Well, looks like my blogging mojo is back in full swing…but that workout mojo is still alluding me. Sigh. I had my clothes on and a plan to hit up spin class, but then this happened.

Makenzie and I both got back into our pajamas to snuggle with some books instead.

A lot of you mentioned last night that when you face the workout blahs it’s usually because you need some rest, so you choose to ride it out. I think that is what is going on here. I know this isn’t typical for me, so I’m giving in and laying low for the time being. I trust I’ll be ready and raring to go again soon. I know myself and I know I won’t “fall of the wagon” too long.

Even though I don’t have the motivation to get to the gym…I do feel off without it. In order to keep from feeling that exercise guilt I experienced last week, I am choosing to focus on the positives. I choose to think about how far I have come and that, while I lack motivation for a few days, I still go after and achieve my goals on the whole.

I had a reminder of that this weekend, so I will focus on that instead. The jeans.

As I mentioned in my last Body After Baby progress update, I have reached my happy weight and no longer plan to track my progress as meticulously. I still plan to do one last set of “progress pictures” at the year mark and perhaps one other set, but that was the last of Body After Baby I planned on sharing.

I feel a little silly posting about these jeans, but they were honestly a benchmark in my progress I wondered if I would ever reach. I have owned those jeans for almost two years. This weekend I got to take the tags off and wear them for the first time ever.

It kind of rocked. So I’m sharing.

I got those jeans, along with another pair, about a week after my fitness competition two years ago. I was at my “happy weight”, but thanks to the stresses of the show on my body, I had to gain weight in order to get pregnant. I couldn’t return the jeans, so they retired to the back of my closet and I wondered if I would ever get to wear them.

I refused to do anything crazy to get into them, so I figured they would never fit. I told myself if they didn’t fit one year after B was born, I would sell both pairs on ebay. I didn’t allow fitting in the jeans to consume me.

I would only occasionally try them on to see, but each time they would either barely button or fit too uncomfortably. Until this weekend.

I gave them a try. They fit just right. I didn’t kill myself to wear them again. I just did my thing and let my body go where it would.. I can remember how far I have come…and know nothing will stop me from keeping on my healthy path.

I know that fitting into a pair of jeans isn’t the be all of a fit lifestyle, but it still feels good to have that tangible sign of my progress. It’s a form of motivation that doesn’t play mind games with me like a scale could. It’s a suitable way for me to gauge my habits without obsession.

And they help me know that a short lull won’t overtake my habits because I am determined to care for my body and work hard in the gym. That reminder will stay with me, as I plan on wearing these jeans, along with the more casual pair I got at the same time, for a long time to come.

• What's a tangible way you like to track your progress? Are you a go by how the clothes fit gal?

Good morning! I’m pleased to say that I feel fairly refreshed after taking a chill movie night last night with Peter. I also slept in about an extra hour this morning.The little mental break was just what I needed. Just like you all apparently need some new workout clothes. The Champion giveaway seems to be quite a hit! Be sure to enter if you haven’t already.

One of the things I love about reading blogs is that no matter what is going on in my life or how I’m feeling a particular day, I inevitably will come across someone’s post that will make me want to shout “YES!!!” at my screen. That happened to me yesterday as I read Gabriela’s post about blogging mojo.

I know I definitely have upswings and downswings in my blogging mojo. Yesterday, in fact, was one of those downswings. I seemed to lack motivation in all areas of life yesterday. I guess since things were so chill this weekend, I didn’t feel quite ready to go back to the everyday routine of things…and so my typical spark for life didn’t reach all the things I love – It hit my faith and my family, but fizzled out by the time it reached my fitness and my blogging fun.

Yes, you read that right. Sometimes I really don’t feel all yippee-kay-yay about blogging. I have even thought “what if I “quit” blogging??” before. It’s been a long time since I have thought that, but yesterday I did start wondering…”What would I do with my extra time, if I didn’t blog???”. Well, there’s a question for ya. What would I do?

I do my blogging in the morning before the kids get up, when Makenzie is in school and Braedon naps, in the afternoon when both kids nap, and occasionally will hop on at night to catch up on emails or do some fun things like #fitblog chats or blog reading if Peter has something going on work-wise. So, what ways would I fill up that time if I didn’t blog?

• sleep in an extra hour or so every day
• clean our house a lot more
• read books for pleasure again
• maybe pick up a napping habit
• drive Peter and friends crazy by dumping all my workout talk on them
• find another time-suck online (no joke)

When I thought about that, my blogging mojo swung right back in full force. It could be nice to have that extra time….but….

None of the above help better who I am as a person as blogging does. Blogging pushes me to try new things and to reflect on my thoughts, actions, and life.

None of the above foster the amazing connections that allow a mutual support and respect to help us each learn from one another.

None of the above help keep me determined and accountable to my goals.

None of the above would allow me to support my family any extra…because we all know nobody would want to hire me as a maid.

None of the above fulfill me as a person. None of the above make me “me”.

That is why when my blogging mojo pendulum swings from “I’m a blogging machine!” to “Blog? Really?” for a brief moment, it always snaps back very quickly. I guess it all goes back to that quote I shared last week:

Mojo is back, baby. All it takes some days is a little extra perspective.

• What would you do with your time if you didn’t blog or read blogs?
• What’s something you occasionally lose steam over, but always very briefly?