Do you feel the burn? Ughhhh....I feel it!

So, I have been trying my best to be a happy, healthy and loving wife and mother but unfortunately over the last 6 months the healthy part has been rapidly running downhill (exactly the opposite of what I have been doing). For example, before we welcomed our little Andrew into the world I would go running AT LEAST 3 times a week or play energizing games with my hubby (such as, soccer, racquet ball or horse shoes--what?! Horseshoes? oh, if you don't think horse shoes is very "energizing" then you have never played it with Michael West). Anyway, I am proud to say that even when I was 8 months pregnant--yes, 8 MONTHS which meant I lived in a body that was squished, squeezed, lopsided and significantly rotundas--I would go for brisk walks and even jog a little! (I don't even want to think about how silly I looked) However after Andrew came, the exercising just kind of stopped. Now, keep in mind there are excellent reasons why this occurred. Some of which include: no time (every minute of my day was now being better spent taking care of my beautiful little baby), no energy (please, when I wake up 4-5 times a night and am part of some horrific phenomenon that won't let me take naps, then there was NO WAY I was going to have energy to exercise), and lack of desire (hey, I just gave birth--you tell me what else will occupy your mind after you have a baby!)

However, now that 6 months have passed all these reasons have significantly diminished. Andrew now takes great naps and sleeps through the night, which means I have a lot more time and energy. Therefore I soon found that slowly but surely my fortitude for fitness has returned once again. The only obstacle in my way was now trying to figure out what I wanted to do for exercise. Jogging seemed too dreary, plus Andrew doesn't like long stroller rides (he prefers to be out and and free of restraint). And then I remembered my sweet friend, Frances, had given me some exercise videos a while ago called, "turbo jam". I decided to pull them out and use them once again. At first when the hip-hop music and bubbly aerobics instructor filled my living room I thought, "Hey, this doesn't seem too hard. It's going to be easy and fun!" I maintained this sunny disposition for the first 5 minutes of the routine.

And then...I hit minute 6.

Apparently all the sitting and remaining stationary for the last 6 months had taken it's toll because my side started to get a stitch. "No big deal, I thought, I can push through it!" So I kept going and then I began to feel my legs buckle and my heart race. Again, no big deal because this was all part of the exercise and it sure is worth it in the end, right? Well, I went at this pace for about 20 minutes into the routine and then bubbly miss aerobics instructor starts the "Turbo" part of the work out. Before I knew it, she was telling me that I had to kick forward, backward and side to side as I was punching and pretending to attack an imaginary foe (right, if I ever I got attacked I doubt my kicking or punching would hinder my attacker. I figure my best bet is to try and tickle them away.) Then I would jump rope for a measly 10 seconds and perpetually repeat the process all the while listening to her screech out orders to keep my bum tucked in, my shoulders straight and my abs clenched! "Ummmm...der, a whhhat?!" Oh well...I can be very determined and I wasn't going let this lick me so I ineptly stumbled on. As "little miss sunshine" fluently kicked and punched and smiled and glowed I goofed and grunted and wobbled and stunk. I realized then that I am a masochist.

Well, I really don't know how I did it, but I somehow made it through and finished the 45 minute routine!!!! Can I get a whoop-whoop?!? It felt great that I had accomplished it but even better that I could now sit and conform back to my mold on the couch without feeling guilty! Ahhhhh!!! That night I honestly felt healthier and I even experienced the best sleep I've had for months. And then...I woke up. The next morning every muscle in my body seemed to groan in agony as I pulled myself out of bed. I wanted to howl. I looked at my husband and pathetically whimpered something like, "Hmmbbllppphhhfff." He, being more of the optimist in our relationship, smiled and gently patted my back and said, "Guess it's working" and then cheerfully sprung out of bed. Hah! Working?!? If you call massively stinging glutes, sickeningly tender abs and so much aching that Hulk Hogan might even shed a tear, then I guess it's "working"! And then I realized, I have been known to be a bit of a drama queen when it comes to sore muscles, and the stiffness really was indicating that my poor physique was getting some well-needed exercise. So, before I could stop myself I heaved my lump out of bed, put on the work-out shoes and heard bubbly blond say, "Are you ready to have fun? If you do this right, you can really feel the burn!" My response: "Honey, do I ever!"

It has now been a week and a half and I have done the routine every day (except Sunday) and have the sincerest intention to continue on for good. I am also ecstatic to say that I feel great and happy and I have more energy than before! So, for all you fellow pessimistic exercise drama queens I say, the burn really is worth it! :-)


P.S. Special thanks to Frances, I really do LOVE these videos. Thanks so much!