Fit Mommy Friday

It is time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”! Each week I scour the blogosphere to find  fit moms who inspire me to fitness.

Our Fit Mommy this week is Katie who blogs over at Mighty Munchkin Maintenance.  She is a busy mom who found the time to train for and run a marathon just eight months after the birth of her adorable little girl!

She is committed to a life of fitness and is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!
Please read on for more about Katie:

Q: Have you always been fit?  What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?

I’ve always been fit. I ran cross-country and track in both high school and college. After eight years of competitive running, I just don’t feel right without consistent exercise in my life. I’m not sure that I was inspired to join the cross-country team that first year in high school, but I did have some gentle prodding from my mother. At the time, basketball was my sport and I had no intention of running. My mother had a feeling that I’d be a good runner, and she knew it was a great way to make friends in a new school. She was right. I only played basketball for two years in high school, but I’ve been running ever since.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?

Finding time to exercise is difficult. The way I see it, there are some things that we make time for, and exercise needs to fall into that category. Once you’re truly committed, then you might have to be a little creative. When Kaylee was first born I went for long walks with her in a carrier. Sometimes my husband would watch her after work so I could do the stationary bike. When she started sleeping through the night, then I began exercising after she went to bed. Finally, when she was eight months we bought a running stroller and I started running with her. I guess what I’m trying to say is finding time to exercise with children is definitely difficult, and children change so often that it can even be difficult to find a permanent routine. But if you’re creative, you’ll be able to figure out something that works for you.

Q: How have your workouts changed since having a child?

Before Kaylee, I was working full-time, and my place of work has a gym. So I was spoiled. I got to workout during lunch time! Seriously, it doesn’t get much more convenient than that. Now I work part-time. The two days of the week that I’m in the office I workout at lunch time. The rest of the week I have to be creative. Sometimes I run with her in the stroller. Other days I do the row machine or stationary bike after she goes to bed. The biggest change to my workouts since having a child has been to be disciplined in finding time to exercise. The intensity of my exercise has stayed about the same, but finding time can be tough.

Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?

I am a cardio mommy all the way, no contest! I consistently do pushups and crunches to keep my core strong, but I’m not fond of weight lifting. I think I might be addicted to the cardio endorphin high!

Q: What is your least favorite exercise?

Hmmm, that’s a tough question. Running is my favorite exercise. And I like to change things up. I might do the row machine one day; the elliptical machine another, run a couple days, and do the stationary bike a couple days. Running is probably the only exercise that I wouldn’t mind doing every day, but I’m prone to injury so it’s not realistic for me. Funny enough though, I hate the treadmill, I just want to be outside if I can. But I’m not really answering the question…If I were forced to choose a least favorite exercise, it would be weight lifting. With the time I’ve carved out for exercise, I want to be breathing heavy and sweating the whole time!

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?

On those days when I just don’t want to exercise, I’ll tell myself how good I feel both physically and mentally after a good workout. Then I just force myself to start and once I get started usually I get into a groove. There are some days that I start and I continue to feel exhausted. On those days, I cut the workout short. It doesn’t happen very often, but I try to be smart when I’m legitimately tired.

Q: Random question:  favorite brand of running shoes?

About five years ago, I began to run in Mizuno shoes. Now I can’t imagine running in anything else. Prior to that, I often ran in Nike, but became frustrated with how much and how often the shoes changed. I’ve tried other shoes as well, but Mizuno seems to work the best for me.

Thank you Katie for inspiring us to be active!
So gang, what have YOU done today?
No excuses?

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