Fit mommy on the farm

It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Susan McCorkindale, author of Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl. She can also be found blogging at Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl and DC Metro Moms.

studio-int-11 Susan converted a corn crib on her farm into her personal gym where she sacrifices sleep for fitness by getting up for 4am workouts. She also loves Bon Jovi, which in my mind also makes her a cool mommy!

Please read on for more about Susan and how she manages to be “One Fit Mommy”!

Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
Hmmm… Yes, I’ve always been fit, but there was a while when I was very overweight and sick, so I was totally out of shape.

As a kid, I danced – ballet, tap, jazz, all that good stuff – and even in high school and college I took classes and kept in shape that way. Sometime after college I discovered Jazzercise and fell in love with it. I’ve done it on and off for years, even toyed with getting certified to teach. Sometime during my tenure at Family Circle magazine (2002-2004), I got really, really sick. It was a stomach thing and none of the doctors had a clue what was going on. All I knew was I was in pain, I felt like there was a rock in my abdomen, and when I did any kind of cardio “it” bounced up and down and hurt like hell. I was also always nauseus and convinced if I could just eat something, I’d feel better. So I ate. And I went from 117lbs to 145lbs. And I definitely did not feel better.

When we moved to VA four years ago, my sister in law took me to her dr who diagnosed IBS with a serious infection. He put me on meds and, as soon as I started to feel better, I started running around our farm (not a good call; cattle chase small blonde women. Who knew?). Then I joined Jazzercise, watched everything I ate and today weigh just about 112 and am in the best shape of my life. No kidding. I’ve had two c-sections and a splenectomy and I have a ab muscles you can see. I’m proof that it can be done! (i am so damn proud of those silly abs…:-) )

These days I work out every morning in a corn crib my husband converted into a work out “studio” for me. He’s so sweet. I never, ever want to be out of shape again. I felt awful. I had no energy. And I hated how I looked in clothes. Nothing fit and God forbid I had to go to a dressy function.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
Get up earlier than everyone else in your house and just do it. Force yourself. Lay your clothing, sneakers, and iPod out at night. Have your water bottle in the fridge. It makes it easier. I get up at 4am every day. And on those days I don’t want to do it, I promise myself that if I still feel lousy after just one song, I’ll stop. Usually after something like Bon Jovi’s Who Says You Can’t Go Home? I’m rocking and I’m so glad I got out of bed.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
Aerobics, Jazzercise. That kind of dance-y cardio.
Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
I do both every day. 40 mins of cardio, 20 mins with weights.

Q:Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
Oops. I think I answered that in question #2.

Q:What’s your favorite brand of workout clothing and why?
I’m into Nike sneakers now, and they’re great. I like Ryka also. As far as clothing goes, if I like it and it’s not super expensive, I buy it. Doesn’t matter if it’s from Target or Wal-Mart or Victoria’s Secret.