6 tips to create an exercise routine

It's long been documented that I am probably the most fickle exerciser that ever roamed the planet. 

I get a whiff of it and I'm into it, and then something happens (i.e. a chair lands on my foot and breaks my toe) and I am off it. 

It's simple really. I dream of being an athlete. And yet the stark reality is this. I am not. 

Every year before New Year's happens - I make pre-New Year's resolutions. Because New Year's resolutions (in my mind) are meant to be broken. Whereas a commitment beforehand is based on more mettle. 

So my pre-New Year's resolution is this: to stop being fanatical about exercise, and find a gentle rhythm where I can feel good and happy, and look after my body. A place where I am not obsessed, but where it's just part of my everyday. 

I once read Sarah Wilson write that exercise shouldn't be about slotting it in three times a week for 40 minutes, but a better investment would be every day for 20 minutes. It somehow makes it feel more manageable. Increments is what I can deal with. 

So today I'm sharing six tips with you to get yourself out the door and moving more:

1. Get your kit ready: Before bed, I lay out my exercise gear. That way it's pretty simple. Hit the alarm. Jump up. Get my gear on. A spray of deodorant and boom - I am out the door in under 10 minutes. And by the way - set your alarm and get up earlier. You CAN make time for exercise. And if you stick to my tips you will miss it if you don't do it. The University of North Texas research has shown that people who exercise in the morning are more likely to stick with their workout than those who exercise later in the day. 

2. Organise your tunes: I have a good playlist that I love for my walks/runs/cartwheels around the neighbourhood. But you have to mix things up. You gotta keep things fresh. Rihanna is a no-brainer, those beats, yep, they get me moving, but find out what songs your friends love to work out to, and stick them on your iPod. 

3. Commit for 21 days: A long, long time ago I read about how to create a habit. A good habit. And it takes 21 days of solid commitment before that habit is made. Showing up is half the battle - once you're there, you're in! 

4. Take a friend: If you have a friend to pump iron with, you'll be more likely to show up. And have fun. And be less intimidated if you're joining a gym. Buddy up and tone up. Together.

5. Write it down: I know. This might sound crazy, but I tried this and felt like I really accomplished something. It might make you think of me as a five year old girl, but putting a cross on my calendar every time I exercised made me keep going. 

6. Perhaps the most important: Make it fun. If it's not fun, my brain starts to think of all the other awesome things I could do. Like Sleep. If you hate running, don't run. If you don't dig the gym, don't join up to the gym. Find something that you love doing, and if it starts to get laborious - switch it up.

This year it's high on my agenda. Hold me accountable. 


This post is brought to you by Rexona Clinical for Women. 

I Came Back To Tell You...

I am madly blogging from my old house because the infamous Telstra have taken 13 days to connect our home phone after a virtual version of telephone ping-pong whereby they ask if the previous tenants have disconnected blahblahblah, elongated, add a few more terse phone conversations, a few Twitter exchanges et voila. We have phone line. But no interwebs.

But I'm here ever so briefly to let you know I am alive. Even though we've been sleeping on a futon base. With a cot mattress. And two couch cushions. Not terribly comfortable. Not terribly conducive to a good night's sleep. For seven nights. On Wednesday I will be a new woman because we're getting a new bed, and I'm feeling ever-so-excited by this notion! High five!

I should be back online in the virtual world real soon. It's been chaos - moving on Matt's birthday, the Doctor's birthday shortly after. But we're moved peeps! And it's ace.

Say hi to your dog.

Supreme Talent

I had a hectic day today picking up keys, getting my very first parking ticket (parking inspector I shake my fist at you!), and sitting opposite someone on the train eating boiled eggs and making me want to vomit in my mouth with each of his/her (I couldn't tell) boiled egg burp.

I'm serious. It should be a crime to eat eggs in public because I do not like it. I don't like the second-hand egg smell. And third-hand egg burp. Oh man, that just makes me want to vom a little more.

Other than that, I came home to something supremely divine that someone supremely talented has made. See that bear up there. Oh man, he is seriously the cutest thing I have ever seen. Jess (supremely talented and supremely humble) has made little Donut. He makes my heart melt. For realz, if it's even possible, this little dude is even cuter IRL (that's geek-speak for In Real Life). I bought him for a friend. But I might want to keep him.

I've told you about Jess at Teddy Bear's Wednesday before. I'm telling you again. She's one smart cookie.

Jess I hope you don't mind, I used one of your images without your permission.

Today I Am Ridiculously Excited!

Gather 'round friends, everybody get close, listen up, I want to yell something out. From the rooftops, into everyone's chimneys, sneak up behind people, I have something to share.

We are moving house next week.

Right at this moment I am feeling so giddy with excitement. I have butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. I can't stop thinking about where everything's going to go (and fit) in our new digs.

And it doesn't really matter, because for the very first time in our marriage, in our history as parents, we're going to have our very own home to call our own.

This is big peeps. I feel so damn excited.

This may or not be the house. If it's not, I am ok, it's probably really dusty and the lawnmowing would take us weeks. Here ends today's blog post.

What's For Dinner? Tourettes Anyone?

This week I have developed a hard core case of Tourette's Syndrome. Seriously. I am PottyMouthMama. Hear me roar. Matt has been on the receiving end of much of my foray into Tourette's territory.

You may well be wondering the reason.

Well allow me to show you through my home. Oh wait. You can't get in the front door? What's that? Big brown removalist boxes everywhere? Junk piles they spilleth over?

Ahem. Excuse me friends, but while some people have analogies for tidying up their blog, I really am in the midst of packing up our house. And here's the funny part. We haven't actually got anywhere to go.

I took the advice of my Mum and sister to pack everything away instead of having to tussle with weekly tidy ups. The house is on the market and my FIL has requested our house to look like it does in the photo.. What has been neatly edited out of the photo is my leaning tower of ironing, the kids stuff, and well, dust bunnies, and everything else in between.

It's not easy packing up a house with two small kidlets running amok. I have major Mummy Guilt for not hanging ten with them more. Tiny has been going bananas, but there's nothing to be done, except pack, play intermittently, and pack some more.

For now I am self-medicating. High doses of choglud. Some wine. And a hefty dose of sleep is on the cards. If Tiny plays nicely.

This week I am hoping, praying, wishing we find a humble abode to call our own.

What are you hoping for this week?

PS. After having Poladroid on my desktop, I've finally figured out how to work it. Et voila.

The New Digs

In the past I have tricked PMM readers. Shamelessly so. I have learnt from my mistakes and am willing to move on. Are you? I hope so, because I have something ridiculously exciting to share. After a lengthy live-in with my in-laws, we have a new abode. This would explain the lengthy tidy ups, chuck outs, eBay flirtations that have been plaguing me the last few months, wouldn't it? Uh huh.

My needs in a home are relatively modest. I don't want anything fancy-pants. I've no need for marble throughout, a butler, or even a bidet, but I am totally thrilled with this romantic new home of ours. THRILLED! It's small, and things will be a little bit of a squeeze (Matt, I promise to keep selling my whole life on eBay), but I am willing.

It's been a long-ish time in the works, and Matt worked tirelessly to keep it a secret, but this weekend he did the big unveil.

Here it is. Who cares if it's made of Lego? And who cares if it only has one wall? Matt made it, and he made it to cheer me up. I can't wait to get the door mat down on this place.

A Little Junk In Yer Trunk?

In the interests of getting a little less Fatty, and a little more Boombastic I am signed up sisters.

While I've been super busy contemplating my navel, hiding my chocolate stash from my husband, and looking out the window at the rain, my muffin tops they runneth over.

It's official gang. I'm hooking up with Move It Like Mike. I am getting un-muffin topped. I am going to recharge my batts and get out there and get walking.

And here's just the inspiration I've been looking for. Ready. Set.



Wiggle it. Move it. If you've got it, shake it.