Comments on United States of Motherhood: Blog Silence: Turning a New Leaf

... and the leaf pictures you found are beautiful!...

2009-11-12T14:12:45.432-08:00

... and the leaf pictures you found are beautiful! Stunning colors.

Amelia

You're doing really, really well. Your workouts ar...

2009-11-12T14:10:22.175-08:00

You're doing really, really well. Your workouts are indeed long but you'll see results faster that way, and stay motivated.

I can't believe you feel guilty for exercising! I feel guilty when I don't exercise. I also used to feel guilty watching TV back when we had one (I don't miss it). I also felt guilty using the internet, but I've gotten that down to a couple of hours a week now.

So NOW I feel guilty for having a filthy house... :D

Amelia

You should be proud of your decision to take care ...

2009-11-10T08:15:30.318-08:00

You should be proud of your decision to take care of yourself!

However I do worry that you are working out too much. It will be hard to stick to a regimen of 3 hours a day, your body will start eating away at muscle tissue to survive, and more importantly 3 hours a day just isn't realistic to continue long term. Finding a routine that fits in your schedule will ensure the best long term life changing success.

I like the Body for Life program. you workout less than 4 hours a week, you eat 6 times a day, and you don't deprive yourself of your favorite foods because you have a free day every week!

Good luck! We will be rooting for you every step of the way!

Scout, I'm so proud of you! PLEASE don't feel guil...

2009-11-10T04:18:43.165-08:00

Scout, I'm so proud of you! PLEASE don't feel guilty. You are a very dedicated mother and wife and it's ok to take care of yourself. Keep up the good work and please don't ever feel selfish for doing this. You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself first! (Something my Mom has always told me)

You're doing what I need to be doing also. I haven...

2009-11-10T00:58:47.618-08:00

You're doing what I need to be doing also. I haven't felt 100% for a couple of years now and I know what I need to do. I always say quality wins over quantity any day, so if we hear from you less, but your posts maintain the quality we're used to, then we'll savor them all the more. Take all the time you need! Aloha, Fran

This is a nice post. Do treat yourself well - you...

2009-11-09T21:21:17.505-08:00

This is a nice post. Do treat yourself well - you give so much to us and others.

Prepare to be hugged...

Love you
CG

This was so beautifully written! I fight the same...

2009-11-09T21:03:19.151-08:00

This was so beautifully written! I fight the same battles. Take time for you. I'll still be here.

Mother Teresa always made a point of feeding her n...

2009-11-09T14:36:20.964-08:00

Mother Teresa always made a point of feeding her nurses before the patients. If the nurses got sick or were exhausted, then the entire project could be brought to it's knees. It is our duty to others to take care of ourselves. It is the opposite of selfish. If we don't take care of ourselves, we end up falling apart and needing the care of others.

My only concern is that you sound as though you have leaped out of the frying pan and into the fire of hell...it reads more like a diary of self-harm/punishment, than self-improvement/love. Could the guilt be implicated here? My God, I sound like a sanctimonious therapist. I write as an extremist who may have detected extreme behaviour, or could simply be projecting (did I mention, I'm a narcissist too?:-)If you go at it like a bat out of hell, you may well end up harming yourself with your health-routine. I think Alanis Morrisette wrote a song about situations like that!When I'm not sure about my behaviour I ask myself, "would I recommend this course of action for my husband/sister/mother/friend?" If the answer is no, then some soul-searching and revision is usually required.

Go gently. Treat yourself with the love you give to others....or else you won't have the energy to write blogs posts that make ME chuckle/think/cry.

I told you, I am a narcissist :-)

Good for you! Eventually it will become habit, an...

2009-11-09T14:02:06.168-08:00

Good for you!
Eventually it will become habit, and if you're anything like me, you'll start to feel "off" if you don't exercise.

That said, three hours a day seems a bit much, especially when you're just starting out. The point of exercising isn't to find a new way to beat yourself up! This is about taking care of yourself, not training for the Olympics. Think of it less as spending time working on your body, and more about working on feeling better. While you're at it, work on letting go of that guilt too. It's only making you feel miserable, and keeping you right where you are.

Keep on keeping on!

good for you Scout, you can do this.. I have also ...

2009-11-09T13:57:39.812-08:00

good for you Scout, you can do this.. I have also taken myself back to the gym, walking, working out. Yesterday I put on a sleeveless shirt and the horror of my bare arms about had me in tears. We can do this- we are worth it.. It's possible.!~ my goal is for an hour at the gym a day- I would suggest maybe a shorter time for you as well, I don't know if three hours won't burn you out everyday, but WOW, so proud of you for making the change and recognizing your worth!

Check this book out Scout, Marine Corps, Daily 16 ...

2009-11-09T13:57:20.671-08:00

Check this book out Scout,
Marine Corps, Daily 16 Workouts.
ISBN 0-375-75132-7
Although I was Army, I find the stretching and calisthenic regimens outlined very rewarding.
Regardless, Take time for YOU and you'll be ship shape in no time.

~R

So glad to hear you are making yourself and your h...

2009-11-09T13:06:25.377-08:00

So glad to hear you are making yourself and your health a priority. My health issues are different, but I struggle in many of the same ways.
You need to do this for yourself. No one can say you are selfish for it, and if they dare, you will be that much stronger (and your punches will hurt). :)

I should defintiely take a page from your book. I ...

2009-11-09T11:41:06.837-08:00

I should defintiely take a page from your book. I started to go to the gym and spend more time on myself...but then the guilt took over. Not enough money, not enough time...all the usual reasons for putting myself on the back burner.
Please keep your loyal readers up to date on your progress. I long to be inspired!

Good for you! Do Not Feel Guilty! The only words...

2009-11-09T11:12:56.834-08:00

Good for you! Do Not Feel Guilty!

The only words of caution I would offer is about the thee hours of working out a time. Studies have shown that more than 90 minutes a day tends to shut down our immune system, and then you end up sick. 90 minutes is optimal. Also, you need to give the weights a rest every other day so your muscles can recover (that's how you build muscle).

I just spent the morning helping a friend who has ...

2009-11-09T10:39:39.058-08:00

I just spent the morning helping a friend who has left her husband after years of severe emotional abuse. She is learning to find her voice and is having trouble caring for herself with no job and no car and no place to live other than on a friends couch.

I am not in any way insinuating you have those issues but just want to point out that women need to take care of themselves better before they implode. As the others said never feel bad for taking care of yourself. "If Momma ain't happy ain't nobody gonna be happy".
I also think that the more we vent about feeling down the better we will feel. It shares the weight figuratively. That may help get rid of the weight literally.

it's like they're always saying on Biggest Loser- ...

2009-11-09T10:18:31.231-08:00

it's like they're always saying on Biggest Loser- the time you spend on yourself is going to benefit your family in the end, because you'll be a happier, more energetic mom. Keep up the good work!

NEVER EVER (never ever ever!) feel guilty for spen...

2009-11-09T09:42:12.514-08:00

NEVER EVER (never ever ever!) feel guilty for spending time on YOUrself! Got that?