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!

You have probably heard about Pilates, or possibly know someone who talks of “reformers, chairs, straps, pulleys” (and other contraptions), and silently wonder, “what the heck is Pilates anyway?”

The Pilates Method (or simply Pilates) was developed in Germany in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. The core-strengthening and posture-improving benefits of regular practice have helped the Pilates Method develop a loyal following of faithful participants in recent years. The aesthetic benefits of regular practice can be seen on the physiques of famous devotees, such as Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. As of 2005, there were 11 million people who practiced Pilates regularly and more than 14,000 instructors in the United States.

Like many fitness disciplines, certification is not required to teach (although, any reputable gym or studio will only hire certified teachers). If you can fog a mirror, you can label yourself a “Pilates instructor.” For your safety, and also to maximize your learning experience, it is important to know the differences between a reputable instructor and a kook before you make a long-term commitment to this popular mind-body discipline.

Before you sign up for just any ole Pilates class, follow these tips:

• Check the instructor’s credentials. Most websites post each instructor’s bio, so you can easily look up their teaching credentials and experience.
• Look for PMA-certified instructors. The Pilates Method Alliance is a not-for-profit organization devoted to upholding the highest standards in the Pilates method. PMA initiated the very first, industry-wide certification exam in the United States. Their performance parameters guide the practice of all PMA-certified instructors.
• A good instructor will have experience using all pieces of exercise apparatus used to teach Pilates.
• Top instructors typically have a minimum of 300 hours in a PMA-approved program, sound knowledge of anatomy, injury prevention, and sound teaching techniques.

Before you get all excited and think I just gave you permission to toss back a dozen Krispy Kremes for breakfast (are they even still in business?), I did not. I didn’t even give you permission to eat just one (not that you need my permission, of course.) A healthy breakfast – one that you will actually prepare and eat – is a great goal to shoot for.

I bring this up because I hear on a fairly regular basis the following: “I don’t have time for breakfast,” “I’m not hungry in the morning,” and “I don’t like eggs.” Um, did he know there are other foods besides eggs? More to the point…breakfast is super important!

1.) Breakfast brings your metabolism out of slow-mo. When you go to sleep at night, your body’s metabolism goes into resting mode too. One of the best ways to wake it up and say, “hey, metabolism, start your engines and burn some calories!” is to eat a healthy breakfast.

2) Breakfast clears the brain fog. Yes, caffeine works too, but try food with your coffee – you’ll be even MORE awake.

3) Breakfast, especially when it is low-glycemic, has the ability to stabilize your blood sugar levels, and keep them level all day (provided you don’t eat sugary snacks between meals). You know that after-lunch sleepy feeling you get? Breakfast can help with that.

4) Breakfast will let your body know that you aren’t trying to starve it to death. If you typically eat a big dinner because you skipped breakfast, didn’t have time for lunch, and were too busy to snack, the message you’re sending your body is, “I might feed you, or I might not.” In response to this sketchy feeding plan, your body will cling to any calorie you give it, just in case you “forget” to eat for another 24 hours. Feed your body every 2-4 hours, and it will reward you with a consistently good metabolism. You will likely find it easier to lose weight when you eat regularly too. Bonus!

So, what to eat? I have my favorites, but there are lots of options.

If you are super busy in the morning and tend to grab food when and where you can, Cooking Light’s list of the healthiest “fast food” breakfasts is worth checking out. From Starbucks to Subway, there are enough options that you should be able to scrounge up something healthy to eat.

Real Simple magazine has a list of easy breakfast ideas to make at home.The peanut butter, whole grain waffle and also the breakfast pizza look delicious. All of the ideas are simple.

And if neither of those options suits you, try Fitness Magazine’s “No more excuses breakfast recipes for every morning. I like the “no more excuses part.”