When is this Going to Be Over?

This was a common theme yesterday.

I had a lot of freelance work to do, and errands to run, and I had Karsen home with me, so any time to work out was going to be limited. Technically, Monday’s a rest day, but I would really like to do strength and, of course, keep up with my 15 minutes of core that I’ve been doing now for almost a week and a half.

Finally, at about 4 p.m., I made myself get on the floor for core work. Just 15 minutes. It’s not that long.

But time is relative, right? Fifteen minutes isn’t long, but you know what is? ONE MINUTE IN BOAT POSE.

Every time I got to about 40 seconds of boat pose, I felt like I might hurl. Serious puke threshold stuff happening there. I had to take little breaks and pull my legs in every once in a while. Every time, I was like, When is this going to be OVER?! in my head.

I am taking my measurements and I think I have lost 3/4 of an inch off my belly since I started doing 15 minutes of core every day. I say think because hopefully I am measuring properly.

My 15-minute core workouts usually consist of four different core moves, each lasting 1 minute. After the circuit, I take 1 minute of rest. Then I do that two more times. I got the idea from Jason’s core post over at Cook Train Eat Race.

I had to get my core done before Karsen’s first “big boy” swim lesson. The last lessons he had were “Mommy and Me” when he was like 8 months old or something. All day yesterday, he talked big: “I’m a real good swimmer, Mom,” and “I can swim fast!” But when it was time to get in the pool, he was scared.

Once in, he tried to play it cool, but he was holding on to the wall for dear life (even though he was wearing a flotation device).

He was so afraid, but he did it. I made sure to point that out afterward–that he should be proud of himself. And we talked about how that it’s similar to when Mommy was afraid to ride the bike, and I did it even though I fell.

Watching him “swim” cracked me up because the teacher would tell him to run with his legs yet they were as stiff as Frankenstein’s. Toward the end of class, as he was still holding on for dear life, I could hear him mumbling to himself: “I can’t hold this for much longerrrrr.” And, my personal favorite: “Oh, when is this going to be OVER?”

He had fun, I’m pretty sure, because he couldn’t stop talking about it afterward. Although, I’m not positive it was the swimming part or simply the teacher because on the way home, he said: “The teacher kinda likes me. Yeah, she likes me.”

I guess whatever it takes, right?

Do you have a core routine you like?

Also, did you see Amanda’s post, “Loosen Your Hips to Lose the Belly“?

I’ve been stretching more after core–definitely will be incorporating some more hips stretches!