Yesterday marked day 21 of the 21 Day Fix challenge that I began on Feb 8th.  21 Day Fix is a workout and nutrition plan that was created by my latest girl crush, Autumn Calabrese.  It’s part of the Beach Body Fitness programs (you might have heard of P90x or Insanity?  Same company!).

Reflecting upon the past three weeks allowed me to realize that I have done something solely for ME every single day for the past 21 days.  Forget the program. Forget the results.  As a relatively new mom, now THAT’S something to celebrate!

But let’s back up for a few minutes, because I wasn’t ready for this a few months ago.  It took me some time to get here.

Fitness has pretty much always been a part of my life.  I started working out at the gym in high school, when a handsome neighbor from my graduating class suggested we lift weights together at the gym.  He seemed to have it all figured out, somehow managing to simultaneously rock both football and musical theatre like a character straight out of Glee.  I immediately enjoyed feeling strong and started learning my way around a gym.  Fast-forward to my university days when I became a varsity cheerleader.  Being part of a competitive team allowed me to see fitness in a different light.  I further developed my weight-lifting knowledge, competed in national competitions, rode in the back of an ambulance with an injured teammate, and threw-up after the dreaded “hill runs” during practice.  I loved every minute of it.

After university my fitness journey continued:  Body Pump classes at Goodlife, completing my first 10K running race and two half-marathons, and beginning personalized work-out plans created by my now husband, Christian.  Boot camps, ballet based dance classes, spinning, cross-fit, hot yoga…you name it, I was up for trying it all.  On my wedding day, my shoulders and triceps looked pretty darned awesome, if I do say so myself.

Once married life settled down and the home renovations took over our lives, fitness started to drop down the priority list.  My husband and I slowly started adding on a pound here and there….we just couldn’t seem to bump fitness and health back up to the top of the priority list.

The year before I got pregnant, I knew I wasn’t feeling (or looking) my best, but just wasn’t motivated enough to make serious changes.  I mean, what was the point if I was just going to “undo” all my hard work during pregnancy anyway?

By the time my due-date approached, I had gained nearly 50 pounds.  I didn’t beat myself up about it — let’s be honest: I grew a human!  In fact, it was kind of liberating!

Fortunately, Baby H took to breast feeding (which happens to be an excellent calorie burn). Between that and walking walking walking and walking some more the pounds started to fall off.  Slow and steady.

In the late summer, Christian decided that he was going to break the “dad-bod” stereotype and do the aforementioned P90x.  I resented him for it.  Fall was by far my hardest stretch post-partum and I resented the fact that he had the drive, energy, will-power, physical ability and desire to commit to this program.  I just wasn’t there, and I took it out on him.  Big time.

By late fall, I was starting to crave fitness for myself again.  I joined a mommy-baby Ironcore class and a spin studio.  I enjoyed feeling the sweat and burn, but my post-partum body was completely different than the one I had been working out with for 30 years prior.  Balancing baby and home and a part-time return to work, it was hard to make it to class more than once or twice a week.  The number on the scale told a “great” story but the mirror told me otherwise; I seriously missed my muscles and my abs were a distant memory.  I told myself that I “looked great for a new mom” but I knew that I wanted more.  If I truly prioritized it, I could look AND feel great. Period. No “for a new mom” qualifiers needed.

And then fate stepped in.  At a January get-together among friends, I caught up with Heidi.  She had been running some clean eating and fitness challenge groups on Facebook and I had read about her own fitness journey a few months prior.  The program is simple: regular 30 minute workouts that you do at home, alongside a balanced nutrition plan.

With a young baby and a nap schedule to work with, I knew that in-home workouts would be the best way for me to prioritize fitness for real this time.  I signed up for the 21 Day Fix program as a part of Heidi’s challenge group the very next day.

So here we are, 21 days later.  I feel like my fitness journey has just re-ignited again and I am so thrilled.  In three weeks I have lost 5 lbs and 5 inches….but most importantly, I feel amazing.  I have so. much. energy.

The best part is that I’m just getting going.  Through this experience, I have learned two key things:

1. Becoming a mom does not have to push you to the bottom of the priority list.  Prioritize yourself.  I am a better mother and wife because of this.
2. I am extremely motivated when I am motivating and encouraging others.  For this reason, I have become a Beach Body Coach, which means I want to help YOU reach YOUR fitness goals.  Yep, I surprised myself when I signed up, but here we are.

My next 21 day fitness challenge begins on March 14th, 2016.

Will you join me!?  Drop me your info and let’s do this together.