Today marks day three of returning to the gym. After learning my regular gym was still restricting ages for childcare, I joined a different area one that allows up to two hours of childcare a day. Both to give me some sanity & wellness breaks, as well as to give my 5-year-old some much needed structure, we are making a routine of going every day.
I’m still deciding what my routine will look like. I’m leaning towards 3 days strength training, 1 day cardio, and 1 day yoga. The main thing for me when going to the gym is knowing my objective, or else I’ll wander around aimlessly.
I’m attempting a little different strategy than I have in the past, doing targeted workouts on each of my strength days. So on Monday, I did back and biceps. On Tuesday, I did chest and triceps. Friday, I’ll do shoulders, traps, and forearms. I’ll work some leg and ab work into each day. In the past, I did a full body workout every day, changing up which exercises I did. We’ll see how I like it this way instead!
As for yoga today, I could tell it’s been years since I’ve practiced. My balance was the worst it has ever been. My flexibility is almost nonexistent. Regardless, the teacher was great at encouraging everyone to take things at their own level, making it clear there was no wrong way.
I’m still working through some of the mental obstacles of getting back to fitness after regaining weight for the umpteenth time. Staring at the fumbling body in the mirror attempting simple yoga poses, adjusting the weight machine to something much lighter than I’d previously lifted, getting winded after a few minutes on the elliptical. The beauty of the struggles I had losing weight after having Elliot is that this time I am less discouraged, knowing in time I will get stronger, the weight will come off again. I am working to respect my body where it currently is, trying not to talk myself down but to see the good.
Since my last post, I’ve been in a bit of a holding pattern, not losing but not gaining. Not eating perfectly but not self-sabotaging either. It’s time to move forward again. Life’s too short and there’s much to be gained by getting healthier. I’ll do my best to keep you all posted of my progress, and in turn, I hope you’ll let me know you’re here with me. It’s always easier to move forward when you have others walking alongside you. After all, we’re all just works in progress.
A Work in Progress 