Mommy Fit

When I was running the other day, I started thinking about how challenging it can be to take care of yourself--exercise, eat right etc--when you are a mom. Especially if you have young children. And if you are like me, you can't afford a gym--much less gym daycare, and you are the primry caregiver for your children--so getting out of the house on your own to exercise is almost out of the question.

There are some things I've learned over the past year about making exercise a priority in my life. Some stuff has just been trial and error, or reading it in a magazine or hearing from friends. I thought I'd start putting some "Mommy Fit" tips on my blog.


Priorities
Exercise or at least "activity" HAS to be a priority for you. Make a goal of a certain number of days a week (3 is my minimum usually) or a total minutes goal for the week. 30min of activity a day is recommended, which is 210 minutes a week. If you can exercise for 45-60min 3-4x a week, you can easily meet this goal.

There are times that I put off other things--even housecleaning or non-essential errands in order to exercise. It's my anti-depressant! Not that I am depressed, but the endorphins always put me in a better place. Bean knows I need to get out for a run if I'm super grumpy.

I work in the office 3 days a week, and I usually try to exercise at least 2 of those days. I am lucky to have some flexibility in my schedule, so I'll often work through lunch and leave a bit early to pick the kids up and head to the lake I run at. By the end of the day, I would much rather head home and relax a bit. But in reality, it takes 60-75min to exercise--that includes driving and about 45min of exercise.

On days I can't get a run in, but need to exercise--I'll get up early and do a DVD or I'll do a DVD at naptime. At the very least, I'll do some ab work and use my 5lb weights for arms. I'll take the kids for a short walk and do some squats and lunges.

There are many things competing for our time and attention in life. I love exercise because it is the one thing that I do for myself, that primarily benefits only me. Much of my life is dedicated serving my children, my husband, my church (job). But running is for me. No one else can do it for me. But--when I run, I'm in a better mood. I have more energy. And that benefits everyone around me.

Figure out how to make it a priority for you. Start small--or maybe you need to start big--whatever is right for your personality.

Stay tuned for more Mommy Fit Tips!

Challenge Update

I think am completing the 5th week of my workout challenge. I've kind of lost track, I just know I'm exercising a lot. This has actually been a good week--as far as exercise and diet. However--I've felt like CRAP! My muscles have been burning while I run, I've felt SO hungry--and the scale has shown few results. But I know it has to add up and I will see results at some point. (yes...I've been eating enough...)

I am seeing some positive results mentally though. Working out more regularly is becoming a priority. I feel so much better when I workout several times a week. I'm at 4x this week. I strained my back running this morning, so I probably won't workout tomorrow--but maybe take a walk.

Planks have become my ab exercise of choice. I've been going to physical therapy for my back (yes the one I strained this morning) and my PT pretty much said crunches and traditional ab work are out for the rest of my life...at least until my back pain goes away. Although planks are an "advanced" move--it's one that doesn't hurt my back. It makes me feel so strong and is helping pull everything in. There's still a lot to work on in that area--thank you babies--but all in due time.

I am still trying to get a handle on my food obsession. There are people in my life for whom food isn't a problem. I can tell. They enjoy food and they eat it, but they can walk by cake or candy or anything that might be out, without thinking twice. Me, if it's out--I feel like I must have some. Food consumes my mind a bit too much. I just want to get control of it. I want to enjoy life and enjoy food--but within reason. I don't want to keep having to diet.

I'll figure it out I guess.

Oh--
Win A Free Ergo Baby Carrier from Along for the Ride

Oh the letdown

So I read an article about the Flat Belly Diet. It intrigued me, so I googled some other articles on it to get the general idea. I am not interested in shelling out $30 for the book!

The basic principles are to avoid foods that bloat and to eat a monounsaturated fat at every meal, which is supposed to target the breakdown of the visceral fat in the belly. That means--seeds, nuts, olive oil, avocado etc. I tend to eat those types of things anyways, so I thought why not try adding them to each meal more purposefully.

That is not the letdown. We'll see in several days to a few weeks if I have less belly fat.

Gum is my problem. I love gum. I've been in love with gum since my mom's yellow pack of Carefree gum. In fact, I bought it myself for many of my adult years. Until Orbit that is, which is my gum of choice.

But...gum causes bloating. At least that's what they say. But, gum helps me get through sugar cravings. There is nothing like a piece of gum and a Diet Coke to get me through a midafternoon slump.

Midmorning I was in need. I thought, it can't be that bad. I'll just chew the gum and see what happens. I'd read that when you chew gum, you swallow extra air which creates the bloat. Guess what. They were right. My whole gum chewing experience was ruined because I could feel myself swallowing the air. Something I had never noticed before.

Is it that big of a deal? Probably not. But...gum also contains artificial sweeteners that I know it's better to avoid. As does the Diet Coke. What food can I eat and enjoy?? At least chocolate is natural :)

I guess I may avoid chewing gum sometimes. Especially if the clothes I'm wearing are tight fitting on my stomach. But at other times--I'll take the bloat to avoid consuming unecessary calories.

On another note, it's been 3 days since I've had a Diet Coke. I've had some caffeine free Diet Coke, but none of the real stuff. It's part of a slow process to rid my life of artificial sweeteners. Plus I recently learned that the phosphorus in soda leeches calcium from your bones and I don't want osteoporosis. I know that I will probably completely erradicate it from my life. But that's okay. A few a week or a month is much better than 1-2 a day!

By the way...my mind is telling me it's chocolate time. 9:30pm. But honestly I'm not hungry. So I'm keeping away from the chocolate. Gotta drop these last few pounds.

Challenge week 3

Well, I did better this week! No sick kids, so that helped!

Monday: Cardio DVD
Tues: Rest
Wed: 4 mile KILLER hike/run
Thurs: 4 mile run
Fri: lots of housework and abs
Sat: 3 mile climb
Sun: REST--I took a glorious 1.5hr nap!!

This week should be alright too. Now I'm just hoping I can start to see more difference in my body.

Failing...

Ugh, sick kids aree the downfall of my exercise. I was so close to getting 5 days in for Week 2, but my 1yr old got sick and it all went to pot! I was actually at the lake on Friday, ready to run--when she puked all over me. She had been running a fever, but I figured she'd be content with the movement of the strollere. If we were home, I'd just be holding her anyways. The puking happened before she was even the stroller. Some home we went.

I've started off this week well. 30 min of aeorbic toning this morning. It's a busy week, so it's going to be a challenge to get 5 days in. Come on Corrina--that's why it's called a challenge.

I can do it. I can do it.

Challenge Update 1

So it's now week 2 of my personal workout challenge. I didn't get 5 days in, but I got 4 which is better than I have been doing. It was a busy weekend, so that kind of threw me--no time to exercise. I think I had 2 days of cardio and 2 days of Pilates. I do feel like more effort on my abs has made a slight difference. Having the accountablity does make a differnce!

My 6-week Challenge

So, I am challenging myself to work out 5x/week for at least 20min for the next 6 weeks. I've started this same challenge on a Babycenter board also so there are several of us holding each other accountable.

I am an adrenaline addict. I don't feel like I have truly worked out unless I'm dripping sweat and my muscles are burning. But--as a working mom, I don't get the chance for a workout like that more than 2 maybe 3 times a week. I want to learn to maximize my time with small segments of activity on days I can't get out for a run.

Today started off my challenge well. I thought about getting up before the kids--but that didn't happen. But, I took advantage of their good moods in the morning and did 35min of a workout DVD while they played around me.

I hope that at the end of 6 weeks I can say that I worked out 30 out of 42 days. Hopefully that will make me a little more ready for bathing suit season :)