★MomStars: Anchor Melissa Francis

As a busy mom of two, I love to see how other busy moms juggle their lives, their families and their fitness. Today, business journalist Melissa Francis, who just launched the show MONEY with Melissa Francis, shares how she manages to stay fit and get her two young sons involved with her workouts. (Fun fact: She’s rumored to be the inspiration behind 30 Rock’s Avery Jessup character!) While some might think motherhood and exercise couldn’t be further apart, Melissa believes the two actually go hand-in-hand. Read on for how she makes it work!

Interview with Melissa Francis

• FBM: What’s a typical week of workouts like for you? What exercises do you love? Hate? Love to hate?
• MF: I actually hate working out with a trainer. I know a lot of people use a trainer to get motivated, but I just feel like I’m paying someone to annoy me. I love to listen to my iPod or watch a TV show on the treadmill while I run, and I try to do that as many times a week as I can stand. I need to be distracted. I’m envious of the people who love the actual act of working out. I guess they are the real athletes. My mother-in-law is like that, and I wish I were, too! But I’m not. I have to trick myself into thinking I’m not working out.
• One thing I like to do is push both my kids to a park that’s not close, at least twice a week. The two boys together with the huge stroller add up to about 100 pounds, and uphill that’s something. Then I chase them around and push them home, and I’m usually stuck carrying my older son’s scooter while I push. Anyone who thinks that’s not a workout can come help me next Saturday morning.
• FBM: You are the mom of two young boys. How do you squeeze in workouts?
• MF: I don’t do it enough, that’s for sure. I try to incorporate them or do it after they are in bed. It’s tough.
• FBM: Let’s talk work-life-mom balance—how do you do it all?
• MF: I hate to say it, but as a working mom you always feel guilty, like you are letting someone down or could be doing more. I try not to dwell on that, but it can be hard. If I stay late at work, I feel guilty that I’m not with my beautiful sons that I love so much, not to mention my husband. When I go home, I know I’m leaving something undone that I could have stayed and worked on. It’s a challenge, but I know I’m lucky to have such a full life and I try to focus on the joy of it all.

For much more on Melissa’s thoughts on making fitness affordable, playing polo and getting out of the comparison trap, check out the rest of her interview with us over on Fit Bottomed Girls!

We absolutely love Melissa’s honesty. We’ll never look at Avery Jessup the same way! —Erin