How Motherhood Made Me Healthier
I talk about finding your why a lot in my practice, on my blog, and in my e-book. To me, finding your why is one of the most important things you can do for your weight loss journey, and it has nothing to do with diet or exercise.
Finding your why will give you motivation well beyond what you can muster from the slow progress that is natural on a weight loss or health journey.
In honor of mother’s day, I want to talk a little bit about my why, and how I found it.
Thirty years ago I became a mother, but I found my why about nine months before my daughter was born. You see, I had a sort of epiphany when I found out I was pregnant. It may seem obvious to some, but I had the realization that I was no longer just living for myself.
While pregnant, I found myself eating healthier, exercising more, prioritizing good sleep, and staying hydrated. I diligently did all of the things the pregnancy books talked about, keeping in mind that everything I put into my body or subjected it to would have deep echos, reaching the growing baby within.
When my kids were growing up, I was motivated by a desire to keep up with two small children, but also by a desire to be a good influence on them and their developing relationships to their own health and fitness.
Having worked in pediatric healthcare, I knew that children often imitate what they see, inheriting not only genes but habits. Armed with this knowledge, I wanted to model what a healthy diet and active lifestyle looked like, making it easier when it came time for my kids to make their own decisions.
Now that my kids are grown and living independent lives, my why is still linked to motherhood. Now, I want to be able to stay healthy and active to continue to be able to hike and travel together, to see them continue to grow up and eventually to keep up with future grandchildren!
Maybe now you are getting a better idea of how finding your why is so important to staying motivated long-term. Try to find a why that is tied to your identity or your life goals, things that won’t go out of fashion in a season or things that ebb and flow over time.
Even if you aren’t a mother and don’t plan to be one, I hope you can see the value in this lesson from my own life. So, think about it- what is your ultimate why, the reason you prioritize your health that has nothing to do with the number on the scale?
