Makeover Momma

Halle tries to stay fit and healthy, even when she’s short on time.

Instead of only offering workout tips applicable for home use, we realize that many of our Makeover Momma’s need advice on staying fit and active during working hours at the office too. Being stuck at your desk can make it seem nearly impossible to stay fit, but it often can be easier than you think. Here are some quick ideas for staying active without even leaving your desk:

• Check out Leslie Sansone’s Walk Club for a yearly paying membership which features streaming exercise video that can be done right at your desk, as well as nutrition and fitness advice that anyone can follow.
• If walking simply isn’t your thing, then find variety at Demand Fitness online, which will let you access over 200 varied exercise classes on your computer, at any time you want during the day for as low as 99¢. High-low cardio dancing, anyone?
• Check out our personal favorite Exercise TV online, which features free streaming fitness videos all day long. You could pump out a 2 minute booty toner during busy days (every little bit counts) or a 30 minute yoga class during your lunch hour…it’s up to you!
• Keep small weights under your desk and use during breaks for a quickie toning session. Press overhead to tone the arms, do simple bicep curls at different angles, place on your legs for weighted leg lifts and calf raises (using leg while sitting), or tighten abdominals by alternating cross-punches with weights across the body at a fast tempo.

            It can seem nearly impossible to find time to exercise when you’re a busy parent. Although a majority of celebrities are known for following intense post-partum fitness routines, hiring personal trainers and exercising for hours per day, there are many other who admit to fitting fitness into their lives with ease (such as Tori Spelling or Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon).

            One of the easiest ways to fit-in-fitness to your daily life, is simply by creating a simple toning routine when getting ready in the morning.

·         While brushing your teeth, do deep squats (holding onto the side of the sink for support) as if you’re about to sit on a chair placed behind you. Continue squatting the entire time…

·         While washing your face, do simple heel raises by rising up onto the balls of your feet and back down to tone your calve muscles.

·         While brushing your hair, do easy side leg lifts by balancing on one leg, and raising the other parallel to the side. Continue lowering and raising leg, without releasing the muscle to the ground until you are done. (Switch to the other side).

·         While picking out your clothes, do jumping jacks as you scan your closet, or simply try to do jumping jacks between each pause in your morning routine (10 before applying sunscreen, 10 before applying mascara, etc.)

·         While your coffee brews… (or while the morning bottle of formula is warming, or the baby is eating, etc.) do a quick rotation of high knees for 10 counts (jogging in place) and 10 on-your-knees pushups. Continue this rotation to really bring your heart rate up…

EXTRA Ways To “Fit-It-In” During Morning Hours:

-          If you live in a home with stairs, strive to take stairs two-at-a-time the entire morning (or try to jog up them instead of walking).

-          If you watch the morning show, try to do a combination of 10 crunches, 10 counts of holding an extended push-up position (plank) and 10 counts of squat jumps during commercials. Let your toddler join in…

-          If your baby needs tummy time, lay next to them and alternate between “mountain climbers” (holding push up position and quickly switch-jumping feet into deep lunges behind you) and “abdominal leg lowers” (lay flat on your back, extend legs to the ceiling with abdominals engaged and slowly lower legs toward the ground with control. Return and repeat.)

As the hot weather rises in the summer, going outdoors to exercise with your children can seem less and less appealing. Instead of giving up your workouts all together, try becoming a fitness-video junkie (without breaking the bank).

As hard as it may seem to take time aside for yourself during the day, it’s important for your health (as well as your child’s health and your future as your child’s parent) for you to teach them that once per day you have “exercise time.” Let your child join in on the videos with you or create a “boredom basket” filled with stickers, snacks and coloring books that your child can only use during your fitness video workouts.

Feel this big? Slim down like Jennifer Lopez and other fit moms…without leaving the house!

* You can get a wonderful workout right in the comfort of your own home, without needing a gym membership! Try getting 5 workout videos for each day of the week, and use them to create variety and fun in your routine. Aim to have 3 that include strength training to use on non-consecutive days, and others that involve fun and challenging cardiovascular such as walking, dancing, aerobics, or kickboxing.

* If this seems more of a strain on your pocketbook than your body, try getting used videos from Goodwill, yard sales, or even renting from the library or local video store.

* Websites such as collagevideo.com offer affordable in-home exercise programs, or you can simply trade with a friend.

* Get your fitness delivered by joining a website such as Netflix.com and signing up for a vast range of brand new exercise programs and DVDs, that will be delivered straight to your mailbox each week!

*If you want a more personalized and intense program to help get you back in shape at home, you can try singing up for new systems such as Push TV (www.push.tv). At the cost of $25 per month, they will deliver a personalized fitness DVD every 2 weeks that has been completely catered to your goals, needs, fitness level, and even music preferences. It is literally like having your own personal trainer (whom you chose from a wide range of established celebrity gurus) who will coach you individually through your routine day-by-day to help you reach your goals.

- Stay tuned next month for Fit Family ideas for working out from home using your computer or friends (for free!)

JUST FOR FUN TREND:  P9OX — Intense In-Home Workout Video Systems

MAKEOVER MOMMA™ RATING: C-

REVIEW: We at Makeover Momma love any and all women who have the initiative, motivation and incentive to take care of their health post-partum by exercising. There are a wide variety of intense workouts systems, such as P90X, which (although their charming infomercials are fun to watch during late night feedings) are just not that realistic for busy parents.

Although we secretly wish we could try out this trend in our single days, these 60 minutes per day (for 90 days) sweat fests may deliver results to the lucky few with time to commit, but most of our energy is spent changing diapers and cleaning up crayon graffiti from our living room walls. And although infomercials are enticing, the nearly $120 price tag is staggering for strapped parents. How to improve this trend? Try renting a wide variety of challenging fitness DVD’s from Netflix or your local library, and rotating for 90 days to create your own routine. Better yet? Start exercising for 30 minutes per day in order to create lasting and reasonable results, and prevent post-partum fitness burn out.

Exercising can feel selfish to many new (or veteran) mothers, because it takes time away from your baby. We at Makeover Momma™ believe firmly in fitting fitness into your lifestyle (which includes baby inclusion all the way). Try teaching little ones valuable skills while getting fit…its like homeschooling and personal training in one!

Active mother Naomi Watts knows that adding your baby’s weight to your lifestyle can help you lose your own baby weight.

·         Young infant – As soon as that little one has secure neck strength, you can start teaching basic songs and rhythms through singing. Try creating an exercise circuit by picking 2 lullabies: one for cardio and one for strength training. Hold baby securely in your arms and sing one song while doing simple cardio movements (walk rapidly around the house, dance in place or climb stairs) and sing another song while using baby as weight for strength (press overhead, press to each side, press out from your chest or use as weight during squats and lunges.)

·         BENEFIT: Alternating between lullabies will create and intense and efficient interval circuit, while soothing your baby too!

Busy mom Bridget Moynahan knows that exercising with baby equals multitasking.

·         Growing Baby – If your baby is still comfortable in your arms (ie. not crawling away constantly), try teaching them how to count by creating a number circuit. Sit down and let them straddle one extended leg (raised at hip level in front of you.) From here, use your leg to “draw” numbers 1-10 in the air while counting out loud (your thighs will be truly burn!) Afterwards, use baby to do 10 swing squats (squat and swing them between your legs,) 10 overhead presses and  10 step-ups. Finally, hold them securely in your arms, and draw numbers 1 through 10 in the air in front of you (this is a killer arm routine and will hit nearly every muscle you have.)

·         BENEFIT: Your baby will have fun while learning to count (and you will be toning from head to toe.)

*   Tune in next month for Toddler and Young Child exercise ideas that both shape (you) and school (them). Have tips or advice of your own, or want to be a Makeover Momma healthy mother model? Share with us or send in an image!

Do you ever get sick of celebrity mothers stating that it was simply “walking with their stroller” that got them back in shape? Although it seems that a simple stroll with your stroller won’t do much to keep the weight off, there are many ways that you can get more from each walk (even when you’re short on time.)

·         Add Intervals With Music – Try turning up your favorite tunes when taking a walk, and alternate between your normal pace for one song and a much faster pace at the next. It’s up to you how far you push the pace, but simply alternating between two different speeds on your normal walk will burn more calories. (Make sure your music is at a level where you are still aware of your surroundings to keep both you and baby safe.)

·         Bump Up The Weight – Before hitting the pavement for your next walk, try adding a few extra water bottles, toys or even dumbbells to the bottom of your stroller to increase the resistance. The heavier the weight you’re pushing while walking, the more calories you’ll burn (as long as you’re careful not to risk injury by going overboard.)

·         Use New Tools – Make workouts harder by buying affordable ankle or wrist weights at your local convenience or athletics store. Simply adding 2 to 5 pound weights while walking will tone your body more, without needing to increase walk time.

*Do you have a tip for making your momma workout more challenging? Share with us, and we’ll post your advice!

                 Summertime can be the ultimate buzz kill for a healthy exercise routine. Although we want to stick to our workout routines, most parents would never want to endanger their little ones by dragging them outside in the blazing heat, so they let their good intentions fall by the wayside. Worry no more: here are some ideas for staying safe and slim in the heat:

                                                  Active mother of two, Denise Richards, stays cool while exercising.

• Watch the Clock- If you exercise outdoors and the sun is blazing, try working out at the coolest beautiful parts of the day instead: sunrise or sunset. Your skin, body and calendar just may thank you for this change in routine! While you’re at it, try taking a different route than usual, to work new muscles and revitalize your habits!

• Make Friends with Water- Although you should be drinking plenty of water when exercising in hot weather, you also might want to try getting in for exercise. Try joining or “borrowing” local pool access from a friend, and take your workout to the shallow end! Aim to rotate one of the following three exercises for a minute each, until you’ve reached a total of 20 leg-toning minutes:

1.       Jog lightly in the shallow end.

2.       Hold onto the side of the pool and kick your feet quickly behind you.

3.       Jump up and down like a pogo stick (making sure to squat deeply with each landing to tone your lower half).

You will probably break a sweat…but you just won’t know it!

• Stay Indoors- If going outside under the hot sun is completely unappealing, then why not try zipping by your local (air conditioned) library, and renting some workout videos. Replace your typical outdoor routine with a challenging or motivating video (you will work new muscles and reap new results!)  

       Mother-of-two Reese Witherspoon is known for her flaunting her petite figure while jogging or exercising outdoors, but sometimes mothers simply can’t make it outside to hit the pavement. Instead, try using your stairs at home to create an intense and quick workout routine!(No stairs to use? Try heading to a nearby park or outdoor stadium instead.)

·         GET WALKING: Head up and down the flight of stairs 10 times total to warm up.

·         PICK UP PACE: Try to jog up and down the stairs (carefully) 5 times.

·         TONE TUSH: Prepare for a squat by placing one leg on a lower step and one leg a step or two above. From here (facing slightly sideways) squat down deeply 12 times. Repeat on other leg.

·         JOG: 5 more flights.

·         LONG LEGS: Place one foot two steps above the other, and get into a lunge position. From here, dip down into a deep split lunge 12 times. Repeat other leg.

·         JOG 5 more

·         STEP TO IT: Stand at the bottom of stairs and lunge leg forward onto a step. Return to start. Repeat and alternate lunges onto steps for a total of 12 times.

·         REVERSE IT: Stand a step or two above the bottom of stairs, and reverse the above exercise. Step backwards into a deep lunge, return to start, and repeat for 12.

·         JOG

·         HIT THOSE ARMS: Finish the entire workout by kneeling on the stairs, leaning forward and placing arms a few steps above so in “kneeling push-up” position. Do 20 pushups.

·         GET BOTH SIDES: Flip around into “triceps dip” position (like a tabletop with arms on upper steps and feet flat on the ground) and dip 20 times using arms for momentum.

·         COOL DOWN: Finish by walking 3 more flights of stairs at a cool down pace.

*Make It Harder: If your baby does not want to sit quietly in a swing, having tummy time or take a nap during your exercise time, try strapping them to your chest to double caloric burn and add resistance to this entire workout. Be very careful not to fall (risking baby and you for injury) by taking movements slowly, and reducing the jogging to an exaggerated walk.

                                                                                             Get fit with your toddler outside like busy mother Jennifer Garner.

            It can seem nearly impossible to get fit when your hands are full with an infant, toddler, or tween…but fear no more! Our monthly Fit With Family suggestion will have you feeling slim while you play and interact with your little ones.

• Baby Groove Game – Bond with your baby (and tone your own body) by trying this dancing challenge, which helps your little one learn about music and tempo, while you get fit. Hold baby in your arms for added weight, and put the radio on shuffle or “scan”. Practice dancing or rocking deeply (using your legs) to slow music, bouncing gently around the house for more up-tempo, or full on shaking it to fast songs. Use your entire body (and carry the weight of your baby) and you will be sweating in no time while your baby learns!

• Toddler Animal Game – Help your little ones learn (and stay healthy) by creating your own “Act an Animal” game at home. Practice taking turns choosing an animal (or pulling the name from a hat or picking from a book), and then actively act out the creature. Jump all over the living room like a bunny, crouch and leap as a frog, or run extremely fast through your yard as a cheetah. Get creative, and just get moving!

• Teenage Nature Knowledge Game – As the weather gets warmer, try taking your tween or teen outside for a walking game. As you stroll your neighborhood or park, pre-assign a certain speed to a certain animal. A flying bird is a slow stroll, a bird making a loud noise is a fast walk, a dog that is barking is a light jog, a squirrel or chipmunk is a fast run, and an unexpected animal is a quick break. Every time your teen spots one of the animals, you can change the pace of your walk accordingly. This will keep you moving, engaged, and learning about nature just by hitting the pavement!

·          *Have new ideas, comments or suggestions? Pitch an idea, share a tip or simply discuss by leaving word below!

JUST FOR FUN TREND:  The Fit Flop. A new line of flip-flops designed to tone and tighten your lower half while you walk around all day.

MAKEOVER MOMMA™ RATING: B

REVIEW: We admit that we love the concept of the Fit Flop. How many hours a day do you spend on your feet at the playground, grocery store or just generally chasing after your children? The Fit Flop has been said to help tighten your leg, thigh and butt muscles by stimulating your muscles more than average shoes…giving you a mini workout without even trying.

Although the shoe has been said to provide a real “burn” in the lower legs, the major downside of the shoe is its hefty price tag of $50 and that Fit Flops are typically available only online. We mothers may love to multi-task and certainly stay on our feet all day, but the majority of us would rather spend $50 on electricity bills or diapers in bulk than flip-flops. On the flip side (cheesy pun intended), if a generous spouse or friend is willing to give you a pair of these clever sandals…by all means, get your burn on!