50 Million Pound Challenge Promotes Healthy Living
December 21, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 12 Comments
With 2010 right around the corner and with being overweight topping the list of health issues facing Americans, many are thinking of ways to adopt healthy living habits for the new year.
Dr. Ian K. Smith, M.D. created the 50 Million Pound Challenge (50millionpounds.com) to help people:
- Shed those excess pounds, achieve healthier weights, and reduce our risk for life-threatening diseases.
- Unite as a community and pool our strength and resources to overcome the health problems that afflict us.
- Learn more about our bodies and what we can do to live healthier, longer lives.
- Teach our youth the importance of making healthy lifestyle decisions that will benefit them for years to come.
Join State Farm, sponsor of the 50 Million Pound Challenge, and other healthy living enthusiasts as we discuss diet, exercise, and how-tos for healthy living here this Tuesday, December 22 from 9-11 ET (8 CT, 7 MT, 6 PT) on Twitter. (See details in the list below.)
And, don’t forget to click here to enter this week’s giveaway for a $250 Visa cash card.
- What: State Farm is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, December 22, 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
- Where: Party with us here on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtags #gno and #50MPC.)
- Topic: Healthy Living and the 50 Million Pound Challenge
- Who: @bookieboo @jaybashinc @mandyhjellming @markting4mom @ronisweigh @skinnyjeans @stephanies
- Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win this week’s giveaway from State Farm. Deadline: Thursday, December 31 at midnight PT.
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
How to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holiday Season
November 29, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 3 Comments
The holidays are infamous for adding to our waistlines. It happens to the best of us. But we can take some preventative measures, so that we don’t have to go shopping for a bigger size during the New Year. I asked Leah @bookieboo, who heads up the Mamavation Sistahood—a group of moms losing weight and learning a healthy lifestyle together—to share some tips on how to enjoy healthy living during the holiday season. Here are some of the tips they shared:
1. Move more.
Get extra movement in any way you can. Turn the music on and dance. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Run up and down the stairs more. Studies have shown that adding extra steps to your day will burn more calories and keep your metabolism higher.
2. Get a support group.
Find a group of women that will support you in your healthy goals. If you are in need, we welcome all moms to the Mamavation Sistahood. You only need to have a desire to learn about healthy living and a positive attitude. We can be reached any time of day on twitter by using #mamavation.
3. Offer to bring a food item to the party.
Whether it’s a preschool party, family get-together, or office party, offer to bring a healthy alternative. Then bring something you can eat, like salad, fruit, or a low-fat appetizer.
4. Do your food research.
Know what it is you are eating. Do research and find out what the average calorie/fat count is to a certain food you like. Then ask yourself what you want to eat and what you want to skip. Don’t cut out everything, but cut out things you know aren’t worth the calories. For instance, did you know you will have to do over 2,000 jumping jacks to work off every cup of homemade stuffing?
5. Don’t drink your calories.
The holidays bring the best drinks of the season, but It’s very easy to drink your calorie allowance for the day without even knowing it. Check the nutritional count on what you are drinking BEFORE you drink. Wouldn’t you rather blow your calories on food instead? Dropping soda for the month is an easy way of cutting out a grip of extra calories. Stick to coffee, tea, red wine, and water. And for the diet soda lovers out there, studies have shown diet drinks actually make you gain weight, not lose weight. So don’t bother.
6. Control your portions.
Don’t get out of control. You can eat your favorite foods by using sensibility and portion control. Sometimes it is better to eat what you want and limit it, rather than deny yourself and overeat later.
7. Get a shoe that supports your needs.
Get a shoe this month that allows you to burn more calories as you are walking, like Earth Footwear. With a tool like this, you will be able to go about your life and the shoes will do a lot of the work for you.
8. Have a plate strategy.
When you load up your plate, fill half with veggies, ¼ protein, and then samples of whatever else you want. That way you aren’t depriving yourself and will feel full at the end of your meal. Another strategy is to use a smaller plate. You might be eating less, but you will feel more satisfied.
9. Add in more fruits and vegetables to every meal.
Make a conscious effort to eat more vegetables and fruit this month. Think about more ways you can incorporate them into every meal. Filling up on veggies will keep you satisfied and full and the end of your meal.
For more tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle and incorporate that in your family life, join the Mamavation Sisterhood.
Picture courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography.
Giveaway! Stay Healthy Over the Holidays With Earth Footwear’s Exer-Walk Shoes
November 26, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 361 Comments
Three lucky winners will receive a pair of Exer-Walk shoes from Earth Footwear.
Studies demonstrate that Earth Footwear increases the rate of fat-burning inside the body. Women wearing Earth Footwear burn 4x the fat than normal shoes. The difference is in the Kalso Negative Heel Technology, which positions the toes 3.7º higher than the heels. The slight angle shifts weight subtly back over the heels, and help strengthen and tone the body while also burning more calories.
This is why Earth Footwear is so useful during the holidays. While you are shopping, running errands and caring for the family, the shoes do the work for you.
Entry Requirements
You can earn up to three extra entries in this week’s giveaway by doing the following (one extra entry per completed item):
- Follow @earthfootwear on Twitter.
- Become a fan of the http://facebook.com/earthfootwear page and leave a comment there, sharing tips on ways to have a healthy holiday season.
- Tweet and/or post a message on your Facebook profile page the following messages:
GIVEAWAY! Enter 2 win a pair of Exer-Walk shoes from @earthfootwear (3 winners!). http://bit.ly/73vJay #gno PLS RT
X
Join #gno Tues 12/1 (9-11 pm ET) 4 tips on how to enjoy a healthy holiday season w/@earthfootwear RSVP: http://bit.ly/7NOZ4H PLS RT
Entry Requirements
You have the option of getting three extra entries in this week’s giveaway. Make sure to leave a comment for each extra entry on this post.
- Leave a comment on the Earth Footwear Whrrl story.
- Tweet and/or post a message on your Facebook profile page the following message (one extra entry each):
Become a fan of the http://facebook.com/earthfootwear FB page for tips on enjoying a healthy holiday season! #gno PLS RT
The Fine Print
No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Earth Footwear and Mom It Forward employees are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Wednesday, December 2 at midnight PT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Winners will be notified and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the e-mail. If they do not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. One entry per person.
Tips for Enjoying a Healthy Holiday Season This Tuesday on Twitter
November 26, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 74 Comments
What are some ways to stay healthy during the holidays? What are your favorite healthy and non-healthy holiday foods? What gets in the way of starting a healthy living program and how can you overcome these obstacles for the New Year?
Join the Earthfootwear and #mamavation teams this Tuesday, December 1 to discuss the answer to these and more questions! Party details included in the bullet list below.
And don’t forget to enter this week’s giveaway. Click here to enter for a chance to win a pair of Exer-Walk shoes from Earth Footwear (3 winners!).
- What: Earth Footwear is sponsoring this week’s #gno Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
- When: Tuesday, December 1, 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
- Where: Click here to party with us on our custom Tweetgrid. (Use hashtags #gno and #earthfootwear.)
- Topic: Fitness, exercise, and healthy living over the holidays
- Who: @alyssabecthold @banteringblonde @bookieboo @craftymamaof4 @earthfootwear @kaisermommy @mombloggersclub @momitforward @stacieinatlanta @vdog
- Party Favors: Click here to enter for a chance to win a pair of Exer-Walk shoes from Earth Footwear.
- RSVP: Please leave your Twitter ID in the comments to follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #gno gals. The best format is as follows: http://twitter.com/jylmomIF.
Who Starts a Diet/Exercise Program Right Before the Holidays?
November 7, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 5 Comments
Think I’m crazy for diving in to an exercise regime right before the holidays? Don’t get me wrong! I’m not giving up cheese. And, I will definitely have some of my MIL’s sugar cookies. Daily life and my holidays wouldn’t be the same without them.
But, since I decided I’m done having kids, I’ve been dying to shed 20 pounds and no time like the present to make that happen. What a better way to start off the new year… healthier and in a better position to shop, right? LOL!
I’m not gonna lie! As much as I’ve been wanting to start exercising again, winning a pair of shoes gave me the perfect bit of motivation at just the right time. I had completely forgotten first and foremost that I even entered the giveaway. And second and most importantly, that the prize came with a “Change Your Body in 30 Days Challenge” from Earth Footwear led by Leah, @bookieboo on Twitter and the marvel behind #mamavation.
So, in an effort to stick to the challenge, I am going public, admitting my exercising ways, and Whrrling about my progress (power of positive thinking, right?). Feel free to join me as I Whrrl my way skinny…. er, healthy!
I’d love to see your comments on my stories. I’d also love to have you join in the fun and get healthy with me. Just tag your Whrrl stories with #mamavation and #gno and let the weight-loss love fest begin. And, because every goal needs a prize (IMHO), let’s set a date now to go virtual shopping in February as a #gno IRL! Are you in?
Here’s my first Whrrl of a story!
Using ‘Mamavation’ to get Moms Moving Towards Healthy Living
July 18, 2009 by Danielle Smith · 1 Comment
Sometimes you make a change in your life that is so monumental you just can’t resist the urge to help others to do the same.
Such is the case with Leah Segedie and her Internet-wide movement, Mamavation.
Until July 21, moms can fill out applications explaining their desire to lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle. On July 22, four moms will be chosen as finalists and the world wide web gets to vote. On July 30, the winner will be announced. That winner, that mom, will be treated like a weight loss all-star, complete with a virtual team who will design an exercise regime, a new diet, and provide all the coaching she needs to reach her goals in a 2-month period. And don’t even get us started on the goodies the chosen mom will receive.
Working with one ‘Mamavation Mom’ at a time, Leah hopes to teach moms how wonderful life can be when you have the energy to keep up with your kids and are setting a healthy example for your family.
Before Leah began this campaign, she motivated moms virtually on Bookieboo, a site she created as a go-to place where moms could share their struggles staying or getting into shape. Leah knows just how difficult the journey can be.
Three years ago, when Leah gave birth to her first child, a son, she weighed 253 pounds. While she was pregnant, her father was diagnosed with cancer and given only 6 months to live. Five days a week, Leah helped her mother to care for her dying father. Watching him suffer was tremendously painful and Leah found solace in food.
Like so many of us, she believed the weight would come off after she had the baby. But, also like many of us, that wasn’t the case.
When her newborn son was only 3 months old, Leah’s father lost his battle with cancer. Though she had prayed for an end to his suffering, she was devastated.
But with the devastation came a ‘moment of clarity,’ as she calls it. She didn’t want to be the ‘fat mom.’ She wanted to ‘model healthy behavior’ for her family. In that moment, Leah decided to make a change. So, she stood up and started walking. At first it was once a day and then twice. She joined Curves and began to practice Taebo. Five pounds at a time, Leah began to see a difference.
Working at a healthy lifestyle the traditional way, with diet and exercise, Leah lost over 100 pounds.
After losing the weight, Leah decided to start Bookieboo.com (named after her son). The site has over 40 contributors, many are certified personal trainers, but all are moms.
Knowing how tough it can be to balance being a mom with taking care of yourself, Leah is reaching out, hoping to give a little extra resolve to one mom at a time. Having recently had a second son, Leah is on the ball with getting back into shape one more time , and she has the support of whole bunch of moms on Bookieboo who are doing the exact same thing.
And, she will soon have the pleasure of changing one mom’s life for good. If you know someone looking to make a major weight loss/life change, there is still time to apply. Head to Mamavation.com to learn the details.
With her ‘one mom at a time’ philosophy, Leah looks forward to working with many Mamavation Moms in the future.
About the Author: Danielle Smith is a mommy to two smart and sassy small people, as well as the founder and primary author of ExtraordinaryMommy.com. You can catch her hosting a brand new live show, The Spin Cycle, on MomTV.com every Wednesday at 9pmEST. She also hosts a show on Blog Talk Radio and contributes to WhyMomsMatter. Danielle is thrilled to be contributing to MomItForward as ‘giving back’ has always been an important part of who she is and what she hopes to teach her children.
Finding Time to Exercise
January 16, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 5 Comments
Janice, a wife, mother, employee, runner, softball player, and internet addict has agreed to guest post for MomItForward. She is the owner of MomOnTheRun.net.
Before I had children I often worked out twice a day – I’d do a circuit strength training program over my lunch hour at the gym across the street from work, and then go for a run after work. Needless to say I was very, very fit!
But now that I have kids finding the time to exercise is far harder. OK, I admit it. Finding time is damn well near impossible! Those darn kids can’t look after themselves. (Well they could, but then the CAS would be on my case). No wonder so many of us parents have gotten fat. Eating too much and exercising too little has a tendency to do that. Now that its the New Year and I’ve set all these amazing resolutions I’ve found that there are essentially 4 different times in the day I *could* exercise: before work, during lunch, after work, or after the kids go to bed. In an attempt to find the best time to exercise, I brainstormed my excuses for not exercising:
Before work:
- It’s too hard to get up that early
- What happens if I wake up one of the kids while getting ready to workout/run? Is it fair to leave my hubby to tend to the child I woke up?
- What if hubby is away on business? (Hubby travels quite often). If one of the girls get woken up by me then I will have to look after her and won’t be able to workout anyway. (It’s just safer to stay in bed).
- When will I shower? The kids will want to join me in the shower or will beat the crap out of each other while I’m showering (for the record, I shower at night after the kids go to bed).
During Lunch:
- I’ll get too sweaty and stinky
- When will I eat my lunch?
- Won’t I be too hungry?
- When will I run errands?
After Work:
- Who will pick up the kids?
- Who will cook dinner for the kids?
- Will the kids miss me?
After the kids go to bed:
- I’m too tired
- There are too many other household chores to do
- When will I be able to relax (and blog)?
After reviewing my list of excuses, I came to the realization that my lunch time excuses were the easiest to overcome. I don’t sit near anyone at work so who cares if I stink? Who cares if I get sweaty? A quick wipe of my face with a towel and a spray of perfume can fix that. My hair? Who cares! I wear it in a ponytail most of the time anyway! Hungry? I can eat a small snack before I run. Lunch? Who needs an hour to scarf down a sandwich and a few carrots? Errands? Those can be done after work, or even better, after the kids go to bed (The Wal-Mart near us is open 24 hrs and so is the grocery store!).
So for the past week I’ve run on my lunch. And you know what? I highly recommend it! I actually liked my lunchtime runs. After running I felt way more alert and productive. JOgging helped me to think problems from the morning through. It also helped me to stay on track with my eating. Much to my misfortune I found that I didn’t have time to pick up an extremely fattening burger and fries – I only had enough time after my run to eat the healthy lunch that I brought – helping me even further to reach my goals. So if you’re having a hard time finding the time to exercise, why don’t you try exercising during your lunch hour?
Remember:
You can have either fitness or excuses
But not both!
How to Get What You Want
January 15, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Holly Rigsby Guest Authors for MomItForward during our week of Topic Talk about Fitness. Holly runs three websites and is a creative powerhouse in helping women get fit and achieve their fitness goals. We’re thrilled to have her advice today!
Get Fit and Yummy Blog
Get Fit and Yummy (See her videos!)
Get Fit and Yummy (the community)
You set your fitness goals and you are on your way…..so what strategies will bring you the most success?
Your Success Strategies
~ Passion
Do you care deeply about the goals you have set for yourself?
Do you Love what you do?
~ Preparation
You must be ready to learn, to plan and to practice.
Do you have a system in place that allows you to do this on a daily basis?
Do you allow for practice of new habits? The process of trial and error allows you to refine the steps you are taking so you end up taking the best, most productive steps forward each day
~ Action
You must DO in order to achieve. You simply cannot produce results by thinking, wishing or hoping.
What are you Doing to make your goals a reality?
Action must be ….Immediate. What can you do right now? Why aren’t you doing it?
~Inspired
Any action you take based on an inside nudge or sudden desire…Listen to your Intuition!
This is really a Double Must.
You have the thought or idea coupled with a small dose of excitement – this is the ideal moment to jump on that thought and take action.
The key to creating new results is to put your thoughts aside and follow your feelings. This means being in tune with those moments when you feel good and acting on them.
~ Risk
When you are reaching for the stars it is vital that you Step Outside of your Comfort Zone. Face your fears and just act.
Instead of focusing on all the worry and fear of what could go wrong, turn this energy around and faced brand new experiences with thoughts of what the outcome can be!
Watch as you are overcome with a confidence you didn’t realize you had.
Ready to make it happen?
Get your Fitness Action Plan in working order today.
As you begin, keep in mind the changes you are making do not have to be dramatic and difficult.
It may not be pretty or perfect the first time through, but at least you took a shot. Keep using what works and toss the things that don’t.
This is the true recipe for success as you continually make progress on Getting What you Want.
Holly Rigsby America’s #1 Busy Mom Fat Loss Expert, ACE certified personal trainer, author of Fit Yummy Mummy: 16 Week Lifestyle System for Busy Moms, helping moms burn the baby fat and get their body back in just 90 minutes a week.
Topic Talk—#GNO Fitness Highlights
January 14, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 1 Comment
Introducing Renee one of the MomItForward’s Guest Tweets! She guest posts today with a recap of the #GNO Fitness topic. She specializes in Designer Diaper Cakes From CutieBootyCakes.com. You can catch her on her blog of the same name!
Health and fitness are near and dear to me. I used to be a health fanatic and had a body to die for. At this point my body is in need of some work and based on the level of participation during GNO, I am not alone. For those of you that missed the discussion, here are a few highlights.
Motivation
Busy Moms inevitably place the needs of others before their own and have a to-do list a mile long. The first question raised last night was where does the motivation come from? Initially, I answered: it came from other women in the Modern Mom Challenge, but that is not exactly right. I get inspiration from the women and from within. I think about staying healthy and setting a positive example for my son. I think about my fat pants which became the only pants that fit (tightly) and my refusal to buy larger sizes. I think about how good I feel with the endorphin high after exercising and all of these things motivate me.
Incentive
One GNO participant @PsychMamma gives herself points for exercise and healthy eating. She is rewarding herself with an iPod for the points earned. @RedLotusMama purchased a new pair of jeans after losing weight. For each milestone that you reach, give yourself an incentive for a job well done. This will help get you off that couch! (photo by butterflywings)
Time
Moms are notorious for having packed schedules and the question was asked – how do you find the time to exercise? Everyone has twenty minutes. While your child is sleeping or right after you put your child down for the night. I use the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, a complete cardio and strength workout that is challenging and done in 20 minutes.
Exercise
Be creative! Try dancing! Belly dance, Zumba, and my personal favorite; dance hall reggae are all available on YouTube. Find a group of instructional videos on YouTube, have fun and get the exercise in. If you have cable, OnDemand usually includes Exercise TV, a great variety of exercises available at the touch of a button. Use what you have in the home – if you have stairs climb them for 20 minutes. Take a walk, put your child in the stroller and enjoy the scenery in the great outdoors. You don’t have to have a gym membership to get results. And finally, if you want really efficient workouts consider interval training. Walk for 5 minutes and run for 1, gradually increase the running time and decrease the walking, soon you will only run. In my experience you get the most bang for your buck when you control the intensity.
I encourage all of you to join the Modern Mom Challenge, I believe that having the support of a great group of women really does help when trying to meet your goals.
Tips:
Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise regime.
Drink water, at least 8 glasses a day. Many times thirst is mistaken for hunger. When you are in the mood to snack have a glass of water and wait 20 minutes. If you are still hungry, eat.
Modern Mom Challenge to Reach Your Fitness Goals
January 13, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · Leave a Comment
We’d like to thank Lolita AKA @ModernMom for Guest Tweeting at MomItForward’s #GNO, she Guest Authors today.
When I first started ModernMom.com in 2001, I envisioned the site as 100% editorial – our writers and experts would dole out advice on a variety of topics relevant to moms without much two-way interaction. This was when I could pretty much count the number of mom sites out there on one hand and long before “social media” was the talk of the town.
Fairly quickly, however, I saw our site change and grow based on the power of our readers: they gave us feedback that we could instantly incorporate; they interacted with one another on our forums and shared advice; they helped us discover topics of interest that became our editorial features. It was the moms – our members – who directed our content and shaped what ModernMom.com is today.
The Modern Mom Challenge has always been a fantastic example of women supporting each other towards their goals. When we ran our first Modern Mom Challenge a few years ago, we brought in leading fitness and nutritional experts to guide the Challengers, but it was really our members and their support for each other – be it on our message boards, personally via email and instant messages, or through meetups in their cities – that really made the goals attainable. So this year, we’re embracing the power of our moms and social media to take the Modern Mom Challenge to a new level. The experts are the moms participating in the Challenge – through common goals, struggles and successes, we’re steadily making progress and getting fit and healthy in 2009.
My favorite quote so far from the over 100 blog posts (in just our first week!) came from Miss (of JustMiss), who said,
“The power of women… it’s amazing what we do when we aren’t at each other’s throats.”
Truer words have never been spoken!
