Summer is almost over and we’re about to start our journey to being able to use the gym. I think this is going to involve going to the gym each day and sitting in the kid’s club (day care) for at least a half hour until my son is comfortable. I’m tempted to just get some fitness equipment in my house. In fact, we sold a treadmill a couple years ago!

But my kid needs socialization, so we’re going to suck it up. Even if it takes weeks! Its not like I’m working out now, anyway, what’s a few times of going to the gym and not working out? No biggie, right? Well, we’re waiting for summer to be over because then all the big kids will be back in school. Then the kid’s club won’t be full of fast and wild 7-10 year olds.

Any motivational words? I could use them. And a box of wine.

When I was 20, I could lose weight like nothing. I could run or dance or bike for a few weeks and see a difference. Now, I could run for 6 months and not see much of a difference. I’ve considered things like hydroxycut or hoodia, but since we’re not done having babies, I don’t think that’s any good. Plus, that kind of thing is really no solution, although I’d love to speed things along. I really just have to find an activity that’s possible with a kid who hates the daycare at the gym, hates riding in a stroller, and refuses to peddle his tricycle. He does like Tae Bo, that may have to be our solution. So Billy Blanks - what can we do about my big booty?!

Did I tell you that I made it to the gym the other day? We got up on a Monday, had a small breakfast and headed to the newer gym that just opened near my house. I brought William to the kids club - their little babysitting facility, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the kids club at the new gym is almost twice the size of the one at the older gym. There were a lot of kids, but because of all the space, everyone seemed happy and occupied - coloring, playing dinosaurs, watching Dora. William walked right in, picked up a bull dozer and started playing. I headed out to the floor and had a nice 45 min. workout. I jogged and walked on a treadmill, used the ellipticals, did a bunch of crunches and girl pushups and stretched. It was wonderful.

I went to get William and he seemed happy, albeit ready to go.

The next day, we get to the gym and we’re heading into the main doors and he moves behind me and gives me a little shove, saying, “you go, mommy, I’ll stay here.” Um, what? Then he says, “I’m not going to the gym anymore.” We went inside anyway where he proceeded to scream and cry like I was pinching him or pulling his hair or something. Very dramatic.

Well, it’s not like gymnastics where we can just stay even though he’s crying. For the sake of the three care providers and the 10 or so other kids in the kids club, I felt obligated to get my crier out of there. Thereby giving in to his tantrum. Ugh.

My only option at this point is to go at night once my husband gets home. This plan is kind of crappy because I don’t ever feel like going at 8 pm and it’s very easy to make excuses.

Nonetheless, I’ve got some weight to lose…I need a plan.

My son kept getting sick from the day care at the gym. One ear infection was so bad, he had to be on two rounds of antibiotics. He had never been sick before, then we were going to the gym everyday, and he was never well. So I can’t say for sure that that’s what made him sick, but that’s what I believe.

So anyway, I had been going everyday, making real progress. You may remember reading that I was running two miles - without stopping! Sadly, all my progress has been lost. I went back a few times, but being summer, the day care was FULL of big kids running around like maniacs and two or three bored looking caregivers watching Dora. I wasn’t comfortable with this at all.

I’m sure all you mothers of more than one kid out there are like, “oh, you’ll get over that! Wait until you have some more - you won’t be able to get rid of them fast enough” etc. Well, thanks for that, but no need to leave it as a comment. I’m sure you were in my overprotective shoes at one point.

Anyway, so I’ve taken to going to the gym at night. My husband and son both go to bed at 8pm. So that’s when I go. It’s been such a relief to not have to deal with those care providers, to not have to worry about anything. I turn the monitor up loud, so it will wake my husband, but they pretty much both just sleep, and I get peaceful time alone.

I’ve been walking two miles each night. Next week I’ll start with the push ups and sit ups, and then work my way back to running. It’s going well, so far. I’m pretty tired tonight, so I’m writing this post to remind myself why I need to go.

Wish me luck!

I haven’t given a fitness update in sometime - mostly because it’s depressing. I had to stop going to the gym for a couple weeks because the baby was sick and on two different rounds of antibiotics. I didn’t want him in the daycare, so we walked and jogged around the neighborhood. It’s crazy how much harder jogging with the jogger is than jogging on a treadmill. One problem is that my jogger lists to the left, so I constantly have to pick up the front end and turn us. Pain in the butt. But I also think it’s the sun, the asphalt, the Santa Ana winds, my bad attitude, etc.

So anyway, back to the point. I’ve been going to the gym a little less regularly (3-4 times per week vs. 6-7), and I try to go when my husband can watch the baby, so he doesn’t keep getting sick from the gym daycare. Even with all these interruptions, my jogging is improving, and I’m up to two miles straight (at 5.0 speed) on the treadmill! The Airborne Ranger cadences on my iPod truly make all the difference.

To keep up the good work, I’ve stopped weighing myself. I plan to weigh in once a month, and that’s it. I’m also hoping to do a 5k in May - something to shoot for. And if I walk, I walk, but I’m still healthier. Who cares if my butt is as big as ever, as long as my heart can sustain it?