FitSugar

Good News for Moms With Strollers

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Here is some good news for mom's who like to run with strollers...

A study from Texas A&M found that running with a stroller provided a much more intense workout than running without a stroller and there was no difference in stride length and overall running gait. In other words: Your form is not compromised by pushing the stroller. This is good news for any of us moms that were thinking it was a bad idea to run with the stroller. So get out there and get a really good workout, without having to get a sitter. Just make sure you've got a stroller that can handle it such as a Baby Jogger.

Want to get even more out of your stroller jogs? Hook up a Strollometer to your stroller to see your distance, speed and time.

Baby Jogger's Pod Offers Plenty of Options For Avid Outdoor Adventurers

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 05:38:37 PDT

Lace up your running shoes and prepare to sprint! With Summer's warm weather and plush outdoor surroundings, it's time to move Mama's exercise routine outdoors, and there's no better way to do it than with a jogging stroller. When Baby Jogger told us the company was preparing to introduce a new stroller that can convert from a jogger to a four-wheel stroller to a bike trailer, we couldn't wait to get our hands on it. The eye-catching Baby Jogger Pod chasis ($500) is equipped to handle three separate kits to make the transitions: a jogging kit ($60), a stroller kit ($80), and a trailer kit ($40). The company sent us all three kits to try on a beautiful Summer weekend, and while biking wasn't in the plans, the other two kits were put to the test. Here's how they fared.

Tori Spelling Shares Time Management Tips For Moms

Tori Spelling — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:31:05 PST

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling! Every other week we're bringing you the best parenting and lifestyle advice from ediTORIal by Tori Spelling, which is Tori's daily blog about everything from food and fashion to parenting and relationships. Having just given birth to her third child, Tori recently shared her tips for trying to make the most of the hours in the day.

Time, there's always too little of it! As moms, we are especially time-strapped. And if we're working, time is at even more of a premium. Given all the demands placed on us, it can be easy to feel like we're just going through the motions, fulfilling our responsibilities without truly enjoying them. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are a few tips for balancing your needs with those of your family and your job:

Batch tasks – This is a great tip for increasing productivity in your work life as well as your personal life. For example, if you find that checking email distracts you while you're working, spend an hour each morning cleaning out your inbox, then turn off your email notifications for a few hours and concentrate on the task at hand. If you have a bunch of errands to run, do them all at once. Spend a Sunday afternoon cooking a bunch of dishes to eat throughout the week.
Overestimate – When planning a complicated day with multiple drop-offs, pick-ups, and to-do items, it's best to overestimate how long each item will take. Take everything into account, from traffic to how long it takes your little tyke to pick out socks.

Delegate – Guys hate asking for directions; we hate asking for help. But you can't be in two places at once, so when your calendar gets insane, make sure to get help from your husband or your close family or friends. Remind yourself that it's okay to give control to someone else you trust.
Quality Time All the Time – Even the most mundane tasks can become "quality time." Try to make your daily tasks fun for your kids by allowing them to participate. For example, when you go grocery shopping, let them take an active role in picking out groceries. Cook dinner together and catch up in the car on the way to school. These little moments are the things your kids will remember when they get older. What are your most cherished childhood memories? Chances are they're simple, everyday activities.
Take Care of Yourself – You don't have to book an expensive massage to take care of yourself, although that's a nice treat every now and then. Taking care of yourself is more about allocating time to do things that make you feel good: putting on your makeup in the morning, going for a jog in the evening (bonus points if you're also pushing a stroller), or painting your toenails before the polish completely chips away.
It's also about making healthy choices that are best for you. For example, going to bed early instead of staying up to answer emails will make you a much more productive person the next day. As they get older, your children will admire that their mother is someone who takes care of herself – after all, you are modeling behavior that you want them to emulate someday!
Remember to Breathe – As busy, multitasking women and moms, sometimes we overlook the simplest way to get through our day: taking a moment to breathe. Pausing to focus on your breath can help you to quell nerves and stress or simply clear your mind. Simple, but effective!

How do you balance it all? Share your time management tips in the comments below.

More great stories from ToriSpelling.com:
'Til Death Do Us Part: Elderly couple dies holding hands
Happy Halloween!
Ask me anything!

5 Ways Being a Mom Makes You Healthier

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:41:37 PDT

Just because you had a baby (or two, or three), it doesn't mean your health and body automatically get pushed aside. There are many ways being a mother can actually improve how you take care of yourself, and here are just a few.

While prego, you change how you think about eating. It's no longer just about taste but about nourishing your growing baby. You think twice about skipping meals or eating cold pizza for breakfast. And if you're nursing, you want to eat healthy because whatever you eat passes into your breast milk.
After the baby is born, you exercise regularly to lose the baby weight, but all that working out also strengthens your muscles and immune system, makes your heart healthy, and helps you sleep better.
As a mom, you want to set a good example for your kids to live a healthy lifestyle. If they see you eating your broccoli and heading out for bike rides, they're more likely to grow up embracing the same healthy ways. Although the main reason you strive to be a positive role model is for the benefit of your kiddos, it ultimately helps you become healthier, too.
Outdoor time is essential for your kids, not only for the fresh air, but also for the change of scenery and the opportunity to get all their energy out. It encourages you to get outside, too, to go for walks, to pop them in their jogging stroller, to take family bike rides, or to just run around and play with them.
You love being a mom and watching your kids grow up. Since you want to be strong, healthy, and have enough energy to care for your children in the best way possible - and you also want to be around until they have kids of their own- you're inspired to take better care of yourself. Becoming a mom might help you quit smoking, get serious about losing weight, have your cholesterol checked, or even start training for a marathon.

How has being a mom made you a healthier person?

Strollin': Doll Strollers to Suit Every Play Parent's Needs (and Budget)

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:25:52 PDT

Imaginations at work! Pretend play gives tots the opportunity to express their creativity and develop stronger concentration skills. It also allows them to mimic Mom and Dad as they go about their daily routines. Given all of the extraordinary toys and trips Suri Cruise experiences, it was fun to see her pushing her baby doll while joining her mom on a shopping trip this week. The tot's plastic and fabric play stroller looks just like the versions found in many lil one's playrooms. From high-end to inexpensive, eco-friendly wood versions to simple plastics, here are six versions to suit ever child's needs.

Clockwise from top left: Badger Basket Toys Three Wheel Doll Jogging Stroller ($40), Maclaren Junior Quest Baby Doll Stroller ($38), Castle Toy Umbrella Doll Stroller ($16), Badger Basket Triple Doll Stroller ($49), Sirch Troll Doll Stroller ($290), Pottery Barn Kids Navy Doll Pram ($80).

Exercise With the Fam Like Matt Damon

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:25:00 PDT

Holy cuteness! Now I love Matt Damon even more for showing his loved ones how important it is to stay active by heading out for a family bike ride in Vancouver. When you get moving together, not only do your children learn that exercise in an important part of life, but it also encourages the grown-ups to fit exercise into their busy schedules.

Aside from renting bikes and touring around a new place, there are so many other ways you and your family can get out together and burn some calories.

If your kids are too young to walk, plop them in a jogging stroller, bike trailer, or backpack carrier and head out for a walk, run, ride, or hike. They'll feel calm watching the scenery whiz by, and you'll get in your workout.
Rent kayaks or canoes and paddle along a calm lake or river. It's a great way to avoid the, "Mom, I'm soooo hot," comments. If you get overheated, just jump in.
Put up a net in the backyard and keep volleyballs and a set of badminton rackets and birdies on hand. After dinner, head out for an impromptu game.

Keep reading for more fun family fitness ideas.

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

LilSugar — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:15:39 PDT

We're sharing our Summer lists with each other, what's on your list?
See which celeb moms have embraced the home-birth experience.
We've got the best educational and entertaining iPad apps for kids.
A cute bathing suit, food allergy baking labels, and a charitable cookbook are must haves this month.
Red, white, and blue popsicles are healthy and patriotic!
Cute (and inexpensive) printable Fourth of July decorations for your fete.
Tips for preparing your tot for a lifetime of reading.
Should elective c-sections be covered by insurance?
We tested Baby Jogger's new POD convertible jogging stroller; see what we think!
Lighten your load this Summer with these lightweight baby carriers.

Source: Whatever

Hey Mommas! Prevent Packing on the Pounds With These Tips

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:44:40 PDT

As a mother of a nine month old, I've been spending time with lots of mommas lately. I've found that besides chatting about diapers, teething, and lack of sleep, we all tend to mourn over the loss of our pre-pregnancy bods. Even if we did lose the baby weight in the beginning, our busy schedules make it hard to find time to exercise and eat right, so it seems inevitable to gain a pound here and there.

If this sounds familiar, I've put together some tips and reminders to help you get your body back (and keep it!).

Don't finish their meals or snacks. A few extra bites really add up so pack up the leftovers and save them for next time.
Don't eat just because they are. Kids are really active and since they're often too busy to sit down and enjoy a full meal, they end up eating little bits several times a day. That doesn't mean you should reach for a cereal bar too. Stick to your regular eating schedule to avoid consuming extra calories.
Don't use high calorie treats as rewards. You're more likely to end up rewarding yourself as well.

For more tips on avoiding mommy weight gain keep reading.