Today on Fit Mama Friday, I’m featuring Alexa Schulz, wife to Eric and fit mama to Avah, 6, and Eden, 3. Alexa hasn’t always been fit – prior to having her two beautiful daughters, she mainly relied on her genes to keep her fitting into her skinny jeans. After having babies, a light went on when she realized it wasn’t about how you look, it’s about how you feel and how healthy you are. Alexa is now hooked on an amazing workout, so much so that she’s become an instructor!

Meet Alexa.

Alexa, you weren’t always super fit, but did you work out at all before you had children?

Prior to having my daughters, the only thing I ever really did to stay active was jog. And don’t hate me for saying this, but I didn’t really feel like I needed to work out. I’ve always been slim (good genes!!) and didn’t really have to work at staying that way until after having babies.

You jogged before pregnancy – did you continue that while you were pregnant?
I did workout lightly during both pregnancies, once my morning sickness cleared out by the second trimester. I spent a lot of time on the elliptical at the gym! With my first daughter I gained 25 pounds and I gained 35 pounds with my second, so I still had plenty of baby weight to lose once they were born, regardless of my activity levels during pregnancy.

What was it about post-pregnancy that made you realize you needed to get serious about fitness? Was it because you had baby weight to lose?

It was more that I realized that even though my body went pretty much back to normal after giving birth, I was one of those “skinny-fat” people. Yes, I was able to get back into my pre-baby clothes, but I was jiggly and gooey and I hated it! I would be out pushing my babies in their stroller and I’d see these other stay-at-home moms who were trim, but had these gorgeous lean muscles. I wanted to look like that – and that’s when it occurred to me that it wasn’t all about being a certain size or about a specific number on the scale.  It was about being healthy and fit, not just for me, but for my daughters.

Tell me about how you got into pole dancing classes. What made you choose those fitness classes to get into shape?

It was after my first daughter was born in 2008, a girlfriend of mine had just started taking pole dance fitness classes and thought that I might enjoy it. My daughter was about six months old and although I was nursing, I was at a point where I could leave her for short periods of time between feedings. So I took my friends’ advice, signed up for my first class, and was HOOKED! Within a couple of weeks of taking my first class, I decided to buy a pole for my home to practice on. I loved that not only was a getting an amazing cardio & strength workout, but it didn’t feel like I was working out because I was having such great time.

After about a month of taking classes, my best friend from college commented on how amazing my legs looked and I knew that it was working! I was getting those pretty dancer muscles that I have always envied! And on top of ALL of this, I was meeting other moms just like myself & making friends!! Winning!

And now you’re an instructor, right?

Yes, fast forward six years and I’m still pole dancing and have become an instructor with the studio, Diva Fit, where I started taking classes to pass on my knowledge of fitness and to help other women become strong, sexy, and confident!

So do you just work out during class, or do you do separate workouts as well?

My typical workout schedule is usually based around how many pole fitness classes I’m teaching per week – I typically workout four or five days a week. I usually average about two or three pole classes a week, with one night teaching two classes in a row. On those evenings, that is my workout for the day.

On my own time however, I like to mix it up and keep my body guessing. I still jog, I do ballet barre, I have recently gotten into doing yoga, and I’m a HUGE fan of any Jillian Michaels workout! So for example, I may run one day, do yoga the next, teach classes one, then do a Jillian Michaels DVD at home, and will finally take a couple of days off to rest.

Why do you think it’s important to be fit, as a mama?

I think the most important thing working out has done for me as a mom is that it gives me my me-time and the energy to keep up with my little ones. And when both of these needs are met, I’m a much happier, patient, and better all-around stay-at-home mom! I’ve learned that sometimes you need to put yourself before your kids and take care of yourself – how can you take care of someone else and meet all of their needs when yours are not being  met?

It’s so true! And other than being a better mother, is it still that desire to be strong and have lean muscles that makes you love working out?

The main reason I work out now is because I want to be healthy and to live a LONG and happy life. I also love the way dance makes me feel and how it allows me to share this feeling with other women just like myself…whether they’ve just had a baby, or are trying to lose that pesky holiday weight, or maybe they are just looking for the camaraderie and support that comes along with taking a fitness class with other women who become your friends!

Pole fitness has changed my body and my spirit. I have muscles I didn’t even know existed and can do things that I never imagined my body would be able to do. Not to mention I wear a bikini with confidence now because things don’t jiggle like they used to! I’ve also learned to embrace my new, fit body, which definitely took some getting used to – I weigh more now than I have ever weighed in my life, but it’s because of all those muscles I’ve worked so hard to put on. I am truly in the best shape I have ever been in and won’t ever look back.

That’s so awesome! Let’s talk about food – has the way you eat changed with your new focus on strength and fitness?

Definitely. Before pregnancy my diet was your typical American diet. I ate a lot of things with hidden refined sugars and preservatives, diet sodas, refined carbs, etc.  I have always loved fruits and veggies though and ate lots of those too! It wasn’t until I read a book about food and about how so much of what Americans put in their bodies is full of chemicals and other junk that I realized I have been in the dark for so long! Now I eat all organic fruits and veggies, organic meats (poultry and fish), eggs and have cut out most dairy (except for the occasional cheese because I LOVE pizza).

What are your challenges for keeping up with your fitness routine?

The biggest challenge for me in keeping with my routine is food. I just love to eat and sometimes, especially around the holidays, I am tempted to have some of that ridiculously good-looking dessert, or to have seconds on Thanksgiving. At this point in my fitness journey though, I don’t find it hard to keep up with my workout schedule because if I get bored, I just buy a new DVD or trying something new for motivation. Variety is the spice of life as they say!

Your pictures are amazing and you’re obviously one incredibly strong fit mama! Thanks so much for being featured on Fit Mama Friday, Alexa!

 

Fit Mama Friday

Every Friday on Fine Fit Day I feature a Fit Mama story of how and why a fit and healthy mama ensures fitness is a priority in her life. You’ll read about all kinds of women and their fitness stories. Some are stay-at-home mothers, some are single mothers, some juggle more than one job on top of motherhood, but they are all committed to a fit and healthy lifestyle. As you’re getting ready for your weekend, I hope you’re inspired to be active after reading about these kick-ass mamas on Fit Mama Friday!

 

Do you want to be featured on Fit Mama Friday? Or do you know someone you’d like to see featured? Please contact me for details!