Hi Haylie! Please tell us about yourself.
I am a 27-year-old stay-at-home mom of two. I moved to Anchorage from Southern Oregon seven years ago. I came up here for college and graduated with a BS in Environment & Society and Geology minor. I met both my husband, Josh, and Steph at UAA when I randomly introduced myself.
I love listening, learning, trying new things, and meeting new people. I have “Yes Man” and “I could make that” mentalities … and it leads me to hobby collecting 🙂
Also, I love to be festive and I love any reason to dress up (that’s why I am always pushing for themed bootcamps)!
How long have you been working with FF, and what initially motivated you to seek us out?
I tried a bootcamp in the Figarelle’s back yard summer of 2010 after I got an invite from Steph. It took me 2 years to come back after that!! Since 2012, FF has been a wonderful part of my life!
The moment I knew I needed professional help was when I had arrived to work depressed & in the same sweatpants as the day before. I went to the bookstore on campus to buy some new sweats really quick and the XL’s I bought and didn’t try on were too small. I wear those pants now 🙂
What have you learned about health and fitness in the last several years?
I used to think I could out train a bad diet by doing tons of cardio (that I hated). Everything about that was wrong! I could not believe how fast my fat loss was when I started doing bootcamps and lifting often!
As a mom, what are some tips you can offer to other parents who want to incorporate healthy food choices for their kids?
Only keep healthy choices in your home. If a child has juice or water to choose from, they are going to choose juice. I like to make Trent think he has options, but still control his choices.
I offer him almonds & apples or peanut butter & banana , Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, bell pepper or carrot, etc. I stock up on his favorite veggies and try adding new things often (but do not force him to eat them- just taste it). I am trying to fortify a healthy relationship between the kids & whole foods.
You’re a wonderful cook! What are a few of your favorite things to bake/cook? Why?
Thank you! I pretty much just use Pinterest to find recipes when I have a food item about to go bad in the fridge. Today it was a big bag of Costco green beans. They were delicious roasted with coconut oil!
My biggest struggle with healthy eating is my love of baking (and eating) sweets. But over the years I have learned how to successfully healthily most recipes. I just still have to work on my portion control!
How has your nutrition changed over the last three years? Any tips for those who want to improve their eating habits but may not know where to start?
Before FF, the more I tried to lose weight, the heavier I became! Like many people, I was fooled into thinking processed “low fat” food and fruit juices were healthy!
Now, my diet is the opposite. I’m always learning and still getting coaching on my macronutrients.
I’ve recently become a pescatarian and I’m still breastfeeding, so it’s been a lot of trial and error since Taylor was born three months ago! I am very thankful for the support!
#1 Tip: Stop eating processed food & sugar.
You regularly attend Boot Camp classes each week. What are some of your favorite things about Boot Camp?
I love the variety, intensity, and the community!
I never get bored of the workouts, and all the coaches and the other bootcampers push me harder than I ever would workout alone! The support is amazing! I know how to exercise efficiently now, but I only look forward to it when I have a buddy or two or forty.
How about a few of your favorite exercises and muscle groups to work?
My favorite exercise is the barbell squat – because it makes me feel like a bad-ass and my goal is to have a super shapely rear.
I also enjoy those deceivingly hard shoulder exercises like the I’s Y’s & T’s with the tiny plates. Oh the burn!!!
You’re a big supporter of your fellow FF members, which undoubtedly inspires them. What motivates and inspires you?
They do! Since 2012, I’ve been able to see newbies come in nervous and completely kick ass and get their goal figures! It seems like it happens in a flash, but we all know the hard work and consistency that is needed for the major physical changes! Every time someone in our group checks off a goal, it’s a reminder that the dedication to health and fitness pays off!
Any new goals for the remainder of 2015 and on into 2016?
My goal for this winter is to venture outside with Trent. He needs to be able to burn off that energy and not be cooped up like last year. I’m going to try ice skating, sledding, making snowmen, etc.
Another goal I have is to build my new business. I started selling Jamberry Nail accessories last month and I want that to take off! Turns out I’m a pretty crappy sales person, but the product is so fun, I’m sure I’ll get out of my shell and do some parties and events soon! Check it out! Haylie.jamberry.com (shameless plug).
Goal 3 always seems to be about fat loss. I hope to lose another 10 lbs by our family Christmas trip to New Jersey!