by Elaine Stevens//
Getting fit for a summer of beaching it in a bikini after the winter blues isn’t easy for anyone of any age. However, for young mothers with full-time careers, it’s even more difficult — unless you get a little help from your friends, like the Beatles’ song says. Alden Johnson found a way to lose weight after her second child, build back her self-confidence, and build a business with the help of other women.
Alden, a sparkling, healthy 28-year does-it-all-in-a-day super mom, wife, teacher and entrepreneur, founded a fitness coaching business just 10 months ago and already she has built a remarkable following! Apparently her leadership and skills are paying off locally for her fitness team, which Alden describes as “like-minded people … passionate about changing lives.” She goes on to say, “Each month, as a team, we set a goal of the number of people that we would like to help. More times than not, we exceed this goal.” The key is the strong bond among the women of all ages, all walks of life, who consistently motivate one another.
Alden explains her initial inspiration for starting her fitness journey was her two children. “When I had my oldest son, I never really felt like I was able to get back to feeling like ‘me.’ ” Alden says she was able to lose the weight and fit back into pre-maternity clothing, but there was more to it. Then she had her second child. “I never gained my self-confidence back,” she says. “I truly felt uncomfortable in my own skin.”
Having a support group kept her accountable to her goal. It was like having a team of personal “spiritual” trainers, because they helped Alden with the hardest part of getting into shape: motivation. “The group gave me a place to check into every day and really learn the ins and outs of a clean eating lifestyle, alongside other women on the same journey as me.”
Her new regimen also helped her realize she had been living with a constant stomach ache, bloating, and fatigue. “I was sleeping better at night, more alert during the day; my skin was clearer and my hair shinier. All of this gave me such a boost of self-confidence. I knew that I never wanted to go back to feeling how I did before I started taking care of myself and getting fit again.”
Alden took her personal physical challenge a step further, learning more about what it’s like to be a fitness coach and created her small business around it. She wanted other women to feel as great about themselves as she did. On Memorial Day weekend 2015, Alden jumped into the fitness coaching business and never looked back. But she did think she would be figuring everything out solo, blazing her own trail sans support from anyone. “Instead, I was taken in by a large community of women who constantly support me,” she explains. “I was given resources and tools to kick off my business the right way.”
Alden’s journey has been remarkable she says, not just for herself, but because she witnesses first-hand the transformations of her team members. “They share with me their victories and their struggles,” says Alden. “They are given everything they need to follow the nutrition part: Meal plans, recipes, shopping lists.” Most importantly she cheers them on every step of the way and always tells them, “You are worth it!” Apparently the feeling is mutual.