Wellness over 5 years ago by Liz Adams

Why I Decided to Get Healthy + Focus on Myself

Shop the post: Beyond Yoga Leggings (more colors here), Nike Pullover, Nike Shoes, Apple AirPods, Le Specs Sunglasses

Did anyone watch Glenn Close’s acceptance speech from the Golden Globes? It was so so beautiful. If you’re a mom (especially you!) or a daughter, watch it. She won best actress for her role in The Wife, a show that is now on my list to watch. Her speech was such a true statement of the pressure we feel as moms and wives. We all deserve to chase our dreams. We have to find our own personal fulfillment. I feel like this idea was way more clear after I had Jack. One of my biggest points of anxiety is my inability to balance working mom life. Somedays I wish that I woke up and being a mom was all I had to worry about but then I think of how fulfilling this career has been to my life and I know that the juggle is worth it. I think that this idea pertains to all areas of our life. We deserve to feel like our best selves every single day. 

Over the past year I’ve really made a conscious effort to focus on my health. Not in a way that completely changed my lifestyle (I love a good burger and a beer) but it was important for me to find a routine and stick with it. I filled you in on the process throughout 2018 but this year I really want to focus more on sharing this journey and how I’ve made it a lifestyle. One of my most frequently asked questions last year was how I manage being a mom and finding time for exercise. Trust me, I’m the queen of excuses but after having Jack I knew that I would be a better mom to both boys if I dedicated this time to myself. It’s been about a year since I truly started working out more consistently (the first change I made) and although the change has been (at times) slow, I feel so proud of all that I’ve accomplished.

I think there are a few stages of weight loss/exercise that help you keep up with your routine for longer than a few months. I was once told that it takes a month for you to notice a difference, two months for family and friends and three months for acquaintances. I definitely think this is true! However, in-between those first three months and now were 4-5 months of just a general plateau where I stayed the same. That’s when I knew that my diet was going to play an important roll (something I didn’t want to admit for a long time!) in getting to a place where I was happy with myself. Once you get past that plateau and you start to see more of a change, you kind of become obsessed. Not only was eating healthy and exercising making a difference in my appearance but in my confidence and determination to keep going. It’s a pretty awesome feeling coming from someone who felt uncomfortable in her clothes for 2+ years. 

Shop the post: Beyond Yoga Leggings (more colors here), Nike Pullover, Nike Shoes, Apple AirPods, Le Specs Sunglasses

After I had Jack my motivation to get my body in shape was kicked into high gear. With Charlie, I didn’t start consistently working out until he was one and felt that postpartum slump for a long time. For Christmas in 2017 (1 month after having Jack), my dad asked me what I wanted and I asked him for 5 training sessions with his trainer. I started working out with him 2x a week in the middle of February and signed up indefinitely after those five sessions were done. We all have different body types but I think it is important to talk to a professional to really know what works best for you. For me, my body craves change. It gets too comfortable if I’m constantly doing the same thing. Weight training has helped to make me stronger and more lean. I know that personal training is an investment but it is the best option for my schedule. It holds me accountable, every workout is tailored TO ME and has given me that one hour of dedication only to myself. Right now, I train 2x a week and try to do cardio 2-3x a week. Usually this is some sort of running circuit (check my health/fitness IG HIGHLIGHTS for all of my workouts!) which I’m going to do a big blog post about in the near future. I get asked about what the boys do while I’m at the gym – when I train with my trainer it is at 7am and Dave is home. When I go to the gym for cardio the boys go to the kids club – they love it!

In August of 2018 I did one round of Faster Way to Fat Loss and it really taught me the true side effects of the food that I eat. It was the first time I really cut out sugar, gluten and dairy and I realized that these things really aren’t necessary unless in moderation. I’m almost completely sugar free (aside from fruit and wine, ha!) and I still try to do Intermittent Fasting every single day. Again, different things work for different people but this program made me see the biggest difference. Dave does Intermittent Fasting now too and we both agree that it has really helped to lean out our bodies. 

Cozy Nike Pullover

The coziest pullover for workouts, activewear and everything. It’s embarrassing how often I wear this cozy fleece. A must have!

Shop Now

Bottom line, great things don’t come from staying in your comfort zone

I’m excited to share more details about my fitness and diet since this has become such a focus in my life! Definitely expect more wellness posts on HAF in 2019. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Hey, I have read your post and I am inspired from it as well. Taking care of your health is very much important but getting spare time for it is bit challenging especially when you become mother. I am glad you did it.

  2. Absolutely love this, Liz! I can’t wait to read more about this in future posts. I am 35 weeks with my first and I’m already feeling the desire to get back on track and start a routine for my health & fitness. I absolutely love seeing your workouts, its so motivating!

    Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com

  3. Good for you Liz! You motivated me to do FWTFL after seeing your results. I spent too many years saying I eat well and workout with no changes. This has been a life change – so much happier and feeling better than ever.

  4. I had my first baby right around the same time you had Jack and following along with your journey in taking care of yourself has been so encouraging to me. I can’t even begin to tell you how much it has helped to see someone going through the same things as a woman and mom trying to take care of herself and her family. It’s such a great reminder to work through the excuses to be healthy for ourselves and our babies. Thank you for sharing!

  5. Look forward to more! I made my own health a priority too at 6 months postpartum, and it is amazing how much better of a mom I am for my little nugget 🙂

  6. I am with you on this for 2019! Top goal! This year is the year I feel comfortable, proud, and healthy in a bikini. Excited for this journey and to follow yours! I’m currently doing my first round of FWTFL and loving it!

    xo Laura Leigh
    Louella Reese

  7. I am 34 weeks pregnant today! I did the Faster Way program before I was pregnant and felt so good, and a boost of confidence learning more about my body’s nutritional needs. I also (and still do) train with a personal trainer 2x per week at 6:30am. It’s encouraging to see that it has worked for you after children and hope that it’ll work for me too. I worry that children will make me lose sight of my needs (work/personal balance) but your post gives me the confidence I can do it.

  8. Hi there! I have a random question-I got the Apple watch for Christmas and I’ve been loving tracking my workouts! But I already have some small scratches on the face of my watch and it’s super annoying. Do you have a case/screen protector on yours? It seems like yours still looks pretty good! Thanks!

  9. I love this post and I honestly can’t agree more! I’m single, but I still feel in order to be my best self for my family and friends, I need to put myself first. After a hard 2018 with work, I’m looking forward to 2019 and focusing on my mental and physical health. When I do, I’m the best version of myself and in 2018 I lost some of that.

  10. I had a few months of motivation and lucidity about taking care of myself and healthy leaving just before the Holiday, like form mid-october to mid-december and it felt really good… Then Christmas and all the parties happened and I haven’t been able to get back in that routine yet but I’ll really try to, because I really felt my best then
    Lucie,

    http://thefrenchpier.blogspot.com/

  11. Love love love this!! I’m a part time teacher and have finally found that sweet spot of enough work to feel fulfilled professionally and yet still have time to savour the moments with my kids.
    I’ve been loving your recent content – thank you for inspiring us!
    @cleaning_up_beauty

  12. Thanks for the motivation! I am currently stuck in the postpartum slump (13 weeks) and trying how to figure out how to juggle the new baby, while going back to work as of last week, and getting back to the gym just isn’t happening right now. It’s so nice to know that it’s not impossible! I can’t wait to hear more about your journey!

  13. Yay! So excited you plan to bring more posts on wellness. Ironically, I just emailed you (for the first time) this week requesting something along those lines. You’re such a motivation for all of us “normal” gals out here to be extraordinary. Would love more details here on workouts, routine, and weekly food journals.

  14. This is such a great post! I feel very similar after having baby 2 and this inspires me to put my physical and mental health a priority! Thank you for this post!

  15. Hi Liz! I am amazed by the transformation of your body! You truly look amazing! I am so stuck and in need of a change. I workout almost every day but I know I need to learn how to eat better! Considering signing up for faster way to fat loss and wondering if you think it’s worth it?