Committed: The Ties that Bond
with Angella Dykstra
I'm a mom of three, a professional accountant, and an amateur photographer and writer. I am not a marriage expert. But my husband and I take "Til death do us part" seriously, and here I'll be sharing how we keep our marriage strong while we both do that insane work-life juggle.
Check out my Work It, Mom! profile and my blog, Dutch Blitz.
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If you read my personal site at all, then you know that I’m a physically active individual. I was a “big girl” growing up and then when I got to my early twenties I learned about healthy eating and exercise. I dropped about thirty pounds and have fluctuated around that healthy weight for the past eleven years (not counting pregnancy, of course).
When I first started exercising, I joined an aerobics class at a gym near my workplace. When my husband and I moved to the small town we now live in, there were no fitness classes. I decided to take up running and he ran with me as I built up my stamina. Once I got to the point where I could run without any walking breaks, he quit. He hated running and did it with me to encourage me along. Have I mentioned that he rules?
Over the years I’ve done a variety of activities and my routine now consists of a boot camp four mornings a week and running/exercise DVD’s on the other days. I prefer solo activities to team sports, mainly because I suck at them. My husband, on the other hand, is a basketball legend around here and plays baseball in a spring league. He’s taken up running lately for the sole reason of staying in shape, but he much prefers team sports.
I asked him yesterday if he wanted to run with me and he declined. He’s a much faster runner (long legs) and he said the only reason he’d want to run with me is so that he could look at my behind. Men.
How about you? Do you and your honey exercise together?
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How funny you should ask. Last Monday Thom and I started day one of getting up at 5:30 am to “run”. He was a runner when I met him, but has in the last 11 years put back on a lot of weight. I wanted us to do the couch to 5k program. However, we are learning that following that program is not easy.
a) it’s not designed for people our size
b) I can’t keep count of how many seconds I run. I’ve got no stopwatch and I’m too busy thinking about breathing.
We have been doing it three days a week for the past two weeks now. I think starting Monday morning we’re going to try and do it every morning. (except for the weekends where we’ll go to the gym once)
I’m tired of being fat and out of shape and infertile. Here’s hoping this is what I need to get my body on the baby making track!
(you do boot camp 4 days a week???? you’re my new hero)
Carrisa | August 13th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I wish my husband and I could work out together like we used to but we both have different schedules during the day. When we were first courting, we worked out every day on the elliptical and spent the whole time talking. That’s what really solidified our relationship and I miss it so so much.
kirida | August 13th, 2010 at 10:42 am
He’s been impressed at my commitment to running this year and has mentioned that he’d love to come with me. I have to admit I kind of don’t want him to. He’s a natural athlete and every time we do anything together (hike, golf, swim) even if it’s something I generally enjoy, he leaves me in the dust or has to wait for me and I feel like a lump. So no, I enjoy exercising alone, or with a girlfriend. But he is very encouraging - from home where he belongs
Danica Grunert | August 13th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I made Steve do the Shred with me one time and he looked like Gumby: all arms and legs flailing around, with hand weights nearly missing my face. He is a natural bean pole but has always been so supportive of my exercising pursuits (when I do happen to partake of them, that is!).
Amanda Brown | August 14th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I used to work out with my husband when we were first married but knew it wasn’t my thing. I’m a get it out of the way first thing in the morning type of person. He enjoys working out at night after dinner. And then he likes to take a break between sets. I take a long pause between sets. Our styles just are too different for us to work out together.
Grace | August 14th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
We work out together sometimes. We did a muddy, obstacle filled 5k together earlier this year. It was great fun but I was in much better running shape than he was. He admires my running ability but doesn’t find joy in it like I do. He prefers to lift weights and do some cardio at the gym or getting together with friends to play tennis/soccer/basketball.
K | August 15th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
We used too. Then we had our son and we take turns (M and W for me, T and TH for him) so that we can look after our son, however, Saturday is the day we both wake up and get ready and hit the gym together. We do certain exercises together (more of him teaching me), but for the most part we stay in two different parts of the gym. But we liked. He read somewhere that couples that work out together are proven to be happier together, so we do our best to do it “at least once a week”.
Mari | August 16th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Hey I like to do exercise with my child but right now I have no baby. When I have a baby I always prefer to do with my sweet baby. Well you have shared nice post.
Thanks for your shared post.
Health tips | August 19th, 2010 at 7:16 am