Let's talk about sweat

The workout.

Almost every single thing you read about weight loss and living healthy lives includes the need for physical activity.  Suggestions usually range from at least 30 minutes a day to more intense workouts involving intervals, weight lifting programs, and high intensity classes. 

The "experts" will tell you that it has to be a priority. 

Ok.  I get it.  Yes, physical activity is important and it is a priority, but let's face it, working out is one of MANY priorities I have. 

And it doesn't rank above my children, husband, or God.

Ever.

As much as I would love for it to be a higher priority than my job, it just can't be.

So that means on my list of priorities...working out (at this point in my life) is AT LEAST 5th on the list, and sometimes lower than that.

The first time I completed the 24 Day Challenge in August of 2012, I didn't specifically add any extra exercise to my day.  I was just starting back to work after almost 5 months of maternity leave, which included coaching MS volleyball.  I would be putting in up to 12-14 hour workdays depending on the day.  Plus, I would jump into volleyball drills, be serving and hitting balls at junior high girls two hours each afternoon.  I figured that would "count."

This time, though, I want and need to add in a workout somewhere. 

I needed it to be short, but effective.  So I purchased the Advocare Can You 24 workout DVD.  24 minutes long and promised to make me sweat and get my heart rate up. 

It delivered!

I love how the video is good for ALL LEVELS, having a beginner/modified move, intermediate, and advanced levels done for 10-30 seconds.  24 minutes.  I can do that.

Then I started back at work.  My original plan was to workout during the week in the morning.  (getting up at 5 AM).

Yeah right.

Little two-month old is not a consistent enough sleeper for me to say I will be able to workout at 5:00 AM every morning.  She may (and did the first day) wake up to eat at 5:00.  And even if she sleeps in longer, I have found that even with getting up at 5 AM, I don't sit down until I get in my vehicle to go to work at 7.  The mornings are B.U.S.Y!

After slapped in the face with reality that mornings were NOT going to work.  I had to rethink my options and habits of working out.

First of all.  Set a REALISTIC goal. 

I want to workout AT LEAST 4 times a day with the CU 24 workout DVD, and try to get some sort of walking, chasing babies, or even some simple stretching in on other days.

Second.  Rethink old habits. 

For as long as I can remember, working out always happened during the week and weekends were for rest.  Not anymore.  Weekends are the one time, I can usually count on to have a spare half hour to break a sweat.  I can even sleep in until 7 (not including getting up to feed baby and going back to bed) get up and still have a couple hours before everyone is up and moving in our house.  And even if I feel like sleeping in a little longer, there's always nap time during the afternoon.  Weekends are no longer rest days. 

That means in order to get to my goal of at least 4 days a week, I only have to find TWO Days during the work week to squeeze in my CU 24. 

Thanks to the 24 minute workout, I have found that if I take the DVD with me to school, the second the bell rings, I can start the video, workout in my classroom, mix up my after workout recovery shake to drink on the drive home and still get to daycare in time to pick up the girls. 

It may be a pain to take workout clothes with me to school, change, and workout with students and teachers wondering in and out of my classroom.  But getting a workout in needs to be a priority, right?  This is how I'm making it a priority. 

Advocare now has a Can You 24 Level 2 DVD available for 39.95 (plus tax and shipping).  I plan on trying that one out after I've mastered Level 1 DVD.  Level 1 is available for 29.95 (plus tax and shipping).  Both are a GREAT deal for the workout you get :)

You can contact me for more information or click here to order.