Thursday, March 19, 2009

Job Description

My 3 big kids go to classes at our charter school on Wednesday mornings, and drop-off/announcement time is always a fun time for me to connect with the other moms. As I left this past Wednesday, I walked past a mom who looked very natural and fit. She had on a t-shirt and knee-length khaki shorts and tennis shoes with ankle socks.

I don't know why, but when I looked at her it hit me:

Taking care of myself is part of the job description.

When my husband married me I was fit as a fiddle. I worked out regularly and took good care of my body and my appearance. Four kids and too many snacks later, and I seriously have not maintained the same level of care.

The good news is that last week I started a walking plan that I saw in my Weight Watchers magazine. It's an 8-week program that basically takes you from a total couch potato to a regular 30-minutes-a-day (4 days a week) exerciser in 8 weeks. It's VERY gradual. Last week I walked 5 minutes on the treadmill and did 10 jumping jacks. This week it's 10 minutes on the treadmill plus 2 minutes jogging.

I did it Monday - well, we walked about an hour with our friends and I jogged 2 minutes on the way home. Tuesday my knees were really hurting. I told my friend Liz and she said to do 2 lunges on each leg each time I exercise, so I did that yesterday and today. I did the workout again yesterday and today and thankfully my knees are feeling good.

I added one other element into the workout yesterday: at the end, once I was done with the walking and jogging and stretching and lunges, I said from my heart, "Thank you, Lord." How blessed I am to be ABLE to exercise. To have a treadmill at home, so if the weather outside is frightful, I can still walk. To have walking shoes to wear. To have children who play nicely while I exercise (ahem - most of the time).

One other thing I'm thinking is that my shoes are seriously old and I need new ones. When I get the new ones, I'm going to make a chart that will have 400 boxes. I'll mark off a box every time I walk a mile, which will be a fun way to track how many miles I go as well as remind me when it's time to buy a new pair of walking shoes.

8 comments:

  1. i'm proud of you for taking time to take care of yourself. i am in desperate need of exercise. right now i cannot, because my water can break unexpectedly(broke 3 weeks early with finn and ollie) and i get too many braxton hicks when i overexert. then comes the c-section and i'm hobbled up for weeks. but, i do plan on getting back in shape as soon as it is safe! it IS a blessing to be able to work out.

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  2. With the water-breaking scare and the c-section recovery, you of all people know what a blessing it is once you can move freely again!! {{{{{{{{ }}}}}}} I can't WAIT to see that new baby of yours!!

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  3. This is Olive Oyl's mom.

    I just wanted to tell you that this post is very inspirational. I too was fit as a fiddle and MANY pounds lighter when I met my husband 8 years ago. I have been needing some inpiration to move toward not only exercising but eating healthy. I think your post may have just been the ticket.

    Oh and I LOVE the idea of making a chart to mark off each pound to a new pair of shoes. It sounds a lot more exciting then just suddenly realizing your shoes are worn out. Imagine how amazing you will feel as the boxes fill up!

    Good luck and thanks for posting this.

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  4. You go friend! I am proud of you!

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  5. So nice to "meet" you! I really like the boxes idea - I think I might do that! :)

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  6. Emily,

    Fitness is fun! Ha, when we do actually do it, and not just wish. Wishing does make beggars, like that old quote said! (We beg to be different, I mean.)

    But disciple makes us Queen of Contentment!

    And that makes our sighing transform from 'ugh' to 'ahhhh'.

    I'm rooting for you!!!

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  7. Oh, this is so true. I know I've let my body and health fall to the bottom of my priority list in the last few years. But what good am I to my kids if I'm not functioning at my best?

    Good for you for committing to putting yourself back on the list!!

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  8. i so needed to hear this sister! when i saw you the other day walking i thought "WOW Emily is looking FAB!!!!!" keep it up

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