. I have not been to the gym regularly in about 6 months. Everything in me wants to return but my fiancee has been in school during each night for the last year and a half, so it has been challenging. My body is craving it each day while I lose each ounce of muscle mass. I am a whopping 110 lbs, yes thats right, underweight. Now I cannot use the excuse of breastfeeding because I have weaned my little one finally. I have decided to share a few tricks that I have used over the last few months to stay semi active in my quest to a beautifully maintained body, as a mom.
Sticking with the 3Method, Mind, Movement and Muscle; I needed to program my thinking to motivate myself to care enough to act! Feeling bad about myself was not enough. Spite often works but I am a firm believer that negative feelings waste away our spiritual being, having a sour effect on us in the long run. That only leaves empowerment, if only the pharmacy sold bottles of it, we'd be off and running. So, one morning after having breakfast, i was getting dressed and I switched the radio on, some song came drifting through the speakers, pummling through my subconscious and switching the light on, I think it was "Pop Champaign" and I started to dance a little, then a lot. I don't care who you are, what you look like, when you start to dance, catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror, you will catch yourself smiling(or crying) but if your anything like me; I feel so dam sexy when i dance, even if it is to Barney at music time!:)
Our bodies are temples and it is exhilarating to give them exactly what they want, to move to be free! After the initial high of dancing for a few, I went down the LIST-we all have one, eww, my legs are so short, my butt has melted into my thighs, where are those milk filled boobs, why am i left with these little flaps with lines on them?!After that ended I was left only with enpowerment!
I would do what was best for my body, regardless of what I had going on in my life. I love who I am and I did not want to drown in sorrow and pity. I had accomplished the first M of the 3Method, I got my mind right!
Next I had to get moving! Movement! The key to inaction, that that paralyzes us! I decided that i would keep moving;
1. Instead of complaining to myself in the middle of the night running relays between toddler bed and my bed to get water, rub backs and rock baby, I would welcome the task on my tippy toes, giving my calves a little burn.
2. First thing in the morning, after immediate snack and curious george, I would sit on my bedroom floor, thank god for my sleep and do 20 squats in front of the mirror, allow my girls to join in on the fun.
3. Be sure to get girls out for our snowy adventure across the street at the park filled with 4 feet of snow. The girls walked on the beaten path as I beat my own. Oh i could feel my butt perking up already!
4. Remind myself that every meal needs preparation, no meals on the fly. I would also remind myself that although numerous snacks throughout the day are better for me, food raises the acidity level in our teeth so it is important to brush and choose healthy foods, carrots(dip), wholefoods chips, guacamole, olives, pickles, penutbutter, fruit, spinach salads and so on...
5. Involve kids in a yoga class on the kids channel, yoga is amazing for toning and sanity.
6. Allow myself a 20 minute power nap but no more, or the guilt sets in and I am scrambling later to get things done, plus that is my precious me time!
7. During girls naps, turn on some upbeat music, do some simple cardio, jumping jacks, squats, lunges, crunches, then finish with a great Pilates workout, avail on fitness channel or of the internet, they really do work and they are free!
8.Before dinner or anytime you take your shower, some days I don't:) but before you do, do as many push ups as you can without straining and the next day do one more.
9. After dinner, for a mental pick me up, pop in sing it from WII and sing along to one of the songs on the game, if your shy, keep doing it, everyone has a voice and I believe when we let it out, it is the act of emptying all of the impurities from our spirit and inhaling the power and spirit from the air!
10. Try to go somewhere on your own(or together), walking, even if it is around the block. Walking is excellent, we all know that but more importantly, it signifies the end of the day and another goal accomplished. We all need defining moments, make this one yours before bed.Your muscles may thank you at first by aching but they'll get used to it and before you know it, they'll be showing off.
Tips: Do not strain to do all of these things in one day, work up to it. The best thing about the 3Method is it's flexibility. If you need structure, follow it but feel free to tweak it however you wish. After all it is all about you!
I have begun this process again. The hardest thing I find myself battling is my guilt for not being a good enough, woman, mother, wife, yogi, person, dancer, gymnast, volunteer, soul. My partner Erik always said to me when i was angry, are you wasting your time again? What is that anger/guilt going to do for you?Are you getting something done by doing it? The answer is NO. I use this as a reminder. I am a work in progress and I will embrace the process because someday all we'll have is memories..
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