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Sunday, August 31, 2008

Stroller Strides - It's better than a bag of rice

I came across a blog the other day for a guy whose wife recently had a baby. He is also a personal trainer. In it he lamented at the "massive deficit in the fitness programs being given to post-partum and pregnant mothers right now."

HEL-LO? I'm not even going to go there. Anyway, he had a video on his blog showing what he calls "5 truly functional movements a mother must have in order to take care of her kids."

So I decided to take a look at his "functional movements." To be honest I couldn't finish watching it I was laughing so hard. In it he tells women to get a bag of rice - to represent the baby - and use it in all their movements.

Now I'm sure these are great exercises and to be honest the ones I saw are very familiar to me as a Stroller Strides instructor. But seriously! I'd much rather work out with the moms in my class and my kids than hang out alone in my living room with a bag of rice. So, for my money I'd say Stroller Strides is a much better deal than a 10 pound bag of rice from Costco (do they even sell a bag that small at Costco?)

Then it got even funnier. As I went to write this blog I was searching for pictures of bags of rice on google and came across this gem:

This picture was on a blog called Daddytypes.com. Here is the accompanying story:

To celebrate the birth of a baby in a way that makes it feel like the kid's right there in your arms, a rice shop in the southwestern Japanese city of Kita-Kyushu will send out a customized dakigokochi, a roughly baby-shaped bag of high-grade rice to everyone on your birth announcement list. The bag will be printed with the kid's picture, stats, and a greeting--and it will weigh the same as the kid did at birth.

A few final thoughts here:

1. Should I forward this information to Mr. Personal "Rice Bag" Trainer?

2. Beware Denver of Mr. Personal "Rice Bag" Trainer. He may try to lure your moms away with promises of "functional movements."

3. Do you think I can order a bag the size of a man with a picture of Brad Pitt on it?

Just wondering.


Stride On!




Facing Fall Head On at Stroller Strides


If you stepped outside on the High Desert today you were faced with reality. Fall is here. Summer is on her way out. Now I know she may go slowly over the next few weeks, but there is no denying that fall is ready to take her place. This is bittersweet to me because I LOVE fall, but I'm not quite ready to relinquish my summer.

Since we had virtually no spring I am sad to see the warm weather go. With busy little kids this is even more difficult because gone are the morning of sending them outside to play on the swing set in their jammies. Now we have to kit up with pants, socks, sweatshirts and soon snowsuits and mittens. Ahhhhhh, summer don't go! I'm not quite ready to be cooped up in the house with two balls pure energy.

However, there are some bright spots to be seen, especially at Stroller Strides. For the month of September we are going to milk the weather for all it's worth. One way we'll do that is by adding Tuesdays to our line-up of classes. Every Tuesday in September we will be meeting at Pilot Butte State Park to do a butte climb class. We will be walking up the butte with our babies, doing a mini-workout at the top and coming back down.

I'm very excited to add this class to our already great class schedule because it will mix things up a little bit. Adding hills to your regular walking routine triples your calorie burn. With the holidays just around the corner and Little Black Dress season coming fast why not be ready? Why not make this your year to shine! I think this class will really jump start our workouts and we'll all be Little Black Dress ready come November.

If you'd like to join us for our butte climb classes or want to know more about Stroller Strides, please visit us at: www.strollerstrides.net/bend

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Healthy Eating Options from Stroller Strides

Our faithful Stroller Strides moms are finishing up their month-long MomOlympics challenge. Last week's special challenge was to submit a healthy recipe for the rest of the group.

Here are a couple tasty options. Why not try one tonight!



From Kathy P:

BALSAMIC & ROSEMARY GRILLED SALMON










INGREDIENTS

  • 4 (4 ounce) salmon fillets
  • sea salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, minced

DIRECTIONS

  1. Season salmon fillets to taste with sea salt, and place into a shallow, glass dish. Whisk together vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and rosemary; pour over salmon fillets. Cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
  3. Remove salmon from marinade, and shake off excess. Discard remaining marinade. Cook on preheated grill until fish is opaque in the center and flakes easily with a fork, about 4 minutes per side.

From Megan G:

Marinated tomato-garlic shrimp

INGREDIENTS

* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup tomato paste
* 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or dried
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
* 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

DIRECTIONS

* In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato paste,
sugar and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate
for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
* Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once
near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
* Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes
per side, or until opaque. OR… In the winter I just put it all in a baking dish
instead of grilling it. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. The sauce is fantastic
over brown rice!

I tried this tomato-garlic shrimp recipe and substituted chicken for the shrimp and basil / garlic tomatoes for the tomato paste and baked it in the oven for about 40 min. It was deelish!! You could make this really fast with a roasted chicken too. Just throw all the meat in with the sauce and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve over rice.

From Kim D:

Zucchini Casserole

INGREDIENTS

6 cups sliced zucchini
1/2 cup diced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream (I use light)
1 cup shredded carrots
1 pkg stuffing mix (stove-top)
1/2 cup melted butter (I use less better and had hot water)

DIRECTIONS

Boil zucchini and onion in salted water for 5 minutes. Drain. Combine soup, sour cream,and carrots. Fold into zucchini and onions. Combine butter (water) and stuffing mix. Cover bottom of 9x13 baking dish with 1/2 of stuffing. Add zucchini mixture. Top with remaining stuffing. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


I hope this gives you some great ideas for tonight's meal. Bon Appetit!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Stroller Strides Word of the Week: CONSISTENCY

Our STROLLER STRIDES group is in the middle of the MomOlympics. We've been keeping score, doing weekly challenges and last week we had a great time during our circuit workout using "non-traditional" workout toys during class. You can do a lot with a swim noodle!!

Last week's challenge was to make a goal collage and to come up with one word that describes your current or short term goals. It was fun to get everybody's words.

The word I chose for this week is CONSISTENCY. The moms who are consistently working out in our classes are really starting to see results. As a fitness provider I am working hard to provide CONSISTENT quality for my clients.

I am also working hard to provide an atmosphere that is open and encouraging for all the moms who participate. I like seeing the moms on class days and providing them with something that is CONSISTENT in their lives. They may not get the floor mopped or the laundry done, but they sure get their workouts in during the week.

The CONSISTENCY we've had up until this point has really paid off this summer. We've added some great moms and kids to our group and are seeing wonderful growth. It's fun to see the word spread!

If you are looking for something CONSISTENT in your life, give STROLLER STRIDES a try. There are over 700 class locations to chose from around the country. Working out with other moms is like nothing else and you will love the difference CONSISTENT physical activity will make in your life.

See you in class!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Postpartum Fitness through Stroller Strides

I read a lot of articles about postpartum fitness and it's role in helping new moms stave off depression. There is some great information out there and some very "interesting" information as well.

As a fitness instructor and Stroller Strides program provider I can personally attest to the wonderful benefits of getting your body moving after having a baby. Even many months after having a baby the challenges of motherhood can be overwhelming. But time after time I can see and feel my mind and body react to being outside, doing physical exercise and being in the presence of other moms.

I can see it in the faces of the moms in my classes too. They may arrive at class dragging from too little sleep or tense from life's stresses. After an hour of working out, laughing, singing and commiserating with each other they are visibly happier, more awake, walk lighter on their feet, hold themselves differently and exude joy.

I love being a part of this transformation. Stroller Strides really does make a marked difference in the lives of moms. It's not just moving body parts back into their pre-baby position, it's embracing a new season of life and practicing joy while doing it.


If you feel like your postpartum fitness routine could use some energizing (or if you just want to start doing something period) then join the moms of Stroller Strides around the nation who are investing in themselves and getting big returns both physically and mentally. You owe it to yourself and your baby to be your best. Stroller Strides is here to help.

See you in class!

(Photos courtesy of Stroller Strides classes across the nation. You go girls!)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Let the Games Begin!


Stroller Strides of Bend is celebrating the 29th Olympiad in Beijing with a competition all our own. The opening ceremonies for the MomOlympics 2008 will be held on August 4 at 9:15 am at Pilot Butte State Park.

At Stroller Strides we believe in helping moms become their very best, but it's important to have fun while your doing it. With that in mind Stroller Strides of Bend will be hosting the MomOlympics 2008 for the month of August. Moms will be pitted against one another in friendly competition as they "Go for the GOLD!"

All moms are welcome to join us. Come try our classes, meet some wonderful moms and babies, get a full body workout and enjoy the celebration of the Olympics.

You can see what the judges will be looking for HERE.

All moms are winners, but some healthy competition to prove it is always fun!

Good luck mommies!