2012 Challenge: Balancing Parenthood and Fitness

Being a parent is one of the biggest challenges out there.  And as rewarding and wonderful as it can be, as Nicole Roberts says, being a mother does take away from her own time.

"From the year 2000 until recently--pretty much this year is the first time in the last 11 and a half years that I haven't been pregnant or nursing a little one so I'm finally ready to get my body back to myself."

Nicole has four children, and as many mothers and fathers understand, she wants to be there for her children all the time.  But that of course gets in the way of time she could take for herself. Now, she's changed her mindset.   "I had to decide that I deserved some time alone.  I always had my children, when they were little, under two, they were always in a sling, with me, I brought them everywhere."

In September Nicole says she went back to work for the first time in a while, which was the jumpstart that she needed to change her life.  "That was a wakeup call that I could leave my children and they would be ok."

So on her own, and through the challenge, Nicole has finally begun to take that time that she needs.

"I feel terrific. I feel better than I have in years. So I wish I had done this sooner."

She can't always go to the gym at five in the morning like other contestants.  She does need to work around her four children's different schedules.  But she makes sure she gets there when she can.

"I'll never go back to being sedentary so I can always be next to my children. Now I'll always just take some time for myself."