“To get some exercise and help calm my crying baby, I strapped her to me in our awesome sling and took off walking!”

“Staying in shape while pregnant showed me how strong I am and inspired me to challenge myself after pregnancy.”

“Running keeps me sane and gives me the strength to be a better mom. And it’s fun!”

“I am armed with my jogging stroller and have vowed to get back into the groove. I just entered a half marathon.”

 I want to be able to keep up with my kids and be around for a very long time for them. And I’m a much better mommy when I take the time to exercise.

If you would have met me 5 years ago you would have met a very different person. By the time I graduated college I was at least 200 lbs. I had moved home and was doing my student teaching and decided to make a change.

I started watching what I ate and hitting the gym. It was long before I started to see some small progress. And that was enough to keep me motivated. I lost 60 lbs and was down in the 150s. That was the smallest I had been for a very long time, and I was loving it!

I soon got pregnant with my first child. And for him I had to gain back 50 pounds. He was worth every single pound! Once he was born, I started to long for my old body back. I am a little ashamed to admit that I turned to some bad habits. I drank coffee for breakfast and lunch. I would eat dinner with my husband and that was it. I have no idea how I did that and nursed. But I did. The weight did melt off, but I was not in shape or fit.

When my son was 2, my cousin asked me to join her relay team for the Spokane to Sandpoint Relay. We ran an insane distance in 24 hours. That was my motivation to start running. I took myself from walking to running in about 6 months. I continued to slim down, but this time, I was in shape. It was the most amazing feeling. I loved running! I took my son and we ran almost everyday.

When I got pregnant with my daughter, I had just run my first 1/2 marathon in 2 hours and 12 minutes. I was so proud of my accomplishment. Once again I gained about 50 pounds. But because I was in better shape, the weight has come off much quicker. I am signed up to run my second 1/2 marathon in March. I am only up to about 5 miles. But I think I will be able to do it.

I enjoy being active with my family. I take the kids for runs in the jogging stroller. They love the fresh air. I also love to run with my yellow lab. My son and I play Zumba on the Wii. We love to go to the indoor playground at a local gymnastics studio (they open their equipment for free play). My daughter and I are looking forward to swim lessons.

For me it’s about staying active to stay healthy. And to help with the mild postpartum depression I had with my second child. I want to be able to keep up with my kids and be around for a very long time for them. And I’m a much better mommy when I take the time to exercise.

“I want our girls to grow up healthy and strong, inside and out.”

“The best running moment of my life – halfway through my half marathon…this is 100% happiness you’re looking at.”

“I want to be strong for her, and show her how to take good, healthy care of herself.”

“My kids see my commitment to myself and my own health, and that reinforces the words we use to talk about making healthy choices.”