Moms That Kick A** — Professional Fighter Rosi Sexton
Andrea PageThe other day I watched a video about a mother whos also a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Her fitness level was awe-inspiring and her commitment to her art intense. Im on the fence, though. My hubby (who also studies mixed martial arts and is a big fan) and I debate this in my home often. While I love the idea of full exertion fitness and I love the idea of competition, ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessTop 10 Reasons to Exercise During Pregnancy
Andrea PageMoms and moms-to-be often find themselves debating the benefits of exercise during or just after pregnancy. I have put together some information for those inquiring minds to help ease some of the frustration in fact finding. I’ve found that mothers enquiring about the Fitmom program tend to have many questions and concerns and are often misinformed. I feel the best thing for moms is to do a little...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessAbdominal Separation Identification in Pregnancy
Andrea PageAre you concerned about abdominal separation? Do you know how to address it? During pregnancy, most woman separate down the middle of their rectus abdominus (the six pack) a small amount. A small amount of separation is normal but pregnant women should take a preventative approach to prevent further separation that can lead to complete separation. At Fitmom, we recommend having your abdominals c...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessPregnancy Weight Gain: Not a One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Andrea PageWeight gain in pregnancy is a controversial issue due to the varying reports on what is recommended and what isn’t. The “eating for two” philosophy has long been dismissed as a sensible approach to healthy weight gain in pregnancy. Most health care providers don’t advocate this at all. The facts are: You need fewer calories in pregnancy then you do postpartum while breastfeeding—150 for pregnanc...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessEmbracing Fat During Pregnancy and Beyond
Andrea PageFatty acids are simply components of fats. There are three essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential means your body needs these for proper function. The two below need to be included in your diet because your body cannot manufacture them. • The first is alpha-linolenic acid (LNA or ALA), from the omega-3 family of fatty acids. · Found in flax (abundantly), and in small quantities in walnuts, cold ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessGet Going on a Path to Feeling Good
Andrea PageIf I had a dollar for every time a mom told me she is just not motivated to exercise, I would have a lot of money put away! Undoubtedly, the first weeks and months after the birth of a child can be nothing short of emotionally and physically exhausting. For many moms these feelings of exhaustion become a fixture with the birth of each additional child and growing demands. Exercise may be the last ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessYoga During Pregnancy and Labor
Andrea PageYoga is a great component of preparing for labor and delivery and preventing injury. Mimicking some yoga postures in the labor room has been shown to be helpful for a variety of different reasons. Yoga during pregnancy was a growing trend during the 80s and 90s, and is still widely viewed as beneficial for the expectant mom. Yoga in and of itself improves posture, core strength, joint stability, a...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessPumped for Pregnancy
Andrea PageDuring my first pregnancy I was a sluggish mess, validated by all the excuses and inaccurate information I could get my hands on. When my preterm baby was born as a result of hypertension (linked to excessive weight gain—mine to the tune of 60 pounds!), I had an awakening. My baby needed me to be healthy—before and after birth. With a background in fitness, I knew better. But like a lot of women, ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessTaking the Fad Out of Abs for New Moms
Andrea PageDoes any new mom like her post-baby belly? Whether you call it your muffin-top or belly jelly or have some other name for the roll that your new baby has left around your waist, we know you are not happy about it being there. Almost all women come to Fitmom asking “How (the *&%#@!) do I get my abs back?” Many women weep that they’ve been doing 100 sit-ups a day and nothing is changing. We know...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessBeyond the Belly: Fitness for the New Mom
Andrea PageNo other day in life quite compares to the day you bring home your new baby for the first time. The knowledge that the beautiful little person laying in your arms comes from you can be so rewarding, but at the same time, very overwhelming. Those first months bring you (and by you, I mean all moms!) great joy, extreme exhaustion, and very little time for yourself. Just the very thought of throwing ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-Wellness
Injury Prevention: Yoga During Pregnancy
Andrea PageWhile it's safe for many pregnant athletes to continue their pre-pregnancy exercise regime, a pregnant body not only looks but also behaves differently and...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessRunning During Pregnancy
Andrea PageRunning during pregnancy has been and continues to be a controversial issue in which clear answers seem often hard to find. This is because there is no right an...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessExercise and Breastfeeding
Andrea PageAll new moms who choose to breastfeed are often concerned that the quality and supply of their milk may be compromised as a result of exercise. Just as nursing ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessMamas Too Tired for Exercise?
Andrea PageThis is something I hear all the time. It’s a fact: Moms don’t get much sleep. For those who don’t love exercise, this is just the excuse they need to not be ac...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessPushing Your Partner
Andrea PageI hope you are really enjoying the benefits of exercise and healthy living. Feeling fit and strong adds so much to your life. However, if you have small childre...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessDon’t Fast at Breakfast
Andrea PageA new study just recently released reaffirmed what we already know: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The five-year study by a Cambridge hospital...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessCan’t Seem to Shed the Pounds?
Andrea PageYou’ve been working out regularly for months now but can’t seem to see the scale number drop. It doesn’t seem possible or fair because you are putting in the ti...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessHurts So Bad
Andrea PageYou are just getting back into your fitness routine and are starting to feel great when you are sidelined by an injury. You want to scream your head off and are...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessBiceps, a Baby, and a Budget
Andrea PageFiscal fitness is not only possible but necessary. Gone are the days of putting your wellness on the back burner due to lack of finances. Joining a gym is far f...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-Wellness5 Pregnancy Exercise Myths
Andrea PageMYTH: If you haven’t exercised before, you shouldn’t start. THE FACTS: Simply NOT TRUE. Exercise for pregnant women is recommended, even for women who do not ex...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessPost-Season Rebalance for Mom
Andrea PageDepending on where you are in your life and what you did over the holidays, you may be buzzing with energy anticipating the New Year and all that lies ahead. Al...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessLower Back Blues
Andrea PageHaving kids can create an array of back problems that often start in pregnancy. Pregnancy posture shortens the hamstrings, causing stress on the lower back exte...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessWinter Workout
Andrea PageAs your kids get older and they require more time for their own activities, there may be less time to fit in your own workouts. So, if you’re in a snow belt and...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessFitting In Fitness
Andrea PageToday’s busy mom is somewhat of a superhero. She must move faster than the speed of light to keep up with the demands of it all, including being a mother, worki...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessFamily That Runs Together Stays Together
Andrea PageIn my classes, I certainly sing the praises of strength training for increasing lean muscle mass, which in turn burns fat. That being said, I think running is a...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessFeet Facts: For New and Expecting Moms
Andrea PageYes, there is one more thing for you new and expectant moms to be concerned about – your feet! They lug us around for life but sometimes we forget that they nee...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessCan Mommy Get a Six-Pack and Some ZZZs?
Andrea Page"Can mommy get a six-pack?" This is the most common question that new and even long-time moms ask. While many women work VERY hard to see results and ...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessKeeping Active Improves Your Sex Life
Andrea PageMy thoughts about and desire for sex are limited by low energy (something I experience frequently now that I'm a mom). In our years of navigating a relatio...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-WellnessPregnant Moms Get Moving
Andrea PageThe exercise guidelines put out by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists highly recommend the benefits of keeping a regular fitness regime dur...
Read more...CategoriesFit Mom-Wellness