It’s me again. Kat and I have many discussions about finding the time
to stay active with a busy life. I am often asked where I find the
time to do what I do. It is a challenge for all of us. I always
enjoyed an active life but it was inconsistent and certainly was
never at the level it is at now. I really ramped it up over the past
year. I have the least amount of time I’ve ever had but am in the
best shape I’ve ever been in and work out more than I ever have.
Ramping it up has been a process that came out of a not so great time
in my life.
I never had any health concerns, ever. Shortly after I had my
daughter last year I found out what it is like not to have your
health. It was an unbelievably stressful time for myself and my
family. I was unable to get out of bed at times and saw more doctors
in a few months than I had in my whole life. Being sick also takes an
emotional toll, add a little bit of postpartum anxiety to that and
I became an emotional disaster.
Running was a way out of an
extremely dark time for me. I am much better today; although I
struggle daily with chronic pain and the emotional impact that comes
with that. I don’t take anything for granted and do everything I can
to maintain my health. When I was able to start up a running routine
my mantra was: “I run becasue I can, I run because I can”, I repeat
it over and over
again and still do on tough runs.
Everyone that can be active should
be active, in my opinion.
OK! that is a bit more than I thought I would ever be sharing on
the internet!!!! Everyone has their struggles in life and mine have
led me to be such great friends with Kat and to this blog. I have a
total new lease on life and oddly enough I am actually thankful for such a miserable time, I found out who my real friends are, I realized
how wonderful my husband and family are and it led me to do things I never
thought possible.
So I am taking my take on time and exercise to the blog. I am still
not the best at saying what
I need to say so it’s a little Q&A.
Kat: You’re a busy mom (and teacher) – why do you make the time to exercise?
Amy: I make the time to exercise for many reasons. The number one reason I
make time to exercise is because I want my kids to grow up in an
active household with two active parents. I also make the time to
exercise because it makes me a much better mom, wife and teacher. I
am not tired or
cranky, I feel good and I generally have lots of energy. I do feel
guilty if I have to leave the kids for an hour but that hour makes the
rest of the time so much more enjoyable. It’s worth it.
Kat: How do you make the time to fit exercise in.
Amy: This one is tricky. The only way I will ever have time to work out
with my busy life is to make it a priority in my day. If I cannot go
to the gym I go for a run with the double jogger, if there is snow on
the ground I have a number of circuits I can do at home while I busy the kids
with activities (or include them). I also do yoga or jump rope.
There is always
something I can do to get a workout in. I have a million and one
excuses not to
work out but I do it anyway. In the end it’s all down to prioritizing
and finding the
time to do something, anything. Once you establish an active life it
is so much easier to keep it up. I’ve lived life as an active person
and a non-active person. This life is so much better.
Kat: What do you think is the biggest challenge for you to get it in.
Amy: Hands down it’s the guilt of leaving the kids to do something for
myself, as much as I can workout at home it is not realistic for me to
always do it at home. Also I really don’t want to. I like to get
out… alone. 🙂
Kat:
Do you have any tips for other parents out there who want to get more
active but are struggling?
Amy: I do! If you can get your work outs in before the kids wake up, do
it! Also think of things you can do with the children. I trained for
a 5K and a 10K with a double stroller. Take the kids to a big field
and just go crazy running after after them, get some cheap snowshoes,
go skiing, have a dance party, there are a million things I do with
the kids to get a sweat on. Also go to the gym and don’t feel badly
about making your health and fitness a priority in your life. It will
make you a happier parent with much more energy to spend with the
little ones. As a person who grew up with an extremely active father
I can’t tell
you how much they will look up to you (even when they are 33).
Kat: How is crossfit going?
Amy: Unbelievable!! I had a terrible chest cold so was out of commission
for almost 2 weeks but I am back at it!!! I put weight on the
bar now and am so much faster! I truly cannot believe the things I am
achieving. I recommend it to everyone! It is an amazing sport.
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