Greetings to you on this Holy Thursday,

Let’s talk about the joy of being a fit catholic mom.
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Maybe it's been a while since you felt it. Maybe you started off with great zest, joy in your heart, spending time with the Lord in a quiet holy hour or out on a winding trail run where there was time to reflect, push your body and elevate your soul. You felt strong and life was beautiful!

You were not stressed out. You ventured forth with your children at ease...each nerve seemingly alive with passion for your health, happiness and holiness and being that creative active mom made you tick.
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Do you remember that?

But now, the all-consuming daily task of raising saints and the workload surrounding it has left you pretty weary. You’re a little shell-shocked and wondering why you're so run down, why you have gained weight, why you don’t make time to exercise or pray. The task of getting out the door with the kids seems impossible, you eat with emotions and feel a deep dissatisfaction….where did you go wrong?

When you lose your zeal for life’s true goodness, it’s the beginning of the end. Things crumble, bit by bit...until one day you look in the mirror and the dream you had just isn't there anymore.
These verses of Proverbs 31 help set the tone for a good reflection on how we as moms should set about our lives in a joyful stewardship of our body and soul.
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She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Good news is, there is a cure…

There is a way back up for YOU. If you’re wondering where that route is for you personally, I’d love to show you. Being a fit Catholic mom is rather simple…and so full of joy. 

Hang tight and I’ll get to that when I write again soon. Until then, pray about where you’re at. Are you living your calling, letting yourself be healed and loving your family…and yourself? 

May the graces of this Holy Thursday and the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist be enough for you for now…

Enter in,
Rebecca Dussault

P.S.  If you haven’t heard or haven’t joined then here’s my call to action to come on board and join my new Fit Catholic Mom Group page. We already have over 1000 members in less than 20 days. Share this around. I’ll be posting some more in-depth writings and videos regarding how we live out our vocation as fit Catholic moms! It’s also a great place to share your struggles and victories and interact with other moms who might be carrying similar burdens and stresses in their lives. Get inspired and ready yourselves for transformation and a new mindset to tackle every day with a renewed spirit that is totally Catholic and simply healthy! Click the link below to join!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitcatholicmom/

P.S.S.  Fit Catholic Mom is proudly sponsored by Rudy Project and XX2i Optics. If you're gearing up for the summer sun and need new glasses, use this code to receive 30% off: ba-dussault 
Shop Here: http://www.e-rudy.com/en/
Shop Here: https://www.xx2i.com​

I know you've all heard "Happy Wife, Happy Life," and while this saying holds water, I know there is a deeper component to making this a reality. Is a woman truly happy if she looks in the mirror with self-hatred? Is she without chains if she never has time away from house, spouse and kids? Is she living intentionally if she's melting away her sorrows resorting to emotional eating again...and again?
Here's the Come to Jesus moment! We need the Holy Spirit to get our rear in gear! Truly! As St. Paul exhorts us to "glorify God with our bodies" so should we do. Are you?

 All women keep up conversation. Unfortunately, the internal one often sounds something like this:
·       I'm ashamed of my body.
·       I have no time for who I am.
·       I'm a disappointment to others.
·       My jealousy grips me.
·       Everyone knows what's best for me, but me.
I believe woman need a new internal conversation!

She needs a reason to hope...
Maybe she will get hungry enough to find help. Most cannot do these things alone as even coaches need coaches. There needs someone to break down the process and increase the outcomes.
·       You will be happier.
·       You will be healthier.
·       You will be holier. 
It's going to sting on the way up, but less and less as you show up...
“I am not the strongest, the biggest, the fastest. I am the most consistent, persistent, resilient. I will not give up.”
Success trains while failure complains.
 
BREAK A NEW TRAIL!​

 No one can do the work for you, but someone can help you find the easiest route to success! You will have a happier home if you take care of yourself. Your vocation as wife and mother depends deeply upon it...
 
Ever upward to a life of more authentic joy,
Rebecca Dussault
 
P.S. Welcome to each and everyone of you new subscribers out there. There have been so many lately and I am very grateful for that. Please don't think twice about forwarding this on to a friend who needs a new internal conversation and a little help on the way up Fit Catholic Mom- style. 
All for the glory of God!!

​Rebecca 

The need to involve the senses in interior prayer corresponds to a requirement of our human nature. We are body and spirit, and we experience the need to translate our feelings externally. We must pray with our whole being to give all power possible to our supplication. (Catechism of the Catholic Church p. 2702) 

With Yoga having known Hindu roots and being undeniably of the Hindu religion in expression and experience, it is in no way safe for a Christian to participate in. Yoga is made up of poses for the 330 million Hindu gods. Sometimes in America we get a watered down version and it may even be called Piyo or other (Pilates/Yoga combined), but it is nonetheless, not of Christian orientation at all. Wether you make your coffee strong or weak, it is nonetheless, still coffee!! Get my drift?

We should all love to strengthen, stretch, meditate and relax just as much as the next, but we must choose an expressly Christian, better yet, Catholic approach to it and they're out there. 

Furthermore, when we practice yoga, and claim as yet to be faithful Catholics, we give scandal to our fellow Catholics, and ones of especially weaker faith, who may fall away after having followed our example and partaken of the New Age. We cannot risk it and if you pay for attending then you really condone it. Can you imagine a total non-Catholic tithing into our collection basket at Mass? That would be saying something!

Lastly, you might think you can just "take Jesus in there with you" like I used to think, but you have no idea what god the person next to you is praying to or what spirit they might be channeling. I'm totally serious here! We had better acknowledge the unseen amongst us and not pretend it isn't influential.

...so pick up your Rosary beads and strengthen and stretch while you "FIT" in that daily Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy or both!

Note: I produce videos for my clients which address the human need to stretch, strengthen, relax and be at prayer. (Try this one with me https://vimeo.com/205714592.) They are easy to follow and are always faithful to the Church's teachings. I enjoy Pilates which doesn't seem to be of any religious bent and is therefore presumed to be safe to practice. There are others doing good in this arena too. Check out www.soulcore.com as another possibility.

For a much fuller explanation please read this 2 part article below:
http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2017/02/23/yoga-centering-prayer-and-mindfulness-part-i/
http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2017/03/02/yoga-centering-prayer-and-mindfulness-part-ii/

PraiseMoves Christian Alternative to Yoga:
https://praisemoves.com/category/about-praisemoves/why-a-christian-alternative-to-yoga/

Be fit and FAITHFUL always!

 
“Good Catholic women don’t feel like this. Surely I’m the only one.”
 
As a mama of four and a three-time overcomer of postpartum depression and anxiety, these words have echoed through my mind countless times. Postpartum depression is so very isolating and deceiving.
 
I’m happy to know the truth now — that 1 in 7 mothers will develop postpartum depression within the first year after their baby’s birth, that PPD can happen to anyone, and most importantly, that hope and healing are possible.
 
Whether you're a new mama or a veteran, the first year postpartum can be one of the most beautiful and most difficult of your life. 

Real life with a newborn isn't the highlight reel that we see on so many social media feeds. The sweet snuggles, tiny toes, and milky smiles go hand-in-hand with sleepless nights, crazy hormones, and a big dose of  "How am I going to do this?!" 
 
Throw in a postpartum mood disorder -- like postpartum depression or anxiety -- and you can feel like you're drowning. 
 
So how do you know if you're experiencing the “baby blues,” or something more? What are the hallmark signs of postpartum depression? And how do you begin to heal?
 
If you find yourself asking these questions right now, you’re not alone. Here are three facts every mama should know about PPD, and two things you can do to begin to feel better right now.
 
 
PPD is not the “baby blues.”
 
The “baby blues” are a common experience after childbirth, affecting up to 80% of new moms. Symptoms include mood swings, tearfulness, irritability, and anxiousness that usually begin 3-4 days after childbirth. They resolve on their own within 2 weeks postpartum.
 
While PPD and the baby blues share some of the same symptoms, they are very different. Because it’s an actual mood disorder, PPD is much more serious.
 
Symptoms of PPD have a wide range and don’t always match our idea of what depression should look like.
 
PPD can actually begin anytime within the first year after childbirth, and symptoms will last for more than two weeks.
 
Many women experience depressed mood, drastic changes in appetite, or a loss of interest in their normal activities. Others will also have symptoms of increased anger, feeling “out of control,” or a deep sense of guilt or worthlessness. Often, a mama with PPD has difficulty bonding with her new baby, or will excessively worry about her baby’s safety. And some mamas will also suffer recurring thoughts of death or suicide. (For a detailed symptom list, go HERE.)
 
The bottom line: if you’re consistently just not feeling like yourself postpartum, then PPD may be an issue. It won't hurt to bring your concerns to your doctor or loved ones.
 
PPD is not your fault.
 
It’s so easy for a mama with PPD to beat herself up with the lie that if she just loves her kids more, or if she just prays harder, or if she were just a better mother, then she wouldn’t feel this way.
No! Sweet mama, this is not your fault. There are a myriad of factors that can contribute to a postpartum mood disorder — hormonal changes, life stressors, lack of social support, thyroid problems, and sleepless nights can all wreak havoc on a postpartum mom’s mind and body.
 
So don’t blame yourself. Instead, ask the Lord to help you to find healing.
 
Because there’s good news! PPD is treatable.
 
When I was at my darkest after the birth of my second baby, I was sure that I would be depressed forever. It seemed impossible that I would ever be happy again. If you feel this way, too, take courage!
 
There are many effective ways to combat PPD. Among them are counseling, medications, targeted supplements (such as with progesterone), consistent exercise, and excellent nutrition — and often, the best treatment is a combination of some or all of these.
 
It does take time and effort to discover the best ways to treat PPD in each woman. But if you’re suffering now, there are two things you can do to begin to feel better right away.
 
First, open your heart to your spouse or a trusted friend.
 
Let them know that you’re feeling badly, that you’re scared, and that you need their support. Just saying the words out loud will bring some peace. There is no shame in needing help, and no sense in carrying your burden alone.
 
Second, ask a loved one to assist you in seeing a professional.
 
Something as serious as PPD can be resolved best when under the careful and gentle watch of a doctor, midwife, psychiatrist, or other provider. The sooner you make the call, the sooner you will be on the road to getting the help you deserve. But you shouldn’t have to figure it out by yourself.  Tell your loved ones that you need their support in finding and calling a doctor; they can even go with you to the appointment. Ask them to help you today!
 
Dear beautiful mama, PPD is not forever, and you do not have to go it alone. I’ve been there three times, and from the other side I can say, there is hope — you will be well again!
 
For more information on postpartum depression and other postpartum mood disorders, see Flourish in Hope or Postpartum Support International.
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Telling one of my clients this weekend that I was suffering from a plugged duct she said how she feels sometime she gets spiritually plugged ducts. I thought that was a great analogy!


We seem to formulate a concrete plan of how to conquer a physical plugged duct, so here's a few steps to conquer the spiritual:


1. Get some alone time with God before the Blessed Sacrament and formulate your Confession while doing so.


2. Confess your sins and the open up the Word.


3. Read the Word and write down opposing terms / themes. Example:


-When I am WEAK: he is STRONG


-When I feel UNPRODUCTIVE: he will produce the fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS
(real productivity unto the glory of God)


-When I am EMPTY: he will FILL me.


Grab a theme for convincing yourself of his nearness and goodness and let him get you up and rolling toward holiness. It's all in HIM!