Being a mom leaves you open to so many excuses

Kellihulst

Once I became a mom 7 years ago (and now 3 kids later) I kind of thought that it was just supposed to be that I wouldn't get my body back or shouldn't want to look good in my clothes and swimsuit. I struggled for a long time with who I was and what I should and shouldn't be doing. And then don't even get me started on all the new responsibilities that come up when you have kids. And the list of responsibilities seems to just grow as your kids grow. Funny how that works. But seriously all you fellow moms out there, I know you are nodding your head right now in agreement. LIfe, family, everything else takes over when you become a mom. Where does that leave you? Standing there in your pj's or yoga pants, hair pulled back in a pony tail, feeling lost, frumpy, and exhausted. Is this you? I know it was a part of me most days... before I found exercise and MADE A COMMITMENT to myself. I decided to put myself first and no not in a selfish way, but so I was a better person (wife, mom, friend) which would then make my family better. Are you seeing how this works?
Don't settle for how your life is because you are a mom and think that everyone else and everything else needs to come first. My life has done a complete turn around once I decided to get serious about 2 things: my workouts and my food. And this wasn't just going for a quick jog around the block or taking the kids on an extra walk (don't get me wrong those things are great, but it's not the outlet you really need to get results and feel good.) And it wasn't just saying ok I am going to eat less and choose the low fat version of a food. I found a training workout program that was all laid out for me, incorporated strength training, and made me focus on what I was doing. It wasn't easy but I was ok with that because easy wasn't working for me. I needed hard!! I needed to push myself!! And for my food I decided to get educated about what clean eating was and then from there make my changes. I started small with things I knew I could be consistent with and then kept adding changes to it.
A year and half later I am pround to say that I have tons of energy, am in the best shape of my life (one that I didn't think possible back in my yoga pants days), have confidence, kicked postpartum depression to the curb and no more medicine, and have a zest for life. I took control and love the way my life is now.
So I challenge all you moms out there reading this... Stop with the excuses!! Don't feel like it's ok to be how you are right now because you are a mom or to just give in because you are a mom and there is so much to do. No we can't do it all but you can make choices and decided what YOU WANT!!! Do you want to be where you are now? Or do you want to change?
I say CHANGE!!! Change for your family if that gets you going. You can't afford to get sick or leave this life early... there are too many people that love you and want you around. Each day that passes that you let all the excuses come in to play is a day that you could have made a change.

I hope this has helped someone. To know that most moms are struggling with the same things. But let's unite together and become a band of strong women, of strong mothers!! The more support the better. I would love to journey with you. You can find me on Facebook too: (in fact I would love to meet you on there to give support to each other) www.facebook.com/kelli.hulst.1

clary3

LOVE THIS! Thanks for posting! I also have 3 kids and I finally told hubby that he will have to help me out in the mornings. Get the kids ready for school while I go to the gym. Lucky for me he's very supportive. I'm also going to start weight lifting (HIIT) 3x's a week. SO EXCITED!

nicolej1016

Just what I needed to hear. I am coming out of my 'yoga pant' days and have been 40 days on MFP. Much of your story sounds like mine - including the PPD. My eldest is 9. Thanks for sharing so candidly; it has given me more motivation to stay with this!

Kellihulst

Good for you!! How often will you be heading to the gym?