Caterina enjoys playing flag football, frolicking on the beach, and going for runs. No matter which scenario, she makes the most out of her activities by balancing exercise with enjoyment. As a busy mom of three, she has to carve out time to take care of herself. So she makes sure that time is well spent by doing things she takes pleasure in, while at the same time enhancing her health.

Have you always been into health and fitness, or is this a new journey for you?

Both. I’ve always been fairly healthy. I’m a runner – I ran cross country and track in high school and have continued to run. Last year, I lost my father unexpectedly and not long after losing my grandfather. We have a strong family history of hypertension, and those two losses made me re-evaluate how important my health is. I have three young kids, a husband, a dog – just so much to live for.

Do you have any health concerns now you hoped to address?

I have hypertension. I was on two medications and now am down to one. I’m at a healthy weight but don’t see myself getting off the medication I’m currently on. It controls my blood pressure. Because of genetics and my family history, diet and exercise alone may not be enough to keep my blood pressure in a healthy range.

When do you find time to exercise?

I’m in school working on my master’s degree; plus, with work and family, finding time is a challenge. I started being more proactive about taking time for myself. I carve out time on a consistent basis, so planning is important. Sometimes I go running before work, or I plan ahead with my husband which days I will work out in the evenings so he will be available to watch the kids.

Do you do any other exercise?

I love football! I played flag football in a co-ed league with my husband. We always try to incorporate exercise with fun. As a family, we love being outside. If we go to the beach, we play sports with the kids. I run around the neighborhood or the lake behind our house while the kids ride their bikes. You have to enjoy what you are doing!

How do you manage your diet?

At the beginning of the week, I have two tote bags I fill with healthy snacks that I bring to work. I make an effort to only put healthy snacks in there so I’m not going to the vending machine. I especially like carrot chips with guacamole!  I also try not to eat refined flour – so I’ll eat zucchini noodles instead of pasta, for instance.

Have you faced any hurdles during your fitness journey?

Yes, when I was pregnant with my twins, I was on bed rest for about three months. Then I had to recover from a c-section for another eight weeks. So, I went several months without exercise. When I started back again, it was hard! My body had changed. But I started slowly, and within six or seven months was able to get back to where I was before the pregnancy. So don’t give up! Starting slow and incorporating exercise in little ways helps!