I’m Courtney, a thirty-something Wife, mother of two beautiful daughters, family law attorney, and much, much more. I don’t know when my juggling started, probably about the time I had my first daughter in 2008, right about the time I opened my own law practice. Our second daughter arrived sixteen months later and the plates really began to fly. The kids and work were put on the front burners and “me” time was put on the back (actually, it was put in the freezer...to be thawed when things calmed down a bit).
Now that the girls are older, I have a LITTLE more time in my day (they are able to at least dress themselves now) and decided it was time to find some “me” time again. I have always enjoyed cooking and crafting, but that was not helping the fact that my clothes were getting tighter and tighter and my rear-end was getting larger and larger. I decided it was time to get back on the workout wagon for the ump-teenth time, determined it was time to make a change. I have always been on a roller-coaster with my weight. I would work out for three or four months, when I had either gained too much weight or I had an event or a vacation on the horizon. I have joined gyms and paid for personal trainers. I have done workout videos at home...and stopped before I finished the program . As soon as I would notice the change or the event that I was losing weight for came and went, I would stop all exercise...for months. And guess what? The weight came back on...EVERY TIME.
It didn't help that my diet was TERRIBLE. I enjoy food...a lot! Vacations are planned around where we are going to eat for each meal (I really hope I am not the only one who does this)! There is nothing like a fantastic meal at a great restaurant! But I wouldn’t eat in moderation. I would go extreme, in either direction. If I was on the swing towards losing weight, I would cut EVERYTHING from my diet. I would skip meals, eat nothing but lettuce and cut my calories to nothing….it didn’t last. How could it? OR…..if I had fallen off the wagon, I would EAT! I would throw caution to the wind and eat anything and everything. And wouldn’t stop. I did everything that “THEY” say you shouldn’t do. And you know what, I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t happy. And I didn’t feel good about myself.
This cycle didn’t stop when I had the girls. Every year I would lose weight in the spring, to wear a swim suit for summer…and gain it all back by labor day...and then threw caution to the wind for fall, ‘cause heck, I was already in my big clothes, I may as well enjoy all of the food that is everywhere!
So here I was, middle of the summer and the weight that I had worked so hard to lose, was piling right back on. I realized I had to do something, make a CHANGE, because I had to be a better example for my girls. I do not want them growing up seeing Mommy continuing on this roller coaster and then developing poor habits of their own. I knew I needed to give them every chance I could to grow up with good habits and a POSITIVE body image. I needed to WALK the walk, not just TALK the talk. I needed to LEAD by example.
A friend of mine invited me out to lunch and told me about a new 25 minute workout that I could do at home. I thought, you know, I HAVE 25 minutes. I can do anything for 25 minutes, right?! And I had worked out at home before and really enjoyed it. So I ordered the program, signed up for her online accountability group and a few days later, opened up my new way of living! I dove into that box, took my before picture (oh my...it makes me cringe) and started my workouts. I I decided I was going ALL IN! The ACCOUNTABILITY of that group kept me going. On the days that I just wasn’t feeling up to it, the group MOTIVATED me to get up and press play!
I have been enjoying this journey so much (don’t get me wrong, I have my tough days), I wanted to help INSPIRE others to make the same transition. We are all BUSY, we have a lot on our plates...work, kids, husbands and wives...but you know what, you will be a BETTER person for all of them if you give yourself a bit of “me” time. Make the healthy choice and I PROMISE you won’t regret it.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can start your journey to getting fit please contact me at courtneybowes@ymail.com, message me on facebook @courtney.bowes visit my site for additional information at www.beachbodycoach.com/courtneybowes, or complete the application HERE.
I would love to coach you to your weight loss goals and help you transform your life! You just have to say , YES!
