Today was supposed to be E-DAY for me: the first day of my new exercise plan.
Stephanie, my mom friend from Ooph.com, had a great suggestion for me a few weeks ago as I blogged about not knowing how to fit exercise into my schedule. She suggested I shoot for 3 days a week to get going, use Saturday, Sunday and one week day.
A Mom's view of water polo practice.
I thought that was a great way to re-boot my exercise plan.
Until my alarm went off at 6 am this morning.
Last night, I carefully laid out all of my exercise clothes (basically an upgraded version of pajamas), shoes, socks, I-pod all set out and ready to go, bright and early, on my home treadmill.
You might be wondering why I was smart enough to think I could pull this off on a Monday morning, when I normally can’t function until noon on Monday, much less act like Flo Jo at 6 am?
Trust me, when that alarm went off, I was wondering the same damn thing. What was I thinking? Who was I kidding?
I hit snooze and went right back to sleep.
It doesn’t help any that last week, I had a doctor’s visit and got a short lecture on exercising.
When the doctor asked me if I was exercising, I told a fiblet (thank you, Taylore, for teaching me that word!) and said “oh sure, I exercise at least 3 times a week, sometimes 4!” Lie, lie, lie, I’m going straight to H-E-double hockey sticks for telling her that, I just know.
The thing is, I am not new to exercising. I know all of the benefits, and in fact if anything, I am over educated on the benefits of exercise. Dang it. I can’t even fake ignorance on this subject.
I started exercising regularly when I was about 11 years old, at our apartment clubhouse, using old Jane Fonda records. Yes, I said records, as in vinyl. We’re talking about 1981 or so. Maureen, remember those killer scissor kicks and how Jane would just go on endlessly?
I’ve had countless gym memberships over the years, and, Girls Scouts honor, ten years ago I actually completed a sprint triathlon (no, I am not kidding, there is a photo of me finishing it on Google somewhere to this day. Do not look it up and send it to me, please, I’ve seen it, I know it’s a beauty.)
Flash forward to 2009. I am no longer 29 years old with three babies to throw in a stroller. I am 40 with three teenagers. I am sure my hormones are slowing down or doing something evil. I know my metabolism is starting to move down on the speedometer each year. Soon, when Sally Fields appears in the Boniva commercials talking about osteoporosis and bone loss, I’ll be taking crib notes as the announcer mentions the potential side effects in an auctioneer-speed whisper. Only Sally will be told old by then and they’re gonna have to replace her with someone from my generation.
I’m thinking Jennifer Anniston would make a good old-but-hot spokesperson for my generation?
So, good thing about shooting for Monday but missing, is I have 4 days left, right?
I don’t know how I will work in the exercise with the kids evening schedules right now.
The doctor very bluntly said last week, “you have two choices. Before work or after work. You pick.” Ugh.
After work is out right now, unless the kids want me joining them on the football field. I’m gonna assume the answer to that is a resounding NO.
That leaves me with mornings. <SIGH.>
Surely sitting in the bleachers every night of the week at sporting events counts for something?
Oh well.
There’s always next Monday.
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So hard to start those new routines. Ok…so you probably don’t need one more moron telling you how to do this. But I’m just stupid enough to give you one more idea. Not sure if those teens are driving themselves now, but if they aren’t and you have to take them to practices or games, then leave your tennis shoes in your car. Often while waiting there will be 1/2 hour that I can take a brisk walk around the field, do some lunges, stretches, push-ups. Finding time to sneak it in like that really makes a difference. Just a thought. Good luck…from Holly at lifelaughlatte.blogspot.com
Great idea. For that matter, Shannon could walk up the bleachers, instead of sitting on them, and get tons of exercise. And, I don’t mean walking parallel with them; walk up and down the steps.
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Great information thanks for sharing this with us.In fact in all posts of this blog their is something to learn.I wish I had found it sooner. Keep up the good work.
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Getting exercise is important and I see that you have a couple of good suggestions already. A little trick to play on yourself to help you get up earlier is to set the alarm clock back another half hour – that way you can still hit the snooze button and get up in time to get the exercise in. But it is important that you and your entire family get exercise on a regular basis. Do that and you too can be a senior citizen living in a resort retirement community;-) Life is good, but you gotta work at it.
Shannon…..I know that the only thing that gets me to exercise is doing with with someone else so I can chat, complain or laugh with someone while I do it. It also adds some accoutability.
I have a girlfriend I meet at the YMCA 3 mornings (usually) a week. If one gets there and the other doesn’t show, there’s hell to pay….! Exercise goes so much faster when you’re chatting with a friend. Plus if there’s time, we go out for coffee afterwards. When the weather is nice, we take the dog for a walk and most times we find ourselves at a local coffee shop (funny how that happens).
I also take a pilates class at the Y-it’s fun, the instructor doesn’t kill us and she notices when you don’t go!
If I was on my own……exercise would not happen, no matter how much self-talk, affirmations, threats or bargaining I try.
Good luck.
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Hey Girl, you don’t exercise you know what you get? Super-sized!! Wanta see what you’ll look like in 20 – 30 years without exercise? Go to the Mall and check out the “gray ladies” and you can tell which ones exercise and which ones don’t. You don’t even need to walk around – just go to the food court and you’ll see all the “super-sized gray ladies” you’ll not want to look like. Now get your butt up on that tread-mill Girl!!!