From Active Teen to Busy Mom

Meet Natalie Bushaw, a vibrant 51-year-old whose journey to fitness began well before motherhood. As a high school athlete, she excelled in basketball, track, and even cheered just to catch a ride with her then-boyfriend (now husband). In college, she discovered weightlifting, shattering records with a bench press of 155 pounds.

Life Happens: Rising to the Challenge

But as life often does, it threw some curveballs. In 2003, she became the proud mom of twins who faced serious health challenges, undergoing over 30 procedures together. Once her sons entered preschool, she felt the pull to reclaim her fitness.

"I had to remember the Natalie who thrived on fitness and strength," Bushaw recalled. That year marked a pivotal moment as she joined Life Time gym in Minnesota.

A New Role: Vice President and Fitness Enthusiast

As if fated, Natalie stepped into a new role at Life Time as the vice president of public relations and corporate communications. Now, she’s hitting the gym six times a week, claiming, "I feel sharper and healthier than I ever have!" This transformation was aided by finding the right treatments for her perimenopausal symptoms and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The Shift: Less Cardio, More Gains

For years, Bushaw thought that more sweat equated to better workouts. However, after enlisting a personal trainer, she underwent an active metabolic assessment that unraveled the truth: she was burning mostly carbohydrates during high-intensity sessions.

Realizing that her scale wasn’t budging due to her intensive workouts, she pivoted her focus from cardio to strength training—an approach well-known for burning fat. Her efforts started showing, revealing her toned muscles after a year of commitment.

Mixing it Up with Progressive Overload

Emphasizing the importance of progress, Bushaw adopts the principle of "progressive overload," consistently increasing her weights by 2 to 5 pounds every six weeks to avoid plateauing.

She also shakes things up by including barre classes, which engage her muscles in innovative ways, proving that variety truly is the spice of a fit life.

Step Up Your Game: Walking Pad Adds More Movement

To amplify her daily cardio beyond gym hours, Natalie invested in a walking pad for her office, easily clocking in 10,000 to 12,000 steps and elevating her overall wellbeing.

The Power of Minimal Overthinking

Despite her busy schedule, Bushaw discovered that overthinking could derail her fitness goals. Initially confined to a rigid early morning workout routine—waking up at 5:23 a.m.—she learned to let go of sleep anxieties.

Instead of stressing about bedtime, she embraced a mental trick: acting as if she had more time. "If you commit without overthinking, fitting fitness into your routine becomes much easier," she shared.

Inspiring Transformation: A Lesson for Us All

Natalie's journey proves that it's never too late to revive your health and fitness, no matter your stage in life. With dedication and a willingness to adapt, anyone can transform their life—just like this inspiring mom who's now in the best shape of her life!