Fitness On My Mind

It can be quite jarring when you suddenly realize that you’ve put on weight.  For me there has never been a fear of weights.  I’ve been skinny my entire life.  Yet when my wife had a baby, I found that I had less and less time to go to the gym.  I used to go to a Planet Fitness regularly.  At least twice a week I used to find time to get to the gym, or at least find time at home to work out.  But now, even when I’m home, the only thing on my mind is sleep.  I can never get enough sleep even though I try my best.  For some reason, having a young child at home somehow means that you are no longer guaranteed at least a minimum of five hours of sleep. 

The one thing that I have been able to do with some consistency has been eating.  It appears that even when I’m struggling to find time for sleep, somehow my mouth is never too far away from food.  Part of it is undoubtedly due to the fact that I never know when I’m going to be able to eat.  Even when I’m at work, it seems as though my schedule is so messed up that I have to grab a bite to eat whenever I find an opportunity.  Sometimes that ends up being at 11 or 12 at night, which is not good for anyone, even if you’re naturally skinny.

So now I’m thinking more and more about fitness.  I don’t know how parents with children are able to stay fit.  I don’t partake in a lot of the activities that used to keep me healthy when I was younger, so naturally my body is going to change.  I can accept that, but it is hard to find the time to do something as simple as fifty push ups or sit ups.  I have an ongoing gym membership that is simply drawing money out of my pocket.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to find a way to work out at home.  I keep telling myself that I’m going to get back into the groove of things, but I know that is a lie.  For now I’m going to try my best to get in at least fifty push ups a day or sit-ups, to try to halt the weight gain.  This is not going to change much.  I will not get my body back the way it used to be, but damage control is key right now.  I have to give credit to those who manage to get their children through life and still find a good balance.  I’m not sure I can find the balance right now.  Being sleep deprived has a way of messing with you.  A friend of mine is going to do the 30 day squat challenge, and I hope it works for him, though I’m not too confident that will help a guy much.  Yet I’m all too aware that desperation can sometimes force you to try anything.  They weren’t joking when they said children change your life.