About 5 years ago, I looked in the mirror at my fat thighs and the rolls under my bra and decided I’d had enough. With Tate’s help, we went on a low-carb diet (think more South Beach than Atkins) and I started going to the gym 3-4 times per week.
I went from a size 12 to a size 2.
Two kids, three moves, and a blog later, I’m almost back to being a size 12. My thighs are fat again, my stomach is a landscape of rolling hills, and my arms look like big, meaty burritos. I look in the mirror and feel disgusted, overwhelmed, tired, and hopeless. I’ve been trying really hard to make better food choices, but I know that I desperately need to start exercising.
Since having Carson almost four years ago, I’ve attempted to start regularly exercising probably 47, 638 times.
When we lived in Alabama, I started the Couch to 5K program, but it was too hot. And there were bears in my neighborhood.
When we lived in Indiana, I was going to walk regularly (and BRISKLY!) with my neighbor, but it got cold and I hate doing physical activity when it’s cold. Then it got hot and apparently I can’t possibly do any sort of physical activity that might cause me to get flushed! Lawsy mercy, Miss Jennifer, you are so delicate! Just like a flower! I had considered joining a gym with some of my MOMS club friends, but I was nervous about leaving my kids in the nursery.
In the past few months I’ve worked out to DVD’s doing pilates and the 30 Day Shred
Excuses, I say! Lame, lame, lame excuses. (Except for the bears in my neighborhood in Alabama. I wanted to lose weight yes, but losing weight because a bear gnawed off my leg seemed a bit excessive.)
I really want to start exercising again, I’m ready to feel better about how I look. It’s just that I’m not really sure how to go about exercising. The only time in the past that I’ve been successful with sticking to exercising was when I went to a gym on my way home from work everyday. Being a self-proclaimed genius, it occurred to me that I should try and replicate what was successful.
I should join a gym! But… (these aren’t excuses per se, they are REASONS why I’m not sure that I can actually join a gym.)
Not an excuse, but a reason (Nae, bar) #1: Getting a family membership at a gym would be expensive and there are so many things I’d rather buy, like camera lenses
Nae, bar #2: I don’t know how I feel about letting my kids hang out at a gym daycare with all the flu going around. Something tells me that gym daycares aren’t exactly the poster child for Germ-Free is Way to Be!
Nae, bar#3: I can’t go to the gym before Tate goes to work because he goes to work before humans should even be allowed to be awake.
Nae, bar #4: I know myself, and I’d never use my expensive gym membership if I waited to go in the evenings after Tate got home from work. (Especially since he regularly gets home after 7 PM.)
Nae, bar #5: After 7PM, my couch is especially comfortable and I would really rather watch House Hunters or Top Chef reruns than workout.
Those are NOT excuses, I say, NOT EXCUSES.
What are your reasons? Assuming, of course, that you don’t regularly exercise. And if you do regularly exercise (oh ye who must have children in school or a husband who doesn’t work 90 hours/week), how do you do it!?
don’t have a gym membership, I would so love one, but don’t have one. When the girls were younger we had a Y membership, they would have whatever class they were having and I would work out in the machine room while they were doing it. Except for swim lessons because hello a bazillion kids all froliching around the pool, I could so see my kid drowning and the teacher saying “Mrs D, I know she drown but Johnnie swam to the other side of the pool with my supervision”
Good luck!
.-= Heather-Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..His Name is Logan =-.
If it helps you feel better, when we met at BlogHer I was shocked by how tiny you were. Not just short (thought you did make me feel like a giant), but skinny! You were totally adorable and perfect!
Seriously. You’re adorable.
And I don’t work out. I suck. I really want to join the gym, but the daycare is only open during the hours that we’re doing home school or the hours that I’m cooking dinner and getting the kids ready for bed. It sucks. Something is going to have to change though, because dude. I am 8 pounds over my “I will never weigh this much again, oh my effing god” weight.
.-= Karly´s last blog ..The One Where I Get All Serious And Stuff. =-.
You’re too sweet, Karly. Just so you know, I was locked into spanx and I’d barely eaten the week before to lose a little water weight.
Also, good point about the nursery hours. I know that one of the gyms I looked into had very restricted hours, none that would work w/my schedule.
I still have the same 50 pounds I accumulated during my last pregnancy. They haven’t gone anywhere. The excuse I like to make to myself is that I’m breastfeeding, see, and it doesn’t seem right to diet while breastfeeding. She needs the calories! And isn’t chasing 3 kids around all day considered exercise? If not, then it should be.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Oh Right, That IS Me =-.
I hate excercising- its just so much easier not to do it.
But I started watching the biggest loser, and then get up and go for a bike ride and when I am tempted to quit remind myself that if I do, I will end up being 400 pounds, and suddenly, I find more energy.
How do I do it? Exactly like you, apparently. =)
Seriously. I could have written this post. Except for the bear thing. Although that’s an EXCELLENT excuse.
I even had a gym membership, and went 3 nights a week after Hubs got home (he DOES work 90+ hours/wk). It lasted approx 3 months. Then I wasted the other 9 months of the paid membership. *sigh* But I had a lot of great…..excuses.
I’m a size 14, and would love to be back down to an 8. Is that too much to ask, Universe?? Apparently it is. Or maybe I have to work harder & stop with the excuses. GAH!
{{HUGS}} I sympathize with you completely.
.-= PsychMamma´s last blog ..Embracing Holland =-.
I thought that having a few hours to myself, now that both kids are in school a few days a week, would really change my ability to work out. Hasn’t happened yet. I have many, many NAEs but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s just not happening. (Between two different school holiday schedules, volunteering at both schools, getting caught up on cleaning, etc. it seems there is not enough time in the day.)
Oh, and gym nurseries are freaking germ fermenters. I refuse to take the kids there. Sick. Every. Time.
.-= Brigid´s last blog ..forbidden fruit =-.
All of those are fine excuses and one’s I’ve used many times!
We have a treadmill. And it mocks me each morning I wake up.
I have NO excuses – yet here I am 15lbs heavier than I should be or want to be.
It’s great having somewhere convenient to drape my clothes at night though
See, I don’t even get the exercise of walking ALL THE WAY over to the closet!
ones – ones, not one’s – sorry! It’s like an internet disease this – superflous apostrophes. You see them so many times I guess your mind subconsciously decides they’re correct! ugh!
Hmmm, yeah, I have a gym membership and at the moment I make it to Yoga class about once every week and a half… yeah, that’s one expensive yoga class! But I figure, it’s better than nothing! My son ALWAYS gets sick from the daycare so I can’t go during the day, and I’m too dang tired/busy when my husband gets home. Once in awhile I can convince my retired father to come sit with my son so I can go while he’s napping… otherwise weekends might work if we didn’t already have 4 million other things to do…
So yeah, get back to me when you figure out a good time!
I have a treadmill. But I keep it locked away in my basement where I can’t see it. But I hear it mocking me and my very large arse.
My husband works 60 hrs/wk, coaches two of our kids in hockey and plays hockey himself. There is no me time. Well, I could get up at 5:45 each day. But that’s just plain stupid. And exercising after 7 is just ridiculous as I’m exhausted.
So, no. No regular exercise for me.
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Smiling through the gray =-.
i set goals for myself, i signed up for a tri this summer and that required me training. my husband does work 90 hours a week, i joined the most exp. gym b/c i trust and love the daycare, they saved my life. i still feel guilty when i go, but i feel so good about my exercising. i finally feel addicted. the other thing i did was joined a group, basically for 50 bucks i became a member of a group of woman who train for tris …this was the MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD. support, encouragement empowerment. maybe look into running groups or classes. and NO excuse about being too slow….
.-= feener´s last blog ..504 vs IEP =-.
I have a gym membership and until this year when they both started school I dragged them to the gym 2-3 times a week. Our gym’s childcare is run by a wonderful women who used to be a primary school special education teacher. She is so great with the kids & they have strict rules about health & cleanliness. Hand santiizer as you enter & leave, lots of hand washing, toys cleaned & sanitized regularly. Parents have been pulled from step class & told to take their kid home because they are coughing or their nose is running. Check out the childcare at the gym, you might be surprised.
As a SAHM with small kids I never found the “right” time or balance. I just tried to eat right and remain very active w/the kids.
However, with three kids in school…. HOLY BATMAN am I working out. Its wonderful. Amazing. I feel great. Awesome.
Oh, wait. This isn’t about me. It’s about you. Heh. Hang in there. I never found the right time until they started school like 8 weeks ago.
.-= OHmommy´s last blog ..My kids had processed sodium-filled pizza for dinner. =-.
I aim to get to the gym at least three times a week. Usually it’s more like two, sadly, because one of the kids is sick or then I get sick and I try to avoid dragging the plague around town. I feel exactly the same way as you about not liking the ick factor of leaving my kids in the gym daycare, but I tell myself it’s worth it for the socialization, which they otherwise don’t get a ton of since they’re not in daycare. A couple of my acquaintances/friends go to the same gym, too, so my kids get to play with their kids more than they might otherwise.
And also, I tell myself that being healthy is setting a good example for them, so even if they’re maybe around more germs than necessary, I think overall it is a positive thing for them to see me going to work out.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Young Man… =-.
I think I’m just damn lazy. There I said it. Plus I hate exercising.
Right now I weigh almost more than I ever have (other than when being pregnant). I did get up to a record high late this summer, saw a picture of myself that I loathed, and quickly started eating a scarily healthy breakfast every day and skipping beer and desserts. Sob. I LOVE to eat.
I have always been fairly “small” (not skinny except for high school) but dayum my metabolism has dropped off the planet.
I feel your pain!
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..How Being A Grown Up Is Like Party City: Looks Great On TV, Kinda Sucks In Reality =-.
Let’s see, I can’t exercise when it’s too hot, obviously.
Too cold? No way! Too early? Mmmm, I like sleep, besides the gym I do belong to isn’t open in time for me to work out, get back here and shower before I have to get the kids ready and the baby I watch comes for the day. After the baby leaves? No, I’ve got the kids and their activities, and their homework and making dinner…After dinner? No, it’s too close to bedtime and I’m in charge of bedtime. After bedtime? No, it’s late and I’m tiiiirrrredd. Plus, I’ve read it contributes to insomnia if you exercise too late and I already have a hard enough time sleeping thanks. Afternoons in my family room on the treadmill I already own? No, I can’t see the tv.
I can’t tell what’s excuses and what’s legit anymore.
Good luck.
PS–I’d LOVE to be a size 12 again. I don’t know if that helps or hurts you.
.-= Mom24´s last blog ..Weekend Notes =-.
Honestly my main reason is I am just plain lazy. I cannot be bothered. And I am married to a man who LIKES bigger women, and so why bother right?
But I really need to do something about it.
.-= Mad Woman´s last blog ..Meme-tastic! =-.
Yeah, what you said. I start some sort of exercise program every few months and can never find anything I like/that keeps me motivated/that I can stick with. It’s my own damn fault but it’s so frustrating. Why can’t I be one of those (freaks) people that LIKE to exercise??
.-= Shelly´s last blog ..Watching =-.
I get up early (5 am) and go into our garage and run on the treadmill. Good Luck!!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Wednesday Night Dinner =-.
Baby steps. I took baby steps. I knew I couldn’t handle working out AND eating healthy, so I focused on eating healthy. Once I got down to my goal weight (and eating well became relatively easily), I switched focus to exercising.
I do DVDs and we have an elliptical trainer. The elliptical was pricey but worth it. And I get up early to exercise. Not ideal, but I work and its the only time I can do it.
Good luck!
.-= Slacker Mama´s last blog ..(almost) wordless wednesday — wedding recap =-.
OK…don’t hate me. I run, and walk, and run everywhere. Husband works all the time, so I always have one or two kiddos with me in the stroller. With two, it’s really hard (80lbs of kiddo ans stroller) but I just soldier through it. Today, after I dropped Miss Peach off at preschool, I ran three miles with Little Man that ended at the museum, so then he got to play. It’s what works for us:) Good luck…you will find something that works for you!
.-= Nap Warden´s last blog ..Step Off Nanny =-.
Oh, dear Lord. I read Heather’s comment and nearly fainted. You will never find me running anywhere at 5am. I promise.
I have to agree with Slacker Mama – baby steps are key. I’ve never been a runner (hate it, really), but 2 years ago decided to get moving. I started with the incredibly small goal of making to the other end of my (not very big) neighborhood without stopping. I thought I’d die. But I kept going. Only 2ce a week – I couldn’t commit to more. (My son rode along on his bike w/ training wheels; he was faster.)
This morning I ran 3 miles, and I’m not any more ambitious than that. I figure if I I can do that 2ce a week, I’m all set.
Good luck.
.-= Hip Mom’s Guide´s last blog ..I’m Calling My Mom, Because I Still Can =-.
Um, are you sure you’re not me?
I have grand plans to join the Y after Katie has surgery, but I’m not there yet.
I have a Wii Fit, EAactive, a treadmill, 30 day shred. I want to do these things and my body isn’t there yet to let me.
I have hopes, but the reality is I have a four year old and an eleven month old who do not think MomMom needs to exercise. My son is almost convinced that being my coach would be cool, but he hasn’t signed on.
Once Katie is through surgery, I’m not going to worry as much about germs, but I know something must be done because I can’t keep living the way I am.
It won’t work until you really REALLY want it to. I have been like you, joining gyms, buying videos, starting programs and diets eleventybillion times. It usually lasts a couple weeks, tops. It’s even harder trying to make it work with kids.
Somehow, this time, it’s worked for me. For 10 weeks or so I’ve been regularly running and working out. Granted, I often do it while my husband is home (after 6:30 pm) because I suck at dragging the kids out anywhere.
But I belong to Bally and it is SO FREAKING CHEAP it’s unbelievable. There are classes, but other than that it’s not very shiny. It works for me, though.
Would it have worked 6 months ago? Probably not. Am I going to keep at it for another 6 months. I really hope so, but I’m already tapering.
Never quit quitting?
.-= McMama´s last blog ..Domestic Violence Awareness =-.
I have similar excuses to yours- no gym close by, I don’t have a car during the day, husband gets home too late… but I’m up 30 pounds from 2.5 years ago, and I hate it. Something must change soon.
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Daddy’s girl =-.
I do Boot Camp three nights a week, but it only works because it is after dinner when Matthew is home.
The other four days I work out at home to a DVD or with the EA Sports Active. I usually get up before the kids, but if they’re up early, they cheer me on.
Good luck! xo
.-= Angella´s last blog ..Going Coastal =-.
Okay, I belonged to a gym and it was a little different because my kids are bigger. BUT I think the solution is this: take the kids to the gym with you, but try to go when they have the lowest kid attendance. Probably after lunch time when most kids nap. And give them Airborne or a zillion vitamins or something. And only join a gym after you’ve inspected the child care area to make sure it’s clean. And, I can’t say enough about good eating too. I worked out hard for about a full year and lost ZERO pounds. My biceps were bigger and my abs had about 3% more definition, but they suffered because of my worship of the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Random Thoughts Tuesday =-.
Oh, one more thing: have you heard of Stroller Strides? It’s a workout program where you bring your kids with you and push a stroller around a park or a mall or a Rec center or something. It’s national… see if there’s one in your area.
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Random Thoughts Tuesday =-.
I truly dislike working out… always have… and probably never will…
No excuses needed here.
I think about how I should exercise while eating a pint of Ben & Jerrys and watching the Biggest Loser. Yeah, I suck.
.-= coffeejitters (Judy Haley)´s last blog ..Blog Action Day 2009 – Climate Change =-.
At one point I had a butt on me – its a familiar story of how it happened and we all know a variant on it, so I won’t bore you with it, but I can tell you how I got rid of it. Two things.
1. Cut out all the treats. All of them (it helped that we were stony, stony, stony broke for a little while and could no longer afford things like potato chips *sob* or bourbon! – yes, gasp in horror, I did!)
2. Go for a walk each day. Put the kids in a pram – instead of paying for a gym membership, invest in a double pram. I’ll give you weight bearing exercise! You try pushing two kids in a pram around as many blocks as you can bear to do everyday that the weather is fitting and you’ll lose weight like I did! Make it an adventure for the kids. “Let’s see how fast we can go, guys!”
Worked for me, and you get the wet days off, because you really can’t justify taking the kids out in the rain
Worked for me – worth a shot
I can tell you a few things…those 5:30 a.m. workouts feel great until about 10 when you start to die….and everytime I brought my kids to the gym they got sick. I know what you mean though….I feel like if I don’t do something now while I’m young….I’m going to wake up tomorrow and be 40 with an unrecognizable body that I LET GO.
My “Nae, bar” list is just the same as yours.
The only thing I can manage to do is to walk the mall on my lunch hours. Except now that I work part-time, my lunch hour got cut from 60 to 30 minutes–which means I only manage to walk about 20 minutes given drive time and ambling-through-TCP time. And then I only manage to do it about once a week since every other day I end up having to go to the grocery store…. Ugh.
I have managed to take a couple really, really long walks on the weekends here lately. And I’m trying to gear myself up to keep at it DESPITE the nasty, nasty cold weather that’s on its way.
Good luck to ALL of us!
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..What day is it? =-.
I hate to say this but I love to exercise
well, maybe not the actual act of doing it but the way it makes me feel after. But even so, it took me 2.5 YEARS after the birth of my daughter to get back to it (and joined WW at the same time). So…I get up at 4:30AM to be at the Y by 5am. I run 3x/week there, do weights 2x, and run 1x/on the weekend. How do I do it? This go ’round (since Jan) I have a “no excuses” policy. I go to the gym every day. I do not allow myself to bargain myself out of it. I tell myself that if I REALLY don’t want to work out when I get there I will allow myself to sleep in the middle of the weight room…but I AM going.
What about a treadmill and some free weights for home???
It’s SO darned hard to find the time and motivation but I bet it’ll make you feel GREAT.
weight watchers online is what finally worked for me after 2 kids. eff working out.
.-= MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Lazy or Practical? …You Decide. =-.
I used to be really good about working out. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. Then I did a round of IVF and during the two week wait I was told not to exercise. We found out it failed and I headed back to the gym … three times. Then my right lung collapsed. After I got out of the hospital I was told no exercising for 6 weeks. Then I did another round of IVF and this time it worked so ne exercise for 8 weeks. Then I started to have some bleeding and my doctor said no exercising until I’ve been bleed free for 6 weeks and until I’ve gained back some of the weight I lost to morning sickness. That will put me at about 18 weeks pregnant before I can work out. That’s all fine and good but my ob has already warned me he’s going to put me on restricted activity at around 24 weeks since I’m pregnant with twins.
Part of me feels like it would be really good for me to get to the gym and swim some laps but since these are not my babies (it’s a surrogate pregnancy) I feel like I have to follow the ob’s instructions to the letter and not take the risk.
I guess the whole point of this novel-like comment is to tell you I think fear of bear attack is a very good reason for not working out.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Speaking of large and in charge… =-.
Had a gym membership for a year that my husband made me cancel because I went maybe four times. He wouldn’t let me put the kid in the kids club because we don’t know those people (fair enough) so the only time I could go was after he was home and the kid was in bed – at 7:30pm. Right. Obviously that plan didn’t work out so well.
.-= Mama Bub´s last blog ..Could it be? =-.
Sadly, I hear every word you are saying. I have been doing the South Beach thing for the past month or so. It has been working. I’m eating a cookie now. So I guess, it hasn’t been going as well planned. And the gym membership that I Don’t Use, is about to expire. I just think more money to buy bigger clothes. So you figure this one out & be sure to tell me. Or… we can get fat & happy together. Wanna move back???
.-= Heidi´s last blog ..Help I’ve fallen…. you know the rest =-.
This was me just over 3 weeks ago. It was either buy bigger jeans or get off my ass.
I looked hard and long at my lifestyle…and realized that if I cut my daily coffee habit and a few unnecessary extras out of the budget, I could find money for a gym membership. Then I convinced myself that the gym is has no worse germs than school for my kids.
I’ve been going to yoga and pilates for 3 weeks…and I’m feeling WAY better. My skinny-ish jeans fit me again. Not the pre-babies jeans, but the pre-last baby jeans.
Don’t beat yourself up too much…you’ll make it a priority and figure out a way when you’re ready.
.-= Ashlie- Mommycosm´s last blog ..My little diva =-.
The only thing that has worked for me is to get a Wii Fit and make myself use the damn thing after everybody else has gone to bed. It’s not the most vigorous of exercise, but at 11:00 at night, it’s the best that I’m going to be able to do and there simply is no way to squeeze something else in any earlier in the day.
.-= Burgh Baby´s last blog ..That Suggestion Sure is Mean =-.
as a fellow- “sick of my fat ass ” club member,..I keep a food journal and have started the couch to 5 k running thing,…the trippy trance music is killing me- and I thankfully found a hip hop and R&B version,….so,..now that I have gotten started AND WAS FEELING GOOD,.. I go an twist my freaking ankle,..now I am back t wii fit and wii active,…..*sigh* then back to running at home.
good luck- I feel your pain.
I could have written this post. Actually I wrote a similar one a few weeks ago. After having my second with nursing and exercising religiously I got down to a size 4 and just this summer I have put on a lot of weight and needless to say, I am not a size 4 anymore.
Kids just drain me and I have been down right LAZY. I admit it!
Good luck!
.-= Cortney @ evanhaslanded´s last blog ..Milestone – First Steps =-.
When I am being good, I exercise while the kids nap. But I must admit that I hate to spend my 90 min of free kid time doing the Shred (I intensely dislike Jillian).
My excuse is that my husband works at a night and I have a crazy 3 year old to take care of (almost 3). I work during the day, get home about 5:30, cook dinner, play with the kid, try to get him asleep, play with him some more, come on here and blog while he plays and procrastinates, and then he finally falls asleep and so do I. Getting up early after all that? Ha. Yeah right.
Chronic pain that I swear will never go away, making it impossible for me to use my right (dominant) arm to bear weight or lift weights.
And lazy.
.-= patois´s last blog ..Scholastic Book Fairs Anti-Vampire =-.
I was a runner before having back-to-back babies and had a really hard time getting back into it consistently. If I had free time, I’d be asleep within seconds.
But after my youngest turned one (they’re now 18 mos. and 30 mos.), I started getting out a few times a week–with almost as much time spent planning as running. Running is great because you don’t have to be out all that long to get some benefits. If all I can squeeze in is 10 minutes some days, so be it. I still feel a little better when I get home.
Just keep trying to find something that you like. Maybe a class that doesn’t require a gym membership–or a free trial to get you going? Good luck!
I am struggling to find time to exercise. I work 40 hours a week and spend about 60 hours a week studying or at school. Other than that I can hardly even stand up.
I keep saying I’m going to start the gym tomorrow, but so far, no dice. But I am definitely open to suggestions!
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..Graces =-.
i don’t exercise at all. i mean, i even drive to the bus-stop to pick up my kids. there is no excuse. i went back to work last year, but that’s just 20 hours a week. lame excuse. my sister works, works out, and teaches yoga. oh well.
.-= Anna See´s last blog ..Put Through the Wringer =-.
What about a babysitter? I know it’s not easy to find a babysitter that you trust, but is there a teenager in the neighborhood that could come over in the late afternoon so you could go to the gym? Or just go for a walk or run if the weather allows? You have to make YOU a priority, which is really, really hard for most moms. I know, ’cause I’m one of them. I actually hate to exercise, but not only is it a health issue (I’ll look better and feel better and live longer), but it’s also something I want my kids to see me doing. Another option if you find a babysitter is Curves. It’s good because you can go any time during the day (you don’t have to be on time for a class), it only takes 30 minutes, and you only need to commit to 3 times a week. Twice during the week, and once on the weekend. It’s not the most involved workout, but I got results in a short period of time when I did it. Just a thought! Good luck.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Phone Photo Friday =-.