I am not going to lie. Getting back into shape after having a baby was TOUGH.
Staying in shape after having a baby is still TOUGH, and some days harder than others!
Yes, I love to workout.
Yes, it is my job to workout and teach fitness classes.
BUT some days are TOUGH to get motivated, TOUGH to get the baby ready (fed, changed, gotten in proper sleep, and making sure all her needs are met).
MOTIVATION in itself to workout...then ADD A BABY! AHHHHH!
My BIGGEST advice is change your MINDSET.
The thing that has helped me the most and remembering HOW I will FEEL after I am done. That FEELING is why I workout, why I take care of my health, is for the feeling of being FIT.
As everyone knows, everything starts in the mind, and then you choose whether to ACT on it.
TRUST ME I have been there when you have a crying baby, that needs to be fed and has a poopy diaper and you just pulled into the gym parking lot.
The LAST thing you want to do is go in and workout.
Everything in you wants to turn around and just go HOME.
BUT the key is to REMEMBER that FEELING post workout.
YES that is what motivates me and what keeps me going.
Set SMALL monthly goals.
Write down your PROGRESS.
Make changes accordingly.
and lastly PLAN your fitness and health.
PLAN your workouts.
PLAN your meals and snacks.
PLAN meeting up with friends for a walk or to just get out.
This will help you make the HEALTHY changes and soon it WILL become 2nd nature.
YES you will always have days where you DONT want to and NEED that MOTIVATION.
That is where a buddy or an accountability person comes in.
Find one, and you might need one who is MORE motivated than you!
I find it especially tough now that the weather is cold and not as motivating to get outside and move.
INSERT right now.
I am not motivated to venture outside in the cold.
The adding factor is that I have to bring Brooklyn this morning on my run.
Stroller pushing, bundle up the baby, and myself.
Yea I pretty much am not motivated AT ALL to get my butt out the door and in the cold to go running AND push the stroller.
( I even have a friend to meet, and I am still thinking about skipping...)
OK I will stop ranting on and get ready already.
YES I am about to bundle up Brooklyn and Bundle up myself and VENTURE OUT IN THE COLD.
WHY?????
Because I just remembered that FEELING.
The FEELING I will have once I am done with the run.
THAT is what keeps me going.
And because I know EVERYDAY I get moving is another day CLOSER to my goal of being healthier and fitter than the day before!
What keeps you going?
What do you find to be the BIGGEST barrier to reaching your fitness goals?
My children keep my going. It is hard to get a proper workout done when you are a stay-at-home Mom. However, I find time to do it. My biggest barrier is me. Some days I will make excuses so I can skip a workout. Hopefully, that won't happen as much this year. I really want to reach ALL of my fitness goals in 2013.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it's extra hard when there's a little one involved too! It's something I'm a little anxious about post baby, but seeing you and other fit moms make it work give me motivation and encouragement that it CAN and WILL happen! Great job on getting out there on your run today despite the cold weather!
ReplyDeleteI was easy on myself for the first nine months after I had my babies. I was a working mom and the babies were not sleeping through the night so just getting to the gym to walk on the treadmill was an accomplishment. After I stopped nursing, I signed up for my first 5K and got motivated again. Now I stay motivated by signing up for early morning bootcamp with friends or getting a group together to run a local race. I also have a workout group at work, who carpools to the gym a few times a week at lunch. I agree, just reminding myself of the feeling of accomplishment after a workout is usually enought to get me to the gym.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do to get motivated to workout is that I listen to motivational instrumental hip hop sounds.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's amazing how much my perspective has changed since having my son. Before it was all about me. I was motivated to workout because I wanted to improve my race times, feel better about myself, look better (I know...vain! but true) beat my husband in races (umm why yes we are a very competitive couple haha!), etc. Now it's all about our little guy. I am motivated because I want to be the healthiest I can be FOR HIM. He needs me around for a very long time :) I know working out makes me a better mother and wife. I've also met a few moms who all have 2 month old babies so we meet up to run or walk and on days when it's really cold out, we take turns watching each others babies so the other moms can workout. That has been such a great thing!
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's amazing how much my perspective has changed since having my son. Before it was all about me. I was motivated to workout because I wanted to improve my race times, feel better about myself, look better (I know...vain! but true) beat my husband in races (umm why yes we are a very competitive couple haha!), etc. Now it's all about our little guy. I am motivated because I want to be the healthiest I can be FOR HIM. He needs me around for a very long time :) I know working out makes me a better mother and wife. I've also met a few moms who all have 2 month old babies so we meet up to run or walk and on days when it's really cold out, we take turns watching each others babies so the other moms can workout. That has been such a great thing!
ReplyDelete