Fit Momma Gift List: Workout DVD's

This holiday season, the best gifts for  Fit Mommas are options.  Occasionally, OK all the time, our very well intentioned workout plans don't go according to plan.  Since I'm the mother of three loose cannons (a.k.a. my kids), I need back up plans A through Z.

When it comes to options, quality workout DVD's are a mother's best friend.

My favorites right now are some of Beachbody's hot sellers:

P90X

P90X+

Insanity 

Since I'm such a huge gym aficionado, I really don't collect a ton of home workout DVD's.  I only have them there if I am desperate and need them in a pinch.  However, some of you workout exclusively at home and have developed quite an impressive library of your favorites.  From what I hear on the street, some other great workout DVD's are:

Cathe Friedrich -- she has a lot of good stuff

Jilian Michaels - 30 Day Shred

ChaLean by Beachbody

Turbo Jam by Beachbody

These DVD's are just the tip of the iceberg, friends.  There is an entire wonderful world out there of workout DVD's.  The trick is getting ones that actually make you work, sweat, burn some calories, and raise your heart rate.

OK, Fit Mommas, what are your favorite workout DVD's?  I know many of you use these daily -- share with us WHAT WORKS!  

Fit Momma Gift List:

Heart Rate Monitor

Adjustable Dumbbells

Gym Membership

Shoes

Workout Clothes

"Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall

Resistance Bands

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Fit Momma Wish List: Jump Rope

Well, the days of shopping are numbered and I'm sure you are crossing items off your gift list left and right.  If your family is like mine, without a little "direction" I end up getting whatever Walgreens has displayed next to the register.  You deserve better than that!  So do I, that's why I always try to leave some heavy hints as far as what to I'd like to see under the tree.

Here's an idea for a Fit Momma: a jump rope.  Yep, I'm serious.  A jump rope.

I love jump ropes!

Since you are thinking it, I'll just go ahead and say it: some of of us pee our pants when we jump.  Whew.  It's out in the open now.  Hello, it's no wonder...  We've had babies and often slight, or not so slight, leaking problems emerge as a result.

If your issues are pretty constant and quite a problem, then just move on from this post.  A jump rope is not for you.  Stick with the non-jumping workouts (swimming, cycling, elliptical, stair master, weight lifting, etc.).

However, if you don't have big issues with wet pants (nothing that wearing black pants can't hide) then pay attention!

Jump ropes are the perfect way to add in some HIIT work to your cardio workouts at home or at the gym.  If you are plugging away on the elliptical (or any other cardio machine), step off, jump rope for a minute or two or five, then go back to the machine.  Just alternate like this for 30-45 minutes and you've got yourself a fantastico cardio workout that just blasted through some awesome calories thanks to that jump rope.

Jump ropes are also a great addition to a weight lifting workout.  I love to throw a little bit of crazy into each set of exercises, and sometimes I break out with the jump rope for a few minutes in between sets.  Again, it gets the heart rate up, sweat is a flying, and I've blasted through some additional calories.

I, personally, like the 9-foot, cheap jump ropes with a rubber or plastic "rope" (like the one pictured here).  No bells and whistles, just light and no nonsense.  If it is too long, I just wind it around my hands.  Also, the rope needs to be able to rotate within the handles so the rope doesn't get all twisted.  THAT is annoying.  This one looks pretty standard.

The kids bought me a weighted jump rope that has weights in the handles and a fancy schmancy leather "rope".  I never use it.  Just keeping the jump rope going around and around is a challenge enough in itself.  Because of this I never want additional weight involved since it just makes me mess up all the time.  Then I start growling and cursing at myself under my breath and want to throw the weighted jump rope in the garbage.  To avoid that ridiculous situation, I use an unweighted jump rope.

As a women, I think the gift of "options" is what we all need this holiday season.  A jump rope offers a great, affordable option to change things up a little at home or at the gym.

Happy jumping!

Fit Momma Gift List:

Heart Rate Monitor

Adjustable Dumbbells

Gym Membership

Shoes

Workout Clothes

"Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall

Resistance Bands

Jump Rope

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TM Mix It Up Video: Total Body Crunch

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How to Find an Awesome Personal Trainer

Man, oh man!

Don't forget about the Pottery Barn $100 Giveaway that ends tonight!

And be sure to enter the $50 to Belleza Mia Jewelry (2 winners!) that will end tomorrow night.

When it comes to personal trainers, I am picky. We all should be. I mean, hello, it is our money and our time. I have had the very good fortune to work with some amazing personal trainers throughout the years, some long term and some short term.

I’ve only worked with one doosy. When I told him I was newly pregnant he frowned and informed me that I was “ruining a masterpiece”. Not the best thing to say to a pregnant girl. Needless to say, that was the last time I worked with him.

A few things to look for in a personal trainer:

Certified
First and foremost, your trainer MUST be certified. Don’t even consider paying someone a dime if they haven’t invested their money and time to becoming legit. There are several respectable personal training certifications they can use:

NASM (the best in my opinion)
ACE
ISSA
AFPA
and there are many more.

Experience
Do not pick the trainer who just graduated high school and is just doing this job to get through college. You need someone who has “been there, done that” for a bit longer.

They Understand Women
DO NOT go to the muscle head with the bulging veins and muscles, who wears only ripped t-shirts and who is going to have you lift 60 lb dumbbells over your head. You need someone who is safely going to push and challenge you, but not injure you.

More Than a Rep Counter
You already know how to count to 15, thank you very much. You need someone who is really going to think through your workouts and be much, much more than someone who just counts your reps. They need to be prepared, keep you on a sound lifting schedule, and throw new stuff at you all the time. If they never use new equipment but are stuck in the 1980’s, move on. You need lots of variety and change.

Professional
Your trainer needs to be on time. Your trainer needs to have their cell phone out of sight. Your trainer needs to be writing down, or allowing you to write down, your workout. They need to be focused on you and your form and not getting caught up in the gym meat market social scene. They need to not be flexing their own muscles in the mirror (I’ve seen this happen). They need to be respectful of you and others and just plain nice.

OK, now that you know what to look for, how do you find them?  Here are some tried and true tactics to finding an awesome personal trainer:

Spy
Turn on your 007 and spy on trainers as they are working out other clients. This is their best advertisement. If they are writing down what their client is doing, if they are correcting form, not chatting too much, and totally focused on the client, take note.  That just might be the one.

Referrals
Listen to your girlfriends. They often will work with a trainer who is rocking their world. Ask if you can do a group training session with them or just come and watch. Or, if your friend trustworthy and at a similar fitness level, just take her word for it.

Ask for a Free Session
Some trainers do this and others are so busy they just can’t. Tell them you are interested in hiring a trainer and ask if they would offer you free a trial session. You may get lucky or you may not. If not, a safe bet is to hire them for one session before you commiting yourself to a long term package deal.

Walking Advertisement
Your dentist should have the most stunning set of choppers out there, right? It’s the same for trainers: if they are serious about other’s fitness habits, they will be even more vigilant about their own. We trainers are our own best or worst advertisement. If you see a trainer who is at the desk in between clients, drinking a 64 oz of Coke and downing Krispy Kremes -- that is your cue to walk the other way. Some trainers may disagree with me, but personally, I am much more interested in listening to my trainer if they are in fantastic shape themselves and if I actually see them working out. I don't expect perfection, just someone who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk.

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On The Road Again...

Twelve hours later, I'm here.

Yep, it's that time of year for the kids and I to hit the road.  Basically, once we get out of Texas, we're here.  Man, that is one enormous state.

After sitting all day yesterday on my rumpus, driving, listening to this incredible story, single-handedly dolling the out snacks, water, and DVD's while driving with the other hand -- I was restless and itching to move this morning.  I laced up the Newtons and hit the road to explore this little town I've been away from too long.  Guess what I found?

BLEACHERS! 

Today I'm grateful for 65° degree AZ weather, an empty track and bleachers built in 1963.  They made the my day of sedentariness melt away with every step.  

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Fit Momma Question: Active Holiday Traditions?

Fit Momma Jen sent this question over recently.  Her husband has recently dropped some weight and they are trying to navigate the upcoming holidays:

The holidays are coming up...  Do you have traditions that aren't food related?  Traditions are really important to me, but so is supporting my husband in his weight loss and having a healthy family. So, any suggestions?

Suggestions?  Me?  ABSOLUTELY!

Before I jump into them, I must stress that these activities HAVE to be scheduled in to your busy week.  Whether you spend the holidays with extended family or not, putting some active traditions on the calendar will make sure you don't get buried with all the cooking, shopping, and sports watching.

Another thing I adore about active traditions is that they typically are free or very low cost.  With the holidays and all the money that is being sucked away during that time, this is quite a nice relief for the pocketbook.

Some things our family is doing or has done over the holidays:

Family Hikes
Over the years I've found several kid-friendly hikes back home.  My kids look forward to doing them every holiday season when we return home to AZ.  We always invite cousins to come and we have a little party on the mountain (it's really a hill, but don't tell them that :).

Grown-up Hikes
I've already gotten the emails from my sister arranging the time and date of the adult-level hike.  These are quite more challenging and totally a blast to do with siblings.  We leave the kiddos with a sitter during nap time then hit the mountain for a few hours.  Heaven on earth.

Family Bike Rides
The day after Thanksgiving my sister and her family have invited us for years to join them on their family bike ride.  If the kids can ride and hang with the crew, great.  If not, we break out with the bike carriers and baby seats. They have an easy ride that takes us to some fun parts of town.  The kids feel as accomplished as Lance Armstrong winning his seventh, I swear.

Grown-up Bike Rides
Last year the Doc and I joined my BIL and a few other hundred riders for an early morning 40-mile bike ride.  It was challenging (for me, not for my BIL or the Doc) and we torched through a ton of calories.  It was the perfect set up for Thanksgiving day:  we could eat and sleep and not feel one ounce of guilt about it.

Turkey Trot
A few members of my extended family got together last year and put together their own Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  They were sick of the entry fees and long drives to the local Turkey Trot, so they made their own.  Brilliant!  They mapped out a 1 mile fun run, a 5K and a 10K route and opened it up to all of us.  I plan on running in it this year and am looking forward to the finish line with my kids and family cheering me on.

Family Walk
In our family we are dealing with babies, nursing moms and kids of all ages.  This year we've decided to check out a Riparian Preserve nearby my parents house for an interesting walk.

Dance-Off
This deserves an entire blog of its own, but I will try to explain briefly.  I come from a clan of dancers and years ago -- I'm talking at least 20 -- my cousins started a "Dance-Off" in their living room.  Basically you bring your music, best dance moves, and maybe a costume to the floor and slap them down for all to see.  It has grown into something so big and crazy I cannot begin to do it justice (there are some very incriminating pictures out there of me from Dance-Offs of yesteryear, I'm sure :).  We do this on a smaller level at home all the time.  My kids beg to have family Dance-Offs and they are a huge hit every time.

Family Olympics
My mother and I are in the middle of planning our family's first annual Family Olympics for the evening before Thanksgiving.  We have events for the kids, for the grown ups, and family events.  When we pull it off, I will definitely share the details.  In a nutshell, we are making it participation based and the kid events are open to all ages (if they can walk, they can participate).  Everyone will get a medal from the Olympic Officials (Grandma and Grandpa).  Every family is bringing a family cheer to perform.  It should be a ton of fun and get us all moving before the turkey, stuffing, and pie hit us the next day.

Some more ideas:
Family kickball, basketball, football, soccer (you get the picture) game
Roller Skating
Ice Skating
Snow skiing
Snow shoeing
Sledding
Roller blading
Bowling
Musical Chairs
Limbo Contest

Hey Fit Mommas, what active traditions do you enjoy with your family over the holidays?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

Related Posts:
More "Fit Momma Question" Posts
Kid-Friendly Hikes
Hiking
Great Holiday!

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Trainer Momma Mix It Up Video: Walking Planks

These are a bowl of fun :)



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Keeping It Together During the Holidays

Last day to get in on the $75.00 to Pampered Chef Giveaway!  Enter here.

We’ve done it a million times:

November hits and days get colder, shorter and more rushed. The workouts start getting lost in the shuffle along with the healthy snacks.   By December, you're eating dinner from a goodie plate your neighbor gave you and the weights are a distant memory.

Just in case you're on the fence, let's take a look at the case for letting it all go and blowing it or keeping it together over the holidays.

The case for letting it all go:

This was our butter at last year's Arizona Thanksgiving.
We were sweating through our shirts.

The Food
Oh man, where do I begin? The homemade rolls, stuffing, butter, bacon, and pie tables for starters.  Then, without coming up for air, we are faced with hand dipped chocolates, plates of green wreaths made from corn flakes and marshmallows, gingerbread houses, shortbread cookies, huge tins of carmel popcorn, and the greatest Christmas tree sugar cookies on the planet.

I have 56 hours of this view coming up.

The Stress
Stress is sky high during the next 7-8 weeks. Some of us have some serious traveling ahead. The gift list is longer than last year and of course money is tighter than last year. Deadlines at work are looming.  Then of course, the cherry on top is full of a few long lasting viruses and rolled in bacteria.  Lovely.

Time
There is simply too much to fit in such a short amount of time. The church parties, work parties, school parties, gifts for neighbors and friends, music programs to see, a matinee of the Nutcracker, a few sports tournaments for the teenager, caroling, shopping, and wrapping.  And whom has to get all this done?  Take one look in the mirror. You’re lookin’ at her, sister.

Whew! It sounds like we should all just pack up the the Asiscs and head to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts. I mean, let's be realistic, right?

Just hear me out...

My simple case for “keeping it together”:

We will be able to handle all of the above mentioned -- the food, the stress, the time constraints -- a million times better.

A daily dose of exercise will help us keep our heads above water and give us that boost of energy we desperately need for the  next few months.

Eating well will help cut down on cravings and help us make better food choices.

We sleep better because our body has worked hard.  Plus, the stomach isn’t doing back flips like it would if we would have eaten 6 of those cinnamon rolls like last year.

And for some weird reason I cannot explain, when I take the time to eat right and keep my workouts up -- I seem to have more time. It somehow manufactures time.  How does that happen?  Odd, I know. I tend to think I’m more productive and hit the ground running thanks to sticking with the healthy habits.

Remember:  

This is who we are and not just something we are doing.  

That equates to all 12 months out of the year.

My #1 argument for trying and “keeping it together” over the holidays:

If you can do this during the holidays, you can do this ANYTIME.

So, gals.  Let's buckle down and stick with the schedule.  It will pay off BIG TIME come January 1st, I promise :)

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Trainer Momma Video: Walking Workout

Alright, you asked for it you go it!

Some of you are serious about your walking, but want to take it up a notch without adding impact.

This Walking Workout is for you.

As a bonus, you will get a lot of cat calls while doing it, trust me :)

Seriously though, it is good stuff.


For those of you who need the link to view the video, here it is:  Walking Workout

Now, go flap!  I had a SIL would could flap for 45 minutes solid, no joke.  Let's just say I never challenged her to an arm wrestling contest.

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Fit Momma Question: Injured?

With marathon season upon us, I found this question very timely. Fit Momma Melanie sent it in:

I have for the first time started having knee pain during and after my runs.  Any ideas on how to combat it?  I have a race in December and I really don't want to stop running!

Although Melanie asked specifically about knee pain, I want to broaden her question slightly and open it up to all injuries.

What to do when something hurts?

This is not my hand.
I haven't had nails like that since 1993.

First of all, ask yourself if is it an injury? Or is it just discomfort?

Injury 

Sharp, stabbing pain in a very specific area. 

Think butcher knife to the affected area.  

The torment is affecting your performance and every day life.

Discomfort  

 Every part of your brain is screaming at you to stop, but there is really nothing wrong, you just don’t like it very much.

Think about a trip to the dentist.

Lots of discomfort.

I recently struggled with an annoying injury.  I didn't handle it well.  And then I did:

A year ago, I was battling a bum shoulder.  For years I had twinges of pain in my right shoulder when I lifted weights and when swimming laps. I took the "I'm-too-busy-for-this" approach, shook it off and kept pushing through it.

The pain was quiet at first, but then became louder. And louder. Then it was screaming at me all. the. time.

The shoulder pain became chronic. Every time I worked my shoulders I would get to a point I could barely lift up my right arm. Then, I would aggravate it further when lifting chest (I quickly discovered those two muscle groups are very closely related). I would massage it a little, ice it a little, then go back and injure it all over again. I did this for months. I felt like I was digging a hole straight to nowhere.   I was relegated to using only my left arm are for carrying infant carriers, kids, and groceries.

It was cramping my style, big time.

It took a good friend and fellow personal trainer to set me on the right path. I was complaining to him of my shoulder/rotator cuff issues. I asked him for advice.

“You’ve got to stop, Mandi," he casually said.

“Like, stop what exactly?” I asked. Talking too much? Chewing gum? Checking my email too often? What bad habit was he referring to?

“You’ve got to absolutely lay off your shoulders for about a month. Then see how you feel.”

Well, that was a novel idea.  Minus the 4-6 weeks or so after giving birth(s), I had never not lifted a muscle group for that long.

And it scared the crap out of me.

I had sacrificed sleeping in, being showered when I dropped my kids off at school, tons of chocolate cake, and graham crackers for years in order to get to where I wanted fitness wise.

Would I lost everything I had worked for?  Would my shoulders get weak and flabby? Or even worse, just nonexistent like one of those runway models at the New York Fashion week?

I stepped back, took a few breathes and decided to think rationally:

Pain meant something was wrong.  I was doing the same thing over and over and was expecting different results.  The path I was on, overworking my injured shoulder, was leading me to a place I most definitely did not want to go -- permanent injury.

In order to move forward, I had to stop.

So, I did it. I timed it over the holidays. I kept up with my cardio and lifted all my muscle groups minus the shoulders and chest.

I also went to a physical therapist and got some exercises to strengthen those little tiny muscles in my rotator cuff that were driving me to the loony bin.

After one month of rest and doing my PT exercises, I started lifting chest again, but very light.

Eventually, I added in some very light shoulder work.

It took about 2 months, but I finally, FINALLY, could lift my arm back over my head. I could swim without pain. I could do shoulder press and flies with no pain. I could do push ups with no pain.

Trainer Momma was back in full force!

And today?  I still baby my shoulders and never go crazy with the heavy weights.  I work them out regularly and responsibly.

Some basic steps when dealing with an injury:

Stop.
First and foremost, just stop. Don’t push through the pain. In this arena, this kind of pain means NO gain.  I’m here to tell you it is officially not worth it. If you are training for an upcoming event, just remember THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE RACES. But, there are not always more knees/shoulders/feet etc. for the taking.

Rest
Give your shoulders, knees, hips, lower back, pinky toe -- whatever is in pain -- some rest. That typically doesn’t mean everything workout wise has to come to a screeching halt, but just rest that injury and modify accordingly.  I still did plenty of cardio, lifted my arms, back, legs, and abs during my "rehab" months.

See a Pro
Evaluate if you need to head to the doctor immediately. Be smart, my friend. This is not the time to win the "Martyr of the Year" award. You may need a little help from your doctor for a diagnosis, or a physical therapist to get you back into fighting shape.

Easy Does It
When you have the OK from your doc or PT, you don't have to compete for the gold medal immediately.  Gradually build your strength and endurance.  Only run a few miles at first or only lift very light weights. Since your body has enjoyed a little R&R, it is wise to gently work your way back to where you were.  Also, perhaps you have to find new ways to lift that muscle or learn new techniques in your sport.  Being open to change can also lead to improvement.

As you know, I am no Doc.  But I can say this in caps:  BE REALLY SMART.  Sometimes just working harder is not the answer.  You've also got to work smarter.

How about you, Fit Mommas?  How have you handled injuries?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

I adore the questions!  Since I don't know how to sew any cute Halloween costumes, I love to hear from you.  Send any questions, comments or feedback my way.  

Related Posts
Sick?
Surgery?
Headaches?
My Knees Hurt
See Me Run
More Fit Momma Posts

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Trainer Momma Mix It Up Video: Jump Ups

Fit Momma Jen requested more "Mix It Up" craziness for her workouts.  I happily obliged.



Give it a try!

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Have You Tried This? Hiking

I feel such relief that it is not 100 degrees outside, but somewhat panicked for those of you who are nearing your winter weather.

Which would explain somewhat why I feel such an urge to hike NOW.

I posted recently about kid friendly hikes.

And trail running.

Those are fine and good, however, there are hikes.  And then there are HIKES.  

At the clever age of 16, I swore off hiking after winning the "worst-hiking-experience-in-the-history-of-the-Grand-Canyon" award.  That is an entirely different post and I still have some anger management issues surrounding that trip.  I'd better steer clear of that memory today...

When we found out we were moving to Texas, a.k.a. The Hill Country, I quickly discovered I would not have access to mountains.  I was living at the base of several killer mountains at the time and had lived within driving distance of mountains my entire life, so the idea of no mountains was somewhat novel.

I decided that last winter in Arizona I would go out with a bang:  my goal was to squeeze in as many hikes as my little legs could carry me on.  With the help of some good friends who did some very worthwhile babysitting swaps with me, I was able to hike some of the most popular trails nearly once a week before we moved to TX.

Those were the good ole' days.

The hill country is greenfully gorgeous, but it has not stopped me from missing my hikes.  So, on a recent trip home, my first and most earnest request was to hike Camelback Mountain's Summit Trail with someone.  Anyone!  Luckily, my brothers jumped on board. They even agreed to roll out of bed at the 5:00 AM wake-up time so we could get our place on the mountain before the Arizona sun beat us to the punch.

My two awesome brothers.
Yes, Kimball is on his toes.
I suppose even at 24 he hasn't grown out doing this.
Thank goodness :)

When I first did this hike years ago, I saw the handrails and was a bit skeptical.  Handrails?  Really?  The definitive answer to that is YES.  Apparently, handrails are necessary when you are hiking at an 180 degree angle.  And, of course, I could not help but break into my rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" (for those of you younger than me, I will be the first to tell you Paula Abdul used to sing.  I'm serious, she really did). I'm sure the other hikers appreciated my serenade.  

I did not run this trail, however I did see some who were.  Impressive.  I could not figure out how to do it without ending up doing somersaults half way down the mountain. 

I only hiked it once up and once down.  Legend has it that there is an 88-year-old man who does it three times a day.  May he live forever (or die happily on the mountain which I'm sure is part of his departure plan). 

The glute work from all the boulders is crazy.  It is a four limb venture, let me tell you.

The three things I would suggest with a hike like this are:


Good shoes.
I dusted off my hiking boots from my college days and was very glad I did despite the cruel comments from the brothers.  There were plenty of folk in their workout shoes, but I love how my hiking boots just grip the ground and I did not go sliding.  At the very least, leave the flip flops at home.

Water. Water. Water.

Camera.
You just might get an amazing, sunrise shot like this:

Home Sweet Home

Some helpful websites when looking for some hiking trails near you:
GORP
American Hiking Society
Local Hikes
Trails.com

How about you, Fit Mommas?  What are your favorite hikes in your neck of the woods?  Any tried and true tips to share?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!  


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How NOT to Change Your Spouse

I get the comment occasionally:

“You are so lucky to have a husband who loves the health and fitness as much as you do.”

Is he a looker or what?

I have to agree whole-heartedly that yes, I AM LUCKY. Fitness is something we share, we talk about, we read about, and participate in together. Nobody is a bigger Trainer Momma fan than the Doc.

But, it hasn’t always been that way.

I was never very athletic before we met each other. You already know I ballooned out immediately after we got married by packing on 50 lbs. in 9 months.


Gaining weight that fast takes sheer dedication, hard work, and skill. I don’t recommend it.

Jared was pretty healthy in high school and during medical school. He raced in the Tour de Tucson and 24 hours in the Old Pueblo, however, during internship let things go and gained a little weight.


After Baby #2, I was really getting into health and fitness. I begged for some sessions with a certain, killer personal trainer who made my teeth chatter with fear every time I saw him with a client. I combined all my gifts that year: Christmas, anniversary, Valentines, my birthday and Mother’s Day. I was finally able to work out with this guy who took me to the next level fitness wise. Whoa. I was in heaven.

Working out became my world during that time. The workouts were amazing and the results were even better. It was all I thought about, read about, and did.

What a minute -- that still sounds exactly like me now. OK, it still is my world, but I have tamed it a bit. Just a bit. I think the more kids I have the balanced they force me to be. Thanks, guys :)

Amid all my jump squats, frog jumping through parking lots, and pull-ups, I started to have a lot of expectations of myself. Then I started projecting them on to others. That is a polite way of saying I became critical and judgmental of those who did not workout as much and as hard as I did.

My first and easiest target was the Doc.

Looking back, he was doing a heck of a lot during those years. Finished up medical school, doing an internship, and being a dad to two very young children and wife to a girl he affectionately nick named, “De-Mandi” (yes, oddly similar to the word “demanding” :).  And, he really was doing well.  I mistakenly thought if he wasn't at the gym as much as I was and counting every calorie, then it wasn't enough.

One night, I decided to lay it on the line and just tell him how I thought he needed to change:

He needed to exercise (even though he could have still ridden circles around me on his bike).
He needed to eat right (even though he ate salmon when I fled when it arrived on the premises).
He needed to lose weight (even though he was just fine and wearing the same jeans then as he did when we got married) .

The result? IT COMPLETELY BACKFIRED. He got his feelings deeply hurt. In addition to the many insensitive things I said that night, this is what he heard:

I thought he was lazy.
I thought he was a hypocrite as a doctor.

Needless to say, it was a very long night and one that took us even longer to get over.

I took some time and really thought about what happened. My intentions were good.  But my execution was horrible.

I learned some marital lessons the hard way:

People have to choose it for themselves.
I should not force my expectations onto him. He has to be happy with himself.  I, more than anyone, should have known this. I have been bribed with money, travel, and clothes to lose weight in my teenage years. That never worked. I just dug my heels in deeper and stuffed the Milky Ways in faster. It wasn’t until I chose to change for me that the results were long lasting.

I have to make his workouts easy.
Now that the Doc is working out regularly, we have made it a point to help each other get in the workout. This does take some sacrifice on both of our parts. He has been home with the kids every morning of our child-filled years while I sneak in my early morning workouts. When he comes home from a long day at work and needs to get a run in, I say yes. I try not to mention the soccer practice he’s missing, the baths that need to be given, or the sink that needs to be fixed. I take away all the pressure and allow him to get his workout in. As time has gone on, he has figured out ways to work around our family’s crazy schedule, however, sometimes he does miss some things and I am OK with that. It works for us.

People change through love and acceptance.
I realized after I made THE MISTAKE, that even when I was reaching new heights with my weight, he never once criticized me. He swears it never occurred to him I had gained so much weight and always thought I was beautiful, rolls and all. He loved me and accepted me. What a gift.

After THE MISTAKE, I let the unreasonable judgements and criticisms of him and others behind.  I saved the high expectations for myself, since in the end that’s the only person I can really make decisions for anyway.

Did that make healthy habits any less important?  Of course, not.

But, as the Doc always says, "People first."

No wonder I love that man.

How about you, Fit Mommas?  Have you ever tried to change your spouse when it comes to their health?  Did it work?  How have you and your spouse worked in the workouts while juggling life and kids?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

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Toning Shoes - Thumbs Up or Down?

This is it!  

The last day to enter to win one of two $50 Gift Cards to Title Nine.  

Tell your butcher, your baker, your candlestick maker! 

 Enter here.

Due to the pathetic begging of my money-hungry son, we are going to have a garage sale. This is a huge concession for me, since I’m a “toss it” type of gal. It’s not the sale that drives me crazy, but the growing pile of garbage in the garage that does me in every time.

I have committed to Brian, however, that yes, we will actually have a sale. And yes, he can keep any money he makes from any of his toys he decides to unload. He is convinced he's going to hit the jackpot in a few weeks.

 Luckily, just a few dollars means a jackpot in his little world.

As I was cleaning some items out of my overstuffed closet this weekend, I came across these:

Yep, the Trainer Momma has a pair of toning shoes.

After the sale, that sentence will read past tense:  The Trainer Momma HAD a pair of toning shoes.

What are toning shoes?  If you walk into any mall, sporting goods store, open up any women's magazine you'll see the ads with the stick thin model that has no rear endo wearing shoes with rounded soles.   The convincing marketing campaigns go onto claim:

Buy and wear these shoes and you will burn more calories.

Buy and wear these shoes and you will lose weight.

Buy these shoes and will tone your legs and behind.

Buy these shoes and banish the cottage cheese from your legs.

Buy these shoes and you will be worthy to strut your stuff down the catwalk.

A pretty tall order, yes?  Even more so when you consider that many of these shoes, which come in all different brands, often push and clear $100.

**  Before I go on, these shoes were given to me at a conference.  I airbrushed out the brand label since the purpose of this post is not to bash certain brands, but to just cut through the fitness jungle and tell you WHAT WORKS.  So, call me ungrateful.  I call it honesty.

I know it depends on who you ask, however if you are asking me, which many of you have, I am giving the toning shoe trend a thumbs down.  

I know many of you LOVE your toning shoes.  I just don't.  They didn't win over this skeptical fitness fanatic.  Let me explain.

I did a little experimenting with them by using them on several of my morning walks the past weeks when I take the kids to school in morning. My observations:

Sore?
At first, yes, I was a bit tender after taking a 30 minute walk in these shoes. Others I've talked to interpreted that soreness into:  WOW!  THESE THINGS REALLY WORK!  I'M SO SORE!  Actually, the truth is what  I’ve explained in prior posts.  When we do a new exercise, or in this case distributing my weight differently by wearing these shoes with a half of a ball on the bottom, we are bound to be sore the first few times. After a few walks, however, the soreness wore off.

Awesome glutes?
Did it shape up my glutes? Let's just say the obvious:  I've got some serious backside to work with.  A lot of material back there.  If there is anything I work ultra hard on it is getting those glutes to be ultra hard.  These shoes did not transform the buns into anything magical, unfortunately.  I'm going to stick with more step ups and lunges.   And eating less chocolate cake.

Burn more calories?
Nope. I burned the same amount of calories wearing the toning shoes as I do wearing my normal workout shoes -- around 120 calories for a 30 minute brisk walk pushing my 3-year-old in the stroller.

Weight loss?
Um, nope again. This goes back to the above calories burned.  Since I didn't burn any extra calories, I didn't take off any weight. Wouldn’t that be fantastic, though? Just double knotting a pair of these and then the pounds would just melt away?  I'll keep dreaming...  And eating less chocolate cake.

Comfortable?
Yes, they are very comfortable. Any shoes that has a sole that is nearly 2 inches thick is going to feel like butta. I even considered keeping them for this aspect alone.  But, the pull of the garage sale and making the extra buck is a bit too strong.

Safe?
When used for their recommended purpose, walking, these shoes are relatively safe. However, I have seen them misused over the the past year since they’ve become popular. Running in them is a big no. Lifting weights, no.  It’s like a twisted ankle just waiting to happen.

Fashionable?
OK, ladies, I know I'm no fashion blogger.  And you will spot me around town wearing not-so-hot outfits when in a pinch (my scrub bottoms and Bronx Community College t-shirt with flip flops has been my grubby fav for about 4 years running now). But, these?  These just are not scoring high on the cute-o-meter.  Spend your cash on some smoking boots or something.

So, let me be the one save you the $100+ dollars and say buy a real, awesome workout shoe instead. These are not worth the money, just another fad passing itself off to be the magic bullet to take the guilt away when you skip another day at the gym.  Or when you eat too much chocolate cake.

If you really are dying for some, you can come buy mine at my garage sale in a few weeks.

I'll give you a discount :)

Related Posts:

Shoes:  Put Them On Your List
See Me Run
Health Trends Drive Me Nuts
Fad Diets - The Gig Is Up

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Moderation: Just Be Nice

Our body.

It really is quite amazing, really.

It houses what makes us “us” -- our thoughts and dreams, enables us to make memories, have meaningful experiences, and develop worthwhile relationships. It is a complex gift that asks for only one simple thing:

CARE.

The interesting thing is, in this world of use-it-up-and-throw-it-out, this is the only body we get. There is no such thing as disposable bodies and there are no trade-ins. Although at times we feel perhaps we got a jalopy Ford Pinto versus our neighbor’s sleek Porche model -- it is what it is. We work with what we’ve got and it will pay us back in huge dividends on a daily basis.

So, why do we at times - - or maybe all the time -- go to extremes when it comes to caring for ourselves? It seems to be everywhere lately:

Fad diets.
Binging.
Starving.
Health trends.
Gorging.
Sedentary lifestyles.
Injury due to overtraining.
Purging.

On one hand, we take advantage of our bodies by giving it diets of unlimited soda, cheese-crusted pizza and white chocolate macadamia nut cheesecake. We don’t exercise very often, if at all. Then, we don’t like the result. We have no energy, have extra weight, perhaps our bodies are rebelling and not functioning smoothly like the good ole' days. We feel like we want to stay in our house since there’s really no clothes that fit anymore anyway. So then what do we do?

Swing the pendulum to the other extreme.

We determine that no matter what we will get this weight off. Whatever it takes. Starve ourselves. Skip meals. Take shots or drops instead of food. Pop pills that make us go running to the bathroom and have to change our pants a few times a day. Punish our bodies by withholding essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. OK, perhaps we did lose a few - or a lot - of pounds. But what have we learned?

Nothing.

After trying either or both of these lifestyles, what lifelong habits can we take and use on a long term basis? Nothing. Nada. We just swing from one extreme to the other, never moving forward, just side to side. Then, inevitably, after our body has endured all the abuse it can handle, we start stumbling backwards.

We do this over and over.

I am a declared moderationist (I made that word up). I advocate a pleasant, safe, smart, right down the middle approach.

It’s just the basics:

Move
Move enough. Move often. Challenge your body. Workout smart, not just hard.

Eat well
Eat nutrient dense foods. Eat real food. Eat lots of plants. Eat often. Drink tons of water.

Rest
Go to bed.  Take a nap. Give your body time to restore and recover.

I know, I know -- there are a tsunami of excuses.  After using all of them, I stubbornly come back to the same place:

The moderate middle.

Instead going months at a time eating only 500 calories or binging on 3,000 calorie meals, how about we just eat a moderate, reasonable 1,500 - 1,800 calories all year round?  Of course, treating ourselves when appropriate, reducing calories when needed -- but overall being smart, kind, and just plain nice to our bods.

Taking care of the bodies by utilizing the basics, we nurture, not punish our bodies.  That's the least we can do for such an amazing gift.

Hey Fit Mommas -- what you do think about why we tend to go to extremes?  Have you found a comfortable place in the healthy middle ground?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS.

Related Posts:
Fad Diets -- The Gig Is Up
Health Trends Drive Me Nuts
The Tree:  Essentials of Fitness

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Family Fitness: Kid Friendly Hikes

Well, well, well.  Right when I was at my breaking point with the 100 degree days and weird species of mosquitos, some cooler weather has come into town and you know what that means:  time to get out!

I live close to the hill country.  I had no idea what that was until we drove into town pulling a U-Haul behind my minivan.  Literally -- rolling hills.  And trees.  Lots of trees.  And green!  Oh, the green was overwhelming for this desert dweller.

I did learn quickly that rolling hills also translated to no mountains. Although I miss my Camelbacks and Squaw Peaks (oops!  I mean Piestewa Peak.  I must be PC) -- I have come to appreciate these rolling hills.

This also means there are a few kid-friendly hikes nearby.

Although this trail has a paved road, we opt for the natural trails.  Now that my kids are a little older I've ditched the strollers and baby backpacks and make them use their own two feet.  The little one is not too sure about this, but with some prodding (a several piggy back rides from mom), he can hang with the big kids.

With very little planning and a backpack filled with TONS of water and food, a family hike is the perfect way to get out of the house, burn of some energy, kill a morning, and enjoy the cooler weather.

Kids:

Hikers.

Adventure heros.

Discoverers.

Water guzzlers.

Biologists.

Ninjas.

Look at those red cheeks -- how could I say no?

Mom:  

Caterer.

Wrangler.

Pack mule.

Cheerleader.

Hey, Fit Mommas!  Now that fall has arrived (insert singing angel chorus here), what are you doing to GET OUT?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

A few sites to get your family on the trail:

Top Ten Family-Friendly Trails

Family-Friendly Hikes from REI

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Have You Tried This? Trail Running

Way back when, a few months after having Baby #1 I was busting my too-large-rear-endo in an attempt to get back into shape.  A friend (yep, it's you Holly :) called and sweetly asked me if I'd like to come trail running with her.

My heartbeat started beating a little faster.  TRAIL RUNNING?

How was I supposed to run off the road when I could barely run on the road?

I was certainly not confident enough in my running prowess to pretend I was a nimble, human all-terrain vehicle.  I think I started coughing, made some shallow excuse about coming down with bronchitis, we had slab leak in the bathroom, and the baby was cutting her incisors and was a mess.  I hung up the phone as fast as I could.  

She never invited me again.

Now, I wish we could rewind time and I'd be there at the trailhead with bells on (and some good running shoes.  OK - no bells.  That would be terrifically annoying).

When we moved into this house 4-plus years ago, there was one thing I knew I liked about it:  the backyard.  I had no recollection of the kitchen, the closets, storage space, shopping, or highway access.  Nothing.  All I saw was the gloriously big backyard, the play structure, and trampoline.  As a mother of young children living the first 10 years of marriage in apartments, town homes, and matchbox-sized homes, this meant freedom (translate:  I could kick my kids outside).  Intoxicating.

Now we've been here for a time, I've moved beyond the backyard and discovered many more things I really love about this house.  A huge discovery has been this killer trail that runs behind our neighborhood.  It has a paved trail and also has side trails that are unpaved that I'm sure were designed for mountain biking.  With the Doc's lead, I took the plunge and started trail running.

There are a dozen things I adore about trail running, but here are the highlights:

I Have To Use My Brain
It is mentally challenging to navigate the terrain.  Jumping over roots, hopping over rocks, sprinting up hills.  It all makes the time go much faster than my street runs.  I actually have to think and pay attention.

Easy On the Knees
I've noticed because I'm navigating the trail, it is very natural to do a mid-sole strike.  I take shorter strides, and my knees are naturally coming up a little higher.  This takes a ton of pressure of the tired knees and puts it in some stronger areas:  glutes, quads and hamstrings.

Simple
I just have to throw on my running shoes and trot to the trail to get started.  No bikes, gears, caps, or tools needed.  Just me, the shoes, and the music.  I do not own a pair of specific trail running shoes.  I would, however, be interested in getting my feet into these beauties someday.

Time Flies
I'm completely entertained by discovering new trails, ponds, deer, and an occasional reptile :) Sure, my speed and distance are definitely reduced, but I enjoy the experience so much more than the pavement.

I'm a Super Star
I keep looking for the cameras filming me like I'm in the upcoming Mission Impossible IV film.  With Pat Benetar as my movie soundtrack, I run through the trails as though  Tom Cruise and vicious creatures are on my heels.  When I look back, however, the only creature is this one:

Just a very tired dog.
Hang in there, Buddy!

If you haven't tried getting off the beaten path lately, a little trail running (or walking!) sure does the body and soul a whole lot of good.

Hey, Fit Mommas!  Have any of you tried trail running?  What do you love about it?  Comment below and tell us WHAT WORKS!

For more info about trail running in your area, check out these websites:
American Trail Running Association
State Trails
International Trails

Related Posts:
See Me Run
Do I Have to Run?
My Knees Hurt
More "Have You Tried This?" Posts

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