Like anything else, health and fitness have been a journey. And the word, journey, gets used often, but what it means for me is that it’s been really similar to motherhood in some ways. Ironically enough, my health and fitness journey started, right after I became a Mama.
This wellness road I’ve traveled has brought highs and lows, and I think I started with a destination in mind, but what I learned in the process is that there isn’t an end. Health and wellness is a daily ritual and a series of habits and practices, and I’ve had to adapt to find ways for it to work within my life, so that I still feel balanced and at my best. And for me, at least, what worked during one phase of my life didn’t necessarily work in the next, so it’s been a constant evaluation of what health and fitness routines were working not only for me, but for my family in that season of life. And the reality is, everything we do as Mamas, even our self-care, impacts our family, so it’s been trial and error as I navigate what is working for the current lifestyle of my entire family. Mom life, right?
HOW I STARTED
I’ll preface with this…I did not exercise for yearsssss prior to having children.
I was an active basketball player in high school, but it ended there.
I can’t remember what prompted me to start working out during the quarantine of 2020. Initially, I definitely wanted to better my physique, and it was probably a matter of making lemonade out of lemons with the time we had at home. I came across @samiclarke on Instagram who was doing live workouts at the time. I tried one workout, which led to a few more, and before I knew it, I was looking to @samiclarke for any crumble of inspiration she would share in regards to health and fitness.
“Self-care” has become such a buzz word recently, and I love that we all are looking to prioritize it. After having my daughters, I struggled to find what self-care meant for me. I would binge Netflix, set up fancy baths, treat myself to the spa, have a night out with the girls, but before long, I was back to feeling like I needed more or something else to balance the overwhelming demands of day to day life as a working Mama. It wasn’t until I was exercising and eating healthy consistently, that I finally felt like I was taking care of myself in the purest and most sincere form.
HOW I COMMITTED
To be transparent, I was feeling motivated because my commitment and consistency was evident when I looked in the mirror. It became an addiction because I was seeing results. I would even go as far to say that the addiction became obsessive. It started to take up a lot of space in my thoughts, and I felt like I couldn’t relax and be a good Mama or wife until I had gotten my workout in for the day. Because if I hadn’t yet, it created an anxiety…when would I get that uninterrupted time to take care of myself?
When I went back to teaching after quarantine, my work outs were pushed to 9:00pm after the kids went to sleep. I was dedicated! But the purpose of my exercise slowly shifted as a way to take care of myself, to meditate, to release the stresses of the day and show up for myself on that mat at the end of the day. It made me feel better from the inside. I think that’s where fitness took a turn for me. It became a practice of wellness for myself, and that meant it had to integrate into my life in a more seamless way.
I became more flexible with when I would work out, I would accept when I couldn’t, and I started to balance my healthy eating habits with indulgences when I felt like it! Eating became more intuitive. This balance I found is probably another factor that allowed me to realize I could be pregnant again. I could gain the weight. I could love it, feel gratitude for it, and then get back to myself when it was time.
HOW I MAINTAINED
So, here I am, now a Mama of three, and still prioritizing my time and peace on the mat. I’ve grown to accept the weeks where I don’t fit in 5 workouts. I no longer get that anxious feeling if I miss one, and I wonder if the only way to get here is to go through it yourself. It’s a journey, like motherhood, unique to each of us. Still, I maintain a goal to work out 5 times every week, and not because I always feel like it, but because I know how alive my spirit feels after. That feeling is worth it, and she deserves it. My kids deserve it.
TAKEAWAYS:
1. Find a mentor, someone in your life or on social media, whatever, that you can treat as an accountability partner or a coach.
2. Master a few favorite healthy meals and snacks, and make sure to stock them weekly in your house.
3. Don’t rely on current feelings and moods of motivation. Think about who you want to be in the future, and make decisions for her.
I do believe that we are what we consume, and that includes what we watch, what we listen to, who we surround ourselves with, etc. I have started to listen to podcasts from women who prioritize gratitude for what our bodies are capable of, I am working on following social media accounts that prioritize embracing honesty and vulnerability, and I lean into those women who find and give grace in the journey.
I want my daughters to know that I exercise because it makes me feel strong, not because it makes my tummy flatter. I want my daughters to know that I have better energy for my day when I eat a breakfast made of whole foods. And I want my daughters to know that our bodies work miracles, and that isn’t something to shame. We wake up able to breathe, we can do cartwheels and run around the block, we can create and nurture life, and our bodies are warriors for us. And the beautiful thing is…our kids know this. It’s us, the adults, who need the reminder.
If we, Mamas, could see our bodies and ourselves the way we see our children, we would be unstoppable. If we dig deep to find our inner child and choose the words we speak to her, what would we say?
Please share any tips on what works for you in terms of how to build that body confidence in our children or in ourselves.
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If you’re wanting more details on the workouts I do and healthy option ideas or substitutes within a day of eating, keep reading!
MY GO-TO WORKOUTS
–www.joinform.co
Sami sets up a weekly schedule that you can easily follow. Sometimes I’ll browse through the categories and substitute other workouts that fit my mood and goals for the week. Most of her workouts are 35 minutes. I’ll do 35 minutes, 5 times a week. It’s short enough that it feels manageable but long enough to feel effective. And you can modify within each workout or even combine workouts to create a challenge personal for you! I’ll increase or decrease weight where it feels right, throw on ankle weights, or just modify the exercise to something that my body needs. Her 5-minute ab burners are a must-do! Don’t cheat out on those because they deliver results.
-If you check @samiclarke or @form out on Instagram, there’s lots of motivation and wellness tips.
MY GO-TO BREAKFASTS
-Scrambled Eggs and Sourdough Toast
-Overnight Oats (Recipe HERE)
-Chia Seed Pudding (Recipe HERE)
-Avocado or Peanut Butter toast or I’ll substitute a whole grain Rice Cake
-Harmless Harvest Coconut Yogurt with fruit of choice, cinnamon, honey, and granola
MY GO-TO LUNCHES
-Proteinnnnn
MY GO-TO SNACK
-Chocolate Chip Protein Balls (Recipe HERE)
-Chomp Beef Sticks
-Fruit
-Smoothies
MY GO-TO DINNERS
-Instead of a “Taco Salad,” I’ll do Tacos on Sweet Potatoes with all the toppings. It might sound weird, but trust me, try it out. I use a crock pot Shredded Chicken (Recipe HERE), and that works as leftovers for the week.
-Make Your Own Pizza night, but I use these Oggi Pizza Plant-Based Cauliflower Crusts (Link HERE). The kids like them too! I don’t even tell them it’s a cauliflower crust.
-I’ll make the kids pasta, and I’ll also cook Trader Joes’ Cauliflower Gnocchi or Banza Chickpea Pasta for my husband and I.
-Meat Sauce in Zuchinni Boats instead of Spaghetti
-Steak (any protein), Vegetables, Rice
MY GO-TO LATE NIGHT SNACKS
-Pistachio Nuts
-Fruit with a Greek Yogurt, Honey, and Peanut Butter dip
-Dark Chocolate
-Chocolate Baked Oats (Recipe HERE)
-Blondies (Recipe HERE)