Fast times lead to busy schedules, which made me think that a quick post with a few tidbits might be fun now and then (for you and for me).

A few tidbits to think about:

1. There is no substitute for hard work. If you want to look like this, you are going to have to sweat. A lot. And often.

2. Don’t over think the snack, but don’t overlook it either. Keep a box of Kashi Chewy Granola bars on hand. I love the peanut butter bars, but they are all good. 140 calories, 5 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, only 5 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein. Good before workout fuel bar, and a good post-workout replenishing bar.

3. Short on time? Don’t skip your workout completely. Instead, try this: 10 jumping jacks, 10 jump squats, 10 push ups, 10 sit up/stand ups. Repeat 4 – 6 times, depending on how much time you have.

Have a great day!

Print Health Food coupons

Okay, here goes:

* Save on Health Food! Smart Source and Red Plum don’t often carry coupons for “health food,” but I have found Mambo Sprouts to be a valuable resource. Hop over to the Mambo Sprouts website and select from numerous coupons that you can print out at home. Super easy, so can’t use the “healthy eating is too expensive”
excuse any more.

* Get a grip on all things “fat.” There is the fat you eat, and the fat you have, and of the fats you eat, there are trans fats, saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats… There are differences, and your body does need some amount of fat. Find out the ins and outs of fat from Registered Dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, who penned this great article in Organic Valley. Be sure to check out all of the other great stuff the site offers while you’re there.

* Start your day out right…with OATMEAL! Yes! My favorite breakfast food ranks #1. Woot woot. Get the straight up nutrition facts about this super healthy day starter, and your many options for dressing it up and making it even yummier at EatingWell (my fave “go to” site for healthy recipes).

* Body Bar has FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100. Gals, you know those Body Bars weigh a ton (or, they should if you’re ordering the ones heavy enough to help you get to your goal weight/shape), so free shipping is awesome. Think about it – a 15lb bar would cost a small fortune to ship, so take advantage while you can. And if you’re looking for something fresh and challenging to do with your new bar, I highly recommend the Body Bar Boot Camp DVD by Andre Houle.

Check out this video if you are unfamiliar with trigger point therapy…TPR Therapy, Ironman competitor

Have you ever wished you could afford a personal masseuse? One who could come to your home, preferably daily, to help relieve you of the knots and muscle tightness that inevitably occur from daily workouts and, well, being a mom? In search of a solution to my IT band issues, I tried a chiropractor (not money well spent), stretching, massage therapy (therapist too gentle to release deep tissue), and my O.D. The O.D. provided the most valuable information: without proper biomechanics, the body can’t move the way it should. So, we are working on improving the way I move. In the meantime, I bought the TPR kit from Trigger Point Performance Therapy. Wow! What a difference!

How it works: Each tool in the kit is designed to relief muscle tension and release trigger points (those tender knots many of us suffer from that hurt like the dickens when palpated and often cause radiating pain to muscles and joints nearby). Untreated, active trigger points can result in painful and less effective workouts, incomplete recovery from workouts, and eventually, injury. Relieving the tension that TPs place on muscles and the joints they act upon allows the joints to move through their full range of motion the way they are designed to. Basically, it is like getting a personal massage, at home, whenever you need it. I’ve used the kit for several months and love it. Regular use has improved the range of motion in my hips, relieved tension and TPs in my calves, quads, IT-band, pectorals, back, glutes…you name it. I feel fantastic!

The Ultimate 6 kit I purchased is designed to alleviate the trigger points in the calf, quads, IT-band, glute, abdomen, and shoulder that tend runners tend to acquire. I had all of them, and then some. The kit includes the TP Massage Ball, TP Footballer and TP Quadballer, an easy to follow guidebook, and DVD. Ideally, the tools should be used pre-workout, post-workout, and within 90-minutes of going to bed. While the therapy isn’t terribly time-invasive, the first few times you go through the release techniques, it does take at least 30-40 minutes (actually, I think it took me an hour because I had so many trigger points). Once you get the hang of it though, the sessions move more quickly. I have achieved a lot of relief from using these tools and highly recommend them to anyone who suffers from trigger point syndrome, athlete or not.

The cost for the Ultimate 6 is $150. Other kits are available, so check out their website: Trigger Point Performance Therapy

*I am in no way affiliated with Trigger Point Therapy and do not receive compensation for recommending TPR products.

Earth Day 2011 has come and gone, but there are still some great deals…grab them while they last:

According to the Earth Policy Institute, it takes 17 million barrels of oil to make 29 billion plastic water bottles (yeah, that is how much bottled water Americans consume per year). Switch to stainless steel and you’ll be doing the environment a favor.

Visit TRX: today…Spend $75 and receive a FREE, reusable TRX stainless steel (and BPA-free) water bottle. Use code: TRXEARTH

Pangea Organics is offering 25% Off everything – offer expires April 30th. Stock up on earth-friendly skincare now!

Pottery Barn Kids is offering 20% OFF and Free Shipping on earth-friendly products like reusable water bottles and storage containers.

And don’t forget to check out the Earth Day site to find out more about A Billion Acts of Green!

Gyms have their positive points: they are convenient, house lots of equipment, and often have childcare available to parents who need to tote their tots to the gym (this includes yours truly). Gyms also can offer a range of fitness classes and most  have personal trainers on staff. If you’re not a huge fan of going to the gym however, and would like to try something different, check out these fun alternatives…

Stroller Fit® SF targets the  “mommy muscles” – those muscles used during  labor and delivery, and post-partum, and basically every day thereafter. Moms have a chance to get their bodies fit and healthy and babies have fun in the process, so it is a win-win.
For a complete list of classes near you, visit Strollerfit and click on “find classes.”  Bonus: First class is always free!

Stroller Strides® - Amp up your energy levels, lose weight, increase strength and stamina, and have great time making new friends in the process. The interval-based workouts are 60 to 75-mins long and designed to put you through the paces so that you can reclaim your pre-baby bod. It is recommended that babies be at least 6 weeks old before participating.
To find a class near you, visit Stroller Strides or email info@strollerstrides.com
(866) FIT-4MOM

Adventure Boot Camp – If you are ready for a solid commitment (5 days/week for four weeks), you enjoy working up a sweat outside in a variety of settings, and you want to get fit fast, check out Adventure Boot Camp for Women. In addition to adventurous workouts, you’ll also receive nutritional counseling and decent doses of motivation. To find a class near you, visit Adventure Boot Camp and click on “Find an Adventure Boot Camp near you.”

Zumba® – A blend of Latin rhythms and caloric-blasting intervals, along with resistance training, gives exercise a shot of fun. Zumba® is one of the most popular dance exercise formats today, and for a good reason — it is a high-energy fitness party with no rules (so if you mess up, no one will know!) Zumba® classes are abundant in most major cities across the U.S, so it is likely there is one right around the corner from where you live. To find one, visit Zumba

Nia - Short for “neuromuscular integrative action,” Nia integrates western dance, such as jazz and modern, with eastern practices such as T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do and Aikido into a non-impact, whole-body movement class that is ideal for all ages and fitness abilities. Find a class through Nia Now

Improve your ab awareness with BalleCore® – a blend of Yoga, Pilates and Ballet designed to engage your core and improve posture. You need not be a dancer, past or present, to reap the benefits of this fusion class. Improved body awareness, balance, and long, lean muscles can be yours. Check out BalleCore to find out more!