Q&A with Sweat Squad Mom, @Mommy.Bod
Motherhood has always topped the World's Toughest Jobs list, but it's more inspiring now than ever to watch how the moms in our community have stepped up to new challenges faced by the transition to quarantine life. In honor of Mother's Day, we wanted to pay homage to all the moms who do it all and share an inspiring interview with one in particular, Shauna Fogg of @mommy.bod. Stay awhile and enjoy the Q&A with our Sweat Squad All-Star, plus a special surprise at the end that will be sure to have you feeling motivated to keep moving all weekend long.
First things first, tell us about how you started your journey with Sweet Sweat.
I first was introduced to Sweet Sweat in 2017 from one of my members at the fitness studio I was working at! She gave me the OG black and yellow waist trimmer because she had an extra one, and I FELL IN LOVE! I was struggling a lot with my workouts because I have a severe separation of my abs (diastasis recti), so in my first workout with the waist trimmer I knew it was going to be a game-changer for me. I did more research and purchased a coconut gel stick to pair with the waist trimmer and I was SHOOK! I am not a sweaty person, even while doing HIIT workouts I honestly just don’t sweat that much! So, to be dripping after a 45 min workout was a miracle for me! I became so passionate about the products and vision of Sweet Sweat and knew I wanted to be a part of it somehow!
What does your workout routine look like on a regular day and how has that shifted since you’ve become a mother?
This pandemic has really thrown a wrench in any type of schedule, but usually I work out 4-6 days a week depending on intensity and the need for my body to have an extra recovery day. Before I became a momma I would be in the gym for 2+ hours AND do HIIT classes at the fitness studio I was employed at. I would also do two-a-days! Once I became a momma and became more educated on fitness, I realized that my routine was not sustainable or realistic. HIIT is my go-to! Having a quick 45 min workout to power through and being able to get on with the rest of my day is huge.
What would you like to say to new moms who are hesitant to make time for themselves to break a sweat?
It truly is a necessity and something every mom should make time for, even if it’s only for 30 minutes! Being a mom is hard physically and emotionally, and working out is a great outlet to decompress and take time for yourself and your well-being. Our kids need happy and healthy mommas!
As a mother yourself, what sort of impact has fitness had on your mental health?
Fitness has always been an outlet for me my entire life. After an awesome workout I feel proud, confident, and strong! It’s when I am sitting at home and doing nothing when I start to feel like I am getting in a funk and feel like I am losing my sense of self.
How do you balance work / fitness / wellness / family / and your sanity?
Lots of coffee…LOL but really, you have to maintain yourself and your health and wellness to have your body operate at the highest capacity for you as a mom. Mom’s wear so many different hats and really have a million different jobs (that’s not even including if you work outside your home!). My faith grounds me. It is so important to count your blessings in life instead of stressing over the little things. I am grateful to have a job, a home, my health, a husband, and a perfect little boy. Balancing all the things takes a lot, but it is important to find a routine that works for YOU.
Did you workout while pregnant?
YES. I think this is one of the most important things to do while pregnant for yourself and your growing baby, unless you are high-risk! There are, of course, the huge health benefits it brings but my favorite to see was the physical benefits! I worked out 5-6 days a week my entire pregnancy, and even though I gained 60 lbs (oops…) it prepared me for the hardest workout of my life. GIVING BIRTH. The endurance and strength you need to get through laboring and delivering a baby is unreal, but post-partum you usually hear things like, “I feel like I got hit by a truck” or “I couldn’t move for days after giving birth.” But I was able to walk around as soon as I got to the post-partum room and my body felt great. I know that would have not been the case if I sat on my booty eating my waffles and bean burritos my entire pregnancy. (my real cravings lol)
What do you recommend for a pregnancy workout routine?
If you already have a workout routine in place when you find out you are pregnant, you can usually maintain it with some modifications throughout your pregnancy. If you are starting a new workout routine after finding out you are pregnant I would consult with your doctor and let them know, and start out slow to find a workout that best suits you. I was very transparent with my doctor from the very beginning about the level of intensity of my workouts, and she was always so supportive! Always make sure you and your baby are healthy and your doctor is in the loop with any fitness routine while pregnant. But any workout is a good workout! Here are some options: HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Walking, Hiking, Home workouts, Dance Classes, or Spin!
Do you have advice for those looking to strengthen their core postpartum?
One major piece of advice (from personal experience) would be to get back into your workouts, specifically core workouts, SLOWLY. I was ready to hit the ground running at exactly 6 weeks post-partum, and that was a big mistake. Everyone is different though, so that might not be the case for other women! I found out I had a severe ab separation and I struggle terribly with core stability and strength. I would recommend finding an online post-partum core and pelvic strengthening program and complete it. Your body, core, and pelvis will thank you!
Your son is absolutely adorable. Does he ever join you for mother-son workouts?
Thank you so much! He is the sweetest and I am so lucky to be his momma. At home workouts always involve him, whether it is using him as a weight or him just playing with my workout bands and keeping me company. Either way, I love it!
What does a day in the life of @mommy.bod look like?
I HAVE to start every morning with my coffee and SR Collagen Peptides, it’s my morning ritual! Every day is completely different from the next with work, being a wife, mom, working out, and my sons therapies. He was diagnosed with Autism at the end of last year, so we are navigating our way through that and finding a new routine to make sure he is getting all of the help he needs. I am blessed to be able to work mostly from home though, so I am able to organize my day around what I need to get done with work and then all the house wife/mom things! My workouts have to be inserted somewhere amongst all of the craziness, either early mornings or later evenings. I am one blessed momma though and would not change a thing!