I met Kristin last August in Detroit during our teacher in-services for University Preparatory Academy, the Middle School I was teaching in last year. Our first conversation was about what we remember about our favorite teachers; a question we were to answer as a part of those “get to know me” situations. I don’t remember what I said, nor do I remember what Kristin said, but I do remember her enthusiasm was contagious, and, while I wouldn’t have admitted it then, I was going through a pretty dreadful time, so I was happy to sit next to Kristin, and talk about our favorite teachers, and I hoped some of her enthusiastic nature would rub off on me.
A couple of days later, we walked back to school together after having lunch at Wayne State. This time, we talked about fitness and motherhood and teaching, and I remember that conversation well. We both had significant commutes, we both had two kids, we both had a passion for teaching and for getting things prepared ahead of time because that’s when we were at our best. We both loved to work out. I remember walking with Kristin on a day in Detroit that was gloriously sunny, and I remember feeling OK. Not great, but OK. I was happy to know her.
A few months later, after a cry for help, my boss suggested I observe Kristin in the classroom. She got me a sub, and I spent some time watching Kristin do her thing. It was inspiring. Her classroom vibe is exactly like Kristin – happy and enthusiastic and you know the work that’s being done inside these walls is difficult, but she’s these kids’ greatest cheerleader, and she knows they can do it.
I haven’t tackled a story that wraps up my experience teaching at UPrep, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to. I imagine the story will come out in bits and pieces, as it is now. I was talking to someone about leaving in December and how I felt equally awful and relieved about my decision. She said, “You’ll probably feel that way forever. Welcome to adulthood.” Knowing Kristin is like that; I’m happy to have met her, but I’m sorry I can’t see her everyday and share the tremendous task of helping children take those first unsteady, crazy, beautiful steps towards adulthood. I’m glad to have her on the blog today.
Kristin is a wife and mom to twin 6-year old boys. She has been teaching middle school math for 14 years but has recently found a passion in health and fitness after realizing the need to make sure to have ME time, particularly, as a busy mom. She’s since become a fitness coach and group fitness instructor, and shares what she’s learned with others as well as inspiring people to reach health and fitness goals of their own. She has a Facebook page www.facebook.com/fitmamatotwins as well as an Instagram page @FitMamaToTwins, both of which show Kristin’s enthusiastic attitude.
{Tell me a little about your path to fitness.}
My path to fitness started after college. I was trying to lose that stubborn 15 pounds that I added when eating lots of convenience foods, alcohol, and take-out. I attended classes at the gym, I tried to figure out the weight machines, I even did Weight Watchers. And while some of those worked for the short-term, I wasn’t able to keep it off. I would lose the weight, go back to my old habits, gain some weight back and then get back to working out and eating better. Yo-yo dieting at its best.
Then I got pregnant with twins. After having the boys, I was pretty successful with losing most of the weight I gained (thanks to pumping), except for that stubborn last 10 pounds, but I didn’t care as much because I knew that I didn’t have time to do anything about it. I mean, I had twin toddlers to take care of, a full-time job, and a husband that wanted to see his wife every so often.
Once the boys turned three, I realized I couldn’t keep up with them anymore. They loved to go to the park and with them going in different directions all the time, I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the energy. I was always tired. I dreaded the idea of going to the splash pad with them because I knew they would want me to be with them in the water, but I just felt so blah – plus I still had that fluff that I didn’t feel confident in showing in public. I also knew that I didn’t have the time, nor money to get a gym membership again.
I saw a friend’s post on Facebook about her having a private fitness challenge for moms that wanted to feel better for the summer – EXACTLY what I wanted. I contacted her and she told me about these in-home workout programs. These programs were something I could do in my home (no child care needed), in 30 minutes a day. I figured, I could do that, right? The bonus was that it came with a nutrition guide too, so that I could learn how to eat the healthy way. No more Lean Cuisines. No more counting calories or points. No more binge eating, and no more giving up my favorite foods – hello, moderation!
I tried out her 3 week challenge and while I was excited with the physical changes, the mental changes were awesome too. I felt more confident. I had more energy. I was happier. Now don’t get me wrong, the workouts were not easy, but I could feel myself getting stronger each week and that fluff around the middle was toning up! No, it was not easy getting up before the boys got up to workout, but after I did it a few times, I saw my energy increase and knew that it was worth it.
So I kept going and kept going. I did some research on how to make the foods we were used to eating, healthier. I made little changes here and there and continued to see results. I was floored that these programs actually got me results that I was actually able to maintain. Shortly after the start of my own journey, I heard about the opportunity to pay it forward and help other people – mainly moms – who want that boost of confidence. Who want the positive energy to keep up with their kids. Who want to feel good in their own skin, so I decided take the leap to become a coach and also a fitness instructor, to help motivate and share my resources with even more people!
{Talk a bit about how teaching overlaps with your fitness business.}
I love to share. I love to motivate and inspire. I love the “ah-ha” moments that both teaching and being a fitness coach provides. That’s why I originally became a teacher. When I was young, I loved helping others with their homework, and tutoring others and see that what I was doing helped them understand it better. As a teacher, my job is to give different techniques to allow students to solve problems. To guide them throughout different situations so that they get the final result they were looking for, in a way that makes sense to them. And the same applies to coaching. I get to help people reach their health and fitness goals in a way that works for them. I get to share resources that have helped me along my journey, with others. I get to help them on their level, on their goals, on their terms, so that they can make a sustainable change in their health and fitness.
{What advice would you give a mother who wants to add a fitness regime, but just doesn’t see where there’s time?}
I always say you have to fill your cup before you can fill anyone else’s cup. I know it sounds backwards, because so many moms say they don’t have time or energy to exercise, but giving yourself 15-20 minutes of any intentional activity will actually increase your energy and productivity levels. You will feel more focused to get certain tasks done quicker.
And keep in mind too, that you don’t need an hour workout at the gym to get results. Find efficient full-body workouts that you can get done in a shorter amount of time that give better results than steady state cardio. Get in some HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts that get the heart-pumping quicker and scorch lots of calories in a short amount of time.
And finally, identify when you are going to get that workout in, and SCHEDULE it in your daily agenda. Use it as an appointment for yourself. Make it a non-negotiable – not something you just hope to get to by the end of the day. Prioritize it, if it really is that important to you. Because at the end of the day, we all have the same 24 hours in a day, but once you start to block out specific time for yourself, you will create that habit of getting it done and scheduling other things around it.
{I like to end with a little Book Talk: what’s your favorite book (or books) and why?}
I have 3 recent favorites. #1 – Mastering your Mean Girl – by Melissa Ambrosini. As someone that has (and sometimes still has) had low confidence and often deals with self-doubt about what I am able to accomplish, this book was super powerful in reminding me that we need to get out of our own head. We CAN do anything we put our mind to. We should NOT worry about what others say/think and live for our own goals. #2 – The Fringe Hours – by Jessica Turner. This book was awesome and helping identify little pockets of time that I could use to get things done that I want to get done. No more putting myself to the back burner and saying I don’t have time, but how we can make time to do the things we WANT to do on a daily basis. #3 – The Best Yes – by Lisa TerKeurst. This book really opened my eyes to realizing that just because I know I can do something, or because someone else wants me to do something, doesn’t mean I have to do that something. I am a “yes” person. I say yes too often and because of that, I overfill my plate with doing things for other people. While I feel good helping other people out, it might not always be the best timing, depending on what I want and need to do for myself. This book reminded me that it is okay to not always say yes to others and how to say no tactfully without offending anyone.
Thanks, Kristin! It is good to know you! Readers who are on Instagram and Facebook, I recommend following Kristin. You will be inspired with every photo she shares.
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