My energy is returning, the second trimester is nearly upon us here!  I almost feel like I’m starting to recognize myself again, larger waist circumference notwithstanding.

I’ve spent every spare moment of the last two days catching up on some long overdue housework.  I forgot how good my stairs look without a nest of dust bunnies in every corner.  All the finger smears and toothpaste splatters have been wiped from the mirrors.  The laundry is caught up, the floors have been mopped and I finally sucked the giant cob web out of the corner of our entry way (with the vacuum, people) that I’ve been staring at for weeks.

(I’m sure there is a giant spider hiding in the depths of my walls plotting his revenge, but at least now I feel like I’ve got the energy to out run him.)

Speaking of running, I even ran this morning!  A whole three and a half miles with a little Rihanna (it is impossible to not run while listening to that song) while feeling all mushy about the wonders of fitness, running and exercise in general.

Now I’m going to spew a little of that appreciation here.

I Love How You Can Be Feeling Totally Crummy

and your mood can make a complete 180 degree turn by the time you get home.

I can be totally pissed/sad/frustrated at something/someone/somespider and then mystically/magically/predictably at the thirty five minute mark (every! time!) I have completely talked myself out of whatever it was that was getting me down.

Thank you Endorphins for saving my sanity and helping me with my perspective.

Exercise is Easier When You Weigh Less

I am officially into maternity pants now.  Maternity pants that I had to run out and buy yesterday because a.) I gave ALL my maternity clothes away in 2006 when I thought the baby making shop was closed for business and b.) it was either buy some bigger pants STAT or be forced to fashion a skirt out of a trash bag and some twist ties.

Over the past 6 weeks I’ve gained about 5 lbs.  This is my typical first trimester weight gain, and if history continues to repeat itself, there are 30 more pounds yet to come.  I bid adieu to my skinny jeans last night when I tucked them into a storage bin labeled “I’ll Be Back Again Someday”.

You know, like Frosty.

So while I haven’t been exercising or running a lot over the last couple of months here, I haven’t stopped completely either.  I can tell that running is starting to feel different.  It’s starting to feel harder.  Yes, I know there’s more than one reason for this (slowing down helps!) but I also know that at least part of the change I’m feeling is due to hauling around more weight than I was three months ago.

I point all this out for those of you who might be looking for some motivation for weight loss or wonder what can help you enjoy exercise more:

Exercise is likely to feel easier when there is less of you to carry around.

Stick with it.  Keep going.  It gets better.

The Only Thing That’s Constant is Change

Exercise can be your rock.  Running is my therapy.  Through all the ups and downs and curve balls that life just loves throw your way, having some healthy habits in place can be “that thing” you can count on to be there for you when things change, because they always do.

“Fake It Til You Make It”

has been my mantra for the last month.  And boy let me tell you that little phrase works.  When you know it’s time to get down to business with a workout or some incredibly boring task or chore and you would much rather curl up into the fetal position (like your fetus?) on the couch, tell yourself to fake some effort for 10 minutes.

If when the 10 minutes is up and you’re still not into it, give yourself permission to stop.  Chances are good that by the time you get through those first 10 minutes, it’ll be easy to keep going.

I fall for this trick every time.  Some days this is the only way my dining room table ever gets cleared off.    It works like a champ for workouts too.

Exercising For Wellness Is Way More Fun Than Exercising for Weight Loss or Weight Maintenance

There is more weight gain on the horizon for me over the next 28 weeks or so here.  It’s all good, but I’ll admit that it’s been a little challenging to begin to let go of a physical form I’ve worked so hard to achieve and maintain over the last three years.  I can also tell you that it’s been freeing to exercise with only “general wellness” in mind.

If you’re really struggling with motivation to exercise, you might have to temporarily chuck any fitness or weight loss goals and work on being active simply because you know it’s good for you.

Maybe that means dialing down the intensity.  Maybe that means finding something completely different to do or try.  Maybe that means simply walking.  It’s my opinion that it’s what you eat that has the biggest impact on your physicality anyway.  Consider forgetting about exercise as it pertains to your weight loss goals for a while.  Put your energy into fixing your diet and taking an honest look at your eating habits.  Exercise and stay active in ways that you truly enjoy, don’t be a slave to anything that you dread or despise.

Once you find something that you love, you won’t have to fake anything.