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It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Tammy, who does not have a blog (yet)!

As you can tell from her before and after pictures, she worked hard to attain her “One Fit Mommy” status!

Please read on for more about how she did it:

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

A: No I haven’t. In fact I come from a long line of couch potatoes. After the birth of my son 11 years ago, I hated the way I looked & felt. I was under the impression that once the baby was born, the weight would just disappear. (I heard a lot of ‘”don’t worry about your weight - you can just lose it after’” during my pregnancy, so I ate ‘whatever’.) I’m sure many other women have heard the same thing.

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

A: You have two choices. Accept and learn to like the way you look, or make exercise and eating right a priority. (That was my mentality anyway!)

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
A: I like crunches and shoulder presses. I like feeling those muscles the next day.

Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
A: I do both.

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
A: Oh that happens often, especially having a baby who doesn’t sleep through the night and I am often so tired the next morning. I just tell myself when I get to the gym, I finally get some uninterrupted ‘me’ time.

Q: What’s your favorite brand of workout clothing and why?
A: I like Lululemon because it looks great, and its the kind of clothing that is flattering on most body types.

It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Sheila, a busy mom with two small children. She is also the owner of Fit 4 Moms, a “unique exercise program dedicated to hard-working moms who are serious about a healthy lifestyle and proper exercise techniques”.

Sheila started the program after having her second child and believes that all moms should take the opportunity to get fit and healthy. Children are welcome in the class sessions at Fit 4 Moms, so there really are NO excuses!

In her spare time, Sheila enjoys competing in marathons, triathlons, water-skiing, wake boarding, and snow-skiing. She is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!

Please read on for more about Sheila and be sure to visit her website Fit 4 Moms:

Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
Yes, pretty much my entire life I have spent in gymnastics, cheerleading, track and other physical activities (Skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, bike riding, etc.) Being “Fit” was not my goal in participating in these activities, however. It was a lifestyle that I was introduced to at a young age which continued through to adulthood. Being active was just “how we carried on”. I grew up in a small town outside of Montreal in Upstate NY. We were close to Lake Placid. So when the Winter Olympics came to Lake Placid in the 1980’s, my parents were elected to work at them. I had the good fortune of witnessing these incredible winter sporting events front row. Even at the age of 7 years old, I was filled with emotion when a competitor would win his/her event. Realizing the time and effort put into their training was enlightening. This and other similar events inspired me to live a fit lifestyle. Having a husband who is ‘one fit daddy’ keeps me doubly inspired.

Q: How did you get started with FIT 4 MOMS?
After having my second child, I realized that my time at the park with my children could be better spent…exercising. The word got out to other moms at the park that I was organizing a “fitness group for moms where the children can enjoy themselves too!” And it is history for there. The FIT 4 MOMS clientele has grown from 3 to 100 since 2006.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
Hogwash. You make time. It has to be a priority otherwise there will not be time, just like anything else in life. You have to eat to stay alive; we make time to eat. You exercise to stay fit, healthy and to feel good; find time to do so.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
Plank. In this position every muscle is engaged. It is excellent for your arms, back, abs, glutes and quads. Our motto is “Plank…like a mother.” It is displayed on our FIT 4 MOMS T shirts.

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

What comes to mind when I have second thoughts about waking up at the crack of dawn to train are paraplegics, cancer victims, single moms with little help, and any other challenged athlete who can find it in themselves to get out of bed each day. I chant to myself “Just do it. No excuses. ”

Q: Random question: What is your favorite brand of running shoes?
I have run in all brands of running shoes from Nike to Mizuno. As long as they are comfortable, reduce the risk of blisters and ankle problems, they’re good in my book.

For more interviews with fit moms (and dads too), visit the “Get inspired by these fit moms” page.

It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Foodie McBody, who can be found blogging over at FoodFoodBodyBody.

Foodie decided to change her life after being diagnosed with diabetes in 1/09 and has made quite the transformation! She has lost 28lbs and has become a runner. Check out the picture below of Foodie and her medal! I’d say she is definitely “One Fit Mommy”, wouldn’t you?

Please read on for more and be sure to visit her blog too!

Q: Have you always been fit?  What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
No, I have NOT always been fit! The last time I was fit was when I was in the track team in high school, and that was several millenia ago.   I was inspired, or rather scared to pieces, to live a fit lifestyle when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in January 2009 and then with “real” diabetes Type 2 in April.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
I know it seems that way. Moms, especially with small kids, never seem to have a moment of time to themselves. But it has to be a priority because an unfit mom is probably a tired, cranky, unhappy mom. I definitely was, especially when my kids were small. I was terribly unfit and pretty unhappy, and it affected me. You CAN make it a priority and you can incorporate them into it and make it fun. One of the most inspiring fit moms out there is MizFitOnline. She has a toddler (”The Tornado”) whom she incorporates INTO her workouts - she calls the “Playouts” - and she is raising a child who is going to have a fabulous body image and a love of activity. I wish I’d met her way back in the day when my kids were small.
I also really really encourage moms to get support- from their partners, from other moms - to get the childcare necessary to make it work. Or use your kids as weights. Put them in a backpack or jogging stroller. You can make it work!

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
I love walking/running with my iPod. Music just takes me to another place and when it has a certain beat, I can’t help walking fast or breaking into a run. Add that to a gorgeous setting (I am fortunate to live near a beautiful regional park) and it’s pretty heavenly. But I also love working one-on-one with a trainer who pushes me to new and different limits all the time. I know that strength training is important so I do that with him. I recently bought Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred and LOVE how it did the trick in less than half an hour. Jillian rocks.

Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
I actually like doing both, but am more likely to do cardio when I’m on my own. I recently did the couch-to-5k running program, and shocked myself by actually completing two 5k races in May. I really WAS a couch potato when I began, but the gradual increased intervals in C25k made it totally do-able. I love c25k, and now I love doing cardio workouts because it brought me to a level of cardio fitness I never had before.

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
I have my “before” pictures on my phone and I whip it out and say, “Do you really want to be back in this place?” The answer is always no. I also have come to rely on the endorphins and how happy they make me when I do workout. When I don’t I am noticeably more glum and irritable. I need those endorphins like I need oxygen now.

Q: Random question:  what’s your favorite brand of workout clothing and why?
I LOVE the clothing on Athleta.com. It’s so beautiful and original and comfy and all of the models really inspire me.

For more interviews with fit moms (and dads too), visit the “Get inspired by these fit moms” page.

It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Michelle, who blogs over at Weight Watcher is a Runner Now. She is a busy mom with 3 boys, works full time as a teacher, and has successfully lost over 70lbs thanks to the Weight Watchers program. In her road to fitness, she discovered she is a runner and is currently training for her first marathon.

Please read on for more about Michelle and I think you will agree she is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!

Q: Have you always been fit?
A: As a young child I was fit. I was in soccer, basketball, volleyball and track. When I reached high school, I quit all of my sports. I wanted to be more social. I was on the dance/drill team which was some aerobic exercise, but dropped out midway my senior year. That’s when I really started to become unfit.

Q: What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
A: At first, my goal was to simply loose weight so I could get pregnant. You see, I had one child and tried for my 2nd. I had a really hard time conceiving the 2nd child. I was diagnosed as prediabetic, mild polycystic ovaries, and mild endometriosis. All of these conditions are worsened by obesity. My BMI was in the morbid obese category. I was placed on medications for the prediabetes. Also, I had sleep apnea, asthma, and acid reflux. I had to sleep with a CPAP mask every night. Very unattractive. I looked like Darth Vadar. My poor husband I’m sure loved sleeping next to me. I was taking $40 worth of Prevacid monthly for the acid reflux. I would be in severe pain if I ran out of my meds and no over the counter medicine helped me. After all of these health conditions, the one that did it for me was the word PREDIABETES. I did NOT want to become diabetic at 32 years old! I knew I had to change. So I lost 30 pounds and that was enough to get pregnant. Really pregnant….after having fertility problems…I became pregnant with twins! About 3 months after the twins were born, I really starting trying to lose weight again. I lost about 75 pounds using Weight Watchers. Even though I was thinner, I wouldn’t say I was fit. I had lost my weight without exercising at all! Once I was at a healthy weight, I started going to the gym. I love to dance so I’d take step aerobics classes, strength training classes, and then tried the machines. It’s been about 2 years that I’d say I’ve became FIT and healthy. I now workout regularly. Also, my sister in law was a huge inspiration to me. She was also overweight too and hated exercise. One day she decided she wanted to try jogging. She starting jogging while she was overweight. The weight just melted off of her. Not even a year into her running she decided to do a marathon! Who does that?!? I figured if she could do a marathon right away I could at least start trying to run.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
A: I am a mother of three boys aged 8 and 3 1/2. Also, I am a full time elementary school teacher. I understand about having a hectic schedule. It’s really easy for mommies to have that “mommy guilt.” I feel it too. I’m already at work all day and should I really take up another hour away from them to workout? My answer: YES. Before I became fit, I wouldn’t be able to chase after them, ride bikes with them, take hikes, etc. There’s no way I’d be able to catch up with them. After about 2 minutes I’d need to take a nap. Being healthy makes me a better and more involved mom. Look carefully at your schedule. If you don’t think there’s any time in your day, I would ask you to rethink it. I HATE mornings. I’m not a morning person at all. But I wake up at 5 AM to workout. That way, it’s not mommy time since my kids are asleep and it’s just me time. If waking up before your kids doesn’t work, can you workout during their nap? I bought a treadmill so if I needed to I could run at my house. Many times during the summer, my boys will come downstairs to watch me and play while I run. It’s a great example for them to see me being healthy. Also, you could get your children involved with you. Do active things with them. Pick them up and dance with them. I bought a bike trailer to pull my toddlers around while I ride my bike with my son. Our family has a Wii and we have Wii Sports, Wii Fit, and now Wii Active. My oldest son loves the activities on these and we can do them together. If you’re too busy running around driving your children to their different activities, maybe between things you could do a 10 minute walk here or there. When I used to take my son to soccer, I would run around the neighborhood while he was at practice. Then I might do step ups or dips on the bench there. I would just try to just not SIT for an hour when I could be active like my son.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
A: Right now running. I never used to think I’d be a runner. In fact, I remember telling my sister in law when she told me she was running that I’d rather get stabbed in the eye with an ice pick than run. But I got the bug. It’s a fast and efficient way to get a workout. That’s why I like it. I can burn 400 calories in about 32 minutes! It’s perfect for someone who is rushed for time. I started running races and that really is a thrill! I live to race. I never knew I was so competitive until I started racing. I’ve done 5K’s, 5 milers, 10K’s, 12K’s, and two half marathons. Currently I have decided to train for a full marathon!

Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
A: Cardio. I know I need to add more strength training. I’ve been trying to add more strength training on my cross training days. I am in LOVE with Jillian Michaels DVD’s!

Q: Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
A: I say, “Just try it for 5 minutes to see how you feel.” Or I’ll picture myself with all of my fat rolls and that can get me going too! If I’m truly too tired in the morning, I’ll try again in the afternoon after work. If it’s still not right, I listen to my body and rest that day.

Q: What is your favorite brand of workout clothing and why?
Hmm, I don’t really have a brand. I buy a lot of Nike, but sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t. I like clothes that really wick and doesn’t show my sweat because I sweat a lot! I like Jockey and Adidas. If you know of a good brand that is good at wicking and hiding sweat please let me know!

You can see more interviews with other fit moms (and dads too!) over here.

It’s “One Fit Mommy” Week!
Get inspired by fit mommies all week long

Today’s fit mommy is Susan McCorkindale, author of Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl.  She can also be found blogging   at Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl and DC Metro Moms.

Susan converted a corn crib on her farm into her personal gym where she sacrifices sleep for fitness by getting up for 4am workouts.  She also loves Bon Jovi, which in my mind also makes her a cool mommy!

Please read on for more about Susan and how she manages to be “One Fit Mommy”!

Q: Have you always been fit?  What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
Hmmm… Yes, I’ve always been fit, but there was a while when I was very overweight and sick, so I was totally out of shape.

As a kid, I danced - ballet, tap, jazz, all that good stuff - and even in high school and college I took classes and kept in shape that way. Sometime after college I discovered Jazzercise and fell in love with it. I’ve done it on and off for years, even toyed with getting certified to teach. Sometime during my tenure at Family Circle magazine (2002-2004), I got really, really sick. It was a stomach thing and none of the doctors had a clue what was going on. All I knew was I was in pain, I felt like there was a rock in my abdomen, and when I did any kind of cardio “it” bounced up and down and hurt like hell. I was also always nauseus and convinced if I could just eat something, I’d feel better. So I ate. And I went from 117lbs to 145lbs. And I definitely did not feel better.

When we moved to VA four years ago, my sister in law took me to her dr who diagnosed IBS with a serious infection. He put me on meds and, as soon as I started to feel better, I started running around our farm (not a good call; cattle chase small blonde women. Who knew?). Then I joined Jazzercise, watched everything I ate and today weigh just about 112 and am in the best shape of my life. No kidding. I’ve had two c-sections and a splenectomy and I have a ab muscles you can see. I’m proof that it can be done! (i am so damn proud of those silly abs…:-) )

These days I work out every morning in a corn crib my husband converted into a work out “studio” for me. He’s so sweet. I never, ever want to be out of shape again. I felt awful. I had no energy. And I hated how I looked in clothes. Nothing fit and God forbid I had to go to a dressy function.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who claim they don’t have time for exercise?
Get up earlier than everyone else in your house and just do it. Force yourself. Lay your clothing, sneakers, and iPod out at night. Have your water bottle in the fridge. It makes it easier. I get up at 4am every day. And on those days I don’t want to do it, I promise myself that if I still feel lousy after just one song, I’ll stop. Usually after something like Bon Jovi’s Who Says You Can’t Go Home? I’m rocking and I’m so glad I got out of bed.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
Aerobics, Jazzercise. That kind of dance-y cardio.
Q: Are you more of a cardio mommy or strength training mommy?
I do both every day. 40 mins of cardio, 20 mins with weights.

Q:Do you have any mental tricks that you use when you just don’t feel like working out?
Oops. I think I answered that in question #2.

Q:What’s your favorite brand of workout clothing and why?
I’m into Nike sneakers now, and they’re great. I like Ryka also. As far as clothing goes, if I like it and it’s not super expensive, I buy it. Doesn’t matter if it’s from Target or Wal-Mart or Victoria’s Secret.

You can see more interviews with other fit moms (and dads too!) over here.

I am so excited about BlogHer next month that I can hardly contain myself!

I’ll be running the BlogHer 5k Fun Run/Walk, I hope you will join me?  It’s only $5 and you’ll get a cool tshirt! (and I’m one of the sponsors, so more reason why you want the shirt, right?)

It will not be timed and will just be a great way to get a FIT start to your day!  (yes, the starting time is scary, but it’s summer in Chicago! We have to get out early so we don’t fry!)

I am also thankful for my BlogHer sponsors VitaMix and Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt for helping make my trip a reality this year!

Please let me know if you are going to BlogHer this year because I’d love to meet you in person and put a face with the name.

Now get up and get moving gang.  Never underestimate the power of a workout!

***This contest is now closed. The winner was Healthybeb (no blog listed).  Thanks to all who entered!***

Healthy eating combined with road trips is always a challenge.  Yes, you can pack your own snacks but when you are faced with a long car ride and two unruly children, sometimes it is nicer to stop somewhere for a change of scenery and pace.

Our “fast food” restaurant of choice is always Subway.  Their FRESH FIT ™ menu has eight different sandwiches without cheese or condiments and each sandwich offers 2 servings of fresh veggies, five grams of fiber.    I got the new Tuscan Chicken Sandwich and it was delicious!

I also love their FRESH FIT FOR KIDS™ menu which comes with a choice of juice or milk and has apple slices on the side.  This is a MUCH better option than deep fried chicken nuggets and french fries!

On our most recent vacation, we visited several Subway restaurants and found each of them to be clean and comfortable.  There is something about the smell of fresh baked bread that calms you down the minute you walk in the door!

My only gripe about Subway is the lack of napkins they like to give out.  Every single time we go, our bags consist of no more than 2 napkins a piece.   I wonder, is that company policy? I’ve got a messy family, we need more napkins please! (which by the way, they do give you if you request them…I’m just curious why they are not more readily available?)

Tell me what you think of Subway (or their napkin policy) and be entered to win a $15 gift card to any Subway Restaurant.  Winner will be chosen at random at 9pm EST on  Wednesday, July 1, 2009  and must have a valid US address.

Disclaimer: The PR firm for Subway sent me a gift card to try out their sandwiches for review, however I am under no obligation to do so nor to make the review positive. This review reflects my personal opinion about how much I really do love Subway.  And we go there a lot. 

Today’s guest post is courtesy of Julie Tupler, a Registered Nurse, Certified Trainer and Childbirth Educator. She is also an advisory board member of Fit Pregnancy and has been working with women during and after pregnancy since 1990. She is a speaker (former stand-up comic), author of two books (Lose Your Mummy Tummy and Maternal Fitness: Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy, an Easier Labor, and a Quick Recovery) producer of two DVDs, and creator of the Diastasis Rehab splint. She trains medical and fitness professionals with her Tupler Technique Training Program for Treatment of Diastasis Recti. For more information, please go to www.DiastasisRehab.com.

If you are a new mom, no doubt you’re wondering when and how (or if!) your belly will be flat again.

Is it crunch time?

No! It turns out that crunches can be harmful to both your belly and your back.

To understand why, here’s an overview of how abdominals work:

Abdominals 101
We have three layers of abdominals:

• The Rectus Abdominis
This outer muscle supports your back and organs. During pregnancy the rectus abdominis both stretches and separates.

When the muscles separate, it is called a diastasis recti or separation of the recti muscle. This separation weakens both the support for your back (causing back problems) and the support for your organs (causing the “mummy tummy”). Since the connective tissue joining the muscles stretches sideways, your organs are now being supported by a thin piece of connective tissue. So those protruding bellies are really your organs not being supported effectively!

Pregnant again? Women show faster in their second pregnancy due to the separation of these muscles. This separation will get larger with each pregnancy, although specific exercises can help close it.

• The Obliques
These middle layer abdominals run diagonally down the sides of your body and connect with the recti muscle. Because of this connection, any forward moving action of the obliques will create a shearing effect on the recti muscle and will make the separation larger.

What to avoid: Exercises and activities that have a forward crossover movement (like tennis), will make the separation larger and should be avoided until the diastasis is closed.

• The Transverse Muscle
This is the muscle trainers are talking about when they discuss working your “core.” It is like a corset and wraps around the whole body, and connects to the recti muscle as well. The movement of this muscle is forwards and backwards (it is the muscle we use while breathing). Isolating the transverse muscle is the basis for the Tupler Technique!

So, Why Don’t Crunches Work?
The action of crunches causes the middle of the recti to go forward forcefully. This forward forceful pressure on the weak spot of the connective tissue (belly button) will make the diastasis larger if you already have one… or will create one if you don’t.

In a back lying position, when the shoulders come off the floor, it is physically impossible to hold the transverse in. And, when the shoulders come off the floor, not only can you not engage the transverse muscle but it also bulges the disks of the spine in the wrong direction. So that is why crunches are harmful for the belly and the back.

How to Fix a Diastasis (and Lose that Mummy Tummy!)
The most important thing you need to do is strengthen the transverse muscle in a sitting position. This is the missing link in all abdominal work!

You can do one of the seated exercises (called the elevator) while watching TV or driving in a car. (Just make sure your back is supported and does not move while doing the exercises.)

• Put your hands on your belly so you can tell that the muscles are going back towards your spine.
• Now imagine you are bringing your belly button to your inner spine.
• Hold it there for the count of 30. Count out loud as it forces you to breathe.
• Now close your eyes and imagine that your belly button is going from your inner spine to your outer spine. It is a little isometric squeeze.
• After you squeeze remember to keep it at your inner spine.
• Do 10 of these little squeezes as you count out loud.
• End with a big belly breath.
(You should feel this in your back.)
Do 10 of these exercises every day.

Other Tips
Closing a diastasis is a 4-step program. Here are some things to focus on:

• Do the proper belly exercises (such as those found with the Tupler Technique).
• Wear a splint under your clothing every day, such as the AbRehab splint. The purpose of splinting is to pull the muscles together – this makes the exercises more effective and also helps heal the connective tissue.
• Engage (or properly draw in) the transverse muscle during every activity.
• Get up and down correctly from a back-lying to seated position: Roll on your side and use your arms to help push you up.

Diastasis Rehab is doing a two- part research study on diastasis recti. We need 100 moms by July 30th to participate for the first part. For the first part all it requires is filling out a questionnaire online and getting their diastasis checked. We will be checking 50 women on one day and 50 women on another day. Women can bring their babies if they like. It will be at a location in New York City. It will be by appt and take less than 5 minutes.

For part two we will need 60 of the 100 women to participate. This would consist of three groups of 20 women. One group that will do the Tupler Technique for 6 weeks, one group will do it for 3 months and the third group will do if for 6 months. If you are interested please email us at DiastasisRehab@yahoo.com

If you only had 15 minutes for a workout, what would be your go-to exercise?

For me? Jump squats with some walking lunges.
For my husband? Sitting on the couch watching TV.

How about you?

Feeling the Monday blahs?

Here’s a flashback from the ’80s to help get you energized and inspired.  (check out those glutes!)
Grab your leotard, put on your legwarmers and get up and get MOVING!