Stress, kids, life and fitness

Deeptisingh

Seems like our entire day here. But have you noticed when kids, spouse and work cause stress, you quit in your fitness regimen?

NorthCascades

Fitness is important in a long-term kind of way. You don't want to die 20 years early. But the way people are hard wired to set their priorities, the kids needing a fresh diaper is something that has to happen now. You can make up that run at some point in the next 20 years, you can't not go to work though.

Some kinds of exercise are really good stress relievers, though.

Alatariel75

That's coz quitting the kids, spouse and work is a lot harder.

Deeptisingh

I agree..

RoxieDawn

I never quit my fitness regime once I got it started. It became a new norm as far as putting that at a higher priority..

Everyone's lives are different in what they deem top priority. I get that this may stem around the age of their children, their children's curricular actives and school, also your own work and responsibilities to your self and keeping up with your home.

I personally have always had a spouse that helped pick up the slack when needed. Not sure how I landed such a good egg, but I did. I use to get in trouble with my self and family when not asking for help

eta my exercise is my ME time. Everyone needs their ME time.

sbrandt37

I doubt there is anyone here with kids, spouse, or work who has not experienced this. I personally spent way too many years letting those things take priority over my own health and well-being. The result is that I got fat, tired and unhappy. And that unhappiness came out in the way that I interacted with my kids, my spouse, and those I work with.

I slowly came to understand that my first responsibility is to myself and I can't do right by others if I am not doing right by myself. As my son so wisely said to me one day (in a different context), you can't save someone else from drowning if you are the one who is under water. I also cannot set a good example for my kids if I am not taking good care of myself.

So now I make taking care of myself a top priority, and when stresses from kids, spouse, or work increase, I understand that taking care of myself is even MORE important, rather than less. The result is that I am happier, leaner, healthier, a better example for my kids, AND better able to deal with the stresses of family and work.

Unknown

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JustMissTracy

I do this from time to time, if things are terribly rough around here. I call it my self defeating nature. Could also be a bit of depression for some of us.

synchkat

I find when I get stressed I want to exercise because my exercise is my escape and my happy place.

Francl27

Haha quite the opposite. When that happens, I'm out of the door going for a walk (or hike) or to the gym.

Lounmoun

Since I don't love exercising it doesn't take much to not do it. Quitting really isn't stress related for me.
I didn't exercise several days this week because my leg hurt and then my shoulder hurt. I feel fine today and not particularly stressed but am thinking about all the cleaning to do before family drops by this weekend and exercise doesn't seem as important. I could fit in a workout but probably won't.
I can manage walking 30-60 minutes no matter what is going on in my life though.

2girlzmm

For 3 yrs I let my kids husband and work take over. Woke up one morning and really didn't like the person I was becoming so made a new commitment to working on myself. Not to push my needs to the back burner to take care of everyone else. Yes the house may be a mess or dinner might be late but I am slowly becoming a better person. It is hard because like last night just wanted to come home and not do anything but I made myself and felt better for it.

denversillygoose

No, I fitness harder when I'm stressed because I know it will help.

cwolfman13

Deeptisingh wrote: »

Seems like our entire day here. But have you noticed when kids, spouse and work cause stress, you quit in your fitness regimen?

No way...regular exercise is one of my outlets for stress.

lessismoreohio

Deeptisingh wrote: »

Seems like our entire day here. But have you noticed when kids, spouse and work cause stress, you quit in your fitness regimen?

You're not alone. I struggle with this as well. I struggle with a certain amount of guilt when I take time for myself over my wife, my work, etc. I know this is wrong, but it's still a struggle. I do find I feel better when I eat right, take the time to exercise, get proper sleep, etc. I'm working on taking care of me so I can take care of family, work and others.