My pregnancies were tough. I mean seventy pounds, tough. And transitioning into the new world of motherhood and the new postpartum body that accompanied it was even tougher.
Somehow when my first child was only eight weeks old, I found the courage to try a little class called Momleta (formerly Baby Boot Camp). Momleta is a national fitness program for moms of all ages and stages with a local Frisco/Plano/Little Elm chapter meeting weekly at Stonebriar and Willow Bend Mall.
They provide socially distanced in-person classes outdoors, and also virtual classes daily for those who prefer to stay home, led by nationally certified fitness instructors.
I was initially motivated to join in hopes I’d regain a piece of myself again. What I didn’t expect to find was a group of women who would become my best friends and help me navigate through some really challenging years ahead.
You see, the secret sauce to Momleta isn’t found in the workouts, it’s discovered within the women.
And that’s never been more evident to me than now.
Within the last few months, two of the moms in the Frisco Momleta group were diagnosed with breast cancer. Molly Dunn, 34, is mother to two children under the age of five, and Ann Halff, 27, was diagnosed at 35 weeks pregnant when her delivery was induced in order to prepare for chemotherapy treatment.
It’s hard to find the right words when the worst happens, so owner Kasey Johnson and her team of coaches decided to do what they do best: not just workout with women — but rally around them.
Johnson came up with the idea to start a fundraiser called, Burpees 4 Boobies. The idea was simple: for every dollar raised, a member of Momleta would do one burpee. Money contributed would go directly to Dunn and Halff in order to cover medical expenses, meals, and any additional costs.
It was supposed to be a one-day event but morphed into five consecutive days as friends and family of Momleta members raised an astounding total of $5,570.
For one week, moms came daily to do as many of the 5,570 burpees as they could manage on behalf of Molly and Ann.
For every ten burpees, they received one ribbon, placing them on a sign to visually represent hope, and the impact of moving your body on behalf of someone who momentarily can’t.
On November 6, as the women met in the Willowbend parking garage to finish off their last burpees, an emotional celebration was had as local businesses like the Hyatt Frisco-Dallas, Vitality Bowls at Starwood, and Athleta sent food, muffins, and more to encourage the women to keep going.
It’s hard to get your footing in your new role as a mother. Many of us lose our careers, old friendships, free time—any identifiable marker of who we once were.
Momleta was a chance for me to find myself again, and years later, it continues to mold me into the kind of person I want my children to see: one who doesn’t just show up for workouts but shows up for others.
I don’t think there’s any other place where that kind of comradery exists.
My body, my life, and the lives of so many others have been strengthened because of Momleta.
Momleta offers a one-week for free. Click the Momleta Frisco, Plano, Little Elm website to learn more.
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