Colleen is a fit and active mommy!

It is time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness.  From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you!

Today’s fit mommy is Colleen, who blogs over at The Active Mommy.  She is a busy mother of a 2.5 year old boy who is also a college counselor, swimming coach, and pilates instructor.  Despite having a very full plate, she still makes fitness a priority.

Please read on for more about Colleen and why she is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!

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

I was always pretty fit. I was a competitive swimmer growing up, I was always in the pool and working out. I swam in college too, but after my swimming career ended with college I became pretty lazy. I was still eating like a swimmer, but not exercising at all. I was tired all the time and my clothes stopped fitting, I simply thought I was going to be fat the rest of my life. One day in grad school I had to go to the doctor because I was sick, that was the first time I saw how heavy I had gotten. I had gained 25 lbs in a year, that was when I recommitted myself to fitness and it has been an important part of my life ever since. While pregnant with my first child I ran for the first 5 months and then I swam daily. The exercise made a huge difference in how I was feeling. After my son’s birth, I committed to running my first marathon and got back into shape quickly.

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

I always say: exercise with your child. I take my son on runs in the running stroller all the time, we also walk with our neighbors and/or my husband. My son loves to be outside and chasing him around the yard is a workout in itself. When I take him to the park I exercise on the monkey bars, do dips and step-ups on the benches, push-ups, and even sprints. If you get moving with your child exercise becomes easier. Another secret for me is to schedule exercise into my day. I take a pilates class twice a week, my husband is home and knows that I have a commitment two days a week. It makes me schedule in my workout and gets me out the door to the gym. I know it is hard, but getting up early to exercise is probably the easiest way to make sure you schedule it into your day.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?

I love pilates. I really enjoy the core strength I gain from pilates and the focus on perfect posture. I love the feeling of leaving class with a tight core and even feeling taller. My favorite exercise is actually the teaser, you can totally feel the burn after that one!

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

I definitely like cardio the best. A nice 30 minute run to clear the brain is always refreshing. I know that I need to do more strength training, but it takes a lot more time and I like the way cardio makes me feel. I usually workout in the AM, so lifiting weights is a struggle that early in the morning.

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

Ah, the mental tricks. Well getting out of bed when it is still dark and cold outside is always a struggle. Honestly, knowing that I can get my workout done and over with is my incentive, I hate working all day and coming home knowing I need to workout. Plus, I would much rather hang out with my son when I get home from work. So in the AM when he is still asleep I know I am not missing out on anything, it gets me out of bed and moving. When I am at the park with my son I play games with him; who can sprint to the swings, who can do the monkey bars, how many jumps can we do in a row, etc. It is fun things with your child, but you get a workout from them.

Q: Random question: favorite brand of running shoes?

I swear by Asics! I have worn Gel Kayano for years, I just walk into the running store with my old shoes and tell them “I want these!” They work great and I have no hip problems when I wear them.

Thank you Colleen for inspiring us to fitness!
Your turn gang–are you making fitness a priority today?  Get up and get moving!

Tagged as: fitness, Health, Physical exercise, Swimming, Weight training