2 posts tagged “exercises”

It's happened again.

After the initial weight loss in the weeks following the birth of each kid, I managed to either stay at a mid-pregnancy weight level, or in this most recent round, manage to even gain a bit more back.  At least, I think I have.  I seem to remember my clothes fitting a bit better after Peaches was born than they seem to now. 

I feel rather sheepish admitting all this.  After all, I knew that I'd need to keep on top of things if I was going to lose weight - the year after Gus was born taught me this.  I do breastfeed, but that hasn't really melted off the pounds like it does for some moms.  In fact, I found it easier to shed some pounds after Gus had weaned.  But in the meantime, I know I can be and should be staying fit and eating well. 

Since Peaches just hit three months and has become more predictable, I feel comfortable going to the gym again and leaving her and Gus at the playcare provided.  I started last week - some cardio and some weights.  In the food department I'm doing my best to work on avoiding the sweets cravings.  I'm planning on drinking more water and green tea.  I have some other ideas of what I could do, and hopefully will do, but right now I'd like to hear from you all out there in vox-land.

I need inspiration.
I need ideas.
Let me the recepient of your collective wisdom!

What are a few things that you do that you find help make you feel and actually be healthy?

Let's hear it.

(*Sorry - I don't know how to activate the accent aigu for the word 'cliche.')

I've been noticing as I go about my days how I seem to be finding my way into a few cliches common these days from the trivial to the consequential.

Cliche #1 - Group workouts work for me.
    I'm a member at my local Y and get there on a pretty regular basis.  I finally decide to cough up some extra cash and enroll in a 6 week circuit class.  Though I'm pretty good at regularly getting to the gym, I find it easy to get into a rut and wanted to jump-start my exercising. 
    And things are going great.  All the things they say group classes are good for are working for me: I feel much more motivated to be there; I'm enjoying working out with others and look forward to seeing them (too bad the class ends so soon!); I believe that my workouts are of better quality since there is such a breadth of different exercises and I am far more likely to push myself harder as I have an instructor encouraging (yelling at) us.  We'll see if actual weight loss results from this cliche or not. 

Cliche #2 - "Set for life."

     I married when I was 23.  I obtained my necessary degrees and diplomas for my chosen career (education) by the time I was 25.  I was working shortly thereafter.  We bought a house.  I became a mom when I was 27.   And  we just bought a bigger place and will be moving next month - room to grow and all that.
    In regards to education, career, family and friends, I feel like we've 'got it all.'  First, I must thank God for these blessings.  I know we don't deserve them.  But here we are; have we arrived? Others would say we've got it made.On one hand I feel like I should not be content with this life and what some call 'trappings' - things that apparently hold you back, tied you down. 
But - I find I am happy; sure, I admit that some days I want to stretch farther beyond baby, geography, my income; but overall I  like my life.  Spiritually, I am a 'light-weight' Christian,  I know I must never be wholly content in my state and know that I need to, must, grow still even more in the Lord; perfection will come when I see Christ not through a veil but face to face.  (I Cor. 13)  But when it comes to those 'trappings,'  I do not feel bound, only blessed.

Cliche #3 - The Guilty Mother
    I am weeks away from completing my maternity leave.  I am very thankful for my country - that we have a year of leave with (some) pay and jobs waiting for our return.  We've decided that I will go back to work this fall, just half time , mind, for as a newish teacher a full time job requires so much from me beyond the regular 8 hours.   A few months back I found a fantastic day care for J.  My intuition sang as I spoke to the woman and saw her home and playrooms.  J. is a generally happy boy - grins and charms people on the street, in the bank, at the grocery store.  And he will be attending daycare soon.
    I have been feeling pretty good about the situation, but over this last week, slowly, the guilt has been creeping in.  And those feelings, those cliches that are batted around by women's magazines and agonized over, defended, and attacked by all in our society, are finding their way to me in a way more real than ever before: Is it wrong to leave him with someone else during the day?  How will he adjust?  What if he doesn't do well?  What if he's fussy - I feel bad making someone else deal with my cranky boy. guilt, guilt, guilt.
And I have to hold my head up around my friends, my family, and society in general, and bow it in prayer in solitude - bring my worry to God.  See, I must remember and believe that God holds my son far better than I ever will - in daycare or not.