Fit Friday: Making the Time & Making it Count

Whether you're a wife, a mom, a student, or a combination of any of those, I would bet my last dollar that you're busy. I get it; I am too. Too often, I hear the excuse I'm just too busy when the topic of exercise comes up. And that's exactly what it is: an excuse. 

     Someone commented on one of my photos a few weeks ago, saying something along the lines of "It must be nice to have a husband who doesn't mind you working out all the time. Some of us have to work unfortunately." Maybe this person (I don't know her personally, only through Instagram) didn't mean to sound snarky, but that's how it came across, and I'll admit; my feelings were a little hurt. I deleted the comment quickly but shouldn't have; those who know me know that what this person said is far from the truth. 

1. I don't work out all the time; I post many of my gym photos from when I do for motivation for others. That's how I stay motivated after all! It may sometimes seem like that's all I do, but only because I'd rather not share absolutely everything I do every day to social media. 

2. I do work. Hard. 

      Y'all know this; I don't have to tell you. But I ended up being grateful for the comment, for it gave me the idea for this post about the realities of creating a fitness regimen as a wife/mom/teacher/student. It's tough! But bettering myself is a priority, and I make time the time to put in the work. Yes, I'm fortunate to have a husband who is as passionate about working out as I am, but that doesn't make setting that time aside for myself any easier; it just means I have a little more support when doing so!

     Finding and making the time to exercise can pose a challenge, but it's worth it, and you won't regret that little slice of time for yourself. One of the best pieces of advice I've been given and can hand off is to write down your workouts in a planner like an appointment. You wouldn't neglect a wellness checkup or dentist appointment, right? When I'm writing down my workout schedule, I see them as little appointments I have with myself that are good for my well-being; I don't want to skip!

     Whether your workout is ninety minutes or half an hour, make every minute count. My workouts rarely last more than an hour (typically forty to fifty minutes), but I work hard the entire duration and push myself as hard as I can to be faster, lift heavier, and finish strong. I use my Polar FT4 to keep track of my calorie burn and heart rate, careful to not let my heart rate stay too high for too long. Even while I was pregnant, I made sure to get my exercise in and make it count by working hard. It definitely paid off; I had an easy, fun delivery, fast recovery, and my pregnancy weight fell off within a couple of weeks!

Regardless of where you're at in life (studying to complete a degree or chasing around a few little ones), scheduling exercise can be tricky! I totally get it, and of course I have days where I just don't want to work out! But believe me when I say the only workout you'll ever regret is the one you didn't do! 

One last bit of parting advice... When it's time for a little break, take it. When I heard Vaught laugh (laugh not giggle!) one night I realized that I have missed some precious moments with him, not really due to going to the gym a few times a week, but from the craziness of daily life. Breaks are a good thing and should be taken once in a while. Take a breather then get right back on track!