I’ve never been particularly sport or athletic. I don’t even own cute sweats and tennis shoes. I’m not an active wear kind of gal. I played basketball in elementary school, but soon lost confidence as I grew older, but not much taller. As a teenager, I was thin, but didn’t know it because I also had curves. I could maintain a low enough weight thanks to youth and bad eating habits. Then I went to college and my “freshman 15” became a freshman 40.
Gyms are not completely alien to me. I’ve definitely joined my share of them. I even tried fancy gyms with a personal trainer to show you the ropes (ie, how the equipment works). I recall the humiliation of having a trainer come up to me while I pedaled away on a bike and read Silas Marner for class. I was sweating profusely – that’s what we out of shape girls do – and he came over in concern, checking in to make sure I was okay. My impulse was to reply “No, I’m an overweight girl at an overpriced gym forcing myself to workout when I just want to go home and read while enjoying a candy bar.” Instead, I politely let him know all was well.
My most successful gym membership came with Curves in my mid twenties. I joined with my roommate and it was definitely easier to go with a friend sometimes and do a set routine. I didn’t miraculously lose weight, but it felt good to be active. I wish I’d stuck with it, but the cost was prohibitive, the repetition grew boring, and I lost my motivation. Same old story.
Fast forward a couple of years and I am the mother of a 4 year-old and nearly 2 year-old. I discovered that the miracle of nursing helped me burn off not only pregnancy fat, but other fat too! Thanks to breastfeeding, I am down a size from when I married my husband 6 years ago. Unfortunately, nursing can not prevent mommy body, especially the dreaded mommy tummy! It also can’t help you have more energy or endurance in the long run.
Lately I’ve felt tired and a bit down. My energy level has plummeted. During our date on Friday, my husband and I decided it was finally time to simply fit the cost of a Y membership into our budget. We both want to be be in better shape (it will be much easier for him to reach this goal). I also feel like I need to take control of this now, so I won’t regret it later. My kids deserve a mom who is a good example, who takes care of herself, who has energy to play. And I deserve that too.
My good friend Heather has been encouraging me to join for 3 years, as have other friends along the way. The Y offers numerous classes as part of a membership and I know quite a few ladies who attend them. Since I know that I am not a highly self-motivated exerciser, I plan to commit to going to these classes and trying different workouts. I also know I need diversity to keep me interested.
This morning Heather was attending Spinning and it fit into my schedule. I tried this class once before and ended up with jello legs. This time was no different, but at least I knew what to expect. We did jumps and I just kept hearing my friend’s voice saying, “Don’t feel like you have to do everything the first time.” And I didn’t. I couldn’t. But I pushed myself. That class kicked my trash. I ache from head to toe. But I felt empowered, energized, excited, motivated – throughout the entire day. Ah, I hope it lasts.
If not, I just have to remember the question my daughter innocently asked tonight whilst I was changing: “Mommy, why do you have a big belly?”
What time is the next class?
I am so so so so SO happy you are doing this!!! Exercise makes all the difference in the world and not just for weight loss or toning, but for your energy levels. Good luck with all of it! Spin does get so much easier with time. 🙂
I’ve been begging and pleading my husband to go back to the gym. He has a history of heart problems in his family, plus anxiety, and he needs to exercise to stay healthy. When we have a child, I want him to be able to be the best dad he can be!
The biggest motivation for me to get in shape was something my mother told me about a year ago. She said that Grandpa Beckstead told her when she was in her mid thirties that she might not notice the extra weight so much when she was that age, but in thirty years she would really feel it in her knees. Fast forward 30 years: one of Mom’s knee is almost non-existent and she walks everywhere with a cane. Mom doesn’t suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, blood pressure issues (insert any other typical ailments associated with excess weight) but her quality of life has definitely deteriorated because of her knee. I’m grateful that good genetics have left me in the same spot in terms of internal good health, but before I started getting in shape I had already started to feel the knees creak as I got older and heavier. But aside from that, since I’ve started exercising I’ve become converted to the ‘high’ exercise gives you. Especially since I’ve started running, I’ve just felt so much better—in terms of both energy and mood. In fact, I want a T-shirt that says “Running Is My Prosaic.” So for me, exercise is integral to my health, if for no other reason than for sustained energy and feeling good.
Sounds like you are on the right track, especially if you can do a variety of classes to keep things interesting. Some people swear by Zumba and say it’s a blast. Never tried it myself, but I love the idea of exercise that is FUN!
Getting started is the hardest part – pat yourself on the back! You deserve it!
Ally
Any exercise gets easier in time. And yes, starting is the hardest part. I know those jelly/jello legs all too well and still get them myself sometimes when I’m pushing myself too much.
We just joined our local JCC which is similar to the Y in many ways. I have lots of friends who belong to our Y and LOVE IT. SO glad you do, too. As you know, I also love my Jillian Michaels dvd’s so I can work out at home when I am feeling lazy and don’t want to go out to work out.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!