Why I Finally Started Taking Care of Myself

home insemination Kit

Hey there! So, let me give you a little peek into my life. For most of my twenties, I was basically the queen of the couch. Late mornings? Absolutely! Breakfast consisted of PopTarts—preferably four of them—and my evenings were spent binging on reruns of Friends while devouring a bag of Doritos. I didn’t mind my plus-size jeans, and I was never really unhappy with my fitness level. Sure, I’d get winded climbing the stairs to my apartment, but hey, it was all good, right?

At 25, I tied the knot with my husband, Mike, who happened to work in fitness. He loved me just as I was, so I figured, why change? Then came motherhood. When I was 28, I welcomed my first daughter, and I thought the couch potato lifestyle was a perfect match for a new mom. Fast forward to 31, and I had my second daughter. Nine months later, I decided to shake things up and ran my first half marathon.

Let’s be real; I hated every step of my training. I was mostly motivated by the fact that I was clinging onto the extra pounds from my pregnancies and was inching toward a size I never thought I’d wear. But it wasn’t just about me; it was about my girls. My oldest was three, and I found it hard to keep up with her boundless energy. I wanted to be an example—a strong, capable, confident woman. On race day, when I was ready to quit at mile ten, it was my daughters’ smiles cheering me on that pushed me to keep going.

In our conversations, “skinny” isn’t even on the table, but “strong” and “healthy” are big deals. I avoid talking about losing weight or feeling fat because, let’s be honest, the world will throw that at them soon enough.

At 33, I had a surprise baby—a boy. Suddenly, I was juggling a five-year-old, a two-year-old, and a newborn while dealing with postpartum anxiety. Running could have easily been the first thing to go. I thought I had taught my girls what it meant to be strong, so maybe I didn’t have to keep at it. But then I realized I needed to do this for my son. I want him to grow up respecting women who are strong and confident, not just focused on appearances. I want him to be the kind of guy who encourages his future partner to be adventurous and self-assured.

And it’s not just about my daughters; boys need role models too. They’ll form their ideas of healthy relationships based on what we show them. I want my kids to understand that health is important and that they can achieve anything. Plus, I want them to enjoy that fourth chocolate PopTart without guilt, too.

If you’re interested in learning more about parenting perspectives, check out this post. And for more insights on home insemination, I highly recommend Make a Mom, they’re really knowledgeable in this area. Also, if you want to dive deeper into genetics and pregnancy, this article is an excellent resource.

In summary, my journey from couch potato to fitness has been about more than just me—it’s about setting an example for my kids. I want them to know that being strong and healthy is what’s truly important, and they should never shy away from enjoying life’s little pleasures.