Why Your Workouts Aren’t Working: 3 Fitness Myths Moms Need to Ditch This Mother’s Day
Picture this…it's Mother's Day morning. Your kids are destroying the kitchen while "making" you pancakes, and your husband asks, "What do you want to do today?" with exactly zero plans in place.
All you can think is: “I just want to be left alone,” as you glance down at the black leggings you wear on repeat - because nothing else fits right, and you’re too tired to deal with it.
But you DO care (a lot) that:
Your jeans dig into your waist (even though you already went a size up recently)
Your arms look flabby in pictures
You feel bloated, heavy, and tired…even though you’re “doing the right things.”
Look, you’re not ungrateful…you’re overloaded. Bodies stuck in survival-mode can’t make progress, because they’re focused on just trying not to break down. There is plenty of research (see here, here and here for examples) to show the correlation between chronic stress and difficulty losing weight and fat. That’s why no amount of workouts, “clean eating,” or bubble baths is going to fix the fact that your body doesn’t feel like yours anymore.
Instead of just trying harder (because that sure hasn’t worked), let’s figure out where the energy leak is coming from in the first place. It’s time to bust the 3 biggest fitness myths keeping moms stuck in bodies they don’t recognize…and explain what actually gets results (even when life’s a circus).
Fitness Myth #1: “Rest is a Nice-To-Have” (why recovery is essential for fitness results)
You've been taught (even if subconsciously) that rest is something you earn - after the presentation, after the dishes, after the day is over. But when you're always running on fumes, your body physically cannot change the way you want it to. Instead, chronic stress signals your body to:
Store fat (especially around your middle)
Conserve energy (aka calories)...hence the daily afternoon crash
Break down muscle (despite your strength workouts)
This might be helpful if we were surviving a famine…but we're just trying to deal with modern life and feel good in our swimsuits this summer. Our biology works against us sometimes…but we can get it back on our side again.
In Balanced Body, we show you how to build in the recovery you need for the toned muscles you want. And we don't do that by telling you to “just listen to your body” (because after years of go-go-go…do you even remember how?) We give you specific tools to get out of @!$#% mode and chill out your nervous system, so your workouts actually start working.
Rest isn't optional…it's the foundation for the results you want (check out our other blog post on this: “Redefining My Fitness Rules: Lessons in Fat Loss, Sleep, and Strength”). Repeat this to yourself - rest is productive.
Fitness Myth #2: “You Can Figure This Out Yourself” (more Googling won’t change things)
You’re the planner, the fixer, the one juggling 47 tabs in your brain. You figure it out and make things work. So when your usual fitness strategies stop working, your instinct is to double down: more Googling, more tracking, more late-night scrolling for solutions.
But do you realize…you’re trying to use strategies built for a body and a life that you don’t have anymore?? Your current body has been through childbirth, years of crappy sleep, chronic stress, and the unrelenting mental load, which is why it doesn't respond the way it did at 25…but it shouldn’t have to.
Balanced Body gives you a plan that fits your current physiology, stress load, and real-life schedule, taking the decision-fatigue off your plate and getting-shit-done for YOU for a change.
You're everyone else’s solution. Let Balanced Body be yours.
Fitness Myth #3: “More Time = Better Results” (why long workouts don’t work for busy moms)
Many moms say lack of time is one of the main barriers to getting stronger and feeling better. And yes, our days are jam-packed. But for most of my clients, we’ve actually determined that time isn’t the issue…it’s the kind of workout they’re doing.
You could spend hours grinding away on a treadmill or another HIIT class like you used to and *still* not see results (at least for the long term) — because your body isn’t built for that kind of stress anymore. When your system is already depleted and overstimulated (hellooo, fellow parents 🙄), the wrong kind of workouts will only add to the burnout.
Balanced Body shows you how to train for your life now. You don’t need an hour a day. You need 20 intentional minutes that send the right signals to your body…without wrecking your nervous system or your schedule. My clients get awesome results quickly from workouts like our Toned in 20, Dirty 30, and Fit in 45 programs…we work with the time you have and get you the results you want! We also have a Strong Moms program specifically for pregnant and newly postpartum clients. These customized workout tracks are the perfect options for moms who want to get fit but don’t have time to waste.
Got time for a long run or marathon gym sesh now and then? Awesome! But let’s be real…those days are rare. So for now, know that you CAN get the body you want in the time you actually have most days - you just gotta switch up what you’re doing with that time.
Balanced Body: the Fitness Plan That Doesn’t Treat You Like You’re 25
If you've tried different programs before (or maybe even worked with a personal trainer) and still didn't get results, it's probably because they’re:
Built for people with time and energy you don't have
Based on research that largely ignores women
Stepping on my soapbox for a sec...Did you know that most of what we’ve been taught about exercise, weight loss, and building muscle comes from studies done on young men? A major 2023 review found that women make up just 20% of participants in exercise science research. Even now, studies with only men are three times more common than those with only women — and the number of women-only studies hasn’t changed in 30 years. No wonder so many women 35+ feel confused, frustrated, or like nothing out there was really made for them. 🙄
Focused on pushing harder and doing more, not recovering
Clueless about the physiological realities of parenthood (cue the "we all have the same 24 hours" crap)
Your body has changed, so your fitness approach should too. Balanced Body recognizes and embraces that. We don’t hand you a one-size-fits-all PDF and wish you good luck. We give you a system that fits with your current physiology, your mental load, and your crazy schedule…so your body stops fighting itself and finally starts responding the way you want it to.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again (But Even Better*)?
This isn't just about getting “bikini ready” this summer (tho that's certainly a nice perk). It’s about reclaiming the version of you that’s strong, in control, and energized (...remember her??) - all without needing to figure it out yourself or “earn it” through sheer willpower and exhaustion.
This Mother's Day, forget the flowers and yet another novelty coffee mug, and skip straight to what you really want: a body that feels like yours again.
Give yourself this instead: 👉 Join Balanced Body Now
(*yes, I work with plenty of women who say they feel even stronger and sexier in their 40s than they did in their 20s and 30s.)
Here’s what some of the women in Balanced Body had to say about how this community has changed the way they parent (and care for themselves):
“I honestly do not know if I would’ve been able to prioritize any of my health or self-care postpartum without the support of Balanced Body. I had a very difficult postpartum period and having this community and the coaches helped me find ways to take care of my health when we were completely overwhelmed with my baby’s health challenges. My body is still working towards recovering from pregnancy and postpartum but I have come such a long way with the support of Balanced Body (my pelvic floor pt felt more confident in my recovery because I had the guidance of Athena and BB along with the PT). I also love that my daughter gets to see her mama being strong, working out, and lifting weights.” - Alison
“Balanced Body overall definitely has helped me have a space to take care of myself and see how I’m a better mom when I take care of myself. And now both of my kids want to workout with me - they love that we have a room in the house with all the workout stuff setup for anyone to use at anytime. They’ve also learned the GoPro life and will often ask me if a food is protein or produce and think about making sure they get both regularly! My kids LOVE their veggies!” - Meaghan
“The work I’ve done with Athena and in Balanced Body through the years in terms of establishing habits like prioritizing movement, protein, and water intake, has certainly contributed to me having a healthy pregnancy thus far, and I know the personal development I have achieved through Balanced Body has prepared me to be a great mother! I also feel incredibly supported by Athena and the team during such a unique time in my life and I am very grateful for that.” - Kelsey
“Balanced Body has given me a platform to talk about moving my body because I love it. It’s really important for my girls not to have some of the insecurities I have. It must be sinking in. When my 7 yr old had to write diaries at home, her first one had ‘lift weights.’ BB has helped me reclaim time for me and reminded me how important it is to prioritize myself, both mentally and physically. It’s a powerful lesson for the two little girls watching how I take care of myself.” -Kelly
“My son definitely loves working out with me. He’s also a great coach because he’ll suggest doing a workout and sometimes beg for us to do one together. BB has also given me the energy to keep up with my son. Before BB, every activity, I would be dragging or just feel exhausted. Last week, we went to Maine and did a bunch of activities in one day including swimming twice and I could keep up. Of course I was tired by the end of the day but it wasn’t exhaustion that I had felt in the past. “- Brigid
“There was a “who will win” race of parents in inflatables before each of the grades ran (for school jog-a-thon fundraiser). I lost my first round by a hair and then crushed the others on my second. It was all in good fun and I hate running but definitely felt competitive in that moment! 🙃” - Kate
