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 Bee Fit. She is a very busy mama who juggles a full time outside of the home job along with college classes. She has an amazing story in that she has lost over 120 pounds!
I met Colleen in person at Fitbloggin and let me just tell you that she has some serious quad MUSCLES! She looks fantastic and is definitely “one fit mommy”!
Please read on for more about Colleen:
Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
Nope I was not fit growing up. I did color guard in high school but hated running in gym class and avoided it at all costs. After I had my daughter I decided that it was time to start changing my life because I wanted to set a better example for her.
Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
You have to make time period. I know it is not easy but once you start realizing that exercise is important for your mental as well as physical health it will get easier. Also every mom works so hard it is important to give yourself a break sometimes too and exercise is a great way to treat yourself to some much deserved me time. There are so many options and creative ways to get some exercise in so there really is no room for excuses 😉 I will run up and down my stairs, shadow box, and do burpees and pushups in my living room if I have my daughter and the weather does not allow us to get out. Also exercise TV has some great videos as well. That is how I began my journey with a new born and working full time as a store manager while going to school part time, exercise TV during her naps!
Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
Running, I believe in my heart I was born to run 🙂
Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
Both really, from day 1 I started doing cardio and strength intervals and still I do cardio and weight training each and every week. I owe my body to weights I know this and make no secret of it. Cardio is helpful for weight loss and weights are helpful for shaping. I love both!
Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
Oh yes. I yell at myself in my head a lot. If I am really feeling rutty I will go pull out the size 18 pants and 2xl shirt I wore to my first weight watchers meeting and just remind myself why I need to keep going forward and stay away from moving backward. And there is a family picture we took our first Christmas as a family and I was 265 pounds in it. Looking at that helps keep me going too.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? and would you bring your daughter?
I would go to Italy and see the distant relatives we have there and then I would bring my daughter to Nigeria to meet the other half of her family. It would be a country hopping experience but I would love that and love bringing her! She is my little side kick 🙂
Thank you Colleen for being an inspiration to us all!
Now gang, get up and get moving! No excuses!
I LOVE Colleen – not only is a she a fit inspirational mommy, but she’s also very supportive and kind. She’s always there to motivate me on twitter.
I love Colleen! She inspires me to be fit for me and for my future kids. She has an amazing story and an amazing support system.
I met Colleen thru Twitter, and although we live close geographically, we’ve beverages met IRL. Someday we will. she’s the real deal, ya’ll. two very enthusiastic thumbs up. waaaay up! thank you for sharing this interview!
Thank you Lisa for giving me the opportunity to appear on your inspiring blog! I loved meeting you in person and learning how to properly swing my kettle bell 😉 I cannot wait till we meet again and I can learn more!
Thank you Janice and Cynthia for your kind words! I had so much fun meeting you Cynthia and cannot wait till we meet for lunch again!
Gene you are next on my list of cool people I need to meet!
Way to go Colleen
I follow her on twitter and what an inspiration! 🙂
Coleen is so awesome and inspiring with a beaming smile! I enjoyed meeting her at Fitlbloggin’. She is totally on my list of Girl Heroes!
Great interview Lisa!
OM goodness!!! Great job Colleen, I weight train 2x a week and you just inspired me to pick up some sort of weight every day. THANK YOU!!!!
As I was reading Colleen’s story and also, trying to find any similarities in the above pictures to convince me that Colleen is in BOTH pictures, I was already getting my excuses ready for why I don’t exercise. Just curious…Colleen, did your journey begin with Weight Watchers?
Sincerely,
One Fat Mommy
Yes Tara I love tweeting with you! Twitter is a great forum for me to get inspiration from everyone and the support is amazing!
Aww thanks Jenn I had a blast watching you teach me proper form with kettle bells and I am glad to report I am doing much better than the form I learned on a certain video haha 😉 thanks to you gals
Thank you Deanna! I tell everyone it is just that simple 😉 I wish you luck and if you need help let us know!
Dc yes my journey began 16 months ago with weight watchers and working out. I started both at the same time. I would love to connect with you and help you get going. For me the hardest part was taking those first steps into the gym and weight watchers, once I got into a rhythm it was ok, but it took awhile. Working out at 272 pounds was probably one of the hardest parts of my journey but im grateful for it all now looking back.
Hello!
She did a great job!!
I really like her mindset about health and fitness,and yes you can ABSOLUTELY look fit and sexy after your pregnancy with hard work:-)
everything is possible!
I am pregnant in week 12 now with my second child and I still train,but with lighter weights,and my goal is to look my best ever, after this child.
best regards
Louise