Fit and Fabulous Moms

For those dedicated mothers who lift more than just their kids, we salute you. And in honouring your feat, Flair has decided to dedicate a feature to you. Lifting weights is far from easy, and, for many mothers, this ritual was put in place out of the sheer need to relive their glory days and make a breakthrough to their desired size after giving birth to their little angel.

One such mother who can attest to this is the lovely Suzanne Hendricks. Her situation is a bit different from the average Jane because she was never ever big to begin with. "Growing up, I was always skinny. My alias actually was toothpick, she explained.

Before having her beautiful daughter, Paige Fraser, in 2007, Hendricks confessed that she was only 90 pounds, but was grateful for her hips and curves passed down from her mother, Marcia Hendricks. Those hips paid off during delivery. She had gained 50 pounds and was up to 140 pounds.

Right after the birth, she admitted to eating anything, but made a stance to work out at the gym, "As skinny as I am, if I don't work out, my belly can get big. I am in my 30s now and I believe the older I get, the wider my hips will get. I am now at 125 pounds and I plan to stay there for the rest of my life, trying to eat clean, and working out at least four times a week."

Another supermother who jumped on the fitness train is Tiffany-Ann Lue-Brown. Her amazing journey is quite different from Hendricks', in that she had struggles with weight issues in the past, and, as a result, she had become an active gym goer, "I am what you would describe as a typical 'foodie', so being active is a must!"

During her pregnancy, she gave in to savoury and sweet indulgences, and because of this, she gained 40 pounds. Luckily for her, she was able to work out up until her third trimester (eight months), so when it came to retraining her body in the gym, she went ahead and did just that. "The aftermath was no easy task. I worked out four days a week assiduously with my trainer, Barry Wilson to shed my baby fat. After much dedication, focus, and tenacity, I was able to get back to my pre-baby weight 10 months after giving birth. I don't believe in diets, but I am a strong advocate for everything in moderation. We are humans and we must be able to enjoy what we love to eat."

These two 'hot mommas' have made it their mission to not only look good, but feel good, through exercise, all the while living a balanced lifestyle. So if you are struggling to lose that baby fat, it's not too late. Just get started, stay motivated and dedicated.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com