The Fitness Struggle

Our first summer vacation is right around the corner.  While I am really looking forward to a relaxing week at the beach, I am not so excited about the extra pounds I'm carrying around.  Lack of exercise combined with a sweet tooth has left me quite soft around the middle and carrying a little extra baggage in the back if you know what I mean.  It is really no one's fault but my own and I take full responsibility.  Now that the weather is getting warmer and the days longer, there really is no excuse not to make time time to go for a run several times a week.  Well, other than my body feeling old anyway!

I have set a few fitness goals for myself this summer and I am hopeful my body will cooperate!  I have split it into three bench marks:  a 5K, 5 mile, and 7 mile race.  I am putting little emphasis on race and more on completion.  I am not a "runner."  It has never been something I have enjoyed nor felt very comfortable doing, but with limited workout options and a desire to lose some weight, it is the route I am taking.  

A few summers ago, after I had my fourth baby, I committed to the Couch25K program and had success.  Much of training was more of a mental struggle than a physical one, so this time around I am a bit ahead of the game.  I have already proved to myself I can run over three miles, now it is time to push it even further.  I have gone on two runs this month (not many, I know!) and been able to run over 2.25 miles each time.  It took me weeks to get this point two years ago, so I am pleased this is my starting point.   

While I was stretching after my run last night, my husband and I were talking about how it went.  He is very encouraging and said something to me that really struck a chord:  "I don't think you give yourself enough credit.  You are an athlete."  Huh.  He is right.  In my younger years I played many sports.  I was not a star, but I was skilled, and very competitive.  After high school, I spent many years working out in spurts, but have struggled to consistently stay in shape.  It has been very frustrating and an area in which I would like improve.

I suppose it would make sense to do this during this year in which I have declared to "Get it Done!"  It also aligns with my word of the year:  discipline.  The biggest challenge will be creating and sticking to a schedule.  With four kids and a husband who travels for his job, sneaking away for 45 minutes to an hour is not always easy, but with some planning I have faith it can be done.  

This mama needs to make time for fitness.  Three years ago I was in the best shape of my life and the smallest I'd been since high school.  I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I am going to dig deep and find that inner athlete again.  It won't be easy, but I am hoping by the end of July I'll be able to finish that 7 mile race with a smile on my face!

Do you struggle with setting time for your health and fitness?  What holds you up?  Have you successfully implemented a fitness routine?  Share your tips!

A Wake-Up Call

Yesterday I completed the registration to view my online records through our health care provider. Once complete, I was able to log in and see my stats from each doctor's visit through in this network of providers.  It is a very convenient system and nice to have everything in one place.  However, there was one little statistic screaming at me:  my weight.

The records went back to the summer of 2012 when we first moved to the area.  I scrolled through everything in the system and looked at the number from the scale in August 2012 and wanted to just kick myself right there.  Granted this was before baby #4, in fact that particular visit was confirming my pregnancy, but still.  What the heck?!

It was a time when I was probably in the best shape of my adult life, perhaps my entire life.  Prior to moving to Iowa, I belonged to a wonderful health club with tough classes and great equipment.  I worked out five days a week for many months and in that time weighed close to what I did in high school.  I felt amazing and energized and vowed to continue this regimen once we moved.

The gym we joined just wasn't the same.  I tried for a long time to get comfortable and find the classes I needed to push myself and never did.  I got pregnant with #4 and really threw in the towel. After she was born, however, I made the commitment to complete the Couch to 5K program.  I ran all summer, lost a lot of weight, felt strong again, and completed my 5K goal.  That was the last time I had a consistent workout routine and boy, can my body tell.

So, now what?  It is time to get back into shape again.  Seeing those numbers climb through the visits in that system really irritated me.  The worst has been over the past year.  I am over it and ready to watch those numbers creep back down.

My big goal this week was to complete a yoga DVD I have had great success with 3 times.  Last night was the first and today I am sore, but plan to find another activity to get the heart rate up and get my mind and body into a routine.  Tomorrow I'll complete the DVD again and fit in one more day to meet my goal.  It is so hard to do this with no gym membership, four kids at home, and an inconsistent sleep schedule, but I am going to find a way.  Setting small, attainable goals helps.

The end goal?  Well, I have plenty.  To run three races this summer:  a 5K, 5 mile, and a 7 mile.  To fit into the cute clothes in my closet (new with tags) and to lose at least 13 pounds.  Oh, yeah, and be able to wear a bikini for our ten year anniversary trip wherever that may be!

My success will be dependent on my word for 2015:  discipline.  Somehow, some way, I am going to have to be disciplined and find a DVD or workout regimen I can do indoors until the weather warms up and I can hit the pavement.  I also need to be held accountable and encouraged.  My husband and I both have lofty fitness goals for this year, so I am hoping we can do that for each other.

I'm sure there are others of you out there trying to achieve similar goals.  It's not just about the weight, but of feeling strong, healthy, and energized as well.  It is about setting a goal and reaching it. I know the road may be long, but it will be well worth it.

Who's ready?!

Fitness Fun (At Least That's What I'm Telling Myself!)

There are few things more depressing than a closet filled with clothes that don't fit.  After having our fourth child, I set my 5K goal and met it.  Most of the baby weight came off and I fit back into most of my clothes.  I was so excited I went through my closet and got rid of all of my "after baby" wardrobe.

I hit the clearance racks and found some great deals on clothes for the next summer.  I was so excited about them...until summer came around and they no longer fit!  I had let myself get out of my fitness routine and was paying the ultimate price for it:  a closet full of too-small clothes.

One would think that would be motivation enough to get back at it, but too many sleepless nights stood in the way and I have had a difficult time getting myself into a routine ever since.  One of the areas in my Year to Get Sh*t Done is fitness and my ultimate goal is quite simple:  to fit into the clothes taking up space in my closet this summer.

In order to reach this goal, however, I have come up with some personal goals and benchmarks.  To get started, I would simply like to be more active.  Given we are spending our money carefully, a gym membership is out of the question right now.  It's the dead of winter, so outside exercise is not an option (I HATE cold weather!).  That leaves me with one option:  exercising at home.

Luckily I have had this idea in the past.  There are DVD's, equipment, and Wii games just waiting for someone to use them.  That person is me and the time is now.  Today I had a little fun with my kids on their snow day.  We played Just Dance for quite some time which got the heart pumping and yielded some sweat to boot.  Fitness and fun with my kids?!  I could surely do that a few days a week.

Maintaining a workout schedule at home is very difficult.  Setting aside a specific time each day is going to be my best bet.  It is so very hard to get out of bed in during the dark and cold winter, but it may be the best option.  Finding an accountability partner will also be beneficial.  Perhaps I can find a friend (or two) who have fitness goals of their own to check in with each day.  It's time to pull out all of the stops!

If I want to reach the fitness goals I have for the summer, I'm going to have to be disciplined.

There's that word again!  I guess it was a great choice for 2015.