Rachel Diana, 33, is a busy single mom of three, but no matter how many directions her job or kids pull her in, she finds the time to prioritize her health.
Her determination to live a healthy, abundant life drives her to stay active and eat nutritious, whole foods. “When I eat badly, I feel bad,” Diana says. “I want to feel better and think clearly in life. The physical and mental, it’s all related.”
Diana makes most of her meals at home, prioritizing eating adequate protein and complex carbs. Her diet also consists of minimal to no sugar. As a mom of three, six, and eight-year-olds, it’s important to Diana that she models a healthy lifestyle for her children while they are young and still forming habits.
“Kids are sponges,” Diana says. “They do exactly what they see and hear. I’m creating a life for them that they’re going to take with them forever. That’s what my mom did for me, and it’s stayed with me and my siblings.” Movement is a big part of that healthy lifestyle. She encourages active play for her kids, and they often go on family walks around their neighborhood.
“It’s not a fun life to be sedentary,” she says. “There are no memories in sitting on the couch all day or playing on your phone. The memories are in connection, in spending time with each other, being active, and doing fun things.”
Fitness is a non-negotiable part of Diana’s life now. She doesn’t have a strict workout schedule, but she makes sure to work out at least five times a week and to hit all of the major muscle groups each week. She starts most workouts with an intense 10-minute cardio session on the stair stepper or the treadmill with a high incline. Diana loves lifting heavy, so she follows that with strength training.
“It’s not just about maintaining a healthy figure,” she says. “It’s also about the mental clarity it provides me. It’s the grind and discipline that trains your mind for every aspect of your life.”
Diana loves to push herself in the gym and watch that grit and resilience carry over into other areas of her life. Recently divorced, Diana harnessed the same go-get-it attitude she uses in the gym to transition from being a stay-at-home mom to a real estate agent in a matter of months.
“When you’re faced with any obstacle in life, you’re met with a choice,” Diana says. “That’s literally all it is. It’s just a choice, and you either lean in or lean out. And for myself, my kids, or anyone else watching, I want to choose the hard route and lean in. Making that choice repeatedly just changes your entire mindset.”
Diana encourages all moms to choose to prioritize their health, even amid the hectic day-to-day demands. “If you want it, go after it,” she says. “You have to prioritize that time. And if you don’t have the time or the resources, reach out for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from other people. It’s just another obstacle, and you have to figure out how to get around it.”
By Maya Smith
Photo by Tindall Stephens
