It’s kinda funny–my husband and I have been thinking along the same lines, but didn’t know what the other was thinking until just yesterday when he admitted that he’s been waiting for things/life to get easier before getting into shape. (He’s probably in better shape than I am, so I’m not saying anything negative about him here.) I was too, in a way. You see these shows of people who have lost a lot of weight, and you see the “before and after” pictures and say, “Wow! They look great! And it only took…..” [fill in the blank--6 months of exercise, strict dieting, whatever]. But when you actually start down that same path, all of a sudden you’re like Daffy Duck–”I can’t stand pain….it hurts me!” Watching some people on TV work out at the gym can seem so simple and easy; but occasionally you see their faces, and the pain that they endure so that they can get the results they want. But it’s harder when you’re doing it, instead of just watching it. It’s just plain hard to get on the treadmill, or do an exercise video, or get out and walk, or decline sweets or seconds. Easy to say, but hard to do. But these people do it, and you have to as well, if you want the results.

Separately, my husband and I reached the same conclusion–it’s never going to get easier, so you just have to suck it up and start. We were waiting for more time (well, we’re still at 24 hours every day, and he still has the same hours at work and the same hour-long commute); or more energy (which will only come after we are exercising regularly and eating better); or more desire (but you have to desire to hurt, in reality–to deny self so that you can be in better shape); or for it to get easier (however, it’s only going to get harder, because we’re getting less fit, more out of shape).

He has always been more faithful to work out (we have a weight set that he likes, but I don’t; and he’s been on the treadmill more frequently than I have), which sort of inspired me to get up and get going. But I was more diligent–I guess it was that “New Year’s Resolution” kind of thing–and that must have gotten to him. Whatever was the spark, we are both more determined to do better, and we are both doing better already–more consistent with working out, and also doing it longer. And you know what? It’s not easy. It will become so–or at least, easier. Ten years ago, I consistently worked out doing at least 1, usually 2 and sometimes 3 exercise videos a day. (Of course, that was before I was married and had kids, so I had more time and fewer responsibilities.) But I know that if I set my priorities, I will actually have the time to do that–and that involves giving up some time on the computer or doing something else I’d rather be doing.

When you break down 24 hours per day, and figure 8 hours for sleeping, that still leaves 16 hours a day to do everything else in. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so while I’m “on call” 24 hours a day, I can do a lot of things in just a few minutes here and a few minutes there. It takes time to do laundry, but really, how much time does it take to stuff clothes in a machine and push a couple of buttons? Then while they’re washing, I can do one of my half-hour videos, or hop on the treadmill for a while. I can plan lunch or supper while walking or working out. If I made a casserole, there would be plenty of time to do another video while it was baking. And I’d still have plenty of time to read my kids lots of stories.

Any time you add anything new to your life, there is a “learning curve.” Life was pretty easy with one child; but it got more than twice as hard with two children. For a long time, I felt like I was treading water–barely able to keep up with life most of the time, although sometimes it was more manageable. Then, gradually, I adjusted (and the kids got older), so now I feel like life is mostly manageable, and the times I feel like I’m about to slip under are few and far between. Exercise is like that. There is no magic formula to carve out an extra half-hour in the day so that you can do an extra workout. And when you do start a new regimen, so much of the time, you feel like you’re barely able to make it. But if you just stick with it, “put your hand to the plow and not look back,” eventually you will get to the point where it is easier. But it will never get any easier just by wishing.