Fitness Mama Fit Mama of the Month: Shalane

Happy New Year mamas!  It's Get It Girl Wednesday!  But we are going to switch it up a bit for this week.  We felt it would be the most perfect day to (re) introduce the first of these regular posts.  Fit Mama of the Month will be a new series of posts that will feature different women and their stories.  We are hoping that with these posts, more mamas will be inspired to make, start or keep their fitness goals for themselves and their families/friends.  We used to feature a motivating story every week; check out previous posts here.  We wanted to start this back up again because your stories inspire US to keep going in our own fitness goals.  We also hope that with any of the women we will feature, something about their story inspires YOU or speaks to you to motivate you.  If you can relate to the women we feature, then perhaps their path to fitness will contain some ideas you can use in your own path or with your families!  Because remember, our goals may be the same.  But how we get there will always differ and will tailor to our own unique challenges.  All of our past Fit Mama of the Week/Month ladies from past and present are either on Facebook or Instagram so most likely you can find their contact info somewhere on our pages; so if you have any questions for them please ask away!  ALL of them are such sweet, helpful, motivating women and I know they will welcome any questions or comments and they all will offer any support you need.  You can also let us know and we can forward anything to them.  I am always so proud and amazed at the wonderful Fitness Mama #fitfam community that surrounds us.

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Our very first Fit Mama of the Month is Shalane!  Read below about our interview with this inspiring mama.  She is a full time working mom of two active boys but she has found a great balance and has figured out how to just make it work and #makeithappen

Name/Age: 

Shalane.  I'm 27 years old.

Do you have children?  

Yes.  I have two boys, ages 7 and 5.

Shalane's boys.  :)

Do you work outside of the home as well?  

I am an application analyst in IT @ Sutter Health. I work full time 8-5 for the most part, but at times when supporting hospital go lives on the Sutter EHR, I work 12 hour days and even weekends at times. 

Have you always been into fitness?  If not, why did you start?

I have not always been into fitness. I had my first son at 20 years old and returned to my pre baby weight pretty quickly. I gained about 10 pounds before I got pregnant with youngest child at age 23 and then after my youngest son was born I slowly started gaining weight and reached my heaviest weight of 215 pounds early last year. I had some difficult challenges to get through and my primary care doctor put me on an antidepressant. I gained about 20 pounds on the medication and stopped taking it after 1 year. 

I knew that I needed to step my fitness goals up but this proved to be difficult being a working mom to two young boys.  I have always worked full time while raising my boys. The only thing on my mind after getting off of work was getting home to my family. I hated being away from them all day. I felt guilty not devoting the rest of my time with them. I actually felt like I was being selfish to take any more time away from them. I had myself convinced that I did not have the time to work out. There were points where I would find some motivation and would join the gym but after about a month with hardly any results, I would quit. I began to feel like I could not do it. I tried weight watchers with a friend and saw some results of a few pounds but that did not last either.

I pretty much lost all confidence in myself and settled. I began to feel depressed. The hardest thing for me was making fitness apart of my every day routine. I was so set in my daily schedule of working 8-5, picking up the kids, making dinner, giving baths, and then once homework came when my boys went to school, there was just no time. 

December 2012

December 2012

I had a few very close friends that lost a lot of weight and who were inspiring to me. I began to think, if she can do it, then so can I. I joined a gym about 8 months ago and started doing zumba classes. That motivated me to start running. I ran about 30-40 miles in a span of a couple months and cut out soda and started making better choices. I tried to go to the gym 3-4 days a week for an hour. I started gaining some confidence back and was a lot happier when I starting focusing on myself a little more. It made a huge difference in my outlook on life. 

Shalane with her personal trainer/November 2013

Six weeks ago, I decided to step it up and take my fitness to another level and hired a personal trainer. He has me on a very strict nutritional intake and I have learned so much about nutrition. I weight train 3 days a week and do plyokikboxing twice a week. On an average night after the gym, I get home between 7 and 8 pm. I take my son to basketball practice once a week and have a lot of fun introducing new exercises to them that I do that day in training. They love it.  I make sure to go home focused and at my best and spend some time with them and get their bath in. 

My mom and boyfriend and are a great support system. Daddy usually takes care of homework with the boys and my mom helps out so much. They are pretty much in routine with my schedule now and understand that all the time I spend at the gym is for myself and for them so I can be around as long as possible for them.

 

Shalane's mom 

 

Shalane and her boyfriend/November 2013

My trainer is the best. He goes above his call of duty in my opinion and has helped me so much. He has taught me to never say, “I can’t”.  He has told me time and time again, that the training never gets easier, you just get stronger”. I have lost just a little over 30 pounds and have a long way to go. This is a lifestyle for me. This is not temporary or "until the weight comes off". I have met some wonderful people who inspire me and encourage me and it means the world to me. I am happier than I have ever been. I am now inspiring others and it feels great. I am feeling very confident in myself physically and 
internally.

October 2011 and present

April 2012 & November 2013

You mentioned a little bit about how you work out.  What else do you do to stay active?  What do you do as a family to get active? 

To stay active I weight train, run, and do plyokikboxing. I exercise with my boys and we have a lot of fun. My littlest laughs and says mommy’s squatting or mommy what is that exercise called. LOL. Next summer I plan on getting a bike and going on family bike rides.

Shalane with her plyokikboxing class

Making a commitment to getting and staying fit is something that is not easy.  How do you stay motivated?

Making a commitment to stay fit is definitely not easy, but it is rewarding in so many ways. I follow some inspirational people on Instagram, including people such as my dear friend #fitnessmama. My personal trainer helps add to my motivation and just takes it up to a higher level. Group classes at the gym are also motivating; meeting people who are living the same lifestyle is awesome. 

How do you balance work and family and then trying to stay fit at the same time?

My family is very supportive so it makes it easier to balance fitness and family. My boyfriend and I both live an active lifestyle and I enjoy working out with him when my mom can watch the boys. It's always fun when he joins me for plyokikboxing. My mom helps a lot with dinner for the boys. I feel extremely blessed. 

A lot of our readers have questions about nutrition and what to eat.  We know the right answers will be different for everyone but can you share with us what you would eat on a typical day so that we can get some ideas?  

On a typical day my nutrition intake consists of:

Breakfast: oatmeal and a protein shake.

Snack: carrots, celery or fruit

Lunch: Chicken and veggies/salad

Snack: veggies or fruit

Dinner: a protein shake with fruit and veggies (this is because I have a personal trainer and so this is part of my personal plan) A healthy dinner choice would be chicken/fish and some veggies. 

What is your favorite snack?  

My favorite snack is celery with peanut butter at the moment. My kids enjoy this too. My boys also like apple slices with peanut butter. They also like oranges, watermelon, and pineapple.

What are some of your fitness goals for 2014?

My fitness goals I am working on at the moment are burning fat while leaning out and building muscle. I am 30 pounds away from my pre-baby weight. But I won’t be stopping there. I also want to run a ½ marathon this year.

Fit Mama of the Week: Lana

We chose our newest Fit Mama of the Week, Lana, initially because we were drawn to her creative lunch ideas on Instagram.  But as we got to know Lana, she has brought up many points that we've always wanted to discuss like working out but not eating clean and how this does not work.  I know that when I was in my 20's, I could eat anything I wanted knowing that if I put time in to workout I'd be ok.  But when I hit my early 30's, I gained some weight but couldn't figure out why despite working out; meanwhile I was eating danishes with a tall mocha almost daily, then big bowls of pasta or white rice later.  So if you're wondering why you haven't seen any changes even though you work out or wondering why you've reached a plateau, definitely re-assess your diet and see if there are changes you can make.  We can't stress the importance of eating clean enough.  Luckily, Lana has a few lunch ideas to share below to help inspire you!

Name/Age/Marital Status/Kids/Ages

My name is Lana and  I am 34 years old and am married.   We have two children; a five year old “big” girl and a two year old boy.

Do you work outside of the home? What do you do?

I’m first and foremost a stay-at-home mom, who teaches fitness classes.   I teach at a few local gym and also run my own boot camp, called 1funfitmama on the weekends.

Have you always been into fitness? If not, why did you start?

I've always loved fitness and working out, but not until my second child was born did I truly understand the true meaning of “fitness” for me.  I now understand what my body is capable of and how important being healthy is. In the past, it was just about maintaining my weight. I never dieted or ate clean.  I ate whatever I wanted and thought “I’ll just work that off later”.    As I've aged and now being over 30 the concept of buy now/pay later wouldn't work anymore.  I also didn't push myself to get stronger, as I was scared of heavy weights or even true weight lifting.  Now, when I think about fitness, I think of the endless opportunities for me to get healthier in my mind and physically in my body. Fitness just isn't about the physical element of working out, it is about eating healthy, which doesn't mean just dieting and feeling good about it, but consuming nutritional foods and treating your body with respect.

What do you do to stay active? What is your favorite way to get exercise? What do you do as a family to get active?

I’m very active throughout the week.  With the kids' crazy schedules, I know you’re thinking they are only five & two, but yes we have LOTS to do, it is sometimes challenging to fit a workout in.  In addition to the four classes I teach throughout the week, I also dedicate at least one day to just me, whether that’s a run, yoga, or simply working out in my basement.  My all-time favorite way to workout is with my kids.  I have recently taken a mommy and baby boot camp with my youngest and it was the best experience.  I started when he was just 13 weeks old.  It was a hard core boot camp, which taught me that I CAN work out with my kids in the room.  That was always a huge excuse for me, but now I learned that my kids love to see me workout and end up doing some of the workouts with me.  It is not only fun, but we are bonding and building lasting healthy habits.  My favorite type of exercise is a mixture of strength & cardio in a boot camp routine.  I've never seen a real difference in my body until I started doing boot camp.  This type of class makes you utilize you’re body weight in way’s I never thought possible, and has increased my strength tremendously.  

perfect plank :)

As a family, we love to be outside! We go on walks, bike rides, or to the pool in the summer all the time. Being at home, I like the kids to get outside at least once a day to burn off the energy, especially during the “witching” hour. You know the time between 4-5:30 pm!  Not sure if it’s just my kids, but something happens & they become crazy!!!

Making a commitment to staying fit is something that is not easy. How do you stay motivated?

It is hard to stay motivated when you have a thousand things on your to-do list. At the end of the day, staying fit and healthy makes me feel better about myself and overall makes me a better person/mom.  I just have to remind myself how great I feel after a workout (sweat and all…actually the more sweat the better).  That feeling after you've done something great for your mind, body, and spirit is such an amazing feeling, and I do silly tricks throughout the day to help me stay motivated. For example, I put workout clothes on first thing, even if I don’t plan on working out till later. It makes me more accountable.  I also lay out my clothes and get my water bottle ready the night before for those early morning workouts.  My main motivator is my kids.  I’m a better mom because I am dedicating a few hours of the week for “me” time, which is hard to do as an active mother, but definitely needed!

How do you balance work and/or family and then to stay fit and the same time?

Balancing life in general is super hard and challenging, some days I feel torn and don’t feel anyone/thing is getting enough attention.  I don’t think I've figured this out completely and think it will be ever changing as the kids get older and more activities occur.  The one thing that does help me is that I know my kids love being active, love to help me cook healthy foods, and enjoy the play time with other kids when they go the gym with me. My husband is also very active and a full supporter of our healthy lifestyle, having him as part of our strong support system is crucial!

Share what you would eat on a typical day or any particular meal.  Do you have any healthy meal ideas that the kids love that you would like to share?  What are some your favorite healthy snacks for yourself and for the kids?

I typically eat 4-6 small meals a day. 

For breakfast, I typically have 1-2 slices of EarthGrains Wheat Berry with Honey bread, topped with Almond Butter, banana, and drizzle of honey.  I also have protein shakes in conjunction with my food a few mornings a week.  This could consist of an actual protein powder meal replacement formula or almond milk and fruit combo shake that I’ve put together for myself and the kids. My kids love shakes!  Our favorite is a chocolate, banana, and berry smoothie.  It is 8 oz. dark chocolate almond milk or chocolate soy milk, a big scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 banana (frozen or ripe), a handful of kale or spinach, 1 cup of frozen berries and a drizzle of honey. My kids love this with their morning breakfast, would be great as a snack too.  We also eat a lot of yogurt with homemade granola for breakfast.

 For lunch, I eat a lot of salads and wraps. My kids love salad too, so I pack salad combos for school.  Some other things I like to pack for lunch are frozen veggies which are a great way to keep food cold but also will defrost in time for lunch, or another is pita bread with spaghetti sauce and cheese so the kids can make their own pizza. 

Some of our favorite snacks are homemade trail mix (raw almonds, cashews, dried berry mix and dark chocolate chips), hummus or laughing cow cheese spread with veggies and pita chips, or a bowl of cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and avocado with a sprinkle of pepper.  My kid’s all-time favorite is frozen mixed berries and a handful of dark chocolate chips. We also can’t do without our almond butter or all natural peanut butter, we will often spread this on a banana for an after workout snack.

Was eating healthier something you always practiced in your household?

Recently, our family made the switch to a clean eating household. It is a slow change for certain beloved items (i.e. pasta) but for the most part I buy items that do not contain preservatives and try to stay close to the 5 ingredient rule.  If I don’t understand what is in the ingredients, I won’t buy it. The biggest change for me was reading ingredients. This is not something I was used to. I bought, what I thought was healthy, but after reading ingredients and finding that majority of foods contains dyes and BHA and other harmful preservatives, I didn't want to put that into my body and certainly not my kids. So for my family, this change has made a significant impact on our digestive system, our moods and has helped my energy level!  A great change for our family.

Do you have any tips for other moms looking into clean eating for themselves and their families?

Find a local farmer’s market and buy fresh! It is usually a bit cheaper than the grocery stores and it is so much healthier (little to no pesticides) and supports our local farmers.  I will plan my weekly menu around what is available at the market. If you buy what is in season, you can save a lot on your grocery bill.  Also, once I get home from market and grocery store, I will cut and wash veggies and wash fruit so it is ready to eat! It makes making a healthy eating choice easier, if the veggies are already cut for me!

What are some of your fitness goals this year?

I would really like to complete a triathlon this year.

Besides your family/kids, what are other things that inspire or motivate you to put on your clothes and get moving?

It is so inspiring to see other moms out there working their tails off and promoting their lifestyle. I love Instagram/Facebook and Blogs that highlight strong women completing goals and being healthy. On Instagram, I participate in many exercise challenges that other’s post. I love to see and try different types of exercise it is a huge motivator for me.

If you have any questions for Lana please comment below or contact her!  She has a schedule of fitness classes/bootcamp classes so definitely message her if you live in the Midwest area!  You can find Lana's Instagram here: http://instagram.com/1funfitmama  She often posts workouts you can do at home that I find so helpful when I don't have time to head out to a gym.  If you're on Facebook, you can find Lana's page here: https://www.facebook.com/1funfitmama

Fit Mama of the Week: Harmony

Patience and perseverance got our newest Fit Mama of the Week from being a couch potato to running marathons and being a fitness instructor.  She is definitely an inspiration to all women as she has managed to get out of the rut of being inactive and has made being healthy and fit her lifestyle.  All it took was finding a way to workout AND have fun at the same time.  She found her spark in a dance fitness class which led to bigger fitness goals and the rest is history.  She has since gone down nine dress sizes and is now actually teaching fitness classes as a certified instructor!

 

Name/Age/Marital Status/Occupation
Harmony.  I'm 32 years old.  I'm currently single, waiting to find "Mr. Right".   I work for an acute care psychiatric hospital doing creative and recreational therapy with patients. I also teach group exercise classes for 24 Hour Fitness.

Have you always been into fitness? 
I haven't always been into fitness, in fact there were MANY YEARS where I was a hopeless couch potato and VERY overweight. I wasn't happy at all living like that, but try as I might to lose weight I never got very far. 

Pictures from the past:

It took finally pushing past my fears & going to my very first group exercise dance class to see a difference. During that class I unexpectedly fell in love. Don't get me wrong, I felt like I was DYING after the first 2 minutes! However, I was having a blast. I knew this was something I NEEDED, and, most importantly, something I could stick with. Who knew gyms had anything so FUN?!! It was then that things began to click into place for me and FINALLY change for the better. Since that first class, I have lost over 100lbs and 9 dress sizes.

Present:

What motivated you initially, to start getting fit?
I was so damn tired of being overweight! I was uncomfortable in my own skin for so long. I tried the gym and machines, but wasn't getting results. Then I tried personal training and that started to make a difference but I couldn't afford to keep up with it, plus it just wasn't very fun, so I'd end up often "rescheduling." I had always loved to dance, however. One of my friends said she'd tried a Zumba class and had fun. She invited me to go and the rest is history!

It sounds like it took finding something you really loved to do to really get you motivated to work out. Did you try a lot of different activities before you took this class?
I had previously spent my "workout" time toiling away on treadmills, bikes, stair masters, and ellipticals, and HATED every minute of it. I made every excuse in the book why I couldn't go work out. Now, however, I found myself doing the complete opposite, making "excuses" to actually MAKE IT to the gym! I was having so much fun.

That class was one of the reasons why I decided to become a group exercise instructor. I felt like I would enjoy teaching and enjoy sharing this wonderful group x experience with others. I was ready for another challenge, and ready to take the next step in my fitness journey so I started my first instructor training in Nov. 2010 then became certified in Dec. 2010. I taught my first class on Dec. 20, 2010.

What else motivates you to want to continue to work out regularly and consistently?
Evenutally, I began FEELING the difference in my body, in my stamina and my overall health; this highly motivated me to continue on. I didn't want to go back to feeling like a couch potatoe with no hope that the future would be different. I began SEEING the difference in not only pounds lost, but major inches as well. The changes I was experiencing made me realize that I really was not in a good place before and I didn't want to go back there. This motivates me to keep going.

I still remember being overweight and incredibly unhappy with my appearance. For years I avoided mirrors and my reflection like the plague. I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT. Now however, as my body was changing, there was a point where that began to change. I actually found myself looking forward to seeing my reflection and even at times doing a double-take! I was so used to the old reflection, the new one took some getting used to!

Did nutrition play a part in your road to getting fit and healthy?
Now that I was working hard to change my body, it helped reinforce the need to eat right as well. I changed my diet. I removed most simple sugars (candy, cakes, cookies, soda, etc) from my diet. This made a HUGE difference.  

I also ate more low fat and fat free foods, more whole fruits and grains (though limited my grains to smaller portions), and more salads (low fat, low calorie dressings too. There ARE great tasting ones out there, so you don't have to sacrifice taste!).  

I also focused on high protein, lean foods. I found myself to be far more satisfied, with less and for a longer period of time with the higher protein diet. Also tried to eliminate as much processed foods as possible. When you're limiting caloric intake, whatever you do eat HAS to be high in nutrients and value to make up for all that you're no longer eating that your body was used to. This meant for me some meal replacement shakes (high protein, low carb & calorie, but also high in vitamins and minerals) as well as the addition of good vitamin nutrition supplements. I am a distributor for a fantastic company with the best and highest quality products. If people are interested in information on products they're welcome to contact me, either through Facebook or email (hquinn@gmail.com).

A big key though was first increasing my water intake. I found that often when I thought I was hungry, I was actually THIRSTY! This amazed me. Also I decreased my portions and increased the frequency with which I ate. This means I would eat small meals (approx 200-300 calories, depending on my total daily calorie goal) every 2-3 hours so that I had 6 "meals" a day. This kept my metabolism burning by giving my body constant fuel, But never more than it was going to burn, In fact, I had to make sure there was a deficit. There HAS to be less coming in than going out, or else you won't see changes! So yes, I FINALLY caved to actually using calorie counting, despite having avoided it for years. It REALLY DOES WORK. It's a pain at first, but then you train yourself and get to know what you can and shouldn't eat, what to buy and what NOT to buy, so that it becomes much easier later and you don't have to be as strict. But being very strict at first makes an immense difference. Those calories sure add up fast if you're not paying attention!!

What are your future fitness goals?
This coming weekend, in fact, I'm attending a training for a different format so I can begin teaching that. The following weekend I'll be filming my video for another format that I hope to start teaching soon. Besides adding formats, I also am continually working to improve and become a better instructor, which includes continually working toward being stronger and more fit (though being understanding when life gets in the way and I backslide...but being sure always to keep that goal in mind, to get back up and to keep going). My other big goal now is to someday complete a triathlon.

I have Tough Mudder at the end of September, which I'm looking forward to running, as well as a 5k, which is exciting and means a lot because I'll be running it with my dad. He's recently been inspired to get in better shape and has taken up running among other things. This will will be his first ever race! I'm super excited for him and that we get to do this together!

Harmony with her dad

Congratulations Harmony on your continued success!  Good luck in your future races and endeavors as a fitness instructor.  

You can catch Harmony and take one of her classes at 24 Hour Fitness Laguna during the following times: Sundays @ 9am, Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:30pm.  Email hquinn@gmail.com for more information!

Fit Mama of the Week: Mattie

If you looked up the definition of ACTIVE MAMA, you would probably find Mattie's picture.  She is a working mom of two and she manages to make time for her love of running and staying fit.  The women that we have featured here on our blog are busy women.  This we know is very true and is a common denominator.  But they all have found different ways (that work for them) to workout and stay fit.  Their workout of choice is very tailored to their lives, their goals, and their happiness.  Find an activity that works for you and that you find FUN.  If you don't like going to the gym and find that you are dragging your heels there each and every time, perhaps the gym isn't for you.  Try a cardio dance class.  Try a kickboxing class.  Find something else that will keep you motivated to want to workout!

Name/Age/Ethnicity/Marital Status/Occupation

My name is Mattie; I'm 40 years old, African American; Married. I work as a Medical Assistant.

Do you have kids?  How old are they?

I have 2 boys ages 8 and 13.

Have you always been into fitness? 

I have been somewhat into fitness for the last 15 years but I really have been making it a lifestyle for 6 years. I started getting into fitness when I started learning more about healthcare.

What do you do to stay active?  What is your favorite way to get exercise?  What do you do as a family to get exercise?  

I participate in boot camp, crossfit and circuit training. I currently do short bootcamp at lunchtime Monday through Friday. This consists of burpees, sit-ups, push-ups, mountain climbers, tricep dips, bicep curls, planks and many more exercises. But I enjoy running and this is what I focus on the most. I enjoy running because it relaxes me, It also helps me clear my head and live a stress free life. It's also simple: just grab your shoes and go. I was inspired to run by 2 nurse practitioners at San Rafael Kaiser 13 years ago. At that time, they challenged me to run with them during lunch breaks. I tried it once with them and that was the last time I did that. They were too advanced for me to run with them but it inspired me to start going out on my lunch breaks 3 days a week on my own.

My first race was a 5k in February 2010. It was a Kaiser sponsored event. I was very nervous and barely slept the night before. I currently run 13+ miles a week and walk 10+ miles a week utilizing breaks at work. Lunch breaks are always used for a workout.  I have completed 6 half marathons and many 5k/10k runs. I always look forward to run events! I placed 2nd place in the Asparagus festival Spear It Run last year. 

As a family we do occasional biking and walking. My kids will sometimes ride their bikes while I run; this enables the whole family to spend time together AND helps keep everyone active.

Making a commitment to staying fit is something that isn't always easy for everyone.  How do you stay motivated?

Fitness to me is a lifestyle so I feel that I stay motivated because it has become a regular thing and an important part of my life. I think it is important to continue to look forward to my workouts. I am a part of the BGR (black girls run) running group and look forward to running with my group every week. Keeping it fun is a big key. When people ask how I stay so fit, I will tell everyone that diet is the key but exercise unlocks the door to a happier and healthier life.

How do you balance work and family  and then trying to stay fit at the same time?  

Following a schedule has helped me balance everything. Balancing family, work and fitness requires a lot of planning ahead. I plan healthy meals, family outings, and active events. As a family we do occasional biking and walking. My kids are also super busy because they play multiple sports so the different schedules can be very challenging.

Share what you would eat for a typical meal or a typical day. Do you have any healthy meal ideas that the kids love that you would like to share? What are some of your favorite healthy snacks for yourself and your kids?

As far as meals go, I think it is important to plan ahead so that I don't have to look to unhealthy options like fast food. I plan ahead a couple days. I shop on Sunday for the week. I'm very creative with my meals. Very seldom will I run out ideas for meals. My meals vary from salads, soups, casseroles, beans and stir frys. I cook everyday. The crockpot and rice cookers are a big help for busy families. I put my meals on in the morning before work and finish it up when I get home.

Planning my meals is essential to clean eating. And then clean eating is essential to great performance/my running. I'm on week 4 of eating clean excluding eating out, sugars, whites, sodas and fried foods. It's not a practice for me anyway however my household is abiding as well.

For my lunch, I normally pack fruits, nuts, cheese stick, milk, cereal and salad. This covers breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks. I also make sure to take care of my hydration needs. I drink 60 plus ounces of water daily. I will do electrolytes before my intense workouts. My kids favorite meal is taco salad made with ground turkey. It's a fast meal to prepare.

What are some of your fitness goals for the year?

My fitness goals for the year are to go on 2 hikes, to get physically stronger and to run a race every month through the end of the year. The boot camp and crossfit classes has definitely pushed me to another level because of the diversity in the exercise routines and building on of reps. This has increased my endurance and made me stronger. The strength training had helped me increase my speed in running. I am currently training for a half marathon in Folsom on October 19.

Besides your family/kids, what are some other things that inspire you or motivate you to put on your workout clothes and get moving?

I'm continuously motivated by the results I see in my body and the strength I'm feeling I'm gaining over time. Ultimately I'm encouraged by my family and friends.