Fit Parent #7: Tracy, NO Excuses Mom of 3

It is that time again to feature another Fit Parent here.  I love showing you how fitness can be done regardless of the busyness that parenting brings.  It is fun to see how real people make fitness a priority and their way of doing it .  Each one of these Fit Parents has their own way of making fitness a priority for themselves and their family- they inspire me and I hope they do you too.

Meet FitMom, Tracy

I met Tracy this summer when she started coming to my group fitness classes and we have became instant friends.  I am surrounded with so many fit friends that I try to be unbiased and not always feature my friends on here, but I couldn’t help but share Tracy’s story.

Tracy is a mom of three munchkins: a second grade and twin preschool boys!  Her kids are full of energy and love to be active too and she is doing an awesome job setting the example for her.  On top of being a busy mom of three, Tracy is also a pharmacist who works night!  I truly have no idea how she does it.

Tracy could come up with real, legitimate excuses not to make her fitness a priority such as, “I worked overnight last night and need to sleep.”  Instead you can find Tracy at the gym right after she has gotten off of the work in the morning and getting her workout in before she snags a few hours of sleep.

She has made a complete transformation in her life putting herself and her health first.  What an example for her munchkins!  I won’t continue to steal Tracy’s thunder and I will let her tell you the story.  She is fit, she is sincere, and she is awesome… I am proud that I get to call her my friend.

Q:  Share your fitness background.  How and when did you get into fitness.

Tracy: Fitness is a fairly new thing to me. Throughout high school and college, I was never really the “athletic” type. Before and after kids, I always relied on the fact that I was never the overweight type, so I never thought that I really “needed” to workout. I may have had a thinner body type, but I wasn’t in shape, not even close. About a year ago, something drew me to the Beachbody program 21 day fix. I don’t really know exactly what it was, but the whole concept of it not being a “diet” but instead teaching a lifestyle was very appealing to me, plus the workouts were only 30 minutes, and that was an added bonus. I bought the program along with shakeology, joined a challenge group, and I was ALL IN. The effects blew me away. I felt better, I had more energy, I had better patience with my kids, and an added bonus was that I lost weight and inches. I decided then and there that this whole fitness thing really was worth it. I started going to the gym, taking group fitness classes, and lifting heavy weights, and I just felt better and better, and the rest is history. Now, I can’t imagine fitness not being a part of my life.

Q: What inspires you?

Tracy: It inspires me to watch other Moms (and Dads) make fitness a priority in their lives and teach their kids the importance of being active. That wasn’t always me, but now I see the benefit, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Having my kids see both my husband and me doing active things and then they in turn wanting to do active things, keeps me inspired and motivated.

Q: How do you find time in your busy schedule for your own health and fitness?

Tracy: First and foremost, I have a husband that supports me and understands my love for the gym, and is willing to help, whether that means staying home with the kids, or getting them up in the morning if I’m not home yet. I am lucky in the fact that I have a job with a schedule that allows me to go to the gym during the day. I work overnight shifts, and therefore have most mornings available. The most important thing that I have done is to add my workouts to my calendar. My favorite classes are programmed into my daily list of things to do and it helps keep me accountable. It also helps that my kids love going to child watch at the gym, so it makes it much easier to go.

Q: What is your favorite workout?

Tracy: I don’t just have one favorite, I like anything that challenges me. I love group fitness classes and I love doing wellness center workouts with other fit friends. As long as I have someone there with me, I will push myself much more than I ever would on my own. That’s what I love the most.

Q: Tell me about your eating habits and philosophy.

Tracy: This part is a constant work in progress. After doing the 21 day fix, my concept of eating and portion sizes definitely changed, but I am far from perfect. It’s a constant balancing act of eating a good variety of proteins, carbs, fruits and vegetables, but also allowing myself to indulge. I like sweets and I like wine. I’m not willing to give them up, I just try and limit them more than I used to. I wouldn’t say that I’m quite to the 80/20 eating lifestyle, but I’ll eventually get there.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with your munchkins?

Tracy: Our kids LOVE to be outside, so whether that means I’m throwing baseballs with the twins, drawing hopscotch on the sidewalk, or riding bikes around the neighborhood, as long as we do them together, that’s what’s important. I’m also my kids’ biggest fan for all active things they want to be involved in such as soccer, gymnastics, dance, tball, and whatever else they want to try.

Q: What is a goal you have for yourself?

Tracy: My number one goal is to keep this up. Like I said, this is all new to me. This is the longest that I’ve ever kept up with a workout/fitness routine, and my goal is to make sure that never changes. Another side goal is to step out of my comfort zone and try to do more running and complete a 5K. Anything to keep me going is what is best for me.

Q: What else do you want readers to know?

Tracy: It’s never too late to start moving.

And not only does Tracy move and show her kids what it means to be active and healthy, but so does her husband!  Jason completed his first half ironman this summer!

Tracy is such a good example of what it takes to be a Fitmom.  For her, it is about finding balance and making no excuses.  She takes care of herself so she can take good care of those three munchkins of hers.  If you are feeling that it is too late to start moving,  don’t.  Let Tracy inspire you and find your fitness love.