Cindy-Louise Moxon stepped on stage this past October 2012 when her daughter was just 8 1/2 months old.  Her 5-foot-6, 111lb frame won her 2nd place at the Fitness Universe Bikini Classic division. At 36,  she was the oldest competitor and the ONLY woman who had just given birth. “I knew I belonged on that stage and was so proud….The biggest and most valuable thing I learned is that I truly LOVE and RESPECT my body  – even with all its flaws. It’s just incredible what the female body can do!!”

She trains a MAXIMUM of just 4 hours a week at the gym! Read on to hear her story!

1. How many kids do you have? Ages? How heavy were they at birth and how much weight did you gain during pregnancy?

I have one girl, aged 9 ½ months. She arrived on my birthday and weighed 6lbs 4oz.  I gained 38lbs but most of it was water retention.

2. C-Section or Natural? How long did it take you to recover? When did you start training

Natural delivery. I was power walking 4 days after giving birth and started weight training about 3 weeks after. I only returned to weights once I felt my pelvic floor had fully recovered.

3. Did you nurse? How long?

I breastfed exclusively for 6 weeks and from 7 weeks I added in 1 bottle of formula a day. Week 8 was 2 bottles of formula and so on.  I breastfed first thing in the morning and last thing at night up until she was 4 months old. She didn’t want to feed from my breast anymore.

4. What does your daily routine look like?

Baby girl wakes around 6am but I leave her to play in her cot until 6:30am. I’m a stay at home mom. If we don’t have a baby class to go to I visit friends with little ones. Get back home by 12:30 and she goes down for her long nap of 2 ½-3 hours. This is when I go off to the gym. I’m always back before she wakes up.

5. What is your weekly workout?

Currently I weight train 4 times a week and my workouts are 45-60minutes. I also walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes first thing in the morning before my little one is up. I like this time as I can catch up on news from the previous day and plan my day.  Sometimes I watch my favorite TV shows – it never feels like a chore!

6. What is your weekly diet?

I eat 5 meals consisting of 110g of protein, 40g of carbs and as much green veggies as I like. I have a protein recovery drink within 10 minutes of my weight workouts.  Before I go to bed I have a casein protein shake. It tastes like a chocolate milkshake so I look forward to it everyday. Every Friday I allow  myself to eat whatever I was craving during the week. Most of the time it’s pizza and chocolate and washed down with diet coke. I never beat myself over cheat meals. I know I have earned them

7. What is your philosophy on training?

Train hard and train smart! Currently I spend a maximum of 4 hours a week in a gym.  I enjoy weight lifting and gym time is my “ME time”. It was a huge part of who I was before I got married and had the responsibility of being a wife and mother.  I’m blessed to be surrounded by 2 very different circles of friends. Those that train hard and have no children (yet) and then my friends with little ones who help me immensely with my little one. Both circles of friends support and encourage me all the time.  I’m truly blessed!

8. What question are you asked the most? What is your answer?

Aren’t you worried you will bulk up? I wish it was that easy – lol!

You must train so much to keep in shape. The complete opposite! I exercise the least out of my fitness friends!! I train smart as I have a limited amount of time in which to do my workouts and get back to my responsibilities of being a full time mom.

9. What is most challenging being a fit mother? How do you overcome it?

Right from the beginning I made it my top priority to establish a solid feeding and sleeping routine so I knew exactly when I could workout.  When my little girl was around 4 months old I felt very confident in the fact that I really understood my daughter. (Don’t get me wrong, there were days I was so smug at how good I was doing regarding the routine and then my daughter gave me a reality check by doing her own thing!) I really wanted to get the old me back – only better than before.  I 100% believe in the ‘happy mom means a happy baby’. 

10. What is your occupation?

I was a behavior therapist for children with autism and a PT before I fell pregnant. I worked up until I was around 7 months pregnant. We were in a fortunate enough position for me to not have to work so I took advantage of the late sleep ins, relaxed during the day by going to movies etc and of course kept up my training!  By the time baby came I felt I had ample time for ME so now I could happily give my all to HER.

11. What is your advice for moms first starting out?

I don’t think I’m in a position to give advice the 1^st time round – lol! I still have so much to learn myself! The one thing I can say every mom MUST do is to take some time EVERYDAY to do something just for YOU.  It could be a hobby or sport you had previously done or do something you have always wanted to do.  Never forget your identity and what makes you unique!!

12. What is your favorite clean recipe?

I have a real sweet tooth so it would be my protein pancakes. I have them every morning. 3 egg whites, 1 egg yolk, 40g oats, big handful of berries (I mix this up daily) and ½ scoop of chocolate protein powder. I then have a small amount of sugar free syrup – yum yum!!

13.  What is ‘your secret weapon’ for those who want to be in shape? How long did it take you to lose weight?

I always tell people there is no secret weapon. It’s actually very straight forward…. eat clean 80% of the time, train hard, train smart and find a form of exercise that you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it you won’t be consistent.

When I fell pregnant I was 114lbs and the day before I gave birth I was 150lbs but a lot of this was water retention. I lost 8kgs in the first week.  When my little girl was 4 months old I was 121lbs and not in shape as I wasn’t eating clean.  Within 2 months I was at 114lbs and it was then that I decided to compete in a Bikini Fitness Pageant to take me that step further. If I had to stand on stage in a tiny bikini and not be able to hide any flaws I had to be in the best shape of my life.

14. Personal thank you’s

Hands down for my husband. We met in a gym and we used to train together all the time, even when I was pregnant. He understood how important it was for ME to get back into shape and supported me all the way. In the last month leading up to the competition I was doubting myself and the process.  You would never believe it but my husband so was bored of seeing me strut up and down the lounge in my tiny bikini and 6 inch clear heels practicing my posing and walk. He had to drag himself from the sofa to take my weekly front, side and back photos. He did it so fast I was pulling funny faces in the poses but before I could tell him I looked daft he was back on the sofa watching TV – lol.  When I stepped on stage he shouted like it was the 1^st time he had ever seen me in a bikini

My little one cut her first tooth the final week of my competition prep and if it wasn’t for my husband I don’t know how I would have coped.

I also got lots of advice from a close friend and professional bodybuilder John Hodgson who helped me with my competiton prep and currently helping me with my nutrition and weight training program.

I would also like to thank all my friends (especially those who don’t have any particular interest in fitness) who always asked how I was doing and were so excited for me.

Thank you to you Maria….. while I was thinking of doing the competition your ‘what’s your excuse’ post appeared on our Glorygirl GROW FB page.  As soon as I saw it I was inspired and said ‘if she can do it so can I’.