Every once in a while I get giddy over a Stay Fit Mom post, and this is one of those moments. I’ve met some amazing people in my life, but this girl ranks among my favorites. Kim is my dear friend. She is a great listener, beautiful inside and out, and I’m thrilled to share part of her story with you today.
One of the qualities I love most about Kim is that she lets you in- she shares it all with such honesty and grace…the joy, the pain, and the journey. Plus a lot of laughs. We interviewed Kim earlier this month and we’re excited to share part of what makes Kim shine with all of you!
SFM: You seem to have great balance in all areas of your life. How do you do it? What tips do you have for moms (like me) who struggle with balance?
Kim: With 2 ½ year old twin girls, a busy calling in my church (Young Women President) and a part time job as the CFO of a drug and alcohol rehab I definitely rely on my “Life Planner” to keep balance in my life. I write down EVERYTHING I have to do each day. I’m all about schedules and lists. That’s just what works for me. I follow my planner religiously so I know if I put “GYM” on the schedule I will make it happen. I make fitness a priority in my life by making it a part of my daily routine.
SFM: You’ve dabbled in all sorts of exercise from Bootcamp to CrossFit to marathons. What’s your fitness routine like now?
Kim: I’m all about doing what works with your lifestyle. Throughout my life different exercise routines have fit better into my schedule. When I didn’t have kids and I was working 14 hours a day I would run in the evening when I got home at 9 or 10pm so training to run ½ or full marathons worked for me. When my work schedule slowed down I was able to fit bootcamp and crossfit classes into my evening routine. When my girls were newborns they loved going on walks in their Snap N Go stroller and from 5-8 months old they loved riding in the Chariot stroller which allowed me to train for a ½ marathon. Now with twin TODDLERS that don’t like to sit for long periods of time in a stroller I have found that using my 24 Hour Fitness Kid’s Club works really well for me. My girls love the Kid’s Club and so I feel great about having my girls there while I do my cardio and weights. Find what works for your current lifestyle and work it into your daily routine.
SFM: What advice do you have for other TWIN mamas that are trying to lose the baby weight or begin a fitness routine of their own?
Kim: Twin mamas have a special kind of exhaustion. For me this made eating healthy more of a chore because I just wanted something quick and easy. I think for weight loss the best thing for me has been meal planning and prep because I don’t have a lot of time so having something healthy prepared in advance works really well. This is an area I do struggle with. I LOVE food. Like, naughty food. So when I’m being good and feeling good I know it’s because I have pre-planned and prepped my meals for the week. In regards to a fitness routine, I was on 3 months of strict bed rest at the end of my pregnancy (which is common for twin pregnancies) so I was itching to exercise after my c section. My doctor approved me to exercise after 3 weeks postpartum so that’s when I started running again. It felt nice to take time for myself and help get my energy levels back up. Again, just find what works with your schedule and then make it a priority.
SFM: Time to get personal. It took 6 years, to bring your beautiful girls into this world. You’ve written about your journey on your blog, and I’ve had the opportunity to hear you speak on the subject of infertility. Because I’m your close friend I feel like I get these extraordinary glimpses of motherhood through your eyes. You are grateful, you enjoy every second of motherhood, and you don’t seem to take even one second for granted. Tell us a little bit about how the struggle of infertility has changed your outlook on life.
Kim: Throughout the 6 years of testing and infertility treatments (chlomid, laparoscopy, IUI, IVF) I remember hearing friends complain about different stresses of motherhood and just WISHING I could feel that struggle. I do believe when you think that way for so long and then you’re blessed with children, it does help you get through the hard motherhood days. I often look at my girls and just become overwhelmed with gratitude for having them in my life. Before children I could go for a run whenever I wanted, I could be a “gym rat” every day of the week, and I could run to Whole Foods on a whim. Even though I have had to make adjustments to my fitness routine I of course wouldn’t have it any other way!
I hope you enjoyed getting a glipse into the twin mom life this week! If you would like to read more about Kim’s journey with infertility and specifically IVF treatments you can head over to her blog!
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kim!
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Did you catch our last Mom Crush Kim Adams?
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