Welcome to my little slice of the internet!
I’m Ellyse, a believer in the Most High God, married to the love of my life, Bryson, and mom to our three sons, Clayton (3), Flynn (2), and Liam (1) with one on the way! It’s pretty crazy and lots of fun around here!
I have a passion for fitness, the outdoors, and local coffee shops!
In this space, I want to help moms thrive through motherhood by being able to physically and mentally keep up with their kids. For me, that includes taking our kids on hikes, being able to play sports with them as they get older, and just everyday life with 3 (almost 4) tiny humans!
Currently, I’m working through an online internship and doing weekly “tutor” sessions with a Doctor of Physical Therapy to pick his brain so I can become the best personal trainer for YOU!
Fun Facts:
- My eyes are different colors.
- I never thought I’d have this many babies but I love it!
- Both my husband and I are Georgia natives but we met all the way up in Pennsylvnia
- I’m a from scratch foodie! I like to cook traditionally prepared meals as often as possible (think homemade bone broth, soaking beans and grains for easier digestion, cooking whole chickens vs chicken breasts) and plan to share more on this topic as this blog grows
- As a teen, I was completly unorganized type-B personality and becoming a mom to so many littles has forced me to become an organized effieciency driven machine of sorts!
- I’ve dabbled in other blog ideas but I always come back to fitness. I just can’t shake it!
How I got here
As a kid, I was very active and played sports as much as possible. P.E. was my favorite class and I couldn’t wait for middle school to try out for the teams (track and basketball)! I only played one year of sports before becoming a homeschool student in the 8th grade. I was determined to stay active so I started a PE class and a run club at my homeschool co-op.
Along with the school activities, I signed up for ballet classes. I wasn’t particularly good at dance as basketball players tend to plant themselves like trees and ballerinas are meant to look like they are effortlessly floating across the floor. But I still enjoyed the exercise it gave me dancing for 2-4 hours 3 days a week. Interestingly enough, I graduated high school at 16 and went on to community college.
That’s when I turned to the gym and fell in love! I loved lifting weights! I determined that I would go to college to become an exercise science major and then pursue a physical therapy degree. During this time, I had gotten married and in my sophomore year, I got pregnant with our first child! School had already been challenging for me and the idea of being in classes instead of at home with my son didn’t sit well with me. This was my own personal conviction and desire (not saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done)!
What I thought it would be like vs what it was actually like
I thought I was going to be a super fit pregnant lady but alas motherhood is never what you expect it to be. I had some serious pain and after I’d workout I would barely be able to get up. It felt like my hips locked up and were stuck. Fast forward to my 3rd pregnancy in the span of three years, this time the pain was excruciating. I was on self-proclaimed bedrest.
I was very confused for a long time why this was happening to me. It wasn’t until I found the physical therapist that I discovered I had Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Dysfunction when the hip joint shifts and causes shearing pain. This was probably due to the steady flow of relaxin, a hormone produced in pregnancy to open the pelvis for childbirth, that my body has had in it for 4+ years causing the perfect environment for the hip joint to shift.
I still am not where I want to be physically because I’ve recently been working on this issue. For me, it means there’s lots of potential to grow and to become even stronger than I was before I had kids. I’ve learned so much about anatomy and the pelvis that I want to help spread awareness about issues that can happen during pregnancy and after.
I want to arm you with the knowledge that I didn’t have before becoming pregnant or during subsequent pregnancies. So that you don’t have to live in pain or fear of childbirth or what your body is like after babies.
Strong Motherhood
Moms don’t have to be in pain.
Moms don’t have to sit on the sidelines.
Moms don’t have to pee when they laugh at their child’s jokes.
Moms can have pain-free fun in the bedroom with their husbands.
Moms ARE strong!!
