Does exercise help anxiety? It’s helped me but remember I’m not a professional so if you are struggling please contact a professional.
How my anxiety started.
About three years ago I had my first anxiety attack. I had no idea what it was, I was on the train heading home from an evening of enjoying art at the MoMA and I started to feel hot so I took my coat off, my heart was racing my breath short and everything around me got dark. I felt faint and did something I never did before, asked the person sitting in front of me if I could sit because I felt sick. I remember feeling as if there was no air in the train car and I couldn’t wait until the doors opened again to get out. I didn’t know what it was but when it started happening more frequently after my husband and I got stuck on an elevator I realized that it was anxiety.
Therapy.
I’ll be brave enough to say that I’ve been dealing with much more stress than I’d like to in my thirties. I have so much to be thankful for but like everyone else, I have things that are out of my control. I started seeing a therapist shortly after my first anxiety attack and she gave me tools to help me through them but sometimes those tools just weren’t enough.
My worst anxiety attack and the turning point.
A few months ago while my husband was out of town, I went to my kids’ school to bring them lunch and as I drove up, I noticed emergency vehicles all around the school. I had one of the worst anxiety attacks that day. With all of the bad news, we are inundated with daily, it’s a sight that triggered my worst fears (thankfully, they had gone to the building next door for a ceremony). That was when I determined that I needed to do better.
Exercise reduced my anxiety.
I started exercising when the weather warmed up in the spring, at first it was sporadic but when I started to feel better less stress and anxiety especially as my workouts intensified I started to make it a regular part of my routine. By the end of the summer, I started to notice a difference in my overall wellbeing. My stress level and triggers haven’t changed but my body’s physical response to it did.
Intense workouts helped my anxiety better.
Stress literally feels like carrying around a few extra pounds for me. I can feel it, it’s hard to explain but working out especially intensely helps reduce that feeling. I think that the more intense my workout is, the more I have to focus on it and that really helps me to focus on and be present.
Working out in the morning before anxiety sets in helps me.
I do think that whenever I workout before I do anything else in the morning it’s better for me because I don’t get the chance to get anxious about anything. When I can’t start my day with exercise it’s sometimes hard to get rid of the feeling or when anxiety sets in, it sucks my physical energy and I can’t even get to the gym or outdoors.
Do you struggle with anxiety too? Have you tried using exercise as a tool to help your anxiety?
How I got back into a Consistent workout Routine. A few things I did to jumpstart a daily exercising habit.
After having my first two children I got into a consistent workout routine quickly. I picked up Zumba which was new at the time when I had my oldest and even did Shaun T’s Beachbody workouts. It also helped that breastfeeding seemed to burn off all the extra pounds. With my son, I did lots of YouTube video exercises from the time my doctor cleared me and ran as often as I could. I was serious about working out and on the bandwagon.
After the third baby though, I’ve been on the struggle bus. I think I’ve been really transparent here with all of my efforts to get serious about working out and my overall wellness. I’m happy to share that I’m finally getting serious and back on the bandwagon. Honestly, it feels really good and while I’m a bit scared about how I will maintain this routine with the kids going back to school in a few weeks and our schedules changing up completely again, I wanted to share a few of the things that’s helped me to get into a consistent exercise routine again.
Dressing for it.
After my morning shower instead of slipping into a cute summer outfit for the day, I wear my workout clothes. This is a reminder to myself of my plan to work out and I usually feel really silly if I wear it all day without working out at all.
Dropping everything to workout.
It’s all about priorities! Yes, I have deadlines, need to fold laundry and cook dinner but if I keep focusing on all of the things that I need to do I would never workout. Plus, I feel so much better and energized to knock everything off my list when I’m done.
Do it daily while establishing a routine.
So this might be an unpopular opinion but it’s something that works better for me at this age and stage of my life. I need to work out on a daily basis, some days my workouts are shorter than others but just getting it done daily whether it’s strength training at home or running helps me to stay in the groove. Maybe once I feel more confident in this routine, I can start taking days off.
Join a challenge.
A challenge is a great way to get into a serious workout routine because doing it with others keeps us all motivated. After having my son, I did a plank challenge on Instagram and it really kept me motivated. My friend Nellie at Brooklyn Active Mama frequently hosts fitness challenges.
Follow other moms who get it done.
I follow so many amazing moms on Instagram and I love seeing how they fit exercise into their days. Three moms who really inspired me to get back to working out are lifeasajewel and ahesawreck (they host a running group in Prospect Park if you’re in NYC) and my girl Fallon of casadefallon.
Exercise with your kids.
I prefer to work out by myself, it’s a good time to clear my head but sometimes I have no option but to exercise with my children. They all love mimicking anything that I do so it works for us. They have fun and I get my workout in.
How did you get into a consistent workout routine?
13 ways to improve your wellness routine as a working Mom.
Why is taking care of others so much easier than taking care of ourselves? I try to remind myself that I need to care for myself the way that I care for my three children. I cater to their every need and sometimes that leaves me with no energy for myself. That’s why I’ve focused over the last few years on I focus on a realistic wellness routine for moms like myself. I shared some of my self-care rituals earlier this year and now I want to share a realistic wellness routine for busy working moms. Here are a few things we can implement into our lifestyle to improve the quality of our bodies, mind and overall wellbeing.
Movement aka Exercise
Last night, I attended an event here in New York City where Tonya Lewis Lee, the executive producer of She’s Gotta Have It spoke on wellness, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. She shared with us that she has focused on making her body “army fit” by exercising four days a week (don’t worry even she falls off the bandwagon at times when life gets busy) but one thing that struck out to me was her explaining that even when her children were little and needed more of her she prioritized taking care of herself so she could take care of them and be physically strong enough to pursue her goals full force once they were older. She suggested that we make small lifestyle changes like going for a walk instead of going out to eat or drink.
I stretch daily and exercise around twice a week these days, I would like to get up to three or four days a week because I feel so much more confident, happier and strongest when I’m exercising regularly.
Meditation
I love meditating! You might have remembered me taking my first meditation class back in September and since then I’ve done a few more and meditate on my own almost daily. It really centers me and I can literally feel the stress leaving my body when I do it. My favorite meditation that I’ve tried so far is sound meditation and I even did a sound bath that at an event my friend curated late last year.
Establish Boundaries.
The first time I heard of boundaries as a wellness tool was listening to the Hey Girl podcast. I can’t recall the exact episode but it made so much sense to me immediately. Everyone doesn’t deserve to be given access to our entire life. Creating boundaries helps us to feel safer and to protect our energy which is really important. When I was younger, I would cut people out of my life but as I’ve matured I realized that is toxic and doesn’t end problems or the stress. I can just create boundaries in our relationship. Once you establish boundaries your days will be less stressful.
Create a preventative plan.
Taking time to learn our family’s health history and then creating a preventative plan to protect our bodies is important. For instance, both of my maternal grandparents had diabetes and I had gestational diabetes while pregnant with my oldest child. I learned that chia seeds can control blood sugar so I started adding it to my water an smoothies. I also using moringa regularly which protects our bodies from a long list of diseases.
Journal or video journal.
Whether you write or video journal (I do both), getting your thoughts out of your head is really important and should be part of your daily wellness routine. When you start feeling yucky feelings like envy and anger get it out of your body immediately. Try to determine why you’re feeling that way and how you could change your life so you don’t experience that feeling again. A few years ago, if I ever felt gross after gossiping I would close my eyes and visualize myself asking the person to forgive me. Doing this always helps me to immediately clear my energy whenever I’m in that situation.
Drink Water and mind your business.
Minding your business will cut down on jealousy feelings and gossiping and will help you to achieve your goals fast plus you will have more time to drink more water and be healthier.
Therapy.
We all have crap that we need to work through whether it’s from our childhood, relationships, career etc. the best way to not have it affect our health in the long term is to address it all through therapy. As many of you know I’ve been to therapy before and I am a big advocate for mental health care since it’s just as important and our physical health.
Use your time wisely.
Social media could suck us in for hours but using our time to bond with our loved ones is much better for our wellness. I know this is weird coming from a blogger since social media is how I connect and share my journey with my community but it’s important to connect intentionally and then log off. Instagram now gives you the option to get an alert when you’re on the app for over a certain period of time that you can select and some smartphones track your social media usage which is helpful.
Have a spiritual practice.
Whether you participate in religion or not, you need to have a daily spiritual practice that you can use to center yourself. Personally, I pray every morning which makes me feel good.
Join a likeminded tribe.
Hanging out with people with similar interests and goals would make you feel energized on a daily basis. Having friends who you can try new yoga classes with or who can share healthy recipes will make your wellness journey a little easier.
Listen to your body.
The fascinating thing about our bodies is that they let us know exactly what they need when we’re listening. If your body is tired then sleep if your body craving greens eat them if your body needs to move then dance or exercise. Also, when you body is ill, get the best care you can for it.
Keep track of triggers.
We all would prefer not to remember any of our past traumas, but we usually get triggered when we least expect it with many times not realizing what the trigger is. Determining what our triggers are can be helpful for us to avoid them. Write down a list of possible triggers and then avoid them as much as you can. Maybe even tell your close friends and family so they can help.
Be honest with yourself about your energy.
The fact that many people seem to not realize they have negative energy (or they are the negative energy) shows how unaware many of us are of negativity in our lives. Be honest with yourself so you can make your energy brighter, clearer and improve yourself in the process.
How have you done to improve your wellness routine?
Thank you Nokia for sponsoring this post. Visit the Nokia Body+ site for more info and start the new year off right!
I mentioned a few weeks ago about my husband’s hospitalization last month. It was a scary time and I felt physically, emotionally and mentally depleted as a wife and especially as a mother of three with a newborn baby. If you’ve ever been a caregiver for someone who is ill you know how challenging that is and while I celebrate the fact that I was strong enough to keep us all from falling apart during that time, I have to share the types of thoughts I was having. See this was my second time that someone close to me was hospitalized and both times I found myself confronting my own self-care and wellness approach. Nothing forces you to confront your own shortcomings more than seeing someone you care for suffering. I’m lucky enough to have three amazing kids and I want to not just be around for them but to be healthy and enjoy life with them as they grow into adults and that would require me making self-care and wellness a priority.
Listen, it’s much easier said than done. Years ago, I had a great routine and ate super clean and remained very active. Once I fell off that routine, I’ve struggled to get back on it consistently but I’ve never stopped trying. I’m now a mom of three and it’s important now more than ever to set a good example for my children of a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, although I haven’t been as good as I once was I’m healthy based on a physical I did a few weeks ago at my doctor’s office and I want to maintain a clean bill of health. Dieting isn’t an option for me at this time as I’m still breastfeeding but I think that gives me the opportunity to make small changes that can become part of my lifestyle. Here are a few ways I plan to make wellness a priority:
Monitor my Weight to Learn about my Body.
In my late 20s, I monitored my weight checking it several times a week and recording the numbers in a notebook. Then after I had my first child I discovered the MyFitnessPal app and started using it to track weight, calories consumed and exercise. That’s been cool but Nokia Body+ scale is a complete game changer for me. It’s a combination of all of the above thanks to the accompanying app called Health Mate that’s available on Google and iOS. What I love about this app is that it tells you everything from my weight, muscle mass, BMI because it automatically syncs with the Body+ scale. I’ve been able to get all of my overall data including physical activity, sleep, weight, trends, track progress so I can improve over time. The best part it syncs with other apps including my beloved MyFitnessPal. So far I’ve been tracking my post-pregnancy weight-loss and my BMI is slightly 26.6 which is slightly high so my goal is to get it below 25 in a healthy range.
I do wish I had gotten this scale during my pregnancy because there is Pregnancy Mode that includes tips for health prenatal weight gain. Our entire family is taking advantage of this app though and since I’m able to create profiles for each of the kids and the baby in Baby Mode it’s going to make pediatrician visits a lot simpler.
Try new Classes.
I don’t think wellness needs to be boring or redundant it’s important for me to have fun and mix things up. I’ve tried indoor cycling and rock climbing and I plan to try trap yoga, West Indian dancing, and Barre class this year.
More Video Journaling.
I was doing some digital decluttering this weekend and I came across some of my video journal clips from a few years ago. It was incredible because I was able to learn so much more about myself than I do when I read it on paper. I’ve consistently journal most of my life but I stopped video journaling a few years ago and I think it’s a really great way for me to get out thoughts and feelings. There is something about saying it out loud that’s therapeutic.
Kicking my Clean Eating, Dirty Snacking Habit.
The hardest of all will be kicking what my husband teases me about most my “clean eating, dirty snacking” habit. My main meals are usually healthy but I could go HAM on a bag of chips or sleeve of cookies when snacking. I’m not proud of that but it’s true and it’s a huge struggle for me because my self-control is really sad and I do not live alone but I’m hoping that once I start making all of these small changes my family will be influenced and avoid junk too. My daughter already stopped drinking juice at school on the days I would give her and she brings only water these days.
How are you making wellness a priority?
Get 10% off at the Nokia Health store through December 1, 2018 here with this code: NEWYOU-XKY-F9P
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I’m not the get on the phone and chat kind of girl but I love to text. One of my closest friends is the same way, we go back and forth with text messages and we crack each other up so hard that anyone around us immediately wants to know what’s so funny. The best text I got from her this week was on Monday when I sent her a photo of myself in workout gear and my gym bag. She wasn’t surprised that I procrastinated until the week before traveling next week to start exercising but she was surprised at the size of my bag.
This is how the hilarious text thread went:
Me: Sorry, I was MIA went out to exercise (sends photo above).
Her: Wow! That bag is big did you bring it for your kids to nap in? LOL
Me: Very funny!
Her: No seriously! Why is that bag so big? Is there a pizza in there?
Me: I’m choking…you’re hilarious!
So what’s really in my gym bag? Well, let’s see.
Hair ties
Makeup bag
Baking Soda (keep odor at bay)
Coconut water
Sunglasses
Towels
Phone and headphones
Magazine
Cottonelle® Flushable Cleansing Cloths.
The true reason for the big bag is that I like to switch things up between running jogging the local track or going to the gym. When I run the track, I like to walk with everything that I need because I hate feeling uncomfortable. Talking about comfort, I’ve been loving Cottonelle® with CleanRipple® Texture lately and we’ve been using it at our home. Cottonelle® with CleanRipple® Texture is designed to clean better, so you’re clean & confident enough to go commando. The flushable cleansing cloths are perfect for when you’re on the move and want to feel clean and confident.
Oh, and no! They isn’t a pizza in my bag or any food for that matter LOL but I wouldn’t pretend that I’ve never thought about it.
GIVEAWAY
Looking to kickstart your workout routine? Enter to win these “Fitness Must Haves”! The last day to enter is 11:59 p.m. on October 28, 2016.
Prizes:
Up to 20 Cottonelle® Fitness Must Haves Kit ($50 ARV)
Each kit will include a selection of fabulous fitness “must haves” — Cottonelle® Flushable Cleansing Cloths with CleanRipple® Texture, mascara, lip gloss, dry shampoo, extra hair ties and a plain, black basketball cap.
ps: If you’re in you’re in Miami make sure to check out the Wanderlust 108 Festival sponsored by Cottonelle®, I really wish I was in the area to show up with my HUGE bag LOL.
Now that I’ve shared what’s in my gym bag, I want to know what’s in yours?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EssentialVitamins#CollectiveBias
It’s not even officially summer yet and I am high off of all the extra sunlight I’ve been enjoying. Yesterday, our little family went to the beach for the first time this season and we had a really good time. Those of you who follow us on Snapchat know that we’re all about getting out and having fun but I’ve had some days when my energy just wasn’t there and I was far from fun mom. I wanted to share 5 energy boosting hacks that I use especially during the summer.
1. Exercise
So those of you who follow me on Snapchat know that I LOVE to brag about my energy boost from my early morning workouts. This is the top of the list for good reason. It works, works, works! These days I wake up at 5am and hit the gym and I leave feeling energized and stress-free. Even if I do a light workout my day is off to a great start but the days when I get intense, where I really push myself are when I feel like superwoman. It seems like it would be a better idea to stay in and sleep but what’s best is to get out and exercise. Now, if you’re thinking there is no way you would do that or that you’re able to logistically pull a 5am workout off you can exercise at any time. Whenever I don’t make it to the gym, I like to go for a run and do some outdoor exercises while the kids play. Other ideas include going to yoga, Zumba, CrossFit, pilates or cycling. I shared a realistic few ways moms can incorporate exercise in daily life here.
2. Peppermint Oil
I was introduced to Essential oils a few years ago by a wonderful woman who conducted a retreat at my old workplace. She was one of the most radiant people that I ever met and I was drawn to her aura. She thought us so many things that day that shifted my approach to life including using peppermint oil to invigorate my body. I’ve been using it for almost 5 years now and it was a lifesaver especially in those early days when I was caring for a newborn and toddler.
3. Multivitamins
Last fall, I shared that I was using Vitamints and I’m still a fan. I recently picked up the new Raspberry Vitamints and Centrum Multigummies which my kids thought was for them at Walgreens. I had to remind them quickly that moms can have fun and yummy vitamins too. The packaging for the Vitamins is so cute and really perfect for us moms who are the go as it’s easy to toss in your bag. Walgreens will be making a donation to Vitamin Angels with every vitamin purchased at their stores with the “Get Vitamins Here. Change Lives Everywhere” campaign which will help families in need get vitamins. I know we’ve all been thorugh those sad days of taking horse pill prenatals so it’s such a treat to have multivitamins that taste like a treat.
4. Write down what makes you incredible.
Raspberry Vitamints, something was really bothering me and that usually makes me feel drained and lose my energy but instead of accepting the worry I decided to pull out my Hello Sunshine journal (just seeing it perked me up). I wrote down all the ways that I could tackle the issue that was bothering me and all the reasons that I have everything it takes to deal with it.
5. Take a cold shower.
I don’t know many people who like cold showers including myself but they are tons of benefits to having a nice cold shower including boosting your energy. It’s something as a mom you don’t have to make any extra time for or get a sitter. Just step into the shower. The cold water would wake you up and leave you feeling happier and energized. Trust me just try it one time.
How do you boost your energy?
PS: These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
[Tweet “Moms here are 3 ways to make time for exercise”]
I really should title this post “I’m trying my best to be more consistent’ this could very well be a journal entry but I’ve learned a few lessons that I think are worth sharing. We’re all in this together so why not share the love of what works for me?
The past three weeks, I’ve had more energy than I’ve had all year long and it’s making a huge difference in my life. My first few years as a mother, I was really fit and healthy but the past year and a half have been a struggle. I want to be consistent, not just for vanity but as I mentioned earlier this year I am having a little battle with high cholesterol which I have been fighting with my diet. Anyway, I spend the majority of my time with my kids and between caring for them and the other 2 million mommy things I have to get done, I’ve managed to squeeze in exercise at least 3 times for the past few weeks. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
1.Wake up early to exercise. {Most effective}
The only way that I can guarantee that I can get an intense workout as a mom is to wake up before my family to exercise. Whether it’s to do a quick HIIT at home or hit the gym, this gets me all pumped up for the day. I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of heading outside at 5am when it’s cold but this week I did and as I shared on Snapchat the endorphin high after my workout was well worth braving the cold.
2. Exercise with your kids.
Waking up early daily is just not realistic. My day sets off really good and I love how energetic I am but I usually crash the next morning. On days when I just can get myself out of bed, I like to make playtime with the kids exercise time for myself. Kids love competition so making a challenge out of your workout is a sure way to get them invested. My daughter and I do jump rope challenges or races. It’s fun and I actually feel the burn when we’re finished. If your kids are babies or toddlers you can set them down with toys while you do a workout DVD or have them hang out in their stroller, talking about strollers you can always invest in a jogging stroller.
3. Walk more.
I love to walk, that’s one of the perks of living in New York City. I always discover new cool things and sights when I walk and it gives me the best feeling. What’s awesome is that it doesn’t even feel like I am exercising. One of my favorite things to do with my little family is to go for an evening walk after dinner. Walking is a great way to exercise when you’re not in the mood to exercise.
That’s three ways that I manage to exercise as a busy mom. What are your secrets?
Today, we have a guest post by Amelia Luz Estrella of Rez Beauty Fit. Amelia is a wife and mom of three who did a mind-blowing body transformation by losing 120 pounds. She shared that journey here! Recently, Amelia had another baby she’s back to share some weight loss tips for new moms.
Hello, loves! My name is Amelia and I am the mother of 3 boys ages 8 months, 4-years-old and 5-years-old. We all know how hard it could be to lose “the baby weight”. My first 2 boys are 10 months apart and after having my second son, I was weighing close to 300lbs!
I said to myself “enough his enough” and I took action. With discipline, hard work, tears, sweat, clean eating and exercise I lost 120 pounds and maintained the weight loss for 3 years. Within the third year, I found out that I was pregnant with baby #3. I was not only nervous about having 3 kids, I was also nervous about pregnancy weight gain. Luckily during my first transformation, the biggest thing that I learned was how to live a balanced life — as far as my fitness and health. So with my third pregnancy, I did the best that I could to stay active and fit. Each pregnancy is different, there are some things that are in our control and other things that are not in our control. All we can do is do the best that we can. During this pregnancy, I suffered severe migraines so some days I could not workout at all.
[Tweet “I was not only nervous about having 3 kids, I was also nervous about pregnancy weight gain.”]
After having my third baby boy, I was ready to get my body and active lifestyle back so again I took action. As soon as I was cleared to workout, I started my regimen with the 21-day fix which I loved for 2 reasons: the workouts were only 25 minutes and it helped me control my food portions. I then started to dance again. It’s all about taking the right steps towards your goal. Even if it’s a small step. Those positive steps to the right direction will eventually add up and all of your hard work and dedication will pay off.
A photo posted by A m e l i a E s t r e l l a? (@rezbeautyfit) on
Here are 5 tips that helped me lose 30 lbs after having baby #3 and will definitely help you lose the baby weight as well:
1. Wear a girdle, postpartum abdominal binder, or compression.
I am Latina and wearing a “Faja” (girdle) in our culture is a big deal! My grandma would always scold me to wear one so I made sure I did. Haha! After having 3 babies, I realized how much wearing one especially right after having a baby has helped. It helped keep my postpartum belly under control, it also helped heal my Diastasis recti (which is the separation of the abdominal muscles).The purpose of wearing a postpartum girdle is to promote healing through compression.
2. Clean up your nutrition.
Eating right plays a huge role in losing the baby weight! Eat six (6) portioned healthy meals a day every 2 -3 hours. This has helped me control my hunger, especially while nursing. Stay away from sweets and processed foods! There is always a better option so choose wisely. Have a cheat meal once a week and enjoy it with no regret! I follow the 80/20 rule which means I eat 80% clean and 20% indulge. It’s ok to indulge once in awhile. Do not think of this as a diet, think of it more as a lifestyle change. Make sure that you have a balance and you’re not feeling so deprived.
A photo posted by A m e l i a E s t r e l l a? (@rezbeautyfit) on
3. Exercise.
Once you get the “Okay” from the doctor and cleared to workout it’s time to start a workout regimen. Start with light exercises and each week as you get stronger do exercises that are a little more challenging. Proper nutrition and exercise go hand in hand.
4. Create a daily schedule.
[Tweet “Schedule in your workout as if it’s your job and if you don’t go you will get fired! “]
We all know that with a brand new baby and sleepless nights it can be so hard to get motivated to workout. Believe me, I know! But I always say where there is a will there is a way. Have no time? Most likely not but that is why we have to MAKE TIME! Schedule in your workout as if it’s your job and if you don’t go you will get fired! Of course, babies are super unpredictable and we will definitely not always be on schedule but we have to make time for ourselves. Even if it’s 10 mins a day, get that workout in! For the first few months, I put my baby in the bassinet while I did a quick workout. If he was fussy, I would put on my boba wrap and do a “babywearing workout” like I said ladies, where there is a will there is a way!
[Tweet “If he was fussy, I would put on my boba wrap and do a “babywearing workout””]
A photo posted by A m e l i a E s t r e l l a? (@rezbeautyfit) on
Creating a vision board brings your goals to life! It creates that visual which in turn becomes motivation. You can make a vision board by finding pictures from magazines, books, the internet or whatever inspires you. Choose words and images that inspire you and makes you feel good! It’s all about vision, purpose, and belief in yourself!
Amelia is also a fitness coach and instructor and helps women on their weight loss journey. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and on YouTube.
How was your experience losing weight after having your baby/babies?
You know what used to annoy me? Women who would post photos of themselves working out or memes on social media with the hashtag #noexcuses. I would always think of all the real reasons some of us moms sometimes have for not working out. The real hashtag for us is #thestruggleisreal. My son, in particular, likes to have mommy’s attention all the time, so whenever I start setting up in the living room for a workout, within a few minutes he would start protesting “No exercise, mama!” There are some days when he would be cooperative and “exercise” with me but on other days he would sit with all the determination he could muster up and chant “No, No, No!”
[Tweet “What would you do more knowing your child is safe?”]
Since getting to the gym consistently isn’t really an option for me at this time, I thought about ways that I could keep him busy while I got a sweat in. Since I realized that he’s mostly upset about being a spectator of my workout I figured that once he wasn’t in the same room he would be fine.
That’s where the new Levana Ovia Video Baby Monitor has come in handy in the past two weeks since it was sent to me. The set up was extremely easy which I was pleased with it in comparison to the complicated instructions of his previous monitor. I’m also able to pan and zoom the camera around the room which is great for following him around without going to look. Another amazing feature is the two-way communication system which makes answering his questions and requests easy. You should have seen his little-bewildered face the first time I spoke to him on the two-way communication system
Once, he’s busy playing with his toys or tablet I use my workout cards to make sure that form is good and do this routine that my friend who is personal trainer sent me, it usually takes me about 10-15 minutes.
I think motherhood is all about being creative especially when it comes to self-care. This monitor has given me a few minutes each day to do something for myself. I would love for you to be able to enjoy that too so I want to encourage you to enter to win one of this Ovia Video Baby Monitor Giftbox for your family.
I’ve never been an athletic girl! Although, I loved sports as a kid, sports never liked me. I was never chosen to compete on a team even though I always wanted to be. Actually, I remember this one time that I was chosen to play on my school’s team and I was super happy. I remember going home and ironing my team’s uniform and really looking forward to my game the next day. Well, that night the coach called to inform me that they found another player and that I would need to return my uniform ASAP. I did what any smart 10 year old would do, I pretended to be sick the next day and stayed at home so I wouldn’t have to return the uniforms. Was it really that serious that they couldn’t of allowed me to play? I doubt it but it definitely bothered me for a long time after. I felt like a weak girl not only physically but also mentally and as the years went by I got further and further away from sports.
[Tweet “Your body is beautiful and strong! You’re a queeen! #RattlesandHeelsGetFit”]
However within the past 5 years, my body has exhibited some impressive strength. From pregnancy to child birth, I started to view my body in a new positive light. So much so, I worked hard to the shed the excess weight I gained during my pregnancies and succeeded.
I did really well sticking to my workout routine for a long time but as soon as I got thrown off my groove, I lost focus and all my hard work reversed. This haven’t happened once, or twice. It’s happened three, four, five times. It’s a struggle but I am confident I can become more consistent if I really get focused.
So here are some of my current goals:
Exercise for at least 20 minutes everyday.
Do exercises that I enjoy.
Find an exercise buddy.
Get outdoors this month.
Find new exciting classes.
Run as often as I can.
Get cute workout clothes.
Say daily healthy affirmations.
I was going to do this challenge privately, but I felt that it would be great for accountability to share it here on the blog. Maybe I can inspire one some you to join in with me so we can do this together and support each other.
Do you exercise? How regularly? What type of exercises?
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