I’m gonna be honest in this post and some of you might not like it or you might like me a little less after reading what I have to say today. That’s okay. All I ask is that you hear me out…you certainly don’t have to agree with me! Hopefully I don’t come across as just another judgey mom.

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me they don’t have time to workout I’d have a lot of nickels. And sorry to say, but many of those nickels would be from other moms.

Hey, I get it. I’m a mom too and sometimes it’s really stinking hard to fit in workouts. Take, for example, this weekend. My husband worked most of the weekend and Connor has been getting up a bit earlier than he was before. Since I usually train in the morning this threw a bit of a wrench into my training schedule.

Saturday morning Connor was up and ready to start his day and Mike was out the door bright and early heading to work. Since I had Connor, I decided I would do something I never do and run with the stroller – I ran for 30 minutes straight! That was longer than I’ve ever done pushing that stroller and I was glad I still got a sweat in. Sunday, I usually take a rest day, but wanted to get in a bit of strength training. I did most of my workout before Mike left for work, but Connor came downstairs with me for the last 15-20 minutes. Is training with a toddler running around the most efficient way to get a session in? Nope. But…it works.

I posted about working out with a newborn (almost 2 years ago). That’s when I thought it was a little tough to fit in all my training sessions while I had newborn to take care of. Little did I know, it gets a lot harder when you have a toddler running around instead of a sleepy baby who will nap or play while you swing some kettlebells or do some squats.

Believe me, I’ve used the “I don’t have time” excuse for other things. You know, like mopping the floor. However, I really do believe that if you want to do something badly enough, you have time. If you don’t want to do something or don’t value it enough, then you’re right, you probably don’t have time.

Even if you don’t enjoy exercise, I bet (and hope) you value your life and your health. Ask yourself if you are making excuses so you don’t have to workout or if you really don’t have time. If don’t have time, it might be time to re-evaluate some other areas of your life to make time. I know firsthand how challenging it can be finding time to exercise when you have kids (or kid in my case) so sometimes you have to get a bit creative.

This week’s challenge for the Sistas of Strength Team (have you joined yet…would love to have you!) for the Under Armour What’s Beautiful Campaign that I’m doing as part of my involvement with Fitfluential is to find time to workout at a time when you’d usually make an excuse not to get it done.

What time can you use to fit in a workout where you don’t usually make time?

The post You Need to Make Time appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

It’s truly been a crazy five year journey that Mike and I have been on. I posted about all of our previous anniversaries last year in my four year anniversary post, but this past year alone has been pretty amazing.

I am thankful beyond words that I get to do what I love every single day, right beside the man I love. We are raising a wonderful little boy who continually blows my mind with his sweet comments and actions. We get to help people improve their health and fitness for a living. Seriously…I am living a blessed life. 

Five Things About Marriage

1. Having a baby changes your marriage. Whether you want it to or not, it does. Some things get easier and some things get more challenging. I will say, though, that there isn’t anyone I would rather be with as we raise our son and any other potential children. We are slowly learning that it’s really important to still make time for us as a couple!

2. Along the same lines, working together changes your marriage. It’s amazing working beside my best friend and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it can be challenging at times too. Talking about clients or budgets as we’re going to bed is pretty romantic, right?

3. I am spoiled. Like, seriously spoiled. My husband got me a ridiculous amount of gifts this past week for Mother’s Day and our anniversary. You know he knows me well when he can pick out white designer jeans and several Under Armour outfits that I love and that all fit. (Speaking of Under Armour…have you joined Sistas of Strength team for the #whatsbeautiful campaign that I’m doing through my involvement in FitFluential yet?) We also have some nice champagne and chocolate, just like we had on our honeymoon, for this weekend. Do we look like babies here or what?

4. Having supportive friends helps your marriage stay healthy. I am absolutely blown away by the messages, calls, texts and Facebook posts we got yesterday. Between our family, our friends (old and new) and our awesome clients we are blessed beyond imagination. I’m so thankful for everyone in our lives and I’m well aware we couldn’t be where we are today without the support of all of you around us. Thank you!

5. I’m feeling cheesy and thankful this week. Thank you, Mike, for joining me on this incredible journey as husband and wife, best friends, parents and now business owners. I love you and without you I wouldn’t be the person I am today. (Plus I’d still probably be sitting in a cube wishing I worked at a gym, but too afraid to take the leap!)

What was wonderful about your week this week?

The post The Friday Five: Anniversary Edition appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

My Mother’s Day was absolutely perfect beyond expectation. My husband spoiled me with gifts in the morning. We went to breakfast and dinner with my parents. In between, my husband and dad worked on a backsplash in our kitchen while my mom and I got manicures/pedicures and then did some damage at the outlets. It was truly a perfect day and just another reminder of how lucky I am to have such an amazing family.

I woke up today feeling completely refreshed and ready for an awesome week. I am finally a true believer in re-charge days – an idea I used to totally dismiss. I always thought if I pushed my body more and more, I’d get even better results. I ‘worked out’ seven days a week and forced myself out the door for a run…rain, shine, hangover, sickness, etc.

There’s something {okay, a lot} to be said about being consistent and getting your workouts in, but your body and mind also need some time to re-charge. Chances are you’re balancing a lot in your life between family, work, training and hobbies.

It can be really tricky to figure out how to balance exercise and life. How do you find that sweet spot where you’re motivated enough to ‘do it anyway’ (even if you’re tired, stressed, don’t feel like it…) most of the time and knowing when it’s time to let your body and mind rest.

If you read my last post, you know I’m participating in Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful campaign (and having so much fun with it already). If you haven’t signed up, I’d highly encourage you to sign up here and join the Sistas of Strength team to meet other strong ladies who are focused on setting strength goals and speaking positively about our bodies.

One of the challenges that stuck out to me is called: BALANCE IT ALL.

Life is a tricky balance. Show us the pose, move, exercise that strengthens your core and keeps you level when things get challenging.

When I am stressed out or super busy, I need a well-thought-out training plan more than ever. Sticking to the plan {with built in rest days} helps me figure out when I should ‘do-it-anyway’ and when it’s time for a day off.

When I was training to recertify for StrongFirst last month I actually did the Fighter Pull-up program for the second time around. Although I didn’t need to do any pull-ups for the recertification, I knew that putting pull-ups in as part of my program would keep me focused on the goal and strengthen my core, literally and figuratively, while I moved forward.

These were an easy addition for me because I can always squeeze in a quick set of pull-ups here and there throughout the day without stressing or over-doing it.

What exercise helps you to stay focused without throwing off your balance in life? Running? Pull-ups?

The post Balancing It All appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

Oh ladies…do I have something cool to share with you all today!

If you follow me on Instagram you already know I am a huge fan of Under Armour’s training gear and the company as a whole. Well now, through my involvement in FitFluential, I am participating in Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful Campaign with and I want you to join me!

So what is What’s Beautiful and how does it work?

{From the website}

What’s Beautiful is a community and a competition to redefine the female athlete by setting epic goals and pushing past where we’ve ever been and where we thought we could go. Join us. Set your own personal goal. Then document your journey by posting videos and photos that tell your story from start to victory.

We’ll continuously post challenges for you. But that’s just the beginning. Show us your journey. Show us what makes your story the one that stands out from the rest. If you meet your goal, set a new one. Make it even bigger. Prove to everyone, and yourself, that you have more than what it takes.

Complete challenges and share your journey; join teams for additional challenges, support and motivation. 

The Competition (and prizes!)

Every week Under Armour will give away swag bags full of gear to women who are seriously getting it. They’ll also feature profiles on their home page and in the “Top Performers” section of women who are really setting an example for all of us.

The three women with the most epic personal journeys will win a trip to the Armour Retreat in Costa Rica for four days of yoga and surf lessons, with spa treatments, massages and meals prepared by a personal chef! Awesome, huh?

Note: You do not have to be a blogger to enter. All women are welcome!

I’m really excited about this and about some of the goals I set, both for myself and for the Sistas of Strength team.

My personal goals:

I WILL.

Sistas of Strength Team Goals

My goal for us as a team is to train for strength instead of for a number on the scale. And most importantly, to speak positively about our bodies. No more fat talk!

This is an 8-week long campaign (your goals do not have to achievable in this 8 week timeframe). During this time you’ll have so many opportunities to encourage and inspire other women and receive some incredible inspiration yourself. Let’s join together to achieve our goals and win some sweet prizes!

How to Join

Sign up as an individual first. Make sure to follow me so I know you’re on board and join my team – Sistas of Strength!

Who’s in? What are your goals?

The post What’s Beautiful? appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

Between everything that happened with the tragedy at the Boston Marathon and then jumping right into assisting at the StrongFirst Level 1 Certification last weekend, my emotions have been on a serious roller coaster ride.

Obviously, my thoughts and prayers have been with the families who have been affected by the events in Boston. I have mentioned my mindset about fitness before, but it has never been more clear to me that having the ability to move your body and get stronger is a privilege. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will never be able to train, or even walk, the way they used to before because of the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Remember this when you feel like you have to workout. You don’t have to workout – you get to workout.

On a much lighter note, after a crazy weekend of late (for me) nights, early mornings and long (amazing, but still long) days on my feet I was running on fumes for the majority of last week. (Side Note: You can pop over to facebook if you want to check out some pics from the StrongFirst Level 1 Certification in Boston.) Anyway, I certainly didn’t jump out of bed ready to train last Monday or Tuesday mornings, but I did it anyway. Why? Simple – because I can. And because being strong and healthy is that important to me. In fact, I would even say that being strong is who I am.

My strength led me to leave my unsatisfying job in corporate America. My strength led me to take the leap into motherhood. My strength continually helps me to influence others to be healthier, happier and, yes, stronger too. Look at this super awesome team we had – go team Heinz!

In this great post by Nikki Shlosser, SFG II, she talks about how she believes getting stronger means that you are also less likely to become a victim, and less likely to be defeated – whatever the challenge. I couldn’t agree with her more. When I used to workout because I wanted to be thin, I was not only significantly heavier (yes, really), but I was also was not nearly as strong mentally and my self-confidence levels were crap.

Towards the end of the certification, we were also reminded by StrongFirst CEO, Mark Toomey, that we are not our resumes; our lives’ purpose is not found in the having, but in the doing. Having the strength to do what others won’t even attempt is one of strength’s greater purposes.

I know most of you reading this post are already strong and hopefully getting stronger. How are you going to use your strength for a greater purpose?

The post StrongFirst: Strength Has a Greater Purpose appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

When I last wrote, I metioned my jaunt back to corporate America and some house projects we have going on. After that, Mike was away all last weekend so Connor and I had some bonding time, play dates and down time at home. It was a nice low-key weekend and Connor was really well-behaved.

Can you just check out these two? They love each other.

Unfortunately, a few days later my poor little man got really sick so we spent lots of time snuggling on the couch last week. I hated seeing him so sick, but I have to admit the snuggle time was wonderful.

So yes, I put some of my work (and all of my blogging) on hold last week in order to take care of my child and make sure that he got better. I’m going to be honest here and admit that one of the hardest things about being a mom can be having to suddenly put your life on hold and change your plans when you have a sick kid or can’t find childcare.

Last week I realized that I’m finally (almost 2 years later!) getting used to this aspect of motherhood and I actually appreciate the way that being a first-time mom has made me slightly less up-tight. A dirty house, missed gym time, or an unexpected change of plans used to turn my world upside down and now I am learning to go-with-the-flow a little bit more.

I’m thankful that motherhood is teaching me about what’s important in life and what’s not worth stressing about. I’m a work in progress and I certainly still stress out when things don’t go as planned, but I’m getting there. Slowly, but surely. One day at a time.

Moms, in what ways has having a child changed you for better or worse?

The post Being a Mom First appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

We are doing some house updates and changes (hence the snuggling on the floor the other night).

Connor had a pretty bad cough earlier in the week.

I went back to the corporate world for a few hours on two days this week.

That said, I’m gonna keep it light today and tell you about my little adventure to Trader Joe’s with Connor last night. We go to Trader Joe’s all the time, but last night’s quick little trip made me laugh several times.

Five Things That May Happen When You  Go Grocery Shopping with a Toddler

1. He kept grabbing my hand and kissing it. Sweetest thing ever.

2. He started screaming DIARRHEA for no particular reason. Not that sweet.

3. He said loudly that he wanted beer when we were walking past the beer. I promise I don’t give my kid beer.

4. He pointed out every single fruit and vegetable and said he wanted it. I want avocados. I want to strawberries. I want blueberries. I want bananas. On and on the entire time we were in the produce section. He usually says it about a few items, but this time it was literally every single thing he saw.

5. Lastly, and completely unrelated to the toddler in tow, but I did not buy rolled oats or almond butter (teh two reasons I went in the first place) because Trader Joe’s was out of both items. They haven’t had my beloved almond butter the last few weeks and it’s killing me. I need it back in my life!

Do you go grocery shopping with your toddler? Do you like it? 

The post Bringing a Toddler to Trader Joe’s appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

I absolutely love it when other {awesome} people write posts that answer some of the most common questions my fat-loss clients ask me. The posts I linked to below are well-worth the read if you’re feeling frustrated with your weight loss.

Are you hanging on to the all-or-nothing mentality and beating yourself up if you’re not perfect all the time? Are you too focused on a deadline and finding short-term, quick-fix solutions instead of finding sustainable habits that will stick with you for life? Check out this article by Jill on troubleshooting fat loss (four reasons why you haven’t reached your goal yet) and ask yourself if you truly believe you can do it or if you’re letting your desire for instant gratification lead you astray.

Along the same lines, do you ever feel like you are constantly bargaining with yourself? Well, if I am really good and stay away from junk food for two days, I completely deserve to have a hot fudge sundae? If I work out this morning I can totally have a whole bottle of wine with dinner and it won’t hurt my progress, right?

Find out why this type of thinking might be sabotaging your weight loss efforts without you even realizing it. I love how Jen points out that the maintenance stage isn’t really smooth sailing until you’ve been there for awhile. It took me a long time (and many years of 10lb-15lb weight fluctuations) to learn how to balance out my nutrition and maintain a healthy weight long-term. Do I still fluctuate and veer off course at times? Yes! But I’ve slowly learned how to get back on track before I find myself 15 pounds heavier and needing to lose some serious weight and extra body fat.

Check out the posts I linked to above and keep in mind that your fat loss may be hindered by your  (yah, I know that sounds dramatic) before you even take into consideration what’s on your plate.

Side Note: My next 12 week online nutrition program starts on Monday! There are still 3 spots available so if you want in…learn more about the online nutrition group and click the link at the bottom of the page to register! In the group I teach sustainable habits for fat loss and maintaining your weight and health long-term.

Do you find that you get easily frustrated with your lack of fat loss when you’re trying to lose weight?

The post Feeling Frustrated with Fat Loss? appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

I also spent a bunch of time last week poking around on the Precision Nutrition forum and found a few things that really struck a chord with me. I’m preparing for the next online nutrition group at Skill of Strength and I’m really excited to see more clients get awesome results!

Ryan Andrews pointed out that although you might not feel motivated all the time that doesn’t mean something is wrong. In fact, no one feels motivated all the time! Remember that icky week I had a few weeks ago? You think I was feeling motivated and ready to rock and roll with my workouts and healthy food choices? Heck no. But I still did it {for the most part} until I was back on track. Sometimes I need to use things like my awesome Under Armour capris to motivate me, but whatever works, right?

Think about it like this…

We all have to do things like pay bills, run errands and get to work on time, right? I can pretty much guarantee you don’t always feel like doing these things, especially paying bills…eww!. But…you do them anyway.

One of the major differences between people who are healthy and fit and those who are not, is that healthy people don’t always feel motivated either, but they do it {train, eat well, sleep enough} anyway.

If you think I felt like practicing my snatch test this past Friday (100 kettlebell snatches with a 16K kettlebell in less than 5 minutes) you are wrong wrong wrong! I did not want to do it and I am guessing no one else in this picture wanted to do it either, but we did it anyway!

What are you going to do today because it’s right, whether you feel like it or not?

The post Fit People Aren’t Always Motivated Either appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.

Anyway, I just want to pick up where I left off a week and a half ago. I mentioned how ironic it was that after posting about being nice to yourself and just saying no to fat talk, I starting feeling pretty down on myself. Unfortunately, even after I admitted that I needed an attitude adjustment and quite frankly, a kick in the booty, I let myself spend a few additional days with the blahs. I didn’t like my haircut, I was breaking out like a teenager (and still am…what the heck?) and I was feeling really bloated. I honestly usually feel pretty self-confident and find it pretty easy to ditch the fat talk, but last week I struggled with this. I just didn’t feel like myself.

Although I try to keep it light and positive on the blog, I always try to be honest and I think it’s important to note that even when you eat healthy and train consistently, there will be times when you might not feel great about yourself. This time around I could blame it on winter lasting a little too long or “adolescent” problems creeping in at 32 years old, but whatever the reason, these funks happen to all of us sometimes.

Here’s some tips on how I get out of a funk, stop the fat talk and start feeling better and happier within a few short days!

1. Make a commitment and set a goal. Sometimes the hardest part in making a change to your health or happiness is literally just making the commitment. I’m taking my training up a notch and tightening things up a little with my nutrition, especially for the next month. I have just under one month until I have to recertify to be a StrongFirst Instructor. Remember when I got my RKC last year? Long story short, I am recertifying this year (similar requirements and I am allowed to use a much lighter kettlebell for testing if my weight is under 123.5 pounds). I’m so excited because I’ll be assisting at the second ever SFG Level 1 Certification in April!

2. Change your scenery. We went away this past weekend with my parents and the change of scenergy helped in just getting my head right. I came back ready for a great week this week.

3. Get outside. This one is a little tough for me right now with the snow and chilly temps here in MA. However, for the last few weeks I have been walking with CJ any day that we are home and it’s over 40 degrees. It’s amazing how refreshing a walk {especially in the sunshine} can be. Music or online sermons optional.

What do you do to get back on track when you’re just feeling icky? How do you give yourself a confidence-boost when you start feeling a little down?

The post Three Things Thursday: Back on Track appeared first on Sistas of Strength Fitness and Nutrition Blog.