Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Palmer.
Jill, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am the first generation born from Colombian immigrants in the early 80s. My family took flight once the cartels started taking over destroying that beautiful country, landing in good ole New York City. We moved to Texas when I was nine years old and had countless long visits with my extended family through the years but to this day, NYC will always be my home away from home. Alongside with my brothers, I was very athletic and constantly in a competitive state of whatever sport that was on deck every single year for as long as I can remember. Health & Fitness was part of our lives but it was not something that was a true focus until adulthood. All of us, we former athletes, we’re used to eating 4,000 calories a day without gaining an ounce of weight.
Or even better, you would stop drinking cokes for one month and all of sudden you lost 5lbs. It was an amazing gift being athletic and doing what you wanted with food. Then… you graduate college and start working 50,60,70 hour weeks because you are hungry for that career. A healthy balanced lifestyle goes out the window. I was able to maintain some mediocre level of fitness while trying new avenues. I got a personal trainer one summer, then I did a boot camp series, then I got a gym membership and relied on classes to eventually land upon Crossfit. That is when I thrived. I had missed the camaraderie, the competition, the “pushing the limits” with your own self.
My body transformed into this powerhouse that I wished I had known in the prime of being a competitive synchronized swimmer. It was an amazing 2.5 years and then BAM!…. you have your first child and you are just trying to figure out the new life. The new juggle of the chaos while trying to not lose yourself in the process. You basically start over. Not only as a mom but also as a dad too. Everything changes and every single day is a new day. Plans, schedules, “to-do’s” become a wish list and truly go out the window along with your mental, emotional and physical balance. That was the beginning of a fight to figure out the BALANCE. After our second child, it was my promise to myself to conquer the battle of achieving overall wellness. I wanted to conquer eating better nutrient-dense foods, eliminate toxins, achieve a healthy physical state and above all tackling my hormones to create a better harmonious state of well being. That is when my IG blog truly emerged into what it is today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has actually been ok. I think the main struggle has been during the days I do not feel like sharing anything in my life. I have gone a few weeks here and there where I do plan “blackout’ times. So I do not have to think about being on social media and spend quality free time with my family. BEING PRESENT is becoming more and more important and I have to actively remind myself to do so daily. It is too easy to become consumed with all the extra of life.
Through the months, I started to receive private messages in IG from my followers who would thank me for my “real-ness”, for my honesty, for my candor and above all… for my IDGAF attitude.
In receiving those messages, it definitely gave me encouragement to keep posting my wins in those little squares because it could be inspiring someone that day.
Tell us more about your work.
Started two years ago in August 2017 after countless years of friends pushing me to start a lifestyle blog. To share my knowledge of health, fitness, overall wellness and all of my “extra” in between. I just did not have the time dedicated to it. I was a fellow busy bee, hustling every way I could and did not want to dive into the rabbit hole of managing a blog.
Then a few of my closest friends convinced me finally that starting my story on IG was completely manageable. Just post what you do in those squares. To just do it already.
So, I went ahead and dove right in. There was excitement and anxiety that day because I did not know what to expect or how this was all going to unfold.
The reason for my IG blog you may ask? Well… I am a full time working mom of two boys who is just trying to achieve overall wellness in some way or another. These days, there is just a lot to manage whether you are single parent, married, or even just a young professional just figuring this life out. IT. IS. HARD.
No matter what. It took some time with trial and error learning the ways of social media, growing your following and collaborating with brands. It was not until the past six months when I found my flow of those squares and focused in 3 categories: A food hack/win/flop, Sassy humpday Inspo, and then a workout/activity. You wouldn’t have those squares to see if it wasn’t for the ultimate supportive husband of mine. He has been the one behind the camera and the blog would not exist with him.
It is definitely something I have grown to be proud of and I hope that my wins push others to keep working to achieve their own goals.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think the role of good luck in regards to workinfitmamacita is the overwhelming support from my friends and growing following.
There is a select group that truly acknowledges and makes a point to reach out to me with their “awe” of what I do daily. That solidifies what I do.
My life is not the norm.
For a married, full time working mother of two littles- ages 3 and 4-, managing the household, dedicated and committed to physical fitness, maintaining a specific diet and battling hormone therapy in order to achieve overall wellness… it’s seriously insane. I am learning to say NO and working on reducing the daily load of what I am managing. The IG blog keeps me accountable in making sure I stay true to the commitment of what I stand for. It has worked thus far and I hope it pushes me along to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Email: theworkinfitmamacita@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkinfitmamacita/
Image Credit:
The IG husband : Wesley Palmer
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