DC Metro Mom

I know that all of us mama's wish we had a few more hours in the day just to have some time to ourseves, especially during times of stress. We all feel our stress in different places, some our shoulders and neck, some our backs.

I wanted to share with you a new series at lil omm, Theme Teaching. Check out two of our superstar teachers, Kate and Sandy talking about their first theme, back bends. This pose, when done correctly, can help release tension in the back relieving your cranky muscles.

To learn more about our Theme Teaching or to sign up for Kate or Sandy's class, please visit us at www.lilomm.com

Sometimes life is so busy that we cant take a 90 minute yoga class.

Sometimes all we get is a quiet 10-15 minutes to practice to return to our mats, so what to do with that time? Do you ever come to the mat and not know?

Here is a simple practice. anytime, anywhere, for however long. You can linger in a twist or add breaths to deepen your connection.

This weekend has left me wanting to run away. Away from all the drama, stress, arguments, and screaming. I know that isn't an option though because no matter how far you run, it all just comes with you.

So instead I look longingly at my Saucony's and dream of the time when I can lace them up and run "away" with them.




I miss the runner's high and the way that life just seems a lot less complicated when I am out running.
I miss the thrill of the long run.
The sweat on my neck.
The smell of fresh air and the sound of my feet gently pounding the pavement.

The thrill of accomplishment when my run is finished.  I always end a run feeling rejuvenated, strong, and happy. Someday it will be my turn again.

In the meantime,  I am waiting for this little guy who will hopefully bring some peace to my life. (figuratively, not literally of course!) Maybe even heal some wounds?

In my opinion, no one is more over scheduled than a mom.  Our calendars are packed full of working, errands, laundry, diapering, cooking, cleaning up after kids, driving those kids to and from, helping with homework, bathing, reading books, getting to bed, etc.  Just reviewing this list makes me stressed and exhausted!

The bottom line is that no matter how tight your schedule might seem, you have GOT to find a little bit of ‘me-time' for yourself.

I know that if I don't get time for a walk or mini-workout (alone), I am a grouchy, grumpy mess.  I find that I become increasingly resentful toward my husband and kids, which does not a good mommy/wife make!

So how can you find this time just for you?

I was much more active with my first two pregnancies.  This one however has knocked me out and I'm not sure why.

• Running?   Gone after the 5k in Chicago.  Ouch.
• Spinning? Just had to give that up as well.  Again, ouch.
• Boot camp?  Gone as well.  Too much jumping and bouncing.  Double ouch.

That leaves me with walking, which can be a great form of exercise.  Unfortunately it's hell hot out there and sometimes it just doesn't give me the endorphin kick that I need to maintain my sanity.

I might head back to the swimming pool and water aerobics, even though it is my least favorite of them all.   The water does make me feel weightless though, which at this point is just what I need.

So gang, it's time for YOU to step it up a notch or two so I can live vicariously through you!

As a kid, my birthday was for ME. My party, my special dinner, my presents.

It wasn't until I became a mother myself that I realized birthdays are more about Mom.  A celebration for the woman who brought me into this world and nurtured and loved me, despite the fact that I was pretty much a brat.   (yes, what comes around goes around. I am definitely getting a taste of my own medicine these days!)

How was your workout today?
This post has nothing to do with fitness, so I thought I would throw that question out there right away.  If you haven't done at least 15 minutes of activity today, NOW is the time to get up and get moving gang.   (although you could read the rest, I wouldn't mind!)

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The ultrasound results are in and baby #3 is most definitely another BOY!

I am excited! and terrified!

I knew I would like BornFit as soon as I read the message of it’s co-founders, Lisa and Julie:

“We believe that all of us are BornFit. The beauty of being “Fit” is that it comes in all different sizes, shapes, interests and even passions. It’s that feeling inside your heart…that vibrancy for life - when you’re about to embark on a new adventure and it makes you feel alive, scared or even anxious.”

During my first two pregnancies I never knew there was maternity fitness wear. I usually just sized up on some items I got at Target, and while they worked okay, they weren’t great. They were way too big up top, which resulted in some embarrassing moments during spin class. And after awhile, they literally stunk!

We are headed out of town for some much needed rest and relaxation at the beach.   Things will be quiet around here as I’m not sure if there will be internet access where we are going.  (Gasp! I know!)

This does not mean I will not be active though!  I’m still bringing some of my favorite exercise equipment, such as:

1. my kettlebell and my new DVD Baby Bells the Fit Pregnancy Kettlebell Workout DVD Lauren Brooks
2. my favorite running shoes: Saucony Women’s ProGrid Triumph 5
3. a jumprope and SPRI Xertube Resistance Band
4. my jogging stroller, Dreamer Design Ditto Jogger Stroller Lite, (although I prefer to run alone!) *edited to add that this company has apparently closed up shop and is no longer honoring warranties, etc.  Thanks to Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama for letting me know!

Clothing wise, I’ll definitely be working out in my new BornFit apparel.  I can’t say enough good things about this clothing! Don’t forget, you can get 20% off by using the coupon code fitchick20.

In fitness, you have to constantly change up your routine in order to challenge your body.

If you always run 3 miles at an easy pace, try running 1 mile as fast as you can.  Sprints will help you become a faster, more efficient runner.

If you always do 3 sets of 10lb weights, switch that up to just 1 or 2 sets with 12-15 lb weights.  Your muscles will get stronger and you'll save time.

If you normally take a Spinning class for cardio,  branch out and try kickboxing or boot camp instead.  If you use the elliptical every day, try the StepMill or the Rower.   Each class and machine challenges your cardio system in a different capacity.

and if you normally spend 10-15 minutes each day stretching or doing yoga, bump that up to 30 minutes to improve your flexibility and balance.

Many thanks to  Amy, of Feasibly Fit Mom for today's guest post! She is a certified personal trainer and fitness boot camp owner and her blog features workouts, news, recipes and tips for motherhood and beyond. Be sure to click over and visit!

Some days we bounce out of bed, ready to attack the track, work the weights and kill the kettlebells. And then there are the days that we struggle to find time, energy or motivation to get the dog out for a walk or make it to our favorite yoga class.

Here are some tips passed along to me by my clients or I've found useful. Remember, it takes just one of these to get you movin' on any given day! Whatever works, right?

1. Change into your workout clothes.

It is time for another installment of "One Fit Mommy"! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness.  From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you!

Today's fit mommy is Lorraine, mom of 2,  who blogs over at Wifey's House and Ask Wifey.  Lorraine is also a published author of Help! I'm a Newlywed...What Do I Do Now?: Wife-saving Advice Every New Bride Must Know to Survive the First Year of Marriage.(which would make a great shower gift!)

She is obviously a very busy mom who says she used to be the "laziest person ever"!  After losing over 70 pounds, she was inspired to become a personal trainer and now lives a fit lifestyle.  Please read on for more about Lorraine and her birthday bikini goal!

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

It is time for another installment of "One Fit Mommy"! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness.  From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you!

Today's fit mommy is Colleen, who blogs over at The Active Mommy.  She is a busy mother of a 2.5 year old boy who is also a college counselor, swimming coach, and pilates instructor.  Despite having a very full plate, she still makes fitness a priority.

Please read on for more about Colleen and why she is definitely "One Fit Mommy"!

Due to a family situation, I am on a blogging break. Today's post is from Leslie at NeverSayDiet, and it will  make you laugh and hungry at the same time!

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I don't usually watch television while working out but the other day on the elliptical, I grew tired of staring at myself in the mirror (shocker, I know) and so my eyes wandered to the woman on the machine next to me. More specifically, I looked at her TV screen, only to see a cast iron skillet brimming with huge chunks of steak. Really delicious-looking steak. Like, that-smells-orgasmic-take-me-to-your-butcher delicious. Like Pavlov's dog, I immediately pressed the "on" button on my remote and clicked my way over to the Food Network. Rachael Ray got me through the next 20 minutes with her cute/raspy voice chattering away as she prepared a steak and Gorgonzola dish with an apple crisp for dessert.

The thing is, I don't really even cook. The joke around our house is that I could cook IF I SO CHOSE. Alas, I do not. As a result, the fanciest thing my husband eats for dinner is barbecued salmon with couscous and sautéed spinach unless he chooses to order out. (Okay, that's not entirely true, I have whipped up veggie chili using a slow cooker and, exactly one year ago next month, I cooked flank steak for Valentine's Day. And, as we all know, I can bake a mean giant challah. But what is it about watching Giada DeLaurentis mix up a batch of hibiscus spiked iced tea and Moroccan lamb chops while I sweat and pant that is so darn appealing? The distraction? The ability to be transported to a tastier place while doing something slightly unsavory? The blatant food porn? Her curvy-in-all-the-right-places-despite-chowing-down-all-day figure?

One foodie-exerciser wrote: "I now work out while I watch my food shows. This way, I can just savor the food with my eyes, burn a couple hundred calories over the course of an hour, and afterward, feel good that I didn't gorge on some junk food. Also, I don't have that much of an urge to eat because I'm a little tired and then I end up eating less. Oh, and working out between 7-9 p.m. helps b/c that's when I start wanting to get post-dinner snacks. So, it's not that bad watching food shows anymore. I don't risk getting in more junk food when it's unnecessary."

Thank you so much to all my blogging friends who have generously donated their time and postings to help me out over the past few weeks.  I still have many of their great posts to share with you, so please continue coming back!

As for me, I am going through a very tough time right now.

It is a time in your life when you just do not want to get out of bed, much less get up and exercise.   I am an emotional eater and there have been many times in the past few weeks that I have opted for the entire BOX of Thin Mints instead of the treadmill.   Yet despite my best efforts, no amount of  brownie bites, Milano cookies, or Junior Mints is going to make my situation any different.  I shovel them down thinking I can cover the pain with obscene amounts of chocolate but in the end I am still very sad, my parents are still sick, and now I've got 10,000 extra calories to try and burn off.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my rss feed. Thanks for visiting!

Today's guest post is courtesy of Crabby McSlacker, who blogs over at Cranky Fitness, a blog that is partly about Health and Fitness but mostly about whining. Warning: This post contains some material originally published back when Cranky Fitness had about 4 readers. Crabby hereby apologizes to those 4 readers. But since this post is about balance, a subject Crabby still struggles with, she figured it might be time a good time to revisit the issue.

In the exercise world, some people are runners; some people are walkers; and the vast majority of folks rarely get off the couch at all.

Due to a family situation, I'm taking a blogging break. In the meantime, please enjoy guest posts from many of my favorite bloggers.  Thank you so much to everyone who is helping me out, I  appreciate your kindness and generosity!

In my aerobics class, there is a student who recently became an instructor. She teaches a few night classes so I rarely run into her in the mornings. This is a good thing.

As a student, she was loud, annoying and always trying to one-up the instructor, especially if a mistake was made. She would often do routines "her way" (which she claimed was the right way) instead of following along with the class. This would totally throw off anyone behind her and usually fluster the instructor as well. Charming, right?

If you are local to the Washington DC area, I highly recommend  Dynamic Solutions,  a wellness and training studio. It may look like it is just kettlebell training, but it is so much more.

The co- owners, Darius Gilbert and Christina Smith, have created a wellness studio that combines both the physical and nutritional aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

So many times we join a gym and we're told to use this machine, do this amount of cardio, etc.  but very rarely are we told what changes need to be made to our diet.  Christina Smith is a a certified lifestyle coach, personal trainer, and metabolic typing advisor who emphasizes that fitness and diet MUST go hand in hand for overall wellness.  She will help determine what foods are right for you and help you make a plan for healthy eating.

As for the physical side, both Christina and Darius will give you an amazing workout that will challenge your entire body.   I got a chance to take the "Kick Start" class with Darius and it was fantastic!

He did a wonderful job of explaining proper form of the various moves and even convinced me that my current kettlebell is too light.  (a lighter bell is actually harder to control and leads to improper form).  I did not think I could survive with a 26lb bell, but Darius pushed me past my comfort zone and I loved every single minute.  Too many times I fall in a rut and just keep at the same pace just because it's easier.  This class was exactly the kick in the pants that I needed!

It is time for another installment of "One Fit Mommy"! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness.  From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you! There are no excuses with these parents, just support on how we can ALL find time for fitness!

Our fit mommy this week is Cynthia, a very busy mom of two young kids.   You might recognize her as  Nap Warden from The Chronicles of a SAHM and be sure to visit NWdesigns for her custom blog designs.  She's got her hands full but she is serious about her commitment to fitness.

I got the chance to meet Cynthia in person last year and not only is she "One Fit Mommy", but she is also very nice and absolutely hilarious!

Please read on for more about Nap Warden and how she juggles life and fitness:

It is time for another installment of "One Fit Mommy"! As I surf around the blogosphere, I come across fit moms (and dads too!) who inspire me to fitness.  From there, I hunt them down and force them to tell me their secrets, which I then share with you! There are no excuses with these parents, just support on how we can ALL find time for fitness!

This week's mommy is Alison, who blogs over here. She is a busy single mom who makes fitness a priority. If you live with a significant other and claim that you have "no time to exercise", then I encourage you to think again. Single parents have very little, if any, time to themselves and if they can find the time to exercise, then we can certainly find time as well.

Alison proves that it can be done and even has the dedication to sign up for a few half marathons each year to keep herself motivated. I absolutely love how she emphasizes that we as parents set the stage for our kids.  If you are not modeling an active lifestyle, how can you expect your children to learn to love fitness?

Please read on for more about Ali and the great ideas she shares with us.   She is definitely "One Fit Mommy"!