A Working Mom’s Journey Back To Fitness

The Challenges of Balancing Work and Family

Welcome to my blog! I am excited to share my journey with you, thanks to Barry’s encouragement to tell my story. In this first entry, I will give you some background on how I began my transformation with the help of InsideOut.

Being a working mom is incredibly challenging. While some women seem to effortlessly balance it all, I found myself struggling. Many of us working moms face a “second shift” after our day jobs, taking care of home and family. Unfortunately, this often means neglecting an equally important aspect: ourselves.

The Pandemic’s Impact

This became particularly evident during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. As a parent of school-aged children, I spent much of my time troubleshooting tech issues for online learning, while squeezing in my own work during early mornings or late nights. Clients often questioned the 3 AM timestamps on my emails (yes, the clock was correct!). With time at such a premium, I relied heavily on food delivery, chose relaxation over exercise, and frequently joined virtual social gatherings to combat loneliness. Let’s just say I may have contributed significantly to certain beverage companies’ profits during that time!

A Wake-Up Call

When life began returning to normal, the reality of how I had coped became glaringly apparent. My comfortable daily uniform had concealed the 30+ pounds I had gained, and returning to my second-floor office left me winded after just two flights of stairs. Additionally, I had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease during the pandemic, an autoimmune condition affecting my thyroid. Overall, I felt and looked unwell.

The wake-up call came during our first post-pandemic family vacation – a Disney cruise to Alaska. The active excursions, including hikes and kayaking, were a struggle for me to keep up with. It was then I realised that by not taking care of myself, I had become less effective in caring for others. This epiphany sparked my commitment to prioritise my own well-being. Fortunately, I discovered InsideOut Studio, which was instrumental in my journey to reclaim my vitality and strength.

Making the decision to change was the catalyst I needed. In my next entry, I will share more about how this transformative journey began.

By A. Lam