I tend to get very easily discouraged when I perceive things aren't going the way they should. Take, for instance, potty training. My daughter knows the sequencing of the whole process. She understands what the potty is for and understands when it's appropriate to use. Does she apply her knowledge into practice? Of course not; she's 2. Then, just when I've about given up hope, she wakes up yesterday, tells me, "I have to go potty" and wah-lah...she pees in her potty like she's been doing it her whole life.

I go through the same thing as a business owner. I internalize everything when I see a drop off in attendance or enrollment. It can only mean one thing, right? It's my fault.This, of course is not true, but boy, it sure feels that way and do I beat myself up for it...BAD. Then, just when I'm in the midst of questioning why I'm working so hard, I get a phone call or an email like this from the moms in my StrollerFit class, and I know that I'm doing alright. It gives me a reminder to buck up and keep at it...what I'm doing DOES matter, even if I sometimes lose sight of it.

"I am now officially 12 lbs. lighter than I was when I got pregnant with Jacob (back down to my pre-pregnancy weight before Abigail)...so altogether I've lost about 15-20 lbs. since having our little guy on 5/28/08 (and technically I only gained 8 lbs.)! How cool is that?! I attribute this and the relatively easy pregnancy and very easy labor & delivery to coming to StrollerFit for the last year! I'm almost positive things would've been different had I not been coming to class...what a blessing! I have always talked up StrollerFit to other moms I've encountered but now I'm shouting from the rooftops (actually I've posted my "testimonial" on a local moms message board and have gotten quite the response)! Thank you so much for being an inspiration and making class fun as well! You rock lady!"
----Noell, mom to Abigail & Jacob

This email made me cry. Nothing, (and I do mean NOTHING) makes me feel better about my decision to become a StrollerFit owner/instructor than when I receive an email from a mom who is so excited about the success she's had that she wants to share it with ME! I wish I could take credit for the success of my StrollerFit moms, but I can't. I tell them it's a 75/25 split. I show up and teach the best class I can every day, I offer encouragement and push them when it's necessary and I try hard to make it as fun as possible. That's only 25% of the whole.

The StrollerFit moms make up the 75%. They're the ones who come back each day, work hard and have fun. They're the ones who make StrollerFit part of their daily routine and they're the ones who have made a decision to change what they don't like about what they see when they look in the mirror. They're the ones who, despite hard economic times, find a way to make the investment in themselves, their kids and their families each month. They're the ones who give themselves permission to take an hour out of their harried days to be with other moms, to have their kids outside instead of in front of the TV, to workout so they have enough energy to get through the rest of their day and enough patience should the kids become a bit ornery later in the day. That's the 75%!

It's too easy to make excuses, and as moms, we're so busy trying to do it all that we forget to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our families. The truth is that we find time to do things that are important to us and we find the money to pay for things that we really want. StrollerFit moms don't make excuses...they make it happen.

Are YOU a StrollerFit mom? Make it happen for yourself TODAY! The first step is always the most difficult. You CAN do it...whatever "it" is for you, go ahead...do it for yourself, do it for your kids, do it for your family. You are worth it!