Single Mom AND Working Full Time? How Do You Make The Time To Work Out?

First things first.
I am a single mom
I can be unorganized.
I  tend to forget things... a lot.
I can be the queen of excuses and of procrastination.
I am NOT a morning person.

When I first started my lifestyle change (and I've started and restarted and restarted), I always came up with any and every reason why I couldn't or shouldn't work out.
 I need to go to bed early tonight. I'll just do it in the morning.
 *stays up late any way and when alarm buzzes at 4:45 am*
 I am too tired. I'll just hit snooze this one time then get up.
*snooze alarm goes off*
 I am still sleepy, I'll just do it tonight.
*changes time to 6:30 and goes back to sleep*

That is how it was everyday. Then I would be upset with myself for not just doing it.
I just felt like there were never enough hours in the day to exercise. But somehow others have the time, so I just told myself "You know what, I am a single parent that works full time as a Massage Therapist. I come home from work and picking up my little one from daycare, cook dinner for me and her, get Arianna fed, bathed and ready for bed, clean up the house, and do laundry if needed. By the time I have done all that, its 9pm or later. And I have to be at work by 8 am. And of course I have to socialize with my sister and her family since that is where me and my daughter are staying for now AND I must catch up on some of my favorite TV shows. Where does that leave ANY time for me to workout?"
Then every single time I looked in the mirror, try to get dressed, or even worse try to have a girl's night out, I didn't like what I was seeing, I didn't like the way my clothes fit. I didn't like that my girl friends look way better than I did. It was like they were oozing all this confidence, even if they really weren't. And me... just a fat girl that always TRIED to look cute but actually looked really gross and fat. They would get all this attention from guys (even if they didn't the attention) and I would just kinda hang out on the sidelines and not really talk to anyone but them. And if the rare occasion arose where someone did talk to me, the subject of my occupation came up then I got the wrong kind of attention since a lot of people connect massage therapist to a masseuse and happy endings... NOPE! I DEFINITELY DON'T DO THAT!
I know you might be thinking that I was really harsh on myself. But this is exactly how I felt and sometimes still feel but wait....

A lot has changed in me. I realize that there are more than enough hours in the day to work out. I realized that I can't have such negative self talk. I have to love my body and myself. That's why I want this change. For my health, self-confidence, self esteem and for my little girl. The thing is AM I WILLING TO MAKE THE TIME? and AM I REALLY THAT TIRED?

Now, I LOVE to workout early in the morning... before I think too much into it and give myself a chance to come up with an excuse. No one else is up at that ungodly time of morning (lol) so I have no interruptions. Downside: I don't get to pump up the music but oh well, there's an iPod for that:)

. I have WAYYYYYYY more energy than I ever thought I would. Somehow just by getting up, pushing play and having Chalene pushing me through my workout just pumps me up. By the time I am done, I have plenty of energy, I am always in a good mood afterward and plus I feel SOOO FREAKIN GOOD that I actually did it and not letting any stupid excuses come between me and my health and fitness goals. I can go on about my busy day without feeling guilty. Its AH-MAZ-ING!! But I understand that not everyone's hours are like mine. (I actually love my schedule, I just wish my workday started a little later or we finished up earlier) So scheduling your workout in the morning may not be whats best for you. Maybe an evening or night time workout is what will be best for you. Maybe around lunch time you have enough time. You have to figure out what works best with your life. Its helps to organize your day and find little shortcuts here and there to maximize your time and your life.

Now I am at the beginning of this journey but I am learning to love myself and my body more and more everyday. The more I feed her with the nutrients she needs, the better she feels and the better she will look. The more I push myself through my workouts, the better she will feel and the better she will look. Its a process. I know I will not see results overnight, but I am constantly progressing. Soon enough, everyone will be able to see all the work I am putting in paying off. And that day... will be the thing that pushes me and motivates me even more to keep going.

Next Blog Post: Simplify your week by pre-cooking and/or pre-portioning your meals. GRAB AND GO makes things so much easier:)

90 DAYS TO SEXY!! WHOOP WHOOP

So my wonderful coach has a new challenge that I am participating in. Its called "90 Days To Sexy".


OF COURSE I WANT IT!!!! I know it will take time but I want to like what I see when I look in the mirror. I have fallen of the face of the earth on every challenge we have had. The thing about this challenge is, if I don't post for 2 days, I'm out. And I don't plan on stopping this one. I have to eat clean and make sure I exercise every day. I am gonna take some before pics and measurements tonight and get some lunches together for the week so that I am ready to go tomorrow morning. I know that it takes four weeks for you to see your body changing, 8 weeks for friends and family to notice and 12 weeks for the world to notice. So this seems like it would be perfect for me since I feel like I am seriously prepared to do this. But I am an emotional eater too, and the stress at what, for right now, is home...well it can be overwhelming. I found out I am number 10 for the waiting list for an apartment and number 22 for another.


Once I get my own place, I think things will be a lot easier for me. I wont have anyone bringing tempting foods into the house. I know I should have stronger will power than that, but when I get upset and aggravated, I want to eat. It soothes me. And its never food that is good for me, I want to chow down on JUNK! It kinda sucks. Its like I can be doing so so good and all of a sudden something happens and my mind goes blank. I am a junk food zombie and don't come back into my body until after I am almost done with whatever I have decided to devour. Then I usually feel guilty. And end up finishing it off.


Bad habits are hard to break. If I can put in that first 30 days, I know things will be easier after that. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit. I know I can do this.


I have decided to buy food every week or so for lunch at my job so that I am not tempted to go out to eat every day. I am going to work out every morning. Stay dedicated to that 4:30-4:45 wake up time every single day. And I am going to prove to everyone (and myself) that I can change my body. I am going to be a inspiration to others that want to lose weight but are afraid to try or stuck in their ways, I am going to be a great role model for my daughter so that she lives a healthy lifestyle. I am going to PUSH MYSELF EVERY DAY and I am going to CONSISTENTLY PUSH PLAY!!!!

Something I've noticed..

Now I am on this lifestyle changing mission for a reason, as I am sure you may be. I love to get my workout out of the way in the morning. No one else is awake so I am not interrupted (and since I am currently staying with my sister and her family, it can get pretty distracting in here). But I realize in order for me to get that workout in in the morning, I have to wake up at like 4 am. That will give me time to eat breakfast, wait about 45 min to an hour, workout, shower, and do my hair before I wake my daughter up around 7am and get out of the door by 7:45 at the latest.


YIKES!

4 AM!


Now I know there are people that are dedicated to this type of schedule and have adjusted to it. I don't know that I EVER could. During the week I am usually getting off work at 6 pm. In order for me to get around 8 hours of sleep, I would have to be asleep by 8 pm. That means picking up my daughter, dinner, bath for Arianna, and right to sleep... but for my little one, sleeping at 8 pm would be a joke, I think. We usually don't get in bed til around...well now. It is summertime so my nephews stay up til who knows when and I cant tell them otherwise, and even when school does start, they wont be in bed by 8.


Now I am waiting for my apartment to be ready so in the next few weeks, I am hoping to be moved or moving in and then figure out a schedule that will work best for both of us, but for right now I guess I will just workout whenever I can:)


How do you balance work, school, kids, and working out? What time of day works best for you?

As for me, I just finished my daily workout. I did Turbo Jam's 20 min workout and then just because I did Cardio Partyyy!!! and I feel great! Sweaty but great:)










Now personally I hate to post pics when my hair is a mess and I look quite scary, but if you can't handle me at my worst, you definitely don't deserve to see me at my best... when I am all sexy and fit and health and whatnot:)




Sweet Dreams and Good Night:)