When I first received an email from a personal trainer in Canada via Linked-In, asking if I wanted to be a guest on his  “Make Your Body Work” podcast, I was a tad skeptical.

Then I looked up his blog page and saw this:

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Although he’s obviously in great shape, and the apron is cute, I was thinking that this could go one of two ways – either this guys is an ego maniac trying to take advantage of overweight women or he doesn’t take himself that seriously but takes his business and his training very seriously. Luckily for us both, it’s the latter.

He was reaching out because he receives questions like this on a regular basis:

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Can anyone everyone relate to this? Right.

I remember, very vividly, the first few months after the boys were born and what a struggle it was to workout. I also foolishly signed-up for my first ever triathlon so I actually had to train for something. Not very smart on my part but I learned a lot in the process and even more in the six and half years since.

You can read the full podcast HERE or download and listen to it HERE.

In summary, this is how I answered the question:

Something Has To Give

Let’s face it, whether you have one kid or 10, moms have a lot on their plates and usually dictate the flow of the family. If you’re trying to take time to workout, that usually means something else has to give. Let it!

Step one: Realize how much you do and give yourself credit.

Step two: Understand that finding time for exercise probably means giving something else up which is more then ok.

Find Your Why

By this I mean really figure out what your goal is. I can tell you that it is not losing 10 pounds but what losing 10 pounds might do for your overall life. Sit down, think about what is at the root of what your goal is, and go from there. If you cannot figure out your honest motivation, you will never succeed.

Start Small

My best advice is to take one day just to figure out your reason for fitness and then maybe start exercising once per week. If you are doing nothing now, one hour a week will make an impact. Everyone who goes from nothing to working out six days a week is setting themselves up to fail.

It Will Be Hard

Sticking to an exercise program is hard. Get over it. If it were easy, everyone would do it and there wouldn’t be an obesity epidemic in this country. Remember, it’s the hard that makes it great.

Get Your Family On Board

Support is key! You will only be able to do so much without the support of your partner. As the patron saint of all women, Sheryl Sanberg said “Make your partner a true partner.” I don’t care how much yours works or doesn’t work, if you have kids together they need to partner up and share the work.

Make weekends for working out and I guarantee the whole family will enjoy being active together, which will make any mom’s life easier…and healthier.

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I hope you will read or listen to the podcast in it’s entirety and let me know your thoughts!

[Tweet “Find your why! If you cannot figure out your honest #motivation, you will never succeed. @MYBWfitness #podcast”]

What would you add to the list?

How did you get back into fitness after having kids?

What other topics would you like me and Dave to yap about?

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