Health Hero

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I recently was contacted by the American Recall Center, a site devoted to providing health and wellness news.  They asked me if I’d write about my health hero for their Who Keeps You Healthy campaign.

When I thought about my health hero I immediately thought of my personal trainer, Meghan Brown.  I met Meghan when our now 4-year-olds were only weeks old.  We were friends first and when she finished her training certification I immediately signed up for her personal training.  I remember the day we first did my health assessment in a nearby park.  I could barely do an inch worm exercise.  In fact I had to sit down after our 15 minute session because I thought I was going to throw up.  I stuck through it, session after session, she made me feel stronger, confident and believe that I could be healthy.

9 month work out

When I became pregnant with my second baby, we kept our training sessions.  In fact she was expecting too and she inspired me to keep working out and to use exercise to aid in the pain that I experienced as my body changed.  Only a few days before I had my baby she was there with me in my living room doing squats and holding the goddess pose.  I should mention that my continued exercise during pregnancy supported me in delivering an 11lb baby naturally-yes you read that right.  I often teach cooking classes and lead meal planning discussions and without fail I always meet people that HATE to cook.  I’ve never understood it.  As someone that loves cooking so much, you know what? I really don’t like exercising.  Hate is a strong word but exercising is really not my favorite.

[pullquote]I’m so thankful to have my health hero motivating me and keeping me strong, especially when working out is about the last thing I want to do and I’m so happy to be a part of an awesome workout group that supports each other and always finds time for laughs and great music. [/pullquote]My Health Hero, Meghan has helped me to embrace exercising and trust that it is essential to my health and while it is not my favorite thing to do, I can honestly tell you I have never regretted doing one of our workouts in fact, I feel empowered.  Not only does Meghan keep me motivated but I also have two amazing workout buddies, Jen and Jamie.  We call ourselves the workout ladies.  Meghan has brought us together to share in friendship and exercise.  We hold each other accountable each week and through each of our own struggles in life, work and family we come together for that one hour and just let it go.  We laugh, cheer each other on and work really damn hard.  You can see Meghan’s excitement when she tells us the next thing we are going to do and I always find it hilarious when she says the next exercise is “really fun.”  I’m so thankful to have my health hero motivating me and keeping me strong, especially when working out is about the last thing I want to do and I’m so happy to be a part of an awesome workout group that supports each other and always finds time for laughs and great music.  Music is a huge part of our workouts so I thought I come up with a workout playlist inspired by my ladies and our workouts!

Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire – Inferno Version
Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Girl Talk – Hands In The Air
Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Dirtee Love – Live At The Brit Awards 2010
Mariah Carey – Fantasy – Feat. O.D.B.
Daft Punk – One More Time
Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For?
Justin Timberlake – Suit & Tie featuring JAY Z
Salt-N-Pepa – Push It
Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On – Amended
N.E.R.D. – She Wants To Move
C+C Music Factory (Presenting Freedom Williams) – Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
Michael Jackson – Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West Mix – Thriller 25th Anniversary Remix Featuring Kanye West

 

 

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