Setting an Example

Almost two months ago, I started exercising again.

I don't like to exercise. But I decided that between exercising and dieting, exercising was the lesser of the evils. I like to eat, and I normally don't overdo it. Obviously if I wanted my clothes to fit better then the dragon to be conquered had to be exercise.

This go 'round with exercise has been inspired by a few things.

First, I turn 40 really soon. Too soon. Exercising at 39-year-old body is bound to be easier than exercising a 40-year-old body, so I figured I better get started.

Second, I noticed over the summer that while my boys wanted to be outside for long stretches, sweating and going at 90 MPH constantly, my sweet Allison was doing the opposite. In fact, she'd be outside a mere 10 minutes before asking if she could go inside to get a Popsicle, because she was "sooooo hot". And after eating her Popsicle, she'd sneak back inside and go play with her dolls in her room.

Obviously, her mother needed to set a better example. (Nobody really stresses that fact before you have kids, you know?)

I already had the "Hit the Spot Pilates" DVD by Denise Austin that I bought a few years ago after my physical therapist suggested that pilates would help with a chronic back ache I have.

And then I read about Jillian Michaels' "30 Day Shred" DVD, which was just a 20-minute workout. So I bought it.

My motto is now two fold:

"I can do anything for 20 minutes." I've cleaned vomit for 20 minutes. I birthed three babies for well over 20 minutes. I clean three toilets in our house in about 20 minutes. I can do 20 minutes of exercise!

And when I am tempted to give up, because I don't see the results I want, either on the scale or in how my pants fit, I repeat this, "Twenty minutes is better than what I was doing." And what I was doing was nothing. Unless you count how often I climb stairs at home. There are a lot of stairs in our house, but I doubt climbing them even a few dozen times a day was doing my heart any favors. You'd be surprised how slowly you can climb stairs if you really put yourself into it.

I started exercising during the summer while the kids could do it with me. And I alternate between the two DVDs because, seriously, I just can't do that 30 Day Shred two days in a row. There have been mornings after a Jillian session that I wish someone would blow dry my hair for me. And a few mornings that I felt like I'd been horseback riding the whole day before.

I noticed that the boys would do the whole workout with me, but Allison would quit about 10 minutes into it. (Evidently this setting an example stuff requires longer than a month or two.)

Yesterday, Allison said something to me that makes me think I need to re-evaluate exercising in front of the kids.

"Mom, you know on the exercise video how you can see that girl's bones stick out?" she asked.

"Allison, those aren't her bones; those are her muscles," I said.

"Yeah, her muscles," she said. "That's what I meant. She has those because she's been doing it for a long time."

I agreed. And then she went for the jugular.

"You need some of that, mom," my precious angel told me, "because I'm not seeing any of that with you."

Nice.

I could take that all personal like and quit this torture exercise, but I won't.

Because 40 continues to approach. And my girl still needs a fitness example.

Plus, I can do anything for 20 minutes. And 20 minutes is more exercise than I was doing before.

Oh, and there's always the wisdom that comes from Dr. Greg House. Yes, he's a TV character, but so what?

His wisdom? "Everybody lies." Even my little girl.

Regardless of what my daughter thinks, I know I have muscles.

I know it's true, because they hurt!