| luvs_torun
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Affirmation
I deserve time to be physically fit. Loving myself and taking care of my body is one of my highest priorities,
as a woman and mother. Today I allow myself the time and space to exercise.
Challenges Unique to Motherhood
Every day, I look at all of the mothers around me, in all walks of life, and one thing is certain: we are all too busy. With the many responsibilities we juggle—life long care providers, household managers, career women and community leaders—life can be intensely complex and depleting. Mothers with infants are easily exhausted, especially with unpredictable and inconsistent schedules. Sleep deprivation is a major drain in conjunction with the extra nurturing expected from other family members. Mothers with older children are even more stretched, helping to meet school, social and extra-curricular demands, with the additional pressure of personal obligations and commitments. Loneliness and depression, anxiety mixed with anger, feelings of inadequacy, and lack of personal fulfillment are typical traps in which us mothers feel stuck without any source of relief.
No matter what our challenge, finding a way to prioritize our own emotional and physical needs is critical. Imagine every day, or every other day, getting exercise. Physically releasing your pent up energy while revitalizing your mind, body and soul. Setting aside one hour a day, one hour you can count on that includes at least 20 minutes of exercise amidst your daily whirl. Maybe the one and only constant of motherhood. Most of us deny ourselves the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air because, heaven forbid, we don’t fold that last bit of laundry or load the dishwasher. Or we turn away from any thoughts of exercise, we are afraid we might fail, forgetting the childlike pleasure of being a beginner again and the feelings of exhilaration around learning something new and using our bodies. I encourage you. Be open. Be good to yourself. Be smart. Live life! A slight change of heart can be a major lift in spirit.
Affirmation
A mother’s spirit inspires the family spirit. When I am happy and healthy,
my contribution to my family comes from the most loving, connected space.
Mothers are good at guilt.
Most of us are familiar with these "guilt" feelings—whether you’re a stay-at-home or work-out-of-the-home mother. We seem to believe that we never are doing enough, we always must do more, clean the house, help with homework, make a more delicious dinner, go to the cleaners, the bank, the gas station… When does it end? It never does. So, throw your guilt out the window. It’s not doing any good. Healthy guilt is one thing: if you forgot to send your kid to school with lunch—oops!—yes, you need to get food to them. Unhealthy guilt is another thing: if you cannot take one hour three times a week for yourself to exercise, because you think your children cannot be without you or you are damaging them by being absent. This is the guilt we can do without.
Let the guilt go. Coming from a place of strength, clarity and peace, that’s how I want to parent. I don’t want to come from a place of guilt—and I don’t want my children thinking that’s my motivation for doing anything. To uphold your health as a worthy priority and to make your body and mind strong through exercise, this is a good mother.
Affirmation
I am strength, power and focus when I set goals and reach them.
I set realistic, healthy and positive goals and give myself the time and space to work towards them.
I walk the walk. My life is rich with ambition and strength, power and confidence.
Setting Fitness Goals
Setting goals in the fitness world keeps motivation alive. A consistent, enjoyable and effective exercise routine requires an organized plan of action, taking responsibility to do what is necessary to succeed (nutrition, sleep, proper training), passion behind the movement, and a goal. If you want it, it’s yours!
Step 1: State your "commitment to exercise" and identify what motivates you.
Make a promise to exercise regularly and why you want this. To lose weight? To meditate? To make friends? To have more energy? To improve sleep? Write down your commitment and post where you can see it daily. Example: "I am free to swim for one hour everyday for purposes of physical fitness, meditation and stress management." Remember, your exercise must be passion-driven in order to provide you with powerful motivation—so revise when necessary.
Steps 2: What, When, How, Where
• What are you going to do for your workout?
• When are you going to workout?
• How are you going to make this happen? (Schedule babysitting, set the alarm clock earlier, pack your workout clothes the night before, say "no" to less important obligations)
• Where will you go to exercise? (The YMCA? High School track? Your basement? Fitness Club?)
Step 3: Define any obstacles and eliminate the barriers
If you are injured, address the problem by seeing a doctor, getting a massage, figuring out another way to move your body. If you have no time, find another activity in the day that can be replaced by a workout. If you need a babysitter, hire one, or trade time with another mother—or your husband. Make your action list and take action. Nike says Just Do It! I say, "Just Show Up – Then Go!" :D |
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Sat May 13, 2006 1:21 am |
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| beachbum54
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Thank you for that. I too am a mother and making time for myself is one of my biggest downfalls. Reading that impowered me to over come that. thank you. Tonight I too am going to set goals and accomplish them.
Rebecca- Texas |
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Wed May 17, 2006 11:00 pm |
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| luvs_torun
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Good for you Rebecca!! As a mom, making time for yourself is so important! Sometimes it is hard, especially if your children are young, but even little "chunks" of time will make a huge difference!
Good luck in accomplishing your goals! :D |
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Wed May 17, 2006 11:35 pm |
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| PapaBanucci
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Mother's day just passed. I miss my mom. She died very prematurely a couple years ago of kidney failure caused by diabetes caused by morbid obesity caused by very poor eating habits and no exercise.
I wish she would have taken care of herself.
(And now you folks know one of the primary reasons I've become a diet, health, and fitness nut these last couple years...) |
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Thu May 18, 2006 12:31 am |
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| LibraMama
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Sorry for your loss, Papa.
Thanks for the awesome post! Very motivational. :) |
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Thu May 18, 2006 12:19 pm |
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| LegalBeagle
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I got a sticker at the running store...for mother's day, my DH bought me new running shoes, a shirt, shorts, annd 2 pairs of socks...and the sticker says, "A fit Mom is a powerful Mom." I love it!! :)
Great post!! :D |
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Thu May 18, 2006 6:06 pm |
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| luvs_torun
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| Hey, LB we will be watching for you in the Runner's Thread!! :D |
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Thu May 18, 2006 6:10 pm |
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| TRIXIE110
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| That was terrific! Thank you! I walk 45 minutes on my lunch break every day, changing quickly and scarfing down lunch at my desk when I get back to fit it in. I also sneak in another half hour to 45 minutes in the evening, but my five year old son really resented my evening walks. He would cry and cling and beg me not to go. Finally, I sat him down and explained to him that Mommy really needs to be fit and healthy if he wants to have a "fully-functioning and healthy" mommy. It was a lot for him to take in of course, but he got the gist of it which was that if he wants me to be able to run and play and enjoy our time together, I need that time to focus on MY health every evening. He still gets whiney occasionally but I've compromised by having my walk and then grabbing him for a bike ride when I get back. More exercise for me and special time together just the two of us. Plus, I'm teaching him about how important it is to exercise and be healthy. I hope!! |
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Fri May 26, 2006 4:04 pm |
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| toese
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| Yeah it's so important for us mom's to take more time for just ourselves. I tend to get into a lazy mode when I'm w/ my dd's at home. I'll make an excuse to not workout becuase they interrupt me all the time. When I workout I like to either be by myself outside running or be in a gym setting. |
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Sat May 27, 2006 5:18 am |
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| TRIXIE110
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| It is hard, especially for working moms. I work all day. I want to be with my son at the end of the day. However, I also want to be the mom that I know I can be for him. I want to be able to play soccer and t-ball and fly his kite and go for bike rides. I have lost over 50lbs on SB, but more importantly, I have gained a respect for my health and my body. I am hoping that I can teach my son to have the same respect for himself. Perhaps he will never have to deal with a weight issue as a result. I remind myself, every time I go out the door for my solo walk in the evening, that what I am doing is just as much for him as it is for me. Perhaps when he's older, he'll be going with me on those walks and it will be something that we can do together. |
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Mon May 29, 2006 1:35 pm |
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| karensue
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| i am a bran new mommy, i get to go back to the gym on saturday, i can not wait to start up spinning again! |
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Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:44 am |
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| luvs_torun
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| karen and Trixie, Good for you!! Hope the exercise is going well! |
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Mon Jun 19, 2006 1:57 am |
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| TRIXIE110
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| Like anything else, it's hard to find the time everyday, but I make it a priority. I tried getting up at 5:30 a.m. and getting an hour in first thing in the morning but I just could not do it. :oops: I am soooooo NOT a morning person. I am walking 30-45minutes in the evening (fast-paced walk) and then grabbing my son for another thirty minutes. He bikes, I walk. That makes for a very quick pace on my part to keep up. As a result, I'm averaging a minimum of an hour a day, usually more, at a pace that keeps my heart rate up. Three or four times a week I try to get out on my lunch break as well for a more laid-back stroll, but I do tend to use that time to do errands in order to free up my evenings. It seems to be working. I do need to work on my ice cream intake, however. Summer comes and I spend more time than necessary at DQ!! :D |
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Tue Jun 20, 2006 1:26 pm |
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| Socorro
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Yes, thank you very much for this article.
I am at-stay-home-mom and find it difficult to find time to exercise, eventhough I know it can be done. I just need 30 minutes to myself...If only I can dedicate time to myself that would be wonderful.
I like walking or exercising with a machine like a treadmill or my favorite the nordicktrac ski machine. I use to have one but got burnt. :cry:
I started walking with my little one pushing the stroller and walking as fast as I could to get a brisk walk for 30 minutes. But it's been raining a lot and have not been consistent at it. But its a start.
My husband broke his thump and its in recovery so I have to do the lawn and other things that he normally does... so that even adds more time to what I normally do.
Oh, well, I keep trying.... |
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Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:34 pm |
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| luvs_torun
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| ** Bump** for Mother's Day! :D |
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Fri May 04, 2007 1:11 pm |
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