When I first received an email from a personal trainer in Canada via Linked-In, asking if I wanted to be a guest on his “Make Your Body Work” podcast, I was a tad skeptical.
Then I looked up his blog page and saw this:
Although he’s obviously in great shape, and the apron is cute, I was thinking that this could go one of two ways – either this guys is an ego maniac trying to take advantage of overweight women or he doesn’t take himself that seriously but takes his business and his training very seriously. Luckily for us both, it’s the latter.
He was reaching out because he receives questions like this on a regular basis:
Can anyone everyone relate to this? Right.
I remember, very vividly, the first few months after the boys were born and what a struggle it was to workout. I also foolishly signed-up for my first ever triathlon so I actually had to train for something. Not very smart on my part but I learned a lot in the process and even more in the six and half years since.
You can read the full podcast HERE or download and listen to it HERE.
In summary, this is how I answered the question:
Something Has To Give
Let’s face it, whether you have one kid or 10, moms have a lot on their plates and usually dictate the flow of the family. If you’re trying to take time to workout, that usually means something else has to give. Let it!
Step one: Realize how much you do and give yourself credit.
Step two: Understand that finding time for exercise probably means giving something else up which is more then ok.
Find Your Why
By this I mean really figure out what your goal is. I can tell you that it is not losing 10 pounds but what losing 10 pounds might do for your overall life. Sit down, think about what is at the root of what your goal is, and go from there. If you cannot figure out your honest motivation, you will never succeed.
Start Small
My best advice is to take one day just to figure out your reason for fitness and then maybe start exercising once per week. If you are doing nothing now, one hour a week will make an impact. Everyone who goes from nothing to working out six days a week is setting themselves up to fail.
It Will Be Hard
Sticking to an exercise program is hard. Get over it. If it were easy, everyone would do it and there wouldn’t be an obesity epidemic in this country. Remember, it’s the hard that makes it great.
Get Your Family On Board
Support is key! You will only be able to do so much without the support of your partner. As the patron saint of all women, Sheryl Sanberg said “Make your partner a true partner.” I don’t care how much yours works or doesn’t work, if you have kids together they need to partner up and share the work.
Make weekends for working out and I guarantee the whole family will enjoy being active together, which will make any mom’s life easier…and healthier.
I hope you will read or listen to the podcast in it’s entirety and let me know your thoughts!
[Tweet “Find your why! If you cannot figure out your honest #motivation, you will never succeed. @MYBWfitness #podcast”]
What would you add to the list?
How did you get back into fitness after having kids?
What other topics would you like me and Dave to yap about?
oh I WAS SO SKEPTICAL as well 🙂
but I adore him.
He’s so smart and articulate and funny—you two are a great duo!
Agreed!! Thanks so much Carla 🙂
I think this is a question for every BODY. How do I fit it in? It’s always a give or take type of thing to make a balance of some sorts. I signed up for a 1/2 5 months after my twins were born. It was good and bad – good to get out of the house and put myself as a priority but bad in that I missed my babies while training. In the end, it was all good. It was a good primer for the years to come! Can’t wait to listen to your podcast!
We were both crazy moms trying to hold onto our identities I think!! It’s funny how having a baby (or TWO) changes everything and the struggles you endure to figure it all out. Obviously, it’s a lifetime of “figuring it out” but I wish someone had better advice for me when I was going through it.
Thanks Angela!!
This is my first time hearing about this podcast so I’m excited to listen to you!! Off to download and listen on my commute!!
YEAH!!!! Do let me know what you think as you know how much I value your opinion!!
While I don’t have children, this was interesting to read and listen too. I think anyone could benefit in listening and prioritizing. We are all going to have to make priorities. I think in whatever you do, support from your partner is key. Even if it’s not their thing, if they support you then it’s fine.
So, so true Hollie and thank you for making that point. The better you support each other before kids, the easier it may be once you have them.
I do not need to listen to any podcast this man makes to know that I support everything he has to say. However, the podcast was also really good, too.
HAHAHAHA!! You are so great. Thanks Danielle.
I’ll definitely download and LISTEN this week….will be fun to hear it in your own voice. I agree with all of it. It is hard. At some point you just need to make a decision about fitness and stick to it. And find something you LOVE to do…there are so many fitness options now, everyone can find something they love. And through the internet, everything has a version you can do at home at 4 am if you can’t get out.
So true and I talk about that A LOT, especially not just going along with what your friends are doing. It’s key to find something YOU like and will do…the friends will come. I’m sure you found that with running and I know you have learned a lot through the running group you never thought you would join 🙂
Please let me know your thoughts once you listen!! And THANKS!
This is awesome, Allie!! The time piece is huge for moms and I agree that it has to be a priority to make it happen. Moms hold on to guilt around taking time for themselves and away from the dozens of other things they should be doing but taking care of ourselves is so so important!
You know it Laura!!…especially with two kids. It never gets easier but obviously you know the importance of taking care of mama!!
I don’t have kids, and probably won’t for a few more years, but I really look up to moms who still make time for themselves, whether it’s running or reading a book or whatever. I don’t know many men who have children who have blogs (or in general, I suppose – not many of my close friends have kids yet), and I wonder if they feel the same guilt as moms over taking time for themselves. It’s easy for me to say from my childless couch/life, but I think it’s really important to set examples for your kids too, so healthy living/running is key!
That being said, I have thought that maybe it’s nice to be dating (hopefully marrying?) a guy who doesn’t run so I can get in long runs/races without competition, haha. (Said from that same childless couch as above!)
I can answer that question about dad’s VERY easily – NO, THEY DO NOT. And guess what? It doesn’t seem to matter really to the kids. Someday you will see (I sound like your grandma) that moms have a special bond with their kids and also carry a very special guilt. I think I did pretty good with avoiding it but I also ran my own business, and had my aunt watching my boys from birth to three, which goes a long way in the guilt department.
And, my husband is not a runner but he finds plenty of other hobbies and work related reasons to not be here. No matter what, it’s something you need to work out with your partner. I know both running and non-running husbands who are incredibly supportive. I guess it all comes down to what works for your family. In the end, it usually all works out 🙂
Running was so important to me after I had my boys. I’d do anything to squeeze it in, even if that meant getting up at 4 and running in the dark before my husband left for work. Back then, running was for fitness and sanity and maybe it was the only time of day i had by myself. I didn’t race when the boys were little–I did my first half marathon in 2010 when my youngest was 9. I always tell people that you just have to make it a priority. If it’s important to you, you’ll get it done.
I could not agree more! Some people used to say to me “well, when those babies come you won’t have time to do all this running and exercising!” And I was like YES I will because I love it and make excuses to get it done, not the other way around. And I did.
I’m with you – even now I sometimes have to get up at 4:30am to get a run or bike trainer ride in. I do it because the rest of my day goes much more smoothly! Keep up the good work mama!!
I remember being in you kick box class, largely pregnant with my second or third child…I was no slow poke back in the day even preggers. You looked at me and said something like, “I hope I’m still in the shape you are after having kids.’ Look at you now!!! I didn’t have any problem getting to the gym after kids, it was my stress relief, kept me sane and my Me time. I was also very lucky, my husband worked second shift so I didn’t have to lug the kids to the gym-those moms amaze me!!! So I am struggling for the first time ever getting back to the gym, even though I teach! I never thought I wouldn’t make time for the gym, but being in the sandwich generation and dealing with my dad’s estate has put me over the top. It’s also embarrassing for me to go to the gym, I’m 25 pounds heavier than I was last year. So Thank you Dave and Allie for motivating me-for the first time ever, I listened to the Podcast while (took me about 1/2 hour to figure that out, lol) I worked out with my weights at home. I felt great!! I signed up for the Pan Mass Challenge too, 192 mile bike ride for Dana Farber Cancer Center. It’s time for some me time!! Thank you both!!!
AWESOME! That makes me so happy Christine. Good for you!! We all struggle with fitness (even us “lifers”) just remember that you are worth it and afterward you always feel SO much better, right? Thanks for this 🙂
Great tips Allie! I think this is very realistic but also reasonable. People often want to hear that there is a quick and easy solution but there isn’t and it takes a lot of work, dedication and realization that it is going to be hard but you can do it. Love this!
That is the true challenge – as you well know! Everyday it’s a choice and a struggle for sure but the rewards are great 🙂 Thanks Brittany.
Woman, you are just too wonderful. Gonna listen to this podcast as I finish out my afternoon here at work.
I feel the same about you!
Let me know what you think!!!
I was just listening to someone else talking about finding your “why.” So very important to find and keep reminding yourself of.
Every damn day!!
If you make time for yourself it makes you better at all the other things you need to do. It should be a priority! Love this Allie!
You know it Jill!! Thank you.