Falling in Love with Fitness

“I’m in love! I’m in love! And I don’t care who knows it!”

I am involved in an intense love affair…with my gym. I didn’t see it coming, but things have gotten pretty serious.  I miss it when I am away. I think about what it’s doing when I am not there. I often plan my day around when I get to go. And being there just makes me so happy.

It wasn’t always like this…working out used to be something I had to do. It was very low on the priority list and I didn’t look forward to when the time came to actually do something. I begrudgingly went for a run or put on the latest fitness DVD, counting down the minutes until it was over so I could check it off my list for the day. I knew it was good for me but I didn’t enjoy it. Whenever people talked about “living at the gym” I just did not get it.

But then I found MY fitness – something I loved, something that challenged me, a place where I made the best friends, where I felt supported and free to just enjoy the journey vs. work toward some perfect outcome. It transitioned from something I felt required to do into something I now feel privileged to do. My gym (CrossFit) has given me an outlet to be social (a huge need for a work at home mom) and more importantly, a place my kids and husband can enjoy with me. I love feeling like an athlete (most of the time) and getting to set an example of health and self-care for my girls.

Finding something you love can be challenging – especially as moms, we are constantly struggling with prioritizing our needs and schedules with that of our family. If I can offer any words of advice on getting started it is just to try everything you can! There are countless options for workouts both in and out of the home. Things like Class Pass and Groupon make it easy and affordable to try out a variety of classes and gyms. Most fitness apps offer a free week or discounted trial. There are even entire gyms and programs centered around working out with your child. You won’t know what you like or don’t like until you try.

Before I found CrossFit I tried everything from Jillian Michael’s workouts to barre classes to Orange Theory and everything in between. I resisted trying CrossFit for a very long time because I thought it would be too intense but it turns out, that is the exact reason I now love it. Had I never tried, I might still be on the search for what I love today.

Whatever you find also has to fit your lifestyle – I am fortunate that our gym provides a kid’s room so my girls can come with me whenever necessary. There are class times and open gym hours that give me options so I don’t feel pressure to work my entire day around one session. We also built up a little garage gym with some basic equipment so that when life is too crazy to allow me to leave for a class, I still have the option of fitting in some movement quickly at home.

And finally, you have to LOVE it. That doesn’t mean you have to do it every day. It doesn’t have to be the center of your life. But it does have to be something that brings you joy. That is the only way for it to have a chance to fit on your already full plate. And that joy will help overshadow any guilt that comes from making it a priority in your day. I promise.

This love affair has changed my life – it has made me a better wife and mom, a happier person, and stronger both physically and mentally. Me and my gym are more than just a fling…we’re in it for the long haul.