I Like to Move It Move It

For the 3 of you who would like to know, I'm happy to share what kind of exercise I do or how I fit in working out during my day. We are all so busy, right?


When Jason and I got married I told him two things were big priorities in my life. If I didn't do these things I would be extremely cranky and not myself. The first was spend time with the LORD and the second was working out. Almost ten years later it's still true.


Working out clears my head and makes me feel stronger. I like setting goals. I make healthier food chooses when I'm consistently exercising. I like plenty of sweets, but thankfully I also love fruits and veggies. I'm not picky. I could be a vegetarian, but I like chicken too much. ; )


It also helps me with our boys. I'm more positive and have more energy to keep up with them. They are in constant motion from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed (as many of your kids are)! Except for those blessed naps/quiet time. ; ) 


The most important thing is to find something you enjoy. This is key! If you don't like it you won't make it a part of your life. I was in a huge rut last winter, and that is one reason why I started playing tennis. It had always been on my "to do" list, but it hit me at that point "Why was I waiting?" So I jumped in and just fell in love.


I knew absolutely nothing about it, and it's a great challenge for me. I take lessons once a week and also go to a cardio tennis class offered at our gym.


When I'm feeling really dedicated I'll get up early two days during the week. I never ever ever thought I could do this, but I was determined after Colson was born to lose some weight so that helped!


On average I exercise five days a week. I'll do cardio or play tennis three days and do weights/abs the other two days. Each of my workouts is 45 minutes to an hour.


My week looks something like this: 


*Monday and Thursdays are my early days. I go to the gym around 6 then come home to take the boys to school by nine. On Mondays I  do cardio for 30 minutes (run around the track, elliptical machine, or stair climber) and then do abs.


*Tuesday and Thursday I lift weights, do lunges, abs, and the stair climber. I never really did weights until one year ago because I was afraid they would bulk me up. Ha! Now I feel they have helped tone my muscles, and I can definitely tell a difference. So don't be afraid to try new things!


*Wednesday and Friday I do cardio tennis.


If I miss a day I'll try to make it up during the weekend.


It also really helps that the boys love our gym. I feel like sometimes people there are our close friends because we see them so much. The childcare workers love our boys, and there is so much for them to do to get some energy out, too.

The gym recently got some new machines, and I can check my email, blog, get on facebook, anything! It's wild. 

If you're not a member of a gym there is still countless things you can do. I didn't take Z or Colson there until they were 3 to 6 months old, so I would run around our neighborhood after Jason got home then do abs and leg lifts (ha!) at our house. You just have to get creative sometimes!

I hope this helps. For our family it's making exercise a part of our daily lives. My dad talked me into encouraged me to run a 5K with him when I was eleven, and he hasn't stopped. ; ) Just yesterday he was asking me about a race, and I love that. So really his love for exercise just rubbed off on me.


But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead...


Philippians 3:13