My daughter is struggling with walking 30 minutes everyday. I can’t say I blame her. I abhor exercise in any form, and yet I now realize it’s critical to keeping our gene pool’s sluggish metabolism in check. And if she can build exercise into her routine as a habit – make it a natural part of her day – what pain and heartache I will save her in the future. What a gift that will be right? So what can I do to help that happen?

I need to model the correct behavior here. And I have to make this about her to get me going. Just like I used “being a better mom for my kids” making my decision to have weight loss surgery. I wish I could just get it up and do it because I know it’s good for me. But I must seek internal motivation in some way and my kids are the perfect way to do it.

One thing became obvious; I can’t convince her that exercise, like brushing her teeth, is a necessary habit if I am not practicing it myself. So today, I made a commitment. I will exercise everyday. I will get on that stupid treadmill and walk. Rain or shine. I will do it for at least 10 minutes straight and I will aim for 30 minutes a day. I will do it on an incline and at a fast past so my heart rate gets up. I will model for her that it’s a commitment and requires focus. And it requires even more focus when you don’t feel like doing it.

And by God, I am convinced, this time it will take. Before, I was always exercising because I was trying to lose weight. Now… not so much. I’m ok with body. Sure I’d like to lose 25 lbs, but somehow with the perspective of 160-pound loss, these last 25 lbs don’t feel so bad. It’s not about weight loss for once. It’s about health and modeling it for my kids. And I need to do it even though it’s not easy for me.

I told her today that one of the few sermons I remember my dad preaching when I was kid was a sermon about prayer. And about how God must view prayer when it’s easy versus when it’s not. It’s easy to pray when you want something. But what does it say about your commitment to praising him and communing with him when you aren’t in need? What about doing it just because he’s there and because it’s a natural part of your day. That was when it really mattered. Caring enough to make him a natural habit. Yeah, well… count me there with exercise. The lesson of dedication and perseverance is when I can model it when it’s not the easy path. When motivation isn’t there. And then sticking to it for the long term.

I can do it. I think I can. I know I can.

These are the things I tell myself.

Related posts:

  1. Not motivated
    2.   I’m not in the mood to train anymore. I...
  2. Caloric Karma
    3.    I think my eat everything you want because...
  3. On tap for today
    4.   birthday party for the oldest in...