Breaking the Routine

Routine. I usually thrive on it. Schedules are fabulous and very necessary in this household. It's what gets us through our days and leaves us with at least a small bit of sanity.

Over on Instagram I've started doing an Atlanta Mom's Blog photo a day. It's been fun to check out the hashtag {#atlmomsblog} to see what other local moms are doing throughout their day.

Today's picture was asking for your morning ritual. Pretty standard here, wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, drink coffee, and go to work. If I'm lucky, 3-4 times a week I go to the gym.

I'm a standard gym rat. I run, walk, and lift. Nothing too fancy. Every now and then I'll throw in a HIIT class or some cross training on the Arc Trainer. Oh and I catch up on Twitter, but y'all already knew that. When I started my whole weight loss journey, I simply did what worked for me to get the weight off & that was it. Nothing extra. Now that I've lost 90 pounds, I'm no longer striving for shedding the lbs, but maintaining my hard work, building muscle, and having fun. 

Here's where I'm going to break my normal routine. While I want my gym visits to be entertaining, I also want them to be social. There are lots of mommies who take classes at my Y, so I'm going to force myself to take all these crazy classes they offer, have fun, and make friends. Today's class? Zumba.

Oh Zumba Y'all. For those who don't know me, I'm 6 feet tall, pretty athletic, and have zero dancing ability. So picture this giant in the back of the room, taking her first Zumba class, looking like a complete jackass. 

I started out a hot mess. I was slow and concentrating too hard on the footwork. I couldn't understand why people took this class. 

I'm not sweating. 

This is dumb. 

Then the instructor yelled "stop looking in the mirror!" It woke me up and I realized that if I wanted a good workout, and if I really wanted to sweat, I needed to not worry about the steps and just move. As soon as I did this, I was able to relax and step it up. Now that is when I began to sweat.

I danced, I jigged, and I just enjoyed the music. I had a blast watching the only gentleman (who looked about my dad's age) in the class bust a move. I pushed myself hard & got a good workout in. I will definitely take this class again, and next time I want to wear my heart rate monitor to compare it to one of my normal workouts. 

Lots of the mommies were chatting after the class, but I scooted out quickly and skipped the friendly banter. Let's just do this one step at a time. 

Crazy dance class first, new friends next.

I promise I will push my social comfort zone future!

Workout Wear

Wanna know what's hot this season?

Sorry y'all, this isn't the place.

Ok, ok, I admit that some of that stuff is pretty dern cute.

I've been an athlete most of my life. I started young, & lived in matching neon Umbro t-shirt & short sets. When soccer was done, I hopped off the field, and into he most unflattering pleated tennis skirt this side of the Mason-Dixon. Next was basketball. Socks & shorts had to be long. I'm painting a real pretty picture of my wardobe as a youth right?

Well, honestly, things haven't changed.

I got older, but I still competed. Tennis in college, a degree in Sports Management, and a job in Youth Sports & Camps, meant I had a lifetime of earned t-shirts and a drawer full of running shorts.

Oh and the shoes, too many Nikes, Pumas, and Adidas to count.

In the past 5 years or so, workout gear has become pretty fashionable and sold everywhere. Cute tanks, fun leggings, and bright shoes. Which I can say I truly love!

And then my wallet says...are you serious? You own 8 zillion workout items. Step away from the shiny stuff.

But but but...

When I go to the park after the gym all the other mom's look so cute in their thin strapped tanks & running capris.

Then I look again & remind myself:

"Bex, your girls wouldn't even stay IN a tank like that and you never look like that post workout. You look like a hot sweaty mess, but in your world that's a good thing. It means you worked hard and, hell, be happy you even made it to the gym!"

And so when you see me looking like a dirt-ball at the park, running around with my kids, in a giant T-shirt from 1997, don't worry, I'm not a bum. I just got done working out.

"Wanna Go Potty?"

Honestly?

No.

I'm struggling with this one. I've got two little ones chirping in my ear that they want to go potty, but the reality is, I'm not ready.

Because...potty training is hard!

We are often out of the house & a diaper change is WAY easier.

The act of putting two on the toliet every hour, constantly changing wet undies, or wiping pee off the carpet makes me cringe. Either I'm just so used to our routine, or I'm super lazy.

I'm thinking it's the lazy part.

Outside of our 7 weeks in the NICU, the Gals journey in life has been a spectacular one. They sleep, they eat, and they play together or independenly very well. So I feel like, not only have I been very lucky, but I also haven't been pushed out of my comfort zone.

This my friends is a challenge & possibly out of my spectrum.

It needs to be done, but can I do it?

Any tips on potty training twins?

Twins Man

I get it.

We are amusing.

"Oh wow TWINS!"

I've heard it all & on most days, I'm glad to oblige and will carry on with the witty banter.

Then there was yesterday.

We decided (and later regretted) to go to a local antique market to check out their wares. We were hoping that the gals would nap in the car or in the carriers while we perused the aisles.

No one napped in the car.

We paid our 6 bucks and parked. Hubs didn't feel like carrying the massive hiking pack, so I volunteered. We put our smaller gal in the Ergo on hub's back and the world obviously ended.

Mad Madeline was pissed.

We tried to let her get through it & checked out some of the vendors outside.

Naw.

She wasn't having it.

She obviously didn't care that I really wanted to talk to the guy selling Adirondack Chairs, so I could relive the joys of my youth when I spent my summers at camp in Maine.

Hubs was getting frustrated.

I was getting frustrated that Hubs was frustrated.

So this happened:

And our "Oh wow TWINS" turned into our own traveling circus.

I literally had to chat with every old person in the place while grimacing & carrying 55lbs of kid.

But...the mad one fell asleep & it was glorious.

You gotta do what ya gotta do man.

Toddler Torture Chamber aka Gym Daycare

A big part of my first couple years with the gals has been getting back into shape. Returning to the fighting weight of my glory years right?

Glory years aside, we got a membership at the YMCA because the daycare is usually pretty quality. We found a branch we loved & the gals as smalls got used to the baby room and learned to like their jaunts in toy heaven.

Then they turned into toddlers. New room, new people, new toddler attitudes. The instant we make the turn down the hallway where drop of is comes ALL the tears.

I get the sympathetic glances from YMCA staff as I make my way down the hallway, forcing a smile with screaming twins at my feet.

Then Thomas and his mom run by.

Thomas LOVES daycare!

"Look gals! Thomas LOVES daycare! Let's follow him!"

More screams.

We finally get to the door, I throw the gals over the gate, grab my armband, and run out before my presence causes anymore harm.

I can only imagine the dread in the workers minds.

"Crap the Tubbs twins are here!"

BUT...

I haven't been called out of a workout in a while. So there is the silver lining. They obviously calm down. I can get in my much needed workout & then I feel better for the rest of the day.

I also get a chance to sit on the bench in the lobby, breath, and catch up on my twitter feed.