Bye Bye Accordion Body

The Accordion Syndrome

Since becoming a Mama and hitting my 30s I have struggled on and off with the weight factor.

In the last 12 months I have swung from fitness to fatness and everything in between.

I can relate to  Jane Kennedy‘s description in her book “Fabulous Food Minus the Boombah” that her body has felt like an accordion.

Stretching out and coming in again over and over.

(Though, granted in her case she has had 5 babies in 6 years – mine is from wavering commitment)

Monte is over one now, so it seems the I ‘just had a baby’ excuse is not flying anymore.

It is time I took responsibility.

I discovered Nicole Lambert’s inspirational blog that shows just what level of fitness and health can be achieved when we stop making our health a negotiable factor.

I spoke to Nicole about my yo-yoing health and exercise .

She  asked me simply why things like brushing my teeth or having a shower are things that I do without question, yet eating healthy and exercising up for debate.

A great question.

One I had not asked myself before but greatly needed to.

The simple answer is for the last 31 years a healthy diet and exercise have not been a priority.

I have always partaken in sports and exercise on some level, but it has never been a ‘must-do’.

I eat my veggies and I like my fruit but eating chocolate and cake has always been an additional option.

It is time to change this old program.

It is time I added healthy eating and exercise to the ‘brush my hair, go to the toilet, have a shower’ gang.

Until the last 5 or so years I was one of those smug types that stayed thin and healthy looking no matter what.

Oh the times they are a-changin’.

Aesthetics aside, I want to be healthy.

I want my innards to be healthy.

I want to teach Monte by example.

I don’t want him struggling with these negotiations later down the track.

Lollies, ice cream and soft drink are simply not natural things to eat.

Adam and Eve were tempted by the apple.

Lucky buggers.

I wish I was!

These days I am tempted by strawberries and cream and Tim-Tams  with a can of coke chaser.

How very unnatural!

I have taken to a more ‘go with the flow as nature intended’ way of life in other areas and it doesn’t make sense that my health goes against the flow.

It is with courage and conviction that I announce my commitment to changing the years of health negotiations I have allowed myself.

I am officially stamping my butt and dinner plate with a big fat non-negotiable stamp.

I’m sorry Sharni, not exercising is not an option.

Get with the NEW program.

How about you, is exercise and health negotiable for you? How do you make it non-negotiable?  Or do you struggle also?

(Please note, I am about to embark on a fitness campaign that will be raising money for an excellently worthy cause and I am looking for people to join me, watch this space)