Looking for something quick, easy and healthy to make for dinner?

Check out the new recipes that have been posted on our Stroller Strides of Bend Facebook page. These are tested recipes that your whole family will enjoy - even the little ones.

You can find them in the LINKS section.

Enjoy!

Show me your race face & get SMART

If you've ever taken part in a race or other competition you probably remember that there are 3 major stages. The start, the middle, the finish. You may also picture your face during each of these stages. The excited face at the starting line - all that potential out in front of you. The grimace when the adrenaline has worn off the the finish line is still a ways off. The relieved face when you see the finish line and you can't wait cross it. Or the face of pure joy when you realize you might actually win the race!

It is now the end of February and for many of us we're walking around with our grimace face on. We're just trying to get to the next thing. The holidays are over and we're looking down the road for what comes next. For some it's spring break, for others it's Easter. For the die-hards it's warm weather or summer. As moms it sometimes seems like an endless cycle of cleaning, grocery shopping and dinner preparation interspersed with wonderful memories and milestones as our kids grow up. (If you're like me it might be laced with major clean-ups too - read here a one year old who got into a tub of Vaseline.) This is the middle of the race. The time before the next big thing, whatever that is, arrives.

Personally, I'm in the middle of a healthy living challenge that I started with several other Stroller Strides moms in January. I am plugging along and I am seeing results from making a few key changes in my life, but there is still a ways to go. I've definitely got my grimace face on.



What keeps me going are the SMART goals I have set for myself along the way. I once participated in a cross country ski race. I'm not a ski racer but it sounded like fun. Um. Yeah. As I skied along I realized that it was a lot harder than I had expected but there was no way I could quit. So I started to make little goals for myself along the course. I'd strive to reach a tree, then pass the person in front of me, then go hard and fast for 2 minutes, then not let the person behind me pass me by. Before I knew it I could see the finish line. I got a new burst of energy and I finished strong. I didn't win, but I sure skied a great race.

It was the goals I kept setting that kept me focused and motivated. In my current challenge I have set some specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and timely goals as I go along. One will come up in a few weeks at my son's second birthday. Another will come up just before the end of the healthy living challenge. And finally after the challenge is over I have a timely long term goal already set to keep me motivated and energized.

goals are:

• Specific
• Measureable
• Attainable
• Reasonable
• Timely

So, make yourself some goals while you are wearing your grimace face around. The only way to change your race face is to make it to the next stage. The only way to make it to the next stage is to get through the stage you are currenly in. The only way to get through it is to set some SMART goals.


Show me your race face and get SMART!

How to get back into life - after having a baby!

No Burnt Toast In 2009!

DON’T SETTLE FOR THE BURNT TOAST

by Beverly Ford

As Oh-Eight fades into our rear view mirror, it is remarkable how our psychology improved simply by replacing our calendar. New dreams - Oh-Nine!

The news can be depressing, but there is no question about it, bad news sells. However, when we look for good news we’ll discover that while going through our daily routines, there are those inevitable moments when someone comes into our life at exactly the right time and says or does just the right thing.

Then there are times when a person needs a mentor and/or professional help to dig himself or herself out of the rut they’ve dug for themselves. Clear goals are vital for our personal success.

At a two-day workshop for self-employed people that I attended, and helped facilitate, the objective was for the attendees to rediscover themselves for 2009 and create, or borrow, a slogan to reflect their commitment to improve. These words, by T. S. Eliot, are what the group collectively selected…

“ONLY THOSE WHO RISK GOING TOO FAR CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT HOW FAR ONE CAN GO!”

While getting a haircut in Riggins, Jeanne at J Marie’s Hair Salon asked me if I had made any New Year’s resolutions. “Only one,” was my reply…

“NO BURNT TOAST IN 2009!”

If air travel was part of your holidays, you saw many children traveling, and on every flight the flight attendants gave clear instructions about the use of oxygen masks in case of an emergency...

• “If you are flying with children, secure your oxygen mask first, then help the children with theirs.”
  

Why is it that when those same parents prepare breakfast for their children, and burn the toast, the mommy generally eats the burnt toast? Are you also guilty of doing this?

That didn’t seem significant until I listened to a pastor talking about people, especially women, who have embraced the ‘burnt toast’ lifestyle because they also watched their moms make these, and other, non-verbal sacrifices. Since these women then followed what they had observed…today their ‘settled for’ existence (spouse, partner, home, work and etc.) is their daily reminder that they could have done better had they put a higher worth on themselves. Even Oprah says, “Add yourself to your priority list.” Guys are not exempt.

The pastor went on to say that treating others, but especially ourselves, with more respect goes a long way towards improving what we get, what we can offer, and who we become…as long as our egos don’t get in our way. Then he shared these familiar words…

• The first essential in good manners is consideration for others.
• The second is consideration for oneself.
• The first keeps you from walking over people.
• The second keeps you from being a doormat.

Thanks to Bev Ford for this great reminder. We all need to hear this as moms and remember that we are important, have value and must make ourselves a priority. At Stroller Strides we strive to give moms a place to practice these things each day. By spending an hour on our physical fitness we take a step closer to being the women, wives and moms we want to be.

NO BURNT TOAST IN 2009!

10,000 Steps a Success!

What a fun month we had at Stroller Strides walking out 10,000 steps each day. It was a daily conversation piece in class and everyone who participated enjoyed pushing themselves to do just a little more.

The moms who are striving for postpartum fitness really found the walking improved their fitness levels and those striving for prenatal fitness commented on how much better they are feeling with the walking.

Congratulations to all the moms who walked across December with purpose and pride. You go girls!

10,000 Steps Challenge at Stroller Strides

The Little Black Dress Club has been going strong for 2 months now. Our Ab Intensive during October was fun and transformational. Our High Intensity Wednesdays in November really put us all to the test. Now for December we're kickin' it up a notch (as my friend Emeril likes to say) by taking part in a 10,000 Step Challenge.

The goal is to walk 10,000 steps each day in December. How far is 10,000 steps you ask? It's almost 5 miles. For those who complete the challenge we will walk approximately 155 miles this month. If this sound like a lot to you I think you'd be surprised at how many steps you take during the day, especially if you have kids!

Walking has numerous benefits and we fully intend to include our class time in the day's step count. One of the most important benefits for December is not only keeping up our fitness routines but also keeping our stress levels very very low.

This challenge is something that anyone can do. It's great for amping up your postpartum fitness routine, it's a very healthy way for pregnant moms to get some prenatal fitness into their day and it's wonderful for families to do together - come on Dads, join us!

If you would like to get in on the fun, please leave a comment below and you too can be included in our 10,000 Step Challenge. Let us know what your goals are for completing the challenge. Why do you want to take 10,000 steps each day this month?

Now go grab that pedometer, lace up those walking shoes and let's get moving!!

Little Black Dress Club Approved

Making time for a workout at Stroller Strides

I have read several posts around the blogisphere lately that recommend different postpartum workouts for moms without much time. Ha! What mom has any time? I certainly don't and it's even worse with a new baby I know. There's nothing like trying to fit in a workout and a shower in between feedings right?

But instead of trying to find the quickest way to sweat a little I would encourage new moms to MAKE time for a workout. Of course I recommend Stroller Strides. The hour you spend at a class has far more benefits than just causing you to sweat. The social interaction with other adults is good for the soul. To laugh and joke and sing silly songs with other moms who are in your same boat will make all the difference in your day.

The quality focused time you get to spend with your child is priceless, especially when you return home to a sea of laundry, mountain of bills and jungle of groceries. There is nothing like spending set time eye to eye with the little miracle who is your child.

The friendships that your child will make may last a lifetime. To instill the values of health, fun and friendship from the very beginning of their life is invaluable and the memories will last forever.

I have heard some great instructors say that you give your family 23 hours of your day. Why not take just one hour to focus on you. I agree. Get rejuvenated, strong and healthy so that those other hours really count.

Childhood is fast and fleeting. If you want to make the most of it not only for your child but also for yourself then set aside time each week to focus on being your best. Find some other moms to make the journey fun and get STRIDING!