Just in time for Mother’s Day! As a “Future FitGirl Mom” (future as in expecting to be a mom one day….not currently  “expecting”) I am excited to share with you all the fun fit tips I learned at the launch of Merck Consumer Care’s Health and Wellness Effort: The Active Family Project. Designed to help empower moms to live a more active lifestyle with their families, this new health and wellness initiative is focused on inspiring families to live life more fully by spotlighting healthy habits, providing tips and information and sharing fun family activities. So what are you waiting for FitGirl Mommy? Join this community of women who are rockin’ a “S” on their chest too! Go team “Doing It All!”

Workout v. Work “In”

If you are like most moms you probably have been trying to petition for an extra two hours a day ever since your little bundle came to earth. This never ending search for more time has left your nights restless and your to do list limitless. So working out has entered the land of “Whenever I Get A Chance.” You are not alone. However this Mother’s Day, I give you this gift from celebrity mom, Active Family Project spokesperson and Emmy award-winning co-host of ABC’s “The View” Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Start seeing your workouts as your “work in.” If you are able to get to the gym for an hour or take a run around the block…awesome! If not, then every little bit counts. Walking to pick your kid up from after school care (instead of driving), racing them to the car, or making chores a timed relay event all count as healthy activity.

Add Playtime To Your Schedule

You wouldn’t forget to schedule your kids vaccines or dentist’s appointments, now would you? So try scheduling playtime as if it were just as critical to their development as these medical visits are. According to Amy McCready (Parenting Expert and Founder of Positive Parenting SolutionsThe eye to eye contact that regular play dates with your kids provides directly affects their overall behavior. So if your child is acting out, have them sweat it out (with you by their side). Kiddos like boundaries, so when you schedule regular playtime as a family they will not only look forward to this QT, but you may also lose those last five pounds in the process. So take five minutes to make a playlist (not of music) and lock down some dates.

Socialize & Exercise

Now that you have logged on to the free Active Family Project website and are ready to create a playlist, let me introduce you to a way to socialize and exercise. May 11th (in honor of Mother’s Day and busy households nationwide) is the first annual National Family Playdate. I think this is so RAD and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate you and your active family! So here’s the deets: Plan a fun activity for after Mother’s Day brunch (or whenever) and “Like” the RAD Experience Facebook page. Post your  family’s fun  playdate idea and enter a chance to win a RAD Experience Gift Bag full of  RAD treats! Contest ends May 12th at 12midnight (EST) so go go go!

 

[layerslider id=”20″]

 

Sport A Coaches Jersey

So little Tre is ready to play tee ball. Your husband signs on as one of the coaches and you organize the snack rotation amongst the other tee ball moms. Typical right? Well FitMom, I challenge you to gender bend this scenario this spring. Order yourself a fitted jersey with “coach” bedazzled across the back and ditch snack duty. I mean after all it’s tee ball not the MLB. What kids playing organized sports at a young age need the most is good “coaching.” The competitiveness will come, so use this time to show your youngin’ that support, commitment, and good sportsmanship are not gender specific qualities. They will not only admire your supportive presence on the field both after the game is long over too. According to Fred Engh (Founder and President of the National Alliance for Youth SportsWomen are more patient when it comes to coaching, it’s unfortunate that their presence is often missing within youth sports. So come on mommy coaches…unite!

Reinvent Frequent Flyer Miles

Instead of going to Disney for the sixth time this summer (P.S. I have nothing against Mickey and his friends) plan an active and adventurous vacay instead. Kids and parents alike can gain invaluable memories when new experiences are tackled as a family. Plus they can be quite affordable according to Erin Gifford (Family Travel Expert and Founder of Kidventurous). Her and her family often use Home Exchange to eliminate the high cost of hotels. Hello. This allows them to extend their stay and use that cash on fun memory lasting excursions. Win win right?

Tags:

No responses yet

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.