We've definitely got Olympic fever in our family. We went to see the torch go through our area on Monday and the men's cycling road race yesterday, the TV is on all day and we're channel-hopping between events, and we have tickets for rowing, canoeing and synchronised swimming.
The thing that really inspires me about all the athletes is their discipline, endurance, long-term vision and planning. It is an attitude that I should try and adopt a bit more when it comes to exercising. I exercise because I want to be healthy and I want to set a good example to my girls. I can't really say that I enjoy it, although I do enjoy the benefits of it (social as well as physical), and so I can be easily persuaded to put-off a workout at home. My reasons are mainly excuses: I'm too tired; I've only just eaten; I've got other things to do; I can't put on my workout DVD because my husband is watching TV...
Athletes don't become Olympians by skipping the bits of their training that they don't like and I will never be a truly fab fit mum if I continue to eat ice cream while watching Team GB instead of doing a few stretches. Discipline, endurance, long-term vision and planning are words I could do with writing on a post-it note and putting on my mirror.
Just listened to Woman's Hour about women and body image and feeling a mix of empathy, sadness and rage. Also very aware of my own contradicting feelings towards some of these issues: go Armpits for August I support you but don't think I have the courage to join you!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01l7w1m