******Today’s guest post is by Amanda.   I wrote about my experience with barefoot running over here.   Thanks for reading gang!*******

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My Experience with Barefoot Running (guest post)

I have found a new kettlebell home. 

If you are not training with kettlebells, you are missing out.   They offer a FANTASTIC strength and cardio workout that can be done anywhere.

I’m lucky to have found a new kettlebell class, with an awesome instructor,  and a supportive group of training friends.  

If you are in my area, be sure to check out Rogue Kettlebell Fitness and Matt Kull.

Tell me–do you go to  kettlebell classes?  Where?  How is it?

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!

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Kettlebell love

***contest is closed and winner has been notified**

When I got the pitch for this one, I initially thought there is no way I want a product that has “fry” in the title.    For some reason, this made me think of the deep fryer that my mom had when I was growing up.  She made these absolutely delicious corn muffins there were…uh….deep fried!  Ack!  I, of course, thought they were healthy because I was eating corn.  My, how times have changed!

Anyway,  after further investigation I realized the TFAL Actifry is the actually the IDEAL product for my family because:

1. It makes delicious and healthy meals! You only use 1 tablespoon of oil to cook!  Watch the demo video to see how it works it’s magic!

2.  It is SO easy to use! Seriously, I am cooking “challenged” and this will improve our eating habits and meals!    Set the food in,  add the ONE tablespoon of oil,  set the timer and VOILA—-dinner!   It comes with an awesome recipe book that makes cooking a breeze.   First thing we made was the stir fry and it came out AWESOME!   Again, so incredibly EASY to use/make.  (I don’t think I can emphasize that enough.  EASY!!!)

2.  It can go in the dishwasher! Ahhh…..pure bliss.   I hate washing dishes and especially the special appliances that have crazy directions.    This again is just plain simple.  

3.   My HUSBAND likes to use it! Anything that gets him to make dinner instead of me is a huge WIN in my book!

I seriously LOVE my new Actifry!

This would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift for you or someone you love! (I never thought I would recommend an appliance as a gift, but it really is great!)

You can find it on Amazon or at your local Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Even better though….want to win one for yourself? I have ONE to giveaway to a lucky reader!

Please leave a comment below telling me why you want to win.
Winner will be chosen at random on Friday May 11th at 9pm EST. Contest is open to US addresses only.

Be sure to follow Actifry on twitter @Actifry and visit their Facebook page for more information.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The product was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. They have also provided additional product for me to offer as a giveaway. This is my honest opinion…..I love my new Actifry!

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TFAL Actifry Review (and giveaway!)

I’m a LIAR!!

Guess what I am usually doing when I am typing up inspiring fitness posts?  I am OFTEN shoving crap food down my throat and thus completely defeating the entire point of this blog.  (sigh)

Yes, I am a fraud. 

After reading Jen’s “honesty” post,  I realized that I needed that big ole SMACK in the face.

I’m not being honest with myself.   How can I continue to eat garbage food and still expect to lose the lingering baby weight?!
I can’t.

I need to own up once and for all and MAKE CHANGES!

So the next time I go to reach for some junk food…..or I decide to slack during a workout…..I’m going to stay OUT LOUD  (no matter where I am!)  —

“HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS?!”

(Yes, I’m going to channel my inner-Dorothy.   Go read her stuff….she is AWESOME!)

and that my friends, is how I am going to reach my goal.

Onward……one step at a time……

Thank YOU for reading!

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Confession

Thanks to Amanda for the following guest post. I always need a good reminder to stretch,  how about you?

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Now that you’ve got working out on the brain, it’s hugely important to get into good pre, mid, and post-workout habits right off the bat.

While jumping right into a workout routine shows great enthusiasm and determination, taking the time to research proper stretching and safety habits is the best way to avoid senseless and debilitating injuries. These three tips should help any mommy out there avoid injury and stay on the path to healthy, proper fitness:

1. Stretching

We’ve all heard it before: how important stretching is to a pre/post workout. But there are all sorts of convoluted opinions out there about when and exactly how stretching should be done. There’s no singularly right or wrong answer, however, there are some tips about stretching that I’ve found particularly helpful.

- Warm up before stretching. Just a quick, light five-minute jog or similar cardio exercise (jumping jacks, running in place, etc.) to get the blood flowing before your stretch can be the difference between pulling a muscle or not.

- Don’t overdo it, but stretch all appropriate muscles. Even if you’re just going for a run, it’s important to stretch your upper body as well as your lower body, as those muscles will be worked too, even if you don’t realize it.

- Stretch after a workout.  Stretching after a workout is as important as stretching before. As your muscles are now plenty loosened up, be careful about overstretching them, and keep your post-workout stretches light but similarly well-rounded. Check out these easy stretches for anyone.

2. Proper Equipment

Now that you’re properly stretched, it’s time to make sure you’ve got the right equipment for the job. As running is probably the most popular workout for mommies out there, let’s use it as a prime example. Running with the proper shoes is hands-down one of the biggest issues in terms of injury prevention. These days, with all the fuss surrounding minimalist shoe usage and their purported benefits, it’s important to do some research and pick a shoe that you think would be best for you.

Although I personally favor the minimalist approach, every person has a right to their opinion, and is biologically unique. Buying a shoe that you feel comfortable running in and that doesn’t cause injury is very important. In this same vein, using proper equipment in other sports is also equally important. If you’ve got particular problem areas or injuries, wearing the proper braces, (like knee braces for a runner, etc.) can be vital to staying injury free.

3. Start Slow, Listen to your Body

This is perhaps the most important tip of them all. If you are just beginning a workout routine especially, take it slow at first, and listen to what your body is telling you. If you try to come out of the gates too strong, you open yourself up to potentially serious long-term injury, or at least severe muscle pain. Usually, if you start out slow, you will feel your body getting more and more used to working out. If something doesn’t feel right, chances are it’s not, so stop immediately and work to figure out what you’re doing wrong, or why it doesn’t feel right.

This is not to say you shouldn’t or won’t be sore if you’re exercising properly, because you should and you will; it’s just saying that if something feels habitually wrong, or continues to cause pain, then consult a professional before you do any serious damage. Our bodies are usually pretty good at alerting us before serious injury can occur.

No matter what your level of physical fitness or workout prowess, injury is something we all have to be conscious about. Being well informed about the dos and don’ts of working out is the best way to avoid any adverse workout injury. It’s always wise to do as much research about particular routines or types of workouts before you engage in them.

Stay safe, and enjoy living a healthy, fit, lifestyle.

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Prevent Mommy Malfunction: 3 Tips to Prevent Workout Injuries

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!
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Today’s fit mommy is Maria, who blogs over at A life to Bragg about. She is mom to one cute boy and blogs about her life as a military mom/wife. Her husband is currently deployed, so she is a single mom right now who still manages to stay committed to her fitness! Please read on for more about Maria and why she is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!

Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?

I grew up pretty active. My dad was a bodybuilder and my mom was one of those moms determined to get her kids to try out every sport. I’ve done ballet, basketball, soccer, martial arts, cross country, tennis, swimming…I could go on. I mostly stuck with swimming and martial arts though since it seemed to be two sports that I loved and excelled at. However, as I got older and acquired a 9-5 job, I became less active and discovered how awesome it felt to sit on the couch and watch 24 all day. The pounds packed on and I started to lose confidence in myself and my looks. So when my husband joined the Army, I saw how fit and dedicated he was to a healthy lifestyle and it inspired me to follow suit. I started running, then strength training, and then discovered clean eating. I’ve fallen in love with living a healthy lifestyle and it’s change that’s here to stay.

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

There is always time! You just have to sacrifice something. We don’t have cable so I don’t watch much TV so that allows me to have some more free time to sneak in a quick workout. I also utilize nap times. If and when my son is napping, I get in a quick 20-30 minute workout FIRST and then I use the rest of the nap time for stuff that needs to get done. The dishes can wait.

And even on days where my son fights his hardest not to sleep and he wins, while I’m in the kitchen preparing dinner or something, I’ll do some quick lunges, squats and pushups. Every little bit counts in my opinion.

Q: How have your workouts changed since having a baby?

My workouts have definitely gotten a lot shorter. I can’t workout for a full hour or 2 hours like I used to. So now I have to make sure that my workouts are short but very intense and efficient. I also don’t get to a gym as often as I’d like, simply because it’s hard for me to leave my baby and I don’t have a husband home to watch him.

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

I love, love, love strength training! I have a lot more fun picking up heavy things then trying not to die on a run. I can’t wait till my son gets older and we can start pumping iron together

Q: What is your least favorite exercise?

Ooohhh this is a hard one since I generally do like all forms of exercise. But if I had to pick, it would be long distance running. It’s slow, takes forever (for me, that is), and requires too much time away from doing the other things I could be doing. I’d much rather run some hills or perform sprints and get the run over with.

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?

I lay out my workout clothes the night before and I schedule my workouts in my planner. I believe that if they’re in my planner, I have to complete it just like I would for any other appointment I make. I also have an a alarm set on my phone, so that when it goes off it says “Earn your Body” and I’m reminded to drop what I’m doing and bust out with some burpees.

Q: Random question: what is your go-to snack food?

My go-to snacks are always changing with my mood. I just try to make sure that I’m getting in a balanced ratio of carbs and protein. Right now I’m obsessed with a mashed avocado on toast with a poached egg on top. And if I’m in a big hurry, I’ll rely on greek yogurt with nuts, fruit and honey to do the trick

Thank you Maria for being an inspiration to moms and women everywhere!

Need more inspiration? Here are some more fit moms and dads!

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She is “one fit mommy” in Fort Bragg!

My sandbag arrived and was quickly put to use!

It was super easy to fill and I absolutely LOVE how compact and portable it is.   This will definitely be coming on vacation with me this summer!  As you can see from the video below, this is such a great piece of workout equipment because you can use it anywhere and with anyone.  Notice how my baby pays no attention to me?  

The Ultimate Sandbag was created by Josh Henkin and it is considered the most durable sandbag on the market today.   Not only is it waterproof but it will not tear, stretch, crack, rot or mildew.   In my case, it also needs to be “BOY” proof and so far, so good!  (although truthfully,  I’m not sharing it with my boys. It’s MINE. ALL MINE!!)

In addition to creating the sandbag itself,  Josh created Henkin Fitness Systems, which produces videos and books about sandbag training.    Check out Ultimate Sandbag Training on Facebook for daily updates and be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter  on the latest trends in functional fitness, health and nutrition.

I seriously LOVE this product because:

1. Portability: I throw it in the back of the van and I can bring it anywhere.  (park, soccer practice, beach, etc.)  No excuses on this one, it is super easy to carry wherever you go!
2. Cost: considering all you get with it,  it’s very reasonably priced!  You can use it in so many different ways and work your entire body!
3. Fun: Maybe I’m a little weird, but it was really fun to throw it over my shoulder and run up and down the  hill in my backyard.     This is not something you can bored with….the possibilities for fitness FUN are endless!

Here is a video clip of me working out with the sandbag in my backyard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfFY9NmbBgM

Go ahead and order yours now—you won’t be disappointed with this one!  

Use coupon code ‘MOMMY’ to get 10% off!  Good through the 4/30/12!  (cannot be combined with any other offers and not available on sale items)

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!

Disclosure: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing.  I was not paid for this post, this is my honest opinion.

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Love for my Ultimate Sandbag

This is a guest post from Amanda, one that I DEFINITELY can relate to!  How about you?
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As one who’s been there before, many times, I’ve done a lot of personal depression research to see just how I could get myself out of those horrendous funks we all find ourselves in from time to time. The more research I did, the more I began realizing just how big a role fitness could potentially play in keeping me happy as well as healthy. After all, the two absolutely go hand in hand.

But realizing that getting myself involved in a personal fitness regime had the potential to help my mood, was really only a small part of the battle.

The rest of it was made up of finding enough time throughout the week, and keeping myself motivated and focused enough to stay on schedule. The following are three tips that helped me stay on track and turn many of those frowns upside down with the simple solution of working out.

Early Bird gets the Workout

Having kids makes finding time for just about anything other than them pretty challenging. Usually the most peace we get comes when they’re sleeping, but more often than not, by the time they’re asleep, we’re just about ready for a nap ourselves, right? In terms of working out though, I found that if I could get myself up just thirty or forty-five minutes earlier than usual, when the house was still quiet, I could sneak out for a nice two or three mile run before any of the kids were up. You would be astounded at what these short runs can do for your energy levels and mental clarity throughout the rest of the day.

Who needs sleep when you have cardio?

In-Home Workouts

If you can’t get outside the house for extended periods of time, then try to get some simple exercises going inside. Sit-ups, pushups, and even pull-ups are easily done in the comfort of your own home with minimal cheap equipment or none at all.

If you can, buying a treadmill or other cardio-centric workout device is another great way to get your heart and mind going without having to leave the kids.

Consistency

This is perhaps the biggest challenge I’ve faced yet when it comes to working out. Staying consistent, especially with the ever-hectic lifestyle accompanied with having kids, can be a really hard thing to do. However, it can be the difference between following a regiment and completely falling out of one. Try to set aside very specific daily or weekly routines and times for your workouts, and follow them to a T.

It’s easy to make excuses, but if you can be mentally strong and tough on yourself, you’ll be thankful in the long run. If you have to miss a workout, try to make it up later in the day to get back on schedule.

I can’t stress it enough: stay consistent.

It can certainly be tough going for the first couple weeks of working out, but I promise that once you get into the rhythm of it, your body and mind will thank you immensely. A little workout can really go a long way. And for us as mothers, that can mean a lot for not only our happiness and quality of life, but for our children’s as well.

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Feeling Down? 3 Workout Tips to Beat the Funk

I’ve hired a few personal trainers,  some good….some pretty awful.

The one I have right now?
ROCKS.

Here are 5 reasons why I love to hate her::)

1. She LISTENS to my goals. I cannot tell you how many times I have told a trainer that I had no real interest in doing cardio and then found myself doing just that for most of the hour.   Yes, it’s super easy (as a trainer) to drop someone at the treadmill and come back in 30 minutes.   That however is not what I am paying for!
2. She won’t let me slack. Even though I am a trainer myself and know all the tricks  (shoe tying, extra drinks of water, etc.)  —she is right there encouraging me to keep on whining going.
3. She has a PLAN in place. This is KEY.  Too many trainers just “dial it in” and come up with something on the fly.  If you have a specific goal, make sure your trainer is helping you get there with a solid training program.
4. Feeling successful. There are exercise that I just plain SUCK at  (ahem….these) so my self esteem takes a huge hit each time I attempt them.   It’s nice to have an exercise or 2 built in that makes me feel like a rock star.
5. She is flexible. As a mom herself, she gets that I get very little sleep or that I might have an “off” morning.   She can empathize with my situation.

and yet why do I say I hate her at the same time?
Because two times a week,  I get my butt handed to me in the form of a challenging (yet awesome!) workout!
As I have said before,  even though I am still a personal trainer,  I have found that hiring one for myself is worth every penny.  There are mornings where I have a zillion things to get done and I would very easily skip my workout if I didn’t have my training time scheduled.

We set appointments for hair, dentist, nails,  etc.   —so why not set an appointment for your health and fitness!?

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Why I love (and hate!) my personal trainer

***Amanda is guest posting today to tell us about smoothies.****

When it comes to those hot summer days, which will be upon us shortly, many of us want nothing more than a cold beverage or frosty dessert to cool us off and compliment the day. Ice cream is synonymous with summer, and a go to snack for just about everyone. However, ice cream is loaded with fat and calories making it a fairly unhealthy snack for those watching their diets.

For a better way to cool down and enjoy dessert on a warm summer day, consider a fruit smoothie instead. Numerous banana smoothie recipes can be found online, and many can even be meal supplements or great workout recovery drinks. One of my favorite smoothies, is the Banana Berry Smoothie, and whipping this smoothie up is no sweat at all:

Ingredients:

2 whole bananas

2 cups of ice

1 cup of skim or low fat milk

1 ½ cups of frozen mixed berries (preferably a mix of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries)

A couple of whole frozen strawberries

Place all ingredients in a blender, with the ice being the last ingredient you add. To create a creamier smoothie consider freezing your bananas too. To do this, you will need to peel your ripe bananas, and then freeze them overnight.

Once all ingredients are in the blender, blend on high for 30 seconds or until your smoothie is thick and smooth. Milk or water may be added if needed to make the smoothie more shake like.

If you are interested in a more decadent smoothie, consider trying out a banana split smoothie or a Chunky monkey smoothie recipe. Both will give you that sweet tooth fix, and will still be far healthier than even light ice cream.

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Healthy Smoothies that are tasty too