DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a fitness blog.
It rained all day here in Dallas, Texas. I remember the days before I had Edmund, when Travis and I would take long naps on rainy days. Those days are over…
Before anyone gets all crazy, don’t worry! I am not joining a Crossfit Cult Gym. I am just working on my fitness, as my girl Fergie would say. And hopefully I will look like her one day!
We have all seen these videos:
Can you even believe how we have been deceived by the beauty and fashion industries!? I hope you watched the whole video…
But in all seriousness–there is nothing I can say here that has not been said before, and much more eloquently, about body image in today’s society. We use and abuse our bodies, forgetting that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. We forget that when we dress immodestly, over eat, starve ourselves, push ourselves too far in the gym, become slaves to our vanity. Life is all about balance and moderation. That is what I am focusing my fitness goals on–moderation. I don’t want to get burned out from working out to the max for a week. I don’t want to give up every single sweet and delicious glazed donut with bacon sprinkles. (I have never had that but now I really want one!)
As a mother I have had to come to terms with a new body. A body that has been stretched (and stretch marked) after being shared with another human being. My hips are wider, my breasts are larger, and my belly is out. of. control. I am not saying these things so you will look at me and tell me how pretty I am, or how good I look. I am saying these things because I am admitting that I have abused my body. I have overeaten, used my pregnancy as an excuse to have a McFlurry on the way home from work every day for like, a month. The most exercising I have been doing is running my mouth- constantly complaining about my weight gain.
But, while many will read this and think “Just go walking with your baby in the stroller” or “Just leave him with your husband and go work out,” I sympathize with those who know it is not so simple. It wasn’t until a month ago that Edmund would sit in the stroller for more than 10 minutes before getting cranky…and kudos to you if you can continue a workout while your kid cries…loudly. And if I tried to leave him with Travis? He would scream the whole time I was gone. I follow a lady on Instagram who has been working on her fitness too, and she hired a nanny to watch her kids while she runs–must be nice. Most of us literally cannot afford such a luxury. So if you have one of those babies that can’t be left and is not content in the stroller, think outside the box. I have 5 lb. hand weights and I found some simple arm exercises online and have pinned them here. I can do these while Edmund eats a snack or plays in the pool. I even do them while nursing sometimes. You can find a Youtube workout that is only 20 minutes long and workout hard while the baby naps. Lindsay Brin has a free app with a 30 day fitness challenge–a bunch of workout videos specifically for burning fat postpartum– for FREE! And they are AWESOME!
I am down 4 lbs. It isn’t much, but it is a start. My routine is simple, I do a workout DVD every other day and on the off days I walk with Edmund or jog at the park after he goes down for the night. I am taking advantage of these long days!
Speaking of Edmund, my sweet baby is 11 months old today! Where has the time gone? I have some big plans for his birthday- can’t wait to share my money saving/ party planning tips here with you!
Oh, and PS: whoever said that breastfeeding helps you lose weight/burn calories is a dirty, rotten, liar.
Ain't Too Proud 