Reflections a Year Later: The Active Part

I don't work out.

I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred a few weeks last winter, and while I liked aspects of it, it just wasn't something I saw myself doing every day.

I walk the dogs as often as possible but that's not how I've maintained my weight loss.

I lost 62 lbs and have maintained it because I eat healthily and I just don't stop moving.

From the moment I'm up in the morning around 6:30am, I'm throwing in a load of laundry, letting the dogs out, showering and dressing. I do sit down at the laptop with my bagel and coffee, but after that?

If I'm sitting, it must be because I'm either driving or eating lunch.

The simple act of being constantly in motion, which is made entirely possible by the fact that I now have two toddlers who are constantly in motion, is how I stay in shape. While they eat breakfast, I'm putting last night's dishes away, taking out the trash, making grocery lists. They play and run around the house until we leave for our outing of the day. At the playground? You won't see me sitting on the bench, watching. I'm standing right by or sometimes on it (not going to lie, this is more about necessity- Buddy is a little too much of a daredevil on these play structures). At the splash park, I'm right out there with them, trying to encourage them to run through the sprinklers. I'm pushing them in the double stroller. I'm pushing them on the swings.

I don't stop moving.

I didn't always have the energy for this. Back when I used to eat unhealthily, this kind of lifestyle would have exhausted me. Now that I eat better, I have the energy to keep up with the kids all day. After dinner, my energy starts to wane, but I always have two dogs staring at me and following me around because they know it's Walk Time. So, I go. Then I come back, and Steve and I tackle the dishes and I bring in the day's laundry off the clothesline, fold it and put it away.

Around 8pm, I finally sit on the couch with Steve and relax.

What a change from when I used to spend most of my day on the couch (when the kids were babies) or in an office chair (the five years I worked at the paper). It's no wonder I gained weight like crazy.

It's not to say that actual working out wouldn't be good for me. I know it would be. But right now? I'd rather "work out" by carrying a vacuum upstairs, hanging clothes up, carrying my 26 lb son around, and chasing after both kids with a sunscreen bottle in hand. I'm thankful that the very nature of what I do every day allows me to be so active. It's made all the difference.