Last week I signed up for another 2 months of bootcamp. Yay! I have to give a big thanks to all my food and fitness blogger friends out there for motivating me. Your motivation was much needed in making this change for the better.
Before I started bootcamp I considered myself pretty active, little kids are exhausting, but I wasn’t in good shape, at all! From the time I became a Mom 4 ½ years ago I went in and out of regular exercise being a part of my life. I had my stints of being dedicated to home workouts but they never lasted long.
Pre-children I was much better at motivating myself to exercise. It wasn’t perfect and I definitely went through ruts, but when I wanted to do it I could get myself going. After having kids my whole world changed. It basically flipped upside down. Everything I knew and all the wisdom I thought I had about parenting pretty much went out the window. You have to work hard to flip your life right side up again, but you pretty much catapult into a different universe of existence all together.
The Mom version of me needed much more motivation to exercise than the pre-mom me. Having a family is e-x-h-a-u-s-t-i-n-g!! You are taking care of people All. The. Time. For that very same reason with all of yourself that you are giving it is extremely rewarding, and the love is incredible!
As burnt out as I get daily, I have recently really truly started to understand how important my health is. You get one shot. Things starting happening that I never experienced before. My knees got sore, and instead of going away overnight, it lasted longer. I’m finally getting it through my head that taking care of my body is essential to living a long, healthy and happy life.
Bootcamp (and the name is much scarier than it actually is!) has helped me make a commitment to my health. It is prepaid, and at a scheduled time with people who know I’m in the class and know if I don’t show up. It makes it much harder to make excuses not to get there. Honestly, sometimes that is all that gets me there. It is not like every time I go I totally feel like it.
The people in the class inspire me. It is all age groups, sizes, and different levels of athletic ability. The instructor is awesome. She is that perfect balance for me of motivating without annoying the crap out of me. You know how that can happen when you are exercising. It doesn’t take a lot! Possibly I’m jaded from some of those exercise DVDs though.
For all the exercises we do she offers different levels of difficulty so you can start off slow, and work your way up at your own pace, no pressure. When I first started I did almost everything at the beginner’s level. It is amazing how much stronger and in better shape you feel after even one session of 8 classes. I started out in the corner of the room. A place I was happy to be and now unplanned am working my way towards the middle.
New people come in for the very same reason I did. They arrive earlier than me, and like me picked the corner. A place where they felt comfortable starting. I love meeting these people because I know exactly how they are feeling. I was that person in the corner, who involuntarily has slowly moved inward.
The class I take is at a local community center. For anyone interested in taking group fitness classes I highly encourage you to check out community centers in your area. I find the prices are good there compared to alternatives.
The rewards of adding regular exercise to your life are enormous. You have more confidence, feel better about yourself, and have more to give. You feel stronger, like you can accomplish more. You become an even happier you. It just takes getting over the hurdle, and I promise you over time it gets easier. Isn’t that so true with many things in life?
For any locals who would like to consider joining me in the class registration for September is starting now. Shoot me an email if you are interested and I can give you more information on it. I would love to see you there. If you are ready to make a change, I think it is worth trying, and of course you would have me there cheering you on, just like I so badly needed.
From the bottom of my heart, I want you to be the happiest, healthiest YOU that you can be. We have one chance.
With Love,
Wendy Irene
How do you find the motivation and inspiration you are searching for?
Love 2 hear your thoughts in the comments.
