*** Fit Mommy Friday has been moved to Vintage Healthy Home. ***
'Tis the New Year and with it come all sorts of resolutions to get fit, lose weight and get healthy!
To help keep us all encouraged and accountable, I've devised (
with help from a dear friend) a fun weekly meme that I hope you'll enjoy. It's called
Fit Mommy Friday and here's how it works:
- First, choose your level of participation and plan your weekly goals. This is entirely up to you, but should be based on your personal fitness goals and overall condition. (Example: If you've never walked the length of your block, your goal should NOT be a 2 mile run by Friday.)
Level One: The Beginner level. This is for those of you who are
brand new to exercise or for those who are not already participating in a
consistent fitness program. Your goal should include
at least 1 mild form of exercise per day (walking, low impact cardio) as well as one nutritional goal; drinking 8 glasses of water per day, keeping a food journal, eating a small salad with dinner, no chocolate for the week
(did I say that?), etc.
Level Two: The Intermediate level. This level is for those who are already exercising
at least 3 times per week on a regular basis. Goals here might include one additional 20-30 min workout each day/week, or incorporating a new exercise or tool (kettle bells, stability ball, bands, dumbbells) into your fitness routine, etc. It should also include some sort of nutritional goal.
Level Three: Advanced Level. This level is for those of you who
consistently workout 5-6 days + per week for 45-60 mins each time.
(The crazy ones. *Grins*) Goals at this level might include extending your cardio sessions by a few minutes, adding heavier weights, training for a marathon, etc. As with the other two levels, you should also shoot for a nutritional goal as well.
- Next, post your goals to your blog. Be as specific as you care to be, but put it out there. It will help make your goals feel more concrete. This can be done during your Friday "Fit Mommy" post (see below).
- Invite your friends to participate! After all,
misery loves company we could all use the encouragement! Having the support of your friends and family is a great way to keep yourself motivated and accountable. :)
- Work on reaching your goals each day. And remember, there's no shame if you mess up here 'n there! It's all a learning process, especially in the beginning. Don't beat yourself up!
- On Friday, write your success stories along with your personal goals for next week, then sign the Fit Mommy Mr. Linky (which will be posted on Friday). That way everyone can bunny-hop over to your blog, leave a nice note of encouragement, etc. Remember, even if you weren't 100% perfect all week, there's no shame allowed, whatsoever. Simply dust yourself off and keep going!
- The process begins all over again the following week! :)
To help get your inspirational juices flowing, I've provided a list of links that'll help
kick start your Fit Mommy Goals!
Spark People.com Free website offering diet and fitness information, calorie counters, food journals, workout buddies and more! Great accountability tool! (And did I mention it's all free?)
Exercise TV Features free workout videos, free downloadable workout plans and more.
The Biggest Loser The official home of one of TV's most popular reality series.
My Trainer Bob.com Biggest Loser trainer, Bob Harper. Free registration/membership; offers fun Fitness Challenge of the Day, helpful information and tons of encouragement.
Jillian Michaels.com Fiercest Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels. Offer free e-newsletter which is always informative and inspiring and paid weight loss plan.
Collage Video Hundreds of workout videos, complete with clips and user reviews.
Fitness Magazine Offers free workout videos, articles, advice and more.
The FIRM These babies started my obsession back in high school.
(Yes, they're that old.) See if you can locate these tapes/dvd's through your local library. They are
by far one of the best workout series ever created!
For those with Verizon FIOS or Comcast Cable: There are free workouts available for you to access any time, courtesy of the OnDemand feature. These are presented by Exercise TV and contain several popular titles including Jillian Michaels, Biggest Loser, The FIRM and more.
On a Personal Note:
I'm a former ballet dancer in training, yet fell off the proverbial fitness wagon after back-to-back babies # 2-3. After a heavy dose of reality
(full length mirror), I was determined to get back into semi-decent shape. Although I'm nowhere near as small as I was during my "ballerina" years, I feel proud of what I've accomplished. Most days anyway. Should God miraculously give me 32 inch hips, I totally wouldn't complain. Just sayin'.
Official Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any sort of medical professional (although I happen to play one on TV. Just kidding). My suggestions should in no way be construed as medical advice.
I am not liable or otherwise responsible for any injury, pain, discomfort, profuse sweating, frustration, etc. that may result from your partipation in the Fit Mommy Meme or the exercise/nutritional suggestions therein.
Prior to beginning this or any other exercise routine, you should consult with your doctor. Likewise, do not make changes to your diet without the advice of a qualified nutritional expert.
