Just because you have a business idea doesn't mean squat. It takes a lot of planning, research, self doubt, procrastination, spreadsheets, and sleepless nights. There are so many details and everything has to come together at some point right??

As I mentioned previously my husband is the driving force for Fitbump. I had the idea but we kind of put it on the back burner as I was rearing our child... we thought can this really work?? One night in early January we had a chat and my husband said he didn't think it was possible to open in March when my maternity leave ended... we were running out of time! We toyed with the idea of me finding a job and doing Fitbump on the side. Needless to say that night neither of us got any sleep as we were pretty demoralized. The next day my husband came home and showed me the website he designed, this very website upon which this is blog is posted! He did it to motivate me and make me believe it was possible and together we could do it. We just had to stop thinking negatively and get our sh*t together! From then on we went for it. I got my First Aid & CPR, passed my Fitness Theory Exam, wrote my business plan (no easy task!) and started doing research on where we could get some money from. We started looking for a space, finding suppliers, and getting the right permits, licenses etc. Everyday we are crossing things off our list which feels great! Yes, there are moments when we butt heads.  For some reason my natural instinct is to disagree with whatever he says ha ha. I'm sure some of you can relate! Sometimes we are not on the same page, but at the end of the day we are in this together and are here to support one another!

Today we found out we are getting funding from Futurpeneur,a non profit organization that provides funding and mentorship for young entrepreneurs. Until now we have been winging it with our savings, credit cards, and a prayer! Today was a good day! It is tough to get small business loans from the banks, we do not require a great deal of money which funnily worked against us! Anyway again I have to shout out to my husband... wow I hope he doesn't read this because it will go to his head... and he is already a bit too cocky for my liking ;-) He said "we are going for this no matter what. Even if we don't get financing we will use our credit cards, we are doing this!" Which was a huge eye opener for me and the push I needed. Part of me was like...."well if we don't get money, we can't open...". There's that self doubt again. It is super scary to start your own business... fear of failure and rejection is terrifying! "What if no one comes to my classes?" "It's too hard." "I'm too tired." I am so lucky to have a husband who is helping my dream become a reality. Literally pushing me forward. 

Now all I need to do is get my act together and start getting Fitbump out there on social media. Little voice in my head says "I'm scared, what if no one likes my posts?" "What if we can't open in time and I disappoint people?" Go away self-doubt. I got this!!

Welcome to the Fitbump website! I am super excited to be on this adventure and hope many of you will join me. I am going to do my best to document my journey, so bear with me!  I was looking for some resources to help me out when I was thinking about starting my business but I couldn't find a lot out there about a new mom starting a new business. So here I go!  Thanks for reading!

Being a new mom has been super challenging... At one of Molly's doctor appointments soon after she was born, a nurse said something to me that has stuck all this time - this is will be the best and hardest thing you will ever do...  And that is the truest thing I ever heard! Being a mom has been amazing, life changing, rewarding, exhausting, challenging, and a roller coaster of emotions.  And I thought why not become an entrepreneur too ?!! I've always loved a challenge!! 

The idea for Fitbump came to me one night  in August as I was desperately trying to fall asleep before Molly woke up. I'm sure other new moms can relate - lying in bed going "sleep, sleep, sleep", "get an hour in before she wakes up"... it is often an impossible task. I've always been into fitness and exercise and had really struggled to find an outlet while pregnant and being a new mom, it just wasn't as easy to go for a run or take a fitness class. It is a lot harder as a new mom, you are tired, going to the gym is tough because you don't feel ready to leave your baby with a stranger. There are not a lot of mom and baby fitness classes out there. Plus you are super lonely and it is hard to put yourself out there.  Fitbump is going to be a place where pregnant women can feel comfortable working out, and connect with other pregnant women. A place where new moms can meet up with another new moms and discuss the ups and downs of motherhood, while helping to get their body in shape again. A place where all women can connect, feel comfortable and create new friendships. 

This idea would have not come to fruition without my amazing husband who has been super supportive and a driving force to keep on track those days when I was too tired or lost my mojo. More on him and our journey later, for now I need to sign off or I will be here all night! Thanks for reading!