Mummy's Undeserved Blessings: gym

Why do I bother going to the gym? This is the question I have been asking myself in the last few weeks, especially today. On Thursday we had then fantastic guest post from Lynda from All About Muma telling us the benefits of exercise and in my head I totally agree with her.

However in the last few weeks I have been really frustrated with my progress at the gym. You see, for the past three months I have been waking up at 5.30am (ok I really only get out of bed at 5:50am) every Tuesday and Thursdays morning (and sometimes on the weekend) to go to the gym. I have been running and doing weights and feeling like I am really pushing myself.

I'm feeling great and I feel like I look ok, but what has been really been disappointing me is that I am GAINING weight! Not just a kilo or two but around 3-4kg.

When I first started at the gym I told my instructor as he prepared my program that I wanted to get fitter and stronger as I really didn't need to lose weight. I was hoping to a achieve these goals but I never thought I would put on weight (I'm sure I was secretly hoping I'd look a little slimmer and drop at least a couple of kilos).

Over the last couple of months I have noticed my weight slowly creeping up. I ignored it at first. I knew I was eating well and exercising and people tell me muscle weighs more than fat. But today when I stepped on the scales and saw a weight that I only ever weighed when I was pregnant I did begin to worry. What was going on?

After complaining to my hubby before I left for the gym, I started to think again about the reasons why I loved the gym and exercise. Because if if was making me less healthy for some reason I really should just stop. Here are my reasons I am came up with:

1. I love the way it makes me feel.

2. I love running.

3. It is great time out for myself.

4. I know I am looking after my body.

5. It makes me want to eat healthier food.

6. It is a great example to my kids.

I always know when I really need to hear something because not only am I thinking it, my hubby also comes and tells me the exact some thing. It does make me listen.

This morning after the gym, he came in while I was having a shower and told me the same things I had been thinking. He said "You look great, you love the gym, you are getting fitter, it wouldn't matter if put on 100 kg". As much as I hate to say this :) he is right. I had to go back to the reason I am going to the gym. All the things I wanted to achieve, I have achieved.

So I am not going to quit the gym. I'm going to keep going because it doesn't matter what I weigh as long as I know I am looking after myself, feeling great and being a positive example to my children.

Have you ever felt like exercising was a waste of time and effort? What motivates you?

Linking up with www.essentiallyjess.com for IBOT

Today we have Lynda from All About Muma sharing with us her passion for keeping fit and healthy as a mother. This is something that I am really passionate about too so I was excited when I received her post and am happy to share it with you today.

I believe God designed our bodies to move and not be idle. If you are passionate about exercise like I am you will know what I mean. I am often in awe of the way our creator made us and what the human body is capable of doing. In only a relatively short period of time we are capable of becoming fit, gaining enormous strength and seeing wonderful changes in the shape of our bodies. If you have ever stood and watched as your child runs it's truly a beautiful sight - flushed cheeks, little legs pumping, hair swaying in the wind and a real sense of joy with knowing what their little bodies can do. I also think that regular exercise both cardio and strength training helps to make me a better mother.

These are the reasons why:

Your body craves good healthy food when you are regularly exercising. It's burning energy and it needs as many minerals and nutrients for energy and muscle repair. Junk food is just something that my body doesn't want or need. It's akin to putting some cheap, nasty petrol in a car - it won't run as smoothly or efficiently. This benefits the kids because the food that comes into the house is for the most part healthy.

I'm always in a better mood after exercise, particularly after running due to the endorphin high that accompanies it. It is a great stress reliever and let's face it - that's something all mothers could do with!

Regular exercise means I have more energy meaning I am more inclined to do energetic type activities with the kids. Further, I set up my exercise program with them in mind. I do thirty minutes of cardio which will sometimes include:

1. Ten minutes on the trampoline with the kids (jumping tends to give me a headache so we pretend to be cars and run around in a circular motion (complete with traffic lights, petrol fill ups and change of direction) which is lots of fun.

2. We have a fairly decent sized backyard so I've come up with a running trek for us for 10 to 20 minutes. Again, this is loads of fun, the kids try and beat me (they think it is a hoot to work out sneaky short cuts for themselves) and they love it.

I used to really enjoy participating in fun runs and am planning on participating in my first since having kids in November. While my kids are a little young to join me at the moment they are really keen to also participate when they are older. Nothing would give me a greater thrill than running in a fun run with my kids jogging alongside me!

If exercise has never been your thing, I cannot recommend getting started enough. Like getting into a habit with all new things, it's often hard at the start but once you set yourself regular times to do it every week and stick to it - you will see the benefits, have formed that habit and won't want to give it up!

I've been exercising three times a week (cardio and strength training) consistently since December last year when my youngest was fifteen months (exercise has been my thing pretty much all my life but I had three children in five years and so the regularity stopped during that period).

Initially it was hard and on those three days I had to talk myself into it and push myself (and felt sore afterwards) but after about a month the habit was formed and I once again I was hooked. I recommend telling someone positive in your life what your training plans are and ask them to regularly check in with you to hold you accountable. In the early days it's really easy to talk yourself out of it as too hard, you don't have enough time and just too much work. Ask the nominated person to not accept any excuses from you :-).

If you would like to know more about getting started I wrote a series of posts a few months ago called 'How to stay (or become) fit and healthy after giving birth and beyond.’

Part 1: the benefits of exercise

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/05/27/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-1/

Part 2: how to get started (cardio)

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/05/29/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-2-2/

Part 3: how to get started (strength training)

http://www.allaboutmama.com/2013/06/04/how-to-stay-or-become-fit-and-healthy-after-giving-birth-and-beyond-part-3/

Part 4: the importance of stretching