Get Out!

Once the weather changes and the sun shines late into the evening I just can't think of any reason why we should not be outdoors. Give us a jogging stroller and a bike and we are off on an adventure. Sometimes we pack a snack to get us through the evening, other nights we pack our dinner in baggies and eat a picnic while we are out. It's probably the easiest and most fun way to get in a workout!

Today's Workout:

early a.m. fusion class

(because I have a hot Friday night date, Disney on Ice!)

My new motto.

Workouts:

Yesterday - Bikini Boot Camp in place of my training run

Today - None so far. Some days you just need to sleep in.

Possible jog this evening with the bike and stroller if the weather cooperates and the snow melts!

I Workout Because...

I workout because:
I want to be healthy
I want to be strong
I have to keep up with my boys
I want to live longer and feel better and look good.

Those are the reasons that make the most sense. But sometimes I think I really workout because:

I am obsessed with foods like this and no amount of will power can beat that 3:00 craving for a sweet treat

and I LOVE to buy new workout gear like these goodies 

(both arrived on my porch yesterday so I was extra motivated to get up this morning!)

I think any reason you can come up with to get to the gym is a great reason, even if it IS just to look awesome in your shiny new pants :)

Today's Workout:

early a.m. fusion class

Make it a Great Monday

Oh Monday, how I dread you. But it's Easter week so atleast we have that to look forward to in a few days! 2 reasons I know this week is going to be great:

1. My favorite dish from Hen House (which I could make myself but for some reason it taste's better when someone else makes it for you!) was on sale this week.

It's the little things in life that make me happy, but how could you not love this giant bowl of goodies :)

  

2. Headed to my usual Sunday afternoon Fusion Fire class and saw this little postcard sitting on the table. You know that question people are always asking, if you could have dinner with 1 person who would it be? Well she is my gal. And she is coming to KC on a speaking tour! Consider those tickets already purchased.

And with that, we start another fantastically busy week!

Weekend Workouts:

Saturday - 6 mile training run, check!

Due to our lovely not-so-spring like weather this was a combination of indoor track laps and hills on the dreaded treadmill. Not my favorite but it was actually not terrible, and of course I rewarded myself with a donut on the way home.

Sunday - Fusion Fire class

60 minutes in a hot room imaging myself anywhere but in this snowy city!

Today - early a.m. Fusion class, supposed to be followed by 3 miles this evening (maybe...)

Need a Reason? Make it a Date.

As a busy working mom most of my workouts are squeezed in wherever I can find time, almost always before the sun comes up, and that means I usually have to work out alone. Trying to coordinate my crazy schedule with someone else, ha! But when I can, I try to set up a workout date. For races, gym classes, for a walk on the trail, if either of us need some good motivation, we just set up a time to workout together!

Luckily I have a great friend who also likes to get up early and we found an early morning fitness class that we can meet up at and enjoy. Even when she is not there I know she will send me a text later saying, "hey, did you catch barre class this morning???" and I don't want to be the one of us that says, "Nope, totally lazy today, slept in..." so it provides me with some accountability. It's often what gets me out of bed at such an awfully early hour of the day.

The more accountable I feel, the more motivated I am, plus it's just fun having someone to work out with who doesn't require a bag of cheerios or my iPhone for entertainment :)

I Wish...

Somehow this little suggested page popped up on my facebook this morning.

It literally made me laugh out loud on the treadmill. Because right then as I was jogging a mere 3 miles on the treadmill (I really dislike the treadmill, but due to the 2nd day of spring being cold and gloomy I was forced to go indoors, atleast I caught up on some GMA), so as I was saying, I was jogging on that miserable treadmill I actually thought those exact words to myself, like I do every run, "I wish this was easier." Maybe someday it will be.

I think I will skip "liking" that page. Or maybe I should like it, just for a good laugh every day. :)

Workouts:

Yesterday - 4 mile outdoor run

Today - 3 miles on the treadmill, + about 5 minutes of abs

Who's the Biggest Loser?

I love Tuesday mornings after NBC's The Biggest Loser! I'm a little sad that it's over. Did you catch the season finale last night? Wow, talk about inspiring! I was always rooting for Danni so I was happy to see that she won. But you know who really caught my eye… LISA!

I can't imagine how a working mother of 4 finds time in a day to make this happen but she proved that anyone can do it. She is such great motivation for me. Not to mention all the other contestants on the show who are proof that a little hard work goes a long way.

Back from a little family mini-vacation to the North Pole Minnesota. Ran in a fun St. Patty's 7k where I completed it in record time due to the 10° temp at the start, not to mention the snow packed roads. But the sun was shining and there were plenty of other people braving it out along with me so I threw on 4 of my warmest shirts and enjoyed.

Weekend Workouts:
Saturday – 7k race, 4.5 miles in 40 minutes (that's record fast for me!)
Sunday – Nothing. I guess I could count walking around the Mall of America all day.
Monday – Orange Theory Class (new, exciting, painful…)

Today's Workout:
early a.m. 60 minute fusion class

Time to Run... Scratch That.

Well, as they say, the best laid plans.... busy day, late night at work, lots to do at home= no 6 mile run. So I have learned to be flexible and figure out a new solution. Guess I will squeeze some extra miles in next week!

Today's Workout: Tabata class

Training for a race is proving to be a challenge already! Finding time to go for a run is not easy, but when the sun is shining and the temp is supposed to be in the 60's I will make it my goal for the day to fit it in. I think I will make my longest run of the week happen today since the weather is cooperating, otherwise I will have to do it on the hotel treadmill this weekend, or outdoors in the freezing weather of Minnesota. So its worth it to make some special arrangements for my kids just to get that run in after work today.

Oh, and planning I will look like this girl for all 6 miles.

If Snooki Can Do It...

I saw this article in US Weekly and it made me laugh.

Snooki got a whole 5 pages to talk about her amazing weight loss! I thought to myself, good for her! I'm not a huge Snooki fan or anything, but I am a huge fan of one line I read in her article. "You just need to get your ass to the gym and eat healthy!" Well said, Snooki. If she can do it, so can we!

Workouts:

 Sunday: Fusion Fire class

Monday: 3 mile training run

Tuesday: Overslept for a class, so changed it to a rest day. Gotta have those every once in awhile! :)

4 Miles and a Beer

I've been getting some good mileage in this week to kick off my training, even some of it outdoors despite the snow on the ground, but what I really like to do is find a local race to participate in (because really, who doesn't love a free t-shirt). Today was the annual Westport St. Patrick's Day 4 mile run. I joined up with a friend, unlike most races I ran WITHOUT a double jogging stroller and enjoyed a nice morning, good conversation and an Irish beer at the finish line.

Sporting my newest race shirt, unfortunately what was left to pick from was sized to fit a teenager. Guess we should have gotten up earlier.

As you can see, not the most serious of races. That's why it's a fav.

Today's Workout: 4 mile road run. With a friend. :)

Training Time

Sometimes I am 100% motivated to stay in shape on my own, but after working out and eating on a regiment for the last 18 months to shed my post-baby lbs, I'm starting to feel a little bit burned out. SO, I think its time for a new goal.

It's time for Hospital Hill! 

Hospital Hill is the oldest road race in Kansas City and one of the oldest run half marathons in the country. I ran this race once, and I remember it was pretty easy...or maybe it was awful... but like childbirth, I believe I have forgotten the pain after 4 years and I am ready to try it again. I have my handy little training calendar posted on my office wall and hoping I can find the time to log all of these miles!
 

Get up. Just do it.

5am is not pretty but it's when I choose to workout. It's not for everyone, but I have found that if I leave it to later in the day I will find a reason not to do it. There are a million other reasons I workout in the mornings, it frees up my evenings to hang out with my kids, it wakes me up, it makes me feel better all day, and best of all, the hard work is over before 7am and you never have to think about it again. Well, until the alarm goes off tomorrow...

My motto, getting up early stinks but it's worth it. My alarm goes off at 4:48am and most days it feels like torture. However I have noticed that if the alarm goes off at 6am.. torture, or if a baby cries and wakes me from a deep sleep at 7am... torture. So why not just get up before the sun and get it over with??? :)

Today's workout: 60 min early a.m. fusion class, with a lot of gliders, ugh. 
(if you haven't used a glider, beware!)

Becoming a Planner

With a thousand things to do in a week, the best plan I have figured out so far is to use Sunday as my planning day for the coming week. I like to get up and grocery shop early on Sunday mornings, sometimes even before the rest of the house wakes up, and I head to the store armed with a plan for the week with this handy dandy list I found:

I plan almost every meal for the week and try to take into account the few times I'm sure we will hit a drive through after a late night of swim lessons or a long day where I am just too tired to cook! I plan almost all my meals from simple recipes I find online. My favorite recipes can either be made in a crock pot or come from the web site skinnytaste.com (added bonus, her recipes are larger so there is always enough for lunch the next day!)

I have found meal planning makes a huge difference in the week. Of course I sometimes stray, especially by the end of the week, but for the most part this strategy keeps my eating on track because it takes a lot of the thinking out of it (and I often think with my stomach...) and helps me make better decisions. And just one one day of power planning makes the entire week much easier!

Today's Workout: early a.m. 60 minute Fusion class

3 mile jog in the evening sun (& snow)

Saturday Morning Clubbin

Can you remember the last time you spent a Friday night at the club? HA! But I found a new activity... going clubbin on a Saturday morning! I mean, really, its the same thing (minus the makeup and cocktails). Tight clothes, bodies moving, sweat flyin and good music. Find yourself a local gym, fitness studio, there are tons of options everywhere to take a class and have a good time working out with some friends or other FWM's like you. I spent the morning kicking butt in a fusion class, had a lot of fun (easier to say once the class is over) and burned a lot of calories in the process!

I love new workout tunes to add to my playlist, today's favorite:

Today's Workout: 60 minute Fusion class

Who is this Chick?

Welcome to my blog! Confessions of a Fit Working Mom (you might see it referred to as FWM) is debuting today as a way to help inspire your fitness goals and offer advice for easy and fun ways to fit in fitness in your busy life!

So, what's my story? 

I've always been a health and fitness lover. I have been a certified aerobics instructor since my freshman year in college, ran my share of races, had a few+ gym memberships, tried every other group fitness class under the sun and am always looking for fun new ways to stay in shape. It was all fine and good until the day I had my first baby, and then my second, and it was then I realized how challenging life was going to be as a FWM. I had always been busy but balancing kids and work took it to a whole new level for me. I realized that time is limited, I am always multitasking and there is always something else I could come up with than needs to be done. And then there is that little thing called a full time job...

How do we ever fit it all in – family, work, healthy diet, fitness? 

Well, stay tuned and you'll find out!