And the winner is...

Comment number 8! Congratulations, Candice!

You get what you put in

I was talking to a friend yesterday about how we determine so much of what we get in life, whether we accept that responsibility or not. In most cases, how much you are going to get out of something is directly related to what you put into it. Exercise is no different. If you are not seeing the results that you want, take a moment to examine how hard you are working at your routine. If you are working out at home, are you completing your entire workout or are you stopping to answer the phone, take the laundry out of the dryer, etc.? If you are exercising at the gym, do you too often find yourself at the smoothie bar instead because the machines are just too crowded? Maybe you are following your program, but have never stepped it up in intensity - you are still doing the same pace on the treadmill as you were 9 months ago because that is how you always set the machine. Evaluate how much your are putting into your exercise this week and determine to challenge yourself!

Our First Giveaway!

I am so excited to introduce the first giveaway for the Ozarks Fit Mommies blog! The prize is a Stroller Strides gift pack!

The gift pack includes:

• An autographed copy of LEAN Mommy by Lisa Druxman
• Reusable Stroller Strides grocery tote
• Stroller Strides stainless steel keychain
• Punch card for 3 classes

To Enter: Post a comment telling me what your favorite thing is about Stroller Strides.

* You’ll get one extra entry each if you:
1. Become a follower of this blog (2 entries)
2. Tweet about this giveaway, make sure to use @OzarksStrides in tweet (2 entries)
3. Blog about this giveaway, leave link in comment (5 entries)
4. Become a Fan on Stroller Strides of Springfield's new Facebook page (2 entries)
5. Post a link to this blog on your Facebook page (2 entries)


* Make sure to use a separate comment for each "entry"
* The deadline for entries is November 23rd, 2009, 11:59pm CST.
* The winner will be notified on November 24th, 2009

Double Jogger Giveaway

Are you looking for a double jogging stroller? Would getting one for $0 fit into your budget?
If yes, then head over to Barefoot Mommies Gift Guide and enter the giveaway for a Tike Tech Double X3 Sport.

As always when I talk about strollers, I must add my disclaimer. I have not used a Tike Tech stroller. I dearly love my BOB Revolution Stroller Strides model strollers - both the single and the duallie! The Tike Tech seems to have some similar features that I love on my BOB, though. For example, the individual canopies on the double. Those are great when you have one sleeping child and one awake. However, if you're looking to win a double jogger, get your entries in soon!

Maclaren Recall

All Maclaren single and double strollers manufactured from 1999 through November 2009 have been recalled due to the danger of laceration and amputation in the hinge mechanism.

If you have one of these strollers, please stop using it until you can get the repair part from Maclaren. Request your recall fix at www.maclaren.us/recall

Flu Season Tips

With the numbers of people infected with both the seasonal flu and H1N1, lets take time to review some preventative measures from the CDC. The majority of these items are common sense and you probably do them everyday.

• Cover coughs & sneezes with a tissue - dispose of the tissue.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. If soap & water are not available, use a waterless hand sanitizer.
• Stay away from sick people!
• Avoid close contact (I like this one because I am a big proponent of personal space!)
• Follow the 24 hour rule for being around others after a fever has broken.
• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth as little as possible.

The tips below are things that you might not be doing already, but they will boost your preventive measures. They are from an August 2009 lecture by Dr. Vinay Goyal.

• Gargle twice daily with warm salt water.
• Clean nostrils at least once daily with warm salt water.
• Increase Vitamin C (either through foods or tablets) coupled with Zinc for absorption.
• Drink plenty of warm liquids.
  

Heading outdoors before the holidays!

The holiday season is fast approaching and while the holidays mean friends and family, they also bring food... and, for many people, weight gain. Let's battle the bulge BEFORE it gets here!

From now until the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we will have late morning outdoor Stroller Strides classes. They will be held on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:10am at the walking trail at Champion Park, 2609 S Grant Avenue. The classes, which begin tomorrow - November 5, will step up the cardio and have more focus on abs.

Classes will be held as the weather permits. As long as the temperature is above 50 degrees and there is no rain, we will have class. The website will be updated by 9am if class is canceled due to weather. Bundle up those babies in their strollers and come on out! If you have a wind shield for your stroller, you might want to put that on, too, to keep the kiddos more comfortable. Remember that in just a few months, in the dead of winter, we will think that 50 degrees is a heat wave! Keep that perspective and come out and enjoy the fall weather.