I’m just in the door and the twins race to greet me and begin climbing over one another to be the first to get to me. They’re both talking at the same time vying for my attention. Their so adamant in their pursuit that they’re pushing me and I nearly trip over the two large grocery bags I’ve brought in and set down at my feet. Their volumes rise to be heard and they don’t settle until get down on my knees and wrap my arms around both of them at the same time. I could get annoyed or cross with them, and in the past I might have. However, today I feel calm, almost zen-like. I have a goofy grin on my face and the boisterous preschoolers aren’t bothering me in the least. Do you want to know my secret? It’s endorphins. You see, I took Inga’s HIIT fitness class this morning and I feel happy and relaxed.
I’ve always wanted to be the gym-going type or a runner, but for a really long time I was just never able to pull the trigger. My college roommates and I would make big plans to hit up the fitness center after classes but then things would get in the way. We’d have homework to do, or much more likely, a new episode of Newlyweds with Nick and Jessica would come on MTV and the gym would quickly be pushed to “tomorrow.” Later on, in my mid 20’s, I started signing up for 5K and 10K races. I thought I had found the ticket to becoming an exerciser for life, but ultimately that phase fizzled out and I still have yet to run a half marathon (bucket list item for 2019!)
Fast forward a number of years and I was suddenly a first-time mom to twins. I came out of the first year of caring for twin infants sputtering on fumes. People promised that once you survived the first year the worst was over, but I just didn’t find that to be true at all. After the first year they started walking and mine only walked in separate directions which made it almost impossible to leave the house with them. Between work and the twins, the demands of motherhood were constant. I felt isolated and overwhelmed and I wasn’t enjoying being a mom as much as I thought I would. Luckily for me my life was about to change. I stumbled upon a group fitness class that encourages moms to bring their children with to the classes. I took my first class in March of 2016 and I can honestly say I’ve been a devoted exerciser since.
There are many scientific studies which tout the benefits of exercise. It’s known to help maintain a healthy body weight, to keep our bones strong, and to improve our immune system, but the major benefit of exercise that I see is its impact on mental health. It only took a few classes for me to learn that after the exertion of exercise I felt happier, energized and more calm. Realizing that was like a lightbulb switching on.
To this day, I don’t exercise for the benefits to my organ systems, or for weight loss, or for disease prevention. I exercise to help me have the patience to be a better mom. I exercise because it truly improves my mood and helps me stay calm in the chaotic and stressful moments of motherhood. I’m certainly not a perfectly calm and happy mom in all situations, however I’m now a true believer in the mental health benefits of exercise and I’ll never go back to my pre-exercise life.
I can tell what you’re thinking, and you’re right, cardio is hardio. It’s hard to want to do something that requires a lot of physical effort, especially when as mom’s were usually forced to do it at inhospitable times like before work in the morning or after kid’s bedtime at night. It’s hard to muster the motivation to exercise when it’s dark out and cold and you’ve had a long day, but if you ever feel stressed, overwhelmed, irritable, depressed, or anxious exercise might be just the change you need to start feeling better.
So my encouragement to you is, grab a buddy and find a form of exercise that will work for you whether its group fitness classes, running, going to a gym, speed walking the skywalk, or at home videos and just commit to it. If I can do it, you can do it too. New Year’s is the perfect season to try something new in your life. Start taking care of you mama, and you won’t be disappointed that you did. If I knew how good I could feel with exercise in my life I would have started working out a long, long time ago.
