I bought a bathing suit yesterday. No, I bought two bathing suits. And, it was one of the most humbling moments I’ve had in a long time.

I’ve been going through some things lately. So, I’m covered in worry, self-doubt, anxiety and…did I mention the worry yet? But, I needed a new suit because mine were all…well…stretched from pregnancy, worn out and just not okay any longer. After a few hours in the pool with my daughter, we both decided it was time to go shopping for a suit. 

If you don’t know Miss P yet, she is the fashionista of all fashionistas. I take her shopping with me and she gives you her opinion, flat-out, no matter what, whenever she has an opinion to give. So, who better to bring to do the dreaded bathing suit shop?

In the past few months, I’ve worked hard to get healthy again. My Hashimoto’s Disease wreaked havoc on me over the summer, as did the copious amount of alcohol and general not giving a flying f**k about nutrition. It landed me about 20lbs heavier than what is healthy for my body. So, I got bloodwork done, revisited my medication, stopped drinking and whaaaaat?…fueled my body with proper nutrition. 

All that to say, I’m feeling better in my skin now. But, bathing suit shopping? Ugh. The lights in there. The sizing. The looking at yourself in a full-length mirror and…assessing…

*shudder*

We got to the store and Miss P went to work. She pulled many suits, quite a few with glitter (not unexpected) and we headed to the change room. 

Now, I never talk poorly about my body in front of my daughter. In fact, I don’t talk about my body at all in front of her. It’s a non-issue when it comes to my opinion about my body when she’s near me. But, in my head, I was filled with dread at the thought of stripping down and putting these damn sparkly suits on.

But…in we went.

Then…magic.

“That one is super fun and silly, Mommy…just like you. You should get that one!”.
“That one is the color of your eyes…all loving and stuff. You should get that one!”.
“That one is…TOO SMALL…bahahahahaha…your butt is hanging out!”.
“Mommy, you’re strong and powerful”.
“That one is sooooooooo pretty, we will have a lot of fun in the pool together with that one”. 

Nothing…not one WORD about my body. Minus the butt comment, but to be fair…it was one of those scrunchy bum bottoms where your ass is literally hanging out. 

But other than that, her comments were about how the suits reflected my personality, how much fun we would have and what she thinks of her Mama. It was totally humbling and I left the change room with two suits in hand and some serious confidence that I’m raising her right. 

Seeing the experience through my daughter’s eyes was incredible. She took any anxiety or self-doubt away and made it all about the experiences we could have in each suit. She created scenarios we plan on carrying out and she focused solely on those scenarios, love, laughter and good times. 

Oh, and because I know you all will ask, here are the suits she decided on, surprisingly no pink OR glitter:

Mamas, don’t talk about your body in front of your little ones. Try really hard not to. Talk about how your body allows you to experience new things, try new things and create memories with your kiddos. It’s an incredible feeling when you realize they’re listening and putting your hard work to good use.

And, if you ever need someone to take you bathing suit shopping, Miss P is mine…you’ll need to find your own. But, I bet your kiddo would love taking you into the change room and telling you all the fun things you two could get up to in different suits. It’s incredible…and I cannot wait to start ticking off the ideas she came up with. 

So go on. Bite the bullet and look at bathing suit shopping as a chance to holiday plan! It’s the weirdest suggestion I think I’ve ever given, but it totally changed the way I think of bathing suit shopping. 

It’s cold. It’s wet. It’s snowy. It’s icy. It’s dark. It’s dreary. You just got home from work, fed your kids and you’re all nestled on your couch under blankets. You have your tea in hand, slippers on and the last thing on earth you want to do is get up, go into the cold outdoors and head to the fitness class you registered for before we switched the clocks back.

Sound familiar? 

OH, I know it does! I’m a fitness trainer, I hear this excuse all the time. All. The. Time. And, while I can commiserate with you because, to be honest, I’m nestled on my couch with my kids under a blanket before I head out to teach you, I’m here to tell you to get off that couch and GET TO CLASS! It is more difficult to remain active in the winter, I totally understand. I truly do. But remember, fitness is about so much more than just sweating.

The winter months are long and often times dreary. Fitness can help you ward off seasonal depression. It can help you combat the extra calories we tend to take in with stews, soups, casserole and yes, all the Christmas baking I know a lot of you have already started. And while fitness isn’t necessarily about losing weight, it is about having energy, feeling strong and not losing all the gains you’ve made over the past six months. 

If you find the right company to work with, fitness is also about friendships, challenges and community. If you start hibernating away all winter, I’m going to bet you’ll come out of this fog in March and feel deflated and angry with yourself that you did that. 

So Mamabear, I know some days it’s hard to get off the couch and head into the cold night or cold day to get your sweat on, but as important as it is in summer to be active, it may be even more important in the winter months to commit to your fitness plan. Summer months are filled with bike riding, hikes, swimming and a lot of activity you probably won’t even consider as exercise. But the winter? Typically, our physical activity plummets. And, if you decide that going to your classes over the winter months is too difficult or your too unmotivated, you’re decreasing your physical activity minutes that much more.

You’re important. Remember? Your body, your mind, your soul…all important. Fitness and physical activity? Well fitness and physical activity nourish your body, mind and soul!

Here are a few ways to help keep you on track this winter:

Commit to your fitness plan for the next 30 days. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started or getting back into your fitness routine. So, write down the number of days you’re going to commit to over the next month, write down what workouts you’re going to get to and then create a checklist for each workout. Check them off as you go. At the end of the month, if you reached your goal, reward yourself!

Set a goal for three months from now. What do you want to be able to do in three months? Is there an outdoor winter run you can tackle? Do you want to be able to do 10 pushups from your toes? Is there an outfit you want to wear for a special event? Whatever it is, write it down and post it somewhere you can see it every day. Read your goal out loud every day until you hit it.

Don’t permit excuses. You’re going to want to talk yourself out of workouts all winter. Don’t permit yourself to do that. It truly can be as simple as stopping the thought as soon as it starts. “I think I’ll just skip this work—NO! I will not. I’m going!”. “I’m too comfortable here, I’ll miss this one—NO! I will not. I’m going!”. The power of your own words is extreme. Use them for good, not for talking yourself out of taking care of yourself.

Get in it together. Find a friend who will work out and commit to a fitness regimen with you and don’t let one another off the hook. One day your friend won’t want to go and your job is to tell her you’ll see her in 20 minutes at class. One day you won’t want to go, your friend’s job is to tell you she’ll see you in 20 minutes at class. You need a friend that will push you and commit to you. They’re out there. Go find yours and commit to one another and hold each other accountable. 

Plan and prepare. Have your workout clothes ready and put them on as soon as you get home from work. Do NOT put on your pj’s, even for an hour. Have your water bottle, towel and anything else you need to take to your workouts packed and at the front door. Make it a simple job of putting on your shoes and getting out the door. Plan and prepare for success. You got this. 

Adjust. If you’re finding it too difficult to get to classes or workouts at night, think about other times in the day you can get active. What are your options? Maybe for the winter you workout in the morning and get it done early? Maybe there’s a mid-day class you can sneak off to? How can you adjust your routine to accommodate your dislike for darkness and cold?

Do something you love. Fitness doesn’t have to be lonely or isolating. Find a class and a community you love and don’t leave them for the winter! Remember, fitness isn’t just about burpees and sweat. Fitness is about inspiring, supporting and empowering those around you. So, step up and be a role model for your community. Stay committed and get to your workouts for the fun you have there. The fun is still there, every time, even in the winter. Trust me, as an instructor, I work extra hard in the winter to make sure you laugh, sweat and love your workouts. 

Winter doesn’t have to be a time when you set your fitness aside. So, stop it. Get to class. Recommit. Drown your excuses in positivity. And…GET TO WORK. Obviously, I’m going to recommend Hot Mama Health & Fitness classes, because well…they’re amazing and I trust every single instructor there. So, find a location near you and join the community. It’s fun, challenging and inspiring…everything you need your fitness classes to be in the winter! 

Winter coldness is not an excuse to get sedentary. Oh no it is not. Get to work, Mamas. You go this. I know you do. No fitness hibernating, trust me, you’ll regret it in the spring.