I spent this weekend at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. I’ve written here before about why every mom needs a weekend at Caesars’ Properties in AC because it’s the perfect chance to relax, feel young and recharge but this weekend wasn’t quite the same.
I am still limping from all the not-relaxing I did! I spent this weekend focused on fitness. While I still indulged in some decadent dinners, (who can pass up the food in AC?) I spent most of my days either learning at the feet of the trainers that have lived on my DVDs or actually getting my butt-kicked by them in class at the SWEATAC weekend.
Jillian Michaels was as incredible in person as I hoped she would be. What really came through in all her answers to interview questions was how much she cares about people getting well. She is tough and even controversial, stating she doesn’t believe people who are 100+ pounds overweight are really happy or comfortable with themselves, but she also seems genuinely passionate about getting people out of their own ways to live healthy, happy lives.
What I relate to the most with Jillian Michaels is that she admittedly doesn’t love to work out. When I asked her what she does to motivate herself, especially now with the added business of having kids, her final answer really resonated with me. At first, she stated she now treasures her workout time because it is her time with no one asking for anything. Eh, I get that but it doesn’t really work for me. If I take the opportunity for alone time, the gym is not where I want to spend it. So, try as I might, I’ve never been able to use exercise as my excuse for me time. Just when I lost hope in relating to her, she said something that I felt in my heart. She wants her kids to be proud of her.
Huh.
She talked about going to school pick up and having her kids stand a little taller because she looked good and was able to be active with them. I get that. Sometimes we’re afraid to admit these reasons because they might come off as vain. But, I’m learning that the way I look is often a reflection of the way I feel so wanting to look good enough for my kids to be proud to call me mom? Well, that I can get behind.
You can watch here. (Just ignore my terrible video skills. I was trying to be discrete and not hold my phone in her face so it’s vertical-big youtube no no!)
She left me with food for thought. Then she took me to another room and kicked my ass with moves from her Body Revolution
workout. I’m dying to get it at home. I think I own every other workout she’s ever done and I’ve NEVER worked so hard. It’s killer.
The next day I hobbled in to interview Shaun T, the creator of Insanity, Asylum and the new FOCUS T25 Workout
that The Husband and I are dying to try around here. Shaun T was another one who lived up to all the hype. He engaged with every person in the room and when I asked him his favorite part of doing what he does, his answer came as no surprise.
Connecting with people and sharing with them his passion for helping ourselves. He told me that he never wanted his clients to compare themselves to anyone else. He wants everyone to do their very best and celebrate their personal achievements and he designs his workouts to support that. He again reminded us it is not selfish to spend time taking care of yourself and his direct quote that had the whole room oohing and aahing was, “If you try to make yourself the best that you can be, then the people around you will be happy.”
It’s the often used airplane oxygen analogy, but perhaps maybe moms can’t hear it enough-take care of yourself first and you’ll be more able to take care of those around you.
Working out with and hearing from the woman who got my butt back in gear after baby-induced sloth and the man who kicked my butt for 30 days and transformed my husband in 60, was a pretty fantastic way to spend a weekend. Pepper in the fun and decadence of Harrah’s and Caesars Resorts and SweatAC was over-the-top enough for me to mark my calendar for next year’s event!
Bring on the pain.
Caesars Entertainment Inc. sponsored my trip to SweatAC. All opinions are my own.
P.S. Looking for more parenting guidance and tips for self-care? Check out From Chaos to Calm a guided training to help you feel better in this tough season.
Fab article! I love Shaun T and Jillian! My clients have compared me to her more than him, and I am flattered by it. I actually love to exercise! What I have discovered in working with people from many walks of life is that while people claim to hate exercise, 95% of the time, it is because they just haven’t found an activity that they enjoy enough, want to get in shape to participate in or they haven’t pushed through the hate part of their relationship with exercise. Focus T25 is a kick butt workout that is fun. I highly recommend you and your husband try it.