I have been dreading writing this post. Busy with life or busy procrastinating. Maybe I thought that if I didn’t acknowledge it then it wouldn’t end. But it did end my weekly training sessions with Stuart from Fitness On The Go are over. No more squatting stair jumps or twisty push ups. So it is kind of odd that even though I don’t have anyone telling me to exercise I still crave the burn. I am voluntarily subjecting myself to new and interesting workout classes and still finding time to spin and run. I guess when you make exercise a priority for so many months it becomes a habit that is difficult to break. Not that I am complaining…this is exactly what I needed. I wanted to change my thinking, change my actions and change my BODY.
When I entered the lobby at the Fairmont Pacific Rim it was like walking into an opulent modern palace. The walls and Floors are draped with Carerra marble and custom millwork. The glass chandeliers hang above a bar and lounge that I would love to be seen in. I was directed to the elevators. It was only 5 floors up to heaven…oops I mean the Willow Stream Spa.
SunRun Fun: I had always desired to run the sun run but life seemed to get in the way. First shift work jobs then, basketball belly followed by bottle refusing babies kept me from my goal. So when M was born I was determined to make a change. Long before I typed my best excuse for not working out on the Urbanmommies website I signed up for this years SunRun training program. Nike supplied the shoes, Fitness On the Go enabled me with no excuse cross training and I supplied the will power and enthusiasm.
Of course, UrbanMommies is the quintessential online Mommy magazine in Canada, but we know that, well, you don’t always have internet (or your spouse sometimes gets peeved with the laptop-in-bed thing). There are some great parenting magazines / publications out there, and each has something different to offer. Paper magazines are fun – so we thought we’d share our favourites:
Pencil Me In: Every Body has its flaw. All my life I have felt my thighs were my downfall. Overdeveloped and cellulite ridden, pants would be tight in the thighs and loose in the waist. Skirts had to be A-line to disguise the bulge in my figure. Years of dancing had left my legs strong but left me with unwanted width.
I took my girls to the beach this weekend. It was a chance to reconnect and recharge from the insanity that goes along with selling your house. L needed a break from me hounding her about tidying her puzzle pieces and I needed a break from artfully staging dish soap and books.
With the help of my Mom and Auntie babysitting I was able to go for my most challenging training run to date. For 60 minutes I ran with the sweet smelling ocean wind pushing on my chest. Nature made resistance training at its best. Somewhere in the middle I took a one minute walk break but at this point the break is needed more mentally than physically. My pace was brisk at the start and a toddler could have passed me near the end. But I kept on moving. When my mind started to drift to thoughts of walking I would remind myself that if I could run this then the Sun Run would be a cinch.
Sleepy Sundays… It is mornings like these that I wish I were still a couch potato. It is Sunday morning and time for my regular training run. I look forward to running with my group. It is usually my most challenging run of the week but it seems painless when running with interesting people and doing one of my favorite things, talking.
Exercise is my drug of choice. My withdrawal symptoms include extreme crankiness, a short fuse and waves of resentment. When I get my fix I feel euphoric, confident and proud. I have never been one to consume caffeine. I drink decaf herbal teas and a lot of water. Peer pressure has always had an opposite effect on me. As a result I have never smoked….anything. Shopping serves its purpose but I prefer sewing presents over buying them. For years I have felt like a misfit for the lack of addiction in my life.
Make it work: You got an excuse? I have a solution! MAKE IT WORK
My last few weeks have been filled with its fair share of hiccups. I lost a wonderful uncle to cancer, decided to get our place ready for sale, entertained out of town house guests, and battled a stomach bug outbreak. These are just the things that my mommy brain can remember at this moment. Life is unpredictable at the best of times. I would get nothing completed beyond changing poopy diapers and pouring cheerios if I didn’t attempt to make the best out of my circumstances. Most women I know are lucky to fit a shower in to their day, let alone a workout. Despite the chaos I made a lot of effort to continue with my workouts…and here is how I did it.
Ode to my Saggy Underwear: Gone are the days of invisible panty lines and French lace thongs. Or are they? Becoming a mom moved matching or even coordinating panty sets pretty far down my priority list. I not only stopped caring but I also stopped fitting all of my alluring underwear. That combined with more trips to WalMart then La Senza my drawers are now filled with the 100% cotton and comfort of Fruit of the Loom instead of its previously inhabited lacy counterpart.