Avoid being tricked by food labels!
By workoutmommy | July 22, 2008
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This is a guest post by Kerry McLeod, chief Brand Doctor at www.ebrandaid.com. If smart food shopping appeals to you, you’ll want to click here and subscribe to eBrandAid.com’s free newsletters; plus receive a FREE e-Report - eBrandaid’s Grocery Store Survival Guide.
You probably know that you can’t always rely on food manufacturers to have your best interest at heart. More often than not they go out of their way to emphasize “healthy” ingredients when sadly, they’ve added miniscule amounts.
Too often the unhealthy ingredients (think high fructose corn syrup) outweigh any of the nutritional stuff. Trusting shoppers may think they’re making a wise food choice when, in reality, they’re being bamboozled into buying a Healthy Food Imposter.
Case in point: Capri Sun Juice Drinks
Take a look at the front label – it boldly states ANTIOXIDANTS, No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives!
To a time-pressed shopper this might be all the nudging needed to get this product in the grocery cart. After all, the word ANTIOXIDANTS implies it’s a great choice. Right?
Not so fast. When you take the time to read the fine print, you’ll quickly see this is nothing more than a sneaky labeling trick. Manufacturers do it for one simple reason – to entice unsuspecting shoppers to impulse buy their product. We hate when they do that!
(100 calories, 0g fat, 15mg sodium, 26g sugar, 20% vitamin C)
INGREDIENTS: Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Pear, Apple, And Strawberry Juice Concentrates, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E Acetate, Natural Flavor.
Decoding the Fine Print
Okay, so we already know that the front label implies this is a nutritional juice drink. However, take a look at the ingredients list and the Nutrition Facts label and here’s what you’ll find:
Water and high fructose corn syrup are the first two ingredients listed. Remember, manufacturers list ingredients in order of most to least, meaning the first few ingredients usually make up the bulk of the food item.
Next, they list several fruit concentrates. Maybe now we’re getting somewhere with the healthy stuff, right? Wrong. When you look at the NFL you see that the “healthy stuff” is really only 10% juice. Ouch!
Last on the list are the so-called antioxidants ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and vitamin E acetate. However, when you look at the NFL you also see this only translates into 20% of the Recommended Daily Allowance for Vitamin C!
To sum up: The juice drink with the big bold word “Antioxidants” splashed on the front label is nothing more than sugar water with a splash of juice and an insignificant amount of added vitamins.
Here’s the real clincher. Capri Sun charges the same amount for this imposter as they do for their 100% Juice variety that sits on the same shelf. Now that’s some moxie!
Reality Check
This brings us back to the point of today’s newsletter – how to avoid being tricked by food labels.
Follow our BrandAid 3-Step System and never be tricked again!
Step One: Speed read the front label! Remember, manufacturers use this prime real estate to entice shoppers to buy their products. Translation: Much of the wording is pure advertising jargon.
Step Two: Go to the ingredients list! This is where they tell you what’s in the food. They list ingredients in order from most to least. NOTE: For a refresher course see our guidelines on Decoding the Ingredients List.
Step Three: Quick-scan the Nutrition Facts label! The NFL is where you’ll find the amounts of nutrients you’re getting based on the ingredients list.
Taken together, this information will help you make the healthiest food choices. More importantly, it will help you avoid those pesky imposters. Leave them on the shelf right where they belong!
Knowledge is power. Read the labels.
Topics: links, nutrition | 15 Comments »
Why Kettlebells are Perfect for Mommies
By workoutmommy | July 21, 2008
This is a guest article from Lauren Brooks, a Russian Kettlebell Instructor, Personal Trainer, and Clinical Nutritionist based out of San Diego, California. She offers online nutrition and workout programs. You can contact her at Lauren@socaltrainer.com or visit On the Edge Fitness.
Whether you just had a baby or have been enjoying motherhood for many years, we all have something in common. We put our children first and tend to neglect ourselves. The biggest complaints I hear from moms are, “I can’t seem to get the fat off my midsection,” “I just don’t have two hours a day to spend in the gym.”
Well, I’m here to give you some wonderful news. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get rid of the fat that you accumulated during your pregnancies. You can start by training with kettlebells which takes no time at all. Here are some of the reasons why kettlebell training is perfect for a mom.
Kettlebells kill two birds with one stone
With kettlebell exercises you are able to get your heart rate up, more than any machine in a fancy gym, while strengthening and sculpting your entire body.
Get in and get out
Workout sessions can be effective anywhere between 10 and 40 minutes. Efficiency is everything with being a mom, since time is so limited. Being able to do 1 single work out session in such a short amount of time that targets all of your fitness goals, is enough of a reason to start using a kettlebell. You can sneak 10-20 minutes before your kids wake up, during their nap, or right after they go to bed. No excuses not to give yourself that small amount of time!
A kettlebell is a complete handheld gym
You can bring them on any trip and never be stuck without your home gym. You can use it outside at the park, on the beach, in a hotel room, or anywhere you want.
Kettlebell training will help tighten up your stretched out stomach muscles
After pregnancy the stomach muscles are left weak and stretched out. The transverse abdominus muscles, which are the muscles that wrap around your midsection, get stronger and tighter with kettlebell exercises.
You will lose the junk and tighten your trunk
The mommy flat butt will start to reshape into more of a muscular and firm rear end. You will start feeling amazing when you put your old jeans on and your butt is higher up. (Beware: your firm butt may start attracting eyes and hands!)
Kettlebells are fun
Kettlebell workouts can vary so much you never get bored. You can keep them short and intense without getting that burnout feeling you do from being inside of a gym for several hours at a time.
You will not look like a bodybuilder!
When working with kettlebells you are using all of your muscles. You are strengthening your entire body, not isolating one muscle at a time. This is a much more functional way to train than the typical bodybuilding style. When you start isolating a single muscle and break down the muscle fibers, you can get the bulky muscles that body builders strive for. With kettlebell training that will not happen! You will get stronger, leaner and denser.
Your metabolism will increase
When you start working out with kettlebells your body starts turning in to a fat burning machine. You are developing dense muscles which require much more energy. In addition, more and more studies are showing that short bursts of intense exercises, such as interval training, will have your body burning for up to 24 hours after the workout. So just because you are finished with your short workout does not mean you stop burning. That’s a huge plus for anyone.
So what are you waiting for?
Working with kettlebells has changed my life. I have very little time during the day, so incorporating them in to my life has allowed me to keep a very lean and healthy physique, without putting in too much time. People are shocked when I tell them I hardly workout.
I do want to highlight the fact that I have clean eating habits. No matter what type of workout you have, if you don’t eat correctly you will find it nearly impossible to reach your final goals. Email me at Lauren@socaltrainer.com for a free workout to get you started.
Topics: fitness, just for moms | 10 Comments »
Dispelling the Myths
By workoutmommy | July 19, 2008
This is a guest post from Curt Pedersen. Curt has a degree in exercise science and has published exercise and nutrition articles on many leading publications including eDiets.com, Askmen.com and Physicallyelite.com. To read more articles by Curt, go to www.physicallyelite.com.
Attention women: Do you not lift weights because you think it will make you become muscle-bound? Do you only do a couple sets of 15 reps on exercise machines because you only want to “tone”?
If so, this article will show you that these and other myths aren’t true and also explain why lifting weights using barbells and dumbbells is the best workout possible. As an added bonus, this article also has a workout to help you begin building the body you desire.
# Lifting Weights Makes You Muscle-Bound
While strength training will help you build muscle, women simply don’t have enough testosterone, a key hormone for building muscle, to become muscle-bound and appear masculine. The muscle you are able to build lifting weights will only improve your appearance and femininity.
# If You Lift Weights, Do High Reps to “Tone” Your Muscles
Most strength training workouts for women prescribe 2-3 sets of 12 or more repetitions. While higher repetitions have their place in your workout, they do little to improve your appearance. If looking and feeling your best is your goal, most of your workouts should utilize sets of low to moderate repetitions (5-8) for multiple sets. Performing 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps is especially beneficial when dieting, as it is the best rep range to use to ensure you hold onto your muscle. The more muscle you can hold onto when dieting helps you burn fat faster and keep it off once you achieve your weight loss goals. Sets of 12-15 reps will only make you look and feel worse during your diet.
# You Should Use Machines Instead of Dumbbells and Barbells
While training with machines has its place, such as helping you learn the basics of strength training, workouts using free weights (barbells and dumbbell) are the way to go. Free weight training produces greater benefits than machine only workouts for many reasons with the most important being the fact that it enables you to perform exercises that train many large muscle groups at once. This means you burn more calories for every set you perform and will get better results faster. The following example illustrates this, doing a set of barbell or dumbbell squats trains your calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, lower back, and abs. Compare this to a popular machine exercise for legs such as leg extensions which targets only your quadriceps. Other benefits of barbell and dumbbell based workouts is that they are superior to machines for improving your strength, balance, and bone density. These benefits become especially important as you get older, since being stronger and maintaining balance will help you better perform daily tasks and decrease the risk of injury from falls. Increasing bone density will help decrease your risk of osteoporosis and its related complications.
# You Must Lose Weight First Before You Lift Weights
Last but not least is the myth that you should lose weight before you start lifting weights. This myth exists because women often become discouraged when they diet and lift weights since the weight loss that occurs isn’t reflected on the scale. This is because the weight lost is body fat, not the muscle you need to stay healthy. Lifting weights while dieting will help you keep the muscle you have ensuring the weight you lose is body fat. Studies confirm this showing that combining aerobic exercise, dieting, and strength training leads to greater losses of body fat and weight than when you only diet or diet and do aerobic exercise.
Getting Started
Below is a workout that will help you build the body you desire. It’s a 3-day a week workout that should be performed on alternating days, Monday, Wednesday, Friday for example. Each workout includes exercises for the entire body, and uses sets of 8 reps to help you burn as many calories as possible at each workout while building, or at a minimum, holding onto your hard earned muscle when dieting. Combine this workout with 2-3 days of aerobic exercise and a proper diet and you will get the best results of your life.
Guidelines
# Always use correct technique. If you need any of the exercises explained to you, consult with a qualified personal trainer. If one isn’t available there are many web sites that give animated demonstrations of correct exercise technique. One good source is http://www.exrx.net.
# Use a weight that you can perform for 2-3 more reps than what is prescribed. There is no need use a weight that causes you to ‘fail’ at the end of each set. You should leave the gym feeling energized, not exhausted.
# Increase the weight used when you can do 2-3 more repetitions than the 8 prescribed on the last set of a given exercise. Only increase the weight used if you can do so without sacrificing proper technique.
# Start a new routine after doing this one for 4-6 weeks. This will help keep your progress on track and keep your workouts enjoyable.
# Lift weights before aerobics. If you want to do an aerobic workout on the same day you lift weights, that’s fine. Just make sure to do it after you lift. This ensures you have ample energy to perform all of your exercises with correct form.
# The exercises in the workout below are divided into groups (A1/A2, B1/B2, etc.). Each group is to be performed one after the other with about a minutes rest between sets for the total number of sets given. Once you have completed all of the prescribed sets for each exercise in a group, move on to the next group of exercises after 1-2 minutes rest. Doing the workout this way burns more calories, and you’ll accomplish more in less time. Also, if you are just getting into shape you may need more than a minutes rest between sets and groups of exercise. If this is the case, rest for as long as you need in order to perform the exercises with proper form, decreasing the amount of rest as your conditioning improves until you reach 1 minute.
Below is an example of how this workout is to be performed.
* A1 Lunges: Set 1
* Rest 60 seconds
* A2 Dumbbell Bench Press: Set 1
* A1 Lunges: Set 2
* Rest 60 seconds
* A2 Dumbbell Bench Press: Set 2
* Rest 60 seconds
* A1 Lunges: Set 3
* Rest 60 seconds
* A2 Dumbbell Bench Press: Set 3
* Rest 60 seconds and move onto the next group of exercises.
The Workout
Monday
Exercise Sets Reps Rest Between Sets
A1 Lunges 3 8 60 sec
A2 Dumbbell Bench Press 2 8 60 sec
B1 Leg Curl 3 8 60 sec
B2 Dumbbell Row 2 8 60 sec
C1 Swiss Ball Crunch 3 8 60 sec
Wednesday
Exercise Sets Reps Rest Between Sets
Seated Row 3 8 60 sec
Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift 2 8 60 sec
Incline Dumbbell Fly 3 8 60 sec
Dumbbell Squat 2 8 60 sec
Back Extension 3 8 60 sec
Friday
Exercise Sets Reps Rest Between Sets
Dumbbell Shoulder Press 2 8 60 sec
Dumbbell Step-Ups 3 8 60 sec
Reverse Fly 2 8 60 sec
Calf Raise 3 8 60 sec
Reverse Crunch 3 8 60 sec
Now that we have dispelled the myths surrounding weight training and women and a great workout all that is left for you to get started. Once you do we guarantee you will find that weight training is an irreplaceable part of your workout routine.
Topics: fitness, links | 10 Comments »
One fit mommy and her kettlebell: Lauren Brooks
By workoutmommy | July 17, 2008
It’s time for another installment of “One Fit Mommy”. This is when we get to learn more about other moms who inspire me to fitness. Hopefully they will inspire you too!
This weeks featured mommy is Lauren Brooks, a personal trainer based out of San Diego, CA. Her favorite workout tool is the kettlebell, which I have recently begun to use myself. (see this post and this one too)
In addition to being a trainer and Clinical Nutritionist, Lauren is also a busy mommy to one little girl and has another baby on the way. As you can see from her picture, she manages to find time for fitness and is definitely “One Fit Mommy”!
Please read on for more about Lauren, including a clip from her brand new DVD.
Q: Have you always been fit? What inspired you to live a fit lifestyle?
I have been in to fitness since I was 16 years old. Throughout high school I surfed and enjoyed being in the outdoors. Getting better at surfing is one of the factors that inspired me to have a fit lifestyle. I noticed how much better I felt when I was active. I quickly realized that I would get depressed if I didn’t have some type of outlet of exercise.
Q: What led you to start training with kettlebells?
After doing traditional weight training since I was 16 years old, I wanted to try something different. I was getting really tired of spending so much time on cardio machines. I had done some research about how kettlebell training combined cardio and strength. I took a kettlebell workshop designed for personal trainers and immediately I was hooked. After incorporating kettlebells into my training, my body and strength changed in just weeks.
Q: How are kettlebells different from training with free weights?
Kettlebell are designed very differently from free weights. The weight distribution of a kettlebell is in a form of a ball with a handle on it. The handle allows you to swing it around smoothly through your hands and the ball is able to rest gently on your wrist and forearm. When doing exercises such as Windmills, Turkish Get Ups, Presses, and Snatches, the ball slightly pulls your arm back which allows your shoulder to become more flexible and develops the internal stabilizer muscles. You can swing a dumbbell but it does not feel as natural and powerful as it would when swinging a kettlebell.
Q: What advice do you have for those who claim they do not have time for fitness?
Who has much time these days at all? But we do have 20-30 minutes to dedicate to ourselves. The beauty of kettlebell training is that you don’t need much time at all. You don’t need to spend 2 hours in the gym to get the same results that you would with 20-30 minutes of doing kettlebell and body weight training.
Q: Did your fitness program change during your pregnancy?
I did change my program. During my pregnancy I am always one to err on the side of caution. During the first trimester I did almost everything I normally did, but paid much closer attention to my body. At times, I would use slightly lighter kettlebells on overhead lifts. After 18 weeks, I stopped doing the exercises that required you to be on your back or any type of side bend such as the windmills. By the third trimester I was using a lighter kettlebell and focusing on exercises such as Swings, Squats, Cleans, Push Ups, Snatches, and One Arm Rows.
Q: What is your favorite exercise and why?
My favorite exercise is the Kettlebell Swing. I love this exercise because it gets your heart pumping faster than any exercise I have ever done while strengthening and firming your butt, legs, and core muscles. If there were only one exercise I had to pick to do forever that would be it.
Q: You are also a clinical nutritionist. What services do you offer to those who need help with their diet?
I offer online nutrition consulting and program design. I tailor nutrition programs to fit each person’s lifestyle. I never like to call it a diet because diets are just temporary. My goal is to educate the client, keep them accountable, and help them change their eating habits for the rest of their life. This has worked really well because people learn which foods work best with their bodies. My clients generally find they have much more energy while they’re watching the fat disappear.
Q: Any advice for those of us who are sugar addicts?
Yes. Sugar addicts need to have organic fruits and nuts close by them at all times. One of the reasons why people crave sugar so much is because their blood sugar is constantly spiking up and down. Having healthy snacks with you throughout the day keeps your blood sugar level so you don’t crash and feel that you need to binge on sugar and junk food.
Q: Random question–if you were stranded on an island, what 3 fitness items would you want with you?
Great question and very easy to answer. A Kettlebell, Weighted Vest, and Rings I can hang from a tree branch.
Thank you Lauren for taking the time to answer my questions!
I have recently become a big fan of kettlebell workouts and am excited about the release of her new DVD. Check out the clip!
For more about Lauren, please visit her website On The Edge Fitness.
Now gang, have you been active today?
Get moving and enjoy your energy!
Topics: interviews, one fit mommy | 15 Comments »
Winners!
By workoutmommy | July 16, 2008
The winner of the Sun Protection Zone package is:
#8: Slacker Mama
and the winner of the tshirt from FamilyFanClub.net is:
#4: Lance
thanks to all that entered!
Topics: product reviews | 2 Comments »
Heading out west!
By workoutmommy | July 16, 2008
I’m leaving at the crack o’dawn tomorrow to go to the annual BlogHer conference in San Francisco. I have never been before, so I am very excited! (not so excited about flying with two babies, but hopefully they will be calm little angels. Ha!)
Since I will be staying in a hotel, my fitness plan will have to be altered a bit. I may not get the opportunity for good cardio sessions, but I will still be doing the 100 push up challenge and using my Valslide.
I also will be doing plenty of walking around as well as taking the stairs whenever possible.
I plan to keep my diet in check and not go too overboard. (it is vacation, so I can let it slide a bit!) It’s all about balance.
If you are going to be at BlogHer too, I would love to meet you! Please send me an email and we’ll figure out a way to connect.
In the meantime, please enjoy several guest posts that I have lined up and remember to BE ACTIVE gang!
Topics: about me | 13 Comments »
Boot camp with Jackie Warner
By workoutmommy | July 14, 2008
I normally don’t buy fitness magazines at the grocery store, but Fitness RX caught my attention. Not only is Jackie Warner on the cover but inside she details a boot camp workout that involves a kettlebell! Her 20 minute workout is going to “transform my body into a fat burning machine” , so I figured that has got to be worth the $4.99, right?
The circuit was very tough and included many of my favorites such as jump lunges, mountain climbers, push ups and planks. Add in the planks with tricep kickbacks and abs using a kettlebell and I was definitely burning. I could not do the donkey kicks with my kettlebell hooked onto my foot and would love to see someone actually do that. (since I almost put a hole in my floor when the kettlebell dropped off my foot!)
Jackie recommends that you do this workout in deep sand, which definitely would make it very difficult. Since I do not live near any sand, I did the workout in my family room and it was still very intense.
Jackie also has released a new DVD, Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie
The accompanying article includes Jackie’s top fitness tips for 2008.
Some of them make a lot of sense such as:
#1: Be a smart consumer and read food labels carefully.
#2: No over complicated routines/no over complicated diets.
#3: Never skip meals
#5: Sugar is the devil
#11: Eat natural foods
#12: Don’t be afraid to lift weights
Yet some of them seem to contradict each other:
#6: Clean house: remove all junk from your kitchen
#7: Deprivation does not work.
#9: Eat the good, the bad, then the ugly. Good=veggies/fruit/lean meat. Bad=starches/bread, Ugly=dessert/alcohol. Fill up on the good first.
and then some I just don’t agree with:
#10 Water helps you lose weight. Three liters per day can burn 50-75 calories and double your energy.
I want to drink some of Jackie’s water if it is doubling her energy!
#13 ONLY do intensity cardio.
No, I can’t agree with that. Not every cardio day needs or should be intense. Jackie says in the article that if you don’t have time for an intense workout, then you should skip it altogether. I definitely believe that some movement/cardio is better than nothing! It’s all about balance.
#8: Crunches are a waste of time.
They may not build a six pack, but when done properly, they do play a role in building a strong core.
Overall, I think it was $5 well spent. I got a great workout and enjoyed many of the articles.
Meanwhile I am waiting for Jackie to give me a call and offer to train me in person. Is that the phone I hear ringing?
Topics: links, product reviews, workouts | 24 Comments »
Put EXERCISE on your schedule!
By workoutmommy | July 12, 2008
Here is one more way to help you keep active every single day. Write it down and get it done. No excuses!
Need more lists? Visit lobotoME.
They have a list for just about everything, even the grocery store! They are having a special right now too, buy one MomME planner and get one free. Go check it out!
********
I have two contests that are ending this week, have you entered yet?
Sun Protection Zone ends on 7/14.
Have an fun and FIT weekend gang!
Topics: links, product reviews | 5 Comments »
The family that cheers together…
By workoutmommy | July 11, 2008
This week instead of “One Fit Mommy”, I am featuring “One Fit Family”!
Kim and Paul Taylor are parents that have made fitness a priority in their lives. They set a great example for their two boys by participating in local running and triathlon races. They offer support to each other by giving each other dedicated time to train and make it a point to always attend each other’s races.
In addition to being a fit family, they also encourage others through their business FamilyFanClub.net, an online shop where you can purchase adorable items that “celebrate support of athletic and fitness accomplishment”. What started out as a fun idea to support Paul during a triathlon has now morphed into a small family business.
With great slogans like “Swim Daddy Swim” and “I need more Cowbell”, your family can become an instant cheering section! Imagine how fun it would be to see your child or spouse wearing their “Run Mommy Run!” teeshirt during your next race? Keep reading to find out more about this fit family and enter for your chance to win one of their shirts!
Q: How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
We have two boys, Connor (5) and Griffin (3).
Q: How did family fan club get started?
Kim: Paul has been attending my many races over the last eight years as the wonderful dedicated husband that he is. He has been talking about completing a triathlon for several years and I was so proud of him for making the commitment to training and achieving one of his goals that I really wanted to make it a memorable day! So I had some shirts made for the boys showing how awesome they think their dad is! It was so cute, the boys were yelling and cheering for Dad as he ran through transition, rode by on his bike and finished his first triathlon like the champion we all knew he was! After the race so many people commented on how cute the shirts were and even asked where they could buy them that we knew we were on to something!
Q: What types (marathons, triathlons, etc.) of races do you and your wife do?
Paul: I prefer triathlons. I was swimmer in high school, so it’s been an easy transition to get back in the water. I’ve never been much of a runner, I’m getting better, but I’d still much rather walk!
Kim: I have been participating in running races since 2000. I completed my first Half Marathon in September 2001 and I was hooked! I love the distance, enough challenge without being too demanding on my personal life. I annually run the Steamboat Springs Half Marathon and it has been a goal for many years to complete two half marathons in one year. So last year I completed the Steamboat Half and the Denver Half. I was so inspired by this and so happy to have a fantastic running partner in my friend Rebecca that I have changed from a seasonal runner to someone who ran throughout the entire year (sun, rain, sleet and snow) and now think that I am ready to kick it up a notch and have aspirations to run a full marathon.
Q: Do you have a favorite?
Paul: I’ve only done two triathlons, but my favorite so far has been the Greeley Sprint Triathlon in Greeley, CO. It was a great first race, well run and very beginner friendly. I’m really looking forward to the first two triathlons in the 5430 Triathlon series (Sprint and Olympic distances) in Boulder this summer.
Kim: Hard to say because I LOVE the Steamboat Half Marathon because Steamboat is an amazing place, the race is gorgeous, and we make it a fun little vacation every year. However, I absolutely LOVED running the Denver Half Marathon last year. Despite the horrific weather conditions, there were still tons of fans cheering everyone on and when I finished it was the first time I felt like I could have gone on! That was the first day I actually thought I was ready to complete a marathon. Although, the race I really look forward to each year, it is the Title Nine Sport T9K race on Mother’s Day. It is such an awesome way to celebrate mothers!
Q: Do you ever race together?
Paul: We did a couple of 5k races last year and we also did the Sodus Point, NY Sprint Triathlon last year.
Kim: We ran the Bolder Boulder together! It is difficult to complete races together with the boys so we simply pick our favorite races, make a cooperative race schedule over the winter, and participate with our training partners. However, we are committed to supporting each other and we never miss a race the other is participating in! There is nothing like crossing the finish line and having Paul waiting there for me or even better having the boys run across the finish line with me!
Q: What are some of your most popular products?
Our most popular products so far are: Triathlon Daddy, Run Mommy Run, Run Like a Girl and It’s Business Time (Triathlon and Running). The interesting thing has been how many adults have purchased the Triathlon Daddy and Run Mommy Run designs. We figured these designs would be popular with the kids, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of adult t-shirts, stickers, buttons and magnets we’ve sold.
Q: Can I get everything online or do you sell your products in stores as well?
We currently have several retailers in the Boulder, CO area that carry our products including Adrenaline Tri-Sports, Fleet Feet Boulder and Brown Shoes. We will also be partnering with vendors across the front range during the 2008 race season to sell our products at race expos, including the Greeley Triathlon, 5430 Triathlon Series and Denver Marathon. Our retailers currently carry limited design and product availability, but our online store (www.familyfanclub.net) literally has 100’s of designs available on 100’s of products ranging from t-shirts, stickers, buttons, signs, mouse pads, xmas ornaments, etc. Our online store also provides an opportunity to customize any of our designs, so if you’re supporting your spouse or friend, we can replace Mommy/Daddy with your spouse or friends name.
Q: What advice do you have for families who claim they do not have time for exercise?
Paul: My recommendation would be to prioritize exercise into your schedule. Put it on the schedule and commit to yourself that no matter what is going on, you will work out at least 1 hour a day. With two small kids, a full time job and living 1800 miles away from our family, the deck is definitely not stacked in our favor. I started attending classes at the local recreation center (Boot Camp, Kick Boxing and Spinning) where they offer day care, which allows both Kim and I to work out together. With race specific training, it works out pretty well that Kim is a morning person and I feel more motivated to work out after work, so our schedules work together to allow us to meet our training objectives.
Kim: Get a partner! Finding a friend that has the same goals and objectives is the greatest thing. It gives you a reason to get out of bed early in the morning or to the gym after a long hard day. It is too easy to skip out on a workout because there “isn’t time” but when you know someone is there waiting for you to show up it strengthens your commitment. Plus I swear that when Rebecca and I run together the more we talk, the quicker our pace and the faster the miles pass!
Thank you Paul and Kim for sharing your story with us and for supporting one another in fitness!
They are also offering one lucky reader a free T-shirt of your choice! Visit their site, check out their great slogans, and then tell me which one is your favorite and why. The contest will end at 8pm EST on Wednesday, July 16th. Winner will be chosen at random and must provide a US mailing address.
Don’t forget to get up and be active today gang! No excuses!
Topics: interviews, links, one fit mommy | 27 Comments »
Smart advice from a 2 year old
By workoutmommy | July 10, 2008
I walk with my kids in the double stroller every morning as a way of adding extra fitness and steps into my day. I can partially relax my mommy brain and enjoy the sights of suburbia while fielding a handful of questions about squirrels, trash trucks, and fire hydrants.
As my oldest gets older, this has become more challenging. He no longer wants to sit still to play with his cars or snack on pretzels. Yesterday he hit his breaking point and screamed at the top of his lungs:
“I walk too mommy! I need to get my exercise!”
What can I say? He is one smart kid!
So he charmed his way out of the stroller with that key phrase and now walks with me. Since he walks at a snail’s pace and must inspect every blade of grass along the way, I have decided to do walking lunges, squats, frog jumps, and yes….even push ups during our walk.
The neighbors may point and laugh but all I can say is that mommy needs to get her exercise too!
So if you see us lunging and jumping our way through the neighborhood, feel free to join in on the fun.
Have you had to adapt a workout because of thanks to your children?
photo credit: sean dreilinger
Topics: about me, fitness | 27 Comments »