August: The New January {or} Time to Get Fit
Apparently it’s August already. More than half 2014 is gone, summer is still hot but fall is on the horizon, kids are getting back to school (traditional and homeschool!)…and I feel like making resolutions and doing something fresh. So, August is the new January! Time to resolve to be organized, have a meal-prep day, get the kids organized, etc etc. Do you feel the same way? Are all the thoughts swirling in your head?
I’m getting dizzy. I’m exhausted with all the thoughts. But I do know I’m up for, ready for, and needing a change. August is a good time for change, right?
No naysayers here. No telling me “You don’t need to change, you’re just fine! Look how thin you are! Aren’t you smaller than before you had the kids?” etc. Please. I know you mean well, but just because I happen to be one of the women who is fortunate to have the baby weight go away with breastfeeding doesn’t mean I’m fit. Being fit and being thin are sadly not the same, and I know we all know this, but sometimes we need reminders, right? I mean, I *know* that since I’m still waking 3 or so times a night with the baby to nurse him, and chasing him around all day and dragging him out of the cat door as he tries to go downstairs that I *can* burn and *do* burn a ton of calories, so eating 4 Oreos won’t show up tomorrow morning on my thighs…but that’s just not really the healthiest.
Nope, I can get away with chowing down on Oreos…but just because my body is burning calories doesn’t mean I’m fit. I’m tired. I’d like to run a good 5K this year (maybe more than 1). I’d like to be strong enough now that I set myself up for a strong several decades more of life. I want to feel healthy, be healthy, and set a healthy example for my whole family–but especially my girls.
I want to be healthy for so many reasons (and not just the kind of healthy I am because I don’t have a cold).
- to prevent illness by having a strong body and immune system
- to set an example for my girls
- to feel good
- to look my best
- to be strong
- to give glory to God who created this body in the first place!
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? -1 Corinthians 6:19 NASB
This body of mine–it’s a wonder. It’s co-created, grown, birthed, and nourished 5 other little people. I *am* healthy. I’ve learned so many things, can run and play with my kids, can drive them places, can teach them using my hands as we work together and using my lips as I speak to them. I teach them about the world, and most importantly about love and about our faith. With this body, I can love my husband, cook meals, dance, enjoy wine tasting, bake my hubby’s favorite chocolate cake, climb mountains, kiss ouchies, curl my daughters’ hair, throw a baseball to my boys. I kneel in prayer. I receive Christ in the Eucharist–His Body into mine.
This body is important! It’s got a lot of work to do. So does yours.
And it’s about time I get serious (and excited!) about taking care of it. It needs to be fit for the journey, in top shape to keep doing all the things I do. Soooo…It’s my goal in August to start a new habit of making time for myself to get in better shape and keep myself healthy. How many days to make something a habit? Here’s hoping it sticks. Join me? Please do! I’ll be having several fabulous ladies share their favorite workouts and tips to help motivate me (and anyone else wanting to be motivated, which I hope you are!). I’ll have posts from
runners
gals who like kettlebells
gals who run with their family
gals who find a spiritual connection with their workouts
and more.
Grab your water, lace up your sneakers, throw on a workout tee, and get ready for healthy changes this month! And, if you want to share anything with us, email me! somedaysaintsblog @ gmail {dot} com.
UPDATED: Here are links to all of the posts in the series.
–Why Can’t We Call It A “Playout”?
–Becoming A Triathelete–Kettlebell 101
–A Higher Purpose In Exercise
–Fitting Exercise Into A Hectic Schedule
–Feet Flying, Arms Pumping
–Organic Exercise: You Don’t Have To Go To The Gym To Workout
–Walk Away The Pounds
