It’s hard for me to make the inevitable dieting/exercise New Year’s resolutions in January, because I’m still busy doing my duty to the stash of Christmas candy in the cupboard. Now that it’s February, and I’ve long since exhausted Santa’s chocolate hand-outs, it’s time for me to get that sugar out of my blood and get my body back into shape. Mark recently put up a sign in the corner of the bathroom mirror that says:
Why Exercise?
- Reduce depression and anxiety
- Increase bone density
- Have more energy
- Improve digestion
- Strengthen cardiovascular system
- Sleep better
- Lose weight
- Decrease cholesterol level
- Build muscle
- Decrease blood pressure
- Improve glucose tolerance
- Decrease insulin resistance
- Increase flexibility
- Improve posture
- increase mental focus
- reduce stress
- Improve appetite for healthy foods
- Enhance immune system
- Alleviate varicose veins
- Decrease IBS symptoms
- Decrease risk of colon cancer
Almost inspired by our new bathroom decor, I added “Her List” next to “His List." It was a little shorter.
Why Exercise?
- Lose Weight
Call me shallow, but at least I'm honest.
Speaking of honesty, there’s nothing like the brutal honesty of kids to motivate a little dieting in adults. Last week Sage approached me and innocently commented, "Your tummy’s humungous.” It took some effort to neither laugh nor cry, and I tried to look nonchalant as I squeaked out an "Oh.”
Another day, just after I finished exercising, Eliza joined me on the couch, and she slipped her arm around my back, which left her tiny little hand resting on a big conspicuous love handle. Eliza giggled, then squeezed my side and said “That’s your toushee, Mommy.” I don't know about you, but I give myself all kinds of pep talks about how "No one notices this big tummy hanging off the front end of my body. I’m the only one who knows it's under there.” When your love handles are big enough to be mistaken for a bum, that’s when you have to do stop avoiding those New Year's Resolutions.
And please, do not try to console me with the "At least you're nursing" line. In my book, breastfeeding NEVER corresponds with weight loss. How do people think that eating four major meals a day and at least four more snacks help a mom do anything more than get a complex about feeling like a cow? I don’t know how I could possibly weigh more than I do now if I stopped eating for two. There you have the conclusions to my observational study of one breastfeeding mother. I'm pretty sure La Leche League will be knocking at my door to hear my findings soon. I'll tell them. Or maybe it would suffice to just show them my "toushee" and "humungous stomach."
Or maybe it is time to start some New Month of the New Year's Resolutions.
17 comments:
Oh my goodness...thank you for just telling the truth on the real reason women exercise! Breastfeeding and losing weight never went hand in hand for me either...or it could have been the bag of c. chips I was eating to cope with all the crying. I am sorry for the kids drunken comments, perhaps you need to get their eyes checked out because you are a skinny little thing!
I object! I just saw you yesterday and there were NO love handles the size of a bottom...funny analogy though--your kids will obviously have your same knack for descriptive writing! Thanks for sharing your feminine humanity via blog posts though, it always makes me feel better! (ps the bread? it's gone--less then 24 hours later, it was that good--the applesauce and soup? still thinking about them, yum! My mom says thanks, you're so sweet!)
You're awesome! Thanks for the laugh! You're right about the reasons to exercise...if only there was time between feeding, diapering, laundry, meals, school..!!
I think I've made new weight-loss plans every morning in the shower (directly after weighing myself...) for six weeks. So I'm right there with you on belated resolutions. I don't believe you or Eliza about any extra flesh on your body, though.
When I was 5, I once told my babysitter to her face that I thought she was gigantic. I cringe every time I think about it. She probably cried. And if blogs had existed, she probably would have told the internet about it, too.
You look lovely. Always.
Sage, so casually telling you your tummy is humongous! Which it's not. And where did Eliza learn the word toushee? Oh wow.
We all laughed out loud as Heather read us your blog. Too bad you're not here to share some Jerusalem chocolate chips (a little chocolate in the bloodstream always makes you feel better, right?). --Mom
I have two weddings this summer and an anniversary get away to look good for so I'm totally there with you on the vain reason for exercising (although I would have other people believe I do it to be healthy). I won't go into how thin I got while nursing because it all turned on me when I weened the kids, hence the need to EXERCISE. Even though I can't see you I'm telling you "YOU LOOK GREAT!"
your kids are so cute and please tell Becca congrats on her bundle of joy! Abigail LOVES looking at pics of sage, so fun!!!!!
Janel, I'm helping you be skinny by eating your share of the chocolate-peanut butter chip cookies Mom just made. I only had about a bazillion. I think I need to join you on the exercise routine . . .
Well, my idea of exercise is walking to the cookie jar and back to the couch. That's a lap. Then the trip to the fridge for the milk and back is another lap.
Janel! 1 - I have never known you to look anything but gorgeous - so you can take you claims of having lovehandles and a huge belly and, dare I say, shove it? Just kidding - but I know how you feel - I think the first few months after pregancy are the worst! Definitely not looking forward to the whole deflation process :)
My kids think I'm pregnant all the time. If only we could be like some people that wear their jeans the next day. At least we can mourn together. :)
I was cracking up! So much for only feeling huge! I'm there with you. Max hasn't said anything about it, but a neighbor boy did ask if I was still pregnant. I'm counting down the days to week 6 so I can work out again. I'm sure once I start I'll be wishing I still had an excuse not to. Good luck!!
Once again you have succeeded in making me laugh my head off--which makes it hard to take care of the little ones by the way! I agree with "Mom" a little chocolate in the bloodstream does a lot of good!Anyways and especially in January...I believe exercise is over-rated!lol
LOL! I love it! February is always my recommit month too. For the same cupboard stash reasons.
If you're interested, I really love the website sparkpeople.com. The people who started ebay designed it as a way to give back to humanity. It's pretty cool and a good FREE diet/exercise website run by nutritionists. It's got all kinds of great programs on there (like a place to enter your favorite recipes so you can see how many calories they really are :S). Not that you're supposed to diet while nursing, but I find it really helpful for helping me get a balanced amount of food instead of my regular 99% sugar/flour.
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