For over a year now I have been wanting to join a gym or the YMCA. Last summer I visited the YMCA twice in hopes that it would get me motivated to actually join. I toured the facility, asked my questions, and mentally prepared myself. And then I never joined. I was WAY to nervous to leave the babies in the care of strangers. The what ifs just would not stop so after discussing it with Jeff I realized I just wasn’t ready for that giant step.

Fast forward 8 months. I joined a gym!!!! They built a new gym pretty close to my house and it is fantastic. It has TONS of equipment, lots of classes, an indoor pool, womans only jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna. I went in, signed up, and got myself mentally prepared again. At 2.5 months I feel the babies (and me) are ready. I went for the first time last week and dropped them off at the gym daycare. They are SUPER strict with rules and safety procedures so I felt somewhat better. Of course the babies cried when I left them which made me cry. I almost wanted to just go get them and not have to deal with it, but I truly believe in the long run it will be better for us all. I will be a better mother and I know in time they will come to love the gym playtime. There are big slides, art tables, and I think I even saw computer for the bigger kids.

Of course the entire time they were in there my eyes were glued to my tv monitor. On many of the cardio machines they have TV’s and you can tune into the gym playroom and watch your children. Shenzie sat at a table for most of the time coloring and poor caregiver had to hold Heaten the entire time. BUT, when I went to pick the babies up they weren’t crying and the care givers said they did great. I am really hopeful that soon they will look forward to “the indoor playground” and I can get a much needed break to focus on feeling like myself again.

This weekend I did my first mat pilates and really liked it. I am still sore in my stomach which shows you how very out of shape I am. I am going to try for three days a week. One spin class, one pilates class, and either a Boot Camp/Body Sculp or strength training/cardio the third day. I feel very good and positive about it all, especially since I HATE to work out. I figure if nothing else on days when the babies are driving me up the wall crazy I can go to the pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and pretend I am at the spa. =)