I'm running out of excuses and can no longer blame my voluptuous body on holding on to "baby weight" because my "baby" is actually 36 months old.
It's high time for me to get my pre-baby body back. I don't think that walking from the couch to the refrigerator to fetch another Diet Dr. Pepper counts as a workout.
I have to admit, there is little motivation for me to take care of myself when my day is filled with chasing after two rambunctious little boys. I had high hopes that keeping up with them would do the trick. But I noticed the other day that my jeans were getting tighter instead of looser.
I know that I will feel better once I start an exercise routine and make myself a priority. I look to other moms who have shed their pregnancy weight and wonder how they found the time to do it. I learned that sometimes just wanting a little time for yourself can be enough motivation.
Athens mom Tiffanie Reid, who lost 40 pounds, discovered a new side of herself when she began working out. "I didn't even know I liked to exercise until I decided to use the childcare at the YMCA in order to get a break from my youngest child! I found a group class that I really liked." Reid said. "Getting fit has been one of the best things I've done for myself."
If doing something just for me isn't motivation enough, it seems that other moms are looking to find an outlet that can help them release the stresses of motherhood. After a long day, the last thing that I want to do is work out.
Yet, local mom Scarlet Buckley finds that her Kickboxing class offers great stress relief. "I was invited by a friend to try a class and half way through it, I felt a rush." Buckley explained. "It was so much fun. It gave me a huge boost and a healthy place to release frustration."
You don't have to go to a gym to get a good workout, though.
Athens mom Tina Majsztrik takes everyday opportunities, like playing with her son at the playground, to get in a little exercise. She follows his every step, up and down the stairs and tunnels. She even challenged herself to run in the Inagural Earthfare 5K and Fun Run in support of the Athens Mothers' Center on June 9th.
"Preparing for the 5K was a way for me to force myself to get in shape for bathing suit season." Majsztrik said "I try to run on the treadmill everyday, even if only for 20 minutes, because sometimes that's all the time I get, between errands and picking my son up from school."
I find these women to be very inspiring. Although I only run when I am chased, I know that the first step to getting fit is getting up off the couch. So I will bravely put one foot in front of the other and get back in shape.
Have any other Mamas struggled with losing their pregnancy weight? Do you have an exercise regime? How do you find time to work out? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
