For almost 5 months, I’ve been changing my life in a way that I never thought possible before. First, I joined a gym and was working with a personal trainer 3 to 4 times a week. Then, I revamped the way I eat.
My son became used to “Mommy, are you going to the gym?”, when I kissed him in the morning if he woke up before I left for my 6 am session.
He’s getting used to it.
My weight has been an issue that I battled for years. As an emotional eater, my weight went up and down like crazy over the last couple of years. I tried many things, from crash diets to those magic ‘drinks’ that are supposed to make you lose weight. None of them worked, they were only temporary fixes.
I didn’t sit and plan that I was going to start changing my life. Actually, it was a spur of the moment kind of thing.
I was driving pass by the gym when I saw their promotional banner and thought to myself, “Hey, that’s cheap! I can spare that much.” So I just stopped by the next morning after dropping my son at school and signed up.
A week later, I hired a personal trainer, and my life was forever changed (as I’m writing this, I no longer work with him). Another influence that pushed me to push harder and live a healthier lifestyle is the fact that diabetes runs for many generations back in my family. I do not want to pass that down to my son, too!
As my body changes, my energy level improves, my body fat percentage went down, my son realized the changes in his Mommy too. He knows his Mommy is happier now.
He would ask me to show him the moves I did at the gym, and happily he would jumped right in and do his own kiddy version of it. He even try planking with me.
My son is in K2, and his play time outside is limited. Why? Because, where we live we are surrounded by houses and houses. The closest park is filthy, and we have to pay to go to an outdoor play area which is quite far from my place. I do, however, let him play outside by the street supervised.
Once he starts elementary school next year, I will encourage him to join some sports group of his choice, but for now he mostly only plays outdoors at school.
My own mother was a volleyball athlete back when she was in school up to the day she got married. But after being a stay at home mom and raising three kids, she has been big all my life. The only proof of her fitness figure was from old pictures. Sadly, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year. I don’t want to end up like my mother and as much as I love her, I wish she would lead a healthier lifestyle.
One of my brothers has started to show interest in joining the gym, too, so I am delighted for that.
I know I can’t change her or force her to eat better and start exercising, but I know there is still one person I can influence.
My son…
Knowing that I am setting a good example for him, by being a healthy and strong mother, I know my son will not only be proud of me, but he will follow by example.
How about you? How do you incorporate healthy lifestyle in your family?
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by our single-mother of one, Maureen of the blog, Tatter Scoops, of Indonesia.
Photo credit to the author.
Maureen
Founder of Single Moms Indonesia, community leader and builder. Deeply passionate about women empowerment.
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I’ve been following your journey and you’re totally looking amazing! More importantly, I can tell that you’re so much happier. And what better gift to your son than a happy, healthy you?
Thank you Alison, I definitely feel happier even way more than I’ve ever been. 😀
Maureen, I am so proud of your lifestyle choice. You rock! Your determination is a great motivation to me too 🙂
Thank you so much, my friend! I used to be the laziest person who hated sports with a passion. That was until I get hooked to endorphin 😉
I can respond from the perspective of the “unhealthy, big” mom of a gorgeous, active daughter who also worries! Firstly, as moms, we’re extremely happy if our daughters make better life choices than us! Secondly, please don’t worry about us … we’re actually well aware of what we “should” be doing … and have (sometimes subconscious) reasons as to why we live the way we do. Sometimes it really is a case of “please don’t do as I do, do better”!!
The best gift you can give your child is to take care of his mother, so well done for doing just that!
I agree with you Simona, my mother does that too. She’s happy about what I’m doing although she doesn’t really say it out loud but I’m just glad she is starting to take the same multivitamin for women as I’m using. Thank you 🙂
Good for you! I am regularly active. I play soccer once a week, going running a few times in between, and try to get in at least 1 hike. But I am not great with my eating. I could be in way better shape with a little more willpower. But my sons are being raised by 2 active parents and already love riding bikes and hiking, so we hope to keep up this momentum. PS – you are just lovely! Beautiful photos!
You are living an active life which is great Tara! You are doing great and I’m sure your sons will follow you and your husband plus that sounds like a lot of fun 😀 Thank you for the kind words.
I’ve been watching via Facebook, and you’re doing an incredible job. I try to add in healthy eating habits and put a little extra activity in my day, but I find it difficult. Do you mind me asking, as a fellow single mom, how do you get to the gym in the morning? I want to start going (we have one in my apartment complex), but I feel bad waking up my son at 5:30 in the morning just so I can take him.
Hi Roxanne, I had actually quit the gym because at first I was working out close to 2 hours a day in the morning starting at 6 and after consulting some friends who are more of an expert on this they introduced me to shorter more intense workout which is great. So right now, I’m working out from home using DVDs and it only take me 30-45minutes max every morning so that works great. I’d workout before my son gets up in the morning and once that’s done I feel great. I also live with family so I get more help but now when my son is up, I’m home then we can get ready for him to go to school. Hope that helps 🙂
Oh, I was also going to mention that my son’s school has them go outside twice a day every day. I love that they encourage outdoor activity. Even if it’s snowing, they have them go outside. Unless, of course, it’s a blizzard or something. 🙂
Oh that is so awesome! My son school does that too and my son actually starting to play soccer and he totally loves it 😀
Yay Maureen! You are doing amazing! I’m so encouraged by you and your lifestyle changes! Keep on the good work!
Thank you so much Ana! We should really meet up soon with Shaula 😀
Maureen, you are a great inspiration to many. I wish I had some spare time for a gym… I used to very active person, and these days it’s a miracle if I do morning stretch.
Aww thank you, I know it will take more efforts to make time with two young children but it is doable. It won’t be easy sometimes when I workout at home with my son watching and cheering and asking tons of questions I had to made sign to make him stop asking questions because I can’t even talk lol. I had quit my gym last month actually.
ha! when I tried to work out at home I had my daughter AND my dog climbing all over me, as they thought I’m playing with them. these days my two kids have different nap schedule, although I try to make them nap at the same time (it hasn’t work that way, yet), so it’s been a real pain to try to squeeze some time for work out in between AND I am already exhausted from just taking care of those two stinkers… For now I just stick to watching my diet more carefully and going for a family walks as often as I can.
Aww I can only imagine how busy life is for you guys but I salute you for doing family walks and watching your diet. Besides, being healthy is 70% of what we eat and 30% exercise 😉
You are inspiring me! I have the opposite problem with my son – he insist on joining me (he’s 3) for m runs. When I tell him he’ll slow me down, he does a little demonstration of how fast he can run. Great and everything, but has kept me from actually going on that run. Anyway, I think it’s just great that you’ve turned around your lifestyle habits for the best!
How cute is your son! My son would sometimes try to do the plank with me which is super fun to watch. You are doing awesome too and I love how your son is inspired to run with you even at such a young age! Kudos, Kim and thank you 🙂
Hi Maureen,
I have not been following your blog for a very long time, but I have done some reading of your older posts. Life IS a journey, isn’t it? It’s great to see you became who you are now. It’s not alway easy – granted – but you did it.
I respect that!
No worries, Jan and thank you. It is a journey that’s for sure. It’s not a temporary fix just to be skinny, I actually feel far better now than when before I had my son. 🙂
I am SO non-athletic it’s embarassing. I’m clumsy and uncoordinated. I was thinking of trying Zumba but I’m afraid I’ll hurt myself or someone else! lol
Oh Cyndy, I used to hate sports at any kinds, believe me lol. I haven’t try zumba but I’d say find something that is fun and you actually enjoy.
Well done for making the change in life style and sticking to it. Like you I was an emotional eater, and I usually trained hard and punished my body after at the gym, as diabetes runs in my family as well. Now, I’m a SAHM I don’t have the time to attend gym as I don’t have anyone to stay with my son while hubby’s at work. He works long hours. So I began to walk most place, power walk and I also was careful of my portion sizes and before I knew it I began to lose my baby weight. I’m now expecting my 2nd baby I’m less active however, but my toddler keeps me going, so I’ve not gained too much weight. Once I’ve had my baby I’m be back to ‘toddlercise’ with my boy on the bouncy castle, kicking a ball about, dancing to music. The trick is to keep moving, have fun and before you know it, the weight will begin to melt away.
Thank you MsXpat. I actually started with power walk last year and I dropped a lot of weights during that time but my eating habit was still off, I’d skip breakfast and didn’t eat anything for dinner other than fruits but as I learned more, I realized yes I did lost some weights but my metabolism was still slow because of the way I eat. Once I start taking better care of how I eat, I can feel and see the difference it does in my body. Congrats on your 2nd baby. Thank you for sharing your own experience, it’s always inspiring to read these kinds of stories.
You’re an inspiration. I believe it takes lots of discipline to have achieved all that and I admire you for it! Btw, I used to play volleyball too 😉
Thank you so much Ruth and I’m not usually very discipline hahaha. I tried volley ball too a long time ago hoping I would be lucky and got my mother’s talent but I pretty much sucks at it hahaha.
nice article Maureen, you are very inspire to me..thank
Thank you 🙂
Yay Maureen — such a great accomplishment and an awesome example for so many! I’ve been inspired by your fitness/healthy eating journey and am gearing up to start one of my own. I’ve found that it’s hard to be as active as I’d like in Jakarta, but I’m determined to get myself back into a good routine. Good to know you’re nearby for support 😉
Hey Shaula, we definitely need to plan to have coffee again with another WMB writer here in town, Ana Gaby 😀 Will shoot you ladies some email today. Oh it’s so hard here to do the ‘walk anywhere’ plan because let’s face it, Jakarta’s sidewalk can be one of the most dangerous places to walk on. Thank you so much Shaula!
Maureen,
Great post! We took our kids to a fitness boot camp at 8am on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. They saw my husband and I working really hard! And, my older daughter was participating in some beach running races with other kids during the event. It was for charity, but it got me up and out on a Saturday morning. Today, I ran a mile and 1/2 pushing my 18 mos. old in a jogging stroller. I gave up on my exercising this summer. Time to get it back into full swing, and this post was what I needed!
Jen 🙂
YAY Jen! That bootcamp sounds like so much fun, I bet everyone had a great time. I wish they have them here too. Best of luck Jen running and pushing a jogging stroller needs a lot of strength that’s for sure 🙂
Looking great, Maureen! I have found that eating well and getting enough exercise is absolutely essential for me to be a happy and present mama. It always means I have to sacrifice doing something else during that time, but I am never disappointed in my choice. Ever. I always feel so great afterward, completely refreshed, and anxiety-free, thus better able to give my son the patient attention he needs and deserves.
My relationship with my own mother is shaky, at best, but one of the things I appreciate most about her (even more so since I have become a mother myself) is that she always modeled healthy eating behaviors and a love of physical activity. I just grew up thinking that was how it was for everyone. I was surprised when I got older to discover that not everybody was raised that way, and I feel so fortunate that I was. It makes the road a bit easier and I hope to do the same for my son.
Thank you Ms. V! So true on being happy. Our kids knows when their mama isn’t happy.
How wonderful of you to have that kind of role model from your mother, my own mother is slowly trying to make some changes into her own diet and I’m so glad she’s starting by asking me so many questions about what’s good and what’s not. That’s a little baby steps but I’m so happy for her and hoping my whole big family will join me soon.
No matter how many success stories I hear about how people changed their lifestyle and are living healthy, I’m always inspired. Yours especially, with your son cheering you on. You rock!
Aww thank you so much Nami! The online support has been nothing but amazing too. I also read a lot of inspiring people online and read their success stories and it’s fueling me to keep going too.
You’re still a great inspiration! You look great! 🙂
Girl, thank you so much! You are doing great yourself too 😉
I always love reading about your fitness story. You truly are an inspiration. You are a great example to your son and all who you share your story with!
Thank you so much for all of your supports and kind words, Jessica. Really, it means a lot! 🙂
Good for you Maureen! This really is wonderful. I recently going back to the gym as well, but my children don’t see that, since I go midday while I am at the office. I do talk about it however, so hopefully it will sink in throu osmosis 🙂
Big congrats to you Maman Aya! That’s so great. I find since I’m now working from home it is so much easier to make time to workout. If I’m still working downtown it would be so difficult due to the long hours of commute. YAY for you!