So I have decided to start taking responsibility for my own life. I am horribly out of shape. I don't mean this as a comparison to anyone out there, this is purely about the "now" me vs. the "ready for anything" me. And I have picked the perfect time to do it. I am sick. Right now as I type I am turning to the side frequently and coughing like someone who has inhaled pepper off their broccoli (long story...another post...maybe). You may be thinking this is currently inadvisable but you'd be wrong. At least in my case that would be an incorrect assumption. You see, after my mother had amazing child #5 she felt the way I do, kinda frumpy and like your body is no longer taking its orders from you, so she started working out.
This was in the late 80's when women had giant hair, way too much eye make-up, and occasionally wore their leotards and leggings to the store (with a matching skinny belt, of course). This is when my mom bravely embarked upon her "work-out every day!" campaign. Every morning (or afternoon or evening occasionally when life and it's surprises would mess with her schedule) I would hear Bess Motta cooing encouraging instructions ad she encouraged you to do "4-more...". And when that incredible 20-min workout got boring to do every single day my mom found other exercises and wrote up her routines on gigantic pieces of school paper that she tacked up on a wall in our garage. Whenever I hear the Police, an image of my mom smiling and running in place with her arms flying springs instantly to mind. And despite our giggles and laughter at how funny some of the exercises appeared or how when she tried to do jumping jacks or leg lifts we kids (truthfully the littler ones as I was already 8 and way to mature) ran and dove through her kicking legs for ninja training, she persevered. Not only did she accomplish her goal, she taught her family many important lessons as well. She taught us not to give up. She taught us that you can ignore and even laugh along with people when they laugh at you. She taught us that just 20-min of exercise a day could lead to a feeling of accomplishment no matter how the rest of the day went (you can't control everything, right?). She taught us that taking care of our bodies and staying healthy (even after you have babies and things don't line up or work quite like they used to) was really important and fun. I am so thankful for her example. So that is why I am turning over a new leaf. No more waiting for the planets to align for me to say, "Enough is enough! If I don't start now then when?". And no better time to do so than the worst possible time, like now, when I am sick and overscheduled. I have done my first workout today. I have bid my chocolate stash farewell. I have even kicked my hot sauce habit cold turkey (again, long story for another day). So hip hip hooray for Day 1 of taking responsibility for my own health and fitness. I always had the control, I just needed to remember the lessons from my mom.
Here's a link I used to do my mom's old workout on YouTube. It's a classic.
ps - My mom worked out every day even when sick. It took serious illnesses (such as a really bad flu or pneumonia) to keep her down. I asked her why she still worked out when she was sick with a cold or cough and she would tell me that it helped get her better faster. So I am putting that advice to the test. We'll see how it goes. Either I will be better or I will have pneumonia next week :)
pps - I love you moim!
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