Strollerderby : fitness

Working In Fitness

Amy Kuras — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:31:00 GMT

We all know that exercise is the magic bullet for so many maladies that plague the modern parent: stress, sleep deprivation, lack of stamina to keep up with these constantly moving little maniacs (okay, maybe that’s just me), but finding a way to stay active along with the 19 million other things you need to get done in a day can be difficult. And while kid chasing certainly keeps you going, it doesn’t really count as the 30 minutes of moderate exercise we’re supposed to get on most days.

Gaiam (the people who bring us those yummy Rodney Yee yoga videos as well as the best Pilates ones I have ever tried) offers up some interesting tips on their blog. What makes this different from the bajillion other pieces of advice out there is that it actually breaks it down by age instead of just giving vague advice like “Babies love sit-ups!”

For example, it suggests dancing with babies and toddlers (mine love this). If you’ve got school-age kids, they recommend keeping comfy clothes and shoes in your car so you can squeeze in a quick walk while you wait for a sports practice or lesson to be over. Such a no-brainer but not something I would have thought of (and quite honestly I am more likely to use the time to read or make a phone call, but I like the idea anyway!).

The only thing that’s allowed us to get regular workouts in, though, is free drop-in childcare at our local Y. They get to play with other kids, I get a break and we get some sweaty exercise in all at once.

Do Kids Really Need Tread Mills?

Shannon LC Cate — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:30:00 GMT

The new focus in our culture on childhood obesity has led to some interesting shifts in childhood itself, the most recent of which is club memberships for kids. The Chicago Tribune reports that:

"Fitness club memberships for youths age 6 to 17 have more than doubled in the past two decades, rising from 1.3 million in 1987 to 3.9 million in 2007. More than 1.3 million of those memberships were for children 6 to 11, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association."

One might think new concerns about sedentary kids would hurt the video game industry. Not so! They are on the edge of the professional kid fitness trend themselves, with products like Wii Fit, Nintendo's interactive exercise program and Gamercize, that makes video games work only when the player is moving.

The Tribune suggests that:

"Outdoor games such as hopscotch and tag that kept Baby Boomers fit when they were kids have largely fallen by the wayside. With busy family schedules and concerns about neighborhood safety weighing on parents' minds, many youths are more likely to play video games inside than ride a bike outside."

But I'm not 100% convinced. At $69-$125 per month for membership to a youth gym, I have to wonder how many parents can afford to budget the expense these days when there are perfectly good, free and reasonably safe playgrounds in most neighborhoods (certainly in neighborhoods in which residents can afford to contemplate kiddie gym memberships). I also have a hard time reconciling this "trend" with what we are told is another trend in bike-riding in times of expensive gasoline and concern about global warming.

What do you think? Does your kid go to a youth health club? Would you consider such a membership for a young child? What other (better?) ways do you get your kids moving?

When Times Call for Frugality...What Goes?

Keep Kids From Getting Fat - Get a Dog

JeanneSager — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Want to keep your kids from falling victim to the obesity crisis? Australian researchers say get a dog.

The study of more than 1,100 kids ages 5 to 12 showed kids with a friendly Fido in the house were in better shape - even if they weren't walking the pooch on a regular basis. If the dogs were anything like mine, it might have more to do with the amount the dog's stealing from their plate. Just saying - my dog gained 11 pounds in the year after my daughter started solids.

On a more serious note, pets have long been touted as good for kids, boosting self esteem, helping kids learn discipline and responsibility and even lowering kids risk of developing allergies down the line. Put each of those benefits together, and it would make sense that kids who have a four-legged friend have a healthier outlook on life - which usually translates to overall health. Then add in the exercise of chasing the dog to rescue all that stolen food, and that's one canine who's earning his keep.

Image: Pet Door Decor

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5 Exercises To Tackle the "Mom-Flap" Challenge

Kelly Mills — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:02:00 GMT

You know of this mom-flap? A.k.a. the spare tire, the c-section remnant roll, the muffin top. Crabmommy, who coined the term, is tired of hers and she has issued a challenge. Five minutes of abdominal exercises daily to banish the flap for good. She put out a call to her readers, and is now on week two, but not especially happy with how it's all going. And this is where a sister wants to help a sister out.

Yeah, I'm a fitness dork and a personal trainer, so I figured it'd be good to share some evil moves and a little strategy towards her goal. But first, I really, really have to emphasize something, even though it already came up in the comments thread.

You can't spot tone. Well, actually you can, but no one will see the fruits of your hard work if there is a layer of fat over the newly strengthened muscles. And the way to get rid of fat? There's a few, but most involve a combination of cardio exercise (running, biking, swimming, etc.) and nutritional choices. Oh, and for many of us, walking 20 minutes a day is not going to be sufficient for our goals. See, many of us hold fat in our hips and thighs, and many of us hold it around our middle, and wherever you hold it, it'll be the first fat to come back and the last to go. Sorry. Life's a bitch.

But that doesn't mean you should neglect the ab set, cuz stronger abs help your cardio and your whole damn life. It's your core strength. baby. So here's five minutes of hard core. And one more thing: Since lots of us don't get the aesthetic results we want, especially in the time frame we'd like, I am a big fan of setting stuff up so you also get to see your strength progress. It's positive feedback, and I sure need it.

Sooo, I'd do these exercises for time. See how many reps you can do, and try and shoot for more reps each week, or increase your time. Oh, and ask your doctor first, and never even think of suing me because I have NO money. And if you have diastasis recti (and you probably know it because you'll see a ridge or feel a separation between your abs) then really, go for a specialized program.

1. Do 30 seconds of full sit ups. If you can't do any, try having someone hold your feet. Work up to doing them with no one holding your feet. You can also use a weighted ball and bring your arms overhead while you lay flat, then use the momentum to help you get up. I know sit ups aren't in vogue, but hey, do the Pilates version if you can then. I still like them because you can crank them out fast, elevate your heart rate, and have lots of variations (while holding weight, slow, fast, legs flat, decline, and so on.)

2. Do 30 seconds of bicycle crunches. Bring your knee to your opposite elbow while you extend the other leg; then switch in a cycling motion. You should feel it in your obliques. It should be hard, and as fast as you'd go if you were actually cycling. Make it hurt. Yeah.

3. Do 30 seconds of straight leg lifts. Lay flat, and put your hands, palms down, under your back where your booty starts to support your back. Keeping your legs straight, bring them up to a 90 degree angle, then lower them almost to the floor. If this hurts your lower back, try bending your knees and decreasing the range of motion.

Repeat 1, 2, and 3.

4. Do 10 push ups, or as many push ups as you can. From your feet. Yes it is hard at first, and yes, it works your arms, but Crabmommy suggested it and I love the idea because you do have to hold your core tight for these. Consider the 100 push up challenge.

5. Hold plank for one minute. You can do this from the top of the push up position, or from your forearms. Abs tight. Have someone check you to make sure you are flat like a board, and not dipping your hips down or sticking your booty in the air. Add ten seconds every week if you can. Try side plank on alternate days for a super good time.

Extra credit: If you have a pull up bar or are at the park and see some monkey bars handy, hang from the bar and bring your knees up to your chest; then lower your legs sloooowly to avoid swinging and do the next rep without touching the ground in between. Go for 15. 20. Do the side version too. Have fun. This one is great for some folks with bad backs who have trouble with lower ab stuff.

Now go forth and dare people to punch you in the gut.

Marathon Mom runs big race after birthing sextuplets

Brett Singer — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:00:00 GMT

OK, she didn't do it RIGHT after giving birth. But that's about the only thing about this story that doesn't make me feel like a big giant marshmallow.

Jenny Masche, the mother who last year gave birth to sextuplets, recently ran a 26.2 mile race. Yes, in her spare time. She trained after the kids, who are now 1 year olds, turned in for the night. "They’re good sleepers," she told Meredith Vieira on the Today show last week.

And did she enjoy herself? You bet! "The marathon was so fun for me — until I hit 21 miles," Jenny recounted. "Then you hit a wall. You push through and you’re so exhilarated." Oh yeah, I know exactly what you mean. That first 21 miles – just great.

That, in case it's not obvious, is sarcasm at its most sarcastical. If I get to the gym once every two weeks, it's a freakin' miracle. Jenny trained for, and then ran, a marathon. This is in addition to feeding, bathing and changing the diapers (30 per day) of six infants. Her husband helps, of course, and so do the grandparents (Bryan, the proud poppa, also ran the race with her). But, like, yowza. Good for her. This might be the only time in my life when I think it might actually be OK for me to say, "You go girl!" Well, almost.

image: Today Show

Source: ParentDish

Weekly Check-Up: Five Ways to Exercise With Kids

Kelly Mills — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:29:00 GMT

With all the news reports about childhood obesity and the sedentary lifestyles of kids, there's usually some plug for getting your kids off the couch and into some form of physical activity. This has not been a problem (so far) at my house, because I have a highly active child. My theory as to why? Exercise is a huge part of our family life. I report this without righteousness because for most of my life, I avoided physical activity, and thought I was a total shlump. It wasn't until after my child was born that I fell in love with fitness. Now here's five ways we work physical activity into our lives.

1. Take the baby out. I started my fitness endeavors in a simple way: My infant cried unless the person holding her was moving. So I was forced from the get-go to put her in a front pack and walk outside. I started opting for hills on my walks, and eventually graduated to running with her in a jogging stroller. Basically her colicky nature helped get me fit.

2. Be your own mode of transportation. When my child went to daycare, I put her in the stroller and ran the two miles to the sitter's house. Then I ran home. For preschool I put her in a bike trailer and rode ten miles to school, then a few more to get to work. Yep, this meant I had to get up extra early, I had to change in the bathroom at my job, and I was kinda sweaty at my desk. You know what? Still worth it, because it made me active.

3. Tag-team. When the kid was old enough to go to the park on weekends, my partner and I would bring her to a park with a track. He'd hang with her for a while so I could do laps, then it would be his turn. When I played with my daughter I'd do sprints--also known as "tag"--and give her piggyback rides and wrestle in the grass. Beats a thighmaster session any day. You can also work this deal out with another parent if your partner isn't on board.

4. Shared sports. My partner enrolled my child in the same martial art he enjoys, and now coaches the kids' class. He reports that coaching can be a good way to participate and improve in an activity yourself. I've also taken classes that met at the same time as some class my kid was enrolled in. It's a good way to share the love of a pursuit. I even bring her to the gym I work at from time to time and we mess around with the "toys" there. We have a pull up bar in our doorway we all use, and she practices on the monkey bars at school too. Her pull ups are way better than mine.

5. Dance party. My personal favorite workout is when the kid and I put on music and do some very graceless and athletic dancing around the living room. After thirty minutes, I'm sweaty. Good times.

Free Wii ... For a Price, That Is

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:24:00 GMT

Want a super cool gift or just want to play some awesome games when the kids go to bed (sharing is overrated)? Well, SD alum Stefania (Citymama) Pomponi-Butler is giving away a free Nintendo Wii game system ... with a catch, of course.

All you have to do is spill the beans on your most embarrassing exercise story, just like Stefania did with her Jazzercize routines. (Ouch.) Check out the details here and then enter away -- you don't even need your own blog. Just a healthy dose of self esteem. (Three Kid Circus has the same contest, so if you want another chance to win, go here.)

Apologies for pimping out the Wii like some character out of Hustle and Flow, but I was so excited to hear about the Wii when it first came out because I thought, "Finally! If kids are going to play video games all day, at least here's a way to get them off their fat asses!" Having played the bowling game and the tennis game, I now know it's not that involved -- but still, gotta be better than nothing.

Celebrity Tips For Losing the Baby Weight! (BARF)

Kelly Mills — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Omigod, Forbes has this ah-mazing article on how celebrities lose the weight right away after they have their cute little babies. Oh, sure, the article acknowleges right away that famous mamas have all this pressure to drop pounds immediately, and that can be frustrating for regular old moms to watch. And yeah, we'll all admit celebs have personal trainers and chefs and full-time nannies and so on to help with the baby weight loss endeavor. But that doesn't mean we common folk can't learn from celebrities, right?

And the first big thing we learn is that celebrity weight issues must make money for mags, because this article has about as much substance as JLo's postpartum dinners. You know what we are supposed to take from the lifestyles of the rich and famous moms? 1. Be motivated, just like those poor famous people who have tons of cameras documenting every postpartum jiggle; 2. Breastfeeding will help you lose weight--except some celebs say it won't; and 3. Get fit before you conceive, and maybe exercise carefully during pregnancy. Gosh, that is sooo insightful and helpful, I'm sure we've never heard anything like that before. Next you'll be telling us we should "burn calories" and "eat healthy"! Thank gawd we have the chance to worship at the altar of fame, because we gain so much!

Can I share something with you? The focus on post-partum weight loss among the A-, B-, and C-listers is idiotic. These people start with a genetic advantage, have every resource available to make weight loss a primary life goal, and are sometimes shedding the pounds in unhealthy ways and at a dangerous rate. Screw. This. Shit. If you care about dropping the baby fat, at a minimum tell yourself "Nine months on, nine months off." And better yet, just enjoy your newborn, because you have time to lose the weight, and your infant is only going to be this little and precious for the blink of an eye.

Weekly Check-Up: Laugh Your Yoga Off

Kelly Mills — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:01:00 GMT

I swear every day a new kind of yoga is created by someone. Guess one growing trend is laughter yoga, where you, you know, laugh as part of the practice. "'Kids laugh about 400 times a day, and adults only about 15,' notes Barb Fisher, a certified laughter yoga leader..." Yes, you can get certified to teach people how to giggle in a healing way, and once again, children hold the answers. Oh, help me see the world through the eyes of a child. Hey, if you aren't a class kind of person, may I suggest you read my stuff, cuz I guarantee to make you laugh as much as your average kid or I'll give you your money back.

I know I'm far too curmudgeonly for my own good, and why I'm picking on yoga with all the injustice in the world is beyond me, but how come we have to take special classes to laugh? And why do we have to sell it by pumpimg up the health benefits of laughing? (Which include, by the way, stress relief, muscle toning, and, um, help with digestion and constipation. See? Just thinking about constipation made me giggle right there.) I swear, soon we'll have to have special crapping yoga to keep us regular and cuddling yoga so the people in our lives feel loved. Anyhow, perhaps these classes are totally awesome and soon when celebrities are asked how they stay so thin, they'll swear it's the laughter yoga that gave 'em the six-pack abs. But we'll all know the truth: It was totally my writing that did it.

Strollerderby Playdate: Shape It Up, Maggot

Amy Kuras — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:31:00 GMT

When I grow up, I want to be tough.

Not like a motorcycle riding mama or anything, but a strong, athletic chick who can scoop up my kids and save them from a fire or scary pervo if need be – and hell, avoiding diabetes and heart disease would kind of rock.

Back when I was a young, single slip of a girl, I was a pretty avid exerciser. I ran five days a week and did races and was really pretty buff, at least for someone who is a big fan of carbs and beer and chocolate and whose genes give her the build of her Polish washerwoman ancestors.

Then I got married, and infertility treatment put crazy hormone weight on, and I quit smoking and got cable and had two babies and basically turned into a lardass couch potato. A state of affairs I realized during my last pregnancy would have to change as soon after delivery as I could muster.

Luckily, I have inspiration (and a local Y with child care). There's our own deeply badass Kelly Mills, who writes about health and fitness here and also at her own blog, Fitness Fixation. Kelly's wit and heart are as in shape as the rest of her, so it's worth a read even if your exercise is limited to walking to the fridge.

And there's Doctor Mama, who I came across from infertility blogs, but guess what? She's the inspiration and drill sergeant behind The Maggots, a group of lovelies she's teaching about running.

If they can't help whip me into shape, well, nothing will.

Photo: Fitness Fixation

Weekly Check-Up: Wii Fit Gets Pumped

Kelly Mills — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:31:00 GMT

In case you haven't heard, Wii Fit is going to be released next month, and it's already a huge hit in Japan, according to CNN. Is it going to replace the exercise video and save our children from obesity? Well, it's being touted as the next big thing in part because it has a sensor-riddled balance board that tracks and analyzes your movements. It will assess your fitness using your Body Mass Index (BMI--a measure I despise, BTW) and then it will run you through some drills to see how you do. After that, you can choose from a bunch of games focusing on strength training, aerobics, balance games and yoga. Wii Fit will also track your progress over time.

Now maybe it's just me, but that article sounds more like a press release than reporting. I have no idea if Wii Fit is any good, and as someone who actually likes playing video games, I imagine I'll find out, and who knows, I might love it. I know early versions of the boxing minus the balance board were kinda crappy, and not much like actual boxing. That might not matter if your goal is just doing some physical activity, but I'd rather go live and get actual skills on some things. I also wonder if the board is going to be enough to assess things like proper form, crucial for avoiding injury. However, if you do a workout video or crowded class, you probably aren't getting that instruction anyway, so that's nothing unique to the Wii. As with anything and everything fitness-y, if it helps you engage in consistent and regular physical activity, then it's probably gonna be a good thing for you.

Want to Get In Shape? Work at a Day Care.

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:30:00 GMT

CNN just published a helpful list of ways to get in shape at work. Their advice? Pick careers that require strenuous activity.

Well, duh. If you are a bike messenger, it's fairly safe to assume that you are in decent shape. Ditto construction workers and landscapers. CNN has been extra helpful and included salary ranges as well. What caught my attention, however, was number 3 on their list: childcare workers.

Which makes a certain amount of sense. There is lots of bending, lifting, toting and chasing involved with childcare. Two things strike me, though.

1) If this is true, why aren't all moms buff like Heidi Klum

and

2) Why do we live in a world where bike messengers make more than nannies?

Photo credit: extension.unh.edu

Weekly Check-Up: Healthy Gifts Are Okay...For People You Wanna Alienate

Kelly Mills — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:03:00 GMT

I've seen a couple of these stories lately: Instead of boring old candy or wine or pajamas this holiday, why not give some fitness-related gift? Like some piece of exercise equipment (iGallop anyone?) or a certificate for a massage or a consultation with a nutritionist. I say, BAD IDEA. Okay, yes, wine is bad for non-drinkers and candy is harsh for diabetics and pajamas are lousy for people who sleep in the nude (boo-ya) so I'm not saying other gifts are without peril. But even as someone who might stand to personally gain from, say, you giving away a certificate for three sessions with a personal trainer like me, let's just stop and think this one through a little more. Because I think there's one strong possibility to consider, and I believe I've said it before.

Fitness gifts could easily be interpreted as saying, "You are fat and out of shape and you'd better do something about that." I mean, maybe as a fitness freak I'd like some fancy pants dumbbells for X-mas, but that doesn't mean your cousin who never works out ever will feel the same. You just have to be careful with that kind of crap. Even the massage thing is iffy, since there are a sizeable number of people out there (many in my family) who don't like being touched by strangers. And I hope it goes without saying that homemade coupons for a massage you give yourself are considered bad for coworkers and your postal delivery person and that Starbucks barrista, unless you are on the make, skeezy.

In my opinion, exercise and nutrition related presents are the equivalent of giving an iron or vacuum cleaner or drill. When specifically requested, it's fine, but there's an implication that the person really ought to put said gift to good use, and people don't like being told to work out or eat well unless they have already resolved to do so. I have one friend whose dad always gave her a thighmaster (early iGallop prototype) or a treadmill or some such thing, and the message was "Get off your fat ass or you'll never find a husband." So all those articles out there pumping up healthy gifts as the smart way to go are just plain stupid. I'm a fan of the one safe bet: Big. Ass. Gift. Card.

Weekly Check-Up: Losing Weight Online

Kelly Mills — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:43:00 GMT

I started writing about exercise and weight loss in part because I just detested the usual tone of many fitness magazines: chipper, irritating advice handed down from someone yapping about what you should do in five simple steps to "burn fat and get a better butt--fast". Since then I have to say that salvation from the rah-rah you oughta blah blah can be found in the same place we've gotten an antidote to the preachy parenting books: online. There's some excellent fitness and health blogs out there, most written by people who have lost weight themselves or began an exercise program after being mostly sedentary, and they speak with the humor and realism of people who are doing this stuff themselves and have lived to tell the tale. Because we parents are often kinda concerned about fitness (wanting to losing pregnancy weight, needing the energy to chase our kids down the grocery store aisles, and so on) I thought I'd give you some good online resources for motivation, information, and laugh-ification in moving forward with a good program.

Women's Health did this highlight of fitness blogs, and I do like many of the peeps on the list. One of my favorite bloggers, Crabby McSlacker is on there, and I have to highly pump her Cranky Fitness blog. She's the opposite of that wretched aerobics instructor you wanna slap, and she always has the hilarious goods on the latest research.

Two of my other favorites are Elastic Waist, which is a group blog kinda like this one, and the writers there tackle all things weighty with a sweet dose of funny-ass-good. I also love Half Fast, because he's a runner like me (i.e. not a real quick one) and he makes me spit-laugh on a regular basis with his self-deprecating takedowns of all things joggy. I hope you will love these people as I do.

And by the way, if you have any fitness and weight crap you'd like to see here (of a general, not person-specific nature) please do lemme know. Training people is my day job, after all.

Now Who's To Blame? Schools Get Better Food, Fitness

Madeline Holler — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:06:00 GMT

Schools bear a huge burden to, at the very least, not make things worse for kids and try to make them better. In terms of fitness and nutrition, they are making significant progress.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control shows that over the past six years, more schools are offering salads and vegetables and fewer permit bake sales (?!). Also, more states and districts insist elementary schools have recess and that P.E. teachers at least have a college degree.

The biggest deal, though? It's that 30 percent of the school districts banned junk food from school vending machines, which is a staggering increase in the number who refused to allow them, up from 4 percent in 2000. Also, a decline in French fries on menus across the country. More are selling water in vending machines, most still sold soda and chips as well.

It’s progress like this that makes other people’s choices to hawk crappy food seem especially baffling. When schools spend scarce money and sacrifice resources (contracts with Pepsi and Coke, for example), I would think it feels like banging your head against a wall when celebrities come out and endorse utter edible crap.

Anyway, what I would like to know is whether the school changes alone are having even a small effect on staving off or even reducing obesity in the student population. Either way, not having to compete with French fries is a relief as a lunch-packing parent.

Blank Screen: Kids TV Network Says "Get Out!"

Madeline Holler — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:37:00 GMT

I’m going to try to not be too cynical about a TV network's attempt to promote kids’ health. I’ve got to believe the intentions are good and that station officials really do want kids to stop watching (for a bit) and get up off the couch and go play.

Or it’s a publicity stunt.

In any case, here goes:

Saturday, Nickelodeon will stop airing for three hours beginning at noon (EDT/PDT). The idea isn’t that kids should click over to Cartoon Network. Rather, the station programmers hope kids will go outside and play.

A few hours after programming resumes, kids can watch the network's "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" (6 p.m. EDT/PDT), which will feature other kids who have taken up exercise, their challenges and success stories. The blank screen non-program and health challenge are the product of an ongoing project of Nickelodeon’s and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Three hours of dead air in the afternoon hardly seems like enough. But it’s a start. I wonder how many kids that blank screen will jolt out of the TV stupor. I wonder how many will wind up playing video games instead. Also, what about Nick Jr., the companies network for preschoolers? They don't appear to be taking part.

Maybe the network will do it again next year, and bring the other children’s television channels along with them. Then ESPN and Food Network the year after that and the whole family might wind up at the park.

Idiotic Idea of the Day: School Bans Tag

Kelly Mills — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:30:00 GMT

A Colorado Springs school has banned tag. In fact, they banned any game involving chasing. How come? "'It causes a lot of conflict on the playground,' said Assistant Principal Cindy Fesgen. In the first days of school, before tag was banned, she said students would complain to her about being chased or harassed." And it's stories like this that make me wonder if I'm becoming some crotchety libertarian crackpot, poised to start scrawling letters to the editor. Because I think this is ri-stupid-iculous. Here's how my rant will start: "We are raising a nation of namby-pamby kids, unable to resolve conflicts or function in the world because there's a damn ban on everything remotely controversial."

Seriously, I'm irritated for starters because we've already sheltered our kids from physical activities like bike riding and walking to school because supposedly there's a kidnapper or pedophile lurking on every corner. Now in an effort to purge the schoolyard of conflict, there's bans on every dang activity (even ones like tag that are good for fitness) and just loads of focus on a safe, positive, orderly school climate. That isn't a totally bad thing, but outlawing crap is really a lame solution. How about working with kids on conflict resolution? Having kids take part in the discussion of what's appropriate and what's hurtful, and give them a say in determining the rules? Or not worrying so damn much about our children being scarred by tag?

Yup, I'm a total crank.

Strollerderby Playdate: Play With the Fit Folks

Kelly Mills — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:01:00 GMT

You know how when you become a parent, all of the sudden you end up spending time with people you might never have met before simply because they have kids the same age as yours? It's a blessing and a curse of parenting. But for our playdate today, once again I wanna steer us temporarily away from the mom and dad bloggers and check out some of the people who write about health and fitness and stuff like that. We'll all sit around and they'll munch on carrot sticks and apple slices, and we will too, followed by half our kid's PBJ and those organic goldfish crackers dropped on the floor. "But I don't care about fitness!" you say. Hey, did you know some of these peeps write things that are even relevant to us mommy-daddy types?

Crabby McSlacker over at Cranky Fitness waxes funny on the healthiest cities. I heart Crabby. Shout out to Chicago for lovin' Twinkies!

Fitsugar (a mom, BTW) shares the scoop on diastasis recti. That's what some of us get out of pregnancy, lucky devils.

Back in Skinny Jeans has an update on the 12-year-old girl who got liposuction. Now she's gained the weight back and got gastric lap band surgery--at 13. Oh mama.

Shauna from The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl loooooves Fage Greek Yogurt. I love her style. Next yogurt's on me.

The Diet Blog talks about character and gap-teeth and being 10 years old. See, not just about grown-ups, well, at least not till the end...

Weekly Check Up: Exercising With the Kiddies

Kelly Mills — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:30:00 GMT

When you are ready to start sweating about something other than which preschool you're gonna send your wee one to, it's time to strategize the regular exercise. Here's a quick guide to working out with the kids. Nothing here is groundbreaking (jogging stroller, wow) but it's a fine list of things you can do while your children clamor for your attention in the background. You know: join a gym with childcare; walk with your baby in the frontpack; run on the track while your kids play with bubbles in the middle; take 'em to the lifeguarded pool and do laps (I am waaaay too paranoid to ever do that.) But as the author says, you probably either have to double-team with a friend or just lower your expectation considerably. And that's no small problem.

So while I think it's great to do these for one or two of your weekly workouts, if your kid is like mine, I red-light the idea of making this your regular practice. Because there's no greater set-up for frustration than trying to accomplish something with your kids in tow. It'll suck the quality out of that time you spend together. My vote is to find ways to do solo workouts. But if that's not possible, or you wanna involve the progeny in your active lifestyle, I'd add two more options to the list. 1) Find a sport or activity for your kid, and squoosh in your workouts there. Put junior in a judo class and take the simultaneous boxing fitness class. Or sign up for soccer and run around the field. That way your kid is entertained, not waiting. 2) Play kid games for your workout. Have you tried tag lately? It's also called sprinting. Just run around for a good 30-40 minutes, punctuated by wrassling and rolling in the grass intervals. See, you even get to look like "fun parent" at the same time.

Keeping Kids Fit In The Summer

Patti — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:57:00 GMT

Here's a little "yikes" for you: the American Journal of Public Health reports that the average BMI of a 5-6 year old child can double over the course of a summer vacation. The "tater tot" generation (that's a cutesy if sickening way of referring to the children of couch potatoes) aren't benefited much by the lack of structure and the sedentary activities that they often gravitate toward when school's out of session.

So here's how to fix it. Involve your children in food planning and preparation, keep them moving, and for pete's sake make sure they're well-hydrated and wearing sunscreen. That, and limiting your kids' screen time, will go a long way toward building healthy habits and avoiding having to do your school clothes shopping in the husky department come fall.

I know, I know: common sense. But if it were really that common, we'd be reading very different articles about children's health, wouldn't we?

Trimming Your Mummy Tummy, the Witty British Way

Patti — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:01:00 GMT

A friend of mine once swore that her weight issues were a direct result of being raised to clean her plate. When she had children of her own and swore she'd never lay that trip on them, she found herself cleaning their plates instead, and the next thing you knew she had fifteen pounds she couldn't shake. It took her forever to figure out where they came from and why the treadmill wasn't helping.

Me, my kids eat like birds and I only put three bites on their plate at a time in order to avoid having to throw anything out. But I'm not immune: if they snub half of their cookie because it's oatmeal and not chocolate chip, I'm gonna eat that. If I put out a bowl of Goldfish for a playdate, it's a sure bet I ate half the bag while I was waiting for our friends to arrive.

This, according to British experts as well as pretty much every parenting magazine I have ever had the misfortune to read, is not good. But fear not: you can trick yourself out of all the bad snacky habits that you risk forming when you live in a house of kids, and form some better habits along the way, and maybe say goodbye to that half-bag of Goldfish that's spilling out over your waistband.

I must say though, the upside of Bay Area parenting is the pressure to feed your children primarily "good" snacks, which tend not to be very appetizing to me. I can't remember the last time I ate an organic fruit-and-cereal bar in order to save it from the bin, and I'd rather have bamboo shoots shoved under my finger nails than eat Booty. If I would just commit to buying the vastly inferior Annie's Bunnies instead of the delicious and oh-so-salteriffic Goldfish, I'd probably be muffin-top free and ready to rock.

Strollerderby Playdate: Attack of the Fitness Blogs, Part Deux

Kelly Mills — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:02:00 GMT

We had so much fun playing with the fitness bloggers last week, so let's make another date. Dude, that baby weight is so coming off! Well, at the very least there's folks to commiserate with when it stubbornly sticks. Nothing better than sitting on your behind and reading about healthy living. By the way, you may have heard the term "fat bloggers" for people who chronicle weight loss stories or just write about nutrition and stuff. I'm campaigning to change the term to "floggers".

The Diet Blog always breaks down the fads and fictions that circulate in the health world. Vet through them before you start the "Only-Parsley-and-Chicken-Breast" diet.

Back in Skinny Jeans would never tell you to do anything she wouldn't do herself.

Crabby at Cranky Fitness never fails to crack me up. Someday we'll eat cake together.

If you feel like watching some folks just like you do some really extraordinary things, visit the Ice Chamber blog. Plus there's lots of sweeties there.

Or check out the great craziness at Straight to the Bar. Superhuman people doing the impossible.

Strollerderby Playdate: Survival of the Fittest

Kelly Mills — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:02:00 GMT

In my non-parent-blogging life, I do things related to exercise and fitness and crap like that. Dark, sweaty, mysterious things. Many of the people I work with are moms and dads who are trying hard to find the time to work out in the midst of parenting, and we all know that's no easy feat. So today I thought we could play with some fitness blogs, just in case you have any interest in the sporting life.

Fitsugar recommends jogging with yer partner to keep the old marriage fires lit and the calories burning.

Elastic Waist takes us back to our own childhood with a return to Schoolhouse Rock nutrition ditties.

The Diet Pulpit gets motivated because she wants to be around for her daughter.

60 in 3 helps us get some perspective on guilt. I think you could also apply this to making parenting mistakes.

That's Fit has thoughts on taking a break from sugar. Hmmm, Jessica... where have I heard that name before?

Salsa Class for Moms and Babies Shake Up Post-Partum Bleghhhhs

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:05:00 GMT

No one can really prepare a mama for the stuff that comes after the baby's delivery. And I don't mean the up-at-all-hours, leaky-boob, colic-child, colic-Daddy, looky-loo-in-law, in-love-with-the-little-boo stuff. I mean, the jelly-belly, lead-balloon-bosom, stretch-marked stuff. I mean the stuff that you cry over or silently chide yourself about, that you pray will melt away in the 45 minutes of good sleep you get each night.

All this stuff is why I am a proponent of mommy-and-me classes that kick in when the baby has adjusted to light outside of the womb and when mothers are feeling ready to attempt packing a diaper bag, loading up the infant and heading into an outside world of their own. The classes, designed to start slowly and work up to a pace that has a bit of challenge but still accommodates parents and their newborns, come in yoga, Pilates, stroller walking and many other varieties. My own mama-baby yoga class helped me re-learn how to flex my stretched-out abs while smothering my babbling baby boy in kisses, all while in Downward Facing Dog or the much-needed reminder of Warrior pose. I know lots of mothers who have given lots of kisses in similar classes, who've been just as happy to get out the door with their newborn as to give their bodies a little workout.

For Canadian new mothers in nineteen cities, salsa classes are a way to get back that good-body feeling while their babies are along for the ride. Through the franchise Salsa Babies, moms and babies secured in slings learn moves to Latin dances over the eight-week course. Jennifer Torres, the 35-year-old dancer and founder of Salsa Babies, assures that the dance moves are conducive to carrying a baby and that most relax during the class and many fall asleep as their moms get a workout in.

While I'm not ready to have another baby right now, nor am I that interested in strapping my 24-pound toddler in for an hour of cha-cha-chaing, I love that Torres' focus goes beyond fitness for the dancing mamas when she says, "[Salsa has] a certain element of sexiness. It's nice to see [mothers] reawaken that and start to feel confident again."

For all the good of cardio and a little sweat and muscle-building, I think that confidence, that sexiness, that welcome feeling of power is probably the best way to feel yourself again, even in the post-baby body, even that early on.

Roller Derby Mamas Rule, Part II

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:37:00 GMT

Not yet convinced that you OR your mama should join a roller derby team? Not sure if it's really the best outlet for your parental frustrations? Think again, my friend. Think. Again. According to Jette Kernion at Cinematical, "Hell on Wheels" is an inspirational look at two women's roller derby leagues in Texas as they try and get clubs up and rolling. She warns that seeing some of the injuries up close and personal might scare you away, but I don't think she knows who she's dealing with here.

The mamas. The ladies of the labor and the delivery. A little blood? A little guts? A little gore? Peh. You can't scare us. And while it's probably not true that all mothers are dying to get their asses kicked in the derby, some of us sure as hell are. It's an incredible opportunity to have an alter-ego and exercise with other tough chicks.

Most importantly, you get a player name. And who would dare to to have anything but fun with a name like "Lucinda Streets."
Personally, I'm leaning toward "MamaHawk."