Life AFTER the Freshman 15

It's no secret that I hate missing a workout. I'm the type who plans my day around my workouts, not my workouts around my day. Signing The Boy up for preschool really threw me for a loop. I had to re-arrange my workout schedule to accommodate his new schedule. Preschool would not change her schedule for me. (Rude, no?) In the normal, not-stay-at-home-mom world, people have to actually arrange workouts around other commitments. What a concept!

Working out has just become a normal, routine part of my daily life. It has been for several years, but it wasn't always. Though I've always enjoyed physical activity, before joining the gym after gaining the Missionary-Woman-30 (on top of the Freshwoman 15 I'd gained three years earlier), I was definitely just a sporadic worker-outer. My daily trek to and from campus had to count for something, right?

I have fond memories of college (and of Finnish pastries on my mission). From those years, however, I have actually very few memories of working out. My freshman year, some roommates and I joined a kickboxing class. We laughed at each other as we fumbled our way through it, but if something more fun was happening on kickboxing night, we'd skip the workout in a heartbeat. My first date with my now-husband was actually a 3-mile run (that almost killed me) as he was training for his first marathon. But we all know that the run wasn't just a run. Any exercise I did in college was more for the social benefits than the physical.

If I could go back, would I work out more? No way! I'm glad I had that time in life to socialize, be crazy, eat junk food, and occasionally fit in a workout with friends. I was in a completely different season of life, with very little worry about my physical health. I'm glad I wasn't obsessing over every slice of pizza-brownie-vending machine purchase. I enjoyed life. I was happy. I honestly barely noticed that the pounds were creeping on. I was too busy!

My life is completely different now than it was back then. I had so many outlets as a student that I really didn't need to set aside ME time. Everything in my life was about ME. I had no idea how different life as a mom would be. I only thought about dressing my perfectly behaved children in the cutest clothes, and wearing them on my hip as I would wear any new accessory. I didn't realize that in reality, NOTHING would be about ME anymore. Honestly, my workout is just about the only thing. So even if it means waking up at the crack o' dawn to get it, I'm going to get it. I can't live without it. As my kids get older, and my schedule more and more is merely a reflection of their schedule, I will still find a way to fit exercise in. I have to.

When I joined the gym 6 1/2 years ago, I knew I was making a lifetime commitment. So now that life has changed (as it always does), I'm not going to let the routine slip. Sure, I'm changing from working my life around my workouts. But I knew that one day my kids would start growing up, and I'd have to fit my workouts around my life. And I guess I'm OK with that. As I learned in college, living is really what it's all about. Exercising just helps me live better.

Gym Germs

This morning I didn't stick to my original plan of working out at 5:30 am. Luckily, preschool doesn't start until next week, so working out at 9 am was still an option. I skipped the class, and did my own cardio session followed by some strength training.

While at the gym, I always carry around at least a towel and water bottle. Not having a towel drives me crazy! I have to have it to wipe off the gallons of sweat pouring out of my body. I sweat. I wipe. I set the towel down for a few seconds, complete another exercise, pick up the towel, and repeat. For some reason, I totally grossed myself out today.

I was working with some free weights. I set my water bottle on the floor, and my towel on a workout bench next to me. You know, the incline bench that seats hundreds of nasty, sweaty men as they grunt and press each day? My wet towel was now nicely wedged in the crevice...the nasty-bum-sweat-gathering crevice. Before I gave second thought to the germs now congregating onto my towel, I picked it up, wiped my entire face, then set it back down...this time on top of my water bottle on the gym floor. That's when it hit me. Sweaty, fecal matter could be crawling all over my face. And towel. And water bottle.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm definitely not a germaphobe. My kids eat off the floor at my house, and quite frankly, so do I. I figure they need germs to build up their immune system, so bring it on! But that's my house. I know what's coming in and out, and I personally scrub and disinfect my floors at least every week.

I know they clean the gym equipment, but how often? Definitely not in-between each user. And those benches? I've never seen a wipe down. I'm sure it happens, but not while I'm there. So hopefully I survive the sweaty bum germs contaminating my towel, face, and water bottle. Next time I'll leave the towel home and just use my shirt. Or I'll bring my own disinfecting wipes. Either way, the nasty, sweaty, grunting men at the gym are not those with whom I'd like to share germs. Ewwww.

Are you a germaphobe? Do you think about what germs you're letting into your life and body, or do you think it's okay just to share and share alike when it comes to germs? Am I overreacting here? Discuss.

Working Out Early Morning vs. Never At All...

It's going to take me a while to really admit it, but summer is over. As a stay-at-home mom with a 3-year old and a 1-year old, my life of motherhood has yet to revolve around the school year or the seasons. I can up and leave on vacation anytime somewhere-other-than-here beckons. I can also workout whenever my little heart desires. Most days, it's desire is to be at the gym by 8:30 so I can fit in a little cardio session before the group fitness class at 9. Tough life, I know.

Recently, I had a hard decision to make. I was getting ready to sign The Boy up for preschool, and I had two sessions to choose from: morning or afternoon. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but I hated making the choice! If I chose morning, I would have to drastically change my workout schedule. No more 9am group fitness if he has to be to school by 9:30. If I chose afternoon, The Boy (and I) would miss out on the much-needed nap time. An early-morning-angel-boy isn't quite so pleasant by late afternoon if he's missed his nap. His teacher would NOT thank me for that choice. So somewhat reluctantly, I chose morning preschool.

I would love to think that I could change from working out in the morning to working out in the evening, but it just won't happen. Sure, it may happen on occasion, but things always come up at night...meetings, parties, snuggling up with a good book on the couch, reality TV...you know, important stuff. I love me a good workout, but by nighttime, my motivation to get sweaty drops to pretty much nothing.

Before The Girl entered this world 19 months ago, I was somehow motivated to get out of bed at the crack 'o dawn to workout. But since then, my bed has become cozier. I've stayed up later. Now, waking up at 5am sounds (and feels) like waking up in the middle of the night. (Why wake up at 5, when I can drop my kids off at the kids' club and work out at 9?) But I'm trying to find motivation to do it again. Sure, I could go to the gym and do my own thing while The Boy is at preschool. But there's no group fitness option. Lame, I know, but most days, it keeps me going. The 5:30 am group fit classes are my only other morning option.

So right now, as I type, I'm building up the motivation to wake up in T-10 hours. I think I can do it. I actually love working out early...once I'm up and there. It's just the getting up. It's the leaving the pillow that has formed itself so nicely around my head. It's the wanting to find out what happens in the rest of the now-interrupted-by-the-alarm-clock dream. It's the trying to negotiate with myself that I'll fit in a workout later...sounds good in my half-asleep mind, but it never actually happens. So here's my new commitment:

I will wake up at 5 am at least 3 days a week to work out. I'll allow myself the other two days to negotiate a later time. I'll be more productive as a result. I'll be a better mom! I'll blog more! I can take a power nap later! So, along with Mama Sweat, here's my new mantra:

The benefits I'll gain from working out early are much more important than the bit of sleep I'll lose!

Say it with me now.

The benefits I'll gain from working out early are much more important than the bit of sleep I'll lose!

OK, I feel better. The alarm is set. My new schedule starts tomorrow. Who's with me?