Lifestyle changes for long term goals {#aHeartFitFriday Link-up}

What woman doesn’t want to look her best?  Especially after giving birth, when our bodies have been stretched and pushed to the max.   The truth is, though, that unless there’s motivation outside of wanting to wear that perfect size, the results won’t be long term.

Fitness is a lifestyle, not just a means to a goal.

Well, it can be that, but does that sound long-term to you?

I’ve been down this road before.  I was determined to look my best in my wedding dress and I did it.  I lost 15 lbs in three months leading up to the big day.

But what about after that?

It only took a few people telling me I would gain the weight back after my wedding, to become a challenge.  Hey, I never said I wasn’t headstrong…

I decided I needed to train for something, so I started training to run a 5k.  I wanted to train for a sprint length triathlon, but I knew I had a lot of work to do in the running department.  I’d already done a swim team as an adolescent and I loved long bike rides, so I was less concerned about those areas.  I was no athlete, by any means, but if I had to pick one weakness, running was the one.  By far.

Of course, running led way to yoga because of tight quadriceps, which led to yoga teacher training and a slight obsession with yoga, which led to a metabolism where I didn’t have to worry about what I ate.  My lifestyle transformation was complete.

Oh yeah, and I did successfully run a 5k in there, too.

Then everything changed.  To summarize: I got pregnant, had a baby, six months later we moved, I lost most of my baby weight by way of running, six months later we moved again, six months later I got pregnant again, six months later we moved again, three months later I had baby #2, and here we are almost four years since that first pregnancy began.

I weighed in at 157 lbs today.  That’s one pound since last week and 15 since I started this!  I’m thrilled.  BUT I also feel like I’ve lost momentum. Honestly, I have.  Thanks to everyone getting sick a couple of times, its been weeks since my last real workout.  Aside from playing tag with Dylan, of course.

That’s where the plan Amber (from A Day Without Sushi) and I came up with comes in.  There’s this app called Charity Miles for your phone where you pick a charity before walking, running, or cycling and $.25 for every mile walked or run or $.10 for every mile on a bicycle, goes to that charity.  I have decided to aim for $6 this month for the organization: Every Mother Counts.

I know that a healthy weight is so much more than a number on the scale or smaller dress size.  It’s a lifestyle change and I intend to help my motivation and shift my focus by choosing a goal which will hopefully benefit more than just me.  Because, wouldn’t it be great if I could help someone else while I’m working on myself?

I hope you’ll join me!

How are you doing with your fitness goals?