Monday Motivation: Kelly Paquet

Welcome to our most recent installment of Monday Motivation! Today we're getting to know the lovely Kelly Paquet! Somehow I shuffled her interview away into the abyss of other "Kelly"emails, but at last, here she is! 

Name: Kelly Elizabeth Paquet - Age: 34 - Career: Program Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Social Services

Tell us about yourself:

I have lived in Boston, MA since 2002. I moved up to MA from Florida, where I lived in Winter Park/Orlando and Bradenton/Sarasota from the age of 10. Before that I lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I was born. I married my husband November 13, 2010 in Cambridge, MA in a small ceremony of close family and friends. I found out I was pregnant in January 2011 and had Charlie on September 23, 2011.

What or who is your fitness inspiration? 

I’m inspired by moms who are able to make time to exercise.

What are you doing now to maintain an active lifestyle? 

I am currently doing the 30 Day Shred from Jillian Michaels, and I am planning to get back into running and biking. I would love to be able to go to the gym and do group classes, as I really enjoy them, but right now my schedule doesn't allow it.

What are foods, meals or snacks you would recommend to those looking to maintain a healthy diet? 

When I was doing really well losing weight, I would try to stick to a low calorie lunch. That way I could enjoy a nice dinner and dessert. I liked laughing cow cheeses, adding spinach to bulk up meals, and oatmeal and yogurt with granola for breakfasts. Also banana pancakes! Popcorn and fruit are good snacks too.

What does a sample menu of your day look like?

Breakfast: Coffee, Chobani Fat Free Yogurt, Banana with almond butter 

Lunch: Leftovers or a Healthy Choice meal with added spinach 

Snack: Rice cakes or popcorn 

Dinner: Varies greatly - we cook a lot and eat every kind of food. Could be fish one night and roast chicken the next.

Name one fitness item you absolutely have to have:

Double sports bras when I am running, good ear buds that stay in place and music! I finally just bought an arm band for my phone too!

What would be your best piece of advice you’d share with someone who might be struggling?

We all go through times when our health isn't our priority, but get back to it as soon as you can. Ultimately we want to make this a lifestyle! Joining Waist Management has been so helpful. It’s nice to have people to check in with on a daily basis. If you can try to commit to track your food for 30 days, you will see a difference. I haven't been committed in the past few months and my weight loss has stalled. At one point, I had tracked for 6 months in a row. None of us are perfect but we all fight the same fight together! We are fighting for our health, for our families and for ourselves!

When we aren’t working out, we’re normal people too. Name your favorite, feel good beauty product: 

I love a good body scrub, like this one I recently tried: GudonyaToo sMOOchy All Over Skin Exfoliator and Conditioner - Oh So Delicious.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

My marriage, having my son, getting my Masters Degree and Social Work Licensure, completing a sprint triathlon and a 10k.

Tell us about when you started running, why and what keeps you going. Any goals? 

I started running (this time) last April after I finished the 30 Day Shred in March. I was able to run 3 miles without a lot of training, so I just kept working on that. To be honest, I don't really love it like some people do, but I like being able to say I did it! My boss at work runs and was encouraging me to. She is also the one who got me to do the triathlon and the 10k. I wasn't really prepared for the 10k and managed to injure my foot, so I have not been running lately, but I go back and forth about wanting to run a Half marathon. Once my foot is sorted out, I will probably end up signing up for one, just so I can say I did it! I am hoping to do another triathlon this summer as well.

Thank you Miss Kelly! We sure love having you in our group. Keep up your hard work!

If you'd like to be apart of Monday Motivation, please contact me via Facebook or email me at cassie.baillie@gmail.com

-Cassie

Monday Motivation: Lauren Abt

Welcome to Monday Motivation! Today we're getting to know my beautiful challenge partner, Lauren! She's  exactly where the rest of us are, new mom trying to get back that hot bod! Say hello to Lauren!

Name: Lauren Abt - Age: 26 - Career: Stay at home Mom 

Give us a brief bio about yourself: 

I currently live in Philadelphia with my husband Dave (married in 2008), almost 2 year old son Davey, and new dachshund mix puppy Dilly. I'm originally from Pittsburgh, but Dave was accepted into medical school here in 2009. We find out in a month where he'll be doing his residency. I'm looking forward to knowing what the next step in our life will look like.

What or who is your fitness inspiration? 

Definitely my son and our future children. Growing up, my family didn't eat all that badly. We rarely ate out, rarely junk food, but most of what we ate wasn't real food. I didn't really know anything about nutrition until I had been living on my own for a few years. I want better than that for my kid(s). I want them to have the tools to have a healthy life from the beginning.

What are you doing now to maintain an active lifestyle? 

I'm a member of the YMCA and I go there 3-4 times a week. I love the abs and arms classes. When it's warm, I run at a local college track or along the river. 

What are foods, meals or snacks you would recommend to those looking to maintain a healthy diet?

Definitely incorporating shrimp has been helpful to me in maintaining a healthy diet - it's lower calorie, and it can be done so many different ways. I also think that it's important to eat real food -  even if that costs you calories. I always choose real sugar over non-calorie substitutes. 

What does a sample menu of your day look like? 

Breakfast: Trader Joes  pomegranate yogurt with granola, half of a banana or whatever Davey won't finish

Lunch: usually a prepared salad - love the southwest salad from Trader Joes or the Asian wonton salad from Corner Bakery Cafe

Snack: I don't snack a lot. But if I do, I try to just have a piece of buttered toast or cheese or chips and salsa

Dinner: My arch enemy. Somehow every day, 5pm rolls around and I'm at a loss on what to make that will fill my husbands man-hunger, that Davey will actually eat, that won't push me over my calories for the day, and is quick and affordable! So...suggestions please! Haha...but seriously, I love chicken or shrimp with rice and veggies. I could eat some combo of that every day.

Name one fitness item you absolutely have to have: 

A decent hairband to keep my mane out of my face/off my neck!

What would be your best piece of advice you’d share with someone who might be struggling? 

Weight loss is simple and yet it isn't. People start to diet everyday but sometimes it just doesn't stick. But then sometimes it will. So try your best - but know that if you fall down, you're not alone, and you can try again tomorrow.

When we aren’t working out, we’re normal people too. Name your favorite, feel good beauty product: 

Organix Coconut Oil shampoo. Best thing ever. Also love EOS lip balm.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life (don’t have to be fitness related)? 

I am pretty proud of giving birth to my son without medicine or intervention. No one thought I could do it, everyone thought I was crazy, but I did it and I'll do it again. Through it I learned the mantra "you can do anything for a minute." And when I'm struggling in a workout, I often remind myself of that. I'm not good at many things but being called a "birthing rockstar"? That makes you feel good!

What keeps you active? 

How good I feel after! I was hit pretty hard by some postpartum/general crappiness depression when Davey was about 10 months old. I thought I was super crazy because who gets PPD that late?! But joining the Y really really helped...not just the physical activity (although that is 90% of it) but also having some "me time" once I drop Davey off at the Y's child care! 

What is your go to activity to get in your exercise? 

Running. I can do it for 10 minutes or 40. I can do it day or night, inside or outside. I love fitness classes but running is where it's at.

Thank you Lauren! And I have to say, I love EOS lip balm too. The best!

If you would like to be a part of Monday Motivation, please message me via Facebook or email me at cassie.baillie@gmail.com.

-Cassie