Making health a habit again. Regaining lost ground

rosaerin07

I've been a fitness, exercise junkie for over 10 years. It was the main component in my breaking free from a 7 year eating disorder when I was 20. I started exercising at a gym and was hooked and slowly moved away from the starve/binge/purge cycle. It became a new obsession,but it was a healthy alternative. Even when I had two children under age 2, it didn't stop me. I just worked out at home for an hour during nap time and was in the best shape of my life.

But...when my boys both entered the toddler/preschool years, I found fitting in exercise terribly problematic and discouraging. They didn't really nap anymore, they were now mentally exhausting and when I tried to exercise they'd fight with each other and climb all over me. I'd just reach a point of frustration and impatience and be yelling at them while working out. It wasn't fun for any of us. By the time my husband came home from work I was mentally exhausted. I had no desire to go to the gym.

And that's still where I'm at now. I gave up about a year and 1/2 ago. I've gained 20lbs and my confidence has plummeted. I'm quite miserable and depressed because of my self image. The eating disordered brain never 100%. Self worth is still correlated with body image. But I still feel hopeless about exercise. I feel like even if I do it one day, the next day will bring an obstacle and I won't be able to exercise. I'm very all or nothing. It's good or bad. 100% or failing. My eating is terrible since there's no inspiration for being fit.

How do you guys break through a mental barrier and through child-related obstacles? I'm home ALL day with them but feel like I have no freedom to just exercise in peace. Spoiled,I guess.

rj0150684

Well for me, when my kids were little (I have 5 year old twins), and this is going to sound awful, but when they were 2-3, I’d incorporate them into the exercise. Bench press one of them a dozen times. Do some curls with them hanging on my arms. Have them grab onto my legs and walk around the house or yard. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot better than nothing and as they got bigger, the workout gradually got more intense and they had a blast with it.

rosaerin07

that doesn't sound horrible at all, haha

concordancia

Why aren't they taking naps? The behavior you describe sounds like they should be.

Some more to the point ideas:
-Take them to the park or a gym with childcare
-start small: make time on the weekends
-exercise before your husband leaves for work
-remember that while the first few weeks might be hard, once you get into it, you will likely have more energy for your daily activities