“Mom Strong”

 My entire life I have been a plus size girl, spending most of my life wearing a size 18 and classified morbidly obese.  After the birth of my son Benjamin, I was at my heaviest weight of 162 pounds and flooded with emotions I had no experience with or tools to manage.  I spent the first eight months of my motherhood journey battling emotions of inadequacy before I finally asked for help.  I was given a list of “things” I could do to help manage the emotions – one of them being adding a fitness program to my daily routine.  Having never been a fan of fitness, I took the medical approach.  I was prescribed medication and started therapy.  All valid approaches and in just a few short weeks I was feeling better. I never quite felt myself, but the emotions were more manageable.
Flash forward to today where I am six months post partum with my second child, a daughter named Rosie.  Determined to keep the intense emotions at bay, I took a different approach to my flood of feeling this time.  I surrendered to the idea that maybe there was something in this whole fitness approach.  I had enrolled my three-year-old son in the Little Heroes fitness class once a week with Jim Johnson at Ignition Fitness.  And after just two short weeks of classes I had already noticed a difference in his attitude and our schedule at home.  His energy level was way more manageable, and I noticed his tantrums started to decrease.  I saw the proof right there in my own son, and committed to join the Summer Fitness Challenge.  My family gifted me the enrollment fee for my birthday and I began my journey to a happier, healthier self.
At the time I write this article, I am 10 days away from completion of the contest, and can’t believe the progress I have made so far.  I can now do push ups and sit ups without hurting myself — and I can even pull up on the bar high enough to see at eye level.  It may sound silly, but for me, this is huge!  And as each day passes I keep showing up and Jim finds different ways to push us to our limits, then builds us up with so much positivity and encouragement you realize you can do even more, and go even farther!  Ignition Fitness is so much more than a gym—it’s a family.  Anyone can teach you how to do a squat, but the way Jim Johnson motivates you to do 255 in a one-hour class is beyond amazing.  You don’t even realize just how strong you are… until you do!
And with the completion of the Summer Fitness Contest I am so committed to the future, I can’t imagine a day where I don’t go make my health a priority.  You see, this isn’t the completion of my fitness story… it’s just the beginning.
Jim Johnson is a motivational speaker, owner/operator Ignition Fitness, personal and group trainer as well as 2010 Heavyweight California MMA Champion.  For help on your goals, contact Jim at 661-714-8149, email: jim@getignitionfit.com or www.getignitionfit.com.  You can also follow him on twitter at: jim@ignitemyfitness and instagram: ignitionfit, as well as subscribe to the YouTube channel: openjim.