My devotional today got me thinking... (I know - watch out, right?)Who is your thief? Or maybe what is your thief? You know who/what I am talking about. Who/what prevents you from working out, eating healthy, staying motivated, getting that long run in?
I have many thieves... some I love dearly and wouldn't want them to change:
My Children
They do prevent me from putting my fitness first. I spend hours with them and then when it is time for me to do P90X or go for a run, you would think that I had ignored them for 2 years the way the react: "Do you have to run 9 miles today, mom?" whined Kiera last week. It was 7am... all she wanted to do was watch TV prior to me leaving... and now that I was dressed to head out and daddy was ready to take the helm, she laid on the guilt trip - THICK! "You always run and never want to be with me," she continued. My heart sank as I closed the door and headed out but it WAS necessary. I truly believe it makes me a BETTER mom to get away. I come back stinky, but renewed! Ready to tickle and play in sand boxes, and watch her latest dance moves. (BTW: Brock could seem to care less most of the time when I leave, but I think that will change when he starts Kindergarten next year). This wasn't always the case. Can I blame my weight gain entirely on my beautiful gifts from God - no way... but it is a struggle for stay-at-home-mothers and working mothers to put themselves first - sometimes!
EXCUSES
You have them. You make them. They consume you at times.
"I don't have time."
"I'll do it tomorrow."
"I had a rough day."
"One piece of cake won't hurt."
"I'll start tomorrow."
"My family needs me."
"My work needs me."
"I'm too tired."
I could go on. Excuses rob me of my health, of my ability to stand firm. What has changed is that I have come up with answers to my excuses... you know, imagine someone else was giving me these excuses and what would be my response?
"How long does it take you? 30 minutes? You don't have 30 minutes?
"Do it now... not tomorrow."
"Rough day... take it out on the pavement, you"ll feel better"
"How far will you have to run to feel good about eating that piece of cake?"
"Don't start tomorrow -forget what happened earlier and start NOW!"
"You are a better mom, wife, daughter when you take time for yourself!"
"Work can wait... they don't pay you overtime."
"You'll feel less tired after you workout... if not, then be lazy."
It takes work but you can be your biggest motivator.
FOOD
It tastes so good. I love to eat. Every celebration is around food, right? It's your birthday..."let's go out to dinner!" It's Christmas: stuff yourself with all of your mother's food- so Y-U-M-M-Y!! I mean, if I do not eat, I would die, right?
I WILL die if I do not eat the right foods! I have learned what my triggers are and have conquered most of them. Example: I go to bed still at 8:30. Not because I am tired... but because I like to eat while I am watching TV. So, if I go to bed after I put the kids down, I do not eat. Most rational people can control themselves and not eat... or not watch TV... but I can't yet. And besides, when Brock comes in at 5:30 to snuggle... I am not exhausted. I love it... I can enjoy his company because I went to bed at 8:30 (and because I know my little boy won't always want to snuggle with me).
I keep healthy foods to snack on. I buy snacks for the kids that I do not like - so even if I am desperate, I won't eat them - gummies are so NOT appealing to me.
So as you go through your day, week, month, year... what/who are your thieves? And how can you stop them from robbing you of your
HEALTHY life?
17 comments:
Great post!
Time-wise, I really have no excuses not to get my workouts done.
Food-wise, I have a lot of deep-rooted issues which I struggle with constantly. This was a good reminder to continue working through them.
Great post! Excuses become my biggest problem. But, then I turn around and say if I don't know it now, when will I... and I usually end up doing it then.
Great post! My fiance is my thief, so is Grad School, my house oh and lets not forget my 101 excuses. I have 34 days before my wedding and I need to get my ass in gear.
I use a database program to track my workouts offline (because until recently I didn't share all these details with the web-world). That programs tallies everything. I like to remind my family when they complain about the time my running takes that I know exactly how much time it takes which over the course of even my heaviest running months is rarely ever more than an hour a day.
One hour a day to keep myself healthy. 23 hours to give to everything else. You'd think our families would want us to spend a little more time working for our health so we'd be around a little longer?!
I have another thief. The weather.
I've gotta say workout-wise I'm pretty good because I fit the bulk of it in before the kids wake. So I'm spared the whining. And I've slipped so deeply into the vortex, I rarely slack.
My thing is the food. Sometimes I find myself not even craving something but I'll eat it out of habit. I definitely need to be more mindful.
Love this post! :)
Great post!
I hear you on the food thing and I think it's great that you've found a solution that works for you. My food thief time is right after I pick up my oldest from school. He does his homework and I hang out in the kitchen so I'm nearby to help. Because I'm in the kitchen, I end up eating and eating and ... It can be really ugly some days as I snack from then until dinner time. I'm trying to break the habit by sitting at the table with my laptop while he does work. Hopefully needing to actually get up, walk to the kitchen, and find something to eat will help me break the snack habit.
Great post!
Food, food, food.....my health thief is food. I do perfect when I'm on a schedule. Like today, I eat breakfast, 10:30am snack, 12 lunch, 2:30 snack, dinner by 6......but weekends when I have no schedule...or last week when we were on "Spring Break" I'm pretty sure I gained back the 4lbs I lost this year.....for me I have to plan,plan,plan...
Great post! Way to think through your mental motivators and plan your attack. I continue to be happy for your success and excited as you continue to reach your goals and maintain this fantastic lifestyle change.
this really is a terrific post jen! sometimes my fiance is an excuse... i don't get to see him every day so when we are hanging out on the weekends i want to maximize the time we have and i feel guilty going out for a run! (but then i am grumpy if i don't, lol). time is also another excuse for me, but i am working on it. sometimes i try to tell myself i don't have the time but i am working on telling myself - what's 10, 20, 30 minutes? no one said i had to workout for 3 hours here! at least do something!
Ditto - great post.
Even though I would say that I eat really well and try and eat fresh foods as often as I can . . . .eating is probably the major issue that "steals" my motivation / or commitment. It is often too easy to say - well I deserve this - or it is only one of these - or after all - I did go through breast cancer and treatments - so I certainly don't want to deprive myself of this or that. But in the end - it is about making conscience decisions. All of the time.
great post. what devotional book are you using? For me it is food, food, food! working on it.
Great post! Mommy/Spouse guilt is one of mine - they don't make me feel guilty, but I make myself feel guilty for leaving them.
Do you get Runners World? They had a hilarious article from a mom's point of view as she's sneaking out the door in her running shoes and her children are whining and crying in the background. I feel like that all the time. And I agree, it makes us better parents.
good post. you have me thinking....
Hey Jen! I got my girls sauconys from the stride rite outlet. They were like $20 a pair. Hope that helps!
Thanks for asking about Bailey Bear. You are too sweet. We had some issues last week with seizures, but he has been fine ever since. His medicine needed to be tweaked a bit. The vet said he is doing very well for being blind and diabetic.
Great post! My kids are my thieves sometimes too. It IS hard to put yourself first when your little ones want your undivided attention. But, like you, I think it makes me a better mom when I take time for myself.
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