 We aren't meant to fit into molds.
I can be a mom and a wife and a coach and an entrepreneur. I can lift really heavy weights, and hike mountains, and do manual labor and dress up and write articles and read books. I can curl my hair and wear lipstick and put on a dress and wear no makeup and put my hair in a bun and have calluses and big muscles and thick thighs and be feminine. I can be fierce and passionate and powerful and compassionate and kind and thoughtful. I can love who I am and I can be confident and still pursue growth and seek knowledge and be humble and be open to change and be uncertain. None of these things are mutually exclusive. Fitting into a mold is exhausting and impossible. We were meant to be unique and diverse and there is so much BEAUTY in that!
0 Comments
 Sometimes mom life can feel like you're trying to bail water out of a boat with a gaping hole in it. Between cooking, cleaning, baths, crisis, dishes, laundry, appointments, spills and SO MUCH POOP, the question often arises "how am I supposed to fit in a workout when I don't even have time to take a shower every day?" I hear you. We pour ourselves out in service of our family but then neglect the care of ourselves leading to exhaustion and burnout. Working out can be a positive and life altering means of self-care both physically and psychologically. So how can a mom with young children prioritize her workout?
1) Workout at home. Investing in equipment for the house can be one of the best things you can do. Sneak a workout while the kids nap or even get them involved! They key is, find workouts that pique your interest. I know that if I didn't have a barbell and squat rack in the garage I probably wouldn't be motivated to drag my butt out there and lift (honesty here). Be it kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, resistance bands or a combination of these, find something that you'll be excited to use! 2) Find a sitter. Maybe it’s communicating to your spouse the need to get out of the house for an hour workout, finding an available family member, or hiring someone three times a week. You are worth it! 3) Get a gym membership with childcare. There are many gyms with great childcare. You can spend 1-1 ½ hours working out worry-free as your kiddos socialize with other kids and get some time out of the house. 4) Find a class or a gym that is open before your kids wake up. It can be tough waking early; but once you are out of the house and warmed up, you’ll be glad for the energy boost you'll get for the rest of your day. Your health is important, YOU are important! So, find something that you love, and get your body moving, guilt-free.  Building muscle goes far beyond aesthetics. While I personally love having a muscular physique there are many other reasons to lift heavy weight and build lean mass.
1) Muscle contributes to a faster basal metabolic rate and increases metabolism of dietary intake. 2) Muscle increases insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown a correlation between increased lean mass and decreased risk of diabetes. 4) Muscle protects the joints and bones from injuries. 5) If an injury is sustained, muscle decreases recovery time. 6) Physical strength. (Need I say more?) 7) Better posture and quality of movement. 8) Muscle slows aging and contributes to strong bones and joints which in turn reduces risk of fractures and osteoporosis. 7) Due to improved metabolic conditions there is a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity. So, pick up some heavy weights and get lifting! In my early years as a trainer, I shared this and joked about the workout I was going to make my clients do the day after Halloween. Thankfully, I've grown since then. If you are going to eat some candy today, do it, enjoy it. Shame free, guilt free... then move on. If you refrain, that is fine too! The point is, you don't have to earn it or "burn it off". Let's start building a healthy relationship with food!  
There is healthy competition: that which spurs people on to do their best and strive for success. There is also unhealthy competition: that which requires one person to become less so that the other can become more; that which feeds envy and rejoices in the failures of others. Jealous competition leaves us feeling empty and unsatisfied. Community, however, does the exact opposite. Community encourages each other toward greatness. Community builds and supports each individual's unique gifts and traits. Community is where individuals can be themselves without the fear of judgment. Community is something to strive for because life is better spent in community than in competition.  What will NOT happen when a woman starts lifting weights: grow a bushy beard and turn into a man. What WILL happen when a woman starts lifting heavy weights: 1) Build muscle which will... * Increase basal metabolic rate and metabolism of dietary intake. * Increase insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown a correlation between increased lean mass and decreased risk of diabetes. *Protect the joints and bones from injuries. *Decrease recovery time if injury is sustained. *Improve posture and quality of movement. *Slow aging and contribute to strong bones and joints which in turn will reduce risk of fractures and osteoporosis. * Decrease risk of cardiovascular diseases and obesity because of improved metabolic conditions 2) Make her physically strong and capable of lifting things she never thought possible...Also, opening jars? NBD. Lifting the kiddos? Not a problem. Making one trip into the house with the groceries? Got it. 3) Increase confidence as she discovers what her amazing body is capable of. 4) Develop a positive mind/body connection as she learns to engage muscles properly and feel the movement. 5) Take the focus off the scale. There is nothing wrong with having fat loss as a goal, but the constant pursuit of a number can become exhausting and make one feel like a slave to the scale. Getting stronger is motivating and feels great. Often times because of all the reasons listed above, fat loss is a side effect! So, pick up some heavy weights and get lifting!  |
Archives
September 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed