The greatest gift you can give your children...

The greatest gift you can give your children is to take care of yourself and to live your life as you hope they will live theirs...

Working Moms- Stroller Strides has Saturday classes!

Are you a mom that works out of the house during the week? Do you relish your weekends with your little one but still want to get a workout in? Or perhaps the rec center is out of the question since your little one is too little?

Then come to Saturday Stroller Strides classes!

Stroller Strides wants to help working moms keep those New Years Resolutions- so we have put together a 5 week Saturday Session for just $25 ($5 a class). It is perfect for working moms and moms/kiddos with other weekday commitments. Not only do you get a great workout but you get it without sacrificing family time!

The session begins January 16th and runs until February 13th. We will meet at 9:05 at the play area at the Twin Peaks Mall for playtime and class starts at 9:15. Please email me at prebabyjeans@strollerstrides.net for more info or to sign up.

So keep those resolutions and get fit just in time for Valentine's Day!

The key is not to prioritize what's on the schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Love this quote from Stephen Covey. And it is so true. As a mom it is so hard to fit everything in. I always say (and hear from other moms) "If only I had a few extra hours in the day I could do xxx or yyy". And I hear this from stay at home moms and working moms alike (I am not one to pick sides on who is busier than the other since I have been both and have been busy either way). But there are only 24 hours in a day, and you should sleep for 7-8 of them in order to let your body recover. So that leaves only 16 hours to complete the to do list.

So what are you going to put on your list?

As Stephen so eloquently put- "The key is not to prioritize what's on the schedule, but to schedule your priorities." Meaning, with the limited time you have (and we all get the same amount of hours in a day), schedule what you believe is important.

During the holidays I hear many reasons why the ladies aren't making it into class. Whether it is family in town, the kids slept badly, too many cookies to make for the exchange, too cold, too tired, etc. And believe me, I don't take it personally since I know how it is as a mom during the holidays with the kids home from school... So I get it. BUT, if being healthy and getting a good workout is important to you and one of your priorities- than you need to schedule it in and commit to going! After all, working out provides these great benefits...
• Mental & Emotional health
• Better sleep
• Fewer health problems
• Improved coordination, balance and mental awareness
• Prevents obesity and other disease
• Fights PPD. PPD affects up to 20% of new mothers anytime in the first year after delivery.

And you get to spend one blissful hour sweating along side wonderful me... haha, just kidding. But seriously, consider this a virtual kick in the pants to get off your butt and get to class. You deserve it!

My First Year as a Stroller Strides Franchise Owner!

November marks my 1 yr anniversary as a Stroller Strides franchise owner! When I started going to class, my 2nd was 8 wks old, I was on leave and was struggling with being at home. I needed to get out of the house but there were so many reasons to stay in. I was feeling overwhelmed and alone. Through Stroller Strides, I found friends that could relate and a great workout my kids and I loved! I returned to work after 3 months but childcare for 2 kids was so expensive we couldn't make ends meet. And I missed my little guys! When I heard that Karen, the current owner, was selling the franchise I jumped on the opportunity. It was the best decision I could have made! Now I can focus on my kids while contributing to the household, I am passing on a love of health to my children and I am making a difference in other mom’s lives, just as Karen had made a difference in mine when Ethan was 8 weeks old. With the support and the education given by Stroller Strides, I have become a leader in my mom community, so different from the lonely mom that existed just 1 year ago. I now have such a sense of accomplishment, confidence, peace and purpose! Thanks Stroller Strides for this wonderful opportunity- I can’t wait to see what year 2 has to offer!

Sammy Sack blankets

Hello everyone! Just a quick note to let you all know about a fantastic discount just for you on the best stroller blankets ever!

Stroller Strides Moms Save 30% on orders placed at SammySack.com.

These blankets are perfect for active moms who need to keep strolling/rolling and running smoothly without blankets falling off strollers.

To take advantage of the 30% Savings, order at www.sammysack.com, apply coupon code 1FITMOM during checkout!

Enjoy! Hope to see you all in class soon!

The Fit Moms Challenge- Fall 2009

Whew! I am right in the middle of the Stroller Strides of Longmont Fit Moms Challenge and the ladies are kicking my butt. In the challenge, teams of 2 moms accumulate points in the areas of Mind, Body and Spirit according to their daily activities. You can get points for attending Stroller Strides classes, exercising on your own, taking time for yourself, spending time meditating/praying, keeping a personal journal, eating fruits and vegetables, and more. The team to collect the most points wins PRIZES!! The prizes are awesome and I am determined to win! (Well everyone actually wins a prize, but higher points mean you get an earlier pick).

Since I run Stroller Strides in Longmont you would think that I am a shoo-in to win. Well, to be fair, I made my SS class time not count for me. And because of it I have to find a way to squeeze a workout in other than Stroller Strides and it is so hard to find the time! Stroller Strides really is a blessing for moms trying to find time to work out without having to get a babysitter, or having to worry if their little one is freaking out in the gym daycare.

Anyway, more about the challenge...

For me the challenge is not about working out until I fall over, it isn't about eating only carrots, it isn't even about getting the most points. For me, the challenge is about awareness. When I sit down nightly and count up my points it gives me time to reflect on how much or how little I cared about my own total body/mind/spirit fitness. Did I make a healthy breakfast for everyone and then run out of the door with butter toast to eat in the car? Did I slow down for 15 minutes to be thankful for my blessings? Did I enrich my mind with a good book instead of watching mindless TV?

The challenge reminds me of what my goals are and whether or not that day I chose to make decisions that got me closer or whether I need to try better tomorrow.

But the last reason I love the challenge is that it is FUN!!!

So thanks ladies for being a part of the challenge and part of a community that supports healthy moms creating happy families!

(and if you are a Fit Mom, let me know what your favorite part of the challenge has been so far!)

What's in your water bottle?

TIP- Bottled water is less regulated than tap water and can contain chemicals leached from the plastic. Bottle your own water and use a stainless steel or aluminum reusable water bottle.

But before you grab any metal bottle from the shelf take a look at this article...

The article is on the scandal regarding Sigg aluminum bottles containing BPA in their liners.

The article states that "Bisphenol A is a chemical that has been found to mimic the female hormone estrogen. It appears in polycarbonate bottles and the epoxy lining of canned food."

"BPA has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, change in brain function and behaviour, and the merging of the sexes in animals."

So be mindful of the chemicals used in the metal bottles you choose, but definitely stay away from bottled water. After all, what are we going to do with all those plastic bottles after we are done with them!

(Tips about “Creating a Healthy Environment for Children”are provided for eco-conscious moms and are in collaboration from Stroller Strides, LUNA Moms Club and Healthy Child Healthy World.)

Go retro with your toys...

Moms on a Mission Fact for the week!

Fact: Toys made our of PVC plastics or vinyl often contain additives, such as lead, phthalates, and cadmium, which leech out increasing your child's risk for brain damage, cancer, and hormone disruption.

Action: Purchase toys made out of wood or cloth.

What is Moms on a Mission?

Women, especially moms, are invaluable change agents. LUNA Moms Club harnesses this power through its “Moms with a Mission” mantra. Our goal is to provide a platform for moms to help better the community where we and our families live and play by sharing information and participating in activities focused on giving back to children, families and the environment.

Not only do we as moms make a huge impact in your community, but through our actions we teach and inspire the next generation to do so as well.

Work for mom and not the man!

I remember the rat race... When my husband and I had to have endless conversations on who was going to drop off or pick up. When I was racing home in traffic to beat the 5:30pm pick up time. When my first born's first word was "bye" and as one mom put it, "the drive to work and home is for crying". I remember the grind, not just the grind of getting up super early since we both worked four 10 hour shifts so that K would only have day care for 3 days instead of 5, but also the grind it put on our marriage. So when Ethan was born I knew we couldn't do the rat race thing with two little ones. So I researched what else was out there...

I knew I wanted something that was flexible, that I could do from home and I could bring my children with me. I also wanted it to fit in with my healthy lifestyle. So what to do???

So many moms are faced with this question after returning to the workforce. With their new role as mother, their old career just doesn't seem to fit anymore. But maybe they still need to (and want to) provide an income for their family.

If you are one of these moms, check out this great article on Momlogic about starting your own company. Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides is profiled along with other mompreneurs.

And I encourage any mom looking for a flexible, fun, kid friendly job to look into becoming a Stroller Strides franchise owner. I love "working" everyday and my kids love it too!

Shoes off!

What is “Moms with a Mission”?

Women, especially moms, are invaluable change agents. LUNA Moms Club harnesses this power through its “Moms with a Mission” mantra. Our goal is to provide a platform for moms to help better the community where we and our families live and play by sharing information and participating in activities focused on giving back to children, families and the environment.


Not only do we as moms make a huge impact in your community, but through our actions we teach and inspire the next generation to do so as well. The little guys above are my reason I am on a mission!


Moms on a Mission Fact for the week!

Fact: In a recent warning about lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifically recommends that shoes remain outside the house. According to a report called the Door Mat Study, lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes and it notes that wiping shoes on a mat and removing them at the door cuts lead dust by 60 percent.

Action: Leave the dirt at the door. Wiping our shoes off and leaving them at the door reduces the amount of contaminated dirt tracked in. Think about this, your babies and kids are the ones who spend the most time on the floor of your home.

Support for Motherhood- Thank Goodness for Friends!

When I started as a Stroller Strides franchise owner 9 months ago I had a 4 year old and a 4 month old. I had just recently left my full time job and had few friends that were mothers. It was lonely during the 3 months of maternity leave as I maneuvered through my new Stay At Home life.

Then I started going to Stroller Strides! After my first class I loved it, I loved that I could work out again without worrying about day care, or worrying that I still had my baby weight, or worrying that my child was acting up... I also loved that I had found a support group that was active, happy and so friendly! I loved it so much that I jumped at the chance to buy the franchise when the current owner decided to focus more on their South Denver franchise (Thanks, Karen!).

Now I have a full calendar of playdates, moms nights outs, coffee dates, bike rides, hikes and more! Recently a couple of us moms got together on Friendship Day for Sunday Brunch and a Pedicure. We had a free day away from the kids to talk, laugh and pamper ourselves. This is a picture of our wonderful toes!

I don't know if I would have found these wonderful women without Stroller Strides and Luna Moms Club coming into my life. But thank goodness I found that Stroller Strides flyer when I did, and thanks to all the wonderful new friends in my life!

Snikiddy Snacks Contest for Stroller Strides participants!

Snikiddy Snacks is an awesome line of snacks for kids that is tasty and healthy. They offer sweet snacks like cookies as well as savory snacks such as cheese puffs. Mmmm. Healthy cheese puffs and cookies- how can that be? Well, Snikiddy Kids uses natural and wholesome ingredients. For the Baked Puffs (choose from nacho, mac and cheese, grilled cheese and more) they use real cheese (no cheez here) while leaving out the trans fats, hydrogenated oils and preservatives. The cookies are made from whole wheat flour, real butter and unrefined cane sugar.

Even those that are gluten free (like my little one) can enjoy the Baked Puffs since they are gluten/wheat free and made of corn.

Snikkidy Kids is running a great contest this month for all Stroller Strides participants. You can win a free Jamis Bike!

Enter to win here. The winner will be announced on December 1st, 2009.

In the meantime, check out Snikiddy Snacks and print out a $1 off coupon!

Post Pregnancy- Small Changes Equal Big Success

As a Stroller Strides franchise owner I know many moms that struggle with post pregnancy weight. I was one of them! After my first child I tried all the fad diets out there. For a few months I only ate raw foods, then I was vegan, then a zone dieter, then gluten free, then dairy free and the list goes on! I knew all the things I needed to do to lose weight and be healthier, but somehow I couldn't commit to doing them. And after 2 years I still had the baby weight.

After Ethan I made the commitment to health. I now exercise daily, eat healthy (with sweets in moderation) and my yo-yo dieting habits are gone. I have lost the baby weight, gained a lot of muscle and feel energized through the whole day. But I did not do it overnight- there was no quick fix diet or solution. I did it through little changes and a lot of help from my food and fitness diary.

According to Stroller Strides's founder Lisa Druxman's book, Lean Mommy, small changes add up to make a big difference. Many people dive into weight loss by focusing on a strict diet or intense workouts. But because they have not changed their mental patterns, they drop the program soon after they start. In Lean Mommy, Lisa suggests that you start with monitoring your eating habits, identifying and controlling the stimuli that trigger you to crave and eat food, modifying how and when you eat, rethinking self-defeating attitudes and learning more about exercise and good nutrition. In short, paying attention to your daily habits and tweaking them in small ways towards health.

Lean Mommy even comes with a Food and Fitness Diary to get you started in tracking your daily eating and exercise habits. The diary's purpose is not to turn you into a crazy calorie counting machine, it is more to help you notice your patterns of choice... It kind of acts like a 3 year old inside your head- always asking you "why?". For example, why did you eat the whole box of donuts? Was it because you were stressed, was it because you didn't have breakfast and were overly hungry, was it because you were with a certain person, or it was at 3pm when you just need something sweet... Knowing the answers to these questions can help you prepare with healthy options when you need them most.

I did the Food and Fitness Diary for a week and found out some pretty interesting things. Like I eat an insane amount of calories while preparing dinner- then I sit down and eat (another) dinner with the family! My small change- I don't nibble pre-dinner and only eat once we sit down. So much easier than a fad diet!

I encourage all mommies to check out Lean Mommy (your can purchase it on Amazon.com or on the Stroller Strides website) and especially the Food and Fitness Diary. It is very eye opening and a great way to begin your journey to health and wellness!

Get your Strength For Motherhood...

Are you ready to win a BOB Stroller?!?

In my opinion, BOB Strollers are the best strollers out there. They handle great (love that revolving front wheel!) and with its awesome suspension sometimes I want to climb in for the ride... But as with all good things- you get what you pay for... Unless you win one for FREE!

Here is your chance to win a brand new BOB Stroller Strides Fitness Stroller! To enter, click here and submit a photo of you in your super sweet workout duds, the most creative submission will win!

Show BOB how you rock your walk and have fun on your run! Are you a spandex queen? Do you and baby match outfits? Pull together your funkiest fashion, custom creation, or silly styling's and show BOB how you roll on your way to getting fit!

Based on the BOB Revolution, this stroller comes with a Stroller Strides Fitness Kit (handlebar console, exercise tubing and a fitness manual to provide exercise suggestions and help you keep track of your workouts) and is a perfect companion for Stroller Strides class. The whole package would usually be $399 so get your submission in soon!!!

The contest ends June 29th!

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month

And for those moms to be...

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month!


Declared and founded by holistic lifestyle expert Anna Getty, May 2009 marks the 2nd year of Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM). Through PAM, Anna aims to empower pregnant women with information, “how to” ideas and inspiration to incorporate PAM’s four key initiatives – education, exercise, nutrition & wellness and nurture – into their life routines and to show women how easy it can be to make healthy changes in their lives for themselves and their children.

“My life was altered not only by the birth of my daughter, but by the experience and choices I made as I prepared my body, mind and spirit to become pregnant and the incredible inward journey of pregnancy itself. In PAM we have adopted the tagline: “Motherhood begins now,” and I really believe that. I took that message to heart before I actually became pregnant as a way to prepare my mind, body and household for this fabulous moment of creativity, and my life literally turned upside down, for the better."

Visit the PAM website for more info!

To celebrate PAM, Stroller Strides is offering FREE classes from May 10th to May 16th. Click the coupon for more info!

Celebrate Mother's Day with Great Deals from Stroller Strides!

As a mom of two energetic boys, I am all about celebrating Mother's Day!

As the fastest growing workout for moms with their kids in the stroller, Stroller Strides is all celebrating moms too- by offering all kinds of sweet deals!

Doce Vida Fitness is a new line of fitness attire that is very slimming and great to workout in! It's very stylish workout apparel. They say that it’s made with a unique ultra soft, super moisture wicking 12% stretch fabric that instantly slims. How can you not love that? Doce Vida Fitness Wear is perfect for everything from working out to lounging. The folks at Doce Vida were so glad we liked it at Stroller Strides that they wanted to share a gift for our readers. Get 20% off your purchase. Use the code "SSTRIDES09" at checkout.

We're not finished yet! As a gift to you Stroller Strides is offering a FREE copy of Lisa Druxman's book Lean Mommy to the first 200 people to visit the retail store at www.strollerstrides.com. Lean Mommy is an inspirational book providing tips on staying fit during and after pregnancy, how to be a "opti" mom and eating healthy!


And with the weather finally getting nice maybe you are in the market for a jogging stroller. If so, visit Joggermom! With the purchase of any BOB stroller, you will receive a FREE console attachment for your stroller using the voucher code "4mommy." Now wouldn't that be an awesome Mother's Day gift!

Zebra Mix Contest for Fit Moms Challenge

I am always on the lookout for fun to be had with your kids. Since K and I have been on a cooking spree I wanted to find some fun cooking/baking kits where he could participate. I found Zebra Mix on a mommy blog site and tried to win the giveaway. I didn't end up winning (bummer) but the company checked out my website and decided to let me review the product and also sent me boxes to giveaway myself. YAY!

(from the Zebra Mix Website) You will love eating our Chocolate Chip Cookies. But, we think the best part is in the process of making these cookies.

Each baking mix has on oversized Safari Baking Map with two levels of learning. Level 1 (age 4-9) is for non-readers, beginning readers and experienced readers. Level 2 is for ages 9 and up. Each level has aspirational learning and appeals to a variety of learning styles.

Using pictures, colorful illustrations and icons, kids learn math, science, practice critical thinking and they even learn how to write a scientific formula - all while they are Stirring Up Fun!®

It is the perfect kid-sized project for one, or set it up as a fun activity with family and friends.

Since I had such a great time I decided to let the moms in the Fit Moms Challenge try the kits as well. Comment here ladies and happy baking!

P.S. These kits have organic ingredients- so thumbs up! No High Fructose Corn Syrup!!!

Stroller Strides- what have you done for me lately?

A quick list of why I love Stroller Strides...
1. I have biceps, not just bumps where my biceps should be
2. I can run without getting winded!
3. I am back in my pre-baby jeans after only 8 months- actually I am in better shape than before having baby!
4. I have friends that love sharing about their kids and love to hear me share.
5. I have friends that gripe about their kids and allow me to gripe.
6. I have friends that talk about other things than their kids. We are people too, not just moms!
7. Owning a franchise has allowed me to offer this to others. This makes me feel so great about myself and not in a scary narcissistic way, but in a caring, generous and all over glowing way.
8. I have the great feeling of being my own boss!
9. I can be creative in my job but still get support from Stroller Strides when I need it.
10. I can combine the satisfaction of being a Stay at home mom with the satisfaction of being a business owner.
11. My kids see that I make fitness fun and a priority in my life. They will be less likely to be couch potatoes as they grow older.
12. I have had the blessing of surrounding myself with wonderful women that value health, their children, the world and themselves.

Stroller Strides is a great company and each franchise is owned by a woman, and more specifically, each is owned by a mother. Most moms start their franchise with no business experience, just the love of fitness and their children. There is a contest on line for the top businesses created by women and Stroller Strides is in the running! Your vote is very important and you can VOTE EVERYDAY! Click here and vote!

Thanks for checking it out and I hope to see you in class soon!
E