Mom, Why Do You Workout?
- Teresa McCoy
- Jun 9, 2017
- 5 min read
The other day my oldest daughter asked me "Mom, why do you workout." I was so excited because I knew I needed to write about it and because I got the opportunity to tell her why we spend time out of our day to workout!
The answer I gave my 3 year old was simple, because well she's 3, but there is more she will learn the older she gets. So for now the answer she received was "To feel good, to be healthy, and to be strong!"
But here are my many other reasons why I workout. It all starts with the reason I started working out in the first place. I do not want to be unhappy like I was in high school and in college: 30lbs heavier with no understanding of a healthy relationship with food, poor body image, mentally weak, and with a low self esteem. So when I initially started it was to loose weight and "look good" but I quickly learned the real benefits. Working out gave me energy, gave me confidence, taught me to achieve what I believed to be un-achievable. It helped me to feel good and to feel strong!
Once I felt these things I knew I wanted to do more so I studied hard to get my personal training certification. This gave me more drive to learn more about "fitness and health". I learned about the importance of muscle now and in the future when I'm older. I learned how what we eat makes a difference in how we feel, how we perform in and out of the gym, and that food doesn't have to be our enemy!
Working out while pregnant was definitely not because I was trying to gain a certain physique! I worked out while I was pregnant because it helped me to feel good and to feel strong! I knew that working out was good for my babies inside and set them up for success when they were out. I worked out because I knew that every day I chose to workout was going to make my post partum journey easier. It made me mentally and physically stronger (not in the weight you lift stronger). It also decreased aches and pains!
Post-partum I worked out because it helped me to feel good and to feel strong! It helped me to not have a bad case of the baby blues. Having worked out while pregnant I was still in the habit of being active and over coming difficulties like changing hundreds of babies' diapers or using the mental and physical strength to get out of bed to consul a crying baby! I've learned that pregnancy is temporary but post partum is forever. This stage is different and sometimes more challenging but worth it!
Since becoming a mom the following has been my biggest drive. I workout because my little ones watch and imitate everything I say and do. I want them to see a mom who not only tells her daughters that they are beautiful and strong but also believes it herself! I want them to see a mom that doesn't look in the mirror and start to cry but rather looks in the mirror and smiles because she knows no matter what her body looks like it is loved, beautiful, and strong. I want my daughters to see a mom that eats without regret, has balance, and knows that food is not an enemy but a gift from God.
They will grow up seeing a mom who picks up weight and drops it and then picks it back up again even when she wants to stop. Not because she has to but because she wants to! Just like in life there are so many times I want to give up on things or people but I refuse to give up. I "pick the weight" back up and keep on working hard. No matter how much I want to give up on some people in my life I refuse to. I want them to see a mom that doesn't just preach but practices what she preaches.
I want to teach my children how important it is to live a life of balance with food and 'exercise'. Whether that's walking, running, lifting weights, crossfitting, etc. I want them to find an activity they love doing and to do it!
I want my son to see what a strong woman looks and acts like. I want him to understand that women are a force to be wreckened with and to be respected. He will learn from my actions that women are not weak and someday when he's older he'll know what true beauty and strength looks like. And also, in case you haven't seen the pattern, working out helps me to feel good and to feel strong!
Other reasons I workout? Because my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and a gift from God! I want to take care of it and use the gifts he's given me! I enjoy spending the hour to release stress. It feels good to move my body, lift heavy weight, and to do things I once thought myself incapable of.
I want to have the strength to be a mom: picking up kids, running around chasing kids, dealing with the stress of kids, and more. I also workout because I enjoy the times I get to workout with my husband, family, and/or friends!
The following are not reasons I workout but are the reasons some people do.
To have a "skinny" or "hot" body. That's just ridiculous because who the heck even knows what that means!? Now I'm not saying we can't workout to change our physique because I'll be honest I love to add muscle to my body! The difference is that I don't obsess about it and let it control my life. I also don't add muscle because of society's standards but because I want it. I do not workout because I "have to" because of something I ate or drank. I don't feel the need to out work my 'diet'. I believe in balance! I don't workout to fit anybody else's standards or to fit in with other people because working out is the "cool" thing to do. Lastly, I do not work out because I think it makes me better than anyone else. There are more reasons why but that's enough for now! Oh, just to clarify I'm not trying to put down anyone that works out for these reasons.
Do I think my reasons for working out could be some of the reasons for you if you gave it a shot? Yes! But if you're thinking you should start because you don't look good etc. I want you to know something first:
You are beautiful!
You are strong!
Right now!! Working out will only help you to bring those qualities out! I believe working out has been given a bad rep but I want to change that. So if you're scared but think you might want to give it a shot let me know. I'd love to help you start the journey!!
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