Fit Mama of the Week: Leigh

Our gorgeous new Fit Mama of the Week is Leigh!  When we heard how involved Leigh is with her children's day to day activities we were so impressed with how she has successfully balanced everything that that entails along with keeping fit!  I was ready to give her the title of Supermom of the Year!  My kids are also super busy as well and I have always found it so challenging to find energy to stay focused on my training.  Leigh is a big inspiration to me and I think she will be for you mamas too.  To stay motivated, Leigh turns to positive people who will support her and cheer her on.  We wanted to highlight this because making changes and being on this fitness journey isn't always easy.  Look for friends on a similar journey or look to our #fitfam community on FB and/or IG!  

Name/Age/Occupation?

Leigh and I'm 36 years old.  I am a stay at home mom.  

Do you have kids?  How old are they?

I have two very busy boys ages 8 & 5.

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

I have always been into sports, especially tennis.  I had loved weightlifting in the past, but wasn't too motivated to go to the gym after kids. In January of this year, my whole family joined Cal Fit (Sacramento area gym), and I decided to put everything into it.  Honestly I was highly motivated by Christelyn & Billy and their transformations as a couple.  I started changing my eating habits (and my family’s eating habits) and got my butt to the gym every day!

How do you continually keep yourself motivated to workout?  

I stay motivated by a few things:  
1) taking lots of progress pics 
2) following fitness accounts on instagram and facebook 
3) having friends that work out with me.

I take a lot of progress pics because it reminds me of how far I've come and and to remind myself to not give up despite any plateaus I think I may be at.  Also, once you get to a point of losing the initial weight, you get to a point of gaining more muscle and essentially tightening up. This part is hard because you can't rely on your scale....the changes are smaller than before. So I use progress pics to see those small changes. It helps me to stay on track and to not get disappointed by the number on the scale.

Having friends to work out with also helps me stay motivated. With my friends, we take classes at the gym together (Group Strength Training & Xbike are our favorites). We also text each other to make sure we stay on track (and text each other when we strayed from being on track!).

How do you balance  taking care of you home and family AND staying fit?

Since I am a stay at home mom, I am aware that my children and I need a break from each other at least once a day.  It’s good for me, and it’s good for them.  They love the kids club at the gym we go to, so it makes it really easy to go to the gym with my kids.  My best advice for keeping a good balance is to remember to make your gym time like an important meeting.  Bosses do NOT miss important meetings! Sometimes I even schedule it into my iPhone….seriously!  As a stay at home mom, I am able to constantly be in the classroom to help, as well as be there for fieldtrips, etc.; this keeps me super busy. My kids also have a crazy schedule that perhaps a lot of other moms can relate to.  I have two boys 8 & 5, and they are involved with sports year round. Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming. Right now we have basketball (for my 8 yr old) and soccer (for my 5 yr old), and yes, I shuttle them around everywhere! But again as I've mentioned before, I schedule my gym time like an important meeting that I cannot miss.

Share with us what you would eat on a typical day.

I am still working on making better food choices.  The change in the kitchen just started in January of this year.  BUT, I generally like to start the day with oatmeal or an egg sandwich. I snack on nuts, fruits, or Greek yogurt during the day.  At night I try not to eat after 8pm.  I try to have the majority of carbs at breakfast or lunch, and try to keep my dinner filled with proteins and vegetables.

Favorite snack is Fage Vanilla Greek yogurt….yummmm! The kid’s favorite snack is probably apples and peanut butter or cheese sticks.

What are your fitness goals for this year?

My fitness goals have changed over the past months.  Originally it was a certain weight that I wanted to get to.  Now that I have been lifting weights more and more, I realize that the number on the scale isn't always the best goal.  My body is changing for the better, but my weight is staying the same in the past few months.  It’s a hard thing to do, but I am trying to not look at my goals in numbers, but rather by how my clothes fit and how my body feels.

What or who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspirations are the fit mamas out there.  It’s hard to find the motivation everyday to workout.  Especially when your body has morphed into something that you don’t recognize after having kids/breastfeeding/not having the time to workout.  It takes one step in front of the other every day and eventually you will be off and running, and that weight will come off.  And I know, it’s harder for some mamas compared to others.  I watched moms give birth and bounce right back to their old shape….that wasn't me.  It took hard work EVERY DAY.  Making the choice for a chicken breast over a yummy pizza slice. Going to workout when all you want to do is close your eyes and take a breather because the kids have worn you DOWN. But if you get that workout in, and you push yourself a little harder each time, the results will come….and you will get some of your sanity back…lol! I call the gym “my therapy” for the day!

past

present :)

Thank you Leigh for sharing your fitness journey story with us and for sharing such inspiring words!  Congratulations on all of your amazing accomplishments not just on the weight loss but sticking with the game plan day in and day out!  We as moms all know this is not easy.  It takes a lot of hustle and it definitely is a daily grind.  But ALL of our Fit Mamas of the Week have proven that getting fit/staying healthy and balancing home life and the kids can be done in multiple ways. #BeInspired      

Get It Girl Wednesday: Just Do You

Somewhere along your fitness journey you may come across people who wonder why you are doing what you are doing.

I know you know what I'm talking about.  You may have heard them say any one of the following (this list was compiled by our #fitfam community):

That's ALL you're eating?  A salad? (yes. with veggies, fruit, an avocado and protein! it's yummy!)
You are skinny enough already!
You are running FIVE miles today?!  And you're training for a 13.1 mile race?!  That's way too crazy for me.  Why would anyone want to do that?  (umm...I do. Thanks for your support!)
Are you sure you want to be lifting all those weights?  I don't lift weights because I don't want to look manly. (Fact: it is nearly impossible for women to build anywhere close to the amount of muscle mass men build due to our low testosterone levels.)
Oh I tried that diet.  That's NOT going to work.
You're going running AGAIN?  Aren't you afraid you're going to get arthritis or something?
I'd rather just eat whatever I want (and be overweight) and happy vs. always depriving myself of food. (And meanwhile, you, yourself didn't feel like you were being deprived!)
I would rather have a life than spend all my time in the gym.  (hmm...30 mins. a day is not my whole life)
You're done right?  You really don't need to lose anymore weight.  You really need to stop.
Do you even eat anymore?
I wish I had time to workout like you.  (This absolutely KILLS me because NO, I absolutely do not have time.  But I MAKE time.)
How did you REALLY lose all that weight?  (People want to hear you say you used some kind of proverbial magic pill. They do not want to hear about your healthy eating and hard work at the gym.)
You looked better when you were at *insert random weight here* lbs. Or: I thought you looked prettier before. (Ouch. This one hurts.)

I could go on and on.  Most of the time, people really do mean well and they just think they are saying the right thing.  This does not make them a horrible person.  We just have to let these comments roll off our shoulders and move on.  Just Do You.  Who cares what they think.  They probably do not even know how unsupportive they are being but you have to look past that and just keep it moving.  Turn towards people who are going through a similar journey as you.  Stay positive.

Most of the time, these people who are questioning your fitness journey will be the same ones who will be absolutely shocked when you lose x amount of weight or finish your first half marathon or complete a Tough Mudder course.  They will ask you HOW you did it even though they have witnessed you going to the gym or choosing healthy foods day in and day out.  You just have to laugh at that question at that point.  :)

But the comment of 'I thought you looked prettier before' is one that really stabs you in the heart.  This is going too far and I want you mamas to realize that this is plain rude and uncalled for.  No one deserves to be talked to this way and if anyone says this to you, it may be time to re-evaluate relationships.  Don't let anyone hold you back or bring you down with comments like this.  You don't have time for negativity.  Let it go.   Just Do You.

#MotivationMonday

Get inspired.  Be inspired.  Inspire others.
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Fit Mama of the Week: Monique

Monique is a busy mom of THREE boys. She also works a full time job outside of the home. Yet, she managed to get healthy by eating right and exercising. If Monique can find a good balance with her busy schedule, there really isn't a good reason why anyone can't. This is why we chose Monique as our Fit Mom of the Week as we definitely feel she can be an inspiration to us all. She sets an example as she sets fitness goals (hiking half dome, completing obstacle runs, etc.) to stay fit. We've always encouraged you mamas to set definite goals you can grasp. Yes your overall goal can be to 'Get fit' or 'Get healthy' but how are you going to get there? Set smaller goals...sign up for a 5k...complete an 8 mile hike...etc. Because having that feeling of accomplishment is priceless! Seeing results can take a long while. You have to be patient. This is why we suggest setting small goals along the way to track progress! Monique is a great example of this.

Name and Age?
Monique and I'm 32 years old.

Do you have kids? How old are they?
I have 3 boys, ages 15, 8 and 6 yrs old.

Do you work outside of the home? If so, what do you do?
I'm a Medical Assistant. I work full time 8-5pm.
Have you always been into fitness? If not, why did you start? I haven't always been into fitness. After I delivered my second son and lost some of my baby weight, I slowly started thinking about fitness and nutrition. One day my husband told me he wanted to climb Half Dome in Yosemite. So I slowly started 2007 off at a small mom and pop gym doing just cardio (cardio was my best friend for a long time).  I trained with my husband for about eight weeks and I ended up hiking Half Dome that same year. I trained for this by using the stairmaster and elliptical 3-4 times a week.

I then joined an In Shape health club in 2008 and got a personal trainer. He helped expand my horizons with fitness. Of course it wasn't easy staying on my fitness journey. I would fall off and start up again. But in 2009 I started working out at lunch EVERYDAY. In 2011. I joined Core Performance which is an athletic training/boot camp style workout. This also helped me get over plateaus in my fitness journey.

I've since done a few runs (survivor mud run, neon night run & an obstacle course run (Recon Run) that I thought I would never accomplish but had always wanted to. When I started doing these runs, I started to really get more confident with my body/my inner self. It's funny how the small things help boost your confidence. More recently I've been focusing on building muscle definition and one day, I hope to compete in a women's body building completion. Lately, my favorite way to exercise is by lifting weights at the gym and completing whole body circuits.

How do you stay motivated ?
Staying motivated is still a struggle but because I enrolled into Core Performance 3 days a week I feel obligated to go to class which helps me stay motivated. I also joined a gym next door to my job to work out at lunch which makes it easy for me stay active and helps me stay away from eating out during the lunch hour all the time.
How do you balance work, family, and staying fit?
I usually work out in the mornings before work or during lunch. My family is very supportive so it makes it much easier to balance fitness and family. I have to say that I'm really blessed with the greatest support system from my husband/mother in law and my 3 handsome boys. My husband/mother in law take care of the boys/make dinner while I go work out. The boys help out by cleaning up their own messes, and doing any extra chores if needed. They are my fan base and cheer me on every step of the way.

Share what you would eat on a typical day. Breakfast: typically, a green smoothie with kale/spinach/protein powder/cucumber /celery /green apple. Lunch: Quinoa/grilled chicken breast with some veggies Dinner: Salmon/veggies 
What are some of your favorite healthy snacks for yourself and your kids? I have such a sweet tooth and so my favorite healthy snack is plain Greek yogurt/1 scoop of vanilla whey protein/chia seeds and blueberries/or banana oatmeal with dark chocolate chip cookies. My kids favorite snacks are oranges, watermelon & celery with peanut butter. 
What are your fitness goals for this year? To accomplish the Spartan Race, as well as to build more muscle. 

Who or what is your biggest inspiration? My family is my biggest inspiration because I want to be a good example for them. Reading food labels before choosing certain snacks/drinks is something I just started doing in recent years. The boys hate it when I do it but I catch my older one doing it now and I'm so proud. The little things are always the biggest things to be proud of.

My charge nurse is also one of my closest inspiration she's a full time nurse in her 40's teaches kickboxing/does ju-jitsu and is training to get her 2nd degree black belt and loves fitness as well. She inspires me because it shows that even in your 40's you could accomplish anything you set your mind to.

Congratulations Monique on all of your accomplishments. We are so proud to have you as our Fit Mama of the Week. One thing that stood out to us is how Monique's oldest son has started reading food labels! Kids really learn by example. I want to point this out because I truly believe that we need to teach our kids tools on how to be healthy and fit by example. We can't just tell them what to do. And we should try to do this while they are young so that they are better prepared when they have to make healthy decisions on their own as they get older. We can't be with our kids 24/7 or for forever and so just like every lesson in life, you want to at least try to prepare your child for what may come up. Fit Mamas=Fit Kids!

#GetitGirl Wednesday: Squats

Did you work out today?  What did you do for exercise?

If you haven't worked out yet there's still time!  Go out for a run right now before getting dinner ready.  Go out for a walk after dinner.  Do something to get that heart rate up!  Even if it's grabbing your kid's jump rope!

After you get your cardio in, do some squats.  Squats are a great way to get your core strong as you use a lot of different muscles in this one move: your abs, thighs/legs and best of all, that backside!  I found that working out your core really prepares you for making real life activities easier.  Do some squats and you'll find that going to pick up toys around the house or picking up the baby out of the crib gets easier!

How do you do a proper squat?  Form is very important as you do not want to injure yourself.  My team is getting ready to do some youtube videos so it'll be easier for me to show you how to do these but in the mean time here's a quick guide:

1. Warm up (Don't skip that walk I was talking about!)
2. Stand with your feet just over shoulder width apart
3. Keep your back in a neutral position, and keep your knees centered over your feet
4. Slowly bend your knees, hips and ankles, lowering until you reach a 90-degree angle
5. Return to starting position -- repeat.  The above workout can be modified based on your fitness level!  If you've never done squats before, don't attempt to do 50 today.  Use your judgement or you might be very sore tomorrow!  :)
6. Breathe in as you lower, breathe out as you return to starting position

Let me know how you guys did!  Are you guys interested in seeing Fitness Mama youtube videos?  What would you like to see on the videos?  

#MotivationMonday

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Fit Mama of the Week: Maria

This week our new Fit Mama of the Week is Maria!

I met Maria years ago when we were planning our weddings.  We had a lot of things in common, really hit it off and we've been friends since.  She's also an RN like me; having someone to vent about work to is priceless, she completely understands where I'm coming from.  

In the time I've known Maria, we've both moved a few times, had kids, changed jobs.  Life would get busy and we'd not see each other for months at a time.  But when we would reconnect again, it's like no time had passed.  She is such a warm, down to earth type of person that I always immediately feel at ease.  

Last year, Maria started getting into running about the same time I did and so we had yet another reason to reconnect to exchange notes about our running journey.  We wanted to share her story with you guys because I think we all are a work in progress; Maria's story exemplifies that we will all have ups and downs but then eventually we learn what works and what doesn't.  You just have to keep going!

Name and Age?

Maria and I'm 33 years old.

What's your ethnicity?

Filipino.

Do you have kids?  How old?

Maile Joy-4 years old; Noelani Kai-2 years old

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

I'm a Registered Nurse.  

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

I call my fitness journey a work in progress. My whole life I've been considered big. I look at how I ate when I was young and seconds and even thirds were encouraged.  Food was always plentiful around family gatherings. My family would always tell me I was fat or 'taba' in Tagalog but that never stopped them from handing food over to me.

In high school I started my diet journey.  Throughout my life, I tried everything to diet: starvation , Atkins. weight loss shakes, Special K diet and of course they never worked.

Sadly, I think I accepted that I was fat and that I would stay that way. Then during a family trip to San Diego I had enough and I went on Weight Watchers where I lost 65lbs.  It's amazing how Weight Watchers worked for losing the weight and it lasted for a long time but at the same time I didn't feel comfortable with how I was constantly thinking about how many points I was eating or what I could eat next.  I seriously let the diet rule my life. I loved that I lost the weight and I know WW works for a lot of people but for me, I felt I never really learned how to eat. I ate diet foods and exercised but I never learned how to eat real food in moderation. And so eventually I gained some of the weight back.  I also have since had two beautiful girls and it was just harder to keep the weight off or to get fit in the first few years after they were born since I was so busy.  

Maria was featured in Shape Magazine after her 65lb weight loss in the April 2005 issue.
Check out the article by clicking here.

Fast forward to when I started really looking at getting into fitness...last year in 2012 I made a commitment to myself that I would do the Nike Women's half marathon. The best way I could do this was by doing team in training. With the continuous workouts and running I never felt so good about myself. After the half marathon I decided I would continue with running and added gym work to it.

Nike Women's Half Marathon 2012

I currently go to a gym where I take classes such as body pump (weight class) boot camp bosu and kick boxing. I've also continued my running and started swimming. 

Along with the workouts, my eating habits have changed. I find myself reaching for better choices but have learned that occasionally, I can treat myself.

I truthfully haven't stepped on a scale and I don't know if I want to. I don't want to get fixated on a number but I know my workouts and clean eating have been working. I feel better and my clothes fit better. 

How do you stay motivated?

I have always been athletic. In elementary school I loved playing basketball and volley ball. I always hated running though and I think that's why I had such a big goal to finally run a half marathon. I think I've always loved to be active but I let life get in the way and made excuses of why I couldn't be active. In high school I wanted to be with my friends and boyfriend, in college it would be that I was busy juggling school, a job and life. 

I stay motivated now because I love how working out turns into a big social thing. I feel you connect with people so much when you work out with them. I find that especially in my boot camp classes it's fun to look at people around you that have the same look of  "OMG  pain pain pain!!" 

Getting fit and strong can also be fun when you're with girlfriends!
Team Get It Girl at the Dirty Girl Mud Run 2012: Maria, Grace, Christina, Christelyn

My family especially my girls motivate me I want them to have a mom who is active and strong; a mom who has a high self esteem so they can be that way themselves.

How do you balance work, family and staying fit?
Balancing everything can get challenging as I do work as a RN on the night shifts.  I found that making things EASY with baby sitting and not relying on others' schedules helps me balance everything. The gym that I currently go to has a great child watch system. My membership allows them to be there for 90 min and they love being there. I like knowing that I can go when I want, and not have to rely on my husband's or the grandparents' schedules.  I feel like it helps my workout when I don't have to worry about the kids, knowing that they are safe or when I don't have to pay $$$ for a babysitter just to workout.

Share what you would eat on a typical day or meal. What are some of your favorite healthy snacks for yourself and/or your kids?

In the morning I drink a smoothie. I put kale, spinach, frozen berries and mango , pineapple or peaches, chia seeds, flax seed, protein powder and coconut water. That fills me up until early lunchtime or so. The kids and my favorite snacks are a handful of almonds or string cheese. I feel that lunch is hard but we have been trying to make better choices by eating more sandwiches and salads vs drive thru places even though getting out of the car is a pain in the bottom with two little ones still in car seats!! For dinner, I meal plan so I know what we will be eating for 2 weeks at a time. I try to get lean choices and bake or grill the food. The kids love salmon and I always try to have a big serving of vegetables with our meals. Brussel sprouts and broccoli are our favorites.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is my family especially my children. My family is my best cheerleader. I want to keep

My fitness journey alive so my daughters have a strong role model. And so I can be around for a long time!!!

Maria/Team GIG getting fit and dirty.  :)