Super Moms Sound Off on Staying Fit

by Tiffanie Grady-Gillespie, Certified Physical Trainer, Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, WickedFiTT

Bridgette Matheson & daughter

I use fitness/ working out as an escape from all my own obsessive thoughts, worry or everyday stresses we all face. - Tracy Ortega

Today, the life of a mom can get super busy, right? Whether you are a working mom or stayat-home mom, the challenges are many between the demand to make zucchini noodles and cauliflower pizza crust to making sure our house looks like it was decorated by Joanna Gaines.

Add in large chunks of the day with your kids: cleaning them (and cleaning up after them), feeding them, playing with them, and of course driving the mom taxi. You have so many things pulling you in different directions it often means putting yourself — and your health — last.

There are just not enough hours in the day, and especially not enough hours for fitness. So, I decided to ask some of my favorite moms just how they do it? Here are a few of my favorites.

Norma Montijo — Keeping fitness a priority while balancing work/school/ kids and everything else is sometimes hard. I might fall off the wagon once in a while, but I have to remind myself that if I don’t take care of me, I can’t take care of everything else to the best of my abilities. I have to keep positive and remember how amazing I feel after a great workout.

Tracy Ortega — I use fitness/work ing out as an escape from all my own obsessive thoughts, worry or everyday stresses we all face. Even after my killer workouts that leave me walking to my car like a newborn giraffe most days, I feel so relaxed, stress-free and energized for the day, almost like a reset button. I haven’t always been consistent in making or keeping fitness a priority, but now I’m trying to be better at it. I look forward to my time away from life’s hustle and bustle even if it’s just for an hour or two.

Brigette Matheson — For me, I just have to set the time each day and go! I make it a priority for me because right now it is really the only me time I get. I get that one to two hours just for me. I am able to burn off any stress, anxiety, etc. The kids are home all the time now, and with school being at home it’s definitely important for me to have a mental and physical release. It makes me a better mother/person. And it gives me energy and motivation for the day. Plus, the kids see that and it makes them want to work out and be healthier.

Brooke Gunter — The best way for me to keep fitness a priority is to have a gym membership with a set time/ class so I’m held accountable and I have someone showing me/teaching me what to do. Working out first thing in the morning also helps me to keep it a priority before I get busy in the day. When I keep fitness a priority it positively effects other aspects in my life such as nutrition, energy and my health problems, so that motivates me as well.

Karina Ethington — I believe that to be better and do better in all aspects of my life, I need to first take care of my mental, spiritual and physical well-be ing. Fitness helps me accomplish those things while improving my health! Fit ness is a priority in my life because my life IS a priority!

I would just like to add as a busy mom myself, don’t give up. Do not let that one bad day ruin your entire week. Accept the oops, learn from it and move forward! Remember, we are not always motivated, but we must be disciplined enough to keep going.

I am always available for questions: www.wickedfitt.com or wickedfittgym@ gmail.com.

CITY SPEAK

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS PIVOTS, BUT STAYS ON MISSION

by Craig H. McFarland, Mayor, City of Casa Grande

In 2019, their five clubs served more than 625 youth every day. Also, that year the organization impacted the lives of over 4,200 youth with its after-school, school break, summer, outreach and soccer programs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor’s focus is on our youth, on academic success, good char acter and citizenship and healthy lifestyles. Exactly what we want for all our young people!

In 2019, their five clubs served more than 625 youth every day. Also, that year the organization impact ed the lives of over 4,200 youth with its after-school, school break, summer, outreach and soccer programs.

In 2020 it has had to be more creative and open up additional locations due to lower club capacities. This allows for more kids in smaller groups of not more than 10. The first Maricopa location was opened Aug. 10 at Santa Cruz Elementary School, prompting the name change from Casa Grande Boys and Girls Clubs. This location will continue to operate after on-campus learning resumes.

The club also opened an onsite learning location at Casa Grande’s Mesquite Elementary School on Aug. 17. This site will be open until the Boys and Girls Club re sumes normal operations at its permanent locations.

In Arizona, 24% of young people fail to graduate from high school. Among our local Boys and Girls

Clubs members, 94% expect to graduate, 82% expect to complete some kind of postsecondary education, and overall, club members outperform their counterparts on state standardized tests.

The City of Casa Grande, both local school districts and many other local organizations partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs to help build positive programs. These include our Teen Center at Vista Grande High School, Teen Center at the Casa Grande Community Recreation Center, SMART Moves (drug and alcohol prevention and education program), Summer Brain Gain (designed to limit summer learning loss) and Project Learn (knowledge through high-yield learn ing activities for reading, writing, homework, tutoring and educational games).

The citizens of Casa Grande, Arizona City and now Maricopa should continue to support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor with money and volunteer ism. Your generous support helps create opportunities to help more kids and teens achieve great futures! To donate or get more information visit www. bgcsuncorridor.org or call 520-876-5437.

Central Arizona College Selected to Join Achieving the Dream National Network

by Angela Askey, Executive Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Central Arizona College

Central Arizona College is one of five colleges across the country that has strengthened its commitment to improving student success by be coming part of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) National Network.

CAC President Dr. Jackie Elliott said, “We are honored to have been chosen for the 2020 Achieving the Dream cohort.”

A team of CAC staff recently attended the Virtual Kickoff Institute, setting the stage for the college’s work as an ATD Network institution. CAC will continue work on Guided Pathways and the implementation of nine areas of interest that provide a direct path of achievement for students. Work will focus on aligning policies, with student success and equity being at the forefront of every decision.

“Transformational change is difficult under normal circumstances, and it’s particularly pro nounced during such a challenging time,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “We are encouraged by the commit ment of these five institutions who have shown that student success is at the core of their work.

“We look forward to working with these colleges on building their capacity for change over the next three years, and we are excited to welcome them to the Network this summer.”

Achieving the Dream leads a growing network of 277 community colleges committed to helping students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for aca demic success, personal growth and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating stu dent success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas.

ATD, along with 75 experienced coaches and advisers, works closely with network colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

The Achieving the Dream 2020 Cohort includes:  • Central Arizona College • Compton College (California)  • Milwaukee Area Technical College (Wisconsin)  • Northwest State Community College (Ohio)  • Wake Technical Community College (North

Carolina)

PHOTO: GREG MASTORAKOS

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success Choose an area of study you love from our 9 Areas of Interest. See what classes you need and how long it will take!