A wannabe a fit mom. This is what I wrote in my introduction to my incoming coaching class in 2016. As I look back on my journey with exercise I must admit that I had been struggling with exercise long before I became a mother. Are you a wannabe fit mom?
Look Back at Your Journey With Exercise To Help You Move Forward
Hi mama, are you trying to figure out how to exercise as a busy working mother? Are you feeling frustrated trying to exercise along with work, being a mom, and all the things? I did too. I’m sharing a bit of my journey and some tips I have learned along the way to help you on your exercise journey as a busy working mom.
Physical Education / P.E. may have been one of my lowest grades in high school. In college, I started working on getting stronger and fit. I took a conditioning class and couldn’t manage. I literally couldn’t breathe. Oh my goodness you should have seen me struggling to catch my breath from running up and down our stadium stairs! I was diagnosed with weather-induced asthma. Yes, there is such a thing.
Between college, graduation, getting married, grad school, and becoming a mother I kept trying and never caught my rhythm. I could not maintain consistency, exercising.
My husband and I started bike riding while we waited to get pregnant. With each ride I was able to go further, however, as soon as I got pregnant I stopped riding. It had taken us almost two years to get pregnant. I didn’t want to do anything that could possibly harm my miracle baby. You can learn more about my pregnancy journey here.
She’s Doing It And I Can Do It Too!
As a working mother with two small children, I attempted to find a rhythm for exercise again when our youngest was about three months. It didn’t work out. I did not have busy working mothers around me who were exercising while doing all the things.
When we see her doing it, we know, if she can do it, we can do it too. I wish I had someone I could have spoken with to get tips on how to find time to exercise as a busy working mom. Do you have a busy working mom that exercises in your life?
Use The Lessons I Learned To Help You – On Your Fit Mom Journey
In 2017 my family and I relocated to Chicagoland from the D.C. Metro area. I was able to take a step back, pause and evaluate my life. I began to realize I was no longer the same girl who graduated college with laser focus career aspirations. I was a career mom who wanted to have a fulfilling and successful career, be the best mom, wife, and person I could be. I wanted it ALL and had to figure out how I could. I started working on becoming the person I felt called to be.
One of the first things I did was buy an unlimited Groupon for an exercise boot camp. That was the beginning of me becoming a fit mom and the person I felt called to be. I no longer just dreamed of being a fit mom I started working hard to be a strong and fit woman.
It has been almost four years since I started that journey. I have picked up a few tips along the journey that I know can help you as a busy working mother struggling to do all the things plus exercise.
Our Stories Can Help Others. Your Story Matters
I must preface that I’m not a medical doctor or a fitness professional. I’m a busy working mother who has been knocked down several times as I try to balance blending work, being a mom, wife, and life. I have kept getting back up for almost four years on my working mom fitness journey. I have learned lessons that I know will help you as a working mom struggling as I did for years.
Why Exercise Is Important For Working Mothers
Let me back up for a moment. It’s imperative that we identify why the heck exercise is important for us as working mothers! Being a mother is hard. When you add work and all the hats we wear our lives are demanding.
In order to show up for our children, husbands, family, friends, teams, and everyone we support and serve, we need to be the best versions of ourselves. Quite frankly I’m a nicer human when faced with adversities when I exercise.
Benefits Of Exercise For Working Mothers
FOR YOU
- You feel better when you get your blood pumping and your body releases endorphins. Exercise can help boost your mood mama in the midst of the mayhem and bring you joy and happiness.
- As a working mother, you spend most of your days working your 9 to 5 and then go home to your most important and number one roles. Mother. Wife.
Our days are long and exhausting. Our little kids don’t understand this though. After not seeing you for eight to 10 hours they’re excited and ready to play. Not to mention making food, bathing the kids, cleaning and all the things!
In this current season of quarantine, working from home and remote learning, working mothers’ plates, and stress levels are even more full. An article on CNBC reported that 9.8 million working mothers in the U.S. are suffering from burnout.I know exercise may have fallen way down the list these last few months as you try and keep your head above water. I was right there with you, mama. Exercising can help to boost your energy and handle keeping your head above water better. Check out this article on what happens to our bodies when we exercise.FOR YOUR KIDS
- I started having kids later on in life. When our firstborn started walking I remember thinking, “I’m going to have to keep up with this kid!” I would easily get out of breath chasing after her, even walking up a flight of stairs. I had a flash of taking my kids to amusement parks and not being able to take them on rides. Exercising as a working mom will help you keep up with your kids.
- There is the obvious that we have heard – exercise help keep us healthy.
My health became more important to me when I became a mother with little kids that depend on me. I want to be there to protect, support, and care for my daughters as long as possible. This article by the Mayo Clinic on the benefits of regular physical exercise.
FOR YOU & YOUR SPOUSE
- Alright, mama, you know after giving everything to everyone all day you often feel like you can’t even brush your teeth and shower, much less have some intimate time with your husband!
After being pregnant and breastfeeding for what felt like five years my body didn’t feel like mine. I only felt comfortable wearing the big fitting granny panties that I got to wear after giving birth. No! Not sexy at all! I didn’t feel good in my own skin. Nope, I didn’t feel sexy and my desire to get it on with my husband honestly wasn’t always there.
Our relationships with our husbands are one of the most important relationships, especially when we bring children into the equation. Physical intimacy is very important in your relationship. When you take care of yourself you will feel better overall and your confidence in your appearance increases.
We must be careful to protect and cherish our relationships with our spouses. They often get pushed down the list when we have little ones to care for while trying to rock it at work. Exercising will help spice up your intimate relationship with your husband.
IDENTIFY YOUR “WHY” FOR EXERCISING
Our reason and “whys” for exercising as working mothers will be different. It’s important to begin your journey by identifying your “why”.
The journey is tough and you will have to dig deep, especially on those days when you don’t feel like it. You will have to dig deep and do it anyway.
Your reason may evolve as you go through your journey. Just start. Take it one day at a time. Now here are three tips to help you incorporate exercise into your life as a busy working mom.
FOUR TIPS TO HELP BUSY WORKING MOMS EXERCISE
1. It Doesn’t Have To Be All Or Nothing
Don’t give up too early when it gets hard. I did. Find a way to blend exercise into your life that works for you and your family. I remember strapping on my newborn baby to me and walking with our two dogs. It felt good to have movement after being in the house with little movement after my c-section. However, when things got hard I quickly gave up without trying to figure out how to incorporate exercise.
Mama, exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym! Exercise is repeated movement of your body. In this season of your life, it may not be possible to go to the gym. Don’t throw the towel in and quit. Find another way to get your exercise. Take some time to evaluate your current situation.
Answer These Questions to Help You Assess Your Current Situation:
- Why do you want to exercise?
- What type of support do you have at home and work?
- Can you wake up and exercise before your kids get up?
This works best for me in this current season of life. - What season of life are you in with your kids?
- Can you exercise at work on your lunchtime?
- Can you get a personal trainer?
- Do you need direction from a group fitness instructor?
- What obstacles are preventing you from exercising?
- Where are the opportunities in your busy life that will allow you to exercise?
2. Blend Exercise In Your Everyday Working Mom Life
You can dance every day while making dinner or run for the train on your way home from work. Blend movement into your everyday life.
Be more intentional with moving your body and getting your heart rate up. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I couldn’t go to the gym when my kids were very little and I gave up on moving my body. Learn from my lessons. If going to the gym is not possible now, find another way. You can find a way to incorporate movement in your busy working mom life. You must be intentional with making exercise a priority, knowing your reasons, your whys for exercising will help you.
3. You Will Fall And Lose Your Balance
Mama, I want to share upfront as you may have already discovered. Exercising as a busy working mother is darn hard! You will fall, lose your balance and you must decide to keep getting back up. Learn from the lessons you have gained along your journey and use them to keep going.
You may see other working moms making it seem effortless and you wonder “what the heck is wrong with me!” Remember you’re just seeing their 30 second real. You don’t know their full story.
Once you feel like you have found a rhythm, your balance for exercising “life” happens and you lose your balance. You MUST get back up and keep going quickly when you fall and lose your balance. The longer you stay down the harder it will be to catch your rhythm again.
4. There May Never Be A Perfect Time To Start
Don’t overthink it and wait for everything to be ready and perfect. There is no perfect time.
Are you waiting for the perfect time to start exercising? Probably similar to deciding to grow your family – you’re waiting for “the perfect time”. My husband and I were married for about five years before we started trying to grow our family.
We were busy for years working on our education and careers – getting everything ready and “perfect”. I remember sharing my concerns with my husband that we weren’t ready. I thought our lives were too busy. We didn’t have family living around us to support us as busy working professionals. I clearly remember him saying, “we will figure it out. Others have done it and we will too.”
If you are like me, planning helps ease your mind. I get it. Just don’t spend forever researching and planning without taking action. And of course, consulting your doctor before you start your exercise journey is always recommended. Prepare for success as best as you can and take that first step.
I hope this is helpful for you, mama. I know it’s hard to fit exercise in with all the hats you wear. Exercising is a form of self-care. When we take care of ourselves we’re able to take care of every one that depends on us better. Where are you in your working mom’s fitness journey? What other tips have you learned that can help other working moms struggling to exercise?
Please share below or email me at yamiek@rockstarcareermoms.com. I always love hearing from you!
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How to get back up and keep going when life happens
Work from home tips for working moms to thrive
Getting back to the gym after summer break
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