If I skip a few days without going for a run, I can feel the tension building within me. My family notices it too. I’ll find myself pacing around the house, irritable and complaining until someone practically hands me my running shoes and says, “Go! We need you back to your cheerful self.”
My journey with exercise began in my teenage years when I was struggling with severe anxiety and panic attacks. My doctor recommended that I get moving. Stepping outside transformed my mental state, allowing me to clear my head and process my thoughts in the fresh air. The endorphins were a significant boost, helping me reclaim my happiness. While exercise isn’t the only solution I rely on to manage my anxiety—a persistent challenge that doesn’t always respond to my efforts—it is a vital part of my overall well-being.
For more than two decades, I’ve maintained a consistent exercise routine. While it certainly contributes to my physical and mental health, achieving a slim figure has never been my main focus—at least not anymore. In the years before I became a mother, I was more obsessed with sculpting my physique, sometimes to an unhealthy extent. However, as I’ve aged and embraced motherhood, my priorities have shifted. Women in my family have always been curvy, and I’ve come to accept that I will never be skinny. The times I came close were often marked by unhealthy eating habits or excessive exercise driven solely by the desire for an unattainable body type.
What I now strive for most is happiness, health, and sanity. I exercise to prevent myself from becoming overwhelmed as a primary caregiver, to relieve the stress of parenting. I want to keep up with my children as they dash down the street and to ensure I can enjoy a long, active life, hopefully as a grandmother someday.
A few years ago, after the arrival of my second child, my experience as a mom intensified, and I began dreaming about running. I had never considered myself a runner, but in those dreams, I felt as though I was soaring through the air. Inspired by this, I purchased a jogging stroller and ventured into running. Initially, I struggled to go beyond a few blocks without feeling breathless. Gradually, I transitioned from walking to running, and within months, I was running almost exclusively. Eventually, I began running without the stroller as my baby grew older.
At first, I thought that this shift from walking to running might help shed the last stubborn five pounds of baby weight that had lingered since my first child was born nearly a decade ago. That didn’t quite happen (those pounds seem to be here to stay). However, the satisfaction of achieving something I once thought impossible has been incredibly rewarding and beneficial for managing my long-standing anxiety.
When facing a tough day, I often hit the pavement and repeat, “I can do this, I can do this” in my mind. It may sound cliché, especially sharing it here, but running serves as a metaphor for life, a way to tackle the challenges that come our way.
I’m thankful that my family understands my need to get outside and run a few times each week. When I return, my children can see the joy and calm restored to my demeanor. They eagerly climb all over me, showering me with affection.
Oddly enough, they don’t seem to mind that I’m soaked with sweat—an added bonus of my routine is that it practically guarantees I’ll take a shower afterward. With my kids cheering me on in their own quirky way, they usually give me some space to enjoy a quiet moment in the shower after exercising.
A peaceful shower? That might just be the best reason of all to stay active.
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In summary, my exercise routine is about preserving my mental health, not about achieving a certain body image. It’s a crucial part of my daily life that helps me cope with the demands of motherhood while nurturing my well-being.