NADINE MULLER AKA @_nadinemuller is you follow this gal on Insta. Remember her name beauties, because this gorgeous woman is a #gamechanger. She is a true inspiration and I LOVE watching this lady chase her dreams and smash some of her biggest life goals (and she is not finished yet). I started following Nadine when I gave birth to Cruz, her little boy Madden is the same age as Cruz. We both shared similar passions, we both preaching our love for nourishing foods, fitness and our boys. We are both also Registered Nurses. I have always found Nadine so easy to relate and connect with to as this she totally  keeps it real! 

I got to meet this beauty earlier  this year, we did a workout together at F45 and then had a cute brunch date with our babes. Such a fun day chatting about motherhood, training and life in general. 

I know you will love Nadine as much as I do. Sit down, pop your feet up, have a cuppa tea and enjoy this weeks #showtherealyou feature @_nadinemuller. 

Thanks for sharing Nadine.. big love always girl!  

Favourite hot drink?

Ohhhh as I type away on this I’m currently sipping on a lemon infused green tea, but there is also nothing better than a warm hot choccie to unwind before calling it a night… In daylight hours I’m a Cappuccino girl on almond milk! 

Can you tell me who the REAL Nadine Muller is?

I was born in Melbourne, but grew up on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast in Queensland. I come from very humble beginnings; my family didn’t have copious amounts of money growing up, but in saying that there were no shortages of LOVE in my household. My parents did their very best and worked extremely hard to provide for my older brother and I and whilst I didn’t think it at the time, looking back now we had everything we needed and more, much more. I wouldn’t change a thing.

In true family tradition, I joined the military (Air Force) soon after graduating high school. I’ve been enlisted in the military now for almost ten years and my experiences and exposures have truly been second to none. I’ve made some everlasting friendships and have had a number of career highlights and memories that I hold so very dear.

Despite health and fitness being a cornerstone to my personal and professional life, in my early twenties saw me diagnosed with advanced Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Severe Dysplasia to Carcinoma Insitu; in simple terms Cervical Cancer came knocking on my door. When the word ‘potential hysterectomy’ was brought up during one of my many specialist appointments my entire world had come crashing down. When I look back on this testing time I see that I truly am one of the lucky ones who get to share my story, and whose dream of becoming a Mum came true, despite theodds that were stacked up against me. This health scare was a very testing time and it allowed me to re-evaluate my outlook on life and was a real game-changer. Like anything battles are there to be fought and in my case won, and getting the all-clear and becoming a Mum was the utmost silver lining to my journey. (Which reminds me to REMIND YOU who is reading this – If you are due for a papsmear please book in an appointment to get it done).

Anyhow a lot has happened since then, most significantly was meeting the love of my life, my best mate, (also the one who grinds my gears like no one else can) but truly my life’s accomplice – My king -Dane.

We met and hit the ground running….Why wait? We couldn’t have been more sure! After 6 months we were engaged, married a year later (we were 9 weeks pregnant at our wedding) and then just like that the littlest love of our life Madden James entered our world and boy did he expand our hearts and continues to do so everyday J

SO here I am sharing my journey particularly surrounding my chaotic little juggle of mum life, work life as an RN and a PT, my health and fitness, and spreading self-love, confidence and positivity through my social media platforms. Why – because empowered women, empower women (One of my fav quotes!). I genuinely want to prove that absolutely anybody can achieve their fitness, personal and professional dreams, goals, hopes and aspirations despite any challenges that they may encounter along the way. Likewise that what we see everyday in social media isn’t always how it truly is, that raw and honest will always prevail! 

Tell me about a day in the life of Nadine Muller?

Well whether I like it or not my little one is much like his Mumma and likes to seize the day and be up at the crack of dawn. To make for a smooth morning, the night before I’ve packed the car, breakfasts and lunches (thanks to weekend meal prep), have everything laid out to a T so our morning rush is ‘less-rushed’ for the lack of a better word. I usually jump in for a morning session at my PT workplace (F45) at 4.45am or at my local 24hr gym and am back home no later than 6am, I quickly trade parenting with hubby so he can then head to work the second I’m back in the door. I breastfeed Madden, I then sneak in as many kisses and cuddles in whilst feeding Madden breakfast and getting us both ready before dropping him into daycare by 6.30am in order for me to get to my nursing shift in the Emergency Department by 7am through to 1530hrs. After that, depending on what day of the week it is, 2 nights a week I put my PT hat on and start at 4pm and work til about 8pm, the other arvo’s/night’s I head straight home from my nursing shift, pick up Madden from day care and have family time until lights are out and we do it all over again for the working week!! Weekends are very much about my boys and I and we try to keep relatively active but with the main focus on quality time together and catching up on housework, grocery shopping and food prepping so we can go in prepared for the week ahead! Days are hectic and nights are short, and I guess I’m very much still finding my ‘balance’, if there is ever such a thing, I’ve sought advice and support from my other working mumma friends on IG and its so nice to not feel alone on the days that I’m JUST keeping my head above water!

Congratulations on becoming a personal trainer! Go girl! What drove you to do the course?

I’ve grown up keeping fit and healthy from a young age and being in the military means fitness is at the forefront of what I do, but particularly since becoming a mum my true passion for health and fitness reached new heights, I saw the strength and tenacity of the human body through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum which allowed me to wholeheartedly appreciate just how remarkable the human body is and how thankful we should be each day for it. Now as a PT, nothing excites me more knowing that I get to meet, interact with and connect with so many people everyday. I get to apply my ability, knowledge, experience and my sheer love of fitness to help enrich somebody else’s life and that is something I am immensely proud it. I’ve always believed that amazing things happen when your passion, purpose and professions come together and its for that reason that I find it so incredibly uplifting to be a part of someone’s journey in creating positive changes in living a stronger, healthier, happier life.

Since becoming a mumma to that handsome little Madden what have you learnt most about life?

I knew that having a child was going to be life changing, but wow is that an understatement, it’s the most positively life-altering experience one will ever go through – is it not? I cannot agree more on the saying that when a child is born, a mother is too; I’ve loved watching myself evolve as a person and finding myself lifted to new heights and achieving personal goals I didn’t see possible. Over the past year, through my son I have experienced more adventure than I ever thought imaginable. It truly is love beyond measure and with it my priorities have completely changed, my outlook on life and what truly makes me happy, and what matters most has been such an eye-opener for me. Motherhood is not only my life; it’s wholeheartedly my happiness, my passion, and my greatest achievement.

(This photo truly connected me to Nadine! Arghhh I love it). 

A favourite #mumlife memory so far?

Oh my gosh, there are so many. I have no idea where to start. I really don’t think I could narrow it down to one favourite… I’d be lying if I said one of the funniest was when Madden decided to rip his nappy off and took a number two in his cot with this most evil laugh to follow – whilst I was trying to teach him to self-settle as I was talking to him via the monitor from another room…. Thank goodness it was the consistency and shape of a soggy chicken nugget (I kid you not!) But no really!! In all seriousness though, one to mention out of many would be Madden’s kisses! How good are kisses from our babies??? When I was pregnant I used to dream of kissing his lips, and during scans I would say over and over ‘I cant wait to smooch those tiny lips’. I remember so vividly the day he was born when I kissed him for the first time – F*** it was a zillion times better than I had ever dreamed of…Now we have this thing where I say give mummy a kissy-wissy, and he does the biggest ‘mwwwwwwahhhh’ as he leans in then it is followed with an open mouthed, super slobbery, super slimey lip-smacker…Nawww!! I treasure every single one, and I literally hang out for one of his kisses after a long day at work especially!!

What do you think attracts women to your social media platforms?

I’m simply sharing my health and fitness journey in relation to my life as a first-time mum, a full-time working mum as a Nurse and Personal Trainer, a devoted wife, how I juggle a career in the Armed Forces, all whilst trying to have somewhat of a social life and attempt to keep SANE as best as I can haha. I pride my social media on being a positive and supportive network and a communication hub to uplift, encourage and motivate other likeminded women – and not just those who are mothers.

I genuinely enjoy sharing my honest experiences and as I said whilst I aim for my page to be mostly motivating, positive and a fun hub, I likewise haven’t hesitated to share it all; the good, the bad and the indifferent. Honesty truly does lead to authenticity and I believe there is something to be said for those who demonstrate courage and strength in telling things how they really are.

It is important for us women to remind ourselves that not all images we see on social media are ‘real’. With the technology we have now so readily available, digital alterations and manipulating images can be done at the drop of a hat. We all have to remember that our reflection in the mirror DOES NOT define our worth and continually comparing ourselves to potentially unrealistic ‘perfect’ bodies, ‘perfect’ mums, ‘perfect’ lives can be toxic to our mental health. I want us women to band together and to feel confident and secure within ourselves, and to know that there is more than enough room for us all to make it in this world!!

I want us all to say goodbye to our inner critics, to be kinder to ourselves and our bodies. To gain a heightened sense of self-worth and self-respect regardless of what ‘ideal bodies’ are thrown in our faces everyday. It’s not about comparing ourselves to one another or about being better than anyone else but being proud of our own journey, owning our own unique story and improving ourselves (in whatever capacity) each and every day.

I’ve made some incredibly meaningful connections from social media and have been fortunate to meet up with a handful of instamums. I’ve been incredibly uplifted and inspired by so many of them (you know who you are!). Like me, they are simply everyday mumma’s, grounded with humble and realistic attitudes to match. I admire women who similar to me get a kick out of seeing other women do well and live by that quote I mentioned ‘Empowered women, Empower women’. Can I get an Ahhhh-men!

What is your favourite quote or mantra?

One of my favourites is ‘Exercise is as much as a gift to the mind as it is to the body’. As a first time mum, especially in those early days, training had been my coping mechanism whilst I adjusted to motherhood and got our routine down pat and my post-partum hormones had leveled out – mine were all over the shop, poor Dane!! It was then that I had also recognised that not only was exercise re-conditioning and re-strengthening my body but it was a total game changer (and free therapy!) when it came to my mental health.

I ensure that at least one session a week I leave my phone/ipod in my gym bag and leave my mind and body to train with no interruptions, in a world where we are so attached to our phones, dare to strip it back and be truly present with your training – just YOU and your mind! Do it – I highly recommend!!

How often do you find the time to move your body?

Anyone who knows me would know that training is an essential part of my day and has been for many years! I’ve found it to be crucial for my physical (and mental) health and overall wellbeing. My passion for keeping active and staying fit is something I do for ‘me’ but ultimately for my family too. I know I am a far better person, mum, wife, (PT and Nurse) when I have invested time in making my health and wellbeing a priority too. It honestly provides an outlet from the ongoing pressures of motherhood and any general life stressors that we all encounter along our journey. For me, it brings about a heightened sense of accomplishment and pride. It allows me to sweat out any of my days worries, makes me feel more energized, and overall has a positive effect on various facets of my life including my relationship with hubby, my family, my career, my goals and aspirations. It’s not about how you look (that is just a bonus side effect); it is about how it makes you feel – stronger, confident and well centred J Plus working in the busiest Emergency Department in Australia means that I witness some fairly ‘heavy’ medical emergencies so to shake off a tough or confronting day with my physical training is a must for me. You could say more than ever, my physical fitness and mental health and wellbeing is a necessity as I juggle motherhood and my professional working life.

Favourite active wear piece in your wardrobe?

Oh I wouldn’t be able to choose just one piece, what I can tell you though is that there are absolutely no shortages of Lorna Jane, Lululemon, Nike and Rockwear in my wardrobe… As a breastfeeding active mumma and one who supports home grown small business I’m also digging activewear by the incredible @mummactiv! Jo is another awesomely fit, humble, hard working charismatic Mumma who inspires me beyond words – Check @mummactiv out!!!

Do you and your man get time to go on a date? If so where do you both love to go?

To be completely honest, if we get to squeeze in a gym session together, I feel like that’s a smoking hot date for us! Haha…. Training together everyday is one of the things that I miss the most, he goes hard and I’m pretty competitive so training together is extreme! So when it does happen, I’m on cloud 9! On the flip side of the coin, it is somewhat embarrassing to even say this, but it was only a few weeks ago that hubby and I had our first ‘proper’ date since Madden was born. Surprisingly it wasn’t until we did this that we realised just how much we had become disconnected for the lack of a better word, not at all in a bad way, we have simply been so love struck with our baby Madden that we just didn’t take the time out just for each other and we realised the importance of bringing ‘us’ back. I’ll be completely honest in saying that since becoming parents, our relationship has taken the back seat. Although having a baby has meant a lot of changes for US as a couple, I’ve learnt that incredible things can happen when you learn to change and grow ‘together’. We might not get the time alone as often anymore, but I know that 9/10 times we’d choose family time altogether first, because that is when our hearts are truly at their fullest. Despite that, since that date at the races and a night to ourselves while Madden slept over at his grandparents for the first time, we’ve made a pact to one another that we will take time once a month for ‘date night’… We genuinely love family time with the 3 of us, so once a month seems very reasonable for us both for now J We are next planning a dinner at our favourite restaurant followed by a movie at the cinemas, we may even step it up a notch and go gold class! Go us! Mind you, bedtime is quite early for me usually, so I’ll probably be a DUD! (…..Dud date, Is definitely what you were thinking right?!) Haha…

Thanks so much for having me Alice, and if you are still with me thank you to those that have taken the time to read my #showtherealyou feature!

Spread Love, Nadine xo

Want more from the gorgeous Nadine? 

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