Fitness and structured movement have always been vital to me, not only for the physical benefits, but even more importantly as a means to process emotions and support mental health and wellness.
There was a time when I could dedicate up to 2 hours when I showed up to a physical movement routine, and often, I did. I was attached to how I did my work-outs. Length of time, what I wore, how I felt after each set…a full on cool down and stretching routine. Achieving a sense of satisfaction required that my movement routine looked a very specific way.
After becoming a mom, going from having that much time to having to “squeeze work-outs in” during nap time, or attempt to get through one with constant interruptions — was a shock. Not a surprise one, but a shock nonetheless. This also meant my time to work-out became something that needed to happen at very specific times in my day.
If my goal was to keep my movement practice in my life, when the opportunity came each day to do so, it became a matter of “it’s now or never” like never before.
After a few months of healing and sticking only to walking as exercise, the next step for me consisted of 20–30 minutes of core rehab, physio-therapy exercises, and light strength training, 3x a week, which I diligently followed for over a year. To prevent burnout, I made a conscious decision to limit my workouts to 3x per week, ensuring I strike a balance between movement and motherhood responsibilities.
When the baby dozed off for nap time, I promptly set everything aside and committed to my movement routine that day. Working out at home with less fancy equipment and lifting less weight became necessary in this new season of life. My movement practice looked and felt as underwhelming as ever, and yet, astonishingly I lost over 50lbs within a year by committing to the basics (drinking water, walking, strength training a few times a week). *Note that this was without setting any goal for weight loss — my goal was consistency and practicing movement as a sustainable habit in my life.
(*I should also disclose that I normally eat healthy and balanced as well, so nutrition was not a huge barrier in this circumstance.*)
Although I lost the personal time, and that feeling of satisfaction I would get from more challenging and aesthetic work-outs, what I gained was: A deep relationship with consistency — and the permission to feel satisfaction even when I was interrupted, even when I could not challenge myself like I used to. It was not what I was doing or even how I was doing it; it was the showing up, which I strongly believe, was the biggest factor in my success.
Consistency is important to practice because it:
*Allows you to generate a momentum and slowly increase your performance over time.
*It builds trust and confidence with yourself through repeated action.
*It cultivates discipline — particularly when you do not feel like doing a routine you committed to .
*It creates and strengthens the roots and patterns of your life. It really was all about the showing up and not necessarily completing everything until “perfection” was reached.
This newfound relationship with consistency has become a trusted companion that extends far beyond parenting. Its wisdom can be translated to every facet of life — whether it’s in matters of nutrition, finances, or relationships. As I honed this practice in one area, I was pleasantly surprised to witness its positive influence spreading to other aspects of my life. Embracing consistency has opened doors to personal growth and resilience, empowering me to face life’s challenges with unwavering determination.
