I'm not sure what exactly prompted me to put on my forsaken running shoes and hit the track yesterday. Wait... my mind is conjuring a mental image of a skinny, toned sister looking adorable in a summer dress last Sunday.... oh yeah. That probably did something. But... I digress. I went to the nearby school track and I gimped around it once, twice, *puff* puff* (rest) three times.
Fifteen months. That's how old my baby is. And that's how long it'd been since I exercised. Like, REALLY exercised. It's embarrassing because "trotting" (walking with intermittent bursts of running... it's not a real term, I'm just using it for descriptive purposes) around the track yesterday wasn't even that strenuous.
I guess I figured that family walks and walks to the park all counted as "good exercise." Nevermind I'm walking at a snail's pace, stopping every 3 minutes to soothe or break up a hissy fit (gotta love the side by side double strollers... the "poking" is endless!). Or waiting for the three year old who insists on walking herself to stop and smell the roses... and dandelions... and clover... and mailboxes...
So, tonight I visited the track a second time, after the kids were asleep. I made it around the track four times, without stopping to wheeze (although I kept my running to a minimum). IT felt good to walk without having to load kids into a stroller or wear a large toddler in an ergo. And since I'm totally weak, my "workout" is over in 20 minutes.
Although exercise is not a priorty in my life, wheezing is even less of one. Waiting to exercise after all of my "childbearing" is over is waiting for a disaster (a foreshadowed medical emergency?) to happen.
Since I gained 30-40 pounds during my pregnancies, I promised myself I'd never complain about my body/weight if I ever fit into my "normal" clothes again. Once I fit into my normal clothes after my last pregnancy, I was pretty content resting on my laurels and leaving it at that. Even the number on the scale was within five pounds of my driver's license weight. Enough said :) But recently, my energy and endurance levels were starting to wane; a good reminder that exercise is really important, even when I'm "okay" with my body image/ weight.
So, now I think I'll actually start jogging with that jogging stroller. OR at least steal away a few minutes each evening to hit the track. It's nice to be reunited to my long-forgotten habit of walking. It's a great opportunity to put my prayer rope to good use. Who needs an ipod (hehehe... KIDDING! I totally want one)? Plus, I'm looking forward to my legs no longer feeling like lead. And maybe... maybe... I can lose the permanent "Is she or isn't she?" faux prego pooch.
11 comments:
LOL! I can totally relate to the "Is she? Isn't she?" pooch! I gain mainly in my torso (chest and belly) which really makes for some fun conversations! I've been asked twice - once when Sugar Plum was about 9 months old and once a few months ago:( I am going to follow your lead and see if I can start moving more each day!
Oh yes, I told my husband once, "when I was pregnant, I was excited to have this belly" now that he's 18, not so much!
Good for you!! I love this post! I needed some encouragement tonight to keep up with my very moderate workout routine (it's so much easier to ANYTHING else). Thank you! : )
Way to go Katie! Good for you :-).
I wish we lived closer than we could wheeze together:) i have been walking lately. Which is different from walking with the boys- that doesn't count as exercise. This is real walking and i am enjoying it. maybe i should step up to running?!?!
The other day the boys and I went on a bike ride to the library and, while riding, I was wondering- does it count as exercise if I don't even break a sweat?!? I pull Petros behind me and Pavlos rides his own bike but he is not the swiftest bike rider!
it's nice to have some alone time & think time. i like to plan garden things when i'm running. :)
Good for you Katie! You are lucky to have that track right across the street.
Once you’ve built a bit of stamina (i.e. can power walk for 30 minutes without wanting to die), I highly recommend mixing in some HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) into your routine. It forces you into fat burning mode far more efficiently than cardio, is easier on your joints than jogging, combines anaerobic and aerobic exercise, takes much less time than cardio, and more naturally conforms to the way our bodies were built to exercise.
Sample workout: 4-8x30 hard sprints with 1-2 minute brisk walking in between each set. Thus, a 3 minute warm-up power walk, HIIT, and a 5 minutes power walk cool down and you are done in 20ish minutes. And if you’ve cut down on carbs (50-100g/day or less), you’ll be in body fat burning mode for about 24 hours after your workout.
i've been thinking about this a lot lately. when is a homeschooling mama with all these little ones supposed to get some excercise in? strolling them? forget it. not unless i get the oldest one proficient in bike riding. some of my friends are doing this couch to 5k training and are all fired up.
ugh. i used to be athletic. and like you, i'm ok with my figure, but i'm feeling awfully mushy and like i'm in big need of some cardio.
you go!
I don't know what sister you were referring to, sister, but whatever phantom image motivated you to run, well good for you!!!
I know how hard it can be to try to work out with kids! I recently had the realization that I can use them as "weights" and they have a blast, and I get a work out!
I also try to integrate exercise with play as much as possible; like doing exercises on the playground equipment (chin-ups, leg lifts while hanging on an overhead bar) or sprinting (either while pushing the stroller "superfast" or "racing" against the kids).
Or I'll sprint back and forth between two swings while pushing the kids....you get the idea....just integrating exercise into every day life is a great way.
Doing what you can when you can and NOT stressing about it is key! Enjoy the solitude!!!
Love ya,
Carrie
Great going Katie! I am much older than you and facing the same challenge/dilemma...and fighting the tummy issue :P I just started jog/walking & will take Karl's comments to heart as well.
Keep it up! :)
Aunt Helen
P.S. & I definitely counted chasing my children at parks and elsewhere as exercise! Mommy Aerobics lol
great job running - I love running - I plan, have whole conversations in my head, practice my russian (in my head).
remember - playing chase counts as exercise!
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