For about eight years, Missy Currin has been helping moms get fit. Currin, a Raleigh mom of three, owns
Fit4Mom Midtown Raleigh, offering all kinds of exercise programs for moms, including some where kids can come along for the ride.
But Fit4Mom isn't just about fitness. Through playgroups, special events and more, Currin has built a community of moms who get fit together and support each other during their journey through parenthood.
As many of us are resolving to get healthy in 2018, I checked in with Currin to get some tips on how we can get started, her favorite quick workout and what she has lined up for the new year. Here's a Q&A:
Go Ask Mom: You probably hear a lot of excuses from moms about why they haven't been exercising or they just don't have the time to get into shape. What's your come back to them? Why do we need to make the time?
Missy Currin: If you've ever taken a commercial flight with a small child you're familiar with the whole, "Put your oxygen mask on first," concept. It holds true for life with children on solid ground as well! Moms need to take care of themselves first, mind, body and spirit, so they can be the best version of themselves for their family. I could make it more complex, but it really boils down to that. Take care of you so you can take care of them. You can't pour from an empty cup.
GAM: Does it take a lot of work and effort to start in on getting in shape? What little steps or exercises can get us started? Does walking really help?
MC: Ugh - the pressure! I blame social media. These days it feels a lot like you have to be "all in" or you're a slug. Like if you can't be at the gym daily for two hours and cooking amazing healthy Instagram-worthy meals for your family all day, every day then it's not worth doing at all.
Not true!
You can't do everything (unless you're a unicorn?) but you can do one thing. Pick one thing to start with and make it a habit. If you're just starting out, then walking is fantastic! Try to get your heart pounding for 20 to 30 minutes every day and break a sweat. Once you've made it a habit, look for ways to increase the pace (run-walk intervals are great!), add resistance (weights!) or variety.
Find a friend or a group to exercise with and ask them to hold you accountable. We all start (and restart. and restart. etc) somewhere. The key is to just get started!
GAM: We hear a lot about planks and lunges and squats and so on. Do you have a couple of go-to exercises when you feel like you need to move?
MC: Planks are an effective all-over-core exercise, require no equipment and are easy to vary or modify for injuries. Definitely keep those in your rotation! I like to keep my at-home workouts simple so I can focus on good form, prevent injuries and increase my intensity. My favorite format includes a warm-up lap around the block, one minute of cardio (get the heart pumping with jacks, high knees, etc), one minute of strength (squats, lunges, push-ups), and one minute of core (planks). Repeat that 3-minute cycle with brief rest periods in between for 20 to 30 minutes and then make sure you stretch!
GAM: A lot of Fit4Mom's programs include kids. Why is it so important for kids to see us getting out and moving around?
MC: Our Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre classes and Run Club are all stroller-friendly (and therefore kid-friendly)! Moms are the ultimate role models for their little ones and seeing mom exercise - and enjoy it - is so influential in shaping what children believe about being active (it's important and fun!) and about their bodies.
GAM: Your business has grown quite a bit since you opened up. What all do you offer now?
MC: It has been a busy couple of years! We opened in April 2010 with a few Stroller Strides classes a week. We now offer Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, Run Club, Prenatal Fit4Baby (at UNC REX Women's Center) and Body Back Transformation at locations all throughout Raleigh and Wake Forest! Moms can request more info about our programs and get info about our New Year's tuition specials
on our website.
Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday.
