Fight For It — Dominique Sensabaugh

“Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” -Ali

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Rediscovering My Strength

My lungs were on fire, and my body was fatigued. Drenched in sweat, as a tiny drop of perspiration dripped from my forehead bouncing on the ground, I looked toward the puddle and murmured, “One day…," I repeated, “one day, I will be back in shape physically; one day, I will fit my pre-baby clothes again; one day, I will have energy; one day, I will enjoy working out like I used to; one day I will recognize myself in the mirror, again.” As I struggled through yet another workout, physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, I had an epiphany that the allusive "one day" I yearned for often felt like a distant dream.

I started boxing in 2015, and the time spent cultivating my craft in the ring has been challenging yet liberating. After four pregnancies in six years, my body has undergone a remarkable transformation. Each stage of motherhood has been a testament to my strength, and reclaiming my fitness has been a journey of honoring that strength. It's not just about physical conditioning; it's about acknowledging the incredible endurance and resilience that motherhood has instilled in me.

Having taken a hiatus from boxing to embrace the beautiful chaos of welcoming a new baby into our busy family, I yearned to reconnect with the strength and discipline that once defined me. I paused boxing at eight months pregnant and returned to the ring at four months postpartum. My return to boxing after the fourth baby, while simultaneously grieving the passing of my father, struggling to figure out parenting four littles, fighting for my marriage, navigating my ever-evolving career goals, and pushing through life on little sleep, was hard. Damn hard. Some days, it felt impossible.

Despite the heaviness of this season of my life, I was determined to keep working out, no matter how stagnant my weight loss was, how tiny my muscle gains were, or how minute my progress was.

Battling My Inner Critic

My father transitioned 18 days before our fourth daughter, Joliee, was born. His profound death took the wind out of me. Because it was so close to my due date, I failed to process his death and didn't truly begin grieving his loss until months after her birth.

The immense grief of losing a parent and the responsibilities as a mother of four small children were intense. My health was suffering because of my lifestyle. When I woke up from daily naps because I wasn't sleeping regularly, sharp pins radiated through my arms and legs. I experienced intense headaches and sugar cravings from endless coffee; I was literally in survival mode every day.

Workouts were personal for me. At this point, I knew this wasn't solely a pursuit of my physical fitness; I was fighting for my life.

I have battled depression and anxiety my entire life. As a kid, I suppressed every emotion; in college, I hid my severe anxiety behind unhealthy habits. However, now, as an adult, because I am committed to healing my past traumas through self-work and therapy, I have coping mechanisms and can effectively label my emotions. Even with all these tools, it doesn't change the fact that I still struggle, and I have to fight to stay mentally attuned.

During this time of my life, my most formidable opponent was myself, and my most brutal critique stared at me in the mirror daily. I decided to no longer be my worst enemy while chasing my pugilistic ambitions. This round of postpartum, I had to work to attain physical and mental strength like my life depended on it because it did.

Fall In Love With The Process

The path back into the ring wasn't straightforward; it required patience, adaptability, and a profound appreciation for my accomplishments. Cultivating a life of physical fitness is challenging; however, being unhealthy is harder. Eating healthy can require extra effort and be expensive, but fighting chronic disease is a burden. Make healthy choices even when fatigued: get up and work out. Your body will thank you afterward.

My long-term strategy for incorporating fitness into my lifestyle is to enjoy the process rather than focusing solely on the end goal. Each early wake-up, each drop of sweat, and each challenge faced in the gym is a tribute to the journey that has made me stronger, not just physically but mentally and emotionally.

Now, my health goals are focused on integrating my new reality—an experienced mom of four with a body that has carried and nurtured life—who is working daily through rigorous training demands. There are no shortcuts or off days; I accept the changes, embrace the journey, and celebrate every small victory.

To the parents feeling overwhelmed by their commitments and responsibilities, with intention, you can reconnect with your passions. As you navigate the early stages of parenthood and fight for time to yourself, embrace the changes and trust in the strength you have along the way. The journey is uniquely yours—beautiful, resilient, and incredibly strong.

XO,

Dom 💋

SHOP my favorite Boxing Gear Here

Special thanks to my boxing trainer, Anthony Hill

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