Life and Work with Andrea Signor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Signor.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Andrea. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was 12, I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I had a 36-degree curvature in my lumbar spine and I had to wear a brace for five years. The deal was I had to be in the brace for 23 hours per day unless I was exercising. I decided to join the swim team and that is really what kicked off my love for being active.

Because of my scoliosis, I learned from a young age that I had to always be thinking of my health down the road. My doctor made it very clear to me that if I didn’t stay active, flexible, and maintain reasonable weight things like becoming a mother, being active, and living pain-free would be very difficult.

In college, I took up rock climbing and loved the feeling of being strong and climbing outdoors. I took up snowboarding and did every outdoor activity I could.

After I completed my master’s in journalism, I moved to Colorado Springs and worked as a civilian journalist at Fort Carson. There, I met my husband. On our first date, we did the Incline in Manitou Springs. Then we went mountain biking. Then climbing, rafting, and camping. I knew I’d have to keep my fitness level up if I was going to be with him.

He deployed to Afghanistan a month after we got married. While he was deployed, I made a goal of doing something that challenged me physically every month. I climbed a 14er in winter. I biked to the top of Vail Pass. I ran a Spartan Race. And I tried CrossFit and got my hands on a barbell for the first time. I loved it.

From there, I pursued strength training. I remember squatting 100 pounds for the first time, thinking I’d never be able to squat more than that. Then, I worked up to 150 pounds. Then, 185 pounds. Then, 200 pounds. I lifted through two pregnancies and I was able to rebound to my current training very quickly.

I loved the feeling of being strong and I wanted to share that with anyone who would listen. So, I started MamaLifts.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have gone back and forth with horrible imposter syndrome. I mean, when I started my blog I was just a mom who enjoyed lifting weights. I wasn’t a coach. I wasn’t a top-level athlete. But I joined a group of female entrepreneurs on Facebook who really had my back and encouraged me to go for it.

I ended up getting a personal trainer certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Then I attended a Starting Strength seminar with Mark Rippetoe, one of the country’s best strength coaches. Then I got a job at our local rec center working and training clients. That really helped me understand misconceptions about strength training and where I could be of value in sharing quality information and tips for getting stronger.

On a personal level, even though I lifted through two textbook perfect pregnancies, I then had two miscarriages. Even though my doctors assured me my workouts had nothing to do with the losses, it’s still hard to parcel that out and make sense of why that happened.

My advice to other women just starting: go for it. If what you want to achieve requires certifications and degrees, do the work, but don’t get bogged down feeling like you have to be an expert or no one will respect you. Find the people that will cheer you on, even if it’s just on social media. They are out there, but you have to put yourself out there. And don’t get tied up in worrying about what old friends or family will think of you. There was a great quote that I read recently that said something like “Don’t worry about the opinions of people you would never seek advice from.”

Please tell us about MamaLifts.
I am a personal trainer, specializing in strength training. On my blog, I am trying to encourage and inspire women that are curious about lifting heavy but maybe are intimidated to try it on their own. I want every woman to learn that she is so much stronger than she realizes.

I am most proud of my ability to relate to my readers. I get what it feels like to not be sure if you’re doing the right thing. I know how awful it feels to constantly be questioning your role as a spouse, mom, friend, or coworker. I think being strong physically helps manifest mental and emotional strength. And that’s what I’m hoping my readers take away from my posts.

There are a ton of amazing female coaches out there. I’m not sure that anything significant sets me apart. I hope that I come off as approachable and genuine in whatever interactions I have with readers and clients.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Always be learning, but don’t let yourself get caught up in feeling like you’re not an expert in your field so you shouldn’t have a voice yet. A good friend of mine once advised: Seek out the quiet experts in your field. That always stuck with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mamalifts.com/
• Email: andrea@mamalifts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mama.lifts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mamalifts/

Image Credit:
Images provided by Andrea Signor

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