My, we’ve been a little bit glum around here lately huh? Yep, it’s true, both JD and I are struggling with staying on target. Our weights are up a bit, our spirits are down a bit. In the past, both of us would have given up by now. But we’re still here and we have no plans to abandon ship. How’s that for a small step?
My grand plans for hitting the gym once Megan got back into school lasted for about 5 minutes. On Monday, I suited up for my workout and headed out the door. After dropping Meg off, Liam and I headed straight for the gym. I paid my three bucks, plunked Liam down in the daycare, and listened to him scream as I turned my back and headed out the door. FIVE minutes later, they hunted me down and told me to take my kid because they couldn’t calm him down–and I didn’t even get my 3 dollars back. I was mad. Mad that I didn’t get to work out, mad that they made hardly any effort to pacify my son, and mad that I had to rethink my workout plan. This was not a good start to getting back on track.
I spent the rest of Monday thinking about how I was going to get my workouts in. I could take 2 kids to the gym daycare every time I want to work out. I think Liam would be OK if Megan were there with him. But then I’ve got to haul two kids worth of stuff every time, and pay for two kids instead of 1 every time. I don’t think I want to deal with that.
So the solution is simple, right? I’ve got to get my butt out of bed in the morning and get to the gym. It’s 6:25 in the morning, and I’m back from the gym, workout completed, muscles sore, wide awake, and feeling awesome! So the new plan is a 4:30 wake up call on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to renew my efforts in the stronglifts 5X5 program. For my cardio, I’ll be using my treadmill during nap times on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I’d like to get some cardio in everyday, but we’ll see how this goes for a few weeks. Small steps, right?
I feel great after my workout this morning. I was able to complete my 5X5 program with no muscle pains. I’m tired and sore, but not injured. I warmed up properly, correctly performed my “ass to the grass” squats with a very light weight, and even added in the 15 minute core routine from my personal trainer.
So, I’ve woken up at 4:30 one day in a row. Friday morning will be small step #2. So you see, things aren’t as gloomy as they seem. We’ll get back on track, slowly. And we’ll continue to…get fit slowly.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
4:30 am. There’s got to be a better way.
I’ve found I have three possible plans for each day: Plan (a) get up at 5:15am and go to the Y, sans kids. If that doesn’t work, plan (b) is do it during the day, dropping the kids at the daycare (both there works for the youngest sometimes, so be prepared if it doesn’t), plan (c) is in-house workout, which is what I had to resort to today. I’ve made it non-negotiable that I need to exercise, but the how and when needs to be able to change if circumstances change or original plans don’t work out.
So good for you!
Good job!
Can’t go wrong with the stronglifts 5×5! It’s a killer routine.
Greenman – I hear you: 4:30 am wake-up sucks! But that’s been the only time I have found that really works for me to consistently run longer distances (Tu/Th/Sa), so I think Mac is right about that being what he needs to do. Mac spent six years of his life getting up this early for work, so it is not entirely foreign to him. He just needs to get in the right frame of mind and establish a new routine (like early bed times!).
On the flip side, 6:30 feels like sleeping in once you get used to getting up at 4:30!
Way to go! 4:30am! You are a legend indeed.
You could always buy a home exercise program and exercise at home.
I find this much easier than hauling my butt to the gym.
I do p90X(http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/best_sellers/p90x.do) and it is fantastic!
- Chris Wolf
Whoa. 4:30?! Now THAT’s hardcore. I’ve been getting up at 5:45am.. actually, I love it. I’d like to get up earlier. I feel like I have the whole world to myself. Too bad the pool doesn’t open til 7am. Or is it? I have breakfast, get some work done, then work out. It’s a good feeling, working out knowing I’ve gotten some stuff done, and still getting back before the rest of the world has barely rolled out of bed.
4:30 is hardcore, but definitely worth it. good for you!
(and I can’t believe they didn’t give you the $3 back!)
Chris: I’m not capable of doing P90X, I’ve checked it out a bit and have a friend who is in much better shape than me who didn’t finish it–though I’m not sure why. For me, one of the benefits of working out at the gym is that my kids aren’t buzzing around me like little bees asking for a cup of nectar. So I guess it’s going to be 4:30 for a while.
and they didn’t give you your money back? too funny…
good luck for the early morning start on Friday. i have a sneaky feeling you’ll be fine….
well done!
–steve
“One of the benefits of working out at the gym is that my kids aren’t buzzing around me like little bees asking for a cup of nectar.”
I think this is the point. Waking up at 4:30 isn’t sustainable in the long run — your previous effort at getting to the gym this early didn’t last. But for you, Mac, exercise is an important part of managing the boredom and stress that come with being a stay-at-home Dad.
There’s nothing stopping you from putting Liam on your bike and riding for a couple of hours. He’d love it, you’d get your exercise — it’s win/win. But it’s not time alone.
Getting up at 4:30 means going to bed at 8pm, asleep by 8:30 pm. That means no socializing with adults, no prime-time TV, little time catching up with Pam. It’s not sustainable.
But I’m intrigued to hear that you got up at 4:30 am for six years for work. Was it actually 4:30? I get out of bed at 5:30 to be at work by 7am. There’s a big difference between 5:30 am and 4:30 am.
I dont think you guys should discourage him from getting up at 4:30. Why isnt it sustainable? My 50 year old husband has been getting up at 3:45 for work every morning for the last 30 years! He gets home at 6 pm every night and awakens the next morning at 3:45. It can be done. Way to go Mac! I say, whatever works!
A friend of mine is a new schoolteacher, and he wakes at 4:00am so he can be at work by 6:00… so he can get to the photocopier before everyone else. That sounds wayyy less rewarding than getting up at 4:30 for an energizing, kid-free workout to me.
Getting up so early means a change in habits, but if you make those changes it can be sustainable, for sure. And it sounds like it’s not foreign for you, so why not go for it?