Fit Life in the Spotlight: Leigh Ishee

One of the things that I love about being a coach's wife is the great community across the country that you end up becoming a part of. There is a camaraderie among football wives that outside of the military, I think is very uncommon for many women. 

Today I want to introduce you to Leigh, yet another fitness superstar (who happens to be a coach's wife). I have had the pleasure of getting to know Leigh in the virtual world and am continually inspired by her faith, fitness and commitment to football. She is married to Wendell - a football coach at Morton Ranch High School in Katy, TX. He is in his 15th year of coaching! They are the parents of 4 year old Brayson. 

Leigh, Wendell and Brayson love family time!

What is your typical game day schedule?

Get up, workout, get my little boy ready for school, work, pick my boy up from school, grab dinner and head out to the football stadium for a Friday night game. 

We have been in Katy, TX for almost two years.  Before that my husband was a coach at Kaufman High School in Kaufman, TX (east of the Dallas area).  What I deeply miss from my Kaufman coaching family is getting together before the game to go eat and head out to the game together.  We were like family.  I do consider them family.  I miss that. 

Morton Ranch High School Mavericks

Have you always been active? 

I have been active on and off most of my life.  It started when I was in soccer and gymnastics as a kid.  I played volleyball for a short while in the 9th grade.  I played some intramurals in college.  I have worked out on and off for a long time.  I have been the most consistent since I started my fit life coach business almost 2 years ago.  I love the way exercise makes me feel and the energy it gives me.  

What is your favorite sport?

Volleyball and tennis!

What is your favorite workout?

Right now my favorite workout program is P90X3.

What do you like to eat for breakfast or after a workout?

For breakfast - Shakeology.  I drink it on the go and it keeps me satisfied until my mid-morning snack.  
After workouts - I drink a Beachbody supplement called Results and Recovery.  It refuels and helps my body repair after my workout.  

Are there any foods you absolutely avoid? 

Mayo.  I am currently on a 12 month fast from sodas.  

It's a SPLURGE day! What is your go-to treat?

Mexican Food.  I am a Texan and won’t give it up.  And something sweet.  

What is a harder for you - eating right or exercising? 

Eating right.  I am not a big veggie person.  But I am getting better.  

What is the biggest challenge in balancing your fitness with your family and being a football wife?  

Getting everything done.  With working full-time, my part-time fitlife coaching business, being a mom and a coach’s wife, it is hard to get it all done.  In fact, I don’t get it all done but I am learning how to better manage life.  I am learning to set a schedule and work from a to-do list that is not just a list of my things that need to get done but also has 2 to 3 items to help me reach my goals.  I am also outsourcing items that someone else can do.  One of my goals this year is to have a housekeeper start coming once or twice a month.  

What motivates you?

I have finally gotten to the point where I actually crave exercise.  So the feeling I have during and after my workout motivates me.  The people I have met through my journey motivate me.   My father passed away when I was 18 so I want to do what I can to take care of myself.  Taking care of myself so I am around to see my son grow up motivates me.  I try to be a good role model for my son, to help him see how important it is to be active.  There is nothing better when I am finished with my workout and my son says “Good job Mommy"! 

What is your proudest accomplishment?

I am in the process of it right now.  I am almost through with the 3 blocks of P90X3.  I have not missed a workout yet.  I have never completed a full workout program from start to finish without missing workouts or changing to something else.  So I am really proud that I have gotten this far.  Just a couple more weeks to go and I will be a graduate!

Any healthy goals for 2014? 

• To love myself for who God created me to be.  
  
• To not give up no matter how slow the weight comes off.  
  
• To get my nutrition more under control. 
  

What is your advice for busy moms trying to get fit? 

You have to plan your workouts.  Put them on your calendar like you would for your doctor’s appointment and don’t miss them.  If you don’t schedule them, most likely they won’t get done.

My other advice is to start slowly and build a firm foundation.  What finally got me super consistent with my workouts was starting off working out for 3 times a week for a month.  Then after a month I went to 4 times a week.  After 2 and ½ months, I felt ready to move on to 5 times a week.  Now I am consistently working out 6 days a week.  I would not have been able to do this if I had not started slowly and built a solid foundation.  

Last words of advice?

Do not be a slave to the scale.  The scale only gives you part of the picture.  You can lose a lot of inches and the scale hardly budges.  I see too many women get so frustrated that they lost only a pound but they have lost inches and are fitting into smaller sizes.  For me, I had to throw out the scale.  My value was becoming driven by what I saw happen when I stepped on it.  If I had lost, I was happy.  If it did not budge or if I had gained, I hated myself.   It is a vicious cycle and the scale can be a liar. 

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THANKS LEIGH and GO MAVERICKS! 

"Fit Life in the Spotlight" is a regular feature on Home Field Fitness. I love sharing what fit and healthy women in the sports world are doing! They sure motivate me - and my hope is that they will motivate you too! If you know someone (or you yourself) that should be featured here - send me a message!