The Journey Back to a Fitter Me: One Month In and Beyond

By , SparkPeople Blogger
It’s been almost a month now since I started back to exercising (and blogging about it) after having my third child.  As you’d expect (and I’m sure you can relate to if you’ve ever struggled to maintain a fitness routine), I’ve had good days and bad days.  Some workouts have gone very smoothly and given me the confidence to feel like I can get back to the fitness level I once had.  Other workouts have been a little more difficult- either because I’m tired, I get interrupted or for whatever reason they just don’t work out like I’d planned.  I’m trying to learn to “go with the flow” a little better (which is TOUGH for a personality like mine) and look at the bigger picture, that I’m living a physically active life, even if I’m not ready to run my next marathon tomorrow.  That will come in time.
 
If you’ve been taking this journey along with me, I’m sure you’ve also had some days that are easier than others.  Maybe you’re still struggling to find workouts that you enjoy rather than dread.  Maybe you’ve not developed a consistent routine, sticking to your schedule some weeks but falling off track others.  As long as you’re still in the game and still committed to making positive changes to your activity level, that’s what matters most.  Try not to beat yourself up too much about not being perfect or not progressing as quickly as you’d like.
 
Week 3 recap:  My goal last week was to slowly increase the intensity and challenge of my workouts.  I did add a little bit of time to my outdoor walk/jogs when my husband was home to watch the kids.  But I find that I just don’t have any more than 30-40 minutes in the morning or during naptime to squeeze in a workout without being interrupted.  So I make the most of those minutes, and hope that short but challenging workouts will be enough to help me continue working toward my goals. 
 
Step 4:  Commit to a few long term goals. So where do I go from here?  I’m someone who needs goals to work toward because otherwise, it’s much easier to fall off the wagon.  I’ve decided that I’m going to run a 10K in my area within the next two months (and it’s okay if I have to walk some of it), and I’m also going to register for a half marathon in May, 2012 that starts training in January.  Those two goals are going to keep me busy for the foreseeable future.   
 
I plan to give you all periodic updates on my journey, but I feel confident that after a month, I’m going to continue making progress toward my goals.  I hope you feel the same, so please let me know how things are going.  I love hearing from you because your stories inspire me to work harder! 
 
Are there a few longer term goals you could set for yourself right now?  Do you feel like setting these goals will help you stay focused and on track a little better?