Trainer Momma is definitely “One Fit 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 Mandi, who blogs over at Trainer Momma.  She is a full time mommy of three who works part time as a personal trainer.  Prior to becoming a trainer though, she struggled with her weight.   A quote on her blog really stood out for me–she says:   “I just wanted to sit and eat. I was miserable, often sick, and unable to sleep well.”

So what changed for Mandi? Please read on for the details and how she is definitely now “One Fit Mommy”!

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

No way!
After I got married, I started to teach kindergarten and quickly my overwhelming job consumed my days. I had no balance in my life, never exercised and tried to give myself the energy my job demanded by filling my body with sugar. I was well over 180 pounds, hated my job and hated myself.

My inspiration for a fit lifestyle was my mother’s weight loss. She had hired a trainer and lost 40 pounds, and I started wearing her hand-me-down “fat clothes”. That was just not right. I had to do something.

I hired a trainer and he turned my life around. That was over 11 years ago and I haven’t looked back (and I’ve burned my mom’s fat clothes).

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

I tell mothers I work with to substitute the phrase “I don’t have time…” to “It’s not important to me…” When you interchange those phrases, it puts a whole new twist on exercise. When we don’t MAKE the time, essentially we are saying that we are not important enough to make the time. When it is phrased that way, most of us will turn off the phone, leave the dishes in the sink, walk away from piles of laundry and get exercising.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?

Oooo. Hard one. My favorite exercise is change. I definitely cannot do one form of exercise day after day or even week after week. Some of my favs are: weight lifting, jumping rope, running stairs, swimming, cycling, running, treadmill, spin class, basketball, stair master, elliptical trainer, plyometrics, track work… See? I knew I couldn’t answer this question.

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

Even stevens. I am absolutely both. I firmly believe that women need to be sweating their brains out doing cardio, but also building lean muscle by strength training. I am a certified personal trainer and encourage women every day to challenge their muscles with new and different ways to lift weights. Then, I shoo them off to spend at least 30 minutes on the cardio equipment for the ole’ ticker. We’ve got to do both, ladies. There’s no way around it.

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

When the alarm rudely blares at me at 5:30 A.M., I am not hopping out of bed thrilled to work out. I think of how nice it would be to get some more shut eye to face the demands of yet another day. But then I think of THE FEELING. Hhhmm. How do I describe this FEELING? Not in one word, but pieces of many:

Exhilarating. Validating. Peaceful. Hopeful. Cheerful. Strong. Whole. Joyful. Happy. Power. Control. Patient. Alive. Energy. Full. Complete.
I’m sure it’s the endorphins flooding my body and brain. Whatever chemical or hormone it is, I’ll take it. And often. When, I start a workout I’m tired, stressed and wonder if maybe I should pass for the day. This thought crosses my mind nearly with every workout. You’d think I’d be over that by now. Nope.

But then I realize the only other option is to NOT feel the FEELING, and quite simply: that is not acceptable to me.

Q: Random question: What is your favorite breakfast food?

I definitely go through phases. Right now I’m in a Power Oatmeal kind of mood:

1/2 cup rolled oats,
dash of cinnamon
dash of vanilla
1 scoop protein powder
water — enough to barely cover the oats

Zap that in the microwave for 3 minutes. Top with 1/4 cup of skim milk and sweeten with fresh berries. Y.U.M.

Thank you Mandi for sharing your secrets and being a fit mommy inspiration!

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!

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