To mothers of daughters

I was watching my oldest play Stroller Strides the other day and thinking how wonderful it is that he is getting to see how important and fun exercise is at such a young age. Upon further thought, I realized how wonderful and vital it is for mothers of daughters to participate in a program like Stroller Strides. The statistical odds of my boys growing up to have body image problems are quite low when compared to the issues girls face. These little girls who attend Stroller Strides now are learning that fitness is fun, that it is about being healthy and having a good time, not about looking like the air-brushed model on the cover of Vogue. So, to all moms who do Stroller Strides, you are wonderful examples to your children - but specifically mothers of girls, well done for giving them the base to build a healthy lifestyle and body image on as they grow!

Hidden ingredients

I was buying Italian diced tomatoes the other day and decided to look at the ingredients. I was shocked! All but one brand included high fructose corn syrup! I must admit that diced tomatoes are an item I had never thought to read the ingredient list for, I guess I just assumed that they would just contain tomatoes.
I realize that they are not really "hidden" as they are listed right on the label. However, there are items that I am not in the habit of reading the ingredients - items that are considered "one ingredient" items. I also found that certain variety of beans have high fructose corn syrup. Ugh!
So, if you are like me and don't always read every label because you think you know what is in it - be warned and start reading each and every label. Know what you are feeding your family!

My new favorite thing

I just got some Yankz! from Ridge Runner Sports and I love them! They are a lacing system for your shoes where you don't have to tie them. I know, I know, it sounds lazy. However, I am often rushing out the door trying to get myself and two kiddos to Stroller Strides on time and tie my shoes quickly. I grew weary of them either coming untied or staying tied, but not pulled tight enough to keep my foot from slipping.
Yankz! solved all of that. You fit them to your foot once & set it and from then on, you just slip your foot in & out. They are wonderful! If you haven't tried these, I would highly recommend it!

What a bargain!!

My husband & I have been discussing putting our toddler in gymnastics, so I have been researching programs. It seems that the standard rate in this area is $40 per month for one 30 minute class per week. The more I thought about it, the more it made me appreciate Stroller Strides. Don't get me wrong, I have always known how great Stroller Strides is and the great value it is. I love that I get to interact with my children, that they are learning about the importance of exercise and how it is fun, and all the benefits for me! However, I really realized what a bargain it is - $45 per month gives you unlimited classes - which currently is 3 hours per week, with more to come in spring. So, for $5 more a month, a mom gets a great workout and much needed social interaction with other moms PLUS the kiddos get exposed to healthy lifestyles, learning opportunities (right now each Monday Stroller Strides focuses on a letter through song, flashcards, activities, and sign), music (we might not be the best singers, but my toddler knows so many children's songs that he's learned at Stroller Strides), and social interaction with other children about the same age. Not only do you get all of those benefits, it is also 6x's more time for only $5 more monthly. WOW! It really makes me appreciate it more.

My first post!

This is my first post on the blog for Stroller Strides of Springfield! I guess I will tell you about myself and why I absolutely love Stroller Strides!
As an undergrad, I thought I wanted to go into corporate wellness. So, I have a B.S. in Business Administration with a Health & Exercise Science minor. I had also gotten my national group fitness instructor certification while an undergrad. However, before my senior year, I decided that I wanted to go into public administration instead. So, I let my fitness certification expire and went and got a Masters in Public Administration. After graduating, I worked three years in public finance and then we had our first baby! I couldn't leave him with someone else, so I quit my job and stayed home.
I had gained quite a bit of weight with my pregnancy and wanted to get back in shape. Up until my mid-twenties I had never had to work very hard to stay at a healthy size. I was always pretty active in dance and aerobics, though. After the baby, I found myself at home and out of shape. I bought the post-natal workout DVD's and thought that would surely be the way to go. I soon found out that making myself workout at home was not going to work for me. The baby needed me or there were dishes to wash or laundry to be done.
I started looking into mommy and me fitness programs and found there were none in the Springfield area. I was disappointed, but then I started getting excited! I could bring a program to Springfield! I looked at different options, but Stroller Strides stood out high above any others. I signed on and started training and studying for my national certification. I took and passed my American Council on Exercise Group Fitness Instructor exam in mid-November. Things were looking good for a January start. Then, in late November, we got a huge surprise...we found out we were expecting again! My morning (noon and night) sickness set the opening back until late March/early April.
Stroller Strides has been running classes in Springfield since then! I am amazed at all of the benefits it offers to me as a mom. The best part is that my son comes with me and I get to interact with him while working out. Also, he's meeting other children and learning about physical activity. After just a week or two of class, we were at home and he started doing push-ups against the wall and counting! One of the best things for me as a stay at home mom is the interaction with other moms - adult conversation, yea!!
Another great part about Stroller Strides is the Luna Moms Club, powered by Stroller Strides. I'm meeting some great moms and Brighton is getting to know their wonderful children. The kiddos get to play and the moms get to chat a bit.

Stroller Strides classes are offered MWF at 9am at Battlefield Mall. Click the link at the right to get more information.

Luna Moms Club is free to join and offers Friday playgroups, a monthly Moms Night Out, and a quarterly Mommies with a Mission event. Check out our meetup.com site for details.