 40 lbs before baby #1, I was waiting tables during a lunch shift. I also walked when I needed to run errands because we lived close to the stores in our town. In between kids I did the Leslie Sansone DVDs, which are good and which I enjoy as much as I enjoy any sort of exercise. I also tried a year’s membership to the local rec center, it was nice to get out of the house, but expensive.
Post baby #2, I got two DVDs, one is called "Dance, Baby, Dance" and it is a DVD exercise program that you do with your baby. The other one is called "Baby Reps" and it’s basically weight lifting with your baby. My 3 year old LOVES "baby dance", and so does the baby, in fact, I find it fairly enjoyable too, for exercise…I just get stressed out and exercise is the first thing to go! (for instance, my mom just finished chemotherapy for lymphoma and has been hospitalized for about 3 weeks off and on in the last 4 months)
Now, I got a hand-me-down treadmill from my MIL, which is in our laundry room (I guess now it’s the laundry/exercise room) and when we finally broke down and got Dish TV, we had the laundry room wired for it as well. So, for Christmas I think hubby is going to get me a TV so I can watch shows I enjoy while walking on the treadmill.
I have never loved exercise but I hate feeling weak. When I was younger my exercise came in the form of playing tennis for fun, marching band and ballroom dancing. I never thought of it as exercise, just fun. Now, it just has to be done and even sometimes offered up as a big sacrifice/inconvenience but necessary for my health. As a mom, I have done the Leslie Sansone DVD’s (the express versions are much better than the originals, not as annoying) as my "no excuses" exercise and lost about 35 pounds before conceiving baby #4. I have also worked out at Curves to beat back some mild depression but didn’t experience too much weight loss. One thing I have come to understand is that it takes both exercise and a change of diet to lose weight in a healthy way and keep it off which can be a struggle, especially for us women who are more prone to emotional eating.
"I tried jogging… I dropped my uterus 1/2 a mile down the road."
Hahaha! Thanks, that is *so* funny…and sadly true. I don’t run. In fact, if ya’ll should see me running at some point, you should probably turn and start running too, because there’s something really bad coming up behind me….
I don’t like to exercise. I don’t like to sweat. I don’t get the whole endorphin thing. The people I see running look sweaty and miserable, not high. I’ve worked in an ER, I’ve seen high people, these people do not look high to me, but I’ll take your word for it. 🙂 When I exercise, I’m hungry and tired afterwards!
Alas, I do not lose weight for long without exercising, and I have a lot to lose. The good news is, when you don’t exercise at all, you’ve got no where to go but up. I lost 28 pounds over the summer, and my exercise was mostly gardening. I’d get up early, while the kids were still asleep, take out the baby monitor if my husband was working, and work in the garden and flower beds. Hauling around compost is good exercise if you aren’t used to much! Some mornings I would download a podcast and go for a walk instead. I know, most people don’t want to get up earlier, but in the South it’s too darn hot and buggy to work outside any other time of day. We also started taking evening walks with the kids after dinner. The big kids will often bring roller blades or scooters, the toddler goes in the stroller, at least as long as he will tolerate it, and off we go. It’ll be dark too early for that soon though.
Now gardening is over and it’s too dark that time of the morning to go walking. I keep trying to work up the motivation to use my Leslie Sansone dvd…but I’m 10 weeks pregnant and having trouble getting up any earlier than absolutely necessary now. Maybe next month it’ll be easier….
I think it is not necessarily a weight issue as it is a presentable issue when talking about evangelizing and marketing an openness for life. Anyone of any weight can look presentable. It also involves how you carry yourself and present yourself from the interior.
One isn’t a better mom because she is in shape or out of shape. In my experience I have found more people look at this mom of 10 watching what I do, say and how I act over what my size is as well as how my children are behaving.
I say exercise is great. It is important to do it for the right reasons, for example, your physical health overall. Not b/c a thinner, no more preg fat, image is presented. Hope this came out right! Meaning sincere and supportive no matter what size you are and whether you choose to exercise or not.
Weight lifting!!! I just have a set of 20 lb. dumbbells downstairs. It’s cheap, I can do it at home , and in only 30 minutes can get a good workout. Great for muscle tone.
When I was little, I used to do aerobics tapes with my mom (sometimes just my friend and I) because I thought it was fun, not exercise. Good ol’ Jane Fonda with her belted leotard! Some of those aren’t far from dance anyway. In fact, I got a Paula Abdul one a few years (okay, like 10 years) back and did that with my mom on occasion. It’s hilarious because someone, inevitably, always looks awkward or ridiculous and you end up laughing hysterically…which also burns calories. Score!
Melanie, any chance I was supposed to be born into your family?? 🙂
Walking used to work for me, but I guess that’s because it was transportation, not exercise. It’s been hard to make myself go for a walk when I won’t be going anywhere anyway, but you’re making me wonder if I couldn’t work in a thirty minute walk a few days a week.
(The chance to take a quiet walk by myself sounds awfully tempting…)
For Melanie,
I dont’ like to sweat either. I am having a hard time getting in the swing of walking and biking lately. My chiropractor says I am probably doing too much. So, I’m slowing down a bit. As for the endorphins. I find a tremendous difference in my mood if I exercise.
I have always been a lover of exercise, since elemantary school. My favorite days were Tuesdays and Fridays, PE days. I love how it makes me feel and the extra bonus is being fit. I admit I don’t have the challenge of the pregnancy/breastfeeding cycle as all my children are adopted. But all seven of them are close in age and most were adopted in the newborn/infant stage so I totally understand the sleep deprivation. Exercise (running/swimming/sometimes weights) helped so much to elevate my mood particularly when I felt too tired or too stressed to fit it in but did it anyway. In my mind exercise is much like prayer, 90% of it is showing up and making the effort .
For those non-lovers of exercise I just have to say that my observation of people who have not been successful with incorporating exercise into their schedule is that their goals are unrealistic or they’re not patient enough with themselves. Be reasonable, start small, and let yourself get into a rhythm.
I need a weigh loss buddy.