Anne Campbell is one of the most no-nonsense people I have ever met. Her drive and resolve are admirable, not to speak of her faith, which leads all aspects of life. When you meet her, it is hard to believe she is a mother of four, let alone a grandmother of two. But as all mothers know, this is exactly the experience that makes Anne so good at what she does: keeping everyone accountable. Anne and her partner, Gary Abram, own and operate Functional Fit Club, a private fitness studio in Maitland, FL, that offers 1-on-1, small group, and pre-and-postnatal fitness sessions. Their goal is to provide a supportive, non-intimidating environment where clients get the personal attention they need.
What is Functional Fit Club and functional fitness? What is your role?
Functional Fit Club (FFC) is a private fitness studio offering coach-led small group and private training. Functional Fitness is a way of training the whole body like we live, work and play. It involves compound movements that help improve strength, stability, power, and endurance. My role at FFC involves assessing new clients, creating workouts and training.
Tell us about your background, and life as a mom of 4.
Originally, I planned to teach PE at the elementary school level. As my family grew, it became apparent that life as a mom of four would be my most important job. In addition to being home full time, home-schooling became a way of life that offered the freedom to coach some of the kids’ teams, and eventually train, too.
What led you here?
From being very involved with athletics at a young age, to coaching girls’ youth softball teams, and home-schooling the kids, the road to training was paved when the opportunity to train my daughter’s volleyball team was presented. It was an easy decision to pursue my certification.
Anne and I met 5 years ago; I was 12 weeks pregnant with my second. She came highly recommended by a friend, and given I was a “geriatric” pregnant woman at age 39 (how is this not an antiquated notion?), a trainer specializing in pre and postnatal fitness seemed like a good option. Exercising during pregnancy made me hesitant, but my physician encouraged it. Anne was reassuring, supportive, and extremely knowledgeable about pregnancy limitations. She erred on the side of caution when I did not, and encouraged me beyond what I thought possible during all stages of pregnancy. This is not only my personal testimonial, there are countless others. It is a calling Anne takes to heart.
What motivated you to support women before, during and after pregnancy?
After working in the fitness industry for several years, I noticed how natural it was for me to relate to women who wanted to focus on being healthy prior to, during, and returning from pregnancy. I jumped on board with the first Pre-Post Natal course offered to trainers. Not only did I gain the technical information needed to train this group of ladies, I had the experience of my own pregnancies, labor and delivery, and recovery, from a health and fitness perspective. My experiences also didn’t end with physical health. Mom-brain is so real, and it can be frustrating for a lot of women. It was important to me to recognize the mind-body connection.
What 3 tips do you have for women looking to care for themselves during the pre and postnatal period?
Most important is to make your health and fitness a priority before you get pregnant. Outside of that:
- Make a plan for consistent workouts during your pregnancy. Mom’s-to-be already commit to so much: birthing plans, plans for the nursery, etc. Their health and fitness is as much of a priority. Your strength, endurance, balance and flexibility will help with delivery and recovery.
- Allow grace following the birth. Embrace the physical and emotional changes. This is a beautiful season.
- Make conscious decisions that support your wellbeing throughout. Eat healthy, stay active, and surround yourself with others who support your goals for a healthy mom, healthy baby, and healthy family.
How can women empower themselves in this process?
Women can empower themselves by celebrating every step of the journey. You can begin by learning more about the value of exercise. Set realistic goals for your day and prioritize your time to create success. Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone and ask for help, whether it’s information, childcare, or personal trainers.
We’re taught to celebrate only when when we reach a goal, but we should be celebrating just getting to the gym for the first time or breaking a sweat. The more wins we pay attention to, the more it feels like we’re partnering with our bodies versus working against them. That’s what sets Functional Fit Club apart from a lot of modern fitness attitudes. It’s easy to fight our bodies, punish ourselves, feel the burn, etc, but really the more we listen to and partner with our bodies in functional fitness, the easier it is to make our health and fitness a priority.
What would you say to someone who feels like it is too hard to fit in making the time for themselves?
It is hard to make time for exercise. It’s harder when your body is tired and changing, and everyone else has needs. As mothers, we feel guilty for dedicating time to a healthy lifestyle. I personally tried to embrace the mindset that I was investing in my family by making time to exercise. I couldn’t physically or emotionally give 100% to my family if I hadn’t started my day with quiet time, exercise, and a shower. Modeling a healthy lifestyle of good eating habits, exercise, and getting enough rest (I know that’s an oxymoron) also sets an example for your children. You have to find what works for you…sometimes its before everyone is awake, or maybe you exercise with your children. Make an appointment with yourself and show up!!
