I’m back to the blog! After having my first baby and transitioning back into my new “normal” life, I’m ready to pass along more and hopefully even better fitness advice. A little bit about what I’m experiencing….
Now, that my son (Maximus) has turned three months, things are beginning to settle into a manageable routine. Monday through Friday I have to get up at 5 am to get off to work. I finish work at 2:20 and have to be home by 3:00 to relieve by childcare provider. Then, I have the next four hours to cook dinner, clean up, bathe the baby and get him to sleep. OH…I forgot I need to work out! Yes, we all know it!
So, I was always that trainer that said “you have to MAKE TIME for you to get a workout”. Well, today I’m working on practicing what I preached for years. It is not easy! In my former pre-mommy years, I would advise my clients of the importance to caring for themselves and taking 4-6 hours a week to put into their fitness. Now, in my current mommy condition, I have found a few things to help me practice what I preach.
- Find your convenience
- Ask for help
- Use your guilt
- Recognize how you feel
My convenience is a gym that is 10 minutes from my house. So, even though I have free access to the YMCA I am paying a monthly gym membership for the convenience. I’m maximizing the time I have!
I ask for help from my husband in advance. I tell him that I want to go to the gym on Friday, Wednesday night. I ask him to watch the baby for two hours. I’m maximizing the time I have!
I like to use the guilt that I have for leaving my son at home or in the nursery to fuel a better workout. Since I only have 1 hour, I cannot slack I have to push every minute I have there and I’m maximizing the time I have!
Finally, recognize how you feel! I wanted to work out on Thursday but I felt very tired. So, instead of going to the gym and not getting a great workout, I took my son out for a nice long walk. I spent the remainder of my time resting. Then, Friday I felt much better and had a great workout at the gym.
So, try some or all of my tips to maximize your time and get to the gym. If I can practice what I preach then you can too!
What tips do you have for other moms or women who find it difficult to make time for their fitness goals? What has worked for you?
Stay tuned for more personal stories, motivation, and tips.
Photography by Pierce Brunson Photography
www.piercebrunsonphotography.com
About Ruth Brunson
My babies are 16 and soon to be 20. I didn’t have alot of advice going in to it. But learning what I did going through it, I try to pass it on and those “new” mom’s just dont want to hear it. My biggest advice(and this is from experience) make time for yourself. When they are babies, they don’t miss you as much as when they get older and connect, so, please, please taKe time for yourself. If mama is happy, everyone s happy. And whenyou have a baby its not about YOU anymore when it comes to “time.” Get over it.
I’ve just accepted over the years that sometimes I may only have 20 minutes to go for a quick run. And that’s okay. Better than nothing, right?
So true Heidi! before I made it to the gym I was working out at home. I would have 10 minutes so I would do squats, push ups, and planks. Whatever I could get in before the baby needed something. That’s what I said too; better than nothing!
I’m 4 kids under 5 into mommyhood and taking another stab at getting exercise into my routine. I’m currently participating in a Biggest Loser competition with other Moms from my MOPS group. We are having such fun with it! We started a Facebook page to encourage one another and keep each other accountable.