"Just because you're busy, doesn't mean you're active"

The fist time I got a fitness and heart rate monitor, it asked me if I had a sedentary, lightly active, or very active lifestyle. I chose very active, because I was always hustling about, getting stuff done. I was a young mom with a 4 year old, baby twins and a dayhome, so of course I was active. Then I started up on one of those "calorie counting" apps (you know the ones), and again the lifestyle question. Still, I'm never sitting down, so I'm active, right?

I don't remember where I heard it, but a few years ago, that line popped up somewhere. "Just because you're busy, doesn't mean you're active." I was cooking, and cleaning, and keeping up with twins, but I sure as heck wasn't getting my heart rate up. I wasn't a bike messenger, or a postman, or even a casual runner of lifter. I was busy, but I wasn't doing anything for my body.

Cut back to 5 years ago. A friend of mine started the Dukan diet, and started losing a TON of weight. She, within 6 months, lost almost 100lbs. (I've come to learn that this isn't necessarily a healthy or sustainable way to lose weight, but she did it, and kept it off, so it worked for her). Now, the Dukan diet is extremely limiting. 2tbsp of Oat bran a day, and nothing but lean protein for the first 10 days, and then an alternating schedule of protein one day, protein and veg (specific veg) the next day, until you hit your goal weight. I absolutely could not stick to this kind of limiting diet, we already know, I love food!

One day, she called me up and asked if I'd like to join a bootcamp with her and few others. I joined up, begrudgingly, and what I found was a true love for fitness! The day of that first class, I went out and joined a gym, and I got a personal trainer, and I went 3 days a week to start, and by a month in, 5-6 days a week with the trainer and sometimes coming back at night for more cardio.

4 days after my surgery

I got to a great weight, I felt and looked great, and then I scheduled my breast reduction surgery. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was only 6 months in to forming that habit, and loving the gym, and the 6 weeks I had to take off to recover would end the momentum I had built up. I took the time off, was incredibly happy with the results, and wasn't able to get myself back into the habit. I gained the weight back, and then I got pregnant. I had a baby, and then I got pregnant again. After my last pregnancy, a surrogacy pregnancy, I vowed that I was going to get myself into shape. I contacted a friend who managed the closest Orange Theory prior to the birth, and got ready to sign up just as soon as I was healed up. I also paid for a full 10 sessions of Kangoo.

Now, almost a year (on the 16th!!) postpartum, we have a home gym, we both go to Orange Theory 5 days a week, I go to Kangoo 1-3 times a week (and I'm training to be an instructor!!!), and our food is finally on point. Brian has leaned out and looks amazing (he was just featured in our Orange Theory newsletter as a member spotlight!!), and I'm working on getting strong and losing that little baby pouch.

Brian on his journey over the past 3 years

See that dork in the purple and blue? Yep, that's me, trying not to fall over.

Brian bought us a treadmill, so I ran a 5K on it this afternoon during nap time.

More than anything, our kids are learning that their parents' and their health matters. We are making time for ourselves, and not just to watch a show or take a bubble bath. We are nourishing our bodies and in the process, teaching our kids to nourish theirs. Teale can often be found doing her squats (which she loves proclaiming as she does them). Timothy is actively working to pedal his bike up the hill. Robert has always had incredible muscle composition, you can see it in him, and he wants to start working with weights. Reilly wants desperately to come to Kangoo with me. Long bike rides and walks are a family pass time, not just a planned activity, which is in stark contrast to two summers ago, when our time outside was marshmallow roasts ( we still roast, but it's not our only time spent in the fresh air anymore).

Still working on that pouch, slowly but surely

Now, this isn't everyone's path. Not everyone is a gym person, or a community class type, or a lifter or a runner, but you can always find a way to be active. If you're family likes to hike, make it a regular activity. If bike rides are your kid's jam, maybe try a family ride a few times a week. Treat your body to the heart pumping movement it craves, however you choose to get it in. I know that I have no control over when I die, so I don't say I do this to live longer, but I'd like to live my life as pain free and happy as I can. I'd like to think this is the goal we should all be striving for.

That is the face of a girl who just got a 24" box jump on her first try! Super Proud!