March is Women’s History Month.  BCB salutes the MANY women throughout history who have gotten us to this point today.  But, throughout March 2021 we are celebrating and sharing MOMS who are making history RIGHT NOW.  As we know, moms are basically super human, super heroes.  We tackle so much at once, are the queens of multitasking and at the end of the day—we are almost always putting others’ best interests ahead of our own.  So as we look to the future, we want you to meet some incredible women, all of who are making sure brighter days lie ahead for all.

Name: Nancy Anderson

Kids: Two sons- Kenzie and Leo

Where do you live? Newport Beach, CA

TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE HISTORY RIGHT NOW.

My team and I actively provide solutions to raise the standard of care for women pre- pregnancy, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy. It’s a mission I find so much joy in but take very seriously, too, based on my personal experiences as a mom and my professional experiences as a pre and postnatal expert.

To give an example, even some of the best OB/GYNs aren’t fully up-to-date on the latest research on pregnancy exercise and core training (think pelvic floor and diastasis recti prevention/treatment) and the role of nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy for mom and baby (and even for dad). This isn’t meant as criticism; it’s simply a nod to the current reality of the industry. Unfortunately, this leaves a lot of women with conflicting information, unanswered questions, and missed opportunities to make practical empowering choices for themselves and their families.

I’m here to change that. I rely on the best available evidence plus years of training to create resources that help women gain more agency over their well-being and impart the greatest health benefits to their kids. And we’re not just here to help women and babies—we’re here to start those important conversations that will help shift things toward a more holistic and accessible standard of care. We’re already seeing this shift happen, too! It’s so exciting for us.

DO YOU OWN A BUSINESS/COMPANY OR ARE YOU THE FOUNDER OF AN ORGANIZATION? IF YOU DIDN’T TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE FIRST QUESTION, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT IT.

I’m the founder and CEO of Nancy Anderson Fit, Move Your Bump, Treadthrill, and coming soon The Birth Recovery Center. Through these companies I’ve been able to work with hundreds of thousands of women from all over the world and at every stage of motherhood! I’ve been in the health and fitness industry for almost 20 years and have an M.S. in Kinesiology. I’m a full-time entrepreneur and certified fitness trainer, specializing in nutrition and pre- and postnatal care.

WHO IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN YOU KNOW?

My clients—no question. I get the greatest inspiration from the women I work with every day. These are stay-at-home moms, moms working full-time or part-time out of the home, moms-to-be, grandmothers, you name it. Learning from these women motivates me to keep creating solutions that help them express their best selves while also taking care of their families, careers, and communities. It’s funny because I think they assume I’m the one motivating them, but really I get just as much empowerment from working

with them and hearing about their experiences and watching them transform and start thriving.

THE THEME OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2021 IS: REFUSING TO BE SILENCED. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND HOW DOES IT PLAY OUT IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

To me, refusing to be silenced means taking action. My team and I do this every day when working on the business and interacting with our clients. We’re doers, you know? So, if we see a problem that needs to be solved, we’re going to come up with solutions that can address that problem in a meaningful and effective way. We’re not waiting for the status quo to change. We’re educating ourselves now and raising awareness about things like lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, core and C-section recovery and healing— nuanced issues affecting moms and moms-to-be that often get overlooked or undervalued.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WOMEN FACE TODAY? HOW WILL YOU HELP IMPACT AND CHANGE THIS FOR WOMEN IN THE FUTURE THROUGH YOUR WORK AND/OR PERSONAL LIFE?

I think women, and in particular moms, are expected to do it all but aren’t given the tools to do it all. Especially new moms—they have their baby, people congratulate them, they have their six-week check-up with the doctor, maternity leave ends, and then it’s like…okay. Back to managing the house, the schedule, the career, the family—and on top of that it’s stepping into the new role of mom while also figuring out how to heal the body. And that’s assuming women even realize their bodies are truly going through a huge healing process! That postpartum “4th trimester” period is sacred and should be honored, but I think for a lot of women the need to return to “life as usual” kind of gets in the way.

It’s interesting, because when you study other cultures and learn how they support women during the postpartum journey, you realize that Western society really sets women up to think that if we’re not perfect all the time and don’t figure this all out by ourselves then we are somehow a failure. But it’s just not true. Everyone stumbles, everyone needs help, and that help will look different for different moms—whether that’s a lactation consultant or a core rehabilitation expert or a women’s health physical therapist or a night nurse or a doula or a mother-in-law or a nanny or a housekeeper or whatever that looks like for each individual woman. So my goal is really to de-stigmatize the idea of seeking help and encourage everyone, not just moms, to realize how important it is to provide women with the support they need to thrive emotionally and physically.

IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ONE WOMAN THROUGHOUT HISTORY, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I think Wilma Rudolph (1940 – 1994) would be an amazing person to sit down with and hear her story. She was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field at a single Olympics. I’m really inspired by women who work their tails off in the pursuit of something they love. She also has some amazing quotes attributed to her. A few of my faves: “The triumph can’t be had without the struggle” and “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you.”

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW OR LEARN ABOUT YOU?

I think people would be surprised to know that there was a point in my life (pre-kids) when I was about 30 pounds heavier than I am right now—based on BMI data I was actually overweight at the time. In other words, I haven’t always been thin, I don’t get away with just eating as much as I want, and it’s not just “good genes” or anything like that. I really have to walk the walk when it comes to everything I teach about nutrition and fitness. And I can really relate to women who want to go on their own weight loss journeys because I’ve been on my own journey with that, too.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO BALANCE BEING A MOM, WORKING AND HELPING TO CHANGE THE WORLD ☺ IS THERE SUCH THING AS BALANCE?

To me, having “balance” isn’t about tallying up hours or creating a perfect schedule. It’s about being truly present with whatever I’m doing at the moment. So, what this looks like is that when I’m at work, I’m 100% at work—I give my full energy and attention to my team and my clients and my mission, and I’m not dwelling on issues outside of that. And when I’m with my family, I’m 100% with them—I put my phone down, and I’m really just there with them, mentally as well as physically.

I know it sounds cliché, but this practice of being present and living in the moment is so important for me when it comes to balancing my family and work life. And it’s a practice, for sure—I’m not perfect, at all, and I struggle on some days. I have guilt some days, just like the rest of us. One thing I’ve found to really help is to show gratitude in the moment. Just notice opportunities to be thankful and express appreciation to someone or something. That really grounds me.

WHAT IS ONE SILVER LINING THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC?

For myself personally, I can say that my work days have generally become more productive because I’m not running around doing as many errands or dealing with social events or things like that. We’ve also been able to enjoy more family time and have been spending even more time outside in nature. Speaking to the women I work with through my business, I think a lot of other people have had similar experiences.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC WILL CHANGE THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN?

As with any challenge or adversity, I think the pandemic serves as an opportunity for people to really take a fresh look at their lives and make sure it’s filled with more of the things that truly matter to them. I’m curious to see if more women will feel empowered to make choices that really align with their core values and genuine goals, whether that’s by adding certain lifestyle habits or eliminating certain activities that are simply done out of a sense of obligation or the need to feel in control.

WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OTHER WOMEN ABOUT MOTHERHOOD?

My advice is not to focus on what other moms are doing or not doing—focus on what works best for YOU, your baby, your pregnancy, your family, and your postpartum recovery. I think people give a lot of lip service to the idea that there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to motherhood, but unfortunately we still see so many women dealing with judgment and shame over their choices, whether that’s breastfeeding vs formula feeding or going back to work vs staying home or exercising during pregnancy or whatever. My advice is really just to explore and learn as much as you can and try different things until you find the resources and strategies that feel right for you, and of course keep your doctor well-informed.

WHAT’S NEXT…

My team and I are already doing a lot with our clients through the protocols and programs we offer through the Move Your Bump app, and it’s been really rewarding to see that company grow and evolve over the past several years. Looking ahead in 2021, we’re excited about our newest project, The Birth Recovery Center. This is going to be an online virtual platform for all moms to be welcomed and supported by a like-minded community of fellow moms as well as experts from a variety of fields. We envision this space to be a non-judgmental, comprehensive, one-stop-shop for whatever moms need for their post-pregnancy journey—whether that’s help with sleep training, healing their core, breastfeeding or nutrition feeding, mental health, whatever. I truly believe women should have affordable access to resources that can help them heal and navigate their postpartum experience, so I’m really excited to see how this new venture will help fill that space.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

Last show you binged: I don’t watch TV, but I heard The Queen’s Gambit is pretty good!

Last book you read: The Postnatal Depletion Cure by Dr. Oscar Serrallach, but for the most part, I usually read research articles and peer-reviewed journals.

Go-To Family Dinner: Instant Pot soups or an easy-peasy stir-fry

Favorite Beverage: Water and coffee—I typically drink my coffee black, but I love adding collagen to it for some extra protein!

Favorite Take out: Sushi

Favorite Dessert: Nada Moo Dairy Free Ice Cream

Summer or Winter: Summer

Dream Vacation: Somewhere warm by the ocean with gorgeous teal water, like the Maldives or Mykonos in Greece

#1 Beauty Product you can’t live without: Skinceuticals vitamin C serum

App you can’t live without on your phone: Move Your Bump & Treadthrill App

For more from Nancy, follow her on Instagram @nancyandersonfit or @moveyourbump or on Facebook at Nancy Anderson Fitness or Move Your Bump.

Stay tuned as we feature Moms Making History RIGHT NOW every day in the month of March.   Follow us on Instagram and Facebook  for more.   Do you know someone we should be talking to?  Email us to let us know at info@bumpclubandbeyond.com.  You can also meet more Moms We Love, right here.