Jennifer Hilsabeck, a corporate attorney and mother of 7-year-old twin boys, defines busy. As a member of the legal department for Duluth-based Cadillac Jack, a manufacturer of gaming equipment, Jennifer recognizes the importance of communication, planning and compromise to achieve success in most everything she does. This includes her life outside of the office which is focused on family, and health and wellness.
Jennifer’s typical work week is filled with back-to-back meetings and conference calls reviewing contracts and legal documents. After wrapping it up at the office, she picks up her boys from their after-school program and together they head home for dinner followed by their evening regimen of homework, play time, showers and bedtime. Although her position does not require much travel, her husband super commutes to Atlanta from Las Vegas where he works as an attorney, and where their family was based until last year when Cadillac Jack recruited Jennifer. While during most weeks she absorbs the parenting responsibilities, Jennifer takes it in stride and recognizes that diet and exercise contribute in a big way to helping her manage it all.
“As a parent working outside of the home, I try to do whatever I can to avoid getting sick or having to spend much time away from the office to care for a sick child,” says Jennifer. As a preventive measure, I make healthy eating and regular exercise a priority in my life and for my family.”
Thanks to her employer, Jennifer has access to an onsite fitness facility which allows her to exercise daily during her lunch break while her twins are at school. She takes advantage of the free and convenient resources, including boot camp and yoga classes which she also enjoys for the stress management benefits.
Dr. Michael Bakheet, family practitioner and sports medicine specialist at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, reminds us that quality food is essential to good health. He reinforces the truth in the statement that “we are what we eat.” He cites working moms, like Jennifer Hilsabeck, whose lives will only be enhanced further by committing to eating healthy and to regular exercise.
“Although busy, I’m very happy with my life here in Georgia,” insists Jennifer. “As a family, we’ve learned to adjust to the commuting and the single-parent weekdays, and I plan ahead as much as possible which makes what seems like a crazy schedule much more manageable and provides consistency for my boys on which they thrive .”
Jennifer’s Tips for Making Time for Healthy and Fit
Communication: "I educate my children about what foods are healthy and why. Instead of saying 'drink your kefir' or 'eat your avocado,' I explain the benefits and talk about how these healthy foods will reward their body and their brain. It works because they understand and they start to take ownership."
Planning: "Planning ahead is key as it minimizes surprises and unnecessary stress. For example, I shop on Saturdays and that's when I also do all of my meal planning for the week ahead. In the mornings, I get up first and get myself ready and then I help the boys with dressing and breakfast. The night before, I pack my lunch – usually leftovers – and also pack my 'grab and go' breakfast items. My favorites are Greek yogurt, whole fruit such as fresh berries or oranges, and oatmeal that I keep at the office and prepare when I arrive."
Compromise: "With twin boys and a demanding career, both of which I am very passionate about, I have learned the 'art of compromise.' And that is to be flexible and to be willing to give and to take and to roll with life's uncertainties. Even though I often insist on home-cooked meals, when Friday approaches I am ready to stay out of the kitchen! As a family, we all look forward to our end-of-the-week dinner outings."
The Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk & Fitness Program is Atlanta’s only workplace-organized training program culminating in a 5K run and walk through downtown Atlanta on September 12. www.kpcorporaterunwalk.com
About the Author
