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.
Today’s fit mommy is Luann, who blogs over at Training for Fun. In addition to being a busy mom, Luann is also a certified personal trainer. (and before launching her fitness career, she was literally a rocket scientist!)
Please read on for more about how Luann is “One Fit Mommy” and how she is going to circus school!
Q: What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
A: I have always been active, although not necessarily for the right reasons. When I was a teenager I was active so I could look cute. When I hit college, the cute thing was still applicable, but being active became more of a way to clear my head from my rigorous studies as an engineer. I had always been very competitive academically, so going for a long run or working out at the gym was a time when I could free myself from all of that. From there, being fit became much more about being able to enjoy life. I moved to a very beautiful and active community, and I simply knew I was going to have a lot more fun biking, skiing, hiking, swimming, if I was in good shape. Now that I have a son, fitness is a way for us to stay connected as a family by going on different adventures and a way to teach my son how to have a healthy life.
Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
A: We all are able to make time for things we consider a priority. We get to work on time, get our kids to school, have dinner for the family, all because that is a priority. If we make fitness an equal priority, then we will find a way to do it. But when finding time is a challenge, I teach my clients to exercise with their kids. I will often tell a client who I am training to bring his or her kids to a session and they all work out together. The parents are usually amazed at what their kids can do, the kids love playing with their parents, and everybody gets a good workout.
Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
A: Both are so important and I make sure I do strength training 3 times a week with cardio on the other days. I never gave strength training much thought until I decided to get my personal training certification. I had always done the standard push-ups, sit-ups, bicep curls, but once I was able to develop well-rounded strength routines, my body significantly changed. My mind also changed because I really felt strong.
Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
A: I love to ride my bike. There are days I feel like I could ride forever. Before my son, West, was born, I would regularly ride centuries (100 miles), and I could not have been happier. My days of all-day bike rides are temporarily on hold until West gets older, but I am still able to get out for a couple hours at a time on the weekends. I am the one riding uphill with the giant smile on her face.
Q:Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
A: I am a big believer in listening to your body, so if my body is saying, “don’t work out today,” I listen to it. That is easier for me though because I really enjoy working out, so I trust myself knowing that I won’t get out of the habit of working out regularly if I skip a few days. On the days when I may not feel in tune with myself and there is no good reason for not working out, I do the 10 minute trick. I promise myself that if after exercising for 10 minutes if I want to stop, I can. Most of the time I will keep going, but I never feel guilty when I don’t.
Q: Tell me more about circus school!
A: Now you’re talking! I am really just spending a day on the trapeze at a gym up in Seattle with a friend of mine. She has been working out there for years, and I have always been extremely jealous. I finally decided I needed to just get up there and try it. I am soooo excited and equally as nervous. Here is the link to the blog I wrote about it. http://www.trainingforfun.com/i-am-going-to-circus-school/ I’ll definitely write again and let everyone know how it went.

Wow! What an interesting woman! I wish she would have explained a tad more about the trapeze, but I know she wants us to visit her blog 🙂
I think she hit the nail on the head re time – you make time for what’s a priority in your life. I just restarted my workouts, as you know, because I decided it was time to make it a priority. 3 weeks in and I’m feelin great 🙂
Keep up your great work!
Matt
.-= Matthew mmWine Horbund´s last blog ..Grilled Buffalo Burgers and Shiraz Food and Wine Pairing =-.
Thank you, Lisa, for featuring me! It is an honor!
Matthew, I wasn’t trying to be coy about circus school–I just hadn’t been there yet when I wrote to Lisa, so I didn’t know much about it. I was able to fly the trapeze this weekend, and it was just as awesome as it sounds! You can check out the circus school at http://sancaseattle.org/. It’s a very cool place and if you are near Seattle, you should definitely check it out.
.-= Luann Abrams´s last blog ..Run A Mile Day =-.
Yikes the trapeze! Much too scary for me. I’m just going to stick with my boring old running…
.-= Katie´s last blog ..20 weeks 3 days pregnant =-.
I love my bike! And I do feel like I could go forever. Problem is- I live in the city and people the bejesus out of me. Thanks Luann for inspiring me to get on my bike more. 😉
.-= Jen Gordon´s last blog ..Pain, Epiphanies and Food =-.
What a great way to exercise…. from a trapeze???? Who would have “thunk it”???
Hey, I ran and finished my 1/2 marathon this week. I posted today about it if you want to read it!!!!!!!
.-= Jennifer Allwood´s last blog ..13.1 reasons why I ran a half marthon last weekend =-.