“A ‘No Excuse Mom’ is someone who makes no excuses for prioritizing her health and her family’s health,” Tasha Tartaglia said. “That’s kind of why I joined the group: Because I wanted to get back in shape.”
Tartaglia, mother of a 2-year-old girl, originally joined a No Excuse Mom group in Virginia.
“When my husband got new orders for Washington, I saw there wasn’t one here, so I created a new group,” she said.
No Excuse Mom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit program through Fitness Without Borders, with more than 350 branches in 25 countries throughout the world.
According to the website, www.noexcusemom.com, “No Excuse Moms is a supportive group of women who prioritize health. It was created by Maria Kang and led by a team of volunteers. We don’t believe in quick fad diets, the newest workout craze or abiding by any specific diet rule. We believe in: Do what works for you, just don’t stop working.
“Regardless of where we are in our personal fitness, in order to get there or stay there, it requires us to continue striving. That means you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to follow a strict diet. You don’t have to have the best workouts. But you have to keep striving to become the best person you can be!”
After starting the Kitsap branch in September 2016, Tartaglia said the Facebook group now has 127 members. They work out twice a week, where Tartaglia said at least five to eight regulars are usually there, though the workout is free and open to all women, not just mothers.
“It’s mostly moms, but we’re open to everyone that’s a lady,” Tartaglia said. “We’re open to all ages and all sizes.”
Tartaglia said the workouts are generally strength training, including HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) such as Tabata training, as well as runs and walks, squats, tricep dips — they even did Zumba once. Modifications are even given of the exercises to accommodate various fitness levels.
“Sometimes, we use our kids,” Tartaglia said.
All the moms are welcome to bring their kids with them, and sometimes, Tartaglia said her toddler “climbs on me” while she’s working out, or moms will be “baby wearing” and doing pushups with their babies as extra weight.
“It’s pretty awesome,” she said.
In the warmer months, the group was working out outside, but recently they began exercising at Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church at 9300 Nels Nelson Road NW, in Bremerton. Tartaglia said the church “opened their doors to us free of charge,” since the group itself is totally free for participants.
“This group is completely free,” Tartaglia said. “There are no sales pitches and no gimmicks here, just a positive environment for you to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Make friends and get a good workout all in one place. Kids are always welcome and ladies of all fitness levels are encouraged to join.”
No Excuse Mom is a women’s exercise group, but the organization has No Excuse Dad groups as well. For more information, visit www.noexcusemom.com/no-excuse-groups.
To learn more about No Excuse Mom Kitsap, visit www.facebook.com/groups/noexcusemomkitsap. Contact Tasha Tartaglia at tashtart22@homail.com for more information about the group and the exercise times.
Michelle Beahm is a reporter for the Central Kitsap Reporter and Bremerton Patriot. She can be reached at mbeahm@soundpublishing.com.
No Excuse Moms of Kitsap County meet a couple times a week to work out. To learn more, contact Tasha Tartaglia at tashtart22@hotmail.com. Photo courtesy of Tasha Tartaglia
No Excuse Moms of Kitsap County meet a couple times a week to work out. To learn more, contact Tasha Tartaglia at tashtart22@hotmail.com. Photo courtesy of Tasha Tartaglia
