There’s More to Creating a Fitness Plan Than People Realize
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, most people in the U.S. already feel maxed out. Time, energy, and money are limited resources, and many are juggling them just to get through the day. So, when someone decides they’re fed up with their fitness and wants to take on a new workout plan, it’s not as simple as lacing up sneakers and hitting the gym.
A successful fitness plan requires you to think critically about where these three resources—time, energy, and money—will come from.
1. Time
If you’re not currently working out but want to start, the first question to ask yourself is: Where will this time come from?
Time is a zero-sum game. If you’re adding something new to your schedule, something else has to give. Are you willing to sacrifice TV time, scrolling on social media, or even an extra 30 minutes of sleep? It’s not just about finding time but consciously deciding what you’re willing to trade for it.
2. Energy
Working out doesn’t just take time—it also takes energy. If you’re already feeling drained at the end of the day, it’s important to evaluate where your energy is currently going. Ask yourself:
• What am I doing now that drains my energy?
• Can I minimize or eliminate activities that leave me feeling depleted?
Alternatively, consider ways to boost your energy reserves. This might mean prioritizing better sleep, improving your nutrition, or managing stress more effectively. Sometimes, it’s not about cutting things out but about adding habits that energize you for the new commitment.
3. Money
While some fitness activities are free, many come with a cost—gym memberships, fitness classes, equipment, or even the gas to drive to a park. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll need to figure out where the funds will come from.
Are you willing to reallocate money from other areas, such as dining out or entertainment? Or could you find creative ways to work out for free, like using bodyweight exercises at home or running outdoors?
A Personal Example: Prioritizing Time With My Daughter
This idea of balancing resources applies to all aspects of life, not just fitness. For instance, I’ve recently decided I want to spend more quality time with my seven-year-old daughter. I want to create core memories with her, but to do so, I’ve had to carefully consider how to free up time, energy, and money.
• Time: I’ve realized that I need to cut back on mindless scrolling or other low-value activities to make space for meaningful experiences with her.
• Energy: To have the energy to be present and engaged, I’ve started going to bed earlier, eating healthier, and planning my days better to reduce stress.
• Money: While some activities we enjoy are free, others—like trampoline parks or roller-skating rinks—come with a price tag. I’ve had to reallocate funds, cut back in other areas, or dip into savings to make these experiences possible.
The Takeaway
Whether it’s fitness, family, or any new goal, success starts with a plan. And a good plan requires understanding that time, energy, and money are finite resources. It’s not enough to set a goal—you need to figure out what you’re willing to sacrifice or change to make it happen.
So before jumping into your next big endeavor, take a moment to evaluate your resources. Ask yourself:
• What am I willing to trade to make this work?
• How can I optimize my time, energy, and money to align with my goals?
The answers to these questions might just be the key to creating a sustainable, successful plan—whether it’s for fitness, family, or anything else that matters most to you.
There’s More to Creating a Fitness Plan Than People Realize
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, most people in the U.S. already feel maxed out. Time, energy, and money are limited resources, and many are juggling them just to get through the day. So, when someone decides they’re fed up with their fitness and wants to take on a new workout plan, it’s not as simple as lacing up sneakers and hitting the gym.
A successful fitness plan requires you to think critically about where these three resources—time, energy, and money—will come from.
1. Time
If you’re not currently working out but want to start, the first question to ask yourself is: Where will this time come from?
Time is a zero-sum game. If you’re adding something new to your schedule, something else has to give. Are you willing to sacrifice TV time, scrolling on social media, or even an extra 30 minutes of sleep? It’s not just about finding time but consciously deciding what you’re willing to trade for it.
2. Energy
Working out doesn’t just take time—it also takes energy. If you’re already feeling drained at the end of the day, it’s important to evaluate where your energy is currently going. Ask yourself:
• What am I doing now that drains my energy?
• Can I minimize or eliminate activities that leave me feeling depleted?
Alternatively, consider ways to boost your energy reserves. This might mean prioritizing better sleep, improving your nutrition, or managing stress more effectively. Sometimes, it’s not about cutting things out but about adding habits that energize you for the new commitment.
3. Money
While some fitness activities are free, many come with a cost—gym memberships, fitness classes, equipment, or even the gas to drive to a park. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll need to figure out where the funds will come from.
Are you willing to reallocate money from other areas, such as dining out or entertainment? Or could you find creative ways to work out for free, like using bodyweight exercises at home or running outdoors?
A Personal Example: Prioritizing Time With My Daughter
This idea of balancing resources applies to all aspects of life, not just fitness. For instance, I’ve recently decided I want to spend more quality time with my seven-year-old daughter. I want to create core memories with her, but to do so, I’ve had to carefully consider how to free up time, energy, and money.
• Time: I’ve realized that I need to cut back on mindless scrolling or other low-value activities to make space for meaningful experiences with her.
• Energy: To have the energy to be present and engaged, I’ve started going to bed earlier, eating healthier, and planning my days better to reduce stress.
• Money: While some activities we enjoy are free, others—like trampoline parks or roller-skating rinks—come with a price tag. I’ve had to reallocate funds, cut back in other areas, or dip into savings to make these experiences possible.
The Takeaway
Whether it’s fitness, family, or any new goal, success starts with a plan. And a good plan requires understanding that time, energy, and money are finite resources. It’s not enough to set a goal—you need to figure out what you’re willing to sacrifice or change to make it happen.
So before jumping into your next big endeavor, take a moment to evaluate your resources. Ask yourself:
• What am I willing to trade to make this work?
• How can I optimize my time, energy, and money to align with my goals?
The answers to these questions might just be the key to creating a sustainable, successful plan—whether it’s for fitness, family, or anything else that matters most to you.
There’s More to Creating a Fitness Plan Than People Realize
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, most people in the U.S. already feel maxed out. Time, energy, and money are limited resources, and many are juggling them just to get through the day. So, when someone decides they’re fed up with their fitness and wants to take on a new workout plan, it’s not as simple as lacing up sneakers and hitting the gym.
A successful fitness plan requires you to think critically about where these three resources—time, energy, and money—will come from.
1. Time
If you’re not currently working out but want to start, the first question to ask yourself is: Where will this time come from?
Time is a zero-sum game. If you’re adding something new to your schedule, something else has to give. Are you willing to sacrifice TV time, scrolling on social media, or even an extra 30 minutes of sleep? It’s not just about finding time but consciously deciding what you’re willing to trade for it.
2. Energy
Working out doesn’t just take time—it also takes energy. If you’re already feeling drained at the end of the day, it’s important to evaluate where your energy is currently going. Ask yourself:
• What am I doing now that drains my energy?
• Can I minimize or eliminate activities that leave me feeling depleted?
Alternatively, consider ways to boost your energy reserves. This might mean prioritizing better sleep, improving your nutrition, or managing stress more effectively. Sometimes, it’s not about cutting things out but about adding habits that energize you for the new commitment.
3. Money
While some fitness activities are free, many come with a cost—gym memberships, fitness classes, equipment, or even the gas to drive to a park. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll need to figure out where the funds will come from.
Are you willing to reallocate money from other areas, such as dining out or entertainment? Or could you find creative ways to work out for free, like using bodyweight exercises at home or running outdoors?
A Personal Example: Prioritizing Time With My Daughter
This idea of balancing resources applies to all aspects of life, not just fitness. For instance, I’ve recently decided I want to spend more quality time with my seven-year-old daughter. I want to create core memories with her, but to do so, I’ve had to carefully consider how to free up time, energy, and money.
• Time: I’ve realized that I need to cut back on mindless scrolling or other low-value activities to make space for meaningful experiences with her.
• Energy: To have the energy to be present and engaged, I’ve started going to bed earlier, eating healthier, and planning my days better to reduce stress.
• Money: While some activities we enjoy are free, others—like trampoline parks or roller-skating rinks—come with a price tag. I’ve had to reallocate funds, cut back in other areas, or dip into savings to make these experiences possible.
The Takeaway
Whether it’s fitness, family, or any new goal, success starts with a plan. And a good plan requires understanding that time, energy, and money are finite resources. It’s not enough to set a goal—you need to figure out what you’re willing to sacrifice or change to make it happen.
So before jumping into your next big endeavor, take a moment to evaluate your resources. Ask yourself:
• What am I willing to trade to make this work?
• How can I optimize my time, energy, and money to align with my goals?
The answers to these questions might just be the key to creating a sustainable, successful plan—whether it’s for fitness, family, or anything else that matters most to you.
Growing up in a big Catholic family, I was told I had two options: to become a mother or a nun.
Right then and there I knew I wanted to be a mom; convent life was NOT for me – haha. Plus, I love kids! For starters, I can relate to them. (Haha, what can I say? I like to play)! Also, while there are many ways for women and men to contribute to leaving a legacy and “making the world a better place,” I’ve always liked the old adage, “Have a kid, plant a tree, write a book.” (I’m pretty sure I planted a tree in 3rd grade, and I’m writing a blog that at least one person, you, is reading – thank you, so having a kid is next up.) For anyone curious about my pregnancy journey, especially as it pertains to fitness, here ya go… #nofilter
I’ll be 35 by the time this baby pops out, and Tim, my partner/hubby, will be 50.
Though we’ve been married for over four years and have always intended to have children, things kept coming up: athletic opportunities for me and a bout of cancer for him. (He’s a year cancer-free now, so phew, but it took him awhile to recover. He’s still working to build up his in-person and online personal training/wellness coaching business after a long recovery following his intense 12-hour surgery, but like they say, “No time is perfect to have a baby – you have to just go for it.”) So we did. And it worked! And we’re very grateful for that, especially at our ages. I mean, years ago, just two days after I got married, at age 30, my mom (a 1950s mother of nine kids) kindly reminded me that my “uterus is not young”. (Thanks, Mom.)
Now that I know I’ve been pregnant for a few months, I can look back and play the fun game of, “Oh! I’m not going crazy – it’s just pregnancy!”
Sometime mid-October, my body unknowingly flooded me with prego hormones, and though I remember feeling a bit different, with so much going on, it never dawned on me that I could be pregnant. The two weeks prior, I’d just competed in the long, grueling Spartan World Championship in Tahoe on my way home moving road trip-style from Colorado to Seattle before whisking off to my in-laws in Nebraska to celebrate Tim’s 50th birthday. Between two road-trips, a fantastic wedding in CA, the sad death of two people I knew, two fun 50th birthday parties for my hubby, the election, another 13-mile Spartan Beast, one big move from Colorado to Seattle, and two micro-moves while apartment searching, mid-October to mid-November was quite the fast-paced rollercoaster, so yeah, I was a bit distracted, (not to mention extra emotional, dealing with pregnancy hormones I didn’t know I had in me). Yet somehow somewhere near the beginning of this chaotic period, we got pregnant (woohoo!) and unknowingly brought our little peanut along for the ride.
We aren’t the only ones unsure about exactly when we got pregnant…
The first doctor pinned October 13th (Tim’s 50th birthday!) and another doctor thinks it was a week and a half before, (which is possible but not as likely), which means I would’ve raced the Spartan World Championship pregnant by a few days! I doubt I did, though, because I felt great during that race, yet in the Seattle Spartan Beast I raced three weeks after, I felt tired. In fact, I felt so “off” that week that I almost didn’t race the Beast, but I didn’t seem to be sick, so I decided to just go for it to get some practice for long races in. I didn’t fail any obstacles, thank goodness (baby bump or not, pregnant burpees do not sound fun), though my running sections felt uncharacteristically slow, and when it was time for an exciting battle sprint in to the finish line for first place, a strong competitor right with me, (my favorite scenario, especially as an 800 meter runner!), I just didn’t have any juice left in the tank, but in an odd way I’d never in 20 years of competing felt before. (I’d felt way better just three weeks prior finishing a Beast up a mountain, at altitude!) Rats – another intense photo-finish opportunity missed! Clueless, I still didn’t suspect pregnancy, however; I just hoped it was end-of-season burnout rather than my two decades of speed training out the window from training for long races all summer. I’m not sure why pregnancy didn’t dawn on me as a possibility then, but all I can say is that weeks later, when I found out the exciting pregnancy news, my doctor confirmed that energy-wise, pregnancy is like operating with “one less battery,” so that made it all make more sense – phew!
Trying to smile at the end of the October Spartan Beast since I love racing, but also trying to figure out why I felt so “off.” Little did I know I had a wonderful little energy-sucking “bun in the oven” along for the ride!
It’s kind of fun to think my little peanut finished a Beast and went up on the podium with me!
How did I finally figure it out? The boobs.
Even though I always gain some weight during my off-season and the holidays (and have fun doing it!), my boobs started to feel big, and full, and sore. I’ve been running with these sistahs for nearly two decades, and even during a brief time of significant weight gain after college, during my “quarter life crisis,” they’d always come willingly along for the ride, no prob. But suddenly, they stopped cooperating so nicely and started bouncing up and down while I ran, like a toddler stomping their feet. How odd. Not knowing it was a sign of pregnancy, I figured I was just PMSing more than usual, and when I got some spotting the following day, I wrote it off as my period. The sore boobie syndrome continued to persist, however, though I had too much going on to think much of it, until a few weeks later, when I noticed just how different they felt. Then I realized I was a little late for my period (which isn’t unusual for me, but still), and thought, “What if?!” Hmm… I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I thought I’d just search the web for “signs of pregnancy,” just in case, and sure enough, there it was, the #1 sign: sore boobs! I quickly scrolled through the article, and as soon as I saw the part about how easy it is to mistake a little implantation bleeding for one’s period, I realized that’s very possibly what I’d done. I had figured it could take us awhile to get pregnant, since I had just finished an intense season, and even though, to keep my period regular, I’d purposefully kept a couple pounds on all season (which was easy to do, thanks to my CO housemates’ amazing banana bread), I still figured these things take awhile. I mean, some of the healthiest, most amazing and loving couples I know have taken years to conceive, so I know it’s not something to take for granted.
“Let’s go buy some groceries for dinner,” I suggested to Tim. While at the store, I went ninja and sneakily purchased a pregnancy test without Tim noticing (and by ninja, I mean, after years in high school and college as a grocery checker, I still got stuck at the self-checkout, needing help from the overseeing checker while Tim waited just far enough away to not spot the test, among my other purchases – phew!) Test hidden in my jacket, we made a pit stop at the drug store, only to have the security alarm go off right as I entered! Oh no, did my hidden test set it off? If it did, nobody seemed to care, as the person walking out at the same time I walked in, who could’ve been the culprit, kept on walking with nobody stopping them. I exited without sounding the alarm, relieved I didn’t have to spill the beans to Tim while being frisked by a security guard, and wrongfully accused of stealing a pregnancy test.
Once home, I did the dirty work and within seconds, BOOM! A plus for prego! Could it be? Was I really pregnant? I mean, I knew it was possible, but it didn’t really hit me that 1 + 1 could equal 3, in the right circumstances, (or more than 3)! I looked in the mirror, stick in hand, walked up to Tim, and blurted out through a stream of tears, “We’re pregnant!” It wasn’t exactly romantic, but it got the message across, and we hugged and kissed, and sat in shock, and giggled, and freaked out, and wondered what our life would look like next. With my twisted sense of humor, at one point, I looked Tim in the eye with a straight face and said, “It’s definitely yours,” to which he classically shook his head and rolled his eyes, tying not to smile too much and thus encourage my off-color humor.
Here we are, 3 months later, halfway through the 40-week pregnancy time frame, and especially now that we’ve heard a heatbeat and we know the sex (a girl!), it’s really starting to sink in; we’re going to have a wittle baby!! We feel thrilled, a bit terrified, supremely grateful, and though, like most first-time parents, we’re not really sure what we’re doing, we do know this baby of ours will be loved to pieces!
