I know I’m only 4 weeks postpartum but I miss the gym.
I miss the classes. The people.
I miss having someone watch my kids while I take an hour to myself.
I miss showering while someone watches my kids.
I miss sweating. Like really sweating.
I miss having that thing that we do every morning (and my kids do as well – they thrive off of routine).
All that said, I’m enjoying my time away and I’m no where near ready to go back. To think about leaving Porter ….it’s FOR SURE too early. Even though he’ll be able to stay in kid zone two weeks from now (the minimum age is 6 weeks), I know that it’ll be too soon for our family. I can barely make it out the door most days and to say I’ll be somewhere at a certain time seems laughable right now.
We’ll get there.
Eventually.
And until then, daily walks will have to do. Plus I’ve got a sweet little setup in the basement. Yesterday, I chose to take 30 minutes (that I could have spent napping) and I snuck downstairs for an upper body/ab workout (squats are a NO GO, friends. 
). If there’s anything that changes my attitude, it’s lifting weights. I didn’t overwork myself or really even sweat too hard, but just the act of doing something that has been ROUTINE for me for the past TEN YEARS felt amazing.
Like home.
Like I could go back upstairs and handle anything the kids could throw at me.
If exercise, for just 30 minutes a day, can do that ….why wouldn’t we choose to do it?!?!
It’s definitely my drug of choice.
QUESTION: Why do YOU work out?
splendid…lindsay
haha hmmm i am not like you at all. i haven’t worked out in weeks and i do not miss it one bit!
we can only imagine what it must feel like not to be able to workout, like you it’s our drug!
I have a very complicated relationship with exercise. I love taking Group Ex dance-based classes because they are fun (!) strength training and Boot Camp because I feel tough (and it’s a lot easier to motivate when someone else is telling you what to do) reading on the elliptical is relaxing, and running makes me feel happy, and much less stressed. However, I do have a more superficial reason for working out: looking fit and strong, and being “able” to eat a few extra scoops of peanut butter are nice benefits. I wish I could say I solely work out for health and wellness benefits, but I’m not quite that enlightened!
I’m happy you are doing what you can do, and that you aren’t rushing it. I cannot even imagine how different your body feels during and after pregnancy, but I am sure it is also very complicated. :)
Pretty sure you took the words right out if my mouth. Moms ask me all the time how I stay motivated to hit the gym every day (or workout at home, but same thing!). And I think, how could I not? THIS is why I workout!
I workout to stay sane…clear my head…feel the sweat pour out of my body…for how good it makes me feel inside and out…oh the list goes on and on! But since Tuesday I have not done any strength training or sweaty workouts while I’ve been away and honestly it has felt awesome. I needed the break. I was tired physically and mentally. It feels good and I know when I get back to Houston I will be ready to get back into the swing of things. :)
It gives me so much energy and the ability to experience life’s adventures at any time. Plus I like the way it makes me look. Just being honest. :)
I love you and I love this. I was the same way and I’m sure I will be again if we have another child. The gym is definitely my home, happy place and my me-time. (It’s also my work which makes it a little tricky..haha)
So proud of you for fitting in fitness when you can and knowing that you are worth it. You deserve that time. Choose exercise. Choose strength. Choose happiness. :)
I love that you have the option of working out at home. The arrival of my third child made it almost impossible to get out of the house in the morning. In fact, I don’t think I took all three of them on an outing by myself until the youngest was a year old!
I miss those days :)
Health on all levels and balancing everything is why I work out.
When body s submerged in a pool, surrounded by fresh air on a trail run, or embracing yoga all of me becomes healthier and more balanced.
I could not have said it better myself! My drug of choice. My friends who say they are stressed or cant sleep well-I tell them to go and take a walk. Start there! A simple 30minutes of walking. I love my weight sessions best though. I am training for a half ironman and have strayed from the weight room. Went back the other day and it was glorious!!
Working out has been my stress reliever lately! Wedding planning has been chaotic (only 3 weeks away!) but a good sweat session kicks stress in the butt!
I love how you know it’s too early to be leaving Porter and you’re listening to that feeling. It seems like many would try to push it and just go anyway. Thank you for such an honest post.
Working out, for me, makes me feel strong and, like you said, ready to tackle just about anything.