Fit For Motherhood

This week we are joined by Dr. Tom Williams to talk about chiropractic care for the whole family. We spoke with him about the different methods he uses to treat infants and children, the benefits of chiropractic care and some of reasons why you would want to take your child to see a chiropractor.  A little bit about Dr. Tom in his own words:  Hey, I’m Dr. Tom. Most days you can find me with a cold brew in my hand while enjoying the outdoors, and exploring the unique neighborhoods of Chicago with my family. I am most known for being Oliver and Evie's dad and the chiropractor behind Roots Family Chiropractic.  My mission is to inspire the families of Chicago to experience health differently. My practice is 50% pediatrics, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I truly believe that children are resilient rockstars who deserve to live a healthy, happy life. As a chiropractor and fellow parent, I am your family’s biggest advocate and strive to educate, encourage, and support you through your journey into true health.  As a family chiropractor that loves baby-wearing, I have also been featured on ABC news, CBS, Popsugar, Upworthy, Morning Dose, and more. Dying to know why? Check it out: https://rootsfamilychiro.com/press/ Connect with Dr. Tom on IG @drtomwilliams and find out more about Roots Family Chiropractic @rootsfamilychiro Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod

Hey everyone, thanks for joining us for another episode of Fit For Motherhood. We hope that all you mamas who are listening had a wonderful Mother’s Day this past Sunday and that your families made you feel very loved.  We know that for many people MOther’s day brings out all kids of emotions. Many of you have wonderful relationships with your moms and daughters, but many of you also have either estranged relationships with your moms or they have passed away.  We wanted to do an episode for all the moms out there who have lost their own mothers in the hopes that it makes you feel not so alone. This week we are joined by two dear friends of Alyssa's, Brian & Lindsey Moon. They shared their stories of the loss of Lindsey’s mom and both of Brian’s parents along with his brother. We talked about how they have coped with the loss and grieved together as a couple, how they talk to their children about it and what they are doing to honor their memories.  Brian owns his own real estate and development company.  He and Lindsey live in Chicago, IL with their family.  He's been in the business for 20 years since graduating from University of IL.  When he's not working, he loves all things water, including surfing, sailing and standup paddle boarding. Lindsey is a SAHM to their 3 kids Parker (7), Declan (5) and Everly (3). Lindsey graduated from Taylor University and after college she worked planning events as a Conference Services Manager at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago for 10 years until both their boys were born.  While she is no longer working in hospitality, she has a passion for it in her personal life at home and loves connecting with other women who are in similar stages of motherhood. Connect with Brian by emailing him at brianmoon@kw.com Connect with Lindsey on IG @lindseymoon1 Connect with us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this week's episode we are joined by Lauren Johnson. Lauren talked with us about how her journey into motherhood started out with a surprise cardiac diagnosis of DORV (double outlet right ventricle) with transposition of the great arteries, in her newborn daughter. We talked about how she and her husband navigated caring for their daughter before surgery and what their life looks like now.  Lauren Johnson is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and Pilates instructor that lives in Indian Hills, CO near Evergreen and just west of Denver.  She is married with two beautiful girls who love the outdoors.  Lauren enjoys cycling, hiking, paddle boarding, and crafting with her Cricut.  She is the owner of Prima Movement PT and Pilates clinic in Evergreen, CO. Connect with Lauren on IG @laurenzj and her business account for Prima Movement and Pilates @primamovement Visit her website www.primamovement.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this week's episode we are joined by Morgan Dufault.  Morgan is a 28 year old Enneagram 6 (wing 5) living in the sticks of Minnesota with her husband of four years, Sam and their two daughters—Harlyn (2.5), and Florence (Flora) (5 months), their dog, Mia, and 5 chickens.  She is passionate about all things “crunchy”, her faith, and cultivating a foundational home-front that was different from that in which she grew up in. Since the beginning of her relationship with her husband, God impressed the word “legacy” on both their hearts, as they both come from two very broken families. It is their desire to break generational un-health and create a new legacy for their kids & the generations after them. Morgan’s life motto is “beauty from ashes” as she believes that’s a great depiction of what the Holy Spirit has done with her life. She believes in sharing our stories, we have the power to impact others’ lives through our vulnerability.  We talked with Morgan about her estranged relationship with her mother and when she has learned and taken from that relationship and how she is changing the narrative with her own daughters. We talked about how therapy and her relationship with God have helped her heal and why sourdough bread makes her happy. Connect with Morgan on IG on her personal page @sheisofthesea and her business page @sea.and.ivy Check out her Etsy shop too!  Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode we are joined by Laura Jones. Laura currently lives in Indianapolis with her husband of 11 years, Matt, their 5 year old son, 2 year old daughter, and 9 year old sweet puppy named Indiana Jones. She's a stay at home mom and owns a business, Fire Stationery @firestationery on IG, that she started with her sister in 2019. She loves to travel and loves to read… She’s currently in 3 bookclubs! She volunteers in the arts… She’s on the guild with the Indianapolis Ballet. And volunteers at her church… She’s on the leadership team for the mom’s ministry. We loved talking to her about how her company came to be and the ways they are using it to encourage people with their homemade cards. She even sent Ali and I each a card after our recording and I have to say that they are beautiful. We also talked to her about the ways she is involved with other moms of preschoolers and even some positive things that she has seen come out of the Covid season. Connect with Laura on IG @firestationery or online at www.firestationery.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com Shop Beautycounter at www.beautycounter.com/alyssayost  

In this episode we chat with Dr. Trill from Free to Feed™ about the struggles that many breastfeeding moms face when their infant has an allergic reaction to something in their milk. We discussed the work she is doing with Free to Feed™ to change the narrative and help moms with her breastmilk test strips and the hope that there is for both mom and baby in navigating those allergies.  Dr. Trill is a mother to two beautiful daughters who had severe infant food sensitivities.  After processing the fact that she could hurt her children through breastfeeding, she started researching how to produce breast milk they could properly digest.  She discovered that many parents experience the same troubling situation.  She wanted to create a place for parents to find answers to their questions about infant food sensitivities and empower them to continue their breastfeeding journey.  This is how Free to Feed™ was born. Connect with Dr. Trill on Instagram @free.to.feed Check out her website at www.freetofeed.com/ Follow Fit For Motherhood on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode Ali & Alyssa catch up and chat about what life has been like the last few months. We're happy to be done with winter and are enjoying warmer weather and looking forward to summer. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Fit For Motherhood. This week we are joined by our very first dad guest (and Alyssa's husband), Grant.  We talked with him about digital identity, screen time, online bullying and trying to stay one step ahead of tech savvy kids.  While working to maintain his year over year status of Best Husband, Grant authors endless adventures to teach life skills to our children, plans the next trip west, anticipates the summer riding season, and awaits the day he can shoot under par.  Grant has spent most of his 15 year career in technology focusing on cyber security for companies both internally and in consulting.  He enjoys the need to continuously learn and research which is perfect for a field that changes daily. Connect with Grant on Linkedin  Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

This week we are joined by Anna Mohr to talk about her experience with postpartum recovery after 2 c sections. We dove into what that recovery has looked like in not only her physical,  but also her emotional and spiritual health.  Anna is wife to Josh and mom of 2 babies, ages 3 years and 5 months. She has worked as a neonatal nurse for 5 years and runs a wellness community creating a place to encourage and inspire other women to create healthy lifestyles in the midst of busy life.  She has learned so much in her own postpartum journey on recovering from two c-sections and gently starting back into working out again utilizing proper core rehab. This past year was filled with highs and lows, but God walked with them as they navigated transitioning from one babe to two. She can not wait to share her birth stories including an unsuccessful induction leading to a c section and a scheduled c section as well as the passion she has found in her active postpartum recovery.  Shop Beautycounter here Receive free shipping through March 24, 2021 at midnight for any orders over $50. New customers can also get 10% off your first order using code CHANGEBEAUTY10  through March 31st.  Connect with Anna on Instagram @anna.mohrfitness Connect with us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this weeks episode we are talking with Christina Hite about what it looks like to live purposely in community. Christina is married to Dustin, her college sweetheart, and mom of Kristin & Kaylynn (ages 9 & 10). An ordained Mennonite Pastor with a background in Marriage & Family Therapy, Christina has a passion for walking with people as they navigate life’s joys and sorrows.  Christina & Dustin who are both originally from Central Illinois, felt called to move to Austin, Texas in August of 2020 to be part of a one-of-a-kind neighborhood, Community First! Village. This village filled with tiny homes, not only houses those who are chronically homeless, but also focuses on the most important aspect of mitigating homelessness - providing an opportunity for true community and connectedness for all who live there.  The Hites moved in as Missional Neighbors and launched a brand new ministry - A Faithful Presence where they provide pastoral care, spiritual direction, friendship, and intentional neighboring for all who call the Village home.  When she’s not working at A Faithful Presence, Christina is working as the Communications Director of Foster Village, a local non-profit that equips, connects, and advocates for families and children who are connected to foster care.  Christina and Dustin have homeschooled their girls for the last three school years and love the flexibility of their non-traditional life in the Village. Connect with Christina on Instagram @christinahite83 and on Facebook Read her blog at https://christinahite.com Learn more about A Faithful Presence on Instagram @afaithfulpresence and on Facebook Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode we are talking with Liz Brodahl about adventure in motherhood (and life in general), physical and mental health and the concept of can we as moms really do it all? Liz is a Michigander turned Coloradan and has called Denver home for the past 11 years. She and her husband of 10 years are parents to two daughters and enjoy adventuring in their camper trailer, biking around the city and dance parties or movie nights at home. Liz is passionate about mental and physical health which allows her to stay in top shape as a full-time career mom. She's a Girls on the Run coach at her daughter's elementary school, a volunteer on the Denver Community Church women's ministry leadership team and an enthusiastic connector for anyone and everyone in search of a career or purpose in life! Connect with Liz on IG @lizbrodahl or on LinkedIn  Read about her in the Colorado Expression magazine Check out her personal blog at www.lizbrodahl.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode we chat with author Meredith Barnes. She published her first book, All The Time: Daily Devotions Finding Faith in the Everyday Moments on March 1st. The book is centered around the concept of Time- God's creation of time, the tension we can feel in our daily lives under the constraint of time, the power of our time- this book offers you a closer examination of your own relationship with time. God created time with intention, what will you do with it? We are so excited to have her share how the book came about and how she has been impacted by taking the time to write it and we know that her words will speak to everyone.  Connect with Meredith on IG @frecklesandfortitude and on her website at www.frecklesandfortitude.com You can buy her book here Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

This week we are joined by Olivia Carlson. We talked about all the things she has experienced in motherhood from premature birth, NICU stays, food allergies, breastfeeding, pumping, supplementing with formula and extended breastfeeding all while being a busy outside the home working mom. I know that everyone will be able to find something to relate to with her story.  Olivia is a real estate broker in the City of Chicago. Originally from Jasper, Indiana, Olivia first moved to Chicago in 2002 for an internship opportunity at an Architecture Firm and fell in love with this city. After finishing her bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Purdue University, she moved permanently to the Lakeview neighborhood. She met her husband, Scott, in 2005 at Park Community Church, where they are both active members. They’ve been together for 15 years and have adorable two children, Theodore and Meredith. They currently live in Roscoe Village in a hundred year old row home that they completely gutted and rebuilt over a two year project. Olivia loves working in real estate because she is able to directly invest in her community, friends and family. She loves helping clients find their homes in the city where they can thrive. Her experience makes her a valuable partner on construction projects, for investors and private clients, alike. Olivia loves to travel the world with her husband. Their favorite trips have included Greece, Italy and Israel. She enjoys being with her family, playing tennis, eating at new restaurants, running on the lake front path and seizing the day!  Connect with Olivia on IG @oliviadail & @oliviaschicago and online at www.oliviaschicago.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhood.com Shop Esembly diapering systems head to www.esemblybaby.com and first time users can get 10% off your order using code FFMPodcast. To try out Firstleaf head to the link in our IG profile @fitformotherhoodpod and click on “6 bottles free wine”. You will be taken through a few steps to pick out your perfect wines and will receive your first 6 bottles of wine for free, you only pay for shipping. 

This week on the podcast Kristi Blankenship shares her journey of motherhood via the miracle of IVF and then talks about what her first year of motherhood has looked like. Kristi is a new mom, wedding photographer, and Etsy shop owner based in Central Illinois. Her daughter Bennett, just turned one in December and she became a mom thanks to the miracle of IVF. She and her husband Nathan do wedding photography together and just launched a business of home decor and custom furniture last year.  Her favorite things for herself are watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, listening to true crime podcasts, and taking hot baths. We also did this interview in two parts. We first talked to Kristi about a week before Bennett was born and then again shortly after Bennett’s first birthday. So this episode is a combination of two interviews done about a year apart. We hope this gives you a good look into her IVF experience along with what motherhood has looked like for Kristi. We are so thankful that she was open to sharing such a personal experience with us and all of you.  Connect with Kristi on IG @madetobemine @wearetheships and @blankhaus Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com To shop Firstleaf wines head to the link in our IG profile @fitformotherhoodpod and click on “wine from first leaf”. You will be taken through a few steps to pick out your perfect wines and will receive $40 off at checkout. 

In this episode we are joined by Jenna Lee to talk about her experience using cloth diapers along with what we can all do to decrease the amount of single use plastic in our homes.  Jenna is a 24 year old SAHM to her 14 month old son, Percy. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her fiance, Bryce, their two cats, Eleanor & Joan, and their son. Jenna graduated with a bachelor of arts in ancient studies & medieval studies in 2018, but she never actually used her degree. Blogging & creating content on Instagram is her creative outlet right now. Jenna loves connecting with other women who are striving to make more eco-conscious choices for themselves and their families.  Connect with Jenna on IG @ecoconsciousmum or online at www.ecoconsciousmum.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com To shop Esembly diapers visit www.esemblybaby.com First time users use code FFMPodcast for 10% your order. 

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Fit For Motherhood. With us today are two friends of Alyssa's Janelle Keller & Jill Smith.  We talked about how they ended up moving to Mexico and the life transformation they have seen in the children they work with. Jill shared the story of how she adopted her two children. Then they gave updates on what life looks for them now.  Janelle Keller is the Executive Director of Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM). FFHM has children’s homes and outreach ministries in Tijuana, Sinaloa, Baja California, and Oaxaca, Mexico. She is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, and had her first exposure to FFHM on a trip to the Baja Mission in 2000. On that trip, God got ahold of her heart, and a passion for Mexico was kindled in her. In 2007 Janelle went to serve at the Oaxaca Mission, where she lived for 4 years before coming to work in their US office in San Clemente, CA. These days she looks for any excuse she can find to travel to Mexico and loves being a part of what God is doing there.   Jill Smith is the Director of Mexico Operations for Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM). Originally from Michigan, after graduating from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, she moved to the Chicago area to serve at Willow Creek Community Church. It was then that Jill heard about FFHM for the first time and took her first trip to Mexico. Alongside Janelle, Jill went to serve full-time at the Oaxaca location in 2007. While there, she became a mother, through adoption, to Celina, who is now 12, and Nathan, who is now 9. After completing their adoptions, Jill and the kids relocated to the Baja Mission, where she became the Director. It was there that she met her husband, Tim. They now live in Tijuana, where she oversees all of the mission locations in Mexico.  Alyssa had the privilege of meeting Janelle & Jill in 2009 on her first of many trips to the children’s home in Oaxaca and it has been such a joy to see how they are working to change the lives of children and families in Mexico through Foundation For His Ministry.  Connect with Janelle on IG @janellekeller and on Facebook Connect with Jill on IG @jillvadams and on Facebook Learn more about (FFHM) Foundation For His Ministry on IG @ffjmorg on Facebook and online at www.ffhm.org Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this week's episode we are talking with Amelia Zobrist about what her life looks like as a mom to 5 kids, her experience with adoption through the foster care system and the new business she started in the middle of the pandemic. Amelia is wife to Zach and Mama to 5 kiddos 5 and younger. She and her husband have been foster parents for nearly their entire marriage and are currently on the path to adoption for two of their littles. Their boys are five months apart and the girls are five months apart (and they've had them all since birth), giving them basically two sets of glorified twins.  3 are biological, and 2 are soon to be adopted. Amelia started her career as a photographer and over the course of the last 5 years the skills she learned from that business have led her to owning her own company called Wandering Wilde Co. Wandering Wilde creates Bible study resources for women. They’re really intentional to not lead women in their thinking, but to encourage Bible literacy and deeper engagement in the Word. Amelia says that 2020 has been a crazy year with so many ups and downs both professionally and personally, but the company that was born out of it has already seen so much favor. You can connect with Amelia on IG @millykins,  @ameliazobrist & @wandering.wilde Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Fit For Motherhood. We’re so excited to be back after a short break and to kick off Season 2 with some amazing guests. Today we chat with one of our childhood friends, Julia Mittelberg, about her experience with foster care and the adoption of her two sons along with talking about the health journey she has been on the last few years. Julia lives in Bowling Green, KY where she has worked as a professor of Elementary Education at Western Kentucky University for the last 6 years! She says that working with college students is so fun and watching them become future teachers fills her with so much joy!   Julia a single foster mom to two preschool-aged boys that she is in the process of now adopting. Her goldendoodle Hugo provides their little family with cuddle therapy daily. She is a lover of fitness & healthy living, home decor, television sitcoms, and Jesus--along with plenty of other things but those stick out as her favorites.  We hope you enjoy our conversation with her!  Follow Julia on IG @juliamittgetsfit Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

After taking a short break, we're back with a new episode of Fit For Motherhood! We talk about what we did over the holidays and our hopes for the podcast this next year. Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode we talk with the hair fairy herself, Ali Onken, about all things postpartum hair loss, normal hair loss, changes to your hair during and after pregnancy. We also go through some fun hair myths and truths. Make sure to listen all the way to the end to find out our new name for the top knot! Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpodcast Join our community at www.fitformotherhood.com  

In this episode we chat with Corinne Westing, CNM. You can hear about how Corinne became interested in midwifery, the different places she has worked and how she eventually ended up with a home birth practice in Chicago. We also chatted about the differences in the care models between hospital based and home birth midwifes. We also talked about the joys of castor oil inductions! :)  Corinne is a proud mamx to an amazing 5yo kiddo born safely at home (attended by a Certified Nurse Midwife and team), who lives in Little Village, Chicago. A practicing home birth midwife themself, Corinne is passionate about making safe physiologic birth, community birth, and quality mental health care accessible for all birthing people. Throughout their midwifery career, Corinne has also worked in community health on the South and West sides of Chicago, as well as in a laborist role in a large teaching hospital. As a human, Corinne has been an advocate for over 20 years for reproductive choice and justice, LGBTQIA freedom, and in the labor, immigrant rights, and racial justice movements.  To connect with Corinne you can find her on Facebook and IG @chimamxmidwife Join our community online at www.fitformotherhood.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod

As a follow up to our episode 2 weeks ago with Erin Nahorny (Episode 28), Alyssa talks about what it has been like working as a pediatric oncology nurse. She shared how she became interested in nursing, some of the highs and lows and a little advise for parents. Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode Ali and Alyssa talk about the decision Alyssa’s family made to leave Chicago and move back to her hometown, how they’re adjusting, along with some life updates from Ali and our random thoughts on sleepovers for kids.  Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode Ali and Alyssa had the honor of interviewing Erin Nahorny, the mom of Sammy, a now 12 year old, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of 4. She shared with us what it was like to find out that Sam had neuroblastoma, what his journey looked like and how she and their family all came out the other side. She also told us about the foundation that she helped start which is giving money each year to further research in childhood cancers.  Erin Nahorny is a busy wife to Chris and mama to Ella (16), Sam (12) and Jacob (9). She is a passionate advocate for childhood cancer awareness and funding. People who know her would describe her as motivated, hard-working and passionate about what is important to her.  Erin grew up in Columbus, NE and returned to the area in 2005, when her husband, Chris, began working for her family’s business. Erin completed her education with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Doane College. She worked in the social services industry for 15 years, but left her position as the Children’s Services Director at the Center for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors when her son, Sammy, was diagnosed with Stage 4, High-Risk Neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, in 2012. For several years following Sam’s diagnosis, Erin made caring for Sammy and her family her #1 priority. In 2013, Erin, Chris and a group of close friends founded Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting childhood cancer awareness and research. To date, the all volunteer foundation has funded over $1,000,000 in research grants to hospitals all over the country.  In 2017, Erin began to consider returning to a career of service, but didn’t feel the same passion to continue her career in social services. After much soul-searching, Erin decided a complete change of career was in the cards and she began studying real estate. She found a great balance between her love of helping others through her work with the foundation and helping families navigating the difficult path of childhood cancer and also having her own career.  Outside of Sammy’s Superheroes, Erin has been actively involved in various volunteer and non-profit entities for many years. She has worked with the American Red Cross as a Critical Incident Stress Management/Debriefing therapist. She worked with the grief support program, Mourning Hope, as a group facilitator and served on their Board of Directors. She was the Chair for her local United Way's “Kids for Change” Campaign. She is a member of St. Isidore’s Catholic Church and loves to volunteer at her children’s school. To connect with Erin or find out more about Sammy's Superheroes visit them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SammysSuperheroes/ and on  Instagram @sammys_superheroes Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this episode Alyssa talks about her experience losing a twin at 5 weeks. Hear about how she found out about the loss and how she is doing now. 

In this episode we talk with Soukaina "Akina" Benhaga.  Soukaina is married to her engineering school sweetheart and they blessed with their sweet baby Luna. She works as a business intelligence analyst and love taking pictures, creating content, DIY, home styling and weightlifting. She and her husband are originally from Morocco and they currently live in the beautiful city of Montreal, Canada.  We talked with her about her experience with baby wearing her daughter. She also shared her journey into motherhood starting with her birth story and then the transition back to work after a year of maternity leave. We also talked about the importance of self care along with a nightly bowl of ice cream.  Connect with Soukaina (and see her beautiful feed) on IG @akinasway Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this week’s episode we talk with Sandy Seitz, MSe, EP-C, 200CYT. Sandy is an Exercise Physiologist, soon to be a Physical Therapist and mom of 2 angel babies and one 5 year old. Nothing is TMI as she helps mama's prep for giving birth and supports them in recovery. You can find her cracking jokes and making the uncomfortable, comfortable. She believes in the ones starting over, beginners, the underdogs, and those that don't see it in themselves! We talked with her about her experience working in women’s health and discussed all things related to postpartum and pelvic floor dysfunction along with exercise during pregnancy. Also, as this is our first episode where we are talking about fitness, exercise, health, we want to remind everyone listening that this is not a substitute for direct, personal, professional medical care and diagnosis. None of the information or exercises mentioned should be performed or otherwise used without clearance from your physician or health care provider. Connect with Sandy on IG @sweatandshineon Visit her website: www.seitzfitness.com Follow us on IG @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

This episode is just the two of us doing our very first Ask Us Anything episode. We are hoping to do these quarterly as a way for you to get to know us better. Listen in to find out about our SSB (you have to listen to find out what this is), our favorite and least favorite parts of motherhood, how we have maintained a long distance friendship for so many years and more!  Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com    

In this episode Alyssa chats with Lauren Williams about her pregnancies, how she and her husband walked through having three miscarriages and about her home birth experience with her little man Oliver.    Lauren is a mama to 3 angel babies, 3-year old Ollie and baby girl on the way. She is the wife to a chiropractor, business owner at Roots Family Chiropractic, occupational therapist + happy homebody (enneagram 5w6 all the way!). You can most likely find Lauren enjoying an oat milk at her favorite coffee shop or strolling around the beautiful neighborhoods of Chicago with her little family.   She says, "Life is crazy, but I always make time for a hot shower at the end of the night and scouting out the newest non-toxic product. Oh and I love sharing my world rooted in health and simplicity on my Instagram, @growingmay. I'm pretty much an open book!   Ps- Virtual cheers to all those ladies out there trying to figure it all out + chasing the dream of drinking coffee while it’s still hot. You are my people!"   To connect with Lauren, follow her on Instagram @growingmay or at www.growingmay.com   Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpodcast    Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this episode Alyssa and Ali give updates on their lives in quarantine. They discuss the home improvement projects that have been keeping Alyssa busy and Ali talks about her family's first overnight vacation. Follow us @fitformotherhoodpodcast Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com  

In this episode we talk with mom of 2 and author of soon to be released book- Momoir, Alyssa DeRose. Join us for a heart to heart conversation about the joys and struggles Alyssa found in motherhood, along with her journey first as a stay at home mom to rejoining the workforce.  Alyssa DeRose—who is on a first-name basis with Jesus, the local garbage man, and her local Lululemon sales representative—is the Mom to two young boys, Micah and Levi. She has spent the early years of her stay-at-home motherhood questioning her decision to give up her career, making more mistakes than most, and somehow—with the help of her husband and a skilled professional therapist—managing to find freedom in her new identity as a mother. With her debut work, MOMOIR: A New Mom's Journey to Embracing Her Not-So-Perfect Motherhood, she brings her story of becoming a mother to life: with bravery, camaraderie, and a healthy dose of humor. About her book:  Written from the trenches of early motherhood, MOMOIR: A New Mom’s Journey to Embracing Her Not-So-Perfect Motherhood is the book every Mom needs within arm’s reach when she hears the baby cry in the middle of the night–AGAIN–and she finds the emotional and physical burdens of her motherhood (and her snoring husband) too much to bear alone. In her debut book, Alyssa’s magnetic transparency allows readers to access the intimate–and too-often glossed over–details of her “normal” Mom life in a way that permits us to become truer versions of ourselves. Providing a front row seat to her not-so-perfect journey of becoming a mother–through miscarriage and postpartum depression and marital stress and a surprise second baby–she shares her colorful story of motherhood with authenticity, faith, and a healthy dose of levity; three ingredients she has learned every mother needs to survive.   Follow Alyssa @alyssabderose   To purchase MOMOIR: A New Mom’s Journey to Embracing Her Not-So-Perfect Motherhood   Follow Fit For Motherhood @fitformotherhoodpodcast   Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

Today on the podcast we talk with Megan Marzano. Megan is an only parent, recovered alcoholic, full time Executive Assistant, side-hustle go-getter, very regular girl. She lives in Chicago with her 11 year old son, in close proximity to her siblings and their spouses (on purpose). She is grateful for the life she lives- which in itself, is a blessing. We talk about her life with the joys and challenges as an only parent and her journey to being a recovered alcoholic.  Follow Megan @megan_marzano_1 Follow Fit For Motherhood @fitformotherhoodpodcast Join our community at www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

This week's episode features Kierra of Beloved Mama, your best mom-friend on these internet streets. She is passionate about showing you the grace and love of God through tons of laughs. She is a wife and mama to four boys. The boys bring so much joy to her life — but she says that the more they are in her face the more she is in Jesus’ face. For fun, Kierra is a tea drinker and thrift store queen. Every day God is empowering her to do what she never saw and be what she never had. We talked about the hearts of white people being opened to understanding the privilege that we have in this country. We also talked about her feelings on raising her sons in a country where there is still so much racial injustice.  She shared her heart with us and she has such a spirit of hopefulness and grace for those of us who are still learning.  Kierra also recently started the #iammama movement. On her Instagram post on June 7th, she wrote, "I AM MAMA is a movement bc us mamas are moving. Don’t stop! We fight til we win. ———— George, we heard your cry for Mama! We wept as we listened, and we realized that Mama was also justice, air, and love. Black mamas understood and white mamas stood and declared I AM MAMA! We are all running to answer you." You can visit her bonfire website to purchase shirts with the message of "I AM MAMA" and "YOU ARE LOVED". She will be sharing her proceeds with Prison Fellowship.   If you want to connect with Kierra you can visit her Instagram page @heybelovedmama or on Youtube at Beloved Mama. www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

This week on the podcast we spoke with Gabrielle Payne about her life growing up in a culturally diverse part of Chicago, what it's been like being a white woman married to a black man and the joys and struggles of raising 7 biracial children. 

In this episode Ali and Alyssa discuss the impacts that social distancing has had on them and how they have experienced isolation in motherhood.  www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

In this episode Sara Chenery shares with us the story of how she and her husband, Raef, adopted twin daughters into their family through the foster system. She shared the joys and also the hard things of going quickly from a family of three to a family of five. Sara and Raef’s passion for adoption is so great that they were able to help create a fund at their church, where Raef is a pastor, that is helping other families with a passion for adoption to be able to afford the costs of the process.  She also gave us insight into the mindset that is needed to be able to walk with eyes wide open into the fostering process, her family’s adjustment to bringing adopted children into their home, and things that she tries to do to maintain her own health as a mother. www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com

On this weeks episode Ali shares her three hospital birth stories. 

Our guest this week is Anna Rodney, who is the mother of three girls ranging in age from 3 years to 10 years. She owns Chicago Family Doulas, a full service doula agency supporting families in the entire Chicagoland area. She is also a doula trainer with CAPPA for the postpartum and labor programs and also their childbirth educator program. Anna has supported families as a doula since 2009 and is committed to providing families with professional, compassionate, and personal support. Anna gives 200% in all she does in life and brings this commitment and passion to every aspect of her work as a doula agency owner and trainer.   Anna has had the reputation of being a kind, calm, and loving person for as long as she can remember. She has always cared deeply for people and strives to support and care for all around her. She has worked with children and families since she was a teen and later on has supported families in the role of a nanny, preschool teacher, Americorps worker, respite worker, special education teacher, and finally as a birth and postpartum doula. Anna was a special educator for ten years prior to becoming a doula and owner of Chicago Family Doulas.   Being a life long learner, Anna earned her Master’s degree in Education as well as multiple degrees in Special Education. She is certified as a labor and postpartum doula through CAPPA, a CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator, a Certified Newborn Care Specialist, and is a certified Happiest Baby on the Block instructor. Anna is committed to sharing her vast knowledge with the families she works with. If you are in the Chicagoland area you can find more about her at chicagofamilydoulas.com.    

In honor of Mother's Day coming up we are taking two weeks to share our birth stories. This episode Alyssa shares her three birth stories, one at the hospital and two at home. 

In this weeks episode we chat with Alyssa's friend of almost 20 years, Beth Hofstetter Falb.  Beth and Alyssa were friends and roommates in college. We chatted with her about her life as a mom and her work as a social worker.  We also asked her for advice on how to work with our children in times of change (aka a pandemic), behaviors to look for that would indicate they are not coping well and  she gave us some practical tips on what we can do to support them during these difficult times.   Beth lives in Northeast Ohio with her Husband of 7.5 years and their two children, ages 5 and 2, on her husband's family farm.  She received her Master's of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, and has been practicing in this field for the last 15 years, with a focus on children and parents, and has specialized training in trauma work. She is currently the Director of Family Services for a local Non Profit Community Mental Health Agency.  To learn more about Beth please visit our website, www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com.   

In this candid solo episode Ali talks about juggling motherhood along with her physical, mental and spiritual health.  She discusses her lifetime of challenges with her weight and how she came to understand her struggles with anxiety in adulthood. She explains how having a health coach and counselor helped her understand the things she was struggling with and the many benefits that she found in exercise. 

In this episode we chat with Laura Dugger.  Laura married her best friend, Mark, 10 years ago and they have 4 beloved daughters. Laura is a marriage and family therapist and her graduate school specialization was christian sex therapy. In 2018, she launched a podcast called The Savvy Sauce: Practical Chats for Intentional Living which now airs around the world. Finally, she can’t get enough community: her parents instilled traditions she and Mark continue to uphold which include hosting and gathering people together as much as possible!  

In this episode we are giving you a little insight into Ali's life. Ali is the other half of Fit For Motherhood. She lives in central Illinois with her husband of 10 years. They have three children (5, 3, and 2) who are at any given moment some combination of hilarious and lovely and amazing and challenging and infuriating. She is a hair stylist and after having her third child made the decision to go down to one work day per week. She loves the creativity and flexibility of her career and can’t imagine having done anything else for the past 15 years. She is an Enneagram 9w1, drinks too much coffee, and I has a big sweet tooth. She loves her family, sunny days, and lifting weights. Oh, and she loathe cardio and winter. Loooathes.

In this solo episode Alyssa talks about pregnancy, labor & delivery and the postpartum experience during the Covid-19 pandemic.  She goes over the current research and practices, discussed what is being done locally at a hospital in Chicago and how she has been personally affected by the pandemic.  References Evidence Based Birth: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/covid19/  Podcast- https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-121-evidence-on-covid-19-and-pregnancy-and-birth/  Aviva Romm: https://avivaromm.com/covid-19-pregnancy-breastfeeding/  Mama Natural: https://www.mamanatural.com/pregnancy-covid-19-presentation  NYhomebirth.com: https://www.nyhomebirth.com/covid19-statement.html  CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/inpatient-obstetric-healthcare-guidance.html  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fspecific-groups%2Fpregnancy-faq.html#anchor_1584169983  ACOG: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/03/novel-coronavirus-2019  WHO: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding  Prayer by Lindsay Funksouser on Instagram @linfunkstagram 

In this episode we talk with Celeste Johnston who is the embroidery artist and maker behind Lemon Made Shop. She began her small business in 2016 after moving from the Midwest to Austin, Texas with her husband and two young children. After being an elementary teacher for eight years and transitioning to stay at home mom life, embroidery was a welcomed crafting endeavor that quickly turned into a successful Etsy business. She has made many happy customers with purchases from her shop and inspires 50K+ crafters from all around the world through her Instagram account.   Celeste stitches houseplants, flowers, animals, uplifting and important words, and some of her most beloved pieces come from her 50 states collection, where she stitches an outline of a state and fills it with colorful native plants or scenery. She loves embroidery because of the soft textures, endless subject matter, and the therapeutic and fulfilling process of working on a piece.   She stitches during her children’s nap times and into the wee hours of the night, burning through cups of coffee and her favorite Netflix series. Crafting has always been a central theme of her life, but embroidery is where Celeste has truly flourished, empowering her to share the love of the craft with everyone.   You can find Celeste on Instagram @lemon_made_shop and at her Etsy shop www.lemonmadeshop.etsy.com.   If you liked this episode of Fit for Motherhood, please tell your friends! You can to go iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify and Google Play to rate, review, and subscribe to the show. For more information about us, visit www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com to learn more. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod and email us at fitformotherhoodpodcast@gmail.com with any questions feedback and guest inquiries.

In this episode we are getting to know Alyssa, co-host of Fit For Motherhood.   Alyssa lives in Chicago with her husband and two toddlers (3 & 2). They recently bought a 1950s home on the northwest side and are in the process of renovating it.  Please send help or any decorating tips her way.   She works part-time as a pediatric oncology nurse treating kids with neuroblastoma. She is also a certified holistic health and life coach and the owner of Grounded Roots Coaching. Alyssa loves working with women of all sizes and stages of life, but her area of specialty is coaching women in their first year or two postpartum.   Alyssa also has a passion for clean beauty and household products. If you're interested in learning more you can check out her Beautycounter page at www.beautycounter.com/alyssayost.   When not working you’ll find Alyssa spending time with her husband and kids.  Their current favorite place is the Lincoln Park Zoo trying to spot the new baby rhino.   She has been blessed with an amazing community of moms around her, and one thing she has learned is that motherhood is not something to tackle alone.  We need each other!   If you liked this episode of Fit for Motherhood, please tell your friends! You can to go iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify to rate, review, and subscribe to the show. For more information about us, visit www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com to learn more. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod and email us at fitformotherhoodpodcast@gmail.com with any questions feedback and guest inquiries.  

Today we are joined by one of our childhood friends, Jessica Steffy, who is the co-owner of Square One Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee roaster headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with retail locations in Lancaster and Philadelphia. She and her husband, Josh, live in Lancaster with their two sons (ages 12 and 15) and their pug Wilma. Jess and Josh will celebrate their 18-year wedding anniversary this New Year's Eve.   With over 15 years of experience in the specialty coffee industry, Jess is a licensed Q Grader (think "coffee sommelier"), a BGA Certified Barista, an SCA Certified Lead Instructor, a veteran judge for coffee competitions in the US, and she's also a certified judge coffee competitions at the “World” level.   Jess enjoys writing, traveling, teaching, collecting memes and memories, belting out Today's Hits (using her best Cher impersonation), and spending time with her family.   To learn more about Jess and Square One Coffee visit www.squareonecoffee.com or on Instagram @squareonecoffee   If you liked this episode of Fit for Motherhood, please tell your friends! You can to go iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify to rate, review, and subscribe to the show. For more information about us, visit www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com to learn more. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod and email us at fitformotherhoodpodcast@gmail.com with any questions feedback and guest inquiries.

In this episode we are talking to Meredith Barnes, the lifestyle/motivational blogger, at Freckles Are Fashion, where she weaves together her faith and her love for fitness and fashion. We talk about her journey healing from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, her ups and downs of motherhood and how she found a creative outlet with sewing and blogging.   Meredith Barnes has a colorful professional history including in advertising for the Anaheim Angels, and as a costume designer, an orthopedic Physician Assistant, cycle instructor, a seamstress and a writer. After receiving a BA in Theology at Loyola Marymount University she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Medical Science from Midwestern University.  She is a mother of three boys, ages 5, 3 and 7 months. She currently resides in Southern California, where she grew up, but considers herself an honorary Midwesterner, as both her parents are from the Midwest and she spent every summer of her life in Michigan. She lived in Chicago for 10 years where she met her husband Ben.  Since they moved to California four years ago, he continues to commute back to Chicago for work at least once a month.  Meredith was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 8.  This significantly molded her childhood experience. Her illness has been a strong motivation for her present day passion for health and wellness.    While raising her three sons takes up most of her days, she still attempts to find time to work on multiple passion projects.   To learn more about Meredith go to www.frecklesarefashion.com and visit her on Instagram at @frecklesarefashion You can also visit her Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/FrecklesareFashion     If you liked this episode of Fit for Motherhood, please tell your friends! You can to go iTunes and Spotify to rate, review, and subscribe to the show. For more information about us, visit www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com to learn more. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod and email us at fitformotherhoodpodcast@gmail.com with any questions feedback and guest inquiries.    

Hi friends, and welcome to our first ever episode of Fit For Motherhood!!! Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen, we are SO excited to have you with us!   We have been friends since early childhood, grew up together and are currently the moms of littles 5 and under.     The process of starting this podcast started a few months ago after a conversation about potty training and we can't wait to see where it goes from here.    A LITTLE BIT OF INFO ON US   Ali lives in central Illinois with her husband, Matt, and their three kids (4, 3 & 1).  She is a part time hair stylist and spends the rest of her time at home with her kids.    She is an enneagram 9w1.    Alyssa lives in Chicago with her husband, Grant, and their two toddlers (3 & 1).  She works part time as a pediatric oncology nurse and is also a certified holistic health coach & life coach and the owner of Grounded Roots Coaching.  She especially loves working with women during their first year postpartum.    She is still trying to figure out her enneagram.   WHY ARE WE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TOPIC OF MOTHERHOOD?   • We’re MOMS   • We’ve both experienced difficulties in our journeys as moms and have felt alone in dealing    with those challenges.   • We’re tired of the perfect images that are crafted on social media to which we find ourselves comparing our lives.   • For Ali, she has become more self-aware in the last year or so and is tired of being dragged along by life.  She has challenged herself to find ways to be more proactive about her mental and physical health because she realizes how much those things affect her ability to parent effectively.   WHY ARE WE DOING THIS PODCAST?   • Letting moms know that they are not alone in questioning their fitness for parenting   • Encouraging other moms to know that we can do the hard things of motherhood, even when we doubt our abilities.   • Sharing practical applications and also ideas that can be helpful in keeping ourselves mentally and physically fit for motherhood. We would love to have you with us every week as we talk together through topics that are important to us (and hopefully you!), interview other moms who are walking through all the different issues that come with the different stages of motherhood, and bond together over the things we have in common that truly make us fit for motherhood.       If you liked this episode of Fit for Motherhood, please tell your friends! You can to go iTunes and Spotify to rate, review, and subscribe to the show. For more information about us, visit www.fitformotherhoodpodcast.com to learn more. Follow us on Instagram @fitformotherhoodpod and email us at fitformotherhoodpodcast@gmail.com with any questions feedback and guest inquiries.