When I was a fitness instructor, I was very upfront about not understanding the theory behind moms not having the time to workout. It was honestly an excuse that I had a tough time coaching people through because I firmly believe that we all deserve our own time. Mother, father, aunt, uncle, successful businessperson. Whoever you are - you deserve the best health that you can have.
Don't think I'm going to tell you ~ "THEY ARE SO RIGHT AND I WAS SO WRONG". It's not going to be that type of blog. So, if you were excited to yell "I TOLD YOU SO!", simmah down there. Simmah down.
I will admit the adjustment to the new routine was challenging and took time for me to come up with. I haven't exactly had the least busy summer in the world.
The realization hit me about how precious time not spent at work is and how limited it really is when kiddos are in bed at 8 p.m. and you actually want to know what they did in school that day. When you want to sit down and eat dinner with them and make them laugh. When I work until 5, that gives me 3 hours when I am spending time with them to...spend time with them! Do family stuff. Be shown a new stuffed animal; read a book.
However, I know that I am a better person when I have that time to exercise rigorously ~ I am more patient, more focused. Less irritable and more playful. My favorite time to exercise - where I feel my strongest - is actually right after work. That's the busiest time at my gym, as well, because I am, apparently, not the only person who feels that way. Now, if I went to the gym every day after work, I wouldn't be done until at least 6 p.m. It was also frustrating to have to wait to use equipment; sometimes I'd just leave without doing certain exercises I was really looking forward to doing because someone would be hogging the squat rack for the better of an hour.
I am also not a person to get up and work out at 6 a.m. I value my time snuggling in bed with my loved one; I also value staying up later in the evening with her after the kidlets are asleep. So, no, I won't be waking up at 5 a.m. like some of you heroes out there do! God bless you; you da real MVP.
So, after struggling much of the summer with a sporadic workout routine and schedule, I decided that I'd go to the gym during my lunch time, if I wasn't going to kickbox either at home or attend a class one evening. This means that I have to get to work at 8 a.m. instead of 8:30, so I can take an entire hour lunch break as opposed to our standard half hour. But note, I can't do this every single day. Sometimes appointments are structured in a way where I can't take an entire hour without it being a strain. But there's no reason why once or twice a week it can't happen.
What I've found is this: THERE IS HARDLY ANYONE THERE AT LUNCH TIME. Which means...I can legit get what I want to get done in 30 minutes instead of an hour. I hustle; I don't break. I super-set EVERYTHING so I can hit all the opposing muscle groups and keep the party going. I also have plenty of time to stretch, which is super important because I sit at a desk much of the work day. Then, I go back to work, clean up, get re-dressed in my office attire, eat my lunch, and go about my day as normal.
It's awesome. And I feel strong and focused for the rest of the day.
So, to end this blog...we all have 24 hours in a day to get life done. I am sacrificing my lunch hour sometimes to workout, instead of eating at my desk and surfing the web. Why? Because it works for me. Because I deserve that time. Because I want to be my best self for me, #1, and for those I love around me. Because a family isn't an excuse to not care about myself; I care about myself for my family. I have been carving out that time for me steadily over the past couple of weeks and it has taken me from wondering if I should go back on antidepressants to feeling mentally healthy again. Now that I'm back from vacation, I'm looking forward to getting back to it. #NoExcuses
