After having a baby and going back to work full time, I could never find time to get to the gym. I was so exhausted from life that by the time the day was over there was no way I was getting my behind on a treadmill.

Ok, let’s be honest…even before having a kid, I rarely found the motivation to work out. I always found a zillion excuses. My stomach hurts. I have a cold. I have a meeting. I don’t like to sweat. I’m tired. I’m a lazy bum.

My decision to make time for me all started with my diet. My husband and I decided in early 2013 that we would try to do a paleo diet. I’ve had a chronic history of stomach problems (including stomach ulcers as a kid) and I figured I’d see if cutting out gluten and dairy really did help. We stuck to it pretty solid Monday-Friday, allowed ourselves some flexibility on the weekends, and kept at it through the end of 2013.  It’s a diet I thought I’d hate but actually am glad I went on.  I feel better than I have in a long time. I still get the occasional stomach ache or heartburn, but nothing like before. 

Almost a year of paleo produced positive results and dropped pounds. I had gotten serious about my diet; it was time to get serious about exercise too. Now that my kid was sprinting away from me and weighed over 25 pounds, I needed to get in shape just so I could keep up with him or wrangle him (if necessary). 

Following some scientific research (aka Google and Yelp), I decided to sign up for Dailey Method Barre classes. My first class was in February, and with the exception of the month of May, have been going pretty consistently, shooting for twice a week.  The classes are an hour long and are tough. They work my entire body, but primarily my core so that I’m not risking injury to my back, neck, or knees.  They are pricey classes (and based on those around me in class, I’m likely not their target economic demographic), but it’s been a worthwhile investment and I’m probably the strongest I’ve ever been. Also, knowing that I’m paying for it makes it hard for me to find a reason to get out of it. 

Once I found the motivation, I MADE the time for myself. I can proudly say that I’m officially on the road to becoming a reformed lazy bum.  It feels pretty good.