Womze - Cross Cultural Parenting

I started to visit the gym when my baby was about 4 months old.  I go 2 or 3 times a week during my lunch hour at work.  Three months later, I’m yet to see a remarkable difference on the scale, however, I’m able to fit into several of my old clothes.  Even though the scale is refusing to budge downwards, these are some of the other benefits I experienced from the practice.

1. I felt more energized - I could get to the end of the day without nodding off despite multiple sleep interruptions at night from baby.
2. I ate healthier breakfasts - I would eat some oatmeal or cereal or pack a breakfast sandwich to ensure I didn’t have to exercise on an empy (or sugar-filled) tummy. 
3. I ate healthier lunches - I had to pack my lunch so that I could eat at my desk while I work, since lunchtime is spent at the gym.  This meant I ate what I wanted at the quantity I wanted.  
4. I eat healthy snacks - I pack along items such as bananas, yogurt and raisins to snack for when I’m hungry before my workout.
5. I save money - I don’t spend money on lunch and snacks.
6. I’m well hydrated - I make sure I drink plenty of water before my workout.

While one good habit perpetuates another, the same is unfortunately true for bad habits.  My last visit to the gym was 4 weeks ago.  I had a lot of tasks to complete at work and felt I couldn’t make time for the gym.  So I threw myself into the work and cut out my lunchtime workouts, with the intention of getting back into the routine once my workload becomes lighter.  It has now ocurred to me that my absence from the gym is fueling several conditions.

1. Tiredness - I deserve to be tired if I’m waking up every 3 hrs at night (baby now sleeps through the night), but was less tired when working out.
2. Junk or no breakfast - I’m in a rush in the morning (because I can’t get out of bed on time because I’m tired).  So I get to work on an empty stomach and gobble up whatever muffins or cookies may come my way.
3. Big lunch portions - I buy lunch (too tired to pack lunch), and feel compelled to finish it even when the portion sizes are bigger than I need.
4. Vending machine junk - I make trips to the vending machine for cookies when I need a snack.
5. I spend more money - on lunch and vending machine snacks.
6. Drink less water - I tend to drink very little water unless I make a

   conscientious effort to do so.

Which six conditions do I want to experience?  The answer is easy - tomorrow, I return to the gym.

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Update @9pm, July 16

I did not go to the gym.  I succumbed to several excuses not to go.  The no-exercise-cycle is hard to break.  I did start my day with breakfast, packed my lunch and drank plenty of water.  So I feel that’s an improvement.  Tomorrow…