Fitness Vacation?!?

So I run into this topic of Fitness Vacations about every six months. At first, I thought, what a waste -- to go on vacation and exercise!

I wasn't so sure I could change my mind, looking at an article about fitness vacations on NaturallySavvy.com. There's no way I could teach children to surf in Africa -- I'm quite terrified of my lack of swimming abilities. And while I like down-time and quiet, a Yoga retreat would have me making a raucous! I'd also not be touring de France on a bicycle -- I'm lucky enough to be able to ride down the street. So, not just by default, but with the right mix of fun and discipline, a fitness cruise is where I belong! Though I might long to add more to the food "carefully prepared by the chef just for the fitness minded," I'm sure I'd have fun and enjoy focusing on healthy living!

 Would you take a fitness vacation?

Back to Working Out!

After being sick (or feeling sick) for the past few weeks, I'm back to working out! We all know that it becomes easier to procrastinate or avoid doing anything once excuses are lived out. But I finally gave my last excuse and headed to the gym. Honestly, I'd forgotten how good working out made me feel -- I had energy and just felt good about myself!

I'd also forgotten about how sore I can get! I didn't complete the amount of repetitions I normally do because I knew I should take it easier...perhaps it lessened the stiffness at the end of the day! Nevertheless, it's back to regular exercising!

Success

This week has been a successful exercise week! Each day, I've been to the gym to exercise, but today, I just wasn't feeling it. So I put baby girl into her stroller, and we went for a long walk. I tried not to think about popping wheelies to get the stroller up and down the sidewalks -- I get too nervous walking in the street -- to just enjoy the time, while most adults are at work, and I have the opportunity to talk a walk with my daughter. She was quite satisfied riding, with her sippy cup in tow, as I pointed out the squirrels running up trees. I also like to take note of how people update and keep up their houses. Some times I try to remember addresses of the houses for sale to see what the going rate is. But I try to focus my mind and not just walk aimlessly.

I try to use all my exercise times to refocus -- if I'm with the baby, I try to engage her mind too, or if I'm alone, I try to remember the needs of others. So far, this week has been a success, physically and spiritually, for which I'm extremely grateful.

It doesn't get any easier...

Last Thursday, I was living it up, eating Cheesecake Factory Kahlua-tastes-so-awesome-that-I-can't-remember-the-name-cheesecake for 90% off and catching up with a friend. Recently she's been more deliberate about losing weight, and I briefly described the difficulties/excuses I've had with exercising regularly -- the irony of eating chessecake and discussing exercise! But she said those words...."You know, it doesn't get any easier." Yeah, I know that, but I don't really want to believe it!

Before I was married, I would go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and I enjoyed exercise and the way I felt during and after exercise. During my first two years of marriage, and even though my entire pregnancy, I was still at the gym 2-3 times a week, still proud of my accomplishments, though not too grand. After my daughter was born, I was at the gym 1-2 times a month (on a good month), and I'm not satisfied with that.

Finding time and wondering how my baby girl will do in the childcare is tough for me. I make all sorts of excuses about where I'd like to go for the day, and often the gym is neglected. But those excuses come after wondering 1. how will my daughter do in childcare and 2. how will the employees of the gym react to her. But I think she's been making progress as she's gotten older. . . now that she's one.

So last night, I decided that I WILL go to the gym 2-3 times a week, even if every single time I hear my name, followed by "Go to childcare," echo through the gym and hope no one notices that I'm sheepishly going to get my crying child.