Strong Mommas on Mission: The two-pronged approach that makes this so different

​It has taken me a while to figure this out…pardon me, I’m a little slow on the uptake. Strong Mommas is not a normal business. I’ve been pretending that it is, that it’s a typical online training company. I’ve been trying to fit this thing into a regular mold based on other programs that are like it. But I can't quite seem to make it fit. 

At its core, Strong Mommas is so entirely different than anything else. And I’m finally going to fully admit it, especially to myself.

Yes, Strong Mommas has all the normal stuff. We provide training services that include complete strength and conditioning programs tailored for women, specifically moms. We provide nutrition coaching services that include very simple guidelines on how to eat better and practically fit it into the challenging life of a mom. We provide avenues for accountability, strategies for staying on track and support to help moms follow through. And all of this is online so that moms everywhere can benefit. (It's a simple membership program...check it out here.)


Not Revolutionary
As much as I’d like to be a revolutionary, I’m not the first one doing this. There are probably a hundred other companies doing this exact same thing, which is great. I certainly can’t help everyone! Some of them have state of the art apps, login systems, local support groups, high quality videos…you know, the fancy stuff that makes me feel out of my league. If you want a collection of beautifully edited DVD’s with fitness models bouncing around on black mats and odd flesh-colored microphones, I’m not your gal.

I’m just a mom with a good education, more than a decade of experience coaching women, and a knack for making the fitness and nutrition world less intimidating. Click here for my story. Most of my workout videos have kids hanging off of me. 


But Very Different
But there’s more than just workouts, nutrition, and accountability help. And this is where Strong Mommas is so very different.

Strong Mommas is a mission based company. This was my original heart when creating this brand, and sometimes I forget. I get caught up in the “Eat Your Pro’s!”, the core training, and the Facebook group. But there is a mission here, and it must come back to this. Let me explain…

There are two important prongs to our mission, our outreach:


1. First Mission Strong Mommas aims to bring physical and emotional freedom to moms that feel enslaved to their bodies in various ways. They could feel trapped by physical pain (a knee that hurts), or more likely emotional pain.

The enemy uses our bodies as tools for shame, guilt, jealousy, discontentment, and hatred. There are countless women that need to be lifted out of the disgusting mire to see their physical beauty, simply because they are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. There is no workout or nutrition program that is capable of instilling worth or value to a woman like God can.

With every exercise program designed, every meal plan, every single accountability letter written and post in the Facebook coaching group, I long to see one more link on the slave chain dissolved.

These are some of the comments I've heard from actual members:

• “I have never enjoyed and celebrated my body as much as I am now.”

• “I am finally free in my own skin, unashamed of my body and proud of what it can do!”

• “I am now seeing my body as a valuable instrument that God wants to use. This has been a hard journey, a spiritual journey, but God is doing some amazing things in me!”

It’s not just helping women lose weight. It’s not just seeing habit change. It’s not just becoming more fit. All the other programs out there do this. Instead, it’s a complete overhaul, a slow and steady renovation from the inside out. It’s pointing all of these beautiful women toward the God that fearfully and wonderfully designed them.

Click here to read more about Counter Cultural Fitness... the most talked about blog post Strong Mommas ever published. 

 
2. Second Mission Strong Mommas also aims to help broken, overlooked, and disheartened women. For these women, good nutrition and working out is the last thing on their mind, and rightly so. Their challenges are colossal. They must decide between buying food or clean diapers. They are facing an unwanted pregnancy. They have no support or assistance to care for themselves or a brand-new baby. They are desperate and need love. We are no better than them…we are simply able to help.

Strong Mommas takes 50 percent of all monthly membership fees, turns right back around and places it into the hands of these desperate women. We partner with two organizations: Northwest Children’s Outreach (NCO) and First Image of Portland (formerly Pregnancy Resource Center).

I recently met with a business coach and he, of course, asked me some of the details of Strong Mommas. When I told him that Strong Mommas donates half of its profits, he was shocked. He asked me if everyone knew this, and I said no, I didn’t think it was important to shout it from the rooftops. But he said,

“Megan, you either stop donating so much or you make it loud and clear what you’re about.” 

You can guess what my decision was.

So far, to date, with your help, we have donated over $7,000. It feels weird disclosing this, but I think it’s important for you to see that this is real and it's happening. And I'd like to be able to give a heck of a lot more than this. 

Both Northwest Children's Outreach and First Image have direct impact on moms and their babies in the Portland Metro area. Their work is, without a doubt, admirable and very much needed. When I see the women that these two organization come in contact with, I realize I exist in a pretty safe bubble, where my only concern is whether I ate the right thing for lunch or not. Some days are “hard”, where my children (who are loved, healthy, and taken care of) are throwing tantrums. Big deal, Megan.


We Must be Different
So, Strong Mommas must be different. I don’t want this to just be about meal plans and workouts. These are simply little tools for a much bigger purpose. We are providing a way for moms to feel free in their own bodies, liberated to be exactly who God called them to be. And we are providing for the heartbroken and hurting moms that surround us in our community.

We are on a mission for moms everywhere, and my dream is for it to spread like wildfire.

Can you help me spread it?

Lord, forgive me, when I’m blind to those right around me that need help so desperately. Help me to see your heart for all your creation, especially the women you have put me in contact with, and their babies. Help me to be a conduit of your love, a pipeline that transfers your grand purpose to moms that are crying out for help, strength, guidance and ultimately freedom. Manifest your glory in every single woman that reads this.      ​

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How you can hop on board!

The first way to participate in the heart of Strong Mommas is to simply share this blog post. That's it! You never know who needs to hear these words.

The second way is to sign up for the free Strong Mommas newsletter. This simple bi-weekly email is loaded with inspiration, fitness and nutrition tips, and specific help for moms. Sign up today and I'll send you ​One FREE Month of Beginner Strength Training Workouts! Click here to get on the list. 

​The final, and most impactful way, is to become a Strong Momma. Join the membership today for only $30/month and you can start to see your own life transformed and help to transform the lives of other women, as well. 
​Click here to read all about it and to get registered!