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March 2018 MOM-Motivating Mom of the Month

We are so excited to announce our MOM (Motivating Mom of the Month) for March! Each month we will take a moment to honor one of our local FIT4MOM Montgomery County Moms for her efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle and for her dedication to the program. This month we honor Stephanie Schoop!

Stephanie has such a kind, generous spirit! She has been truly dedicated to Body Back and it is amazing to see how hard she works in class and how strong she has become.~ Instructor Claire

Stephanie's cheerful energy is contagious! She fully immersed her self in Body Back, pushing herself in each class and it's paying off. I can't imagine our classes without her friendly smile and wonderful presence. ~ Instructor Dana

I am so inspired by Stephanie's positive energy and attitude. It is contagious! She cares about others (and makes sure they know it), and when she's in class she works HARD. It's been a pleasure to get to know her and see her incredible progress in Body Back. ~Heather

We asked Stephanie a few questions so we can all get to know her better, and here is what she had to say:

1. Who are the members of your family?

I've been married to Justin for 6 years and we have two daughters, Austin (3 on 3/20), and Dylan (just turned 1 on 2/28) and a 12 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Jackson

2. What is/was your career?

I'm the Talent Business Advisor for Deloitte's Greater Washington Audit & Assurance practice. It can be a bit crazy at times and no two days are the same in this role, but I am beyond thankful for the flexibility it provides for my family while still having a fulfilling career.

3. When was your first class, and what do you remember about it?

I was first introduced to Fit4Mom when Dylan was 4 months old, I was on my maternity leave and I took a Stroller Strides class with Adrienne in downtown Silver Spring. I remember all the squats! I was so sore for almost a week after that but I had the biggest smile on my face because I knew that I had earned that burn!

4. Where can we find you? What is your Fit4Mom routine these days?

Since I am a full-time work-outside-the-home mom, Body Back on Monday and Thursday nights has been the perfect solution for my fitness needs. I am so hooked and have completed three rounds of Transformation with Dana and the Wheaton Squad.

5. What is your favorite strides exercise?

It's not so much a specific exercise, but I have quickly grown to love the Tabata-style workout. It's amazing how long 20 seconds can feel!

6. What has being a mom taught you?

For someone who loves to plan ahead for all of the things (cough*type A*cough), being a Mom is teaching me that it's okay to let go, live in the moment, and that the world will not fall apart if we show up 10 minutes late while still wearing our pjs.

7. List 3 of your favorite things.

1. Themed parties,

2. Adventurous vacations,

3. Summer nights on our back deck - food grilled, wine poured, twinkle lights on, music turned up.

8. Give us a giggle- What is your funniest or most embarrassing mommy moment so far?

Like many other toddlers out there, Austin is a very independent and do-it-herself kind of girl. One time I took her grocery shopping with me and she wanted to walk (rather than ride) so that she could help put items into the cart. While checking out in the furthest possible line from the exit, it started pouring rain outside. In order to make a quick and safe dash to the car, I put her in the cart. This was not at all what she wanted and so she started screaming at the top of her little lungs. All that I could do was walk calmly pushing the cart past all of the other checkout lanes while fighting back a laugh and thinking "this is really happening right now." While exiting the store, I passed another mom who gave me that "Oh Mama, I get it, we've all been there before" look. #solidarity

9. Any advice for other moms out there?

I'm pretty new to being a mom in the grand scheme of things and so I'm still collecting advice from others all the time. But I guess that's it, no one is an "expert" at this. So when you are having a moment or in need, give yourself some grace and call a friend.

10. What would you tell someone who is considering attending their first Fit4Mom MoCo class?

Sign up. Show up. Put yourself out there to meet others, and push yourself out of your comfort zone. You will never regret taking this time to do something so great for yourself!

Also, this doesn't quite fit into the above questions, but I wanted to share a little story:

A few years ago, I found myself in a bit of a rut where I was a little blue and didn't feel like I was making the best use of my downtime. My husband challenged me to come up with things that I could do to make myself happier and fill my free time. I came up with a list of four goals for myself: 1. Find a healthy activity to pursue. 2. Explore a hobby that will bring joy. 3. Work on improving personal appearance (both myself and my home). 4. Continue to build upon relationships. I wrote the list down on a post it note and I carry it around in my wallet as a reminder. Well, the other day I was looking at that little list and I realized that the time I have spent with the Fit4Mom MoCo crew, especially since starting Body Back, has helped satisfy each of those goals. Working out and eating healthy is not just something I do to take care of myself, but it has quickly become something that I love. And not only have I seen improvements in my physical self as I've grown stronger and leaner, but I've developed a community of mom friends along the way. When initially writing that list, I never imagined that I could do one thing that would address each item. And as a full-time mom, wife, and employee, etc., time management is so crucial, so this is incredible.

Thank you, Stephanie, for being such a valuable part of Our Village here at FIT4MOM Montgomery County! We truly appreciate you & the positive energy you bring to class and Our Village!

Check back to see who our MOM will be in April!