I work out now. I don’t like it.

~ newbiemomsite

So, I work out now.

Everyone who has ever met me if probably laughing at that last sentence, but I really do.

I don’t like it. I am uncoordinated by nature, tripping over my feet while walking in a straight line kind of uncoordinated. I have tried lots of workout classes, but I can’t seem to get the hang of Zumba or other aerobic or dance classes. I know they are supposed to be fun, but here’s how it usually goes down for me:

  1. Watch in bewilderment as the instructor demonstrates the move.
  2. Try move. Get it backwards.
  3. Try again and run into the person next to me.
  4. Try once again and get the first half but fall down on the second half.
  5. Finally get the move!! Oh crap, everyone else is done.
  6. The instructor is demonstrating the next move. See step 1.

I also don’t really like sports. (Except American Ninja Warrior, which I LOVE!)  I like going to games or playing sports for fun, but the lack of coordination I mentioned earlier does not help me do anything useful in a team situation. I’m that person you see who looks like they are playing a different sport. The rest of the team tolerates me at best and I do nothing to contribute to winning besides the odd encouraging comment. The only athletic thing I am good at is running, because you don’t have to throw or catch anything. (At least I don’t. Am I doing it wrong?)

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Going to make this track eat my dust…when I fall down…because I am uncoordinated.

Strangely though, despite my terrible athletic ability, I have moments of absolute sport brilliance. For example, after dropping every single ball thrown to me in a baseball game, I did a diving catch to prevent a  home run. The batter yelled, “You don’t catch anything all game, but this you catch??” Then I tried to high five someone to celebrate my catch and missed. Yup, that’s how I roll.

So, anyway. I started going to a mom and baby work out class in December. It was hard. I was terrible at the exercises and didn’t finish any of the reps. I was sore for a week. I could only do one push-up. Actually, just the down part, not the pushing up part. I may have just fallen down. After the workout I was sweaty and gross. After 3 weeks, nothing seemed to get easier. The baby was better at doing the plank than me. And if he wasn’t showing me up at exercise, he was crying and I had to pick him up and do the workout with a 20 pound baby strapped to me. It seemed impossible.

I didn’t like it, but I didn’t quit. Why? Well, I am worse at quitting than I am at sports. But that wasn’t the reason.

Something funny happened after a few months. The exercises became easier and I found that I could do all of the repetitions. I learned the names of the muscles that I was supposed to be building. I wasn’t even stiff for as long. One day when presented with multiple exercise options, I actually picked the most difficult one – voluntarily! I signed up for another class when my first one finished and another after that.

I started the class because I felt so weak during my terrible pregnancy that I was dying to move again. I wanted to get out of the house and talk to other moms. I told myself I would just do one class, but after 8 months of sticking with it, I find that I am actually seeing results. I have lost weight and gained muscle. I am stronger, have more energy and am more positive after doing a workout than I am most days.

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Bam! Check out my new muscles. What do you mean, where are they? Obviously they are better in person.

I will never be a super model, but I don’t care. I will be strong for my son and for myself. I will make my husband feel my newfound muscles with pride. I will enjoy that amazing feeling that comes with doing something you didn’t think you could do. I will bask in that post-exercise high and laugh at my son as he claps for me at the end of each exercise.

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So, I work out now. I don’t like it, but I do like the things that come with it.

Oh, and cake. I like cake.

#momsterslink

20 thoughts on “I work out now. I don’t like it.”

  1. After missing some time (I seem to keep doing that) I get sore for awhile too and it sucks. What sucks most for me is getting the motivation. Once I’m motivated though, I get it done and feel great afterwards and I feel like I can do anything! I actually do like to work out but I only workout if it’s fun. If I lose interest though that’s a bad thing for me because then I just stop working out so I try to change up my routine every other week:) Glad you are feeling strong and great! Popping over from #momsterlink

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  2. aw lol – in the beginning of your post I was nodding along this is just like me.. however as you got better, I was still stuck at “nope” haha.. well done you! Im glad its coming together for you, I wish I had the same luck 😉 p.s nice catch by the way! #momsterslink

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  3. I need a bit of your motivation. I agree having a tough year during pregnancy – one of the best medicines is to get out and find your strength again. I’m just forever hooked on my next chocolate fix! Ekkk! #momsterslink

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    1. I know the feeling. That’s why I go to a mom and baby class. I bring him with me and he destroys stuff while I workout. Or sits there eating bananas while I do squats. Doesn’t seem fair.

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      1. Sadly where I stay doesn’t have this option for new moms… So don’t even have that option. And trust me u deserve every bit of time you spend on yourself. It is fair enough..

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  5. Hey there. I found you on #momsterlink and oh am I glad that I have. I have also just recently started working out. I am the most uncoordinated white girl you have ever met. I can’t even do the two-step, let alone a frickin zumba class. But my husband is a bit of a gym freak, I tried that too that didn’t work out for me. I am too embarrassed for a mommy and me class on account of I am an idiot when it comes to following an instructor. But recently I have found some helpful yoga youtube videos, which also led to some other easy workout routines and I have been spending about 15-20 minutes each morning completely them. That’s not long but for a mom of 5 that is a wonderful 20 minutes. I find it not only strengthening me, but putting me in a better mood in the morning. Just have that 20 minutes of peace is nice, and if I can lose some of this mommy belly in between that, well that’s just a bonus! Keep going girl! xo

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  6. This is me! Completely! I have never been sporty. And I really hate working out. But, I know it’s good for me and I want to be a strong, healthy role model for my daughter. Maybe a mom exercise group is just what I need to stay motivated! #momsterslink

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  7. Good for you for working out to feel better. I agree that there’s no need at my age with 3 kids and a husband who loves me to look like a supermodel. I got addicted to Zumba at the beginning of the year until summer hit and the zumba room has no air conditioning and I also don’t have any “kid-free” time right now with school being out. So I have just been mad cleaning the house and going on super hikes on our vacations and have actually managed to maintain my weight loss. I will get back to it as soon as the kids get back to school. I promised myself that this would be the year that I got back into the one pair of jeans that I have been keeping in my closet since I got pregnant 6 and 1/2 years ago lol. You look fab and I can totally see the contour in your arms so job well done mama! Thanks for linking up with #momsterslink and being so patient for me to catch up on commenting. Hope to see you again this Thurs!

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