Workout Mommy: fitness and exercise tips for busy moms and dads

Wiggle it out

workoutmommy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:13:14 +0000

Our family went to see the Wiggles live show this week (based on their new DVD The Wiggles Go Bananas!) and we had a blast! I know many people can’t stand their songs or DVDs but I just have to say The Wiggles can provide a fun workout that keeps you moving!

We danced, jumped, and wiggled it out for the entire 90 minutes!

So, if you ever need a quick workout to do at home alongside your kids, just pop in one of their DVDs and get up and get moving gang.

Never underestimate the power of a workout!
(especially when Anthony Wiggle is involved!)

Here are some pictures from the show–and yes, that is my very pregnant face. You try holding a dancing two year old on your non-existent lap!

The Wiggles have gotten into fantastic shape over the years–especially Anthony and Captain Feathersword. Check out their muscles in this picture.

I guess they took it to heart when they made their hit CD Getting Strong. Not only are they entertaining, but they are great role models too!

Disclosure: No one gave us free tickets or asked me to blog about The Wiggles. We just love them!

Staying Fit with the Wiggles

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This fit mommy lost 100 pounds to place 6th in the Mrs. Idaho competition!

workoutmommy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:05:36 +0000

It is time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness. From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you!

Today’s fit mommy is Jill, a busy mom of three who was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes just over three years ago. Since then, she has lost over 100 pounds and competed in the Mrs. Idaho competition, where she placed 6th!

She blogs over at Get Up and Get Moving and is definitely an inspiration and “One Fit Mommy!”. Please read on for more about Jill:

Q: Have you always been fit?

When I was younger I was a professional dancer and model. I did that into my 20’s. I got married at at age 27 had 2 miscarriages before my first child. Then the weight battle begun! I lost myself being a wife and mom. Total of 4 miscarriages and 3 kiddo’s sure did not help with my weight problem.

Q: What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?

Since it was my career, dancing and modeling helped keep me in check. I also loved to dance so it was a fun outlet for me. Thirteen years later it was unfortunately hearing the words you have type 2 diabetes that really made me start to change my lifestyle. I wanted to be around for my husband and 3 kids ages, ages 11,9 and 4. I knew it was now or never.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?

Make the time! If you gain and don’t lose it all the first time it makes it so hard the other times. You will find it may never come off and then when all is said and done you have a long way to go to get it off.

Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?

I am both. I love Cardio. When I was competing in the Mrs. Idaho Pageant this year a trainer Rebecca Carington sponsored me. As a sponsor she got me in my best shape ever. At age 42, after losing 100 pounds, I was proud to place in the top 6 out of 16 amazing woman. It was through having a personal trainer that I learned how important it is to weight train.

Q: What are some of the lifestyle changes you made after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes?

I learned to cut out the refined sugars. Cookies, candy pretty much all junk food. I eat 6 small meals a day. That helps speed up the metabolism and with that the pounds started dropping off. Don’t starve whatever you do. You will not lose weight by doing that.

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
I just go. I get dressed and go. I don’t think about it to long or I may talk myself out of it. Once I am there, I am so happy I did it.

Q: How do you reward yourself after a workout?
With a feeling of job well done. Not a tangible reward. Not a food reward, just a pat on the back to know I did what I need to do to reach and keep my goals! I also run a website so I will post on my site something to help others. Since reaching my goal of losing 100 pounds my goal is to spread my message. Visit my site to learn more about my journey at http://getupandgetmoving.net

copyright owned by www.workoutmommy.com Please do NOT reprint without permission.

This fit mommy lost 100 pounds to place 6th in the Mrs. Idaho competition!

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Get a free workout from Gold’s gym and help raise awareness for Diabetes

workoutmommy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:54:23 +0000

**November is National Diabetes Month**

Did you know that in the next 24 hours, 4,320 new cases of diabetes will be diagnosed?

Did you know that diabetes doubles your risk for heart attack and stroke?

I was not very familiar with Diabetes, either Type 1 or Type 2, but recently had a scare with Gestational Diabetes. Now, I’m trying to become more aware and have been checking out the Stop Diabetes website.

It has tons of great information, including some of the popular myths of Diabetes. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Myth: If you are overweight or obese, you will eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

Fact: Being overweight is a risk factor for developing this disease, but other risk factors such as family history, ethnicity and age also play a role. Unfortunately, too many people disregard the other risk factors for diabetes and think that weight is the only risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.

Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.

Fact: No, it does not. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease; type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories, whether from sugar or from fat, can contribute to weight gain. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth: If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta.

Fact: Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut healthy.

Myth: People with diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate.

Fact: If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off limits” to people with diabetes than they are to people without diabetes.

On Saturday, November 7th, Gold’s Gym locations around the world will open their doors to the public, inviting people to take place in an event to help raise awareness for diabetes research.

Gold’s Gym is hosting a calorie “Burn-a-thon” to promote diabetes awareness. This is a FREE and ACTIVE way for you to help the effort to stop Diabetes!

Gold’s Gym will “donate” the calories you burn that day to the cause. Whether it’s 5 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the elliptical machine, an hour long group exercise class or 30 minutes of lifting weights, all calories burned by exercising will count as a donation to the cause. Gold’s Gym has even created a special calorie guide that shows how many calories are burned with each activity performed at the gym. All of the calories burned will be added to the 180,000,000 calorie goal, which will be a world record.

All you have to do is show up at Gold’s Gym on Saturday and be ready to sweat! Find out more information here.

No excuses gang! You get exercise and the American Diabetes Association gets some much needed exposure!
Never underestimate the power of a workout!

copyright owned by www.workoutmommy.com Please do NOT reprint without permission.

Get a free workout from Gold’s gym and help raise awareness for Diabetes

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Exercise and depression

workoutmommy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:32:27 +0000

We’ve all read the reports about how exercise can help alleviate symptoms of depression, but how often do your really THINK about the connection?

Right now, I feel like I’m living it. I cannot do much in the form of exercise anymore and I am miserable. (my family will back me on that as well!)

I wake up feeling down, spend most of the day just waiting for it to end, and then have a hard time sleeping because I am just not happy. My kids get on my nerves, my husband cannot do anything right, and I have nothing left for my dog. (anyone want him?)

In the words of my 4 year old, I am “GRUMPY!”
I so miss exercising! I miss the endorphins of a solid run or spin class. I miss feeling strong after a pump class or just doing lunges all around the house.

I know I will get back there soon, but for now it’s hard to see the sunshine behind the clouds. I worry that I won’t ever find the time with 3 boys under the age of four and a husband who travels all the time. I worry that I will sink further into this pit of despair and give up on myself completely.

So what can I do?

: Image via Wikipedia

Right now I can get up and go for a walk waddle and just enjoy the fact that I can even do that.

and hopefully someday, I’ll be running a marathon again.

How about you gang? Anyone else suffer from exercise-deprivation depression? Any tips to share?

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Playing tag with your kids is definitely a workout!

workoutmommy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:47:14 +0000

Remember when you were a kid and loved to play tag with your friends? The smiles, screams, and out of breath experience as you raced to be “safe”? You were exercising and having a blast!

Just because we have “grown up”, does not mean we cannot recapture that same feeling! Get your kids outside and play tag with them. Run until you sweat and then run some more. Can your kids out-run you? I hope not!

: Image via Wikipedia

Subway has launched a new program called “Random Acts of Fitness for Kids” and they are sending out these awesome kits for educators or community leaders, etc. The kits provide free nutrition and fitness curriculum to teachers that sign up and the content comes from American Heart Association & National Institutes of Health. For more information on this program, click here or go to www.subwaykids.com/grownups/classroom.

Here are some new twists to the traditional game of tag, courtesy of Subway’s website.

Which one are you going to play today?

When a child is tagged, they freeze in place. If another player touches them they can be unfrozen. The game ends when everyone has been frozen, and the last person frozen starts the next round of the game as “it.”

In this version, if a child squats down quickly when they are close to being caught, they can be kept “safe” and avoid being tagged “it.” All the players need to agree at the start of the game on how many times they can squat to avoid being tagged.

This version makes a good indoor tag option. Wood Tag is played like the basic game, but if the player touches something made of wood, they’re “safe” from getting tagged by “it.”

This version can be a lot of fun and your kids may learn the names of some new foods! When a child is close to being caught, they can be kept “safe” by squatting in place and saying the name of a vegetable. If you can’t think of one and get tagged, you’re “it.”

When you’re tagged “it,” you join hands with your tagger and become a tagging pair. You chase others moving together as a “blob.” Every time the “blob” tags another child, that child becomes part of the blob. This version requires a bit of teamwork — the “blob” needs to move together to tag others.

Subway also has launched a new School Rewards program. Please visit Workout Mommy Reviews for more information and your chance to WIN a $25 Subway Gift Card! (YUM!)

copyright owned by www.workoutmommy.com Please do NOT reprint without permission.

Playing tag with your kids is definitely a workout!

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Gold’s Gym Approved!

workoutmommy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:34:15 +0000

Gold’s Gym has given my blog the stamp of approval!

Workout Mommy has been identified by global fitness leader, Gold’s Gym, as one of the top health and fitness sites in the blogosphere. Workout Mommy was selected by the Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute as a “Gold’s Gym Approved” site for achieving high marks in a number of areas. This includes:

•Encourages and energizes others to be fit and manage weight healthfully

•Promotes a lifestyle that’s balanced with healthful nutrition and habitual fitness that promotes quality of life

•Promotes the benefits of creating health and not solely the prevention of disease

It’s an honor to be included on the list with many of my fellow fitness bloggers!

(and I would love to have a Gold’s Gym right here in my town…hint, hint…)
Ok gang, get up and get moving today! Never underestimate the power of a workout!

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And the survey says…..

workoutmommy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:32:24 +0000

Thanks to all who took my survey. Here are some of the results:

97.3% of you are women

53.4% are between 26-35 years old.

58.9% of you have 2-3 children.

36.1% of you are stay home moms
33.3% work full time outside the home

47.9% exercise 1-3 times per week

And your suggestions for me were fantastic, thank you! (no more pictures of my franken-foot, I promise!)

I wish I had more gift cards to giveaway, but unfortunately for now there is just one.
The winner is…..#20!
nastya.xxxx@gmail.com

I sent you an email, please respond with your mailing address so I can send out your prize. (if I do not hear back within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.)

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Candy corn, pumpkins, and chocolate, oh my!

workoutmommy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:16:50 +0000

If you have young kids, you probably spend some time watching Noggin Nick Jr. and are familiar with this song:

My son asked me the other day “Why doesn’t he like candy corn, it’s yummy?!”

and I have to agree.
It’s also addictive, just like its cousin, the mellow creme pumpkin. I just can’t eat a few pieces, I seem to consume the whole bag. It’s basically a bag of sugar and corn syrup and leaves a gross film of sugar in my mouth.

So why do I eat it?
Because I foolishly buy it. I’ll be happy when Halloween is over and the candy corn, pumpkins, and fall mix are all gone.

How about you? What kind of Halloween candy is your downfall?

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Candy corn, pumpkins, and chocolate, oh my!

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Ditch the ear buds, get GROOVE by 2xl instead!

workoutmommy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:15:18 +0000

Want to win these stylish and comfortable headphones?

I have TWO pairs to giveaway.

Head over to Workout Mommy Reviews right now to enter!

copyright owned by www.workoutmommy.com Please do NOT reprint without permission.

Ditch the ear buds, get GROOVE by 2xl instead!

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How do you stroll?

workoutmommy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:55:05 +0000

What kind of stroller do you walk/run with? I get a lot of emails asking about mine, so here it is!

I must say, I covet my BOB Revolution Duallie Stroller! We were able to get it at a great price thanks to REI’s semi-annual sale and I think it was worth every penny. But before you buy new, be sure to check out Craigslist for a bargain. There are tons of strollers on there (BOB or not) that are going for bargain prices.

Having a quality walking/jogging stroller is on the top of my mommy-must have list. It helps me get some exercise while getting the kids out of the house.
So tell me, what do you stroll/run/walk with?

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