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!

The 10 secrets of StrollerFit

I must give credit, where credit is due to Wendy in California for this list.  It is all true and they are just some of the reasons if you have not tried a class you should.

 

1. It's been documented in several articles and studies. When you push a stroller, you are burning more calories than walking alone. Us moms are always looking for a way to multi task and StrollerFit does this.

One article claims walking at a brisk pace can burn 100 calories, a brisk walk with a stroller bumps that up to 180 calories! Not only will you be able to squeeze in that exercise, but you'll also be more efficient while doing it. ediets Diet & Fitness blog

2. Walking with a stroller is not the only secret weapon of StrollerFit. Many of our exercises use resistance bands and tubes. The principle behind these is strengthening the muscle on the lengthening phase, much like pilates. This creates long, lean sexy muscles.

3. The weighted mommymuscle bar combines strength and resistance into one exercise. Using the muscle in both directions, increasing muscle strength. Muscle burns more calories than fat..so more muscle is good.

4. Your body burns calories while you are doing a cardiovascular exercise, like a brisk stroller walk. Do a StrollerFit class adding resistance training to that cardio and you'll keep burning calories for up to 48 hours after you're done.

5. No one has ever asked me why we sing in StrollerFit, or why I'm always encouraging moms to sing louder. Seems obvious right? Nice loud singing entertains our kiddos, what baby doesn't enjoy Ring around the Rosy, or what toddler doesn't like picking the farm animal for Old McDonald? True, but there is a bonus reason. When you sing, your uptake of oxygen increases. Making the effort of singing while exercising even more challenging AND building cardiovascular fitness. AHHH HAAA!

6. Adding imbalance to our exercises with the mommymuscle ball, or by doing them on one foot engages the core muscles, improves the proprioception sense and challenges the body even more. Balance is also a sense that will decrease overtime if we don't continue to challenge it. Weight bearing, gravity based activities increase our sense of balance and keep it from diminishing as we age.

7. Combining weight, resistance and imbalance really bumps up the calorie burn and effectiveness of the workout as a whole. Making the most of the short time moms have to exercise each day.

8. Above all, I believe the greatest part of the mommymuscle theory used in StrollerFit is that it allows a new mom who is also new to exercise to work at her own level, while working out right next to a mom who has exercised her whole life and is also being challenged. Now that is an all levels class.

9. The social advantages of working out with other moms are obvious. We love being in the company of others who understand we may need to stop to explain to our toddler why she can't hit her sister, or stop to nurse a baby who woke up late and is off schedule. It's also just fun to be around other moms in general.

10. Last but not least, I bribe the kids. Stickers, fun songs, tickling feet...it's all to get them to ask you "mom, are we going to StrollerFit today?" No not really, I just adore kiddos, but it's an advantage for sure.

So, the secrets have now been revealed. You now know why you were able to go from 34 squats to 48 in an 8 week time period, why your pants fit and why you're now able to unload the dishwasher while balancing your toddler on your hip without falling over.

See YOU in class mamas!

Fitness Takes NO holiday Food Tips!

So I have been doing some research on food to help myself and the StrollerFit Moms make it thru the Holiday's without gaining the Holiday Weight. Coming to class and exercising is a must, but what about the food.


We all know a calorie is a calorie, right? And we also know that to lose weight you must burn those calories (coming to StrollerFit, Restore the Core, Mommymusclsculpt and Mom n' Tot Yoga will help with that). But Did you know that all calories are not created equal?

For example - lets look at a 200 calorie piece of cake verses a 200 calorie piece of chicken. They both have 200 calories, but your body does not look at them the same way. The cake is loaded with simple carbs. and sugars, which ultimately make your blood sugar sky rocket, you get a quick burst of energy and then your insulin goes up and the bad begins to happen....

Insulin promotes fat storage and the energy kick does not last long. It goes up and them plummets so you begin to get tired and crave more sugary foods (I have felt that way after eating a low fat snack pack and bet so have all of you, not know why you are now tired.)

But the chicken does not do that to your body....lean protein has a total different affect on your body. Protein takes the most energy of all nutrients to to break down, so you feel fuller longer. There is also no affect on your insulin!! This helps you lose weight. For those of you working out, the protein helps your muscles repair and build (remember muscle burns fat and the cake won't do that!)

You can not eat just protein. Fat and carbs are important too, but they must be the right fat and protein. you need to eat the best foods that will give you the best results, help you lose body fat, tighten & tone, and feel energized throughout the day.

I am referring to eating natural foods, unprocessed without chemicals and preservatives, not the 100 calorie snack packs. These foods work with the body and will boost metabolism, boost energy and boost fat burning. Especially when paired with a great workout like StrollerFit!!

So for the holidays, try these 10 food to help lose body fat and keep the holiday pounds off.

1. Lean, boneless chicken breast (seasoned well), protein is good!
2. all natural Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, no matter what your age, everyone loves PB&J (on Whole Wheat bread, see #3)! Plus Peanut Butter is a great source of Omega 3's, protein and complex carbs.
3. Whole Wheat Bread - (rye and pumpernickel are good too), just make sure is says "Whole Wheat"
4. Turkey Burger's are a great substitute for ground beef (make sure it is lean turkey - white meat, if not, you might as well eat beef). Extra lean 93% ground beef is good too.
5. Spinach-high in vitamins and a great source of fiber and protein too (Bet you did not know spinach has protein)
6. Garlic is a "Super" Food - a great way to flavor foods and it is filled with immunity boosting powers, something we all need during cold and flu season.
7. Apples are high in Fiber and and when used with a little peanut butter you have the perfect pre-workout snack.
8. Oatmeal...Start the day with a great complex carb. for energy and it contains protein. You can add anything to make it your own. I like apples and cinnamon or honey and blueberries.
9. Eggs...They always get a bad wrap for cholesterol but research shows they are a great way to start the morning. People who eat eggs in the morning are fuller longer and less likely to get mid morning sugar cravings. (I like 3 egg whites with spinach and mushrooms on a Arnold whole wheat sandwich thin. Sometimes I add shredded cheddar for added flavor or a tbs of bacon bits, or both)
10. Quinoa..if you have never tried Quinoa, you should. It is a powerful grain from South Africa. It is a complex carb. that contains essential amino acids (the only grain to have this). I have a great recipe for a side made with Quinoa and a breakfast dish. I will post both on the food blog, later at http://funfitrecipesfromsf.blogspot.com/

(During holiday meals, remember eat what you enjoy, just don't over eat and make the holiday a one day event, do not eat the leftovers and make it an event that keeps repeating)

Also, remember to drink lots of water and stay hydrated and do not go to holiday meals or parties on an empty stomach or you will overeat.

Hope to see you all at the Fitness Takes No holiday workouts from November 3 thru the end of December. Anyone that emails me a healthy tip before November 3rd will get a point for the challenge.

StrollerFit Convention

Yesterday I was at the StrollerFit Convention and I learned some new moves to do with the Mommymusclebar in both Mommymusclesculpt and StrollerFit classes and am hoping to learns a few more this morning before flying home. I am also hoping Julianna will sleep a bit more, she is exhausted and her teething must really be hurting her, let the teeth come soon, PLEASE!!!!!!

Last night I won an award for being a Chatty Cathy online, not be, just because I blogged a few hours after Julianna was born, OK so I usually have a lot to share and this is a great way to share with a lot of people.

I have been sharing a room with Wendi from Akron (miss Katie from Akron, she is not here and we miss her!!!) and she has been a trooper helping me with Julianna's teething. We have had some great conversations and I will miss her when today is over, until next year.....

Ladies, the biggest news is to look for the Mommymuscle Challenge in January!! I learned all about it yesterday and it will be done by StrollerFit moms across the country all at the same time, which I think will be an amazing experience. Stay tuned for details and many other exciting things to come in the next few months, I have pages of moves, marketing ideas ad games to play in StrollerFit class including one with band aids....

See you all on Tue and pray for no rain tomorrow for the Tufts 10K, because I got a new tire for my Stroller and am ready to go, as long as my legs stop burning from my workout yesterday, I need a massage, maybe Scott will give me one when I get home, probably not! Wendi from Akron is a massage therapist, maybe she will give me one, before we leave?????? Probably not, no time and she want so to get home to her joey, who is a 4 hour drive away and I do not blame her.

Halloween Candy

Halloween is not here yet and I am already maxed on candy left over from the StrollerFit Fall Festival. We had Healthy snacks like Apple Berry Salsa, and the candy was to take home, but I bought too much and am eating it.

Thank god for StrollerFit. I am going to run extra hard today to burn off what I ate and I made my husband take the rest to work. I can usually limit myself, but I have decided out of site out of mind is just better.

I'll let you know how it goes.