I am a NASM & Pre/Postnatal Certified Personal Trainer and Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, running enthusiast turned strength training advocate and creator of the RUN Mom Strong Courses.
|
I help busy moms train with purpose, respect, and understanding of their bodies through the continuum - pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. We cut through the BS and get down to the simplest form of what actually works AND in a way that you are actually going to do it!
This mission is very personal to me because that mom endlessly searching for the perfect workout and all the answers to ever growing list of questions about my changing body, getting overwhelmed and then defeated, just sinking down into the couch again to “start next week” was me not all that long ago.
It’s depressing to think about how many strong, smart, beautiful women are still stuck in this cycle, this same cycle that popular culture promotes and the fitness industry feeds into because...guess what???
… it keeps you coming back!
This mission is very personal to me because that mom endlessly searching for the perfect workout and all the answers to ever growing list of questions about my changing body, getting overwhelmed and then defeated, just sinking down into the couch again to “start next week” was me not all that long ago.
It’s depressing to think about how many strong, smart, beautiful women are still stuck in this cycle, this same cycle that popular culture promotes and the fitness industry feeds into because...guess what???
… it keeps you coming back!
I’m not from the fitness industry. (but you better believe I know my shiz)
I’m a scientist.
I’m a teacher.
I provide programs and advice that are backed in science and logic….and what actually works!
I teach you! So you truly understand your body and can sustain your progress long past your time with me.
I’m a scientist.
I’m a teacher.
I provide programs and advice that are backed in science and logic….and what actually works!
I teach you! So you truly understand your body and can sustain your progress long past your time with me.
My passion for fitness began at a young age with a love of running (thanks mom), but I took the long road back here career wise….
My other love, for science and solving puzzles, lead me first to pursue my doctorate in Chemical Engineering (for those of you that don’t know what ChemE is, think of it as a cross between chemistry, physics, math, economics and whatever you need to make it as efficient as possible). During that time, I also became the running guru among my friends, writing dozens of programs (everything from just getting started to running a marathon at a new PR).
I LOVED it! I got to nerd out engineering style on something I’d loved for a lot longer than immunology and fluid mechanics.
Though my PhD isn’t directly related to physical fitness, that time of my life definitely fostered my love of data, my scientific approach to all things, and a propensity for all things efficient.
Now, I get to nerd out writing your programs to be the most efficient and effective possible. Win, win!
Fast forward a bit to 2 hours after defending my dissertation, I was sitting in a pre-planning session for my first year of teaching full time. My data driven methods paired with my love and passion for the science lead my students to unprecedented success.
My other love, for science and solving puzzles, lead me first to pursue my doctorate in Chemical Engineering (for those of you that don’t know what ChemE is, think of it as a cross between chemistry, physics, math, economics and whatever you need to make it as efficient as possible). During that time, I also became the running guru among my friends, writing dozens of programs (everything from just getting started to running a marathon at a new PR).
I LOVED it! I got to nerd out engineering style on something I’d loved for a lot longer than immunology and fluid mechanics.
Though my PhD isn’t directly related to physical fitness, that time of my life definitely fostered my love of data, my scientific approach to all things, and a propensity for all things efficient.
Now, I get to nerd out writing your programs to be the most efficient and effective possible. Win, win!
Fast forward a bit to 2 hours after defending my dissertation, I was sitting in a pre-planning session for my first year of teaching full time. My data driven methods paired with my love and passion for the science lead my students to unprecedented success.
|
...then I became a mom and everything changed!
Teaching is exhausting. I have so much love and respect for all the teachers out there still giving it all in their classrooms.
Mom-ing is exhausting! Both, had me falling face down on the bed as soon as I got home from work, only to peel myself off a few seconds later to take care of my family! |
Even though I was a certified personal trainer and knew what needed to be done, I was overwhelmed!
I didn’t know how to make it work with my life. I came home from work exhausted, ate out a ton, and by the time I had my son in bed, I just sank into the couch for the rest of the night. I wasn’t working out like I should and I wasn’t eating healthy. Meal plans overwhelmed me. I didn’t have time or energy to follow complicated recipes.
Over and over again, I would put a plan together, tell myself I was going to go to the gym after school 3 days a week, finally plan my meals (especially lunches for school), and get my sh*t together. By Monday or Tuesday (if I was lucky) that dread and inevitable hopelessness set in, that overwhelming feeling that I couldn’t do it all, and I would quit. I'd continue on the same path for another month or so and then start the same cycle over and over again. I was so unhappy with myself.
Enough was enough. I made it my New Year’s Resolution to make a change. I spent most of my winter break from teaching working on a plan: studying, designing, testing it all out, and getting really excited to help myself and others! I finally buckled down and figured out how to make it work with my life.
I didn’t know how to make it work with my life. I came home from work exhausted, ate out a ton, and by the time I had my son in bed, I just sank into the couch for the rest of the night. I wasn’t working out like I should and I wasn’t eating healthy. Meal plans overwhelmed me. I didn’t have time or energy to follow complicated recipes.
Over and over again, I would put a plan together, tell myself I was going to go to the gym after school 3 days a week, finally plan my meals (especially lunches for school), and get my sh*t together. By Monday or Tuesday (if I was lucky) that dread and inevitable hopelessness set in, that overwhelming feeling that I couldn’t do it all, and I would quit. I'd continue on the same path for another month or so and then start the same cycle over and over again. I was so unhappy with myself.
Enough was enough. I made it my New Year’s Resolution to make a change. I spent most of my winter break from teaching working on a plan: studying, designing, testing it all out, and getting really excited to help myself and others! I finally buckled down and figured out how to make it work with my life.
I eventually discovered the most efficient workouts and significantly simplified my ideas of healthy eating and created a system!
...all while making room for frozen yogurt with a pedicure, donut dates with Drew, pizza with a good IPA, and a glass of wine with chocolate!
I was STRONGER, and more importantly HEALTHIER than I'd ever been!
...or so I thought...
...or so I thought...
Warning, it's about to get personal...
To be honest, I did a lot of things “wrong” in the beginning, because
On the outside, it appeared I had "bounced back" (I hate the term but you know what I mean)…. buttt…
Finally, I decided something needed to give (nearly 6 year postpartum with my first).
I had been getting back into racing more seriously and to my surprise I was feeling faster than pre-motherhood. My husband and I were running a race competing on a team for his work. We had a goal of being the fastest male and female on his company team (spoiler alert, he hit his goal, I did not).
It was all going great until the downhills. I could not run downhill without completely peeing myself. And it wasn’t just a little drop, I’m talking soaked pants (good thing they were black - I’d made that mistake before). So there I was running the flats and the uphills (passing people left and right) and walking downhills only to get passed by all of them and then some.
It was so F-ing frustrating.
At the end of that race, after asking my husband if he could tell my pants were soaked in pee (thankfully no), I vowed to call a pelvic floor physical therapist on Monday. (Have I mentioned that I think EVERY postpartum woman should go see one at least once and preferably not 6 years later??)
I started with with my PFPT the very next week. Of course, I LOVED nerding out with her on it and was inspired to learn more. More moms needed to know this stuff! So I dropped everything in my coaching business and studied to become a Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist.
It took working with my pelvic floor physical therapist and applying all the knowledge in my postpartum corrective exercise specialist to truly and honestly get into the best shape of my life WITHOUT the peeing and pain!
I wish I would have known sooner, but the good news is that it’s never too late!
This experience completely changed the way I coach moms and was my main motivation in creating my signature RUN Mom Strong: Postpartum Foundations Course.
Having the knowledge isn't the be all end all though. I often wonder, if I could go back and give myself the advice I give my clients now, would I have listened?
My message of don't run yet early postpartum, focus on intentional strength training, learn to listen to the signs your body is giving you is NOT one runners want to hear.
..we runners just want to run... I GET IT!
So I'm going to continue to be that annoying voice that keeps reminding you. Not a quiet one either because we runners are good at tuning that shit out.
Returning to running postpartum requires a strategy! It requires taking a step back, intentionally rebuilding your strength, and learning how to tune into your body.
I know you'd rather just ignore this...but instead, let's do the damn thing!
- I wasn’t initially fully educated about the changes that happened in my body during pregnancy and the corrective exercises necessary for progressing back to full function.
- Decades of running had me well practiced at tuning out what didn't feel right and doing it anyway (know the feeling?).
On the outside, it appeared I had "bounced back" (I hate the term but you know what I mean)…. buttt…
- I was still occasionally peeing with running, jumping and sneezing - and just living with it.
- I had terrible back pain if I wasn’t regularly seeing a chiropractor (which was really hard living in an RV and traveling for 2 years, but that’s another story for another time.) - the chiropractor helped the symptoms but didn't fix the underlying problem.
- My shoulders and neck constantly hurt - massages barely helped.
Finally, I decided something needed to give (nearly 6 year postpartum with my first).
I had been getting back into racing more seriously and to my surprise I was feeling faster than pre-motherhood. My husband and I were running a race competing on a team for his work. We had a goal of being the fastest male and female on his company team (spoiler alert, he hit his goal, I did not).
It was all going great until the downhills. I could not run downhill without completely peeing myself. And it wasn’t just a little drop, I’m talking soaked pants (good thing they were black - I’d made that mistake before). So there I was running the flats and the uphills (passing people left and right) and walking downhills only to get passed by all of them and then some.
It was so F-ing frustrating.
At the end of that race, after asking my husband if he could tell my pants were soaked in pee (thankfully no), I vowed to call a pelvic floor physical therapist on Monday. (Have I mentioned that I think EVERY postpartum woman should go see one at least once and preferably not 6 years later??)
I started with with my PFPT the very next week. Of course, I LOVED nerding out with her on it and was inspired to learn more. More moms needed to know this stuff! So I dropped everything in my coaching business and studied to become a Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist.
It took working with my pelvic floor physical therapist and applying all the knowledge in my postpartum corrective exercise specialist to truly and honestly get into the best shape of my life WITHOUT the peeing and pain!
I wish I would have known sooner, but the good news is that it’s never too late!
This experience completely changed the way I coach moms and was my main motivation in creating my signature RUN Mom Strong: Postpartum Foundations Course.
Having the knowledge isn't the be all end all though. I often wonder, if I could go back and give myself the advice I give my clients now, would I have listened?
My message of don't run yet early postpartum, focus on intentional strength training, learn to listen to the signs your body is giving you is NOT one runners want to hear.
..we runners just want to run... I GET IT!
So I'm going to continue to be that annoying voice that keeps reminding you. Not a quiet one either because we runners are good at tuning that shit out.
Returning to running postpartum requires a strategy! It requires taking a step back, intentionally rebuilding your strength, and learning how to tune into your body.
I know you'd rather just ignore this...but instead, let's do the damn thing!
The "Official" Bio
AKA. the one with out all the talk about peeing my pants.
|
Alison Marie Helms, Ph.D. is a Women's Running Coach and creator of the RUN Mom Strong Courses.
After struggling with her own return to running postpartum, Alison made it her mission to empower and educate herself and others to train with purpose, respect, and understanding of their bodies through the continuum - pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Alison is a NASM Pre/Postnatal Certified Personal Trainer and Pregnancy/Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. In addition to her fitness expertise and experience, Alison Marie holds a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech. She has taught everything from sixth grade science through collegiate level engineering courses. Her efficient scientific approach and passion for education help her to break complex ideas down into the simplest form of what actually works and in a way that you are actually going to do it. Alison has been featured in a variety of media outlets including FitFluential, Not Your Typical Mom Podcast, the LIFE BOSS Podcast, Runner Moms Podcast, and SHAPE magazine. |
|
Using the same simplified and results driven method, I've helped many other busy moms uncover their true strength and reclaim their bodies and lives.
These moms run with strength and confidence. They know how to efficiently integrate exercise into their daily lives with purpose for their goals. They've learned how to effectively reconnect with their breath, core and pelvic floor. They have created sustainable, consistent habits. They have learned to look at food as fuel for training AND living! They no longer feel overwhelmed trying to “do it all.” They have learned how to simplify the process. |
|
Explore!
|
|
Connect WITH ME!Train with purpose through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond!
|
