The next generation of fit moms

Rachel Flanagan Uncategorized

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When you’re training someone or hanging around waiting for boot camp to start, there’s always time to talk. And when I’m freshly caffeinated (hellllloooo, Starbucks VIA packets), I tend to want to gab.

Once of my favorite things about being a trainer is getting to know people really well one-on-one. I find people’s stories about their lives completely fascinating and love discovering things about them that surprise me. When you’re alone and working out together, conversations can be wide ranging. We laugh, we share stories, we complain about our kids. I love all of it.

Lately, I’ve been noticing a pattern with the women I’m surrounded by, and that’s the sheer magnitude of things that women take on and manage on a day-to-day basis. And in my town, I meet some of the smartest and accomplished women around. One friend has her PhD, teaches a class at UNC, has three young kids, a husband in the military (and hence a busy schedule), is a talented photographer, AND is getting her certification in yoga. Oh, and she volunteers at her child’s school and finds time to work out. And she’s super nice.

I know this isn’t unusual in today’s culture. Many of my friends have a LOT going on in their lives. With many of them, I’m always impressed that they’re simply upright by the end of the day.

I’ll admit, I’m pretty busy, too, but it’s by choice. I choose to teach boot camp and train clients in the early morning hours and write late into the night. These things bring me joy and fulfillment in my heart and soul.

What breaks my heart is meeting the busy moms who don’t give themselves permission to carve out time for themselves to get some exercise. I hate seeing their pent up stress and frustration with how they feel.

For those of you who know me well, you know I’m an evangelist when it comes to exercise. I believe strongly in the healing power of exercise. I believe it’s the one thing you have control over in terms of your health. I’m of the mindset that if it’s been shown that you can either help or eliminate a health issue by eating well and exercising, why wouldn’t you? There’s so much in this life that you can’t control, but barring major ailments, being fit isn’t one of them.

The generations of women in my family who came before me were not big exercisers. Smart, funny, and caring, but definitely not sporty. I was kind of the weirdo for a while (and kinda still am) but many of my cousins are with me on changing that legacy (hence the hashtag #feinbergwomenrule if you’ve seen it on FB or IG.)

I’m in a constant battle against the various issues that the older generations of women in my family have had to battle over the years: high blood pressure, diabetes, GI issues, anxiety, depression, and crippling insecurity.

But I’ve decided to take control and change that story. I don’t want to be on a host of medication. I don’t want to have joint pain. I don’t want to be tired all of the time. (Still working on that, though . . .) I want my kids to grow up in a house where watching your parents work out is just part of everyday life. My kids know that PJ and I both are in better moods after we work out. Nobody wants to be around me if I haven’t run in a while. I am not pleasant.

So I run. And I lift. And spread the good word about the power of exercise. Because the idea of a huge pill caddy is not for me. So I keep at it.

You with me?


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