Love & Family

Happy Valentines Day…

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

img_9528

Happy Valentine’s Day to my forever Valentine! Someone asked me the other day about dating and relationships. It was funny because I do not consider myself a “pro” in this area but a constant “work in progress.” Levi and I work hard on our relationship every day and it is not always a “walk in the park” – so don’t let this picture fool you. I am on my knees praying for him and our relationship daily, and many of those prayers are about asking for humility and God’s grace and forgiveness for my humanness, imperfectness, and selfishness. Levi is about as easygoing as they come and I’m like a fiery, passionate, crazed wild stallion; unpredictable with a tendency to be a slave to my emotions. So when I was asked about relationships the other day, I had to think about it for a minute, and here’s what I came up with…
.
.
1. To all my single ladies out there, run fearlessly after Christ and whoever is keeping up with you, consider them a potential partner in life. And, as far as “dating”, remember, until you are married, that gentleman you are seeing is potentially someone else’s husband.  So tread carefully, respect each other, and don’t drag out pain and heartache.  Seek God first, He knows what you need!
.
.
2. Be partners in life: you should complement each other. It’s great to have things in common but also see the value they bring to the table and skills that you maybe don’t have. I am not a handy(wo)man, cannot do anything with a hammer, do not have patience with “projects” and home improvement, and plants come to me to die… so thank God for Levi who thrives in all those areas.
.
.
3. Have a state of the Union: every 3 months, discuss the state of your “union”; things that are going well, things that are not going well, areas you both can improve upon. And don’t be afraid to hurt each other’s feelings; when you really love someone you are not afraid to tell them things that will make them or your relationship better. Reminder, speak from a place of love on this, not anger. And if you are on the receiving end, be open to a little positive criticism that could make you better.
.
.
4. Married ladies: keep it HOT! As my 60+ year old, conservative, Jesus loving mother said at my wedding shower (in front of my entire bridal party, aunts, cousins, and future in-laws), “have a lot of sex.” But for reals, intimacy between married couples is sacred and healthy!
.
.
Finally, put the needs of one another first and lift them up in prayer daily! Relationships do take work so if you are dating, maybe ask yourself, do I want to fight with and fight for this person for the rest of my life??? I can’t imagine doing any of this life, the good, the bad, or the ugly without my Levi! He makes me better!

How to talk to someone struggling with negative body image…

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

img_8814
This is a question I get almost weekly from my clients and coaches so I thought I would address it here.  As someone who has struggled with disordered eating and negative body image, I can only tell you what has helped me.  Sorry for my French but I went through hell and back through my addiction to disordered eating and body image, and for A LONG TIME!  Sometimes I wish it didn’t happen to me, but then I realize that if I can help one person or inspire one person to make it out alive, then it was worth it.

Disclaimer: This blog post outlines how I would recommend addressing your concerns with another adult (let’s say someone over 25 or older), this is not how I would recommend addressing these concerns with a young girl or adolescent.  I will also state that I am not a doctor or licensed in any way to treat disordered eating and disordered body image which are legitimate diseases and addictions.  I am sharing with you some sincere ways of trying to change the conversation with a friend, co-worker or loved one who may be struggling with disordered eating/body image. If you feel like someone’s health is in immediate danger, that their behavior is beyond that of negative self-talk and you are concerned for their life and livelihood, please seek professional help.  At the end of this blog post I have also listed some professional resources. 

It’s a slippery slope working with someone who only sees their body for what it isn’t or what it can’t do. Essentially you are working to undo what is likely years of negative self-talk and someone who either was told or led by example (a mother or other strong female role model) or influence (an industry, such as those where aesthetic value is placed on your size and look such as modeling, dancing, gymnastics, figure skating, etc.) that your value comes from what your body looks like; what size you are, and how much you weigh.

First off, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Your value comes from the fact that you are a living, breathing human, created in God’s image.  If God didn’t see you as valuable, he wouldn’t have sent his only son to die a brutal criminal’s death to save you:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”   – Jeremiah 1:5

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” – Psalm 139:13

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:7

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

If you have a friend who maybe struggles with body image and negative self-talk, here are a few tips that have helped me in my own journey to fight back against these lies of negativity:

Tip No. 1: The power of positivity and encouragement.
In my personal experience, the only thing that can undo years’ worth of loathsome self-talk is to be surrounded by people who view fitness as a way of honoring their body and eating as a way of nourishing their body.  You are not going to change if you don’t change your environment and what influences you.  So, if you have a friend or family member who struggles with negative self-talk, change the conversation to one that’s positive and filled with encouragement!

Tip No. 2: Give them time.
Changing someone’s way of thinking and the way in which they perceive themselves can take a long time…months, maybe even years, and even then, that negative talk can still sneak up (as it often tries to do with me).  If we surround ourselves with people who are only speaking positively about their bodies and what they are capable of, it will start to rub off on us and others.   This is where the magic happens in the monthly virtual bootcamps and team of wellness coaches I lead comes into play:  as coaches, we lead these conversations and therefore can control where it goes and reign it in if it gets off track.  If it takes a turn towards negative town, we re-route it back to the positive.  We use words like NOURISH, FLOURISH, HONOR, STRENGTH, POWER, and focus on how we FEEL, not just how we LOOK.  And we celebrate “non-scale victories” – such as “I did my first full-plank push-up today”, or “I did my first set of 10 burpees ever today”, or “I was able to race around the playground today with my kids and roll around with them in the grass without needing a break.”

Tip No. 3:  Continue to encourage – no matter what! 
No matter what/if you are getting any response or getting anything in return…You just continue to show up, support and stay positive.  And each time your friend’s words or self-talk take a turn towards negative town, you steer them back on track.  Example, friend: “I feel so fat today I can’t even do this.”  You: “Well I am doing this, and I can’t do it without you so get down here and do one more push-up with me.”  Help them feel needed, help them feel valued, help them feel important.  It will remind them that they are all those things, despite the size of their pants or number on the scale.

Oswald Chambers says… “A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe…” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.”

Be a river.  Don’t worry what you get out of it in return or if you ever see the fruits of your labor, you just keep flowing positivity and encouragement downstream!

Tip No. 4:  An unhealthy relationship with food is most likely present.
Many people who struggle with body image and negative self-talk usually have an unhealthy relationship with food.  They’ve dabbled in extreme, restriction diets, maybe they’ve struggled with binge eating, but most likely they have a love/hate relationship with food.  So, again, you have an opportunity to change the conversation, you have an opportunity to educate them on all the things food CAN do for them, not “TO” them; as they likely just see food as something that makes them “fat”, not as something that “fuels” them.  Focus on food as fuel, focus on food as medicine, focus on food as nourishing their body and something that enables them to do all the things they want to do.

To review, eating disorders and negative body image are not something that should be taken lightly.  In my personal experience, it took the grace of God, a little tough love, a whole lot of support and encouragement, and being around other positive people to help me start to change the conversation in my head, and my heart, from self-hatred to self-care.  Notice I did not say self-love.  For me, personally, the word “care” just had/has more powerful meaning.  When you “care” about something, you are saying you are committing to it for the long term…. I am going to “care” for you insinuates “I am going to be here for the long haul.”  Care is defined as “the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.”  Love is defined as “an intense feeling of deep connection.”  There are days where my “love” for my body is less intense than other days, but caring for my body requires daily commitment, choices, and actions.  And I think that’s the difference and why that word is so powerful, love is a feeling, and feelings can easily be swayed by many internal or external factors.  Care requires action.  And sometimes the best thing we can do for those struggling with eating disorders and negative body image, is to provide them with small, little action steps they can do daily to take care of their body.  With support and encouragement from friends and family, it is possible to change the conversation and turn what one feels about oneself from hate to love and turn neglect into positive action.

If you are looking for additional resources on this topic, I would recommend the following:

https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/

https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-centers

http://www.center4ed.org/resources.asp

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support

If you have additional questions about eating disorders or negative body image and my personal experience, please comment below or email me at jenthornfit@gmail.com.

And if you want to join our team of amazing wellness coaches who support, care, encourage and uplift others, we are currently hiring and would love to welcome you to our positive Team Refine community!  Inquiries can be sent to: jenthornfit@gmail.com

Ladies, embrace your uniqueness!

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

image.jpeg

“Our generation is becoming so busy trying to prove that women can do what men can do that women are losing their uniqueness. Women weren’t created to do everything a man can do…. Women were created to do everything a man can’t do.” – Author Unknown
Coming off quite a weekend of illness and craziness in the Thorn household… It can best be summed up by lots of puking, lots of coughing, and lots of boogers. I’m kinda the last man (woman) standing and praying for God’s grace and protection in keeping me healthy… At least until backup (thank you mom and dad) arrives for Thanksgiving.
Was just thinking how easy it is to go to that place of self-pity and frustration when life gets a little overwhelming and then, by God’s grace, reminding myself that it’s little tests like this that produce endurance.

 

It’s amazing how as women and mothers, God gives us opportunities like these to really shine in our roles; because they make us realize we can’t succeed on our OWN but that we MUST rely on Him. I am sitting here in absolute wonder of His faithfulness, the blessing of my amazing husband, and the two little gifts he has entrusted us with! Being a mother is an exalted calling, one in which we were perfectly designed for! Tonight I’m thankful for our uniqueness; our ability to grow, birth, and sustain life; serve and nurture our families, and to LOVE fiercely – despite lack of sleep, food, or energy!
Tonight I’m thinking about all my fellow mamas out there who are in it! Take heart knowing that you were made for this! God chose you, specifically you to be the mother of your child/children and when you feel you are being tested it is only to make you better in that role! Embrace it ladies!

My number one tip when returning to exercise post-pregnancy…

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment
image
My amazing mommies and littles at my Mommy & Me Barre class

We interrupt this programming to bring you the cutest pic of babies and beautiful mommies you have ever seen!!! Love these amazing women from my Mommy & Me Barre class who encourage, inspire, and support each other week in and week out!

Even if you can’t get to a Mommy & Me Barre class, there are a few things you should keep in mind when returning to exercise post-pregnancy:

Consult your physician: get the green light from your OB BEFORE returning to exercise, and please, please, please wait at least 6 weeks (minimum) before returning to an exercise “regime.” Ladies, I don’t care how great you feel, your body just underwent major trauma! There is no way you can SAFELY return to exercise days after birth because the muscles of your abdomen, including your transverse abdominus, your rectus abdominus, and pelvic floor – cannot SAFELY support your skeletal structure after birth! Because of the explosion of hormones your body released to allow the bones, joints, and ligaments to soften, widen, and expand (to birth a baby), everything is still soft and pliable… aka more susceptible to injury and slower healing post-delivery. Picture trying to balance a 10 pound dumbbell on a piece of overcooked spaghetti… you feel me???

So do yourselves a favor (and me, please) just take a moment to focus on what’s really important; focus on healing, nurturing, and nourishing your body; focus on connecting with and getting to know your baby – you learn them and they learn you; give yourself permission to love on, and let others love on you; spend your time cuddling, learning what your baby likes and dislikes, how they like to be soothed. And don’t even get me started on learning the art of breastfeeding (that’s another post entirely)!

Moms are superhuman… seriously, y’all amaze me! We can pretty much do ANYTHING! But what I want you to ask yourself is “Why?” and “Should I?”. To whom are your choices truly benefitting… You? Your ego? Your baby? Your family? Your health? Like honestly, let’s stop for a moment and remind ourselves that being “healthy” does not mean fitting into our pre-pregnancy lulu lemon yoga pants or having six pack abs (despite what most other “fitness” accounts say/show you)! Being a “healthy mom” starts from the inside; it starts from your heart, your soul and your mind!

And PS, these are the things I talk about with my clients I coach one-on-one in my monthly support groups for new moms! My next group starts Monday 10/31 and is open to new moms (don’t have to be a first time mom), with babies 3-12 months old. Email me at 📧 jenthornfit@gmail.com if you want to learn more!

LOVE > hate

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

image

My whole world… Why I do what I do. Every decision, every action, every thought, holding them all captive to how it affects these 3 people right here. I find myself just wanting to protect them from the evil and darkness that exists in this world, so much hate, so much anger being spewed left and right and up and down. And it’s so LOUD!
This week I have challenged myself and I’m challenging you too; to be light, be love, show love, to show compassion to someone in need, encourage someone who is different than you, to embrace the fact that while we are all different we are all HUMAN; black, brown, red, white, Christian, Jew, republican, democrat…. we all bleed red.
Guess I’m just feeling so discouraged by the incessant montage of judgements, opinions and attacks on people’s character in the past few weeks. How about instead of posting, slandering, or criticizing someone’s performance or character this week we just lift up another human being??? How about we celebrate someone’s accomplishments, encourage, inspire, and uplift???? Can you imagine if for one day the focus was on spreading LOVE instead of spewing HATE??? I’m doing it, I’m making a choice this week to spread love. I don’t want my kids to grow up in a world where the only thing they hear or experience everyday is hate, darkness, and judgement. Anyone else ready for a change? We have to be it, we are responsible firsthand for what our littles see, hear, and experience. Who is going to make a commitment to spread LOVE this week???

Motherhood and identifying your true calling…

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

image.jpeg

This is what business meetings in my life look like today… me pumping, one of my amazing mentors breastfeeding… and the two of us dreaming and visioneering!

I remember before I had Ethan, my first, so many people told me “oh get ready, your life is about to change” or “life will never be the same” and some even said, “you are going to have to give up a lot.” Well, what I have found is that motherhood can either make you focus on all the things you “CAN’T” do anymore OR it provides an opportunity for you to focus on what’s truly important – where your true calling lies and what you should really be doing with your life. I will emphasize that this is a choice – if you feel a pull towards one area, but it takes away from your primary callings of wife and mother, it may be time to reevaluate those priorities (read Famous in Heaven and at Home for more on this)! But, if an opportunity comes your way that allows you to honor your primary callings as wife and mother – give it a second look!
It’s true that “your greatest calling in life may not be something you do but someone you raise” – Andy Stanley. I’m so thankful that motherhood taught me this valuable lesson, and I’m so thankful for women like this in my life. Women who not only allow me to make the choice to put my family first but who encourage it and who inspire me to dream big while honoring my priorities at the same time. Two people have been pivotal in teaching this to me and I am truly thankful for both of them, Danielle Haigh and Michelle Myers. Do you have women like this in your life??? If so, make sure you tell them thank you for inspiring and supporting you in this area.
Here’s to all the mamas out there who are leading, serving, and making a difference in the world right where they are! Motherhood doesn’t have to hold us back, in fact it can only make us better; better stewards of our life, our bodies, and our gifts and unique talents! Have a great weekend friends!!!

Haley’s Testimonial Story…. “I tried hard for ME!”

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

deming-family

Haley with her beautiful family!

I am so excited to share Haley’s testimonial with you today!  I was fortunate enough to work with Haley in one of my virtual bootcamps last summer.  She is a student of mine at Pursue Movement Studio, a boutique barre, yoga, and fitness studio where I teach in Jackson Hole, WY. She is also a current participant in my Famous in Heaven and at Home faith-based Virtual Bootcamp.  Famous in Heaven and at Home is a character study of the Proverbs 31 woman written by my mentor, Michelle Myers.  If you have not read it, do yourself a favor, and go pick up a copy right now!!!  Your life will be forever blessed and mind completely blown by this book!!!

Haley is what we would consider someone who has chosen to make health and fitness part of her lifestyle.  I’m sure if you asked her about it she would be the first to tell you there is no one magic shake, quick fix, or anything fast and easy that yields lasting results.  As you can see from my introduction, she is constantly working to make herself stronger, feel healthier, and is always willing to try new things!  She would also tell you that with fitness, there is no final destination, there is only a very fulfilling, at times challenging, journey that makes you stronger; not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well!  Here is Haley’s experience working with me as a coach, in her own words….

“Jen Thorn is the most amazing coach! She continues to inspire me each day with her strength in the studio, in the kitchen and in her daily devotion. I got to know Jen through her barre classes at Pursue Movement Studio, and she has completely changed by outlook on fitness and nutrition. I was brave enough to join one of her 60-day health and fitness challenges last summer and I have never looked back.

 

I have participated in workout challenges in the past and tried hard “for my team” or for the “prize”, but last summer was the first time I tried hard for me. And not just for the duration of the challenge, I felt like it was my first official life change! I’ve finally figured it out…daily workouts, plus nutrition is the only way to stay healthy!

I’ve definitely been one to indulge and even overindulged in the past, and during the challenge I quit drinking alcohol for 60 days! It was amazing! I gave myself a break maybe twice during social gatherings and it made me so much more thankful for that “sip” of indulgence vs. expecting it.

I’m down 10 pounds from day 1 but I’m feeling so good! I’m glad this is a 60 day challenge because then all the good habits become a way of life (hopefully)!

And by the way, I even rocked getting up at 5:45 a.m. in the morning and running with a neighbor 3 and 5 miles!!! Man, I’m sore but the “I think I can” approach is rebuilding my confidence.”

haley

In addition to attending my barre classes at Pursue Movement Studio and several other classes including Kettlebell (one of her favorites), Haley has also used two of my absolute favorite Beachbody programs to stay fit and healthy.  Last summer she committed to Chalene Johnson’s PiYo workout and this summer she has been using Autumn Calabrese’s 21 Day Fix Extreme!  I haven’t figured out which one she likes better yet but Haley used to be a dancer so I think her body naturally gravitates towards the flow and breath-filled movements of PiYo.  Now she is so strong, she can do anything – you should see the girl do pushups!!!

As you can see, Haley is still on her own journey but she has fallen in love with health and fitness so much that she decided to pay it forward and become a wellness coach on our Team.  Team Refine is a group of helpers seeking to become better through testing and serve others in health.  Our team was founded off of James 1:2-3:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

We are mothers, daughters, sons, health professionals, health rookies, and just people who found something that worked for them and now want to pay it forward!  I am honored that Haley let me be a small part of her story and so proud of all her hard work, dedication, and the type of woman and role model she is becoming for her husband, her children, her family and friends!

If you want help writing your own story, my next virtual bootcamp starts this coming Monday, September 26.  Fitness + Nutrition + Accountability + Support is what worked for Haley…let’s see if it works for you!  Just fill out the form below or email me at jenthornfit@gmail.com for additional information!

Go back

Your message has been sent

April’s Testimonial Story: Healthy living, one change at a time

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

april-preuss-pregnancyHi Guys!  I am so excited to share with you April’s transformation story.  I love this story because it is not the typical tale of someone trying to “lose weight” it is the story of an expecting mama looking to prepare her body for a healthy pregnancy and do the best for herself and the growing life inside of her!  Just thinking about this girl gives me goosebumps as she is such an incredible woman with a beautiful heart for the Lord, for others, and for life!

April and her husband Cam work with my husband in the National Park.  When I first met her, I had heard that she and Cam were runners and trained vigorously throughout the year training for both half and full marathons.  So naturally, being a non-runner (my personal best is maybe 7 miles…and that’s being generous to myself) I immediately was intimidated by her; I thought she was fierce and beyond any “help” my coaching services could provide.  Almost two years ago we somehow started a conversation about nutrition (maybe she remembers the exact details better than my old mom brain will) but I was just waiting for her to teach me something about nutrition as I just assumed as an extreme runner/athlete she would have it all figured out.  Turns out, she was looking for something to help keep her energized and sustain her through her long training runs and that actually benefitted her body rather than just spiked her blood sugar.  So we got her started on Shakeology and within a few weeks she recognized a noticeable difference, here’s what she had to say about it in her own words:

“I’ve been running half marathons since 2012, and I was struggling to fuel my body properly for my long runs.  If I didn’t fuel just right, I would get nauseous or I would completely run out of energy.  A little over a year ago I started Shakeology.  I knew my diet needed to improve, and I was curious how it would affect my running.  Within the first week I noticed that I had more energy whether I was running that day or not.  It was also easier to wake up in the morning.  I started to have a shake about an hour before my long run, and with the first run I noticed the difference.  I hit my stride earlier, and my energy lasted the entire run.  My husband was skeptical at first and wasn’t interested in trying the “shakes”.  However, about a month after I started, he tried a chocolate shake and has been hooked ever since.  When we travel overnight for races we always pack our blender!  It’s the perfect way to fuel up for a race, and we wouldn’t consider anything else now. Even when we’re not training for a race, we often replace lunch with a shake.  We notice that we have more energy and feel better overall throughout the day.” 

A little less than a year ago, April reached out to me again to talk about nutrition, but this time it wasn’t just for her, it was for the budding life she was now growing inside of her! April was very honest with me about the fact that in college she struggled with her weight and body image, and said it took her a really long time to lose the extra weight she put on. She was concerned because once she started putting on weight during her pregnancy, all of those “insecure feelings” from college came flooding right back:

“I tell you the first pound I put on brought back all of those feelings. Even though I knew that this time around the weight gain was for a good reason, it was healthy, I still struggled with it.”

April was also very honest about the fact that based on what everyone had “told” her about pregnancy “the aches, pains, weight gain, exhaustion,” etc., left her feeling dispirited about being pregnant. But she had resolved herself NOT to feel this way and she was going to do everything she could to create the healthiest environment for her body to grow this little baby, and hopefully feel great!

Because April was an avid runner, she, like many of us, told herself that she could pretty much eat whatever she wanted:

“Because I was logging a lot of miles I didn’t think I had to focus on the intensity of my workouts or eat healthy…but logging a lot of miles doesn’t make you a healthy and active person.   I was eating poorly and I wasn’t investing good quality time into workouts I was doing.  I didn’t have anyone holding me accountable so I didn’t feel like I needed to do those “things”.”

Those “things” included eating for nourishment, training for strength and with a purpose, and learning what a healthy balanced diet looks like.  So, I introduced April to the 21 Day Fix.  Now don’t freak out, I wasn’t prescribing a “diet” to a pregnant woman; the 21 Day Fix allows you to calculate your calorie intake to achieve different goals.  April’s goal was to learn exactly what a healthy balanced diet looked like, gain a healthy amount of weight according to her body as determined  between herself and her OB, and to create the optimum environment for her bodily systems to function and grow/support life.  We got April off and running (not literally) on the accessible, no-nonsense approach towards portion eating and 30 minute workouts of the 21 Day Fix and here is her personal testimonial about that experience:

“I wasn’t that excited about being pregnant and the whole process.  While I did experience some pregnancy discomfort, I found, I was able to overcome those things through a sound fitness & eating program.  Before Jen introduced me to the 21 Day Fix, I thought eating plans were bland, left you feeling hungry all the time, and I thought all I would be able to eat were raw vegetables.  Thankfully the 21 Day Fix wasn’t like that at all!  The eating plan on the 21 Day Fix left me feeling full and boosted my energy, which I really did need some days (I was growing a human being).  About a week in, both my husband and I noticed our cravings for high fat, processed, and other unhealthy foods had greatly diminished and we both recognized a noticeable difference in our energy levels.  We also noticed how bad we felt on the days we were not fueling our bodies with proper nutrition and nourishing food. The attention to form and detail in the 21 Day Fix workouts was also unlike anything I had ever done before. And there’s nothing more motivating to push through a few seconds of an exercise than knowing that you have to push out a baby in a few weeks.  But I must admit that the biggest change I noticed was a more positive body image.  About one week into the three-week workout program, all of the mental strength I was gaining from the strength training really kicked-in; I started feeling different about my body without even realizing it.  One morning I just woke up and didn’t have those insecure feelings anymore – I felt stronger than I ever had before and I felt good about my body, even though I was putting weight on for pregnancy.  Knowing that the choices I was making daily, even though some days those choices weren’t easy, because I felt tired or uncomfortable or “large”, but knowing they were the benefit of myself and my baby really helped me build mental strength.  It was so empowering to know that what I was doing for my body was helping me overcome some of the pregnancy symptoms that I would be experiencing otherwise, and that those symptoms weren’t getting the best of me.”

april-cam-grace

April, her husband Cam and new baby Grace in the shadow of the Tetons

After completing the 21 Day Fix April feel so in love with the Beachbody at home fitness and nutrition programs that she decided to join my team of coaches to pay it forward and help others lead healthier more vibrant lives.  I asked April about what changed for her and what was different this time around when it came to committing and seeing a wellness program through from start to finish and she said it was because of her “WHY.”

“I want to encourage others to find your reason, find your WHY to take care of your body and to strengthen it – mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  For me it was pregnancy.  But it doesn’t have to be pregnancy, it doesn’t have to be having children.  Personally speaking, it’s knowing that I’m setting a healthy foundation for my daughter by taking action.  She’s going to adopt eating and exercise habits from me, whether I make good choices or bad choices.  I also want her to value her body and what it’s capable of.  So often our bodies are capable of so much more than we give them credit for and I want her to grow up appreciating that.   I also don’t want her to struggle with her body image like I did, and I know that starts with her mother, and setting a good example for her.  So find your why and make sure it has a lot of meaning to you; it should be something that you are willing to fight for.  And then form a plan to get to where you want to be and, even more importantly, surround yourself with a community of people who will encourage and support you.  This is so important and often the part we leave out.  Honestly, that is what has made the difference for me in the past 9 months – having a community of support that has encouraged me to stay committed to my workouts, to eat healthier, and to keep going – even on days when I didn’t necessarily feel like it.   I feel healthier than ever because I’ve had a great coach and community to support me and I’m fueling my body properly.  And now I’m really excited to see what my running will look like when I’m able to return to it in a few months.  So thank you Jen and thank you to everyone else who has supported me during this journey!”

 

april-5k-grace-3-months

April at her first 5K post pregnancy (3 months post partum) with sweet baby Grace
(I’m not loving the Steelers shirt but I guess we can still be friends…Broncos all the way baby!!!)

In May, April gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl, Grace, who is now four months old.  April is back to running, and has completed several other Beachody at home workout programs since the arrival of Grace and has also decided to pay it forward and became a health and fitness coach herself so she could inspire and serve others in health!  If you are a new mom, expecting mom, or a runner, I encourage you to connect with April as she has a heart of gold and is a wealth of information – your life will be forever blessed by having her in it!  Connect with April on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/aprilpreussalivefitness/?fref=ts or by visiting her blog at:  https://alivefitnessblog.wordpress.com/ .

April and I will be joining forces later this month and hosting an online virtual bootcamp that starts Monday, September 26, Prep for the Holidays: Body & Home Edition.  It’s a one month accountability group where we select a workout program and nutrition plan to meet your individual needs and goals, and then we coach and support you through 30 days of health and wellness.  This virtual bootcamp is unique in that in addition to our health and fitness support, we will be providing practical and simple at home cleaning and organization tips to simplify and prepare you and your home for the holidays. Just think, 30 days of working out, eating clean, support & coaching by two wellness coaches, and a clean and organized home…all before the holiday season begins – sounds like a dream come true!

Registration is currently open for our Prep for the Holidays: Body & Home Edition Virtual Bootcamp.  To apply simply complete the form below.  We can’t wait to get you started on your own personal transformation story!

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

 

 

 

How to shape your children’s approach towards hard work….

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

fight

A big part of the monthly virtual boot camps I run is to encourage everyone to look at their past to see how our environment (families, upbringing, schooling, friends, activities, religious beliefs, etc.) shape the habits that affect our health and fitness.  I work with a lot of moms and typically these are the conversations that help us get to the root of what drives our health & fitness habits (both good and bad).  If you have ever worked with a holistic or doctor influenced by East Asian Medicine, you know that they “treat the entire patient,” not just the “illness” or medical issue.  This exercise is similar to that concept and allows us to recognize what maybe did or did not help or work for us growing up and opens up the conversation on how we can be better and do better – not only for the benefit of ourselves, but for our sons and daughters.

In my current boot camp, I was asking the ladies if their participation in the group is something they would approve of their children doing and the response I got from Ashley, one of the participants, was so perfect, I just had to share it with you.  This spoke right to my heart so I thought it would speak to yours too….

“Absolutely I would approve of my daughter participating in this group. I would be supportive and understanding in any challenge my children take on.

Growing up, I had a very skinny mom who got that way by barely eating. I have four sisters (three older and one younger) that NEVER struggled with weight. So, when I began having self-esteem and body image issues in 4th grade… I had no positive role model to how my body should look or how to maintain a healthy lifestyle (I did not inherit my mother’s figure). My freshmen year in high school I began an extremely unhealthy lifestyle of bulimia …. Which carried me two years until I was hospitalized my junior year for malnutrition and severe anemia. I remember handfuls of hair coming out of my head. My mother berated me and threw out hundreds of negative comments about my lifestyle. I didn’t have the help to see that normal women have to watch what they eat, make healthy lifestyles and choices, as well as find joy in an active lifestyle. Years later, my metabolism has paid for the unhealthy choices I made earlier in my life and keeping the weight off has been an uphill battle.

In college, I began a healthy lifestyle of working out and eating healthy. I was at my best and truly found joy in exercising. I also found it to be a great stress reliever. Since then, I have found it difficult to keep it up…. After having children and working in a high stress job, I put myself and my needs of the back burner and really struggled with myself.

My point is that I will not keep my past struggles from my daughter, I want her to see that life is a challenge and mommy does have to watch what she puts in her body, as well as what she does with her body. I want her to see me making conscious decisions about how I treat my body. She will have to do the same one day- to keep up her energy, have a positive body image, and know that exercise is the best anti-depressant. My mother hid her struggles from me, so when I had a negative outlook on myself or didn’t look like the skinny girls in my class…. I thought something was wrong with me. So I handled it in the most unhealthy of ways.

As a mother, and a daughter of a mother who swept these sort of issues under the rug…. I believe it’s much more important for my daughter to see mommy measure out portions and sweat her butt off (even when it’s so difficult) and to see that real life is not doing whatever you want with no repercussions. Anything and everything in this life is worth having you need to fight for!”

I thought this was so beautifully written and had so many little golden nuggets of truth!  Thank you Ashley for sharing your heart with us!

Creating healthy, lifelong habits does take work.  You have to be willing to spend the time to learn, educate yourself, arm yourself with tools and resources, and support from others to help you along the way.  If you need a little direction, aren’t afraid of a little challenge and are ready to start making some positive changes in your life that will impact your children and your family, then consider joining my next virtual boot camp that starts this Monday, April 4.  You can find me here or email me at jenthornfit@gmail.com for additional information!

Have a great day and here’s to shaping children not afraid of a little hard work!

xoxo

Jen

 

The greatest act of love, ever…

~ jenthornfit ~ Leave a comment

Greatest love story ever

I snapped this photo of Ethan and I about 5 minutes before I made a huge mistake; one which could have ended in him getting severely injured or honestly could have killed him. You see, it was the perfect bluebird day, we were rippin’ groomers, he was turning, stopping, rocking the power wedge, smiling ear-to-ear, lots of fist bumps… You get the idea…and then 3 or 4 minutes after I snapped this photo I thought he was ready to go “off harness” (or ski without me pulling him from behind). He followed me so carefully and slowly down the cat walk, stopped on his own several times, then we started going down the ski run.  And then it happened…. Slow motion at first, but then he was gaining speed, gaining speed, passing me and still gaining speed and he was bee-lining it straight down the ski run; not doing any of the things he had been doing the rest of the day up until that point. And I was screaming at him to “stop,” “stop Ethan stop,” “stop!” And he wouldn’t stop and then there were just trees ahead of us and a giant catwalk with a ledge that I knew could potentially launch him into the trees and rocks and whatever else below…and I couldn’t catch him, and I was screaming, and my heart was beating out of my chest, and I finally got close enough that I was contemplating skiing into him to take him out and measuring in my head what would be worse; potential injuries of me taking him out or the alternative, flying off the catwalk into the trees and rock field below.

And then I witnessed a miracle; not two feet from the edge of the catwalk he caught an edge, double ejected and finally stopped.  It was horrible.

Those moments were horrible and even worse is thinking about how this day, that started so perfectly, so beautifully, could have ended so very differently, so very ugly.

Many of you would say “complete #momfail” and yes, yes it was.  But I’m a Christian and I know feelings of guilt are not from the Lord but from the lying mouth of Satan.  God allowed this to happen but you guys, he also allowed the miracle of nothing to happen (to Ethan) because no joke, I witnessed a miracle today.  That’s the only explanation I have – it was a miracle Ethan didn’t go flying off into the abyss today.

So, why am I telling you this story?  Because it’s a love story that I think all parents or anyone who has ever loved anyone else or who knows what it feels like to be willing to lay down their life for another, can relate to. And, I strongly feel that anytime God allows himself to be seen mightily working through events (both good or bad), it’s an opportunity for growth and learning.

Here’s what I learned today, and I figure if I learned something by having my heart literally pop out of my chest, there might be something here for you too:

Moments are important.  You’ve heard this before but your life, the lives of those you love can change in an instant.  Heaven forbid those moments take a turn for the worse because of a decision you made, like the poor decision I made today.

Pride is dangerous.  Most of us have heard all the things love isn’t, and love is definitely NOT proud!  I was not loving Ethan when I put my pride in his ability to ski today; I wanted to show off his “skills” to make his daddy and our friends proud of him, just as I was.  It is horribly shameful to admit this but I must: my pride could have cost all of us a lot today.

Finally, the most important lesson I learned today was about love and sacrifice.  When I was skiing down that mountain chasing after Ethan, my arms flailing, my adrenaline rushing, every possible good and bad scenario flashing through my mind, the most powerful thought was that I would do anything to save him.  I was desperate for anything to enter my mind that would allow me to save him; something to throw at him to steer him off course, some part of his body to grab onto, questioning if I should run into his skis to stop him, or throw myself on him to stop him.  I had nothing.  I could do nothing to help him, to save him.

I spent a lot of time yesterday reflecting on the incident.  Earlier that morning we had attended church for Palm Sunday and the image of Jesus riding the donkey into Jerusalem right before he was crucified entered my mind.  And then it hit me; there I was struggling and wanting to so badly do anything in my power to stop Ethan, to save him from the pain he most likely would endure if he went off the ledge, and I had nothing; I had no power, I could do nothing.  I wonder how God felt knowing that he had all the power, in all of the universe, incomprehensible power, and could have easily breathed the words, or just even thought them, to save his son Jesus from being crucified on the cross.  God had all the power in the world and used restraint so that those who believe in him shall have eternal life, but he sacrificed his one and only son so that we may have life.  I had nothing, no power to save Ethan yet would have given up everything to save him in that moment.  It is staggering to think he had all the knowledge and the power in universe to save his child but did not.  Instead he sacrificed his one and only child for the benefit of others.

So today as we go into Easter week, I want you to meditate on these thoughts.  How hard it must have been for God to let his child enter into Jerusalem, knowing the fate that would beget him; knowing that he could save him yet didn’t/wouldn’t for the benefit of mankind.  Think about the sacrifice, the pain. And then, if you have ever been a parent, try to imagine the heartbreak of having to watch your own flesh and blood be tortured and then nailed to the cross, and have the control to sit there, silently upon your hands, and just watch.  This is the sacrifice God made when extended hope to mankind, he was willing to endure that pain just as his son Jesus was willing to endure it on the cross, so that we may have life.

Hug your babies a little tighter tonight when you tuck them in and remember this: life can change in a moment, love is not proud, the greatest sacrifice anyone has ever made is God sending his only son, his son who had lived a perfect life, to die a criminal’s death; the death we all deserve in our imperfectness but by grace alone are we saved from.

xo

Jen