When I was kid, there were products marketed toward teeny boppers entitled "Get in Shape, Girl!". I don't remember all the items you could buy, but I still have the jingle stuck in my head. I was given a couple of things for birthday presents along the way, and due to my pack rat tendencies, probably still have somewhere.
The gist of this line was to encourage girls to lead active lives and become healthy - probably in retaliation of the fact that we were the Atari/advent of the Nintendo generation. It could be argued that toys like these could lead to negative body images (i.e., where were the "Get in Shape, Boy!" items), but let's be honest. Girls and their mommas responded better to the hot pink/banana clip commercials better than the males species would, and that's what capitalism is all about.
I never quite had the body for hot pink lycra and leg warmers, and the mass on top of my head known as hair busted through every banana clip my mother ever bought. While my "Get in Shape, Girl!" items did not greatly change my body (puberty took care of that with mixed results), I stayed active and fairly fit into my teens. After a lag known as the "freshman fifteen" which lasted about four years, I discovered working out in my early twenties.
Which brings us to today......full time career. Husband with an even busier full time career. Soon to be four year old who does not require a lot of sleep. A gene pool which is German on one side and Southern fried on the other. So, working out and the body of my youth? Yeah.........................
I've been wanting to focus on fitness and taking better care of myself for a while, but it's been difficult to start. Recently, several instances, coupled with my own feelings of wanting to be healthier, have motivated me to join a certain fitness center featuring a guy who dumps rock stars and rides a bike. The motivators?
- Supportive/caring (honest) feedback from sibling
- A co-worker who exclaimed "You're Pregnant!" when I said I had good news. Actually, I had just completed a report in compliance.
- The girl child in my home: "Mommy, your belly's getting really big. When is the baby coming out?" Nothin' cooking, kiddo.
I'm sore, but it's getting easier. So, in honor of my effort to tone up and fit into about 1/2 the clothes in my closet, I'd like to know what others do for a fitness routine. Better yet, if there are any who remember "Get in Shape, Girl!" products, share how they worked out for you and what you'd recommend today.
Hey Sheri
ReplyDeleteGood for u, getting back at it. U have been my hero for years for doing 45 min on the eliptical in grad school. I take walks w Tirzah, bike a little, and run a little, but also am trying to get back to working out more consistently.
Wow. I forgot I used to make it on the elipitcal for that long, doing an "interval" course. And that was before the days of IPODs and televisions installed in the machines! I do about thirty minutes on a manual course right now and I think my cellulite is kicking butt (or, more accurately, jiggling butt).
ReplyDeleteTake the little one for as many walks/runs in the stroller while you can. It's a great way to burn calories, and once she figures out how to push her own stroller, those days become a memory.
Any more workout ideas? :-)