Working out for.. my marriage?

There are so many reasons we work out.

To impress someone
To lose weight
To get better confidence
To train for an event
To tone and tighten up
To help your marriage

While it is a no brainer on why working out makes a marriage better - today my husband told me some info that caught me off guard a little bit. He said I was a happier person on the days when I work out. I was kind of surprised by this announcement. I always try to be nice to my family. I never wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning and think "I'm going to go out of my way to be nasty today - especially in my marriage."

It's kinda interesting though - working out it has been quite an experience for my husband, John, and I. I think I shared a little before, but I was really thin when I started dating John, even after I had my first daughter, things came back to where they were supposed to be! Over six years and two more kids, I don't know what did it or when it REALLY happened, but I had gained over 60 lbs. I was embarrassed to share how much I weighed or the size of my clothes. I began a long fad of yo yo dieting and working out and before I knew it, my closet was filled with fat girl clothes.

One day I went through my closet to make space for new things and I had to get rid of old clothes that didn't fit anymore. It was kinda of heart breaking. Then I decided I didn't care if I was over weight. I would rather do fun things with my family and be fat and happy! I didn't REALLY feel that way, but it was a better way of dealing with it than the hard work I knew I would have to put in to really be that person I felt like but clearly didn't look like.

At one point in our marriage, it was very rocky too! I mean I think we all have gone through our chapter in marriage where things are looking grim, where you aren't sure what is going to happen in the next few weeks but you know it can make or break your marriage! During that time I tried really hard to lose weight. I had two reasons, I wanted to be irresistible to him and if we didn't stay together, I wanted him to miss what he had. Let me tell you - THOSE ARE STUPID REASONS! I did get results, but they didn't last. It didn't last because it was for the wrong reasons. Losing weight will not solve you marriage's issues. That takes communication.

In August, I wanted to lose weight. My oldest daughter started school and since I have to take and pick her up, I had no excuses why I couldn't get right to the gym. So I started going on a regular basis. I think that since I wanted this for ME  it worked! And because I wanted this for me, my husband was so supportive and that opened up the doors of communication in a part of my life that I never wanted to share with him. You should want to share every aspect of your life with your LIFE partner.

On my list of goals, I never wrote "I want better communication with my Husband. I want him to know how much I hate being over weight and how much I want to be better at my life, starting with my health!" But that's where I am now. I am noticing that since I can tell him I am a fatty mcfat fat and I can SEE that he doesn't care and loves me anyway and supports me in my journey - I can tell him ANYTHING - even about the pair of shoes or new workout pants I have bought :)

I guess John's comment today really made me reflect on how much more working out and getting healthy is for me and our marriage. More than a size goal, a weight goal or a timed race goal - it's really creating a whole new part of life for us - and I kinda like it!

-Kayla-