Thursday, March 17, 2011

booty shake

my new exercise routine

my new exercise routine

my new exercise routine

Adding in exercise is by far the hugest healthy lifestyle challenge I face. I certainly like the idea of being active and lively, but my natural personality is sedentary. Not that I have time to be a couch potato, ever, but that is what I would tend toward given the opportunity. My natural inclination would be to sit at the table sipping a cup of tea and looking at my newest book or planning recipes for the week. I'm just not an active person.

I know I've written before about my good intentions for exercise. My favorite was when I was doing these walks -- but they take time. Time I generally don't have during the school year. Most days when I get home from work I put my things away, greet everyone, and immediately start cooking.

So now I have a new plan. The afternoon "booty shake" (fun term adopted from this book, which I'm enjoying. I just have to smile when I use the word "booty shake" in a sentence--for example, "Faith, can you come time my booty shake?" Booty shake = exercise). The new plan is to jump on the trampoline for five minutes every day. Easy, right? Actually, it's much more of a workout than you'd think! I'm heart is totally pounding by the end of five minutes and I keep asking Faith for timer updates throughout my jump. I feel heavy and clunky up there, but that is the point of it: that I really need this. I'm noticing a change in my weight and body now that I'm older, so this is the time to do something about it.

The fun thing about the trampoline jumping is that it is so fun. You can't help but smile and laugh when you are jumping up there! And the whole family smiles and laughs along with me. The boys think it's hysterical when mama uses the trampoline and Faith is usually encouraged to get on and jump a little too.

I think I can stand just about anything for five minutes a day, so hopefully this will stick. So much better than doing nothing!

8 comments:

catie said...

mary beth,
i LOVE these photos! they are totally inspiring me to get out there on our trampoline and do my own booty shake. ♥

oceangal said...

Great idea. You can't help but have fun when bouncing on a trampoline. You can also time it to the length of two energetic songs. That is another way to know how long you've been doing it.

Its_Lily said...

Good for you! I don't have a trampoline, but my sister does and yes, I'm exhausted after jumping with my niece for even 5 minutes. Doesn't help that she's 18 and gets the biggest kick out of sending me airborne! Who knew?

Andrea said...

Good for you! Sounds fun. I've finally started a regular exercise routine--1/2 hour of swimming every morning, which I finally have time for thanks to hubby putting boys on the bus. I love being in the water and I love how good I feel physically and mentally as a I start my day. So much nicer than boring workout machines.

pilgrimama said...

It's great you're making time for this!
We have a high-quality mini trampoline which I try to work out on as often as possible(sorta). My nature is naturally sedentary too.
Hint:music with a nice beat is great to bounce along to!

Cole said...

I love this post! It's good for everyone to remember to move, even if its for five minutes a day and especially if its something fun! Good for you and thanks for the reminder :)

Lisa Renata said...

Yey for you! I love exercising,but also find it hard to keep up with it most of the time. I try to hit the gym at least 3 days a week. Not always possible, but for the same reason recently I started my 10 min. work out on those days I can't make it to the gym. Like you I figured 10 minutes is so much better than nothing at all. Truly I see a difference in the way I feel, even if it means stretching for 10 minutes. Now my next goal is to add some meditation time in there. We'll see.

Keep up the good work- your heart, body, mind and family will thank you.

catie said...

i'm doing it, too!
come read my post here:
five-ten-fifteen
{i linked to your post} ♥