So I guess I'm doing cross-fit...
Well, I'm not sure if it's technically cross-fit but we do use kettle bells (bells or balls?!) on occasion and this thing called AMRAPs (which stands for as many reps as possible but I've affectionately dubbed "am really about to puke"). And the other day, we did hero workouts and the instructor referenced "cross-fit" so I think it counts.
The point is, I've started to attend a 5 a.m. workout class and since I've lost track of the number of times I've actually gone, I think it's officially a "thing" that I'm doing.
Having my alarm go off at 4:25 a.m. and doing burpees by 5:10 a.m. sounds like a pretty insane thing and in some ways it is. When I first told Matt about wanting to sign up for the class my thrifty husband was skeptical. "Isn't that like going from zero to 60?" he said. "You're not working out at all right now and all of the sudden you're going to start attending a 5 a.m. class?"
"Well, maybe it's the push I need" I replied. "I mean I could workout before the kids are awake, not take anytime away from family time, start the day focusing on me and my health. Get home, shower and still have time for bible reading before I even have to start getting Becca ready. Imagine if I started doing that! That mom has it all together. That mom is on fire. I want to be that mom!"
So I gave it a shot. And not going to lie, I curse my alarm every stinking morning but as soon as soon as I hear it that little voice in my head starts reminding me of all of the reasons that I want to do this. "Take time for you," it whispers. "Imagine how good you will feel," it says. "Imagine wearing that bikini on the cruise," it prompts. So more often than not, I drag myself out of bed and stumble over to the high school.
And you know what, that voice is right. It DOES feel really good. And getting home and having those precious 45 minutes to myself to read God's word and center my perspective has been huge. Sometimes I need an extra does of caffeine in the early afternoon and I may fall asleep at 7 p.m. during family movie night but it really is worth it.
And just this week, I've started to track my food more consistently as well. Because if I'm getting up at 4:30 in the gosh darn morning do I really want to eat that Snickers?
I of course have pound loss goals (I mean who doesn't??) but I'm trying not to make that the focus. When I look in the mirror and my eyes go right to my "extra" spots I intentionally try and change my perspective and notice something good. And when I am planking and see the extra tummy hanging down (if you have had kids, you know what I mean, lol) I instead thank God for this strong body that CAN get up in the wee hours of the morning and move. That is healthy enough to sweat and run and do burpees until I want to puke. Is anyone putting me on the cover of a fitness magazine anytime soon? Of course not, but I can be grateful for exactly where I am and that I want to take care of my health, both physical and mental in ways that I hope will make God smile and ultimately allow me to be a blessing to my family and those around me.
It's also been kind of cool to see me start lifting some actual weights. Like I don't go for the lightest possible dumbell anymore and this morning during deadlifts I had on actual plates (they were bumper plates but I definitely felt like they looked impressive ;). I'm still a minor miracle away from a doing an actual pull-up or even a hanging pull-up but you've got to start somewhere.
And that's the win in this all. I've started. I have done the thing that mom's are not supposed to do. I've put myself and my well-being first. I've committed to taking time for "me" not as an after-thought but as an essential part of being whole and being able to be there for those that I love. And you know what, it feels freaking fantastic. Even at 4:30 a.m.
P.S. If I fall off the wagon in a month or two (which is not an outlandish possibility) I hope that this post will serve as a reminder to myself about how it all seemed worth it and the extra push to get back on again!
The point is, I've started to attend a 5 a.m. workout class and since I've lost track of the number of times I've actually gone, I think it's officially a "thing" that I'm doing.
Having my alarm go off at 4:25 a.m. and doing burpees by 5:10 a.m. sounds like a pretty insane thing and in some ways it is. When I first told Matt about wanting to sign up for the class my thrifty husband was skeptical. "Isn't that like going from zero to 60?" he said. "You're not working out at all right now and all of the sudden you're going to start attending a 5 a.m. class?"
"Well, maybe it's the push I need" I replied. "I mean I could workout before the kids are awake, not take anytime away from family time, start the day focusing on me and my health. Get home, shower and still have time for bible reading before I even have to start getting Becca ready. Imagine if I started doing that! That mom has it all together. That mom is on fire. I want to be that mom!"
So I gave it a shot. And not going to lie, I curse my alarm every stinking morning but as soon as soon as I hear it that little voice in my head starts reminding me of all of the reasons that I want to do this. "Take time for you," it whispers. "Imagine how good you will feel," it says. "Imagine wearing that bikini on the cruise," it prompts. So more often than not, I drag myself out of bed and stumble over to the high school.
And you know what, that voice is right. It DOES feel really good. And getting home and having those precious 45 minutes to myself to read God's word and center my perspective has been huge. Sometimes I need an extra does of caffeine in the early afternoon and I may fall asleep at 7 p.m. during family movie night but it really is worth it.
And just this week, I've started to track my food more consistently as well. Because if I'm getting up at 4:30 in the gosh darn morning do I really want to eat that Snickers?
I of course have pound loss goals (I mean who doesn't??) but I'm trying not to make that the focus. When I look in the mirror and my eyes go right to my "extra" spots I intentionally try and change my perspective and notice something good. And when I am planking and see the extra tummy hanging down (if you have had kids, you know what I mean, lol) I instead thank God for this strong body that CAN get up in the wee hours of the morning and move. That is healthy enough to sweat and run and do burpees until I want to puke. Is anyone putting me on the cover of a fitness magazine anytime soon? Of course not, but I can be grateful for exactly where I am and that I want to take care of my health, both physical and mental in ways that I hope will make God smile and ultimately allow me to be a blessing to my family and those around me.
It's also been kind of cool to see me start lifting some actual weights. Like I don't go for the lightest possible dumbell anymore and this morning during deadlifts I had on actual plates (they were bumper plates but I definitely felt like they looked impressive ;). I'm still a minor miracle away from a doing an actual pull-up or even a hanging pull-up but you've got to start somewhere.
And that's the win in this all. I've started. I have done the thing that mom's are not supposed to do. I've put myself and my well-being first. I've committed to taking time for "me" not as an after-thought but as an essential part of being whole and being able to be there for those that I love. And you know what, it feels freaking fantastic. Even at 4:30 a.m.
P.S. If I fall off the wagon in a month or two (which is not an outlandish possibility) I hope that this post will serve as a reminder to myself about how it all seemed worth it and the extra push to get back on again!
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