Mindy arrives five minutes late to Squad. Her car was sideswiped as she crossed the Marion Street Bridge into West Salem heading to the Courthouse. A little scary and frustrating, but no one was hurt (except her car!). She hustles into the weight room – definitely ready to burn off some stress.

Her stress eases a bit and she smiles when she sees fellow Squad member, Meghan and her trainer, Nick. Mindy warms up quickly and catches up with Meghan. Meghan and Mindy get to work. The time they have together in the weight room is time they don’t take for granted. This time is precious.

“This time training is important to me because I want to set a great example for my son” Meghan says. “I want him to know, by watching me, the importance of taking care of yourself. And, if I’m thinking selfishly, I just like to feel strong!”

For Mindy, this time is important because it is her time. “Training is time I set aside that is not dedicated to my motherly responsibilities. It is the time I focus on my physical health and my personal goals.”

Strength can look different. We all have different challenges, goals, and reasons to spend a few hours every week taking care of ourselves. So, what does it mean to be a strong mom?

“Being a strong mom is first and foremost having the strength to ignore the guilt we mothers face when we take time for ourselves,” says Mindy. “Being a strong mom is about taking care of your physical health and your emotional health so you can enjoy time with your family to the fullest. It may sound counterintuitive, but I can spend better time with my family because I take intentional time away from my family.”

“For me, being a strong mom is about feeling good about my body – which I do!” says Meghan. “It’s about making exercise and fitness a priority, but not an obsession. It’s about balance.”

Ready to become a Strong Mom? The best way to start is with our Kick Start program.