🌸 Starting Your Workout & Exercise Journey with Heart & Grace
Hello gorgeous!! It’s your big sister, Victoria, here to share a little love, some truth, and my personal healing + workout journey from 2023 into 2024. 🌿
Whew… it had been forever since I wrote anything like this! So.. around the fall of 2023, I was in recovery from a C-section after welcoming my second sweet baby boy into the world. Mommy life has been crazy, you guys!!
And if you’re a mommy like me—with little ones who are constantly on the move—you are not alone. I want to remind you right now:
✨ You are strong.
✨ You are resilient.
✨ And not only do your kiddos deserve a happy, healthy, thriving mama… but you deserve to feel your best, too.
Please remember—you are loved, you are appreciated, and it is never too late to become your best self, sweetheart. Let’s do this together. 💪🏽💗
🌿 When You Realize It’s Time
Time flies when you’re a toddler mama, and the housework? It never ends! My little ones are growing so fast, and watching them bond and play together is one of the greatest joys of my life.
That said—while I love being a mom with all my heart—pregnancy, recovery, and the everyday hustle took a toll on my body. And even though I cherish this body that carried and nourished my babies… the bigger my boys got, the more I realized:
I need to be strong.
I need to be healthy.
They deserve a healthy mama—and I deserve it, too.
So in August 2024, I remembered something I had tucked away: a little mini stepper I bought way back during postpartum after my first child. It had been sitting in my closet, collecting dust.
Then one Monday, I decided: “I want to feel strong. I want to feel alive in my body again. Let me just try 200 steps today.”
And just like that… something shifted.
💞 The Real Beginning
I didn’t record my progress daily (even though I kind of wish I had). But if I’m honest, I tend to get discouraged easily, and sometimes I feel… I don’t know, just off.
But I showed up. And I started.
TikTok had this cute little trend called “steppisodes” going around—and that’s exactly what I did. I’d step on my mini stepper while watching Interview with the Vampire (which is soooo good by the way—ugh, I can’t wait for the next season!).
Each episode is about 35 minutes, so I’d aim for two episodes a day. That first day? Whew. My legs were on fire, and I was dripping with sweat.
But then I remembered something my elementary school coach used to say:
“Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Your muscles need oxygen—it’s what helps you keep going.”
So I breathed. I kept going. And little by little, day by day, I started building strength and endurance with my mighty little stepper. 💫
💗 Falling in Love with the Process
As the days went by, I found myself absolutely falling in love with this amazing little machine. Not only was it compact, but it was so convenient to use as a mama with two little ones—especially with one of them being on the autism spectrum.
During my postpartum days, I truly felt like going to the gym was impossible. But the mini stepper surprised me… like really surprised me. I didn’t expect such a good workout from something so small. And because it was right there, in the comfort of my home, I started looking forward to it each day—one step at a time.
I’ve always been a yoga girl at heart—and I still am—but I could never bring myself to want to do fast-paced cardio. If I’m honest, I was afraid of it. I felt like I just couldn’t do it. That maybe I wasn’t meant to be one of those “cardio girls.”
But after two consistent weeks with my stepper, I started to notice something shift. My endurance felt stronger. My body felt lighter. I remember thinking:
“I think I can do more… what if I add in a little Pilates while I step?”
So I did.
Then I thought, why not add in some weights too?
And I did that too.
And honey… let me tell you—that strong feeling?? It’s addictive in the best way. It’s a whole different kind of confidence when you actually feel strong.
I noticed I could lift and play with both of my toddlers without getting winded. I didn’t feel as sore or drained after a long day. I wasn’t constantly out of breath or needing a break. And honestly?
It inspired my husband too.
Watching me move with more love and energy, caring for my body and nourishing it—it sparked something in him. We started bonding even more over our shared motivation to get healthier together. And that part? That was so beautiful. 🌱💪🏽💞
🌟 Leveling Up — Mind, Body & Soul
I started counting the months—every 29th became a personal celebration. A little victory marking another month of progress and consistency. And during that stepping journey, I realized I wasn’t just training my body—I was training my mind too.
I felt like I had earned the strength and endurance I was building. It wasn’t handed to me—it came from showing up, one step at a time. And as my workouts became more serious, so did my nutrition. I knew that if I wanted to keep going, to keep improving, I had to fuel my body like it mattered—because it does matter. Nourishment became a form of self-love, and honestly? It made me feel like a superhero.
Now let’s get into the juicy part—the transition. The level-up.
As a beginner, I give all the credit to my mini stepper. That little machine sparked everything. But paired with my determination? Whew, I started to unlock strength I didn’t even know I had.
So what did I do? I leveled up. 😌✨
I call it Level Two—when I began combining Pilates with strength training. And let me tell you, that was a game changer. With my new stamina, I realized I could keep going—as long as I kept my breathing steady, I could lift too.
At first, I used my little 5-pound dumbbells—bless them! But I wanted more of a challenge. So my husband and I invested in a 90-pound barbell and dumbbell weight set. And that, mi amor… was the beginning of my strength training era. 💪🏽🔥
💞 The New Normal—Rooted in Love
As each 29th rolled around (going on nine months this coming Thursday!), this new rhythm became part of our family’s everyday life. What once felt like a huge effort was now… our norm.
Even my children took notice.
Every day, around the same time, my little ones knew—it was “mommy’s stepping time.” My 3-year-old would go and bring me my running shoes and pull out the stepper from its cozy little corner. And my 1-year-old? He’d waddle over with my ankle weights in his tiny hands. 🥹💕
They’d watch me move, smile, and mimic my exercises—the stepping, the plank poses, the stretches… it was the cutest and most heart-melting thing to witness. But deeper than that… was the realization:
They’re watching me.
This is their idea of health.
This is their normal.
And oh, how that filled me with a wave of emotion. This journey that started as a private healing path… had become a shared family story of growth, strength, and love.
Now I have to mention their daddy—he’s an over-the-road truck driver and not always home. But you guys… I am so proud of him too. Watching me show up for myself inspired him to show up for his own health. He started bringing weights with him on the road, and even bought a mini stepper to use in his truck during rest breaks.
That kind of dedication? That kind of togetherness? It’s powerful. The fortitude we’ve grown as a family has been transformative—and that’s what pushes me to keep going, to keep sharing.
Because if our little journey can spark a light in someone else…
Then it’s already so, so worth it. 💫
💗 Your First Step Starts Now
As I end this message to you, I just want to remind you—
It’s never too late to start.
With courage, and the belief in your own capabilities, you can change your life too.
For me, choosing to begin was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my health. And honestly? It all began with this little mini stepper—just a tiny machine, but it gave me my very first “step” toward taking control of my well-being. I went from a seed… to a sprout… to a blossom. 🌱🌸
Along the way, I educated myself on movement, nutrition, and the power of rest. I learned to fuel my body with whole foods, with vitamins that support me, and most of all—with kindness.
So to you, my friend, I say:
Embrace your own unique journey.
Let your why lead the way.
And please—be gentle with yourself.
There’s no rush. Your body will feel different every day, and that’s okay.
Listen. Rest when you need it.
Because while exercise moves your body—rest is what makes you stronger.
And remember:
✨ Everybody has a Day 1. ✨
Let this be yours.
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