Healthy Body Image For the Family

I've noticed a change in my energy level since I started exercising with my kids last week. I do not feel like I’m dragging myself out of bed as much in the morning, although I’ll admit I’m still tired—my almost two-year-old has reverted to waking up at least twice a night again this past month.

But when I wake up, instead of feeling no connection to my body, I rise with the buzz of my muscles alive.

It’s barely been a week, but I feel like my new routine has already become a habit. Not to mention that my children are looking forward to our evening exercise times. Even the little one can now say, “Run, Mama. Run.”

Thinking a lot about healthy body image lately and I stumbled upon this blog entry today on Emme Nation: Body Beautiful: Reflecting Healthy Body Image On Your Kids. The writer speaks about a lot of the ideas that I believe in, too.

I agree that the solution starts with me and I think I’m taking the right steps to ensure a healthy future for myself and my kids by making movement an important part of each day.

Improve Body Image by Exercising with Your Kids

Kids pretending to be stuck in mud

My body is sore and happy from my new exercise routine. My body image is soaring because I'm enjoying what my body can do (and not worrying about what it looks like). The kids love our daily excursion into our town to find new places to run and have fun.

Shakespeare Theatre

Our latest spot was the Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, which has been closed up for years. It’s now referred to as The American Festival Theatre when they do some outside shows during the summer.

My dad used to work in the box office when I was a kid and we saw many shows here. For our purposes, we walked around the grounds and broke into jogs and runs.

Genny and I ran up and down these steps ten times!

The best part about exercising with my kids is that I can be goofy and jump and throw my arms in the air and not be embarrassed—I mean, I’m with kids! It’s okay to have fun when you’re with kids! If I were by myself jogging I would not feel so free to stop and jump and laugh.

How my children see me...

Bonus? The kids seem to be sleeping more soundly.

Summer Romance Novel Writing and Exercising with the Kids

Photo of Sheila Hageman taken by her daughter

I’ve been enjoying the summer by working on my next writing project, which is a romance novel. Five days a week I spend an hour-and-a-half working on the manuscript or write a minimum of 1,000 words. This process has been working well for me—I have an option of two different goals I can meet for the day.

I’ve not been doing as much exercise and yoga as I would like and I have been noticing the difference in my body and energy levels. I weigh the most I have ever weighed (except for when I was pregnant).

Body image issues have been floating around in my head as I try to figure out who I am on the outside and what relation it has to the inner me. I’m definitely loving my fuller-figured body, but I’m not loving that my clothes don’t fit.

In honor of wanting to set a good example for my kids I’ve decided to start on a new exercise regimen. My kids joined me last night after dinner by heading down to the bike path not too far from our home and doing some running.

Kids watching birds while Mommy stretched

I was pretty impressed with everyone’s enthusiasm and energy. Exercising with the kids definitely made it more doable and fun. And now everybody is looking forward to the next fun spot I’ll choose for us tonight!

Birthdays Make Us Say Stuff

My daughter's school birthday celebration

Yesterday I turned 41-years-old. I’ve been allowing a sneaky thought to find its way into my brain. Because I’m 41 it’s okay to not exercise or care about my body. I’ve been eating whatever I want and not doing anything for making myself feel strong and powerful and beautiful.

Yes, I’ve been going to therapy and that’s a huge thing. Yes, I’m introspective.

Yes, I realize that I don’t need my body to be perfect to feel good about myself.

I won’t lie and say I want to get in shape for purely health reasons, although that’s the major impetus.

I feel bad about the condition of my whole being. I know exercise and eating right will make me feel better on all levels. Yet I’ve been resistant to change.

I’m so busy being a mom to three little kids and writing and doing publicity. I feel guilty taking time for myself. But if I take some time to get healthy, won’t that help on all levels of my existence?

Today, I change.

Today is my first tennis class; it is 90 degrees out.

The paramedics may need to be called.