Lose Yourself

In looking back at the evolution of my blog, I realize that I am currently doing more posts on fitness and my personal development. I am sure many of you were attracted to this blog with my hotel tales, the Tali adventures and my day to day life stories. I feel like I am in a different place right now.

When I first started blogging, I was full of stories. I felt like I was this vibrant woman who just had kids and was married and I needed a voice that wasn’t just “mommy” or “Mrs. 1969″. When you have a baby, it changes things. I have written about it before but you go from feeling young, hot and sassy to feeling like somebody’s mama. Your body revolts against you, your flat stomach and tight thighs disappear and you become this strange person that stares back from the mirror every morning.

Your old clothes don’t fit and you start shopping for anything spandex and jeans with stretch. Cute panties with strings get pushed to the back of the drawer because *gasp* they aren’t comfortable and they draw attention to your new muffin top.

I have been on a journey the last couple of years to reclaim my old self. I realized that I looked okay….for a mom. I wanted to be healthy and fit, period. I wanted to put my clothes on and not have to worry about how they looked. I wanted to make a commitment to pursuing a healthier lifestyle as an example to my husband and my boys. I wanted to be able to balance my work and personal commitments. The last few years have been a journey for me and I am feeling great about how far I have come.

I realize it’s not always what you want to read about. It’s not as entertaining and after a while, it does seem pretty narcissistic. This is just where I am right now. I finally have time to focus on my goals and not just the goals of my family. After the last ten years of marriage and motherhood, it’s mommy’s turn to take care of herself.

I feel blessed to be at this point. New mommies, it does get easier and there will come a day when you finally can breathe and do what you want to do too. Hang in there.

Thank God I have three men in my life that are 100% supportive of my goals. They encourage me to swim, bike and run. They encourage me to eat better. They believe in me. Tomorrow’s post?  Goal snatching sabotagers. What about when you don’t have support to move your goals to the next level?