If there was an event at the Olympics for making excuses not to train, I would get the gold medal! I have wonderful intentions but if I am having an off day, I know deep down it won't happen.
I have set some things in motion to make sure stuff happens:
- Daily text message - My beautiful friend Erin and I exchange text messages at the end of the day to state what exercise was done for the day, if we ate well and what we plan to do tomorrow.
Do not underestimate ACCOUNTABILITY
- Workout with friends - I know that at certain times I have people that are expecting me for a workout. Not only do I get a great sweat up but it is great hanging out with great people who share my health goals and are there to kick my arse if I need it.
Do not underestimate SUPPORT
- Plan B - I know shit happens. Zoe might have a bad day, Trent might be late from work, it might rain etc etc. I need to have an option ready in case of emergency. I have little circuit ideas that I can do around the house. I'll blog these soon. I do not like sending Erin a text message telling her I have done nothing.
Do not underestimate PREPERATION
So far these are working for me and I am feeling better about reaching my goals I set out earlier.
During my time as a personal trainer I was amazed at how many people had "bad backs". I would very carefully plan their session to ensure I did not cause any further pain for them. There would be no medical diagnosis for the back pain but they would tell me during certain exercises "I cant do this it hurts my back". Nobody knows your body like you do so I would just make the required adjustments and carry on.
It is only now I understand the pain most of them were feeling and describing to me. There are some exercises I struggle with because I have very little ab strength yet. My abs are not strong enough to take the load so my back muscles take over and that is when I get the pain/discomfort. Nothing a little check of my form or scaling back the weight can not fix.
It amazes me to think back at the number of people that have stopped exercising all together because it makes there back pain worse. These people that have no medical condition or reason for the back pain that is! In acutal fact it is continued exercise that will strengthen their core and make those movements not only pain free but everyday life easier.
As frustrating as it is for me to be starting at a beginners level, I know that it will set up a great foundation for me to smash any previous records I had set myself.
So I need to learn to love the plank again, GREAT!
This week I have been very slack and missed opportunities to sweat it out. It has been easy to make excuses to stay indoors. From Zoe's first cold, the chilly weather and just not being organised enough, I have let myself down.
Normally I am chomping at the bit to get going for my workout and it got me thinking about why I might be lacking the extra motivation I normally have...
GOALS!!!!!
I still have not set myself anything to work torwards. Now more than ever I need a reason to seperate myself from my precious girl, to make myself get organised and brave the freezing conditions outside.
I had set myself goals prior to Zoe arriving but they are not important to me anymore. I now need to set myself targets to achieve that:
- Are important to me so I stay on track and dont make excuses
- Have a set date to be achieved by
- Can be measured. I need to know when I have "made it"
I have made the following promises to myself:
- First 10km run to be completed on 14th October 2012. Aim for 60min finish
- Perform 5 full push ups before Christmas
- Learn how to play tennis before summer 2012/13 finishes
- Create a workout that is like playtime with Zoe before Christmas (need to wait for some more limb/head control first)
It is out there now and I can not take it back. This is very exciting and hopefully keeps me going.
Up to date I have done:
2 x weight sessions
2 x cardio sessions
1 x boxing class
Walking most days
I am in some serious pain right now. All my muscles are aching, I'm pretty sure even my fingers are crying in pain while typing this blog. I remind myself that pain is a good thing, the workouts have been worth my valuable time away from Zoe.
I can see how many mum's would stop altogether, lots of people are not aware that they will not feel this pain after every workout.
I can also see how many mum's dont even start. The logistics in planning my workouts have been more than I anticipated. I would be very easy to tell myself that it is just too hard. Here are just 3 things I need to take into consideration:
1. My husband is a shift worker so I need to make sure he is home and had enough sleep before his next shift.
2. I breastfeed, so I need to make sure there is expressed milk in the fridge in case I get held up or Zoe decides she is hungry while I am away.
3. I need to make sure there is healthy food readily available so I can make a quick meal post workout. If there isn't then it is easy to go for the fast food option and blow all of my hard work.
Number one lesson this week is PLANNING ahead and making a specific time for a workout.
If I do not set a specific time for a workout it will not happen. I can easily get lost in day to day stuff and have the day zip straight past me.
If I do not plan ahead then I cant go for a workout on my own.
As a personal trainer I know that the pain will get better with consistant exercise, that part is easy. As a new mum I am just learning how to manage all the extra little things that need to happen before I can get going, I hope this part also gets easiler.
All in all a good workout week. I felt amazing afterwards. I had more energy and I was a happier person. All of this makes me a better mum which is all I want to be.
Happy workouts everyone!
Firstly to bring you up to date from the last 6 weeks.
I have a beautiful baby girl named Zoe who is already my whole life. She had a rocky start but is going great guns now. She was a little too comfy where she was so had to be delivered via a caesaren. Not what was planned but at least she is now safe.
What does this mean for my exercise program?... My orginal exercise plan has to be re-worked due to my lack of ab strength and recovery time. I still have not been cleared for ab exercises. Although I have been cleared for very light cardio and weight sessions.
Funny thing is my approach to my post baby body is very, very different to what I thought it would be. Before Zoe I was focused on everything external in a vain and selfish way:
Well you get the picture.
After going through labour with Zoe and thinking I may lose her at one stage, my focus is now on my health and being able to live an active life with my girl. So I have been happy to just walk around Rutherglen pushing the pram.
Also having a girl I know that I have to live by example and not fixate on a number on a scale or how fat my arse is.
My goals (which I will detail once I have decided on them) will be about being fit, healthy and strong. Not striving to be skinny to fit some "perfect" body image, whatever that is.
There have been some big changes over the last 6 weeks but I am loving every single second of it.
Stay tuned!
Zoe, my heart and soul
I now have 1 week to go until my baby arrives. According to the calander anyway!
Up until this point I have been very lucky. Felt amazing with just a belly that gets in the road from time to time.
Right now I am very much wanting this to happen already. Between the itchy belly, swollen hands and feet, clothes not fitting and generally feeling very unpretty I am a little over it. Lucky I am madly in love with this little baby.
Exercise at the moment is just a slow walk, or should I say waddle. Very much looking forward to the day I get to start running, boxing and weight training. My gosh its gunna hurt!!!!
I am not anticipating much blogging in the first six weeks as I plan for this to be mainly exercise based blogging, but who knows....
First blog over and out. YAY!
