Spaghetti and Soup Cans, Exercise?

Working out, exercising, sweating: sometimes I wonder why I do it. It's not like I love it. I just finished Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred". I did complete the entire 30 days, and while I can definitely say that I am in better shape (I can actually tell I am stronger); I don't weigh any less, I still have slight belly pudge (probably never going to go away completely after having 3 children), and my clothes still don't quite fit well (again another kid thing). While it's great I feel healthier working out, right now all I can think about is how much my shoulders and thighs are aching from the workouts from the last two days!

But why do I continue to exercise? Part of it is that I want to be in better shape. I want my husband to find me attractive.  The whole being pregnant and having kids thing was great, until I saw the body I was left with. I hated feeling weak, not having as much energy, and being flabby all over. I love the feeling of being strong and healthy. It brings such confidence.

I know part of why I work out is fear. Fear of getting fat, fear of the mean comments I hear people make to those who are overweight, fear that if I stop that I just won't have the motivation to start again, fear of losing myself.  I hope that reason goes away someday.  So whatever the reason is, I still continue to sweat away day by day trying to 'be healthy'. 

I never tried to purposely exercise until the last couple years. Before that I just did life (track in school, football Sundays, rollerblading, walks). Now it feels so much more difficult to get exercise in my everyday activities. Between wanting to engage with my children when I am home with them, working part-time, cleaning house, dinner, etc., I barely have time for myself. My goal is 30 minutes of exercise at least 5 days a week (and I barely have time for that). I manage by having the kids 'play' with me. I use spaghetti cans for weights (don't have real ones) and they get soup cans (their idea, not mine). They 'play' exercise with me for half the time and then are hanging at my feet the other half. Caleb has been my 'weights' for many an exercise as I heave his 25+ pounds up in the air. ;)  Needless to say I don't have much time to devote to exercise so I make do with what works for me.  Therefore, I am left with Jillian Michaels most days and mall walking with Lois the other days (it makes me sad I can no longer just go outside myself and take a walk. If only I had a triple stroller). Then again, mall walking is my social outing too so I'll take it (and i really do love it)! :)

Caleb 'working out' with soup cans. The girls and Caleb always want to 'play with me' doing exercise . Jillian Michaels Level 2 -30 Day Shred.

Meanwhile, I talk to my students all the time about being happy with who they are, focusing on being healthy and taking care of themselves. Yet I know they buy into the messages of society. So many want to be skinny, pretty, and popular. Quite frankly I can understand all of those reasons: part of me still wants to well liked, pretty, and have a nice body. It makes me think about what messages I am sending to my own kids. I want them to be healthy. I want them to take care of themselves. But I don't want them to be stuck up or vain. I don't want them to obsess over how they look or their body. I pray they are getting the message of being healthy and taking care of themselves; being young girls and boys, precious, beautiful, and made in the very image of God.


So anyways, never mind this post. It's just the ramblings of a very sore, tired woman who is now enjoying a piece of that dark chocolate candy bar that has been calling my name all day. ;)

Follow up: This article about speaking to little girls hit close to home. While I will still tell my girls all the time how beautiful they are, the idea of focusing and modeling how to be a smart, intelligent woman spoke truth.  See link to article below.
Don't dumb girls down