Fit Mama is Here!!!

There are many different ways to attain a healthy lifestyle. I would like to feature women who are living a healthy life. Jocelyn is a women who has started on a wonderful journey of health, so I decided to interview her. I hope that her story can inspire you. She is also available for health coaching as well. Here is our interview:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

 

I am have been married for almost 12 years and we have 5 children! Yes, 5! Ages; 15, 10, 8, 7 and 5. I am privilege to be a stay at home mom, which I Love! 

2. What started you on your health journey?

 

After so many babies, I have gone up and down in my weight with each pregnancy, each time being harder to loose weight than the last time. My last baby was born in 2008 and I just never lost all my baby weight. 

Back in 2010 I went to the gym with my husband to help "support" him wanting to join the gym. Only a few weeks in, I ended up with a personal trainer, working out 3 days a week! It took me awhile but I loved it and lost 20lbs. I started to feel great but soon my training ended and slowly over 2 years I had gained all my weight back. My key reason was that I never actually changed my eating habits.

I came to a point where I decide that unless I was going to sweat it out at the gym I would never be able to loose the weight again. I kept going to the gym but my one day work out was undone in one day of eating from frustration of seeing no results. It was a vicious cycle. 

I would try to go on "diets" but wasn't eating healthy enough to make a difference. I finally started to give away most of my clothes believing I would just never be able to fit any. I only saved one box called my "Wish box". Those clothes I hoped one day I could fit but never believed I would! 

3. How did you lose weight and get healthy?

I found a program called Take Shape for Life. Many of my friends from 13 year ago had found the program before me and I was watching their results. They had all gained weight over the years, just like me and were now loosing that weight! They all started to look like we all did before kids and marriage! I was hooked, the moment that I could I start on program, I did. I had no doubt that if it worked for them, it could work for me!

I started this new health journey in January of 2013 and I lost 33lbs in 7 weeks! (Results vary) I am now back to my pre-baby weight before babies and marriage and I feel amazing! I even pulled out my "Wish box" and was not able to wear any of the clothes because they were not too small! Such a great feeling!

 

The great thing about this program was that I was not only able to loose the weight but I gained knowledge on how to eat right! I always knew I needed to eat healthy, eating the right foods, right amounts, all your food groups but I had no idea where to start or how to do that. Now I do!

4. What keeps you on track?

While on program, I had a coach who walked beside me to help me stay on track. She also had gone through the program to lose weight and had been a friend from years before as well. It was great to have someone to talk to and celebrate with me as each of my goals were reached for weight loss.

Now with the habits of health that I learned on program I have been able to maintain my weight using those habits daily in my life. You have all the tools you need to maintain your weight for life! It's not a diet but a life change!

The greatest part is that I am now paying it forward. I am now a health coach helping others to walk through their health journey. It's amazing to see others reach their health goals and it also helps me to stay on purpose for my health journey as well!

 

 

5. How does a busy mother of five, find time to exercise?

I now have to find creative ways to work out or exercise. I did not work out while on program and now find it hard to work this into my life. Not because I have no time but because, lets be honest, I don't make time! I no longer have a gym so I challenge myself to work out at home, go for a run (with my oldest daughter sometimes), or even running while my kids ride their bikes to the park. I have found challenges and would love to do a 5k one day!

Exercise is a great habit of health. Especially as you loose weight you start to feel good and want to get up and moving. A run feels good, working out feels good. It might sound crazy now but believe me, it's true! You too can love to exercise! 

It's great if you can find other friends that are like minded as well. Join health groups to encourage you or someone to work out with you. The greatest success is when you have support! So grab your water and get moving!

I would love to be your support and if your interested in more information feel free to e-mail me at jocelyngunter@yahoo.com. You can start your health journey today!

Next month, we will talk more about some fitness tips for busy women on the go.