Tips On How I Stay Fit As a SAHM. {Exercise Week}

The girls at Trulie Scrumptious asked me to share how I stay fit and I couldn't be more thrilled as fitness and health are two things I feel very passionate about. I'm honored to share my fitness tips on Exercise Week-which is such a cute and fun idea! Please check out their blog. There you'll also find more entries on how other women stay fit! I think, as women, it's very important to share and celebrate our successes together. 

Here are a few facts you should know about me before we become bloggy friends:

-I have been doing Crossfit since August 2008.

-Yes, even during pregnancy I was doing squats, pull-ups, and all the fun stuff. No worries, I got permission from the Doc.

-Certifications: Crossfit Level 1

-I have been eating and following the Paleo diet (and loving it) since September 2009 with a few fun cheats in between, of course.

-I've converted my two-car garage into a Crossfit gym.

-I became a first-time mom in June 2009.

Being a young mom, I know what pregnancy can do to a woman's body. 

I had gained a whopping 28 pounds during my pregnancy but with the help of my Crossfit training (before, during and after pregnancy) along with my dedication to sticking to a healthy diet, I love and appreciate my strong body more than I ever did before pregnancy. 

Fitness and health are so important to me because, as a mom, I feel I have the responsibility to take good care of myself in order to take care of my family. 

Moms ask me all the time, How do you do it? What's your secret?

My secret is no secret at all.

One of the mottos I live by is

"Eat clean. Train hard."

Simple advice, right? Not really. 

Training hard takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and motivation. For me, it could also require: finding someone to watch baby Jason, putting off housework for a workout during baby's naptime, or even waking up earlier than I have to in order to squeeze in a workout. I am a stay-at-home mom, so of course, during baby's naptime, I'd much rather nap too. Or sunbathe, read, watch TV, browse some blogs...anything that requires me being flopped on the couch. But you know what? It may sound silly but this whole Crossfit thing-you know, intensity, barbells, sweating, push-ups, dying and that sort of stuff is kind of

FUN. 

So, tip #1: Find a fitness program that is "fun" for you. I know I've found mine.

Tip #2: You don't need fancy gym equipment to get a rockin' bod. Examples: treadmill, bowflex, ab lounge (does that thing even work???). One thing I love about Crossfit is it doesn't require many exercise machines. The only machines I've seen are rowers, and ski erg machines. Why? Because crossfitters don't use machines-we BUILD them. And by building machines, I mean using your body weight and functional movements like pull-ups, push-ups, squats, lunges-things you can do right in your own home.

Tip #3: Don't be afraid to lift heavy. When girls ask me how they can reduce stubborn cellulite on the backs of their thighs I tell them 2 things. Lift heavy and change your diet (we'll get to diet later). Don't worry about looking like a She-Hulk; you won't! Building lean muscles will help boost your metabolism.  I get a certain high from seeing my weightlifting progress. It's very empowering. And being strong makes me feel sexy.

(for my last birthday, I begged my hubby to get me my very own barbell and some bumper plates. Her name is "Kate".)

Tip #4: Have a workout buddy (or in my case, workout buddies). They will hold you accountable for sticking to your program. They will run, sweat, curse, cheer, and pass out post-workout with you. And let's all admit, a little bit of harmless competition is always fun.

(My beloved Crossfit Lakeland crew. Guess where I am? Hint: I have a BIG butt)
Crossfit Lakeland
Tip #5: Eat clean. You can do a million crunches a day, but if you don't change your diet, you will accomplish very little results. Nutrition is the baseline of health and fitness. I recommend the Paleo diet to every person who asks me what my "secret" is. Oh, and I'm trying to stop referring to it as a diet...it's my lifestyle. What is Paleo? Paleo is eating clean, whole foods like lean meats, veggies, some fruits, nuts, and seeds. Basically eating the way your body was made to eat. And eat organic as much as possible. No chemicals. No processed foods. No high fructose corn syrup (ick!). No dairy, sugar, grains and starches. It's not always easy so every time I come across a good recipe, I make sure to share it. And for anyone who keeps getting frustrated with weight fluctuation, this is the answer. Actually, it's the answer to curing diseases (ex: diabetes, arthritis, lupus, obesity, inflammation) AND here's something you ladies will love; it also makes the "time of the month" less of a pain in the a**. I have more energy when I eat this way. More energy to chase a toddler and more energy to throw barbells around. Back in the fall, I wrote this post, showing pictures of my progress as I ate strict paleo for a few days. Try it! I don't know a single person who's tried it and didn't get fantastic results!

Tip #6: Don't make it all about looks. Sure, looking good naked is probably everyone's reason to head to the gym and start eating right. I used to be the kind of person who thought being skinny meant being fit and that the only way I could achieve my fitness goals was if I lost weight. Sad, I know. The scale doesn't measure how fit you are. Being fit means so much more than looking good naked and weighing less. It's about feeling energetic. Feeling healthy. It's about feeling positive about your image and being strong. Everyone's body is different. You can be strong and eat right, but your abs won't look exactly like Jillian Michaels'. Her body is different. So track your progress with how great you feel, how much faster you can run compared to your last time, how much heavier you can lift...and the good looks will come. I promise :)

Tip #7: Reward yourself! But reward yourself in a good way. After my friend and I received our Level 1 certificates, I said out loud, "I deserve a drink!" And yea, I really did work hard that particular weekend, but if I had had a drink that night, it would have made me feel miserable. Anyone who's ever eaten clean for a long period of time and decided to sabotage it with one little cheat meal knows what I'm talking about. It's okay to cheat a little but don't workout and treat yourself to ice cream every night or eat bad every weekend; you'll negate all your hard work. After you've reached a certain goal, treat yourself to something that will encourage you to keep on keepin' on! Like maybe after you've deadlifted a new personal record, go out and splurge on a new outfit to show off your fit bod. My favorite "treats" are Lululemon shorts and Mac lipsticks!

My goals:
I would like to qualify for the Crossfit Games regionals one day
but most importantly, I want to pass on my healthy lifestyle to my family.
Currently, I'm trying to encourage my parents to make a lifestyle change...they need this change so much.
Taking care of yourself is the most selfless thing you can do for your loved ones.
It's hard watching someone you love suffer from health problems.
So take good care of your bodies!

Thank you for reading my post and following my fitness journey. I hope I've inspired at least one person and I hope to share more stories, successes and recipes in the near future!

Here's to your health!
Josie