Throughout my life I have struggled with my weight. I get fat, then I get skinny, then I get fat again. It has been a battle to say the least. I've been on every type of diet you could imagine. I've tried every exercise move/fad/whatever. I always seem to revert back to my old ways. I know WHAT to do. I just have to STICK to my routine.
I'm back on the "get healthy" wagon again. Maybe you are too. Maybe you are just considering it. Maybe you yo-yo like I do. Well, it's time for us to get to it. First of all, sit down and make your goals. What do you want to accomplish? How will you accomplish it? How will you STICK to it?
I am so guilty as a Mom of putting myself on hold to do things for the rest of my family. No matter what age your kids are, or how big your family is; make your first goal as the most important one. Commit to yourself. Whatever your goals are, set them in stone and work toward them. Committing to take care of your self doesn't take away from your family, it only improves your health - and sometimes your sanity! Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed, start slow - maybe work on coming up with a healthy meal plan or organizing your weekly meals. I love the folks over at SavingDinner.com. They have recipe ideas, menu mailers, and e-cookbooks that include weekly menus and shopping lists! Start with 30 minutes of exercise per day. Take the baby for a walk in the stroller. Have someone watch the kids while you go for a walk. If you have kids that are a little bit older, check out your local Y. They have pretty good gym membership prices that include childcare.
Incorporating new things and adjusting your routine may seem daunting at first. I always wonder, "Do I have TIME for that?" Don't worry, your new routine will become old habit soon enough!
Right now I have an elementary school kid - who has a few extracurricular activities, I work full time, we have dogs, cats, horses, doves, turkeys, ducks plus we have a small 75 bird egg farm that has to be taken care of - not to mention all of my "normal" mother and housekeeping duties. Around Easter I saw a picture of myself. Ugh. I need to work on that. But WHEN am I going to have TIME to workout? I already get up at 4 and go to bed at 10!
I didn't analyze the timeline too long, I just decided that I would do it. I joined a Crossfit Gym and I go three days per week and sometimes on Saturday. There are many days that I want to blow off a workout. After the first month I have found that I can't mentally blow it off. I WANT to go, I HAVE to go, and I MAKE the time needed to get there. I've also been working on our diet - which went by the wayside around Thanksgiving. I'm currently in the process of making sure that my menus are planned a week in advance. This way I know what to expect during the week and how to arrange my time accordingly.
Are you ready to make a change? Lets go!
