This is not about that

I watched Britney Spears at the VMAs. After the fact, when I read about what a train wreck it was. I'll admit I was surprised that she attempted to get on stage as stoned as she was and I couldn't quite figure out what the point of 'performing' by lip synching was all about when she wasn't even actually moving her body very much. I'm kind of ashamed that I was also fairly critical of her wardrobe choices. My God girl, I thought while she did the robot, you must know that does not look good.

Looking good. It's so exhausting.

I try to shy away from writing about weight loss, post-pregnancy body changes, general sagging and the like because I think as women we talk about it far too often. I hate it when someone brings up the latest diet fad while I am eating lunch and then I spend the afternoon wondering if my pants feel a little tighter than they did the last time I had them on.

Don't misunderstand, I think all people, especially people with health issues should absolutely eat right and exercise and celebrate successes, but I don't want to hear about it from the mom at the table who weighs 120 pounds and who's primary motivation during her pregnancy was not to gain more than 15 pounds, because you know, that's all Victoria Beckham gained.

I don't like to talk about weight loss strictly for the purpose of looking good. 

So I'm having a hard time writing this because I have lost weight. Almost 15 pounds. I didn't do it because of high blood pressure or diabetes, I did it because I wanted to fit into my pre-pregnancy pants.

Which I think makes me a little bit of a hypocrite.

But wait- that's not all. I did it because while I did cut back on the mashed potatoes (with butter and Parmesan cheese), I didn't starve myself or obsess about calories or switch to artificial everything.  I exercised.

That's what I wanted this to be about. Not trying to keep up with an unrealistic exception, but about feeling fit. Because feeling fit feels really good.

I used to be in great shape. I used to love exercise, at least how good I felt after I had done it. But I simply felt there was not another minute in the day to devote to it. Then I read this. It sounded manageable. It was summer and I started going out after my son went to bed at around eight in the evening three times a week. I huffed and I puffed and I got blisters but I did it. Not only did I firm up but I realized there is a whole WORLD that exists outside of your home after your child goes to bed. There are sounds and snapshots of sun light and people. The best kind of people - people who don't want anything from you. You get to run right past them and they won't ask you where the cable bill is.

I have a treadmill now and exercise almost every day. Because I sleep better. I have more energy. It's twenty (on a busy day, hike the incline up to 15 and have at it) to forty (running outside on the weekends) minutes of un-interrupted me time. You don't think you have twenty minutes? You do. I don't feel like exercising after I've put in a full day and put my little man to bed, but I tell myself it's only 20 minutes and I watch the time quickly wind down on the machine. It's over before I know it.    

You want some of this? Parent Bloggers Network is teaming up with Ryka, (what an awesome giveaway) a by women-for women athletic gear and shoe company to hear your fit (or not-so-fit) stories. You can win some fab new workout gear from Ryka. Write about how you fit exercise into your life or how you wish you could, link to Ryka (http://www.ryka.com/goodforyoursole) and the Parent Bloggers Network (http://blog.parentbloggers.com), and email parentbloggers@gmail.com with the link to your post.