Great Wolf employee gets fierce support in fitness journey

Ten professionals and 10 teams are competing in the 2014 Get Fit Challenge, a spinoff of IB’s popular Fittest Executive Challenge. Who will earn the healthiest marks? Follow along on Facebook and then find out at the In Business Expo & Conference on Oct. 22. This week, IB checks in with Becky Hubing, corporate digital marketing manager for Great Wolf Lodge, who is competing in the individual challenge.

As I sit here after a really tough workout (with a heating pad and ice pack, I might add), I can’t help but think about all the “whys” running through my head and how I got here. Why did I let myself gain so much weight? Why did I stop working out eons ago? Why did I not push myself harder? Why did I not make healthier food choices?

And the sole answer I can come up with — life. Life happened. In the past five years, I’ve changed jobs, had two sons, and built a new home. Then when you layer in family obligations, kids’ activities, managing a household, and being a wife and a career mom, there’s not a lot of “me” time left over. Yep, I’m the classic cliché and ball of excuses for not being fit.

When I made the decision to enter the Get Fit Challenge, I really wrestled with the idea that if I was going to do that, I needed to go “all in” and would need to be a little selfish. (Thank you, In Business, for selecting me, by the way.) I would have to give up some time with the kids in the evenings to hit the gym, I would have to let my husband be the single dad and take care of the kids and some of the errands, I would have to make the commitment to leave work on time to meet my trainer, and I would have to make changes to make this happen. I had to find balance! And that’s truly the key I was missing five years ago — I forgot to look for balance.

Now that I’m seven weeks into the challenge, I’m finding it possible to find that balance, and you know what? I think I’m a better wife, mother, and employee for it. I’m taking the “me” time that I had been missing and putting it to good use.

The other thing I have realized along this journey is that having the right support system in place makes a world of difference. On my previous attempts to get fit, I adjusted what I was eating and hit the gym — that wasn’t enough. I needed resources and support. I’ve gotten them from several key sources.

First, my husband is quick to jump in and take care of the kids so I can meet with my trainer or get in an extra cardio session in the morning. We’ve adjusted our menus at home to make healthier meal choices — although he’d love nothing more than a deep-dish, cheese-loaded pizza some days. I do have to give him a shout-out; since I’ve been in the challenge, he’s started working out and is losing weight and getting healthier, too.

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Secondly, the support I’ve received from my gym, Harbor Athletic Club, has been phenomenal! The club’s management did an excellent job of pairing me with an awesome trainer, Jamie. Together we came up with a plan geared toward meeting all my goals. Jamie keeps me challenged, recognizes my limitations, and definitely pushes me hard. I’m trying new exercises and workouts, and Jamie is fantastic at keeping things fresh with new routines, shaking things up, and providing solid, positive support.

Harbor has also been a huge support in helping me meet my goals. In addition to personalized training sessions, the club has provided gym memberships to my kids to encourage family fitness, helped me expand my horizons in nutrition by offering Fresh Fit Cuisine meals, and expanded my options while at the club to attend classes to try new methods to get fit.

The final piece in my “trifecta of support” is my employer. Great Wolf Lodge recognizes the importance of wellness and the overall health of its employees. When I was chosen to be a part of the challenge, I knew I might have to shift some things around in order to get workouts in and meet my trainer. They didn’t even raise a concerned eyebrow. Instead, they simply responded, “Wellness is part of being a great employee, now go kick some butt.” Not all employers recognize this and would only see it as lost time. Likewise, my fellow Pack Members have also been a wonderful support network. Of course, I think they secretly love it when I come in stiff and sore from a hard workout.

So now that I’ve beaten down all the excuses, have found balance, and have the right support system (and resources) in place, I’m positioned for success. I have the tools — all I need now is to keeping working hard, stay motivated, and take it one workout at a time. Oh, and of course I also need a working heating pad, my ice pack, and a healthy supply of Advil!

Looking forward to checking in and sharing a progress update.

Meet all of the competitors here, and see who wins at the In Business Expo & Conference.