Top 5 Ways to Become An Emotionally and Physically Fit Mom

My name is Hilary Wallace and I am a strength addict. I love lifting barbells and pushing my limits. I also have two small children, adore Pop Tarts and the occasional dirty martini… and wine. Oh and tequila in the summer. I refuse to bore you with re-hashed exercise moves to “work your core’, “tighten your buns”, or help you “lose 30 pounds in 30 minutes”. That sh*t makes me want to vomit. (Yeah, I also have a potty mouth too). What I am here to do is tell you what worked for me. I am NOT a nutritionist, dietician, doctor, or magician. I am certainly no expert. I am a 43-year-old mother of two who bulked up to over 200 pounds while pregnant with each of my children. I fought my way back to a “toned” 140 pounds and am the fittest I have ever been in my life.

Here’s how I did it.

1) FIND SOMETHING YOU LOVE. You don’t have to be gym rat, a Cross Fitter, an ironman or a yogi. Find something that YOU love doing and do it! It’s so much easier to make something a habit when you love it! You will absolutely find the time to exercise if you love it. Try something new if you have zero idea what you may like to get your heart pumping. I happened to fall in love with Cross Fit. It allowed me to meet new people, commiserate, and provide a healthy dose of competition, which made it feel more like a game to me. You might like tennis, swimming, Pilates, hiking or rock climbing! And even better you may make some new friends who love it too and help to motivate you along the way. Which brings me to Number 2…

2) OPEN YOURSELF TO OTHERS. If you feel fat in your yoga pants during or post pregnancy, make a joke! “Hey is Lulu eating your ass too today or what?”…. I know I know we shouldn’t speak badly of ourselves, blah blah blah…But telling how you really feel to another human being can form a connection. It tends to put others at ease around you. And it can make you feel better too. “Man, I don’t know if I can get through this workout today… I couldn’t make it through a shower this morning without crying”. You just may be surprised at what comes back to you. That gorgeous brunette in the corner who always looks perfect to you, could feel exactly the same way. A smile and a kind word never hurt either.

You’d be surprised how great being kind and being someone else’s sunshine can boost your own mood. Forming a connection with your exercise buddies leads to you rooting for each other and pushing each other to do better! What you put out there comes back to you. Namaste.

3) STOP RUNNING LONG LONELY DISTANCES. I have always enjoyed solo running. Some years more than others and some days better than others. It clears the mind, gets your heart pumping and thins the thighs. However, when you do it all the time and at the same rate and similar routes (treadmill) your body gets used to it and change becomes more difficult. After the birth of my second child, I ran 5 miles a day 5 days a week and the weight was not coming off. It’s also important to note that I was 38 and wasn’t really changing my eating habits too much. Yet when I changed my exercise routine by joining a gym and training with some fabulous supportive women using Cross Fit methods (weight training, interval sprints, calisthenics) my body responded quickly and I lost 40 pounds in the first 3 months. Constantly varied workouts with short intervals of high intensity were key for me. Who wants to run on a damn treadmill for an hour a day anyway? Lame.

4) QUIT EATING YOUR KIDS LEFTOVERS/ STOP ORDERING PIZZA BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO TIRED TO COOK. You have a garbage can for a reason. Use it. If your kid eats avocados and leafy greens, quinoa, and grass fed beef, -AWESOME! Those leftovers you can eat. If your kids are like mine and eat PB&J’s, Mac n Cheese, and Chicken Nuggets, throw that crap out. You don’t need it. Also, when you’ve got a new baby and you can’t afford a personal chef, stop ordering pizza. Yogurt helps. A few tablespoons of peanut butter. Hard-boiled eggs, pre-cut veggies, oatmeal, apples, pears, bananas, almonds. All good quick fixes that satisfy when you’re hungry but too tired to cook something healthy for yourself.

5) BE KIND TO YOU. It’s ok if you can’t get back into your skinny jeans right away, – or ever. You are a mom, you are you, you created a human being, or several! Remind yourself how truly amazing you are. Give yourself a break. I felt like I was failing at every turn after the birth of my second child. I was no longer working, not bringing in any income, I was overweight, I wasn’t able to pay as much attention to my first born as I used to because I now had my son as well, I was miserable to my husband etc. etc. etc. By getting out, starting an exercise program, being open and honest to others about what I was going through I was able to find perspective. I realize that a lot of other people are going through exactly the same thing. We’re all in this together and it is going to be all right. Once you realize this and let go of the ‘shoulds’ you make room for the ‘yes I cans’.

For more on Hilary and how to train with her or follow along for inspiration go to https://www.facebook.com/wallacenyc , @wallacewellfleet on Instagram and lookout for her website via “Ticktail” soon!!