Spotlight on Moms – Alyssa
Spotlight on Alyssa:
How many kids do you have and how old are they? I have 1 son – Sidney. He is 8 years old.
Do they have a favorite exercise to do with you? We enjoying going for runs together – I run, he rides his bike. We also enjoy taking both of our dogs out for walks when it’s warm. During the last recipe night Sidney was ecstatic about showing off his “mad skills” on the pull up bars. He’s all ready to come back to the gym with me and joining in on the actual workouts. Says he needs to remember to bring his shorts and shoes.
Do they have any favorite healthy foods? Sidney has always been one to prefer fruits and vegetables. As an infant he preferred teething on carrots and seedless cucumbers over the expensive teething toys. If I had to pick a favorite healthy food ti would be an apple. I can’t keep them in the house.
Do you have any tricks to get your kids to eat healthier foods or make healthier choices? I don’t know if it’s a trick as much as a strategy. I don’t tell him what he is eating until after he has tried it and made a decision for himself on whether or not he likes it. He’s not a picky eater but tends to shy away from things that sound “weird”. If he tries it and doesn’t like it, I don’t make him eat it again (at least not right away.)
As you have learned more about health and wellness, what goals do you have for your family and children?My biggest goal is just for him to be happy and healthy. I am trying to show him that being active and eating right doesn’t have to be stressful. To find activities that he enjoys doing, not activities that he feels forced to do. The one thing I enjoy most about Eupraxia is that even though the workouts are hard – they are fun in a weird way. Going to the gym isn’t something I ‘have’ to do; it’s something I ‘want’ to do.
What obstacles have you overcome as a mother to maintain your health and wellness? I won’t say I have overcome it, it’s a work in progress, but time management is my biggest enemy when it comes to health and wellness. I make the time for the gym – I enjoy it. But the eating healthy is hard sometimes because it takes time and preparation – no drive thru dinners in 5 minutes.
How and why has being a member at Eupraxia impacted your role as a mother and/or wife? It’s made me a happier more healthy and confident individual. I love sharing the things I have learned with my friends and family and hopefully making a more positive impact on my son’s life by starting him early in life with good eating habits and staying active.
Dr. Steve says to have a purpose for staying healthy. How do you make your children a part of this purpose?It might be a terrible way of looking at it, but I knew back when I was at my worst that every day I was shortening my life by eating the way I was and letting myself get to those weights. It was only a matter of time before it all caught up with me and the medical problems would begin. When I decided to make the changes in my life, it was not only for myself, but to have more time with my son.
How have you passed on what you have learned at Eupraxia to your children? I think the biggest thing that I have learned from Eupraxia that I have shared with Sidney is to make your workouts fun.
What advice do you have for moms just starting their journey? Don’t give up. It’s tough being a working mother and finding the time for yourself. It’s hard balancing the eating routine and breaking old habits, but it’s worth it. Keep your head up. At the end of the day, when you are happier and healthier, your family will see it and will follow suit.
Anything else you would like to share? Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask the trainers or other gym mom’s for helpful advice. At one point we have all been where you are. Some are further along in the journey than others, but this is a community and an extended family. Lindsay, Kevin, Phil, Steve, Amber, Chelsea, and the Onalaska crew are all amazing. And if they don’t have the answer I bet you they know someone who does.