Oh Mom Crush Monday fans, if this girl doesn’t motivate you, I’m not sure what will. I LOVE her story and I know you will too. I’d like to introduce you to Mom Crush Mindy DeGering!
Mindy is REAL. She motivates others on her Instagram page over @MotivationMindy, and she was one of the first gals a good friend told me to follow. She’s one of those people that you follow and you feel like you’re best friends. That AND her posts will make you want to jump off the couch THIS instant. 
We interviewed Mindy and we’re delighted to share her inspirational outlook with all of you!
SFM: Tell us about yourself.
Mindy: I am wife to a babe-a-licious husband, mom to the 2 cutest little boys you’ve ever seen, and lover of all things health and fitness. I was born and raised in Utah, and now I’m raising my own kiddos here!
SFM: What inspired your journey for health and fitness?
Mindy: I was always chubby. Always. Out of shape, overweight, husky, big boned, plump…pretty much called/described as any and all of the above. I tried running and counting calories on and off, but nothing ever stuck. At the end of my pregnancy with my 2nd baby, I felt SO heavy and slow and just uncomfortable. It lit a fire in me that I wouldn’t let die, and 6 weeks to the day after I had my son, I commited to a healthier lifestyle. I knew that I wanted to lose weight, but more importantly, I wanted to be healthy and active and able to take care of my family.
SFM: What’s your athletic background?
Mindy: I was a cheerleader in high school and played softball as a kid, but other than that I was 0% active. In fact, I HATED being active. I would hide in the locker room during PE, and I was always finding ways to avoid any type of physical activity. A few years ago when I finally decided to commit to working out, I started taking aerobics classes at the local rec center. The teacher made class feel like a party, and it didn’t take long until I realized how much I loved working out and the satisfaction I got from it!
SFM: How long have you been CrossFitting and how’d you get hooked?
Mindy: About a year after I started doing aerobics, I decided I wanted to try lifting weights. My husband has always been super active, and he would come to the gym with me and help me with the basics. He has been doing CrossFit for about 4 years and is a trainer, and he tried numerous times to get me to join. But I was too intimidated! So instead, he’d come home and tell me about the WOD he did, and I’d go to the gym and attempt to do it on my own. I absolutely loved the workouts, but I got to a point where I wanted to step it up. I knew I could only get better by actually going to CrossFit and getting the coaching there. I was SO beyond nervous the first day I went, but within a week I was hooked!
SFM: What’s your diet look like?
Mindy: I try to stick to clean eating which, for me, means meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains, etc. I’m not super strict about what I eat when, but I do try to listen to my body and give it what it wants and needs. That being said, I do love treats! I believe all things in moderation. If I have a day full of veggies and salads and grilled meats and fruit, then I don’t feel one bit bad about having ice cream with my family or baking a batch of cookies. I want to take care of myself, but I also want to enjoy life!
SFM: How do you balance eating healthy, working out, and your family?
Mindy: I am a stay-at-home mom and my kids are still little, so I am not too crazy busy. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t still have to prioritize workouts and healthy eating! Some days my kids are grumpy, and getting us all out of the house and to the gym can be a chore, but we do it! It is really importatnt to me that they grow up knowing how important their health is, and I feel I can only teach that by example. We also try to make it a family affair whenever possible. Having the kids help pick out fruits and veggies at the store or farmer’s market, going on family hikes and walks, cooking dinner together…doing things that way gets it done while still spending time together!
SFM: What advice do you have for other Mamas that want to shed the baby weight or are looking to get in shape?
Mindy: My advice to anyone wanting to make a change is to just do it. I spent so many years wishing and hoping and wondering if I’d ever be able to lose weight, and it wasn’t until I just got to it that anything actually happened. I know it’s not easy. I know it can be overwhelming. There will always be an excuse not to. It is SO easy to push it to the side. But you have to make yourself a priority. The better care you take of yourself, the better you’ll be able to take care of your family. Get rid of your excuses and just get to work.
SFM: Health and fitness is a journey that you’ve openly shared on your Instagram account. What’s been your favorite part of the experience?
Mindy: I just love connecting with people. Meeting new people has been a blast, and I LOVE when a follower comments and tells me that something I said/did/posted inspired them. I have had a few people share their own weightloss stories with me, and it honestly brings me to tears every time. It is not an easy thing to do, and I feel honored when someone shares their story with me.
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom with us, Mindy! It certainly made me want to not waste one more second!
Do you know anybody that you think we should feature in a Mom Crush Monday post? Tag us on Instagram!
Did you catch our last Mom Crush Tandi Clarkson?
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