Fit Mama Friday – Meet Jen

Meet Jen.

I watched today’s Fit Mama Friday, Jen Mammana Miller, working out throughout her pregnancy at Body Reserve, a small family-owned gym in Park Slope, Brooklyn. It’s her gym, actually – Jen and her brother run operations there, so she feels right at home in the gym setting. Jen and her husband Vincent have happily welcomed Lila, their 8-month old baby daughter, into their lives and Jen is now a total fit mama, addicted to working out!

Jen, tell me about your pregnancy workouts – I know you were dedicated to staying fit and healthy throughout pregnancy. What were you doing for exercise?

Yes, I worked out the whole time I was pregnant and I am very thankful I did. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was working with a trainer who was very intense. My doctors considered my pregnancy high-risk and although they encouraged me to continue exercising, I knew I had to change the pace. I began doing yoga with Dolores Natividad, who is one of our amazing trainers and yoga teachers here at Body Reserve. The morning I delivered Lila, my doctor (who is actually a member of the gym, that is how I found her), was joking with me about all of the great breathing exercises I learned from Dolores during yoga. I also made sure I walked on the treadmill every day. I never pushed myself, but I wanted to keep moving the entire pregnancy!

Have you always been into fitness and working out?

No, I actually never considered my self “fit” or “athletic” before having Lila. I just felt pretty lucky to have good genes and a petite build (I am only 5’2″).  I couldn’t play a sport for my life!  I was always the last kid to get picked in gym class. Then about three years ago, I left my career in magazines to join my brother at Body Reserve. I love it here and was really inspired by the amazing people around me. Somehow in that time, I guess you can say I became fit.

Well, that was great timing for pregnancy, then! Are you back to working out regularly now? 

I couldn’t wait to start working out again! Once I got the go ahead from my doctor at my six-week post delivery visit, I signed up at a pilates studio in my neighborhood, BK Pilates. Marina is the owner and teacher there. She is so amazing. I enjoy it so much and I feel like it is “MY” time. I try to go between three and four times a week. The other days I work out at the gym. I usually like to go where it is quiet, so I go up to our stretch room and do a mix of cardio and strength training. I usually give myself plank challenges to the music I am listening to. All of the working out has become addicting and I have been thinking about getting my personal trainer certification.

That’s so awesome! That would be a great transition for you now you’re so involved with the gym! What’s your workout motivation now that you’ve had Lila?

It’s terrible to say, but part of the reason is because I love my wardrobe and fashion! I enjoy wearing clothes that make me look and feel good. But that really is just a part of it. I feel good after I work out. I am more energized and I feel I can do the things I need to do in my day. Lila seems to be skipping the crawling stage, and going right to walking, so I need to keep up with her! Plus, my husband Vincent is a health, phys ed and coach at Stuyvesant H.S. He teaches our youth how important it is to be active and he is such an active guy. He inspires me very much. He genuinely loves what he does. Seeing how fitness can be so inspiring motivates me a lot.

So you guys are a really healthy, fit couple, then! I’m sure that will be a huge influence on Lila. What have the perks of being a fit family been?

My husband has been encouraging me to get my personal training certification because he sees how much I have been enjoying working out and the gym. I have been “practicing” on some of my friends and they have been super supportive as well. Lila is still too young to understand, but she is already a gym baby! 🙂

And I’m sure your fitness level definitely pays off in your role as a mama, right?

Yes, Lila needs so much energy! I call her my 15lb medicine ball! I sometimes am amazed at the amount of squats I do during the day while holding her and trying to pick up something she dropped. She is a workout!

 

What about your eating habits? Is that something you pay attention to, as well as your fitness? Did you try to eat healthily when you were pregnant?

I was so lucky that my biggest pregnancy cravings were strawberries. I had to eat them every single day, in any form. I was also a big carb girl. I probably had pizza a few times a week. I also indulged in an occasional bagel with cream cheese. I also didn’t want to start any habits that would be hard to shake off post baby. I knew if I ate a cookie every night, I would want to continue that after the baby. So I made sure not to do things like that during the pregnancy, at least all of the time 🙂

I gained a total of 25 pound during my pregnancy. When I first got pregnant, I set a goal for myself which was to NEVER buy maternity clothes or any clothes above my normal size. I wore lots of leggings and flowy blouses! I even splurged on a beautiful wrap coat so I can wear it post pregnancy. I am guilty of being quite the shopper, so I would also buy myself pieces that I could wear post pregnancy. It was just a fun to motivate myself for getting back to shape after the baby.

Overall, I do watch my diet and weight. I try to eat lots of whole, healthy and organic foods. I am Italian, and love breads and cheeses, but they are always made well, so I don’t feel guilty.

And how has it been, trying to fit workouts into your day, with taking care of Lila and the business?

Lila is always my first priority so sometimes having someone to watch her makes it a bit challenging. My husband also has a crazy work schedule with all of his games so that can be tough. But luckily my job is flexible, so I just try my best to plan for the week. I plan all of my workouts the way you would plan a doctors appointment. If you don’t schedule it in, it will  never happen.

I bring Lila to work with me some days and she either watches me workout in the stretch room, or my brother or some of the guys that work here help me watch her. My mom and mother-in-law also watch her two days a week so that helps a lot as well. My husband is great and will watch her on weekends so I can go to my Pilates classes. It takes work to make sure I get in my workouts, but it is a priority for me. I feel great after and it makes me happy, so I can make my baby happy.

Definitely – happy mama equals happy baby! Congratulations on gorgeous Lila and I wish you the best of luck if you decide to go ahead with becoming a trainer. 

Thank you! The personal training is definitely something I’d love to consider pursuing. I still  have a ways to go before I feel ready though. But I am working hard at it!!

It sounds like becoming fit has been such a positive influence in your life. Thanks for being a Fit Mama Friday, Jen!

 

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