Lean In!

I slept in this morning, if you can call it that after having been woken up twice by my six year old by 6:45am, first asking me if I would help him dig through the couch for the remote and then to tell me he found a crayon and a bug in the couch. I rolled over and went back to sleep. When I woke up, though, it was too late to take advantage of the cool ocean air and indirect sunlight for my morning run. It meant facing the hot sun on my face and sweating profusely, looking somewhat like a speckled zombie on my way. I did it. I say that with a bit of pride, as I've not always had the will to be temporarily uncomfortable in order to get that endorphin rush and feeling of accomplishment that comes with pushing myself. My run was everything I thought it would be- hot, sweaty, and ugly, but I did it and it feels great!

During everything I do that really challenges me, which includes every single run, I invariably hit a point where I realize I'm tired, I hurt, and I want to stop. I no longer naturally move in a forward direction. It occurred to me one day recently when I was forced to run into the wind that at these moments I have two distinct choices before me- lean back or lean in. Every person who has ever experienced anything difficult has felt the pull of these juxtaposing forces. I have taken both paths. I have succumbed to my fatigue and leaned back, letting my lower body carry me along at a much lower intensity. It is a short-term relief, I admit, but it doesn't make me better. Now that I recognize this moment of choice, which sometimes lasts for half my work-out, I can clearly see the temptation to lean back and instead choose to do the opposite- lean in! The feeling of recommitting to the challenge and defiantly pushing forward (leading with the chest, not the shoulders, of course), though admittedly painful, is a rush that stretches the human spirit, as well as the body.

We're all inspired by people who accomplish nearly super-human things- Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Oscar Pistorius (murder charge aside), Mother Teresa. The trick is to not see them as superheroes that just aren't limited like the rest of us. That makes it too easy to dismiss our own challenges because we just weren't built as strong as they were, be that strength physical, mental, or emotional. The truth is, they are just like us, but given the challenge and the choice, they lean in! Today, I choose to lean in, and my muscles and my spirit are stronger for it.

Fun, Family, AND Fitness?!

 

I have a confession. I sat down to write something new and exciting about getting active in fun and creative ways, and found a draft I wrote almost exactly a year ago and never posted. It's quite similar to my current apparently unoriginal idea, though my exercise of choice has changed several times since then. Given the fact that this is a recurring theme in my life, I thought it worth posting now, however outdated the personal details.

Here goes:

I admit it. I gained a bunch of weight over the past several months. Then, miraculously, a good chunk of it just disappeared all in one day. He is cute and cuddly and keeps me up at night. This awesome experience still left me significantly short of my skinny jean size, so I took to the treadmill. Now I'm certainly not anti-treadmill. It's been a great way to get around trudging through snow and sweating through triple digit temperatures, but it can get a little monotonous, even with a TV with which to watch all my old DVDs.

Then, quite by accident, my family created a new evening ritual. With about an hour left of sunlight, my boys and husband get out their bikes and I get out the stroller. They ride up and down and around, since I can't quite keep up with them, and we walk/ride/stroll for several miles almost every evening. Not only am I able to stick to this and put in significantly more mileage than the treadmill, but I really love the time with my family. The boys get to let off some steam, sometimes quite literally, after a hot day mostly stuck inside, but they are so fun to watch. My husband also rides back and forth between me and the boys, and we get to enjoy some time interacting, usually without a crying baby or TV present.

Now, the walk/ride/stroll combo might sound strange, but besides the fact that I don't have a decent bike that doesn't bruise my poor nether-regions, my boys could never ride far enough for me to get the same workout on wheels as I do on foot. Now, maybe this doesn't sound like fun or wouldn't logistically work for you, but don't be afraid to think outside the box and find something that does. Exercise doesn't have to be boring or monotonous or feel like a chore. In fact, the point is to make it joyful! Get out as a family or join a group or sign up for that pole dancing class you've had your eye on. Do it because it feels great, and you're body will thank you for it!

 

Fast-forward to the present:

Who did I think I was kidding? I've never really had a skinny jean size, but the baby weight is, mercifully, gone with the midnight feedings. We still do occasional family walk/ride/strolls, but my day-to-day exercise has gotten more individual, for the time being. For several months I focused on improving my yoga skills. I've recently started interval training several times a week in hopes of surviving a 5K in a few months. The specific exercise isn't really important, though different exercise will accomplish different goals. The important thing is finding something that keeps you healthy and active that you don't dread with every fiber of your being. Train for a specific goal, learn a new skill, find all the best local hiking trails, or bust a move in a Kangoo class (pictured above; presumably not for the uncoordinated). The possibilities are endless, and it all works. It doesn't have to be about being supermodel skinny or winning a marathon. It's about feeling great and experiencing the best life has to offer!