Consistency

The problem I have with a fitness or nutrition “challenge” is that it lacks consistency. There is an expiration telling you it ends. Then what? Are the habits of your ‘challenge’ something you can look forward to doing forever? Or are you crossing the days off your calendar waiting for it to be over because you’re miserable.

I love the intention. I’m never going to knock someone down when they have found a reason to get started. But my advice would be to spend your energy on habits you know you can or would like to sustain. What fits in to your perfect day?

The success I have found with my own fitness and nutrition habits are not from any complex training programs, lifestyle overhauls or dogmatic diets. It’s come from habit repetition and building consistency around what works for me.

4 months postpartum

I enjoy exercise but my workout is a part of my day, not the purpose of my day. I spend less than 30min on intentional training. On a good day I recognize my bodies carried two babies, that I’m no longer in my twenties and I spend a few minutes on a warm up.

More days than not though I want to snuggle my kiddos a little longer in bed, slow down as I sip my coffee, or stop early to play with my toddler and I’ll end up with somewhere around 15-20min of intensity. I’m happy with that. I’m happy that I don’t feel pressure by my workout. I’m happy with the results it’s given me. I’m happy with how that slice of hard work makes me feel.

This works for me and my life. I’m an active participant with my kids’. We play together and ‘run fast like Sonic.’ I carry my kiddos when they want to be picked up. We take walks at the speed of a two year old more concerned with rocks and sticks than steps taken. We build, we color, we sit and watch movies. Right now it’s not my turn to dictate our days.

My kids see me take time for myself as a part of our day. They’re familiar with weights and rowers and kettlebells. I consistently get a workout in, but I don’t obsess over getting it perfect. I’ve built that habit. I know Monday-Friday at some point I’ll workout. Some days I know it will happen in the morning, others I wait to see the opportunity for 20min.