Back to the actual post.... STRONG! That's the title of today's entry. I dragged my tired bones out of bed this morning after a sleepless night. I stumbled into the baby's room and changed his diaper, discarded the diaper outside, and washed my hands. Then I stumbled around the kitchen preparing breakfast for three kids. They always want different things. And I oblige them because I'm just happy to see them eat! After making cereal with strawberries on top, oatmeal with strawberries on the side, and oatmeal with sprinkles on top and strawberry jam swirled in, and topping off all the milks, I sat down to eat my own breakfast. I looked at the clock. One hour until intervals class and body pump. Blah. I didn't have it in me. I sluggishly ate my granola and helped my kids with their endless requests in between bites. I decided that staying home from the gym this morning would not be any less exhausting. The kids would still make my morning incessantly busy - constant requests for food or entertainment, constant fighting, constant messes. Yes, it would be far better to get out, let them play with their friends in childminding for an hour and a half, and I could have a "break."
After cleaning up breakfast messes, getting all three kids dressed and teeth brushed and hair done, then hurrying in to brush my teeth and throw my hair up in a ponytail, I realized that I was already running late. Maybe I'd just do some light cardio on the elliptical machine today.... I got all the kids' shoes on, grabbed up the diaper bag, a water bottle, and my keys, and then made the long journey from my front porch to the car. It is about 10 feet. Yet, with three kids, it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. They want to stop and pick a flower, then they see a bug, then they want to run over to the neighbor's yard, then they realize they forgot something in the house, then there's the tears, then I'm getting them all to the car and trying to get all three of them to sit down so they can get buckled in their seats. The oldest two do great. They climb in and get buckled. I wrestle with my toddler to get him to actually sit so I can buckle him. It's like trying to wrestle a cat into a bucket of water. I feel defeated. I wait until he's ready. I try again. I bribe him with a book to hold, a suddenly-fascinating toy to play with, anything that will get him to sit down so I can strap him in! Done. By this point, I have already completely missed the intervals class. If I hurry, I can still make it to body pump. If I have it in me.
The drive to the gym is a short five minute zip through the neighborhood, thank goodness! We get into the parking lot and find a spot near the stairs. Walking my kids through a parking lot is like herding cats. All three of them want to wander in three different directions. So, I get them all lined up, hold the youngest, and we venture from the parking lot, up the stairs.... as one kid wanders down some mysterious steps to a utility room and another kid wanders over to the flower garden and my youngest is fighting with all his might to get out of my arms... so back down the stairs, round up the kids, back up the stairs. Finally into the building.
Then we have to get down the hallway. Oh boy. They want to stop and touch everything and look at everything. Then we get to the front desk where I try to get all three to hold still and patiently wait in line in one spot without wandering off. Unfortunately there is usually a long line in the mid-morning because of all the tennis camps going on. We finally make our way to the front, I'm only missing one kid, and I get signed in. I grab a towel, have one kid in a barrel hold on one side as I grip another kid's hand and go calling for the missing kid. I find missing kid. We proceed to steps to go downstairs. They are freshly mopped. I try to hold hands, they resist and want to do it themselves. My oldest runs down the stairs, no problem. My three year old cautiously steps down the stairs, taking about 30 seconds per step. We have about 20 to go. I ask if I can carry her. "No! I'll do it myself, Mommy!" So, I wait. The youngest is getting restless and is squirming out of my arms. I have no idea where my oldest has disappeared to. Still waiting..... Finally we get to the bottom of the stairs.
We have to pass a drinking fountain before we turn the corner to childminding. This is the next challenge. My oldest is already at the drinking fountain, guzzling down water... or at least getting it all down his shirt, and making a big deal about how refreshing it is, so that his sister cannot resist it. So, we have to stop. I'm already carrying a toddler, a diaper bag, a water bottle, and a towel, but, sure, why not lift up my three-year-old for five minutes while she, too, gets a nice long bath in the drinking fountain. Done! We turn the corner, hustle all the kids into the room and shut the door behind me. Success! We made it! I get all the shoes off, hang up the diaper bag, and then one of the childminding teachers comes over and politely asks if I would like to change my reservation time to 10:00 instead of 9:00 each day because it's pretty clear that it's impossible for me to make it to the gym on time. I smile at her and wonder if she has ANY idea what I had just been through to get there. I laugh and tell her that we'd try to stick with 9:00 and if it doesn't seem to be working out after this week, then I'd change it.
I walk into the workout area of the gym and see everyone getting set up for body pump. I don't know.... I feel like I just got a world class workout just getting there..... Maybe I'd just sit on the bike and read a magazine. I started to walk on the treadmill while I decided. I watched as the class set up their benches and got out their bars with their weights. I noticed my towel draped around my neck at that point. I had only grabbed it because I had planned on really sweating today. I never sweat. It's one of my "super powers." I can do an intense 60 minute cardio class and barely work up a glisten. But, I really wanted to sweat today. I wanted to kick my own ass. So, it was decided. Body pump.
I have NEVER lifted weights before. You know, other than little hand held weights for toning, or using the occasional machine in the weight-lifting area. But I have never really "lifted weights" before. I have done all sorts of cardio and yoga and pilates, but no weights. I decided that would be my challenge this summer. I'm now in my 30s and need to focus on maintaining bone mass and building muscle while I can. I'm in my prime! I want to feel like it! Besides, my scrawny little arms could use a little muscle. I did body pump for the first time last Friday and I spent the weekend hobbling around with sore muscles. It was awesome! So, today, I was going to really work it. I upped my weights a little, entered the class area, and took my spot.
Holy burn! Ten minutes into class, as we were doing all sorts of dead lifts and squats and whatever else all those things are called, I felt something wet trickling down my arms. What in the ........ sweat! I was so excited! Ten mintues into my workout and I was actually dripping sweat! I could have danced for joy right there, I was so thrilled. I had a huge smile on my face and I kept going. Feel the burn! Yeah! It was so fun! About 50 minutes into the workout, I think the smile turned more into a painful grimace as my muscles shook and I struggled to lift the bar as quickly as the instructor. Biceps are clearly my weak point. Poor little biceps, they just didn't stand a chance. I was gritting my teeth by the end of that segment and wishing for an ab workout. Anything else! Please! My tiny muscles can't take any more! After holding plank for what seemed like a thousand minutes, and then doing countless variations of plank, with my poor little arms shaking, I felt sweat dripping down my neck and my face and my arms. It was incredible. I have never sweat from using my muscles before! I felt so strong! But, phew, class was finally over and I was just so happy I survived all 60 minutes. I put away all of my gear, called out to the instructor, "see you Friday!" and trotted along my merry way to go get my kids.
After all of that, I felt like Wonder Woman. No body could stop me. No body could bring me down. Not even the bad news in childminding about my oldest misbehaving today. I stood tall and proud like a super hero! Taaaa-daaaaa! Okay, well, not quite. I stood there and discussed it all like a grownup. But, on the inside I felt like a super hero! Oh my goodness, I felt incredible! My muscles are certainly fatigued even as I type this. Poor biceps, all this typing is so hard on you... But, wow, I feel so empowered! I love exercise! Why did I even consider not doing this today?
I am surrounded by strong, empowered/empowering women. Women who run, women who play soccer, women who teach an entire classroom full of kids, women who surf, women who hike mountains... To all of the women out there who have always inspired me, thank you. To the old lady I met in my first yoga class, thank you. To the middle-aged woman I met while I worked at a sports store who told me all about her adventure races all over the globe, thank you. To all women out there who find something that they can challenge themselves with and take on the world, thank you! It is such a marvelous feeling to let go of anything that is holding you back and break down all of those barriers. Be free. Be strong! Time to go dust off my invisible jet now.... Ta ta.
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