The Expat Fit Mums
Hear from some of the wonderful Expat Fit Mum success stories
Abby Hiser
In 2016 my family moved to Guangzhou, China. We were in this strange new environment and I was in need of restarting my exercise routine. At the same time, I needed to push myself out into the community or the expat life could get isolating very fast. Inspired by others around me, I followed their lead and reached out to Coach Kara.
I made a connection with the coaching team right from the start; they were inspiring, encouraging and deliberately challenging. It was evident that I wanted to be a part of this like-minded group, navigating our way through international living while keeping our minds and body healthy.
The program has so much versatility allowing me to workout with a group or independently, including strength training programs, cardio programs, and lots of fun social opportunities. I can make it what I need it to be; all the while, knowing I'm connected to a larger community that is working through the same program.
Kara and the EFM training has given me the tools and confidence to prioritise health and fitness as a lifestyle no matter where I am. I’m four years into the programs and I’m better at holding myself accountable, I’m better at leaning on my community and I am in the best shape of my life at 47 years old.
I am forever grateful to the Kara’s program for providing a familiar connection to health, fitness and community while living abroad
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Misty Littlewood
Early in 2017, I was out with my family one day. My three kids were running ahead as usual, so I called out to them, “Hey guys! Slow down! You’re going too fast!” My son yelled back, “Mom, we aren’t going fast. You’re the one going slow.” This moment was a definite A-HA moment! My son was telling the truth. I was the one slowing my family down. I had let myself go for years, and the years were showing for sure. I weighed over 100 kilos at the time and I was the slow one. I was obese. I was finding it increasingly difficult to walk and keep up with my kids. I had neglected my health, and I had no energy or strength.
I made a decision. I decided in April of 2017 to do something—to change. I wanted to be a healthy Mum so I could keep up with my family! I knew myself and I knew I couldn’t change everything at once, so I made small, incremental, manageable changes over time.
Since April of 2017, I have lost 35 kilos (or 77 pounds), and I have kept it off. I never saw myself as a fit, healthy person, but now I see a fit, healthy person when I look in the mirror. I continue to surprise myself. I went from not exercising at all to moving everyday!
With my own transformation journey and by watching other people around me change their lives through lifestyle change and fitness, I was inspired to pursue a certification in Health and Wellness Coaching. In July of 2019, I became a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. I owe so much of this to Coach Kara.
Sara Magnusson
When I was young I had an active lifestyle, I loved working out and staying healthy. After marriage and having kids, my focus changed and I thought happiness came from being there for my family 24/7. I did everything for them and in there somewhere I lost myself, and completely burned out 2012. Looking back, it was the best thing to happen to me. It forced me to look within and remind myself who I was and what I loved to do.
In 2017, a friend of mine introduced me to Kara. I was struggling finding a good way to keep myself fit and healthy throughout the year. I couldn’t find the motivation to workout, and even when I did, I was feeling lost in the gym, not really knowing what to do.
With the Expat Fit Mum community and Kara’s amazing workout program and meal plan I felt it was easy to stay motivated.
Today, two years later I’m feeling blessed being surrounded by people with the same mindset and goals that helps you being the Best YOU almost everyday. I’m fitter, healthier and happier, AND my family are too.
I’ve learned that happiness has to come from yourself first. Expat Fit Mums has helped me find myself and my inner happiness again. Thank you, Expat Fit Mums!
Sally
Before joining, I always struggled to stick to a regular gym routine and was ultimately always dissatisfied with my results. It was the usual story of fad diets and extreme programs focused on quick fixes instead of real lifestyle changes.
In 2019, it suddenly dawned on me that my daughter's ten-year birthday was fast approaching and as such, it had been over ten years since I'd really been happy with my body. It was time to make a serious change and this program seemed like the perfect combination of expertise from Coach Kara and her team coupled with the motivation from a community of like-minded people all focused on a similar fitness journey.
I threw myself into the program with all I had and worked hard to find a balance between training, healthy eating, and my usual non-stop role as a busy mum of two.
Under Kara's guidance, I was able to go far beyond my expectations and so proud that I have made long-term lifestyle changes. It is more than just a program, it teaches you to make real-life changes and makes working out both fun and rewarding. With Kara's round the clock help I was able to keep things on track even when life did it’s best to push me off!
Thanks to Kara and the community, exercise, fitness and healthy living are now an integral part of my life and I have since continued to build on my results!
At 43, I am now fitter and stronger than I have ever been and have developed a passion for healthy living that will remain with me for the rest of my life. Thank you, Kara and the EFM Team!
Ashley Kaldasaun
My expat life began in 2010 when I moved from the USA to Australia, and my fitness lifestyle stayed pretty consistent, as it was easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle being child-free and single. When I got married in 2014, my health took a backseat and I was more focused on being a wife and starting a family. But the family took a bit longer and my body suffered from it. After fertility treatment I gained weight and lost confidence and that’s when I became an expat in China.
I moved to Guangzhou at my unhealthiest and biggest. I just didn’t feel like myself and knew I needed support and the right people around me to help me out of this rut. And in walks Kara (literally, into the cafe). I felt a connection and knew she and her training was what I needed to get back to feeling like myself again.
My journey with Expat Fit Mums started before I was a mum. As I began the journey to transform myself, I was also preparing to adopt two children in China. I knew my life would be changing in 12 months and my body and mind had to be in the best shape possible to keep up with the new role of motherhood.
Expat Fit Mums not only helped physically with programs and meal plans, but mentally I was able to be a more involved parent feeling fit and healthy which also sets a good example for my kids.
Being a mum in a foreign country is difficult and life can get overwhelming and finding the right support network is vital to keep healthy, mentally and physically. Kara and her team offers all that and more. Now matter where you are at in motherhood or your fitness journey, you can find your place with Expat Fit Mums.
Having other expat mums and people dedicated to a lifestyle of health and fitness has helped me immensely, and Kara and her team made it all happen.
Amelie
I have lived in Guangzhou for 12 years, I have spent half of that time being a member of the Expat Fit Mums family. Being part of this community has brought me so much more than a healthy lifestyle.
First of all, becoming a mum of 2 made me realise that my only “me time” was before 6:30am. After that, the day was not mine anymore. With work, school, family time, and more, finding time to exercise became harder and harder.
Having Expat Fit Mums in my life helped me going through so much. First of all, I have found my balance again, I exercise for my body but also for my mental health.
Arriving in this group training together made me feel so good about myself. There was no judgement, nobody cared about the low level of fitness I had, or the shape I was in. Everyone helped each other, sharing tips and 7 years later, here I am living much healthier, stronger and happier than ever.
The program is easy to follow, and the tips from the fabulous Coach Kara (and her team) really helped make a difference, not only for me but my whole family. We all have become healthier. The program is not a fad diet or quick fix, it showed us how to change our lifestyle, making healthy choices for me and the family. My girls love doing the exercises with me at home or in the park. It’s become a part of our life.
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