“Raising a child is hard work”- Said Everyone

Add chasing a toddler on top of a work-from-home/stay-at-home mom lifestyle, I crawl into bed at the end of the day exhausted.

Yesterday I finished a majority of my work and decided to squeeze in a quick workout while my daughter was at preschool. It hit me as I jumped off the treadmill…guilt. My daughter is in preschool and I am working out. On the weekends, I am not there when she wakes up, I am at the gym. When I receive a text message that she is up, I sometimes rush through so I can hurry home and be with her.

A few weeks ago I typed away at my computer finishing up my workout programming and glanced over at her, sitting on the couch with her i-pad. It hit me again…bad mom.

Mommy guilt is real, especially when it comes to working out! Some may think working out is luxury, the first thing you should cut from a list of priorities. however, I know now more than ever, its a necessity. On days I workout, I am without a doubt a more energized mother. I know she is getting the best of me. She deserves the best from me.

Michael Hyatt, a NY Times Bestseller and personal development guru mentioned in a recent School of Greatness Podcast his #2 priority behind God is himself, followed by his wife & children and then his career.

Wait a minute, he put himself before his wife & children?! My first initial thought, no way! I thought about it some more and reflected on a quote I use frequently with my clients…

“You cannot pour from an empty cup”

It’s so important to take care of yourself first so when you give to your loved ones, or heck even your job for those who do not have kids, you pour from a cup full of your best effort.

After training mostly women for years, do you know the most used excuse or reason as to why they can no longer workout? The #1 reason is their children.

And in my opinion the #1 reason you should workout….your children.

I feel the mommy guilt and probably always will, I hope its what makes me a good mother, however I rather my daughter have confident, happy mom than a frumpy, tired mom.