June 5, 2007 at 8:38 am
· Filed under Family, Fitness, Health, Reflections
Last week while speaking with a friend, the conversation turned to body image and weight - mine. See, back in the day, before I was married or had 3 kids, I was a pretty fit chick. As a kid I did lots of sports and as a young adult I ran 11 miles every Sunday morning, swam for an hour a few nights a week, rode my bike everywhere and ate pretty healthy. Thirteen years later, I still feel like that same person, but when I look in the mirror I see something different.
From the time I got married, I stopped putting myself and my activities first. Once I had fallen out of the exercise habit, it was one that was extremely hard to restart. There have been “spurts” throughout the years where I have tried to reestablish my habit, but somehow Motherhood has always intervened.
So, my friend has challenged me to come up with a list of 10 reasons why I must now put myself first. Since I know many of my readers are probably in a similar situation, I am sharing this list with all of you.
10. I have run out of excuses.
9. My kids are now old enough to join me on a walk - they can all ride bikes or scooters.
8. My very kind neighbor just gave us a brand new recumbent stationery bike that they salvaged from a house his wife was selling.
7. If I work out I will lose weight and inches which means a good excuse for new clothes - or I can wear some of my old favorites
6. I am ready to throw my perfectionist, all or nothing attitude out the window. Fifteen minutes is better than none - so if that is all I can do one day, then do it!
5. I sleep much better at night when I exercise
4. I will feel better about my body image
3. My heart will be very grateful
2. I have put the rest of my family’s needs first for the past 13 years - now it is my turn
1. Because if I don’t make fitness a priority, no one else will!
I know what to do, how to do it and all that good stuff - my biggest hurdle is making fitness a priority. How about you? What are your biggest obstacles to achieving your goals? Is it time to put yourself first?
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Homemom3 wrote @ June 5th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Love the list and I must agree I need to do this as well. Hmm, maybe I should make a list. I even have an exercise bike and a treadmill in my house, but after last year when my knee gave out I stopped using all of it. I think it is time to get back on them. Thanks for the gentle push forward.
Ingo wrote @ June 5th, 2007 at 10:21 am
“Fortunatelly” my back made fitness a high priority 4 years ago. Today it is just part of my life. I work out 3 times a week in a gym just around the corner of my office for no longer than 40 minutes. I usually drop in after work. In the beginning I had a personal trainer. First I wasn´t sure if I could take the time our program required. But I learned that I had no choice so actually It was not a matter of “making” fitness a priority.
Getting started is the hardest step of all- so take good care to really get rid off the all-or-nothing-attitude when it comes to fitness. Move, try to drink half a gallon water a day and eat conscious. Thats easy to do and a good start. You named 10 very good reasons why fitness must be your number 1 priority. It´s all about YOUR health. Is there any better reason?
Come on Char - go for it!
Char wrote @ June 5th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Eliza - you can do it! Make the list - I found the exercise of making the list very helpful.
Ingo - Thanks for all the support! Since you knew me when - you know what I am longing to return to.
Woot!!! Makes me want to go for a jog! What a great thing to get that bike - don’t you just love the way karma works for us! 
I’m very fortunate that my husband is passionate about biking and wants me to be, too. He’s eternally encouraging me to bike and has gotten very good about riding with me (of course, it helps that we got a tandem! ) and being supportive.
Still, my fitness comes down to me. My big weakness is my sweet tooth, combined with my tendency to eat even if I’m not hungry. Those choices are ones I have to make for myself, and I have to do it because I value my health. It’s a struggle sometimes, but I’m making progress in the right direction… just like you!
Char wrote @ June 5th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Wendy - karma is a good thing! And for now, my husband has agreed to leave it in the living room so I can watch TV while I ride. It’s not like we really ever get company anyhow.
Sarah - A tandem bike sounds like so much fun! Lucky girl, you! All progress is good - even little baby steps.
Wow, great post!
I decided last week that I’m tired of making excuses too…and since I’m so goal-focused, I decided that for the first time in my life that I would run a 10k. I don’t even know how to run. Honestly, I just decided to do it and started a week ago jogging for a few blocks/walking a few/jogging and now I’m totally addicted. I try to go every night at 9pm when it’s just started to get dark and the night is magical and its still safe, etc. so I have this big goal now July 24…come what may, I will walk, crawl, or jog…but I’m finishing and I think it will be just the very thing to get my former lazy self off the laptop, couch, and out of the house! 
Best wishes with finding something you will be passionate about/for regarding fitness and exercise, you really DO have to learn to love it or it just isn’t rewarding. If you get to go outside for your walks you can play a game with yourself/kids and see how many red cars you can find or if you’re using the bike, what a great time to catch up on Oprah!
Char wrote @ June 6th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Kelly - you will be totally addicted after you finish your first 10k! It is such a cool experience. Keep us posted.
That’s a great list. I jogged for 2 years, then suddenly stopped.. for no apparent reason. Well, winter was too cold, summer too hot. And I did enjoy it… but now I swear I have less time than I did a year ago! I did a couple of 5Ks too, and always wanted to do a 10k…
steve wrote @ June 8th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Powerful post. Lots of great energy here! Good luck to all with their fitness goals - you can do it
Cindy wrote @ August 28th, 2007 at 11:12 am
I really enjoyed reading an relating to your list. My children are still little, but it’s important for them to see me make fitness a priority, too! They understand at any age!
[…] Polanosky presents 10 Reasons Why Fitness Must Be My Number 1 Priority posted at Casual Keystrokes. A great list to help mom realize the importance of Fitness. Feel free […]
Congratulations on being included in the 1st Edition of Fitness for Moms Blog Carnival. I have a similar post called “Top 10 Reasons to Exercise†that can be found at http://marylandpersonaltrainer.com/wordpress/weight-loss/top-10-reasons-to-exercise.
deb wrote @ September 9th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Wow, thanks for helping me turn something around. I’ve been focusing on the 10 reasons fitness hasn’t been a priority for me. No wonder I haven’t been successful getting in a routine! I’m off to create a new list now….
[…] of Casual Keystrokes gives us 10 reasons why fitness should be her number one priority. This won’t apply to everyone, but it could serve as a catalyst for your very own list. I […]
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