Fitness for Moms: A Guest Post and GIVEAWAY!

I’ve always been active, I was a gymnast most of my life, but after I went to college working out went on the back burner.  I went through phases where I would get in a good workout routine, but then I’d fall off the wagon only to return again.  After I graduated college and started working full time I hit my stride when it came to exercising.  I became addicted to circuit training classes and ended up becoming an instructor myself.  I also found a love of running, completing several races, including many 5ks, 10ks, and a half marathon.

About a year after our wedding, my husband and I found out we were expecting a little bundle of joy! It turns out I ran my first half marathon with a baby on board and didn’t even know it! 🙂  I had just finally felt comfortable with my body.  I was loving running and was teaching circuit training 2-3 times a week. There was no way I was going to give that up now. I knew I needed to keep up my workouts in hopes to stay healthy for both me and the baby as well as hopefully have a quick and easy delivery and recovery (ha!)

After he was born, the LAST thing I wanted to do was workout. When I went to my 6 week post-partum check and my Doctor gave me the all clear for exercise, I still didn’t have any desire.  Who was I? I used to LIVE for my workouts and now all I could think about was snuggling my precious boy.  We went on a lot of walks, but I barely broke a sweat.  The baby weight had easily fallen off and I was just not motivated to get back on the fitness train even though I knew in my heart that I really missed it.

When I returned to work after my maternity leave I knew I had to get back into some sort of exercise routine.  It was something I enjoyed and knew that having that extra “me” time would make me a better wife and a better mom.  So, I started teaching classes again and I also joined a gym so I could log some treadmill miles.  It took me a long time to get over the “mommy guilt” of leaving Hayden at daycare for an extra hour so that I could get a workout in, but eventually that went away.  There are still days where I wish I could just get home and spend some extra time with him instead of having to teach a circuit class, but I have NEVER regretted it once the workout is done.  I always feel better and have more energy to play once we get home.

I truly do believe that working out makes me a better wife and a better mom.  I am happier and I am healthier. It does take time management and some sacrifices have to be made, but it is so worth it. If you’ve been itching to get back into a workout routine, there is no better time than now.  Get out there and take your kids on a walk, spend an hour of “me” time at the gym, or hit the pavement, because there is no better example that we could be setting for our kids, than to place value on health and fitness!

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