Consistently Striving to Feel My Best Again

Consistency.

This is a word that I’ve thought about a lot recently, spurred by my friend Kristine, who wrote a post about her wedding bod goals as well as a discussion with my therapist. Since giving birth to Katie and returning to work, balancing everything has been harder than I expected. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t go into November expecting things to be easy. But, I felt like my type A personality and persistence would help me achieve everything I wanted. There were certain things that I had to prioritize – family and career.  Once I did everything possibly daily to be the best mom, wife, daughter, and colleague possible, it left very little time for me to focus on anything physical or aesthetic.

But, seven months after returning back to work, I’m starting to feel like I have space in my life to focus on feeling comfortable in my skin again. When I became pregnant with Katie in September of 2016 I was at my healthiest – emotionally and physically.  While a lot has changed since then, luckily, I am still very healthy mentally thanks to a team of friends, family, and professionals who have helped me manage this life change. But, from a physical aspect, I am not feeling like my best self. I’ve found myself hiding in the back row during pictures, untagging myself in Facebook pictures, feeling weak during workouts and lethargic. There are wonderful events coming up over the next few months including Katie’s first birthday party, a week-long beach trip, two weddings and a goal half marathon for which I want to be feeling my best. But, more important than a half marathon time or the way I look in a bridesmaid dress, I am doing this for me and for Katie.

I want to be a strong, energetic and confident role model for Katie.

These changes won’t come overnight. Instead, I know that consistency is key to feeling strong and healthy not just for an hour, a day or a week but for the future. When I lost 50 pounds during my senior year of college, 12 years ago, it was due to small, consistent changes versus things like cleanses, restrictions, etc.  I know that at the age of 34 losing weight and getting in shape will be a bit different than it’s been in the past but I’m excited. I’ve embraced the new curves that motherhood has provided but now want to focus on living a healthier, more moderate life to help me feel my best.

In order to hold myself accountable and share my journey with you all, here are the things I’m focusing on for June:

  • Consistently moderating my wine consumption – Over the past few years, I’ve typically enjoyed wine a few nights a week. But, over the past few months, I have started having two glasses on a nightly basis. While I have no desire to cut out wine altogether, I am reducing my enjoyment to four or five nights per week.
  • Consistently increasing my steps – I did some research in my iPhone’s HEALTH app and realized that my average steps per day have changed greatly over the past few years ( 2015 – 11,821 – 2016 – 8,630 – 2017 – 5,768 -2018 – 6,191). I was surprised to discover this but since I don’t commute most days and my stroller time with Katie is now limited during the week, I am going to have to make movement a priority. My goal for June is to increase my average steps to 8,000 for the month. I can do this by taking Katie for more frequent walks, running more, walking for exercise and using my two feet for errands instead of subway, taxi or Citibike.
  • Consistently track my food – Bo and I have done a great job planning in advance to ensure we are able to enjoy homemade dinners an average of five nights a week. We do a lot of meal prep on Sunday so that cooking during the week is easier. But, I haven’t been as mindful of my breakfast, lunches, and snacks. Since I work from home, I have my pantry and refrigerator just steps away. This can be a blessing but also a curse, especially if I give into the snack monster.  Starting yesterday, I’m keeping track of my breakfast, lunch, and snacks Monday through Friday.
  • Consistently following a training or workout plan – It has been a long time since I’ve had a workout plan and this lack of structure has resulted in me doing a little bit of everything but not sticking with anything consistently. While I’ve been working out, I’ve found myself at one end of the spectrum or the other.  I will have a few great workouts in a row and then find myself either skipping workouts or dialing it in.  Consistency will not only help me feel better but it will also help ensure that I don’t injure myself by going too hard without a strong base. Now that Theodora is coaching me for my fall half marathon, she is putting a plan together that will enable me to feel my strongest going into the half marathon while also making sure I don’t burn out. You can expect a mix of strength training through Body Pump and pilates in addition to the prescribed running workouts.

Since I just took measurements for my bridesmaid dress, I actually have measurements that I can track my progress against in addition to the scale and physical achievements like seeing improvements in the weight I use during Body Pump, form during Pilates classes and my paces. But, more than anything, I look forward to feeling better in my skin by making a few, consistent changes.

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My 2018 Goals

New Years Goals

As 2017 came to a close, I took time to reflect on 2017 and look forward to 2018. Now that we are a family of three, my priorities have evolved. Based on these changing priorities, I have decided to put goals in place for 2018 instead of resolutions.  Instead of choosing resolutions that are hard to maintain or achieve, which inevitably that will stress me out, I’ve tried to review the areas of my life and put small, achievable, realistic goals in place. Since it is hard to stay accountable, especially over 52 weeks, I hope to check in on a monthly basis.

1) Disconnect more. While I plan to continue my blog and social media presence, I want to ensure that I take time to energize myself and allow enough time to engage with friends and family. I did a great job disconnecting during a few weekends and then over the holidays but I want to make a more conscious effort moving forward. I have seen a few cartoons recently which put into perspective how children can perceive their parent’s attachment to the iPhone and I want to ensure that I am fully engaged when I’m with Katie. Other than capturing the occasional picture or video, I want to do a better job focusing 100% of my attention on her versus multi-tasking.  However, this engagement is important not only with my daughter but also to ensure I’m showing my friends, family, and co-workers the respect they deserve as well. There is no reason my phone can’t be put away when I’m interacting with actual PEOPLE face to face as that should always take priority. 

2) Train and run a 5k, 10k and a half marathon. I’m not trying to PR these races but I love running and would like to get back to running at 2-3 days per week as well as running with friends and local moms. My weekly goal is to run with the local Brooklyn moms each Thursday morning when I’m not traveling. In addition to those 3-4 miles, I hope to log a longer run one day per week. As Katie gets older, I may consider a jogging stroller, but for now, my goal would be to run either in the morning before she wakes up or at a time when Bo can watch her during the weekend. As I find this balance, I think it’s smart to focus on shorter distances as I become tempted by Spring races. Once I can train and run a 5k or 4-mile race, then I can look towards longer distances. The first race I’m contemplating is the NYRR Al Gordon 4-miler as it is in Prospect Park, just a few minutes away from our apartment and allows for almost 2 months of training! 

3) Survive a 90-minute FLY class or do a double. Now that Bo and I invested in our health and gave ourselves the gift of a FlyAnywhere Flywheel bike for Christmas, this will be a frequent workout choice. In order to ensure I’m challenging myself, I want to make it a goal to graduate from 30 and 45-minute classes to 60, 75 and finally a 90- minute class. My goal is to carve out time for a 60-minute class at the end of January! And yes, since so many people continue to ask, Bo and I will share more about our experience with our FlyAnywhere bike in a dedicated post later this month.

4) Continue reading each night before bed. I did a great job putting my phone and computer away for thirty minutes during December and spending the time reading. In fact, my evening ritual was to sip decaffeinated tea, apply relaxing hand lotion, a face mask, light a candle, and curl up with a book for 30 minutes. This relaxing ritual did wonders for me mentally during this chaotic period and is something I want to continue in the new year. This change helps me sleep better and feel more productive since I was able to read 3.5 books last month. I just finished the Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo and am still reading Katharine Graham’s Personal Historybut I would love to hear your recommendations as I continue to carve out this “me time” each day. 

5) Practice yoga once per month. This sounds crazy but I really miss yoga and know that weekly practice may not be realistic at this time, BUT I can definitely make time for it at least once per month, especially if I can combine it with girlfriend time.  Once upon a time, I practiced yoga 1-2 times per week and loved the way it made me feel mentally and physically. Since there are FIFTEEN yoga studios within a mile of our apartment, I hope to take at least once class per month and will prioritize heated classes at studios like Tangerine, Heatwise and Brooklyn Yoga Project since this is the style I like most. 

6) Blog at least two times per week and share updates via Instagram at least five times per week including more Instagram stories/videos. Even though the blogging world has evolved since I first launched this blog in 2010, I love sharing my life with you all and have no plans to move to an Instagram only platform. Even though I’ve admittedly had a tough time finding my rhythm since returning to work, I believe that this was to be expected and is something that many of you understand as you face similar challenges in your own lives. Based on comments and traffic, you all have the most interest in my Friday Favorites, Katie Updates, Coffee Dates and Training Plans/Workout updates. I will do my best to prioritize these topics as I carve out time each week to blog.  

7) Invest in my relationship with Bo and do our best to enjoy one date per month, whether it is a date night or day date.  Originally, we were going to enjoy a 24-hour vacation in Charleston over the holidays while our parents watched Katie. But, since Katie and I were both sick over the holidays, we canceled this trip. So far we have had two date nights – one in November at a local restaurant and one in December for his company holiday party. Since we have two different babysitters we know and trust, I’d like to make a January date a priority to schedule for a Saturday later this month. Since there are so many amazing movies out right now, maybe we will change things up a do a casual dinner followed by a movie. 

Your turn – What are your resolutions or goals for 2018?

Photo credit Anna Rachel Photography

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May 2015 Goals

I’ve lost track of setting goals the past few months, but after finishing two half marathons and the changing seasons, May seems like the perfect month to get back in the habit!

After a relaxing April, we are traveling over half of this month! We will be in New York City next week for a close friends wedding and then later in the month we are meeting my parents in Ireland for a long weekend. Travel can be an easy excuse to start poor habits, but instead, these goals will help be stay focused and on track. 

May Goals

Fitness: Last month my running brought me a great deal of happiness! I stuck to the plan and put my heart into every workout. This month, I want to continue running, but also make a bit more time for strength training. I’m getting back to basics with my favorite Five Minute Workout this month. My goal is to do this every day, for the next 26 days. These five exercises make a significant difference when done daily – a perfect way to feel more confident and run stronger! 

Personal: I want to take advantage of my upcoming travel to catch up on reading. My goal this year is to read at least 36 books. This month’s books include The Nightingale, What You Can When You Can, and The Road to Character

Blog: This month my blog is finally getting a much-needed facelift! I’m trying to review old posts and organize them in a way that is easier for readers to find when searching for workout reviews, race recaps or travel tips!

Your turn: What’s the best book you read recently?

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