How does a busy stay-at-home mom to two make time to make her health a priority?

Meet Emily Kocienski, married to Scott with two daughters, 4 years old and 7 months old. They love to travel, ski and spend summers up north, but how does she make it work with working out and eating healthy? Read on…

What got you interested in CrossFit in the first place? Did you start with the Nutrition program or the gym first?

Before joining CFB, I lived a mainly sedentary life that was fueled by pizza and Kit Kats.  My clothes no longer fit me, which I chalked up to my postpartum body, I had no energy to play with my older daughter and I generally felt crummy all of the time.  Even though I wanted to make a change, I was scared and didn’t know where to start. Enter CFB! I reached out to my friend Darin, who happens to be a coach at CFB, and asked her if she thought that I was capable of doing CrossFit.  She assured me that CrossFit is for everyone and I joined the gym and signed up for the nutrition program the very next day.

What did you think about CrossFit when you first started? What’s keeps you coming back?

When I first started CrossFit every single movement felt challenging and I was so sore after each class, but I knew I had a team of people pulling for me and I did not want to let them down!  Initially, that’s what kept me coming back, I didn’t want to let down the coaches or my nutrition coach, Alissa. Now, because I am addicted to the workouts and am having great success in the nutrition program there is no way anyone could keep me away from CFB!

How do you make time for it given your busy schedule with the kiddos?

I squeeze in workouts any time I can get them!  Sometimes that means taking a 5 a.m. class or asking a grandparent to babysit.  In the past, I used my kids as an excuse not to exercise because I was too busy, didn’t have childcare, etc. But now they are my greatest motivation.  I want to set a positive example for them!

Tell me more about your experience with the nutrition program.

I decided to start the nutrition program immediately when I joined the gym because I wanted to lose weight and learn healthier eating habits.  Alissa taught me all about macronutrients (I’m still a work in progress on this one!) and now I find myself looking at food as fuel instead of living off of sugary snacks and very little water.

You can’t out-exercise a bad diet, and I needed the one-on-one coaching and support that I get in the nutrition program to hold me accountable and to make me successful.  I also highly recommend signing up for the nutrition program immediately when you join the gym so you can use that initial excitement you feel about starting something new to help you eat better as well.

What else would be helpful for someone to know who is new to CrossFit and anxious about getting started?

If I can do it anyone can do it!  Do yourself a favor and sign up for an introductory meeting at the gym today.  The CFB community will pull you in, encourage you and celebrate your guaranteed success!