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 Mandi, who blogs over at Trainer Momma.  She is a full time mommy of three who works part time as a personal trainer.  Prior to becoming a trainer though, she struggled with her weight.   A quote on her blog really stood out for me–she says:   “I just wanted to sit and eat. I was miserable, often sick, and unable to sleep well.”

So what changed for Mandi? Please read on for the details and how she is definitely now “One Fit Mommy”!

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

No way!
After I got married, I started to teach kindergarten and quickly my overwhelming job consumed my days. I had no balance in my life, never exercised and tried to give myself the energy my job demanded by filling my body with sugar. I was well over 180 pounds, hated my job and hated myself.

My inspiration for a fit lifestyle was my mother’s weight loss. She had hired a trainer and lost 40 pounds, and I started wearing her hand-me-down “fat clothes”. That was just not right. I had to do something.

I hired a trainer and he turned my life around. That was over 11 years ago and I haven’t looked back (and I’ve burned my mom’s fat clothes).

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

I tell mothers I work with to substitute the phrase “I don’t have time…” to “It’s not important to me…” When you interchange those phrases, it puts a whole new twist on exercise. When we don’t MAKE the time, essentially we are saying that we are not important enough to make the time. When it is phrased that way, most of us will turn off the phone, leave the dishes in the sink, walk away from piles of laundry and get exercising.

Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?

Oooo. Hard one. My favorite exercise is change. I definitely cannot do one form of exercise day after day or even week after week. Some of my favs are: weight lifting, jumping rope, running stairs, swimming, cycling, running, treadmill, spin class, basketball, stair master, elliptical trainer, plyometrics, track work… See? I knew I couldn’t answer this question.

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

Even stevens. I am absolutely both. I firmly believe that women need to be sweating their brains out doing cardio, but also building lean muscle by strength training. I am a certified personal trainer and encourage women every day to challenge their muscles with new and different ways to lift weights. Then, I shoo them off to spend at least 30 minutes on the cardio equipment for the ole’ ticker. We’ve got to do both, ladies. There’s no way around it.

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

When the alarm rudely blares at me at 5:30 A.M., I am not hopping out of bed thrilled to work out. I think of how nice it would be to get some more shut eye to face the demands of yet another day. But then I think of THE FEELING. Hhhmm. How do I describe this FEELING? Not in one word, but pieces of many:

Exhilarating. Validating. Peaceful. Hopeful. Cheerful. Strong. Whole. Joyful. Happy. Power. Control. Patient. Alive. Energy. Full. Complete.
I’m sure it’s the endorphins flooding my body and brain. Whatever chemical or hormone it is, I’ll take it. And often. When, I start a workout I’m tired, stressed and wonder if maybe I should pass for the day. This thought crosses my mind nearly with every workout. You’d think I’d be over that by now. Nope.

But then I realize the only other option is to NOT feel the FEELING, and quite simply: that is not acceptable to me.

Q: Random question: What is your favorite breakfast food?

I definitely go through phases. Right now I’m in a Power Oatmeal kind of mood:

1/2 cup rolled oats,
dash of cinnamon
dash of vanilla
1 scoop protein powder
water — enough to barely cover the oats

Zap that in the microwave for 3 minutes. Top with 1/4 cup of skim milk and sweeten with fresh berries. Y.U.M.

Thank you Mandi for sharing your secrets and being a fit mommy inspiration!

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!

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Trainer Momma is definitely “One Fit Mommy”

I turned on the Discovery Health channel the other night and got hooked on the show “Big John, One Year Later”. It is the story of a 400lb teenager who decides to have weight loss surgery.

The boy is just 17 and it really broke my heart to watch. The whole time I was thinking “oh please don’t let this happen to my boys”.

The cameras follow John at home and school, where he struggles both physically and emotionally. He has very few friends and endures a lot of teasing. John decides to have the surgery because he just wants to be “normal”. His parents agree it is the best decision for him and his mom knows what John is getting into—she had the surgery herself a few years back.

John’s journey post-surgery is not an easy one, but the transformation is amazing. His confidence soars, he takes part in activities he hasn’t done in many years, and he has “a whole new outlook on life”. His attitude toward his schoolwork completely changes and he is eager to finish his high school education as soon as possible.

When the show ends, he has lost more than HALF his body weight. Congratulations Big John!

This makes me wonder though, is weight loss surgery going to become the standard? and how young is too young?

Thoughts?

photo credit: Kyle May

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Big John is no longer ‘Big’

Richard Simmons testified on Capitol Hill yesterday as an advocate for the battle against childhood obesity. This clip is long (about 5 minutes) but well worth it.

My favorite line is when he says that not everyone is a jock and not everyone can run, but everyone can be FIT. (this is around 2:48)

I’ve never been much of a fan of Richard Simmons, but I’m definitely one now! He vows to devote the rest of his life to finding a way for every child to be fit and feel self esteem and self respect.

He wants to be a head of a committee that will train teachers to teach kids about cardio, strength training, and stretching.

I will vote for him, how about you?

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Richard Simmons testifies for fitness

Yesterday was the annual Boston Marathon and once again I was following from the sidelines.

I always get so hyped up by all the race day news (did you know that both Lance and Kristin Armstrong were running?) but at the same time I feel insanely jealous that I am not one of the runners.

I just have to hold on to my hope that someday I will be a Boston runner instead of a spectator. I guess the bright side of getting older is that I now get five extra minutes to qualify, thanks to my most recent birthday. (in order to run in the Boston Marathon, you have to get a qualifying time from another marathon.)

I want to send out a big “CONGRATS” to Judith over at Autismville. She ran yesterday for her son Jack and his school, Nashoba Learning Group. Judith, I hope you have your feet up right now and that you are getting some much needed rest! (and did you see Lance?)

Now just in case you are thinking that YOU could never run a marathon, think again.

PBS had a special on last week called “Marathon Challenge”. It is a documentary that follows

“13 generally sedentary people through a training regimen designed to prepare them for an ultimate test of stamina and endurance.”

They go from being non-runners to marathon runners in a matter of 9 months! You can watch it online here. It is very inspirational, so be sure to keep your running shoes nearby. (and tissues too.)

All this talk of marathons makes me want to go running.
How about you, what activity are you doing today?

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Who ran the Boston Marathon?

Meeting other fit moms always inspires me. I love to hear about how others fit in the time and what has (and has not) worked for them. Therefore I am starting a new series called “One Fit Mommy”, where I will introduce you to other fit mommies around the globe.

Today’s “One Fit Mommy” is Carla, which many of us know as MizFit. She is a former personal trainer, now a writer and mommy to one “toddler tornado”. She has an awesome blog that you definitely must visit. Be sure to catch her video posts on Mondays where you can see for yourself why MizFit is “One Fit Mommy”!

Before you read the full interview, I need to focus on one key quote. She says (be):

“Muscular. You want to take up SPACE in the world. Be noticed. To me skinny is weak and I’m not about the weak woman.”

MizFit reminds me yet again why I need to focus more on strength training. Read on to learn more….

Q: Has Mizfit always been so fit? What got you motivated to live the fit lifestyle?

well…NOT SO MUCH
I was always semi-fit in highschool. More average than anything else (read: wholly and utterly uncoordinated–still am—so I played zero sports & begged and pleaded every year for a doctors note to get out of gym class always to no avail.) Then I hit college, discovered beer and quickly gained my freshman 15 and a few other people’s as well.
I still look back and laugh but am also *thankful* for the fact that I really didn’ t care. I promptly began walking around with the top button of my pants/jeans unbuttoned and wore baggy sweatshirts (& kept drinking the beer).

I still can’t figure out why I didn’t feel badly about myself with the extra weight (because it was gained in the name of having fun? who can say) as if I could I’d love to pass that along to my daughter. Flash forward to graduate school (masters in counseling) and I figured it was time to shed a few pounds in an effort to look better in my suits. I discovered weight training and haven’t looked back since.

Q: What is your favorite exercise/workout and why?

I really do LOVE lifting weights. I adore the feeling of being strong. When I was a personal trainer I would *always* try and talk my clients out of wanting to be skinny. “You want to be BIG” I’d admonished them. “Muscular. You want to take up SPACE in the world. Be noticed.” To me skinny is weak and I’m not about the weak woman.

Q: Workout Mommy is very jealous of your arm definition! What type of training do you do and how often?

I do 30 minutes of cardio (slow. easy. reading magazines. but EVERY DAY) and lift when I can. Right now that’s often fifteen minutes when I can get to the gym (I’ll do one body part per time so I can get in and out that quickly)–but I don’t talk and focus the whole time.

The arms? definitely NOT genetics (sorry mom & dad) and for sure a combo of eating clean, cardio and weights. And yes—-you are EMBARRASSING the MizFit but thanks.

Q: What advice do you have for someone who is brand new to exercise and feeling overwhelmed?

teeeny tiny baby steps. when I was a trainer I would tell my new clients (new to working out) that, for example, they were only ALLOWED to do their treadmill for 5 minutes a day. NO MORE.
the next week? sure, they could go up to eight minutes but NO MORE. It’s all about going slowly and setting yourself up for success. None of this: starting tomorrow I’ll do an hour of cardio and then take an aerobic class and eat nothing but boiled chicken.

baby steps and just keep layering new good habit upon new good habit. and readreadread. I’m a reader by nature but read blogs books magazines—anything you can get your hands on. Become an educated exerciser no matter what exercise you choose to do.

Q: What is a typical day in the life of Mizfit?

oh it is quite fraught with glamour!
I wake up (sans alarm clock. my deal is if I’m not up at this time of my own volition I must need more sleep. I’m always up at this time) around 415 and depending on how much work I have to do (I’m a writer) I’ll get up or wait 30 minutes or so.
I love the morning. Not just that it is quiet but I really do adore the promise of the day. The knowing that it’s just starting and *really* anything could happen (cue sappy music, I know).

I typically work (and, if I’m honest, visit a few blogs) until my daughter wakes up. I get her, change her, hang with her until my husband is from the bed untimely ripped and do the stationary bike for 30 minutes while they hang out.

After that it’s anyone’s guess. She and I hang out all day together most days. Dancing, playing, laughing, smearing ourselves with jelly, blowing bubbles and chasing our Bullmastiff around.

She’s a no-napper (so she’s on the up at 530 DOWN and sound asleep by 530 which sounds fab until you realize she’s up at five thirty again the next day ) so once she’s down I work again until my husband gets home later that night.

hath I debunked the myth o’the exciting life of the MizFit?

Q: I love the healthy recipes that you post on your blog, especially the muffin in a moment. How do you come up with these?

that one was passed on to me by a friend YEARS ago and I just played around with it until I created something I liked. People always tell me I have such WILL POWER but I do not. I love what I eat! If I felt “deprived” I couldn’t do it.

Q: If you were to go on a 12 hour road trip, what would be in the cooler in your car?

almonds, lots and lots of beef jerky, trail mix, met rx packets (you KNOW I’d have a cigarette lighter powered blender!!) laughing cow cheese wedges, turkey slices, rice cakes, oatmeal packets, hi protein cereal, flip top cans of tuna, low carb tortillas, and SOME KIND OF CANDY most likely Hershey’s kisses & jolly rancher lollipops.

and, yes, I realize some of that doesn’t require cooling
oh, wait I just realized I’m only gone for twelve hours….perhaps not ALL of that but perhaps yes

Q: What type of running shoes do you wear?

I’d say old school Nike ‘95 air maxes

Many thanks to MizFit for being featured here on Workout Mommy. She has inspired me to strength train today.

How about you, what activity are you doing today?

If you, (or someone you know), would like to be featured as “One Fit Mommy”, please send me an email and let me know!

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One Fit Mommy: Carla (aka MizFit)

Oprah Winfrey has started a new weightloss effort called Oprah and Bob’s Best Life Challenge.

It’s a pretty simple concept—eat less, move more, and make small changes in your life. It is about a healthy LIFESTYLE , not about being on a diet.

This is something I struggle with. I know I could essentially starve myself down 10-15 pounds, but that will not make me a healthier mom. I already move a lot, but I need to make serious changes to what I eat. I am a slacker when it comes to fruit and vegetables and I absolutely KNOW this has to change.

Oprah had several success stories on her show. The common phrase amongst them all was “I changed my diet”. One man admitted that he could eat an ENTIRE bucket of chicken in one sitting. Wow.

Here is another wow! Check out this before and after picture of Jennifer, one of the woman featured on the show (she is also in People magazine this month).

She lost 180 pounds!

Jennifer says it was all hard work, but something that you need to be mentally ready to do.

“First you have to set your mind and your heart and just be prepared and get mentally ready. And this time you’re going to do it,” she says. “And just kind of have a heart-to-heart with yourself.”

I’m ready! Are you?

I need to focus my efforts on eating healthy foods all day long. I not only need to talk the talk, but I need to walk the walk.

So right now, I am walking to my fridge (or maybe I will do walking lunges there?) to get some fruit. There will be no other snacks tonight except for fruit.
How about you, what small change can you make today that will make you healthier tomorrow?

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Are you ready to change your lifestyle?

Need some inspiration? Katie Ciarcia lost 124 pounds in just two years! Even more amazing is that she went from a size 22 to a size ZERO. She didn’t crash diet, she didn’t have surgery, she just ate less and moved more.

She admits that after having her daughter she ate too much, especially “rich and fattening foods”. The turning point came when she watched home videos and realized how big she had become. She made the decision to change her life.

Here is how she did it:

“I ate more… produce. I had to reintroduce my tastebuds to greens. Before, I thought of broccoli as a miniature tree; now I enjoy it with a little seasoning.

I ate less… rice. It’s a huge part of Filipino cuisine, and I used to eat way too much. I also stopped frying and now grill, bake, broil, and poach. My mantra was — take small steps. You have to keep setting realistic minigoals for yourself. When I started, I didn’t say, “I’m going to be a size 4.” I said, “I’m not going to go up to a size 24!”

I exercised… at 4 am. Nothing can interfere with my workout this early.

Unexpected gain:A reclaimed hobby. I’ve always loved gardening, but when I was overweight, it became a chore. Now I’d rather push a mower than ride one, just to get the extra exercise.

Health bonus: I’ve added years to my life. I am no longer borderline diabetic, and I’m off my meds. I’m even considering training for a marathon, which would have sounded like a joke before.”

She is also featured in Prevention Magazine this month. The Washington HeraldNet mentions how the stylists for the Prevention photo shoot had to pin back the size 2 outfits because they were too big. Can you imagine going from a size 22 to a size zero? What a transformation!

Again, the point here is that Katie did not crash diet or starve herself. She made a lifestyle change. She made changes in her life that added up to changes in her body.

“I don’t call this a diet. Don’t deprive yourself of the food you love. But I have one quarter cup of cooked brown rice rather than three cups of white rice.”

So the next time you are telling yourself that you cannot find time to exercise or cannot resist that piece of chocolate cake, take a minute to think about Katie.
She did it–and so can we!

So get up and get moving gang!
Be fit, be healthy, be happy!!!!

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Katie Ciarcia is a true success story!

Need proof that EVERYONE is capable of getting into shape and losing weight? Click here to read about Kelly Pless and her inspirational story. She lost 95 lbs and is now a marathon runner.

In the article, she shares her “secret” to weight loss which is to basically eat less and move more. (please repeat those words again!)

I like how she mentions that food was an emotional issue for her:

“What’s hard is to change how you feel about foods that you love or that aren’t necessarily good for you, or actually change how you look at food. That was the hardest part for me.”

Instead of giving in to the temptation or convenience of calorie-laden or fatty foods such as cheeseburgers from the drive-through, Pless asks herself, “What do I really want to eat? Or, what does my body really want right now?”

This is something that most of struggle with on a daily basis. So the next time you sit down to eat something unhealthy or decide to skip a workout, think of Kelly Pless and her success story.

She didn’t give up and neither should you!

Be active today!! No excuses!

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A success story