Mom Strong | Sarah Drew Q&A
Finding time for fitness as a mom can be challenging, so JUNK asked a couple of our athletes, who also happen to be some super strong moms, some questions to get them to share just a few of their secrets on how they make time for fitness while juggling mom life.
Sarah Drew is a badass boy mom to five-year-old son Dexter, or Dex for short while leading a holistic adventure-loving lifestyle. She lives her life family forward while finding time to work on her fitness journey. Now Sarah is providing us with just a few of her thoughts on how she blends and harmonizes her passions.
An active lifestyle can reap physical benefits, such as increased strength and flexibility. Do you think it offers something beyond the physical, which might be beneficial to moms specifically?
Without a doubt! I find whether I have 20 minutes to spend in my garage lifting weights or two+ hours on a mountain bike ride, I am able to clear my head of all the responsibilities of being a mother and being a wife and really focus on being the best me I can be. It gives me the ability to then come back refreshed and be a better mom, wife, and overall human!
There's so much pressure put on women's "post-baby body". It makes sense that some moms would feel anxious or stressed by this expectation, on top of the stress of being a new mom. What are your thoughts on this?
Another great question! For me, the focus was not on obtaining my pre-baby weight or size. I really wanted to be the healthiest version of myself so I could be the best mom. I really focused on using fitness for my mental health and using food to fuel my body. I quickly realized that if I just ate in a (mostly) healthy way, all the carrying of all the things that come along with a baby, was pretty much a workout in itself, haha.
What advice would you give to a busy mom who cares about her health but has yet to take the plunge into fitness? How does she begin?
I think a new mom first has to have grace for herself, and realize she is in a “new normal”. Being able to move our bodies at all it is something we can be grateful for. One of my favorite things to do was to incorporate Dex into my workouts. So when he was really little and didn’t sleep, I would walk or jog with him in a stroller in our neighborhood at 5 AM. It was actually great for my sanity too! As he got bigger I would walk him to the park and do what I called “Park Fitness” using the monkey bars and equipment to move my body.
When you have a tough day where you don't feel like working out, what inspires you to go out there and do it?
Honestly, there are some days that I just don’t. I give myself the grace to know when it needs to be a rest day, or maybe just a walk outside in the sunshine. I think it’s important to know when our workout or fitness is going to be good for our body and mental health, or when it will become detrimental. Sometimes it’s hard to learn but it’s an important lesson.
When you don't have much time, what is the most effective workout to get in?
I feel like the most effective workout in a short time is a barbell or kettlebell complex! There’s something I just love about moving moderately heavy weight on a barbell at quick speeds.
Any suggestions on how to fit exercise or a good workout in on a busy day?
The best solution for me is to always do it early! To either do it before Dex wakes up, or when I get him settled in for breakfast. That way the day does not get away from me. And then making at something quick and effective. Combining two movements like thrusters and kettlebell swings for 15 to 20 minutes can do amazing things for us!
What's the best way or your favorite way of exercising that gets your little one involved?
While I mainly talked about weightlifting in these questions, my favorite way to get fitness in and spend time with Dex, is on our mountain bikes. We get to take in nature, soak up the sunshine, and have a blast on our bikes. All while getting in some fitness, and teaching him the importance of activity.
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