Hoooo this one hit home Chelsey! After a big breakup a decade ago, I was living my best life on my own, walking to and from work, and got into a rhythm of taking exercise classes a few times a week. I lived in a hustling, bustling area with exercise studios on every corner; a pilates reformer studio was a two-minute walk from my condo. I loved that routine, but it was so tied to that particular moment in my life and that hyper-geolocation.
Now I live in the suburbs and have three young kids and a dog and I'm in the worst shape of my life. It has a lot to do with just wanting to be in my room, alone, whenever I can, overloaded as I am with demands. There's actually a community gym just a 5 minute walk from here, but the executive dysfunction and the guilt prevent me from going. The guilt comes from the fact that I should walk the dog more than I do, so the mere thought of venturing out alone for exercise -- without my dog -- floods me with bad feelings.
If all my time were my own again, like it was a decade ago, maybe I'd be in great shape today. But it's not, and I'm (certainly) not.
Life certainly changes post Baba - I didn't know you had 3! How do you manage to ever do anything? OF COURSE you just want to sit on your own whenever you get free time. Sod the gym and sod your sweet doggy!
My husband and I went kayaking yesterday - something we never do - for our anniversary. After we came home I stood in front of the mirror looking at my arms, wondering if they looked different after an hour on the water. Oh dear.
And then wondering if they will ever again look and feel the way they did during my yoga phase from a few years ago.
And now I’m feeling a pit in my stomach because I’ve had “cancel YMCA membership” on my to do list for way more months that I’d like to admit.
I am quite impacted by reverse psychology since my brain is basically a bit like a toddler still and I found that deciding to quit by writing this post actually rustled up the motivation to keep going.
I booked a tennis court and practised by terrible serve for an hour! Hoping one day to actually have a tennis friend but until that day, I can just chase the ball around the court like a boss.
Totally different! (I think? I don’t know! She says as she looks down at her arm… and realizes she really needs to get off her phone!)
Yay for an hour on the court! Remembering that I don’t NEED to turn anything into a routine has been so helpful for me. Letting that one time on the lake / the hour on the court be enough.
Hello! if you're getting even some exercise at the gym that's great IMO, even if it's not as much/as perfect/as proficient as what the world expects. Motivation is a huge problem for me too especially for strength training! Hugs and best of luck.
That's very impressive Barrie! It sounds like you're very healthy these days 😊 I like lifting weights once I start but find it hard to get started (as with all things). Hope you and your wife are well ❤️
Gyms/classes are a nightmare to me! I do yoga/pilates/ballet on youtube from home! Even if I hike/walk I always avoid going on weekends, too many people!!
Hello, my lovely friend. It was you that introduced me to DL and I love it there. Thank you😊. I love body pump and do it a few times a week, which with being sober has changed my life for the best I have ever had, which for has come later in life❤️. You have a very busy life, with your job and your lovely boys. Don’t be unkind to yourself you can only do your best. So love yourself as you are❤️. The best is yet to come beautiful ❤️x
Hello to you my lovely friend! What a kind message. I will do my very best to go gently with my good self. After I wrote this I actually had a lot of fun at a tennis session. Though I did also forget to wear shorts with pockets which meant I didn't have anywhere to put my tennis balls 🙄 great to hear from you and I'm glad things are good! xxx
Yes you should… it would help me go to the park instead of lounge with a cappuccino at soft play 🤷♀️ also we could go on a walk in the fields together instead of facilitating the riches of DL… no brainer 🤩 and when I’m not around you can teach our offspring the joys of recognising butterflies, ladybirds and trees 🕉️
I’m very much the same when it comes to exercise. I have never paid for a gym membership but I will find some exercise thing, I do it for a few weeks and then lose interest. Doing weights bores me. Sport involves other people. Swimming does appeal but it so expensive. Plus, other people. And energy levels are so different week to week and even day to day. I like going for walks and I am trying to allow that to be enough right now. 🖤
Yeah that's the problem with tennis. I love it though I'm terrible but the other people sometimes make me go all weird re rejection sensitivity stuff 🙃
Hoooo this one hit home Chelsey! After a big breakup a decade ago, I was living my best life on my own, walking to and from work, and got into a rhythm of taking exercise classes a few times a week. I lived in a hustling, bustling area with exercise studios on every corner; a pilates reformer studio was a two-minute walk from my condo. I loved that routine, but it was so tied to that particular moment in my life and that hyper-geolocation.
Now I live in the suburbs and have three young kids and a dog and I'm in the worst shape of my life. It has a lot to do with just wanting to be in my room, alone, whenever I can, overloaded as I am with demands. There's actually a community gym just a 5 minute walk from here, but the executive dysfunction and the guilt prevent me from going. The guilt comes from the fact that I should walk the dog more than I do, so the mere thought of venturing out alone for exercise -- without my dog -- floods me with bad feelings.
If all my time were my own again, like it was a decade ago, maybe I'd be in great shape today. But it's not, and I'm (certainly) not.
Life certainly changes post Baba - I didn't know you had 3! How do you manage to ever do anything? OF COURSE you just want to sit on your own whenever you get free time. Sod the gym and sod your sweet doggy!
Two of them came at once... surprise! :\
(To be fair, the surprise was in the doctor's office about 8 months before the pair of them made their appearance)
Oh my goodness! So you had one and then twins? FULL HOUSE!!
Full house indeed! Yes, three and done (boy am I ever done).
The dog, yes, same!
My husband and I went kayaking yesterday - something we never do - for our anniversary. After we came home I stood in front of the mirror looking at my arms, wondering if they looked different after an hour on the water. Oh dear.
And then wondering if they will ever again look and feel the way they did during my yoga phase from a few years ago.
And now I’m feeling a pit in my stomach because I’ve had “cancel YMCA membership” on my to do list for way more months that I’d like to admit.
Sigh.
That sounds glorious, I'd love to do that.
And tell me, DID your arms look different? Lol.
I am quite impacted by reverse psychology since my brain is basically a bit like a toddler still and I found that deciding to quit by writing this post actually rustled up the motivation to keep going.
I booked a tennis court and practised by terrible serve for an hour! Hoping one day to actually have a tennis friend but until that day, I can just chase the ball around the court like a boss.
Totally different! (I think? I don’t know! She says as she looks down at her arm… and realizes she really needs to get off her phone!)
Yay for an hour on the court! Remembering that I don’t NEED to turn anything into a routine has been so helpful for me. Letting that one time on the lake / the hour on the court be enough.
Hello! if you're getting even some exercise at the gym that's great IMO, even if it's not as much/as perfect/as proficient as what the world expects. Motivation is a huge problem for me too especially for strength training! Hugs and best of luck.
Thanks Uzma! I do try and keep my bar for myself quite low... And actually, writing this motivated me to go to the gym lol. Gotta love that PDA!
I own a Chuck Norris gym machine that I use three times a week and a set of free weights. I am no authority on fitness but I do enjoy a sick pump :)
That's very impressive Barrie! It sounds like you're very healthy these days 😊 I like lifting weights once I start but find it hard to get started (as with all things). Hope you and your wife are well ❤️
I recently went to Washington state and climbed Mt St Helens. That was an experience! Good for the lungs too :) all well here. Are you and bambino ok?
Gyms/classes are a nightmare to me! I do yoga/pilates/ballet on youtube from home! Even if I hike/walk I always avoid going on weekends, too many people!!
Oh if only I could motivate myself to exercise at home. I need the person to climb out of the screen and shame me into starting...
Hello, my lovely friend. It was you that introduced me to DL and I love it there. Thank you😊. I love body pump and do it a few times a week, which with being sober has changed my life for the best I have ever had, which for has come later in life❤️. You have a very busy life, with your job and your lovely boys. Don’t be unkind to yourself you can only do your best. So love yourself as you are❤️. The best is yet to come beautiful ❤️x
Hello to you my lovely friend! What a kind message. I will do my very best to go gently with my good self. After I wrote this I actually had a lot of fun at a tennis session. Though I did also forget to wear shorts with pockets which meant I didn't have anywhere to put my tennis balls 🙄 great to hear from you and I'm glad things are good! xxx
Yes you should… it would help me go to the park instead of lounge with a cappuccino at soft play 🤷♀️ also we could go on a walk in the fields together instead of facilitating the riches of DL… no brainer 🤩 and when I’m not around you can teach our offspring the joys of recognising butterflies, ladybirds and trees 🕉️
Hehehe, ok. Well if it helps you then I'll do it xx
Each pre-teen child counts as an hour at the gym daily.
Woohoo, I love this. And you are 💯 percent correct!!
I’m very much the same when it comes to exercise. I have never paid for a gym membership but I will find some exercise thing, I do it for a few weeks and then lose interest. Doing weights bores me. Sport involves other people. Swimming does appeal but it so expensive. Plus, other people. And energy levels are so different week to week and even day to day. I like going for walks and I am trying to allow that to be enough right now. 🖤
Yeah that's the problem with tennis. I love it though I'm terrible but the other people sometimes make me go all weird re rejection sensitivity stuff 🙃