I love attending classes at my crossfit gym. I got in the habit of going in the evening when my babes were in bed and my hubby was at home working on homework for his Master's degree. It quickly became a habit, and I now consider it my nightly "Mom-Cation" on the nights that I go. After a long day, most good, but also some hard -it's a healthy way to just get out and be me. To do something I have come to love, not as mama, just as Lindsay. Don't get me wrong I am so blessed and thankful to be mama to my two littles! I wouldn't change my job staying home with them for the world, but sometimes it's just nice to get away for an hour, talk to other adults, and sweat it out.

​

I never thought crossfit was something that I would love, but I do. I love the way that it pushes me past limits I never thought possible. The first time I was invited to crossfit by my friend and master teacher at the time, I think I actually laughed out loud. I was far too self-conscious to try something like that. A class with other people?? No way. So I just ran a lot. I did a few half marathons and other shorter races, and I liked it. I am not a very good social runner so it was the perfect workout for the introverted, slightly insecure girl I was. I could just put my headphones in and go.

​

About a year later Dave and I were blessed with our first baby. I didn’t run my entire pregnancy, due to morning sickness that didn’t go away. Dear Lord, was I in for a surprise after that baby was born! You mean, after the baby is born all the baby weight doesn’t just go away?? I am one of those women who are sick pretty much the entire 9 months of pregnancy. I don’t always throw up, but I seem to always have nausea. Like always. When you have a stomach flu the last thing you want to do is eat, right? Nothing sounds good. That’s how I feel when I am pregnant, all the time, only the only thing that kind of makes me feel better is having food in my stomach. So I have to eat, but the only thing that sounds remotely good is some sort of carb! I know, not good. I actually burst into tears at one of my appointments with my midwife because I was so worried my baby wasn’t going to be healthy because of what I was eating. She was really sweet. She tried not to laugh at my ugly cry, and assured me my baby was going to be just fine. I remember either gagging or throwing up whenever I tried to eat any green vegetable. The first trimester I got sick just opening the refrigerator and seeing the vegetables there. Needless to say I gained 40 pounds that pregnancy and my baby only weighed 7 pounds, so... there was a lot left over.

​

Thankfully, one of my good friends, Heather, had her first baby five days before me and we were in the same boat. We needed something with accountability, something our tired mama brains didn’t have to think about more than simply showing up, and something we could do together. The gym my friend had invited me to the previous year was running a special, and she invited me again. So Heather and I went together. I think that first workout we almost died, but we didn’t. So we went back and eventually we loved it. It was our one-hour Mom-Cation, and it was really fun to do it with a friend! It didn’t take long to make new friends too! Plus, the working out so hard made me motivated to start eating healthy and the pounds really melted away in the next year. But more importantly than losing the weight I became stronger than I ever was before, and this gave me confidence. I just all around loved it and loved how I felt!

​

All of this to be said, as a stay at home mama I have two sets of eyes staring at me all day. They watch me, they know my habits, and they know my strengths and weaknesses. I am their main role model, and I want to be the best one I can possibly be. The number one priority and love I want them to see in my life is my relationship with Jesus. I want them to see me read my bible, go to Bible study, pray for them and their daddy, pray with them, encourage them, ask them forgiveness when I fall short… I want them to see that I am a sinner who needs a Savior, and that my greatest prayer and hope for them is that they too would one day turn from their sin and ask  Jesus to save them.

​

After my priority of loving Jesus, I want my kids to see me loving and serving their daddy and them in my role as a wife and their mama. I want them to see me taking care of them and our home joyfully (I don’t always do the laundry joyfully, but I am working on that :)) I feel so blessed that God chose me to be Dave’s wife and our kids’ mama. I love walking alongside them, teaching them, laughing with them, wiping tears, washing sticky hands, kissing boo boo’s and being there sense of comfort. Our days aren’t always cake, but I know that these days at home with little ones will be gone in a blink, and I want to cherish them, enjoy them, and make a lot of sweet memories!

​

My next priority as Dave’s wife and my kids’ role model is to teach them healthy habits. I try to feed them a pretty clean diet, but I am not going to lie I am not perfect with it. I believe it’s about balance. At our house I try to make them 1 or 2 whole30 or Paleo meals a day. So we are not strict Whole30 or Paleo, but I do my best to feed them well. I want them to learn self-control and to be able to enjoy treats, but to not have an unhealthy relationship with food. I struggled with my relationship with food for so many years. My diet always started on Monday, and never worked because I was starving by the end of the day and I would give up, eat way too much to fill my hangry belly and start again the next week.

My relationship with food has changed drastically over the years. It’s no longer so much about how much I eat, but about what I eat. I used to obsess over calories and basically starve myself. Or I would choose the sugar free or low fat options, which are potentially more harmful to my body. Now, my motto is-- "Just eat well." It’s also not about the number on the scale anymore, but about being a healthy wife and mama! When I am eating well and taking care of myself, I physically feel so much better. I have way more energy as a sleep deprived mama than I did in my early 20’s when I was running a ton but not eating enough calories, or real food. (Maybe not so much with a newborn, but 4+ months for sure :)).

​

 Along with eating healthy I think it’s important for them to see me taking care of my body with exercise. I want my daughter to see that being healthy isn’t about the number on the scale, or the size of her jeans. I want her to see me work hard and get stronger, and have fun doing it. I want her to first find her value in knowing in Jesus, but also I want her to be confident in her own skin. I want all of this for my son too, of course. I just feel a little extra sensitive and protective over my daughter with all the body image issues it’s so easy to struggle with as a girl.

There are days when I just can’t make it to crossfit. Life is just too crazy sometimes and there aren’t enough hours in the day. If I can I like to take the kids on a run, pushing them in the double stroller. It’s really hard, and really pretty fun! My daughter is sure to let me know if I start to slow down at all, and she talks non-stop all the time so she’s a great running partner. I don’t have to say anything back and she doesn’t notice because she just keeps talking. My little Bubba is an easy going babe. Give him a few snacks and he is happy to sit back in the stroller, enjoy a snack, take in the fresh air and scenery, and listen to sis talk.  That is what this tab is going to be all about…. EXERCISE... These are some of the home workouts I like to do, and some new ones I come up with along the way!

Xoxo,

Lindsay

​

​

Disclaimer: As always consult your doctor before starting a new workout routine. These are workouts that work well for me, but I am not a certified trainer, nor do I claim to be.