“My body stay vicious
I be up in the gym just working on my fitness” -Fergie
I hope as you read this blog post you respect how much I like a good workout and being physically/mentally/spiritually healthy. If at any point you want to start your journey of a healthier you or a healthy lifestyle, reach out and I would be glad to help you. There are so many options – it really just takes commitment from you.
My work out life is ever evolving… in high school I was on the high school soccer and cheerleading team so between games and practice, I didn’t need to workout. In college, I thought I didn’t need to workout because, well, see the previous comment about high school, and the “freshman 15” came real quick so I had to do something about it. Cue my late nights at the gym on the elliptical for 30-40 minutes. Then my junior year of college I decided I was going to run a half marathon, cue half marathon training and my love for running. Post college work 8-5pm life meant early morning boot camps with my friends in the apartment complex I was living in. Graduate school meant midday workouts at the campus gym and the discovery of indoor spin classes. Post graduate school work 8-5pm life meant early workouts at the on campus gym with the hubs, and if we couldn’t make it in the morning we’d go in the afternoon. Work 8-5pm life plus a baby meant buying a treadmill and working out with the hubs in our basement every morning before the baby woke up, baby monitor in hand. Second baby comes along and we are floundering for runs, gym time, who’s workout is a priority… you get the picture.
It is so tough! Working out, staying motivated. But here’s the beauty, you don’t have to stick to one thing all the time. You can evolve just as your schedule and responsibilities evolve.
It is important to me to get a sweaty calorie burning workout in at least 5 days a week. It makes me feel good, and I like feeling good. (Who doesn’t?) I like working out with my husband. I don’t like having to take the kids with me. And my fitness goal this year was to be stronger. [Like I want to be able to do 4 push ups on my feet, not my knees, chest all the way to the floor and back up. That’s pretty strong for me and if I can make that happen I will be so thrilled.] So, we workout at home in the mornings before the kids get up for 25 minutes. [Sometimes my early riser child wakes up and we put him in the stroller with some cereal and he is content for 25 minutes while we renew our spirit.] It’s a priority for us, we make it a priority because we like how we feel. Is a 5AM alarm fun? Absolutely not, but working out, showering, and drinking coffee with my husband before the kids wake up is totally worth it. I also love that 5AM alarm because that workout allows me to be my best self during the day not to mention all the health benefits of staying active and feeling strong.
Working out doesn’t mean going to the gym, it doesn’t mean following a work out video, it doesn’t have to mean getting up at 5AM. It will evolve and change as your life changes and as you find things you like to do. Don’t get stuck in a rut with fitness or you will get bored and then you won’t be motivated to do it.
Share your workout/fitness preference below. If you need some guidance as to how to fit fitness into your already jam packed schedule – reach out! If you need some advice on what workouts are best for you – reach out! Lucky for you I am a certified fitness instructor [because that’s how important I think fitness is to your health] and am able to help you through some options.
The honest truth: 5AM get out of bed doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it’s 530AM, sometimes it’s 6AM, sometimes I just lay there because I’m so tired after being awake with the kids all night. Give yourself grace – hear me here – GRACE, not an EXCUSE! Don’t beat yourself up.
Cheers to a healthier you.
Xo – Jessica