The last 7 weeks have been very trying for me.
I started exercising again.
My parents have given me many things. The one thing they haven’t given me, however, was the “bounce-back gene”. The gene that would allow my belly to bounce back to flatness, post-pregnancy. And so, I must work hard to shrink & maintain the tummy area. It’s also important to incorporate fitness into my regular routine so that I set a good example for my family and so that I’m physically healthier too. Plus, I’m not ready to totally quit feeding my sweet tooth, so I must burn some calories in order to offset the occasional intake.
So far, the workouts have been going well. My goal was to exercise for five days a week. I’m happy to report that I’ve only missed one day. Yes, 1 day!! I do Monday through Friday and then take the weekends off. I’ve also been mixing up the routines a wee bit.
I started off with Jillian Michaels’ 30-day Shred. Good workout and a great way to start back exercising post-partum. I alternated that with 10 Minute Solutions Hip Hop Mix. More cardio, good for body. Then while blog surfing one day, I came upon a couple new (at least to me) Jillian videos; Ripped in 30 and 6 Week 6 Pack. Maybe I’ll review them later, but until then, just look them up on Amazon. The reviews sold me on them. And so far, I’m enjoying the torture workouts.
The best part for me, though, has to be watching my older girls join in on the workouts. I make a conscious effort to not talk too much (aloud, anyways) about shape, size & weight around my girls. What I prefer for them to hear is the importance of physical fitness and eating well. Making sure that meals are well-rounded and that treats are allowed in moderation. Fitness has to be a lifestyle thing, not a passing phase. I also want my girls to grow up with a positive body image. They’re female, which seems to automatically put them into an appearance battle.
Women tend to analyze each other when they first meet up. What’s worse—they are analyzed by nearly everyone, male & female. I will definitely explain all these things to them as they continue to grow older. In the meantime, however, I want their childhoods to be enjoyable and carefree from that pressure in our home. At 2 and 4 years old, they should be looking to learn ABCs and “reading, ‘riting & ‘rithmetic”. They are learning manners, proper hygiene and how to show love to everyone. This is a Christian home, so they’re also learning about God and how much He loves them, and how to reflect that love to others. After all that, there’s no time to bog them down with what size they are and how many curves they have and what outfit best accentuates those curves. Oftentimes, self-esteem is based on how we feel about ourselves—and the physical appearance is a huge factor here.
Overall, I want all my girls to be healthy. Look healthy, feel healthy and have a healthy self-esteem.