My definition of fitness

I am a mom of four amazing kids who I wouldn't trade for anything in this world.  I have been pregnant and a mom for almost 1/3 of my life!  Some days I think that I have no identity outside of being a mom.  From the minute I wake up every morning until my head hits the pillow at night, I am cooking, cleaning, picking out clothes, washing clothes, diapering, picking kids up from school, mediating arguments, holding a fussy baby, and the list could go on.  When I eat or get dressed or even go to the bathroom is dependent upon what my kids need.  I have learned that I have to make time for myself.  I have to set aside a few minutes out of the day to focus on something I want to do.  That is where fitness has become integrated into my life.  It started with running.  After the birth of my third daughter, I found my love of running.  No matter how frustrated or exhausted I was, I would run it out and come home invigorated and ready to take on whatever my kids had to throw at me!  The runner's high was so amazing!  Not only did I feel awesome, I had lost all of the weight I had gained with my pregnancy and I had muscle in my body like I had never had before.  A year and a half later I started lifting weights and once again watched as my body transformed.  I was in the best shape of my life.  I have gone through another pregnancy since then and am now on the journey to get back into shape.  But this time around, fitness has taken on whole new meaning for me.  With four kids depending on me all of the time, I do not get a long time to work out.  I use that time to focus on me.  Every weight I lift or mile I run, I make it worth my time.  Taking the time to take care of me has allowed me to be a better mom.  I have more energy for my kids and as a bonus, they imitate me working out!  My girls love doing yoga poses and burpees.  Whenever they see me heading out for a run, they beg to come.  It is so encouraging to see my kids loving exercise!  Fitness to me is so much more than transforming my body.  It is time that I get to take for me, to let out my frustrations and worries.  Does it work out for me to exercise every day?  No.  Some days my kids need me more and some days I am just not feeling it.  But the days I do get to pound the pavement or crush some weights, I feel like the best version of me as a mom and a wife!