healthy living Archives

Rally for Recess DANNON Danimals Getting Kids Active

September 6, 2011 by Momstart 119 Comments

I’m willing to bet that after my kids start school tomorrow that everyone is just about in school and one goal I have is to get my kids exercising more. They don’t play very much outside at their preschool so I feel that I need to make sure they are getting the activity they need. Turns out they aren’t alone!

Schools nationwide are cutting recess time due to limited resources, which can impede children’s physical development. In the past twenty years, children have lost an average of 8 hours of recess a week and some schools no longer provide play time for students. According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, the lack of playtime is a national crisis leading to a growing epidemic; childhood obesity.

Government and public health agencies recommend children engage in at 60 minutes of mild to strenuous activity each day. To help rally moms and kids around this cause, Dannon® Danimals®, the delicious and nutritious kids snacks that include on-the go smoothies and low fat yogurts with calcium, is launching a national initiative called “Rally for Recess”.

“Rally for Recess” is designed to create healthy competition, pitting school against school! Five schools have the opportunity to win new playground equipment and an all-day recess celebration. Danimals is committed to childhood health and wellness, which starts with good nutrition and an active lifestyle. Through February 8, 2012 purchasers can find codes on Danimals packaging (or free by mail) to enter and register their school online. The top school in each of five categories with the most codes registered wins!

For more information visit: RallyforRecess.com .

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, nan.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Posting this gives me the chance to win a Jungle Gym of my own. Which I will have to donate because we have no backyard.

Live Healthy This New Year Choose You Giveaway

January 9, 2011 by Momstart 132 Comments

I made no resolutions this year. Sitting on the couch thinking of all the things that needed improvement I felt that they only way to really make a difference in my life would be to just change gradually by making life long choices. I have decided to cook more greens, eat a lot of salad and just make the whole family more active by being more active myself.

Resolutions just don’t work!

Life Changes do! Because behind a life choice, you choose you!

I was contacted on behalf of the American Cancer Society to help raise awareness on the fight against breast cancer. Remember back to October and you saw breast cancer awareness everywhere right? Well, women are affected by breast cancer every day, it is a year long fight and takes a daily commitment.

In 2010, 40,023 deaths are expected from breast cancer. Recent reports have created a lot of confusion in women about mammograms and breast health, so the American Cancer Society is helping women turn what they know about breast cancer into what they can DO about it, by joining the Choose You movement.

At this time, the best defense against breast cancer is detecting and treating it as early as possible, and women can pledge to do so by logging on to ChooseYou.com and making a commitment to get a mammogram. Women can also commit to other preventative steps like maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and limiting alcohol intake.

ChooseYou.com will provide support tools for women to help them fulfill their commitment like an online mammogram reminder, breast health e-kit with tips and information on how to prevent breast cancer, a “Mammograms Matter” video, among other available resources.

I urge you to make a change in your life, resolve to live better with healthy choices in the new year. And, if you go and make a Choose You Commitment before January 31st you will be eligible to enter for a chance to win a fitness trip to Los Angeles with a celebrity trainer, gift cards, and more!

Enter to Win:

A Choose you Gift Pack!

including workout kit (with pedometer and calorie counter, resistance band and jump rope), a Choose You t-shirt and flower pin. You can keep one for your own use, or use both for a giveaway. Estimated value of each prize pack is $30.00.

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what your healthy lifestyle changes are for 2011.

Extra Entries:

Tweet:

Live Healthy This New Year Choose You #Giveaway http://bit.ly/dYOOS6

Subscribe to Mom Start blog RSS, or e-mail
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List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble or use any of the share methods below facebook included (just leave a link to this post wherever you share it)
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Leave a comment for every entry, This giveaway ends January 24th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Starting the 60 Day Slim Down System

January 5, 2011 by Momstart 4 Comments

By Summer:

Just the Beginning, Follow Me on My Weight Loss Journey

Bye-bye baby fat! I’ve come to the conclusions that my body may not return to its pre-child form, but that doesn’t mean I need to keep the extra pounds I’ve accumulated over the years. This year I have a plan, the 60 Day SlimDown^TM System. My thought was, “I can do 60 days!”

I started getting heavier and fatter as I had my children. My first pregnancy was the one that really did me in! I can’t feel satisfied, and ate and ate and ate as a result. After the baby was born everyone kept telling me how the pounds would just melt off if I breastfeed … well, I did for 14 months and NOTHING! I was round but too busy to take on a gym. Then I got pregnant again and told myself I won’t gain weight with this one and that at the end I’d shed the pounds. Though I didn’t gain weight like I did with my first, I didn’t lose any either. My second breastfed for 13 months too and this also caused no weight loss for me. Many of my friends saw results with breastfeeding an normal activities, so it was actually comforting when I found Lindsay Brin who is a fellow mom with 2 kids and one on the way.

So here is where I start my journey with you all as my witnesses. Let me give you a point of reference.

Here is what would’ve been our family Christmas picture (I’m the one in the center in red):

But then I thought to myself, “I should suck in my tummy.” The results look great, but I can’t function sucking it in all the time! So I say bye-bye baby fat!

If you care to join me on the 60 Day SlimDownTM, Mom Start has a wonderful offer for you – 30% off the $49.99 SRP using the code 60daydvd30 on the Moms Into Fitness website.

Follow me here at Mom Start to see my changes. Let me inspire you to get healthy and feel great! I received samples to help me along the way!

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Work on Those Arms with Riiflex Dumbbells for Wii

November 27, 2010 by Momstart 1 Comment

Riiflex by powerplay is a great addition to any Wii video game, especially for any of the workout games. Riiflex is a dumbell set that weighs 2 lbs each. One of them is made just the right size for the Wii mote to fit inside. It is a perfect fit and with the sleeve of the Wii mote it’s actually just a tad bit tight. There is no worrying about the Wiimote falling out of Riiflex. The riiflex dumbbells interact with the sensor bar with no issues.

I let Miles help me out with this review and he told me that they were a bit heavy but he is only 2. I found them heavy after a while too but I’m quite a bit out of shape. I have no upper body strength. By using weights with any workout you are increasing your activity level and I’m all about that. I’m also very happy that gaming systems are getting people off of their buts and exercising.

Here are a few different angles of the Riiflex dumbbells.

Riiflex dumbbells retail $29.99 for a pair.

Riiflex Features:

Adds 2lb. of resistance to your Wii workout
Allows full functionality of Wiimotes
Compatible with Wii Motion Plus and many aftermarket Wiimotes
Durable, gym-quality construction
Try it with Wii Fit Plus, EA Sports Active, Fitness Ultimatum, Golds Gym Cardio, Your Shape, My Fitness Coach, and more!

Why Riiflex over the competition?

Compatibility: Most competitive products on the market today are not compatible with Wii Motion Plus, the latest motion-sensing attachment to the Wii controllers.

Durability: Competitive products are made from cheap plastic and filled with sand or concrete for weight. Because they’re manufactured like toys rather than fitness equipment, these products typically crack or break with only moderate use.

Usability: The most popular designs on the market require cumbersome installation that includes feeding cables through the end of the weight and attaching extra pieces to secure the controllers.

More About Riiflex:

The Riiflex 2lb. dumbbells are ergonomic, gym-quality weights that securely fit your Wii controllers to provide calorie-burning resistance while you play! Molded of tough polycarbonate, with cast-iron weights and a durable soft-touch rubber overmold, these weights won’t slip out of your hand and can withstand the rugged abuse of any household.

For even more information on Riiflex:

Join Riiflex on their Facebook Fan Page:
Follow Riiflex on Twitter

I received the products mentioned above free to me from the company mentioned above to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.

OrganWise Guys Back To School Back To good Health Kit Giveaway

October 3, 2010 by Momstart 53 Comments

Remember the OgranWise Guys Summer Time kit that I posted about? Well, we colored all of the pages read the books and then received the back to school kit. Now, I’ve been extremely busy since getting back from BlogHer, Zoe started preschool, and Miles and I have been having mommy son dates. We’ve been having so much time learning together and I’ve just been really happy spending time with the kids.

What’s been really crazy is that all along, even at the beginning of the Summer, Miles is the one that has had more interest in learning about the organs and playing with the Organwise Guys toys. Zoe has been the one that loves to color the coloring pages and activities, but they both like looking at the book. We recently received the OrganWise Guys Back To School Kit and enjoyed learning even more. Every time I look at it it makes me think of Xmen because the Sir Rebrum, is so close to the name of the machine that Xavier uses in the movie. Anyways, we’re learning about the brain here guys!

I know some of you reading my blog think that I don’t care about my kids health, but I DO! I love teaching them about how important exercise is and how everything in your body works together to be healthy. We’ve been teaching the kids that exercise make the heart stronger, and eating healthy is good for the brain and for the heart. It’s in their own terms and these kits from OrganWise Guys are helping me to teach the kids with pictures and plush. The plush I like to put right up to them and say, this is where your heart goes, and this is where your brain is. It’s fun to see Zoe’s eyes light up like, are you serious?

Imagine if your body could speak to you. Really. Imagine if it could really speak to you. For children, learning has to be imaginative and fun. So, as the childhood obesity crisis persists, teaching children about health and wellness is imperative but it has to be imaginative and fun. See for yourself by visiting http://www.organwiseguys.com/kids.html and listening to The Buddy Song.Imagine if your body could speak to you. Really. Imagine if it could really speak to you. For children, learning has to be imaginative and fun. So, as the childhood obesity crisis persists, teaching children about health and wellness is imperative but it has to be imaginative and fun. See for yourself by visiting http://www.organwiseguys.com/kids.html and listening to The Buddy Song.

Enter To Win:

The OrganWise Guys Back to School Kit:
* Monthly Healthy Behavior Tracking Calendar: With the start of a new school year, take on a new healthy behavior each month! The calendar is designed for use beginning any month of any year.

* Sir Rebrum Plush Toy: The brainy but cute professor is also the leading caricature in the Breakfast Skippin’ Blues Video
* School Days Here We Come! Book: It’s the first day of school and time to meet all The OrganWise Guys classmates and see where they live!
* Breakfast Skippin’ Blues Video: Sir Rebrum is having a hard time remembering his lines in a school play. Can you guess what he forgot to do that morning?

The cast of The OrganWise Guys — Hardy Heart, Peri Stolic (the large intestine), Sir Rebrum, Pepto the Stomach and Sid and Kid Kidney (The Kidney Brothers) along with buddies Calci M. Bone, Windy the Lungs and Madame Muscle, is a collection of friendly, delightfully eccentric characters that are cleverly personified body parts. They invite parents and their children to join them on child-friendly experiences as they learn to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their daily lives. $34.80!

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite part of the body is!

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

OrganWise Guys Back To School Kit #Giveaway http://bit.ly/9PTgIR

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
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This giveaway ends October 18th, I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

McDonalds Mac Snack Wrap, healthy choices #giveaway

February 8, 2010 by Momstart 230 Comments

The golden arches known as McDonalds have turned the Big Mac into a healthier option(healthier than other burgers at McDonalds), the Mac Snack Wrap. (The following is my opinion)

The new Mac Snack Wrap has the same classic Big Mac taste, in a smaller snack-size portion, making it the perfect portable, high-quality premium snack for busy moms like you at a great value of $1.49. Now, you can get that Big Mac taste on-the-go in a warm flour tortilla, not to mention the benefit of the smaller snack-sized portion to help fulfill those cravings you get for Big Macs.

I have had the opportunity to try one. McDonalds provided me with a “Be Our Guest Card,” good for a free Mac Snack Wrap at any of their participating restaurants. I was a little afraid to try them because, let’s be honest, the photos looks awful. Sorry, but McDonalds, you need to take some new pictures. To me I think it’s the little batty onions in the photo. Yuck, I hate onions.

Do not let the photo fool you, I ordered one and a coffee. I expected to still be hungry but was going to wait before I ordered anything else. I liked it. It is hamburger pieces, a tiny bit of lettuce, pickles, special sauce, and cheese (I said no onions). I found it to be good, without the onions. In fact, when i finished it I ordered a new one. I purchased both of them with my own money and did not use the “be our guest card” because I didn’t have it on my while I was traveling.

I’m happy that McDonalds is trying to have healthier options for us to eat. I just wish that proportions sizes would go back down.

Not only did they intend on me using one of the cards but they are also providing nine other “Be our Guest Cards” for me to use as giveaways here on Mom Start. I will select 10 winners for this giveaway.

To Enter:

Tell me what you think McDonalds should make and add to their healthy options menu.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, blog, or facebook and tell me where you advertised it (include link to giveaway). 5 Extra Entries for each one you do
Subscribe to my blog (recommended so that you don’t miss winner’s announcements)
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Tweet about the giveaway and include a link to the giveaway
Comment on any other non-giveaway post
Add my button on any site you own
Click on my Suave Link and leave a comment for every time you click on it. It’s easy!

Give me Smiles on my Cozi Journal

The contest will run until Feb 22 nd 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

McDonalds provided me with 10 “be our guest cards” One was for me to use and the other nine are to be given away. It is my choice to give all ten away and try the McSnack Wrap with my own money. What I wrote is my opinion and has not been influenced in any way.

Fitness Friday One Week At Time

January 7, 2010 by Momstart 9 Comments

I set my goal really low so that I would be able to make it. I made it and I feel ok about it. I just can’t really do anything big to make any progress right now except starve myself and that’s out of the questions. I need to eat to help my body heal. I guess I just need more time to feel like I”m human again. Then I’ll be able to move around and stuff.

Then the fun will start and I’ll be able to lose some weight.

I’m eating healthier than I was and making changes and that’s the real goal here, is to change my overall eating to be more healthy. In the process I want to change the way my kids eat too. I’m really worried about my daughter. She’s only three but I’m still very concerned. My husband and I were talking about it tonight and we need to make changes for her.

Neither he or I are large people, we both could lose a few pounds but we both come from the potential genetics to be large. It’s those genes that I see in her. One side of my family, my mother’s side, struggles with weight more than my dad’s side, and for my husband his family seems to be the same. It’s harder for women to lose weight than it is for men too. So I know that if I can teach her to eat right now then she’ll be fine.

Mostly though, I think if we could just get the whole family moving more then it would be easier. I’m just at my wits end here blaming myself. The doctor didn’t seem to concerned, I mean do they anymore. Would my doctor tell me if I need to do something, I mean all she told me today was to make sure that Zoe is eating the low fat version of everything. That’s what we eat. I don’t give her cookies, you would think I’m an evil mom if you were at a play date with me. hmmm. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Andrew and I are both on the more slender side, I’m just hoping to make changes in my health and maybe through being a good example she’ll be fine.

So back to me, I weigh in at 152. All the moms in my MOMS club weighed in today and I missed it because I’m still taking it easy. Anyways, I felt that I should publicly announce my weight since they all did it in front of each other. I want to get down to at least 145, but would be really happy at 135. I have so many cute clothes that I can’t wear anymore and I would love to be able to wear.

Immediate goals for the next week.

Again, drink a ton of water

I’m going to up my walking goal to 5 times for next week. I know that I barely made my goal of three times last week, but even if I have to take the kids out in the rain, I’m going to drag them out at least five times. That’s the one thing I really HATE about WA. The rain, it does rain as often as people say it does. Guess I better just suck it up and get used to it. Ok, so that’s my rant for the week. Me and changing the health of my whole family so that my little girl will be healthy.

General Mills is Reducing the sugar in kid’s cereal

January 2, 2010 by Momstart 11 Comments

General Mills decided to make a commitment to reduce sugar in cereal advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. How exciting is that for mother’s who try to keep giving their children healthy food. We’re fighting the advertisements, but no longer because it won’t matter the cereal will have less sugar. Cereal can provide many benefits. MyBlogSpark sent me information regarding this commitment and change in their cereal:

Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It starts your metabolism for the day and gives your body fuel. Studies demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast and it’s been ingrained in my head. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

Breakfast is important. Cereal is easy for moms. General Mills is making their cereal more healthy.

cereal and health chart
MyBlogSpark also wanted me to share a coupon with you. Click here and you can print a coupon for $1 off one of four General Mills cereal. For more information please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

General Mills through MyBlogSpark gave me this information, along with 4 free cereal coupons for my time.

New Years Resolution with Moms Into Fitness #giveaway

January 1, 2010 by Momstart 300 Comments

Moms Into Fitness’s own Lindsay Brin contacted me and asked me to do a review of her exercise videos. That was three months ago today. Now I look at her blog and I think of how wonderful she is and I want to honor her request no matter how late it might be. Why?

First check out the giveaway she is hosting: (click on the picture for more information)

Secondly, she is a motivational person. I wrote to her and told her that I suffer from depression. That I had a bout of it right after my second pregnancy. It’s normal for women to have post partum depression and we don’t need to be ashamed of it.

“And I hope your PPD is better! I’ve worked with so many women with it. Did you know it hits 1 in 4 of us? Geez-as if we don’t deal with enough as mothers! Truly, I hope you are feeling better. I’m happy that you recognized you had it.”

Thirdly, she sent me three DVD’s to review.

Core Firing Squad: Your core muscles will bounce back and redefine into a flat stomach with the CFS method. This is true for you if you were recently pregnant, going through menopause, have back pain, or haven’t exercised in a long time. By using Lindsay Brin’s method of deep abdominal and pelvic floor training, you can return to the flat stomach you used to have, as well as all of the health benefits of a strong core. These three progressive 7-8 minute workouts can be used on their own or as a part of a more comprehensive program with Lindsay’s other DVDs.

Dance Jam: Because I like to dance!

Let’s be honest, workouts can be boring. And if you’re bored, you won’t want to make exercise a regular part of your week. Join Lindsay Brin and four other former NFL dancers who hung up the white boots to become busy moms, for fun and easy hip hop moves and intense cardio for the waistline-with workouts that work with your schedule. Only have a few minutes a day? The Express Workout will keep you on track. Have a little bit longer? Keep the groove going with no complicated moves and no dance experience required. Want to really rev up your metabolism and keep the calories burning even after the workout is over? Join the Halftime Show and really get things burning. A dance party that is so much fun, you’ll forget you’re working out!

Boot Camp, because she felt I needed it to help me lose weight faster.

The only DVD of its kind with over 2 hours of exercises including 10-10 minute weight loss workouts! Choose from the 10 minute Quickstart menu, 6 core workouts or Lindsay’s 12 week program. Reshape your body, flatten your tummy and get your energy back with Pilates, Cardio, Core, Kickboxing, Plyometrics, Yoga, Mom/Baby Core Strength, Toning and more!

My opinion, even though I received these so long ago, it was right around the time that I started having problems that led to my surgery. Exercise would only have made the symptoms worse so I did as little as possible up to the time of my surgery. Do I have intentions of trying all of the DVD’s at my disposal, yes I do, as soon as the doctor says I’m clear for workouts, then I’m shedding those pounds and quickly.

Then I can update the post with reviews or just do a review on a Fitness Friday post.

Prize: Your Choice of Three of the DVDs that she has to offer.

To Enter:

Visit Moms into Fitness and tell me which DVD you might be interested in other than the three I have listed above. (required)

Follow Lindsay on twitter (2 extra)

Other Extra Entries:

Add the New Years Resolution Button to your website (facebook, blog, myspace) 5 extra points

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Fitness Friday with the Wii Moms is Fitness On

January 1, 2010 by Momstart 10 Comments

I haven’t posted with the Wii Mommies Fitness Friday since about May. Did I have great fitness without them? No I did not. In fact, from June through December I put on 7 lbs. This is a huge step back for me because I can’t put my pants on. I have one pair of jeans that I can wear and I haven’t been able to wear those since my surgery. When I went in for my surgery I weighed 157. I need to weigh between 114 and 135, my goal is to be 130 before BlogHer2010.

I know deep down that this is going to take a lot of work and dedication. It’s going to take a lifestyle change. I need to drink water every day. One whole glass before every meal will help lower my appetite. I need to stop snacking at bed time, and I need to stop eating off of the kids plates after each meal.

I need to get control of my serving sizes even when it’s something I LOVE. I need to wait before I get seconds and give my stomach some time to settle before I load up on more food. I need to cute back on my sugar intake and coffee creamer. I should give up coffee but that’s an unrealistic goal so I’m going to try and just cut back.

I’m supposed to be exercising right now but it has to be very light. Mostly the only thing I’m approved for is walking so my goal for the week is to walk three times. I don’t want to set such high goals that I just give up again. Giving up is not an option. It’s not healthy to be carrying around all this extra weight so I’m going to do something about it.

So for the seven days my concentration will be on drinking water, and walking. Hope I can talk the kids into walking with me. ;-). Feel free to leave your link with any Fitness post of your own and I’m going to come by and comment. Part of my New Years Resolution is to be more supportive to other bloggers.

Visit The Wii Mommies