5 Tips to Help You Lose the Baby Weight (Once and For All)!

September 28, 2014Leave a comment

I am so thrilled to feature my new friend, Monica. I’ve recently started getting to know Monica, and she is an absolutely amazing fit mama! Monica Bencomo is author of 7 Habits of a Healthy, Happy Mom, founder of MomsWearHeels.com, and co-owns the restaurant Pasión Latin Fusion with her husband. She inspires mothers to lead authentic, happy, and healthy lives through her workshops and social media. Monica has been seen on the Food Network, and has a segment on 2 Kasa Style on Kasa Fox every Monday called Parenting 411. For coaching services, you may contact Monica at Monica.Bencomo18@gmail.com.

Have you ever wondered how many Hollywood moms have their babies and then are seemingly skinny the next day? All of us mommies from time to time experience that rushed sense wondering, “Am I ever going to fit in my old skinny jeans?” Well, wonder no more, moms! I am here to give you the unfiltered truth as to how I lost all 45 pounds postpartum with these simple tricks and tips.

Tip 1: Do NOT be in a race! Slow and steady really does win the race here (this is especially true if you are breastfeeding). If you lose your baby weight too fast, you will risk jeopardizing not only your milk supply, but your skin’s elasticity. Losing weight at an expedited rate can and will cause your skin to hang loose after weight is lost or even causes stretch marks to appear more on your body.

Tip 2: Supplement at least one meal with a healthy smoothie. When I had my son, I still received all the necessary vitamins and minerals to be healthy and energetic by drinking my green smoothies twice a day. Once your baby is eating (or drinking) foods other than milk, you can give her some as well! Check out my video here of how to make a green smoothie for mom and baby. http://momswearheels.com/?p=676

Tip 3: Once your doctor or midwife gives you clearance to exercise—get outside! Nothing is worse than catching a case of cabin fever postpartum. Make it a point to get you and the baby outdoors. My midwife cleared me to workout 6 weeks postpartum, and I bundled up my son and I and we took walks and soon upgraded to jogs. Here is a compilation of my favorite workouts for outdoors you can do with your stroller here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8SkjR7q0-c

If it is too cold in your area, do workout videos at home while baby rocks or sleeps! There are plenty of free and awesome workout videos on YouTube.

Tip 4: Join a fitness community to stay updated. I joined Instagram when I was about 6 months postpartum and followed all fit mom enthusiasts! It was incredibly comforting and inspiring to witness other mamas so dedicated to healthy living despite having 1, 2, 3, or 4 kids! I post on my Instagram daily: this not only helps to motivate others but also helps me stay accountable by posting progress photos.

You can find me here! : http://instagram.com/fitmom118

Tip 5: Set a tangible goal. I started training for a fitness competition once my weight really started to drop about 4 months postpartum. What this did was motivate me more than ever by seeing a date on the calendar for which I had to be prepared! If stepping on stage isn’t for you, get a group of your girlfriends to sign up for a 5K, triathlon, or Zumba class! The key is to find a physical activity in which you’ll truly enjoy.

Remember, losing your weight postpartum is a journey, not a race! Follow these tips and tools to stay motivated and you will wake up one day seeing a brand new figure!

Detour Bar: Healthy, Tasty, Easy to Pack, and Toddler Approved!

August 27, 20143 Comments

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Detour Bar.

Several times this summer, my gym and online personal training clients have asked me for granola or protein bar recommendations. Unfortunately, there are not many options that I can give them for an easy, and healthy summer snack bar!

Granola bars are often extremely high in sugar and processed items that we simply do not need in our bodies. In fact, granola bars packed with insoluble fiber and other ingredients often cause me major bloating and discomfort.

I was thrilled when I was presented with the opportunity to review the Detour Bar — a healthy, tasty, easy to transport, and toddler approved option.

The Detour Bar is gluten-free, high in protein, and only has 135 calories! It’s all natural and sweetened with stevia. I often need quick energy before a boot camp or client workout — this bar was perfect for a fast snack that gave me a boost of energy.

Oh, and did I mention it tastes amazing? I received the bars in the mail last week and they were gone within a couple of days thanks to two little kiddies that couldn’t seem to keep their paws out of the pantry. And don’t you just love a healthy snack that is easy to grab and go for your toddlers?

Be sure to check my IG page tonight (@fitparnering) because I may just be doing a giveaway for these bars!

Visit the Detour Bar site for more information about their products, a resourceful blog, and to stay in-the-loop on promotions. Also be sure to like the Detour Bar Facebook page and follow them on IG and Twitter (@detourbar).

How to Stay Fit as a Busy Parent

July 24, 20141 Comment

I am thrilled to feature Bess as a fit mom featured blogger for my site. Meet Bess and learn how she stays fit and active as a busy parent.

Hi! My name is Bess. I am a wife and mom to Libby (2 ½ years old) and Jack (9 months). I live outside of Charleston, SC on a little beach island.

I grew up in a small town in South Carolina surrounded by farm land. In high school, I loved running with my dad and working out at my hometown gym with my friends. I also played softball and danced pointe (ballet), but not very skillfully; I do not consider myself to be athletic, nor coordinated. I enjoyed eating healthy things in high school, when the low-fat, high-carb diet was all the rage. After high school and college, I enjoyed going “home” and doing cardio classes with my mom and sisters. My siblings and I have also participated in races together.

I have been married to Brett since 2010. As a couple, my husband and I strive to have an active lifestyle, to be physically fit, and to eat healthy meals. However, we are not strict or restrictive; we enjoy treats, too, especially at birthday parties and when dining out.

Every day, I work towards being a fit parent. Personally, I define being fit parent as having an active lifestyle, working out, and eating healthy things every day. I go for a short run every morning, and I love participating in local races, from 5Ks to half-marathons. My kids have participated with me in the jogging stroller in two races, so far (and our third is coming up in May)! In the summertime, I work out at the gym, where I run on the treadmill, do the elliptical, and take group fitness classes, too. For days that I cannot get out of the house, I love working out with HIIT videos on my iPad. I have enjoyed two fit pregnancies; I stopped running, but I walked 2.5 miles every day. I ate a lot of healthy food during my pregnancies, gained a reasonable amount of weight, and, therefore, was able to “bounce back” quickly after each baby. Right now, I am still breastfeeding my youngest child, so I eat A LOT. I try to eat healthy things every day, and I define that as eating whole fruits and vegetables every single day, no matter what. I really love green smoothies, too. My husband is very good about the vegetables and salad part. He is an excellent cook, especially on the grill. As for my children, I feed them a lot of whole fruits, chopped up. The only vegetable my daughter will eat these days, however, is a pickle!

The beautiful weather and beaches where we live inspire us to be a fit and active family. As a family, we love going to the beach, walking in downtown Charleston, and going for bike rides. My husband is a huge support in my fitness journey; he works out every day, watches my children so that I can go on long runs when I’m training for a race, and brings home healthy meals for our family.

Of course, I am especially inspired by my children to be a fit mom. I want my children to learn that leading an active lifestyle and eating healthy foods will make them feel good about themselves in a positive way. I hope that I am and will continue to be a healthy role model for them. I want to be positive and enthusiastic; I hope that I will not put down my body shape, my lack of athletic ability, or my food choices when they’re not the best. I want to provide encouragement regarding making healthy food choices, rather than be overly strict or restrictive regarding eating unhealthy things. For our family, being fit and healthy is really all about fun activities, enjoying food, and finding a healthy balance, together!

Please join me on my Fit Parent journey, by checking out my blog at bessbeehealthy.blogspot.com, follow me on Instagram @bessbeehealthy, on Twitter @bessbeehealthy, and like my page on Facebook at facebook.com/bessbeehealthy.

Fit Mom Guest Post: Postpartum depression and how to heal

March 7, 2014March 7, 2014Leave a comment

I hope you enjoy this amazing guest post from Michelle about postpartum depression. Michelle Tucker is a stay at home mom to an amazing 5-year-old son. She has been married to her best friend for nearly 7 years. She can often be found outdoors running! Since starting on her journey to a healthy lifestyle she has lost 70 pounds and ran many races including half marathons and her first marathon this past November. You can find her at www.babybluestorunningshoes.blogspot.com as well as @michelle_tucker79 on Instagram and @s_michelle_t on twitter.

I had postpartum depression. I didn’t have the baby blues. I had a very dark period of my life and it was very hard to find my way out. When my son was born I remember being overwhelmed with a sense of needing everything to be perfect. I struggled to breast feed him in the beginning and I think that triggered a lot of my stress. I was determined to be a perfect mother and for me breast-feeding was a big factor in that. So after that didn’t work out I became very focused on making sure I made the right choices and did the right things. So obviously that made things a little stressed! I talked to my OB and was prescribed some medicine.

I took my medicine and felt better. By the time Colton was around two months old I figured that the “postpartum” time should be over and I shouldn’t continue to need medication. It was not my smartest move! That was when my depression really took hold. For the next year I didn’t care about anything except Colton. I didn’t care about my husband or myself.

I got really good at pretending. I would pretend to care that I was very overweight and I would pretend to try to follow Weight Watchers. Then every week I would pretend to be upset that I just wasn’t losing any weight and I would have every excuse for why I was steadily gaining. I would pretend to care when my husband would say something was wrong with me and please talk to him. The bottom line is I just didn’t care. If it didn’t concern Colton then I just didn’t care.

My husband knew I was miserable but he couldn’t help or fix it for me. So when one day he suggested I try running to help me lose weight I said sure. I figured I could pretend to try it and then in a month or so have an excuse for why it wasn’t working and I could quit. But something happened on that first run. I didn’t hate it. Sure I felt awful and I couldn’t run more than 50 feet but when I was done I felt in control for the first time in many months. Between the tears and frustration of not being able to run I was able to see what I had been missing. I was missing out on life. My postpartum depression had made me willing to quit participating in my own life. I was just sitting on the sidelines and not caring what happened to myself.

So I got back out the next day and tried running again. In my head very few things mattered to me anymore but while I was running I was able to see more and more the life I desperately wanted to regain. With every run I felt like I was literally chasing the depression away. Maybe it was the exercise endorphins or maybe it was me finally taking a step to better myself but something changed inside me. So I kept going. I started losing weight but more importantly I found myself again. I cared about me and if I was happy.

Postpartum depression looks different for each person that goes through it. For me it took away my desire to care about myself. I am so thankful each time I get to run that I was able to find something that gave me back myself. It sounds crazy to some people but I know for me running saved me. I don’t know if I would have ever been able to get out of that dark place if I hadn’t taken that first run. Through my journey I learned some very valuable lessons:

1. As moms we need to give ourselves some grace. We can be so hard on ourselves and feel the need to be that “perfect” mom. For me this triggered a lot of stress and created a very hard image to maintain. At the end of the day if you are happy, your baby is happy, and you have a happy family, then you are doing an amazing job.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If I had been willing to talk to someone or admit that I was struggling I could have saved myself so much heartache. There are people in our lives who are more than willing to help. We just have to ask.

3. The power of exercise is an amazing thing. I truly believe that running saved me. Just the act of getting out each day and doing something for myself, no matter how small or how short, felt empowering.

4 Tips on How to Incorporate Kids into Your Workout

February 28, 2014February 28, 20143 Comments

Read this awesome post from Michelle about how to incorporate kids into your workout. I’ve gotten to know Michelle via my mentorship program, and can’t wait to help her take her personal training business to the next level.

My name is Michelle and I am a NETA certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. I love training and teaching aerobics as it gives me the flexibility to be at home with my 3 daughters who are 5, 3, and 4 months. I write about fitness, health, faith, and my family at livefitwomensfitness.com. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter: @livefitfitness and Instagram: @livefitfitness.

I remember after the birth of my first child I panicked. When will I ever have time to workout? What happens when my daughter dosen’t nap as much? At the time I didn’t have a gym membership. I had some free weights, a jogging stroller and a treadmill. At first I utilized nap time and as she began to be awake more during the day I had to become more creative. Health and fitness is such an important part of my husbands and I’s lives we wanted to teach our children that it’s part of our everyday routine and incorporate the kids into our workouts.

It hasn’t always been easy, I have had days in which I wanted to run to the gym while working out at home, winter is always rough and as they have become older we have adjusted into a nice routine.

It usually starts after I feed my four-month old daughter. I prep my five-year old to hit up her workout gear. I tell her it’s almost time to workout. I have it laid out and ready. She has her own little workout tee and pair of shoes. She also has a pair of pink 1 pound weights that she uses all the time while I’m lifting. We have a few old iPods with kid friendly music. She grabs it, I get on my treadmill and she hits play and our workout begins. She listens to her music and I listen to my headphones on my treadmill while she runs around our basement. Usually while she is running I cheer her on, count on your mark get set go and pretend she is in a real life race. She absolutely loves it and so does my three-year old. After the cardio comes the weights. My daughter often asks mom can you be our workout teacher (I teach aerobics) and we practice counting a lot during this time. I explain little things about why we lift, run and eat healthy. We even have a little workout handshake. It seems as over time this has become such a habit and part of our everyday routine. My children believe it or not actually help me on days when I’m feeling unmotivated. They say mom are we gonna workout? Great little accountability partners! Here are my favorite four tips and tricks to incorporating kids into your workout:

1.Pick up some gear for your kids. I love my workout clothes and if you checked my closet I probably have more than normal clothing! My daughter was always trying to wear my tank tops and running shoes. She would change constantly during my workout and interrupt it. That’s when I got her a little running tank, shoes and a headband. While she gets changed I prepare for my workout and it gives me a chance to get my thoughts together about what I am going to do for my cardio and weight routine. I have some toy bins in the basement that are an assortment of different toys then upstairs and that’s usually were the kids head after they lose interest.

2. Use it as a learning experience. I was a runner in college and would love for my girls to become runners. I would never push a sport on them and want them to choose freely and have an idea of different ways to engage in sports and working out. Find a local park or running trail. We often go for run in the jogging stroller and the girls get to watch soccer practices, softball, cross-country, track and various other sports practicing and we talk about how each sport is different and someday they can pick what they like the best. I often take them to the local track in town and we look at the shapes on the track, count the numbers on both the track and football field. They bring a little ball and kick it around and run the track while I run sprint repeats, perform plyometric drills, and stretch.

3. Have fun with them. I always tell them first we will go for our stroller ride and get mommy’s workout done and then we will play on the playground. I remind myself it’s not gonna look picture perfect and the least I can do on some days if they aren’t feeling the workout is just let them get out and play. If we are at home I will end up do a quick HITT routine or three 10 minute segments of jumping jacks,push-ups, planks, and sit-ups in my living room while they crawl all over me.

4. Find a local gym. I have my days were I workout at home with my children, days were we go to the park or track to run and days when I teach and attend classes at a local gym. This has been so much fun for my children because they have met friends(while they stay in the child watch) and we often have play dates after we are all done working out. I call these ladies my fitness friends and we swap recipes, workout ideas and these women are great accountability and support in my life!

I hope this has left you feeling encouraged in moments were you feel discouraged from the interruptions from diapers, bottles, and preparing lunch for kids in the middle of your workout. Give it a few weeks and you will find a routine that will work out for you and your children.

Balanced & Healthy Life Tips

February 5, 20141 Comment

I love this fit mom guest blogger post from Daniella. She is a great gal and I look forward to getting to know her more.

Fit mom guest blogger, Daniella.

Hi Fit Pregnancy & Parenting Readers!

I’m so excited Amanda invited me to share some of my Fit Mama tips with you. My name is Daniella and I blog over at The Merfett about life as a Mama, and working in the film/tv business. I live in Burbank, CA with my hubby – Merfman, and we have a pretty awesome tiny human, Merfbaby.

I’m still a new Mama, and I’ve only been at this parenting thing since July 2013 – but I’m learning how to keep my life balanced and healthy. I played NCAA water polo, so as an athlete I know that being active is a big part of my mental health too.

As parents we learn how to plan and anticipate the needs of our kiddos, right? It’s so important that we do the same for us! Here are some easy ways I keep my life balanced and healthy:

Merfbaby 🙂

Meal Plan and Prep – It’s not a totally new idea, but it’s a life (and time) changer! Since my husband also works in the film/tv business I’m often eating dinner solo 4 -5 times a week. Cooking for one is never fun, and if I don’t plan and prep I often end up having Peanut Butter toast for dinner. Oops. Spend a few moments a week planning out meals – make a list of your weekly basics and build your menu from there. Mine include: ground turkey, organic chicken breasts, free range eggs, season veggies and fruit. I also make sure to keep some pasta and brown rice on hand. After I get home from shopping I do my prep – wash and chop fruits/veggies and bake my chicken.
Hands Free Cooking – Having kids means you don’t always get to do things with two hands. Especially when a certain tiny human is having a fussy day. So I make my kitchen do the work for me! I love my rice cooker and I’ll use it at lease once a week to make a batch of brown rice. Crock pots are a parent’s BFF. I’m a huge fan of using them on the weekend so I can spend more time with my family. And my biggest hands free cooking tip – roasting! Grilled chicken is my go-to protein, but I don’t often have time to babysit a pan of chicken on the stove. So – I season them with some olive oil, salt and pepper and cook at 350 for 20 – 30 min checking to make sure they are cooked through. You can also roast veggies: broccoli, carrots, brussel sprouts – you name it!
Move Daily – I try to get in at least 20 min of activity a day. I was a regular at the gym before having a baby – but since childcare wouldn’t take an infant, and I rarely have someone to babysit I found other ways to exercise. Sometimes it’s a few laps through the neighborhood with the jogging stroller, or a quick session on my spin bike at home during naptime. I have a yoga mat, exercise ball and some dumbbells that I can use for a strength workout too.
Take Care of You – I know that I’m a better wife and Mama when I try to take a little time for myself. Often, exercise is my “me” time to think and clear my head. Sometimes it’s reading or taking a bath. Whatever helps recharge you – try to make time for that.

What Eating for Two Really Means

October 5, 20132 Comments

I am thrilled to feature Jessica Oliva as a fit mom guest blogger. She has a great perspective and I think you’ll really enjoy her post.

My name is Jessica and I am a wife and stay at home mom to my 20-month-old son, Philip. We are expecting our second baby in early December! I am also so excited to be studying for my personal training license through NASM.

I am passionate about fitness and healthy eating and think both are essential for women to be healthy and the best possible care providers for their families. I started my blog, Fit Mama 4 Life, to help motivate women to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to discuss topics in my everyday life such as pregnancy, parenting, healthy eating and fitness that I know other moms can relate to.

I cringe when I hear women say, “I’m pregnant. I can eat whatever I want.” While it’s easier to justify eating poorly when you can say, “the baby wanted it,” it is now, more than ever, a vital time to eat as healthy as possible for the proper development of your growing baby.

Before I begin I have to mention a few no-brainers. First, taking a prenatal vitamin is necessary each day. Also, drink water, LOTS of water. I aim to drink 60 ounces per day. It’s a challenge for me but so important! Go buy a huge water bottle and bring it EVERYWHERE you go.

Eating when you’re pregnant shouldn’t be that different from your normal diet with a few tweaks, but this is assuming you are eating clean and avoiding processed foods, but let’s face it, most Americans do not. Your prenatal diet, much like your normal diet, should be well-balanced.

A diet high in protein is essential (70 g per day), especially in the third trimester for your baby’s brain, which is rapidly growing at this point. An abundance of fruits and vegetables are necessary to nourish you and your baby with vitamins and minerals. Dairy is key in providing calcium and Vitamin D for healthy bone, muscle and heart growth in your baby. Whole grains are sources of iron, magnesium and Vitamin B that provide energy for your baby’s development and helps build the placenta.

As for how many additional calories you should eat, most resources say 300-400 additional calories per day depending on how far along you are and if you were underweight or overweight to begin with. However, my rule of thumb is to listen to my body and to eat when I’m hungry – but nutritious food that is.

Here are a few meal and snack options to get you started:

Breakfast:
Oatmeal or steel cut oats with cinnamon and fresh mixed berries (I usually do strawberries and blueberries)
2 whole grain waffles with sliced banana and strawberries
Scrambled eggs (1 whole egg and 2 egg whites) with a whole wheat bagel thin with avocado spread on top
Non-fat Greek yogurt (I buy Fage with the fruit, but only use half of the fruit) with low fat granola and half a banana
Cereal (Kashi/Raisin Bran) with skim milk and bananas or berries

Lunch:

Salad with chicken breast (garbanzo beans, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and whatever cheese I have in the house) and apple slices with peanut butter
Tuna on whole wheat toast and fruit
*It’s important to watch your mercury intake while pregnant so I only have tuna once in a while
Roasted chicken breast (not deli meat, I buy it from Trader Joe’s pre-packaged) on a whole wheat bagel thin with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato and avocado

Dinner:

*Since there are so many options you can mix and match one choice from each category.

Protein:

Chicken breast
Tilapia/cod/haddock
Shrimp
Ground turkey
Lean Beef

Grain/Starch:

Sweet potato
Quinoa
Brown rice
Whole grain/gluten-free pasta
Butternut squash

Vegetables

Spinach
Kale
Green beans
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Carrots

Snacks:

Hummus with pretzels, carrots or pita chips
Almonds
Cheese and whole wheat crackers
Apple slices with natural peanut or almond butter
Larabar
Protein Shake (almond milk, almond butter, frozen berries, one scoop of chocolate whey protein powder)
Non-fat Greek yogurt with fresh fruit

Now I have to mention a few obstacles to eating a well-balanced diet when pregnant. In the first trimester 2/3 of women experience nausea and vomiting. It is hard to keep anything down, never mind trying to eat a balanced diet. Eat what you can, even if its only broth, crackers or toast, and stay hydrated.

Another obstacle is crazy pregnancy cravings. Remember, I’m in this with you so I totally get it! What I try to do to fulfill my craving is to replace it with a similar but healthier option. For example, if I’m craving chocolate I’ll slice some strawberries and bananas and top them with two teaspoons of Nutella. If I’m craving ice cream I’ll opt for frozen yogurt with chopped nuts, fruit or a few chocolate chips. Now don’t get me wrong, occasionally I will cheat and have what I really want but only a small amount. However, it’s not okay to eat a sleeve of Oreos or a quart of ice cream!

Proper nutrition is so important for a healthy pregnancy and baby, and that’s what eating for two really means .

*Please keep in mind that I am not a nutritionist and I am having a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy. Your doctor might recommend a better diet for your specific situation.

Reconciling the “Mommy Body”

September 7, 20138 Comments

I am thrilled to feature Joanna as a fit mom featured blogger. I met Joanna via Instagram and have enjoyed getting to know her through photos. I’m sure you will enjoy her post about reconciling the “Mommy Body.”

Hello! I’m Joanna from Makingmine – a twenty-something newlywed, mama to Eleanor, and Westie lover. My blog is about continuing to learn and grow while striving for a greener, healthier, more well-rounded life. Visit Makingmine for posts about fitness, motherhood, and my creative endeavors! Follow me on Twitter @joannamurnan and like Makingmine on Facebook!

I remember the moment well. I was lying in the hospital bed and had just handed my beautiful newborn daughter off to my husband. I looked down, and for the first time in months, I saw a flat belly. The bump was gone!

As you may guess, that feeling of satisfaction didn’t last long. The minute I stood up, that once flat belly slumped over like a deflated balloon. At that moment I would have given anything to have my cute little baby bump, but with my baby in my arms, there was no turning back. I now officially had a “mommy body.”

Joanna and her beautiful baby girl.

Reconciling my new body with the image of who I thought I should be was a difficult process. I knew what I looked like before I had a baby. I even accepted what I looked like pregnant. But post-baby Joanna was totally new to me, and I didn’t care for her too much.

I truly believe that with healthy choices throughout pregnancy and a commitment to fitness post-baby, new moms can achieve their goals. Amanda is a testament to this fact. Even though I knew this, I still struggled to imagine that the pudgy body in the mirror could ever be anything else. In my first 2 months postpartum, I learned three valuable lessons in accepting my “mommy body” while working toward the body I desire.

1. Move forward.

Healthy living is a journey, and like any journey, you can only go forward. It did me no good to look back at old pictures or try on bikinis I knew wouldn’t fit yet (yes, I did this). Instead of looking at where I’d been, I needed to look at where I wanted to go. I needed to embrace my mommy body as a new starting point from where I could go anywhere I want.

2. Make your goals action oriented.

For me this meant saying, “I want to run a 5k in 24 minutes” instead of “I want to lose 15 pounds.” My 5k goal will undoubtedly help me lose the unwanted weight, but this simple change mindset has been vital in maintaining a positive self-image. Forget the scale, take the pressure off your body, and focus instead on your achievements. I don’t want my pre-baby body anyways. I want to be stronger!

3. Recognize what’s beyond your control.

No, I’m not suggesting you throw in the towel and give up. There’s a difference between making an excuse and making an exception. You may need to accept that maybe your clothes don’t fit because nursing has your chest triple its normal size. Or perhaps you just can’t get back into running yet because healing is taking longer than expected. Be flexible.

When all else fails, look at that precious baby in your arms and realize that no matter where your fitness journey takes you or how long until your back in your favorite pair of jeans, that body of yours did something incredibly special. You should be proud!

What suggestions would you have for a mom coming to grips with her body?

What’s your experience getting back into fitness postpartum?

Is It Back to School Time Already?

August 20, 2013August 20, 20132 Comments

Melanie and her fit family.

I am thrilled to feature Melanie as a fit mom guest blogger on my site. Read Melanie’s perspective on back to school time. Learn more about Melanie on her blog, seemommyrace.com, and her Facebook page.

Get out your hand sanitizers mommy, the kids are going back to school!

My first thought for back to school is back to normal schedules, kids in school, I’ll be able to get more workouts in! We get to be a little bit too lax here in the summer months. Kids staying up too late, which of course means mom is staying up too late, and then not wanting to get up early to work out, and we all know that if it doesn’t happen in the morning, sometimes it doesn’t happen at all!

So pretty soon it is back to it! Back to early bedtimes, early wake up times, get ready, hurry hurry, eat breakfast, get out the door, don’t forget your backpack again! AND back to getting on a regular workout schedule, at least that’s what I keep telling myself the plan is….

Do you have a new workout plan for back to school?

Or does your routine stay the same throughout the year?

My kids are still little so I am not completely free. My 2 oldest are going to be in school full time, but my youngest is starting pre-school and will only go 2 days a week. I am hoping to start going to the gym (they have a great childcare) while everyone is at school but my youngest, and possibly run on the 2 days she is in school. I used to run in the evenings after my husband got home from work, and didn’t really ever do any other kind of workouts. While I will definitely miss them when they are away all day, I am appreciative to have the option to get things done during the day. Also as the kids get older, weeknights and weekends fill up with their sports and other activities. If I worked full-time outside of the home like lots of women do, I would have to find other time. Possibly getting up at the crack of dawn to run, and go to the gym on my lunch hour. They say there is always a way to make the time for something that you really want to do if you want it bad enough!

How does your kids schedule affect when you are able to work out?

Is it easier for you, or harder, to balance taking care of yourself and your family when the kids are back in school?

That brings me to the next “back to school” planning idea. Meal Prep! For me, meal planning is pretty easy in the summer. I go to the store with a 1/2 planned list, because if I forget something, no big deal, I’ll just go back in a couple days. During the school year, time is precious. I will have to start planning ahead every day, and shopping for everything I’ll need for family dinner, kids school lunches, and quick early morning breakfasts. There are tons of great ideas online for planning meals for a week at a time or more, crock pot meals, or make ahead and freeze meals. (Who LOVES Pinterest? This girl LOVES Pinterest!!!) I seriously would have the most boring bland food if it weren’t for the internet, there are SO MANY OPTIONS! I have found that planning the meals to a T is the best way to keep your diet on track. If I don’t have a plan for what I am making (and the right items to put it together), I’ll end up ordering a pizza or eating frozen chicken nuggets, yuck! Now that we are getting back to our routine, I definitely plan to make more “doubles” of our meals, and freezing a batch for another week. Our crock pot also gets a lot of use, since then the meal is essentially ready when you are. On the days that both my husband and I workout in the evening, we would eat at different times, and when I have something in the crock pot, I also get to have a hot dinner ready, hours after they have all eaten. (Although I am hoping to resolve this by getting my own workout in during the day so we can all eat together!)

How do you plan your family meals?

Are you able to all sit together, or are the after school activities too crazy?

Alright moms! Now that we have a plan in place (or maybe, a plan to make a plan?!?!) lets get to work and kick off the school year the “FIT” way! Happy healthy moms taking care of happy healthy kids makes everyone !

What to Eat While Pregnant

June 7, 2013Leave a comment

I am pleased to feature Kishana Sainte as a fit mom guest blogger. Read Kishana’s article on “What to Eat While Pregnant.”

Are you pregnant? If you are expecting a new addition to your family, this is an incredibly exciting time of life. Not only is this a time of change, love and family, but it is also a time for looking after your health and making sure that you are doing what is needed to help your baby be a bundle of joy.

One of the best ways that you can help your baby and yourself stay healthy during the pregnancy is to eat healthy. How? Continue reading to learn more on what to eat while pregnant…

Vegetables and Fruit: when it comes to eating that which the earth has provided for us, consuming plentiful amounts of organic fruits and vegetables is of high importance. A growing mom should eat around five portions of fruits and vegetables each day. You can consume these in various forms including juicing, dried, frozen, canned, or fresh. Although it may take more time to prepare fresh produce, fresh fruits and vegetables do contain a higher vitamin and nutrient content. Also, juices can be high in sugar content, so if possible, try to always eat the fresh variety when applicable.

Healthy Protein: for ladies that are supporting an unborn fetus, you are burning through your calories like there is no tomorrow. To help keep energy levels high and to give your baby growing power try to consume healthy protein. What does that mean exactly? Consume animal-sourced proteins such as chicken, fish, lean beef, and eggs. If you are vegetarian or vegan, try getting your protein in the form of Quinoa, tofu, beans, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, nut butter and soy products.

Calcium: Calcium is of high importance for pregnant ladies. To get your daily allotments try consuming foods such as low-fat milk, organic cheese, or Greek yoghurt. For those that live a vegan lifestyle, you can get your calcium in foods such as soybeans, bok choy, broccoli, collards, mustard greens, kale as well as calcium infused soy milk and tofu.

Fiber: Super important for pregnant ladies, as it assists with regular bowel moments, fiber also helps you avoid obesity, constipation and hemorrhoids. To get your fill of fiber try eating foods that are made with whole grains. Other foods that offer fiber include wild rice, whole grain pasta, vegetables and fruit. Try to have at least one meal be focused on fiber, such as a salad for lunch or whole grain toast for breakfast.

About Kishana

Kishana Sainte writes on health and lifestyle, as well as diet and fitness articles on behalf of MyDocHub.com, a trusted online doctor reviews and medical information website.

Fit Pregnancy and Parenting

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