Austin's most fit moms keep a balance

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Finding time to juggle kids, work and time for yourself can be hard for a lot of parents, and fitting in a workout can sometimes be impossible.

Yet, this month "Austin Fit Magazine" named Austin's 10 most fit moms and looks into the ways they find time to stay in shape.

When it comes to working out, Carla Birnberg, 41, does what she calls a "playout" with her daughter Emma, 5.

"I really wanted to make fitness a part of her life," said Birnberg, name one of Austin's fittest moms. "I didn't want her to think of it as something that took me away from her."

She incorporates their time playing at the playground or in the park into a workout for both of them.

"You can do dips from the park bench; you can do dips on the monkey bars. It's lunging around," said Birnberg.

And that's just one of the reasons she was named one of Austin's 10 most fit moms in the new issue of "Austin Fit Magazine."

"Each one of these women embodies the best of health and fitness," said "Austin Fit Magazine" Associate Publisher Drex Earle.

Earle asked the public for nominations and received 500, whittling that down to the top 10, like Krista Bergeron, 34.

"I do roller derby a couple of days a week," said Bergeron.

With her son Payton, 6, in tow, it's about making time for exercise.

"We do things together, but I do carve out that time. I either fit it in early in the morning before anyone is awake or whenever I can fit it in," said Bergeron.

And that seems to be the sentiment, especially for new moms like Courtney Sugar, 22, with her 5-month-old son Caleb. They get at least a walk in every day. That helped Sugar drop 30 pounds of baby weight.

"You just make it something you do every single day, and it's just part of your routine," said Sugar, also one of Austin's fittest moms.

Olivia Sharratt, 32, lost her baby weight after discovering CrossFit.

"I lost 15- to 17 percent body fat and a good, solid 35- or 40 pounds," said Sharratt, who also made the list.

While losing weight is a great bonus, all of these moms said the best reason to fit in that workout is the way it makes you feel about yourself.

"I feel it gives me energy and makes me more capable of balancing the world of being a mom," said Sharratt.

You can pick up "Austin Fit Magazine" at dozens of locations around town, such as RunTex.