StrollerFit merging with Baby Boot Camp and the Florida Road Trip.

I just got back from an amazing road trip with Scott and the kids to FLA to meet my new Nephew Slade Matthew Gershman, to find out StrollerFit is merging with Baby Boot Camp.  I am not sure how I feel about this but all things considering, everything will stay the same thru the summer.  You will see no differences.

As for the fall, I am waiting on the information from Baby Boot Camp before I can say what will happen.  I will tell you that we will continue to have classes and get together into the future.

Now for our trip.  Day one we drove about 8 hrs to DC, where we went to the National Zoo.  the kids loved the Panda's and the birds.  Then we had dinner with brian, Kathy and JC.  Julianna pulled a chair into her face and ended up with a few scratches and a bloody lip.  I have become my father because I took the you'll see approach to it all and she did, no worse for the wear.

We stayed at JC & Bj's that night and left the next morning after a leisurely breakfast for South Carolina where we stayed with Shelly and Michael.  Joey had a blast with michael's remote contral cars.

Day three we headed for FLA.  We stopped in Daytona beach and walked around the race track.  Joey loves the home depot car because it is driven by a tony and he got up close and personal with it.  More on home depot later.  Then we ended the day at my Aunt Ali's on Vero Beach.

We spent Day four at my Aunt's.  She tried to teach Joey how to play tennis, we went to the pool and the private beach, then we snuck into the Vero Beach disney Resort, where Joey did the water slide atleast 20 times.  Then I cooked dinner and the kids went off to see the boats at the marina.

Day five we had breakfast at a small airport where Joey and Julianna watched the planes take off and land.  They both were mesmerized.  Then we spent the Afternoon at My Brother Keith and his wife Melissa's house in the pool, before going to there son's Bris.  Our new nephew is adorabel and the kids had a ball on the play ground and playing in and out of the pool with Papa (my dad).  mthen we headed to Michele, Mike and Zacks's house.

Day six we hung out with my dad at the playground and went out to lunch before he flew home to grandma in Vegas.  (She could not be with us, due to her current treatment).  That night I made a great dinner and we sat cnd chatted into the night with Mike and Michele, Aunt Barb, Marc, Mike and Carole.

Day seven we decided to drive as far as we could.  We went to Steak n Shake for lunch in honor of my Road trip to vegas with Julie and then stopped somewear in Sout Carolina for dinner.  While there we took the kids to Home Depot, Joey wanted to fing Joey and the HD race car.  the Raqce this weekend is in Darlington not far from where we were, and Jeoy Logano was going to sign autographs in that store, the next day, we were a day too early.  The kids drove the HD race car shopping cart, did donuts with it with Scott and ran laps around the store.  The rode tractors and other large equipment for over an hr, they had a ball and it was free, who needs Disney World...ok we do, but free fun with a little imagination is great.  at one point joey told scott the raqce car had a flat tire and they needed a pit crew, so I became the pit crew and repaired it.  We then drove for another 2 hours and stayed in Fayetteville, SC for the night.

Day eight we drove to Richmond to see race cars, since Daytona that is all Joey wanted to do, but the track and shop were closed for lunch, so we headed to the Metro DC area.  we went for a late linch with JC, saw here condo that is being built and her office and then had a fabulous dinner cooked by BJ.  We were going to drive home but decided to stay when we realized they live a few minutes from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Day Nine we packed the car, took the kids to the Air and Space Museaum where Joey saw the planes, space shuttle and some of the transformer stuff from the movie.  HE loved the shark plane, which is really called a tiger plane.  Scott was in heaven.  Then we drove home and arrived back at about 8 pm

What a great trip.  Loved seeing everyone and meeting my new nephew.

Jamie Oliver's Chicken Finger test

So the StrollerFit moms were all over the premiere and 2nd episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.  We discussed the chicken finger test he did and how the kids were grossed out by the bones, guts and extra skin used to make the frozen chicken nuggets, but in the end they were still willing to eat them.  Scott and I were discgusted and, I now know why I make my own.  They are so easy to do.

Take boneless chicken breasts cut them into nuggets or strips, I usually do stips.

take in a bowl use an egg or egg whites and mix to use as a binder

in a second bowl add bread crumbs (I use seasoned panko-japaneese bread crumbs for added crunch) or crushed corn flakes.

I place mine on a wire rack sprayed with pam on a lined cookie sheet for added crunch on both sides, but you can bake on a parchment paper lined or sprayed cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

I make a large batch at once and freeze them in bags with 4 or 5 in a bag, just enough for a serving for both kids.

So last week I said I would keep track of the kids food, and I did but it was a crazy week and I did not get it on the blog.  Joey and Julianna ate a lot of yokids squeeze yogurt.  I use to buy the stoney field squeeze yogurt but can not find them lately and he likes the squeezies as he calls them.  I happened to read the package and I am sure I read it before, but some of the flavors have High Fructose Corn Syrup, some do not.  So I am going to try to locate the stoney fields again, and be careful if I by the yoplait to look at the flavors and only buy the ones without the HFC.  they still have coloring and preservatives, but this is still a better option then some of the other stuff they couls eat.

Joey at fruit leather, all natural, no additives or preservatives, can find in walmart, but better selection and cheaper at trader joes.  They both ate dried fruit and nuts, cherrios, pb&j (homemade jelly from our fruit picking last summer, it freezes well) on  sandwich thins, grill cheese on whole wheat bread, chicken, apples, carrots, celery with pb, wild rice, shrimp, potatos, salad with dip (a little low fat dressing that I made), pancakes with real maple syrup, and lots of milk and water with a little juice.  They had low fat fudgcicles a few nights, joey had a few lollipops and some of the candy from easter egg hunting, but over all they eat healthy.  He did snack on rice crispy treats that we made from scratch and had a few special k bars, but I think we are on the right track here.  Lunch & dinner for Joey was usually cereal, yogurt or what we were eating with some fruit and/or veggies.  I am glad me kids are not too pickie when it comes to food.

It is raining again and StrollerFit is back inside.  Tomorrow is a big day, Joey's First Day of scholl, YEAH!  Will try to remember to post pictures.

Jamie Oliver's New Show "Food Revolution"

I watched the first episode of Jmie Oliver's Food Revolution and was disgusted by some of the things I saw and heard.  First ws pizza for breakfast at a elementary school.  Now I can not say I have never ha pizza or pasta for breakfast, but that was in college not kindergarten.  Then Jamie was told that each meal must have2 breads, this was a government guideline and mashed potatos met the guideline for a vegetable, last time I checked it was a starch and potato buds with oil and other additives sem to me to be more of a proceesed connconction then a food at all.

When the kids were given the choose of frozen pizza or healthy chicken and salad, what do you think they choose.  the pizza of course.  It will be interesting to see how Jamie faires in the school with the ladies that work in the cafeteria and the town as a whole.   The town he is in has been classified as the most unhealthy in the Us and the US as a country is the most unhealthy in the world, making them the most unhealhy town in the world. 

So I think about some of my favorite food issues:  High Frustose corn syrum and processed foods in general.  I havbe no problems with addititives or preservatives to a point, but too much processed foods is not good for any of us and I am happy to report both my children like fruits and vegetables and eat a pretty healthy diet.

I am vowing to my blog readers and my StrollerFit moms out there that I am going to continue to teach my kids to be healthy and to continue to read labels and try to feed my children the best food I can, which is not always easy, especially when we are on the run.

I have decided to journal for a week what my kids eat and see what changes I can make. 

So far today they have had yoplait squeeze yogurts, not the best yogurt with the food coloring and additivies but not the worst choose either.  they had dry heerios, no milk (have to o to the store) they drank the milk when they got up, and 1/2 a banana each.  Not abad start for the day.

Lets see what they eat the rest of the day.

Some benefits of StrollerFit

We all want to get rid of that post-pregnancy pudge and tone up those toddler-lifting arms, but if you're like most modern, multitasking parents, you don't have a ton of time for long, involved workouts.   I know I don't, Which is why StrollerFit is great for moms that have busy schedules, from classes with kids to working to dr's visits to you name it.

StrollerFit gives moms and dads a place to bond with your baby, meet other active parents and get a good workout — all at the same time.

Medical experts have said that by making health habits a priority in your life, you in turn make them a priority for your children, a sentiment echoed in recent months by first lady Michelle Obama.  “Our children are on track to be less healthy than we are,” Obama said in January when she kicked off the Let's Move campaign against childhood obesity. “And truly, if we're really honest with ourselves, it's not hard to understand how this happens.”

StrollerFit is a workout that encourages you to bring your baby along, so Checkout one of the many strollerFit classes in the US that offer a total body workout — running, jogging, core work, strength training, etc. — all done with a stroller.

In my classes in Northbridge and Milford, MA my son and the other kids lunge with the moms, they cando squats ad one even does planks.  It is amazing to see them follow our lead and workout without it being called a workout.  One of the moms tells the story at hom, her daughter pushes her baby stroller while lunging and says "look mommy, I amdoing StrollerFit like you!"  My son loves to tell me to run faster and lets go up the hill o we can come down really fast.

StrollerFit encourages an interactive environment for kids, incorporating activities such as singing kids songs, talking about colors and vegetables, saying the ABCs and counting in different languages into workouts.   YM one year old has learned row row row your boat and the wheels on the bus from  us singing them in StrollerFit. 

We are building strong, confident moms and strong, confident kids!

Go out and try a class because both you and baby will benefit and the benefits are amazing all around!

Eating After a Workout

I was thinking about my post StrollerFit activites.  One of themsmaking Joey andmyelf lunch, Julianna is usually naping and has lunch later.  We do not eat on a schedule, but since we get up early, we usually eat within the hour after arriving home from StrollerFit.  I usually have a piece of fruit when I get home because I am hungry and want a healthy snack.

I just read an article that reminded me "What you eat after you work out may be the most important meal of your day. That's because muscles that have been exercised are thirsty, hungry, and stressed. Making the right food choices may make all the difference in avoiding muscle soreness and fatigue. They may also power up your next workout."

Remember that your body demands water, carbohydrates, and protein after a workout. Its primary goals during the post-workout (two hours after exercise) are rehydration, muscle recovery and repair, and blood sugar/electrolyte stabilization. If you don't feed it, your body will feed itself by dipping into valuable glycogen, protein, and electrolyte stores.




Some people make the mistake of avoiding eating after exercise because they think they'll burn fat and lose more weight this way. That's not how it works. Fat is one of the last nutrient resources your body will turn to for its immediate needs. That's why it's important to give it a healthy meal within two hours of exercise. Proper nutrition helps your muscles heal from the stress of exercise and metabolize energy more efficiently. Figuring out what to eat after a workout is simple science.
What should you eat? Carbs and protein. As its main energy source, your body burns glycogen (sugar) derived from carbohydrates. Glycogen is stored in the muscles. By replacing carbs soon after exercise, you replenish your glycogen stores and avoid muscle breakdown. If you don't replace those carbs, your body will break down muscle cells to help itself to the sugar. The result? Fatigue and muscle loss.
Protein is the building block for muscle fiber. While it won't release the instant energy your body needs immediately, it will help provide the nutrients needed to help tired muscles recover and rebuild the tiny tears that come with exercise. Protein helps you build the stronger muscles that will metabolize energy and help you lose weight. It also helps you avoid sugar highs and lows from burning carbs quickly.

So with this energy I will stick with piece of fruit and add some protein, one good choose is an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter.

So after strollerFit or any exercise remember that you need to eat and replinsh your water.  Also if it is hot outside remember you need to drink more fluids.