Even a personal trainer needs to have a personal trainer! Here is a video clip of my trainer punishing working with me.  (thankfully he added music to this clip or else you would hear me whining!)

Why do I need a trainer if I am one?  Because I need that time scheduled out just for me.  I need someone else to do the thinking so that I can get a tough workout.  And I need ZERO distractions.  He does not let me check my iPhone or tweet or respond to emails.

He keeps me on task and makes me work hard, which is exactly what I need.  

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I’m off for the weekend to hang with my fellow fitness/healthy living blogging buddies at the Fitbloggin conference.

I’m very excited!   I’ll be there with the baby so if you are going to be there please say hi!

Have an ACTIVE weekend gang!

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Gisele Bundchen (wife of Tom Brady)  is featured in this months Vogue magazine.  She had her first baby back in December right around the same time that I had my little one.

She has bounced back to her pre-pregnancy body (if not better) and I’m trying to figure out why I continue to depress myself by following the post-baby celebrity pictures?  She does not have my life.  And I certainly do not have her abs.  (sigh)

[Photo credit: Patrick Demarchelier/Vogue]

As for how she is in such great shape?

“I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds.”

I fully admit that I was a human garbage disposal and unfortunately have not stopped.  Maybe seeing Gisele is the kick in the (fat) pants that I need?

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My trip to Disney was jam packed full of fun activities–please click over to Workout Mommy Reviews for the details!

When I showed my son my medal he was so excited because he thought I won the race.  So I went ahead and let him believe that. 

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Even my boys know how to squeeze fitness into their day!
Here they are finishing up their push ups right before bed.

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!

Have a FANTASTIC weekend! I’m off to Disney to run like a princess!

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This past summer I was having a VERY difficult time with my almost four year old.  So much so that I considered sending him to a therapist.  My sweet little boy had transformed into a very angry child who was never happy.

I was at the end of my rope.  This was compounded by the fact that he still did not sleep through the night.  Yes, he was almost four and still was getting up several times per night.   I had tried EVERYTHING and felt like I was a parenting failure.  With baby #3 due in short time, I did not know what to do.

Enter Positive Parenting Solutions.  I learned about the course through a webinar exactly like I am offering here and purchased the program instantly.  It was an absolute EYE OPENER for me.     Some of the concepts are so simple, yet they had never even crossed my mind. (example: spending more time encouraging instead of correcting)

The course  was founded by Amy McCready.  She presents the material via high quality videos, readings and interactives.  Within the sessions are Note-Taking Guides, a Toolbox, a FAQ, and an index of terms.   You take the course at your own pace, which I really appreciated.   I also sought Amy’s advice via a telephone call and she was so responsive and helpful. I only wish she was local to me so I could hire her to come directly to my house!

I love Amy’s Positive Parenting Breakthrough Solutions course so much that I am thrilled to be offering a free Webinar on the Art of Consequences.

Please join me on Tuesday, March 16 from 9-10 PM EST.   You can sign up HERE and again it is absolutely FREE!

I’ve come a long way with my four year old and still have a bumpy road ahead. (he sleeps through the night though!)

Now that I have some great tools in my toolbox, I feel much more prepared to handle that road!

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I ran my 10 mile run this weekend and I am happy to say I survived.

(Was it pretty?  Nope.) The blisters on my feet are out of control.

and remember that hallux rigidus issue I had back in October ‘09?  and how the doctor told me I would not be running long distances anymore?  Well, I’m beginning to think he was right.   My foot felt fine when I was running, but the post-run pain was excruciating!

But I am ready for the Florida sunshine and fun with friends!  I’ll be bringing baby R. with me too, so don’t tell my other kids that the baby gets to go to Disney before they do, okay?   Thanks!

This week I will just go for a few quick and easy runs to keep my legs (and mind) feeling fresh.   Look out Mickey, here I come!

How did your week go?

photo credit: KiSS_Ze_CHeF

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Yesterday’s episode of “The View” brought up a whole host of emotions I have not felt for awhile.  The episode was about infertility, something I struggled with personally.  (hello family! you learn something new every day, don’t you?)

Celebrities Guiliana and Bill Rancic came on to discuss their personal struggle with infertility and the treatments that have tried and are considering.   The conversation took a personal turn for me when Guiliana mentioned that the doctors believe she is too skinny and if she would just gain 5 or 10 pounds she might be able to get pregnant.    She balked at this idea–citing her job and the fact that she likes being thin.  The View co-hosts all gave her an earful on how if she really wanted to get pregnant, she would put on those pounds.    Over on Twitter, the conversation was the same.  The general consensus was:

Like Whoopi said, no butts!! Screw the sizes and tv look, you want to have a baby then you need to do what you have to do (@wrestlingaddict)

This is much easier said than done.
I’ve been there.  After two years of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant, I started infertility treatments.  After they did not work, the doctors told me my chances to get pregnant were slim, but I might consider gaining some weight.   Just like Guiliana, my cycles were not consistent and there was a chance that an increase in body weight might help get me on track.

When you are consumed with a certain lifestyle and look, it isn’t just THAT easy to “gain a few pounds”.   I was in phenomenal shape that I worked VERY hard to achieve.   Although my heart wanted children, my MIND could not allow myself to “just gain some weight”.   I feared every extra ounce that might end up on my body with absolutely NO guarantee that I would even get pregnant.

If you have never been in this situation, it is very easy to judge.  After all, five pounds is just five pounds.   But to someone who lives by the number on the scale, five pounds can mean days, weeks, and even months of self-loathing.    So please don’t judge her.  Guiliana was courageous enough to go on TV and tell women it’s okay to talk about infertility.

I chose not to gain those five pounds. I did not get pregnant and my husband and I got divorced.

So are you wondering how on earth I ended up with THREE children if I chose to not gain those 5 pounds and I got divorced?
Well, you’ll have to meet me in public (Fitbloggin anyone?) to get the rest of the story as I don’t feel comfortable putting it all out here on the internet!

I can tell you though, I still struggle everyday with my weight.  I absolutely LOVE my children with all my heart but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t cringe at my new mommy-body in the mirror.    Some habits/thoughts/feelings never go away. 

******
Did you watch this episode?  Are you an official View Mom Ambassador? (twitter hashtag #theviewmoms).  (I’m not but I think I should be. ) I also think that I should get the chance to interview Elisabeth for my “One Fit Mommy” series.
Elisabeth—are you listening?

Photo credit: InStyle and JJB

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It’s hard to believe my little guy is already 11 weeks old!  Time just flies by, doesn’t it?

He proudly wears his fat rolls in his new onesie—many thanks to Pamela at Happy Panda Baby for sending it to him.

I think his first words might be “Never underestimate the power of a workout!”

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Here is a recap of my weekly half marathon training:  SNOW SUCKS.
(in case you missed it, I am running this race in 3 weeks! )

I have not been able to do any outdoor running because our entire area is covered in snow.  The sidewalks are nowhere to be seen.  In fact, neither is my mailbox!

On top of this, the schools have been closed for the past ten days which means my kids are always underfoot.   Not exactly ideal. Cabin fever has made them (and me) absolutely crazy!  Honestly if it doesn’t get warm soon, I might have to pack up and move!

Since I am always preaching “NO excuses!”, please note that I have managed a handful of late night workouts on my treadmill.   They were shorter runs though (3-4 miles) and definitely not the distance I need to be logging at this point.   But what can you do?  Sometimes life (and snow) gets in the way.

So we just brush ourselves off and keep on moving…..literally!  I am SO looking forward to the fun of running in Disney and the warm weather of Orlando!

How about you?  How was your week?

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