Fitness Tips with Ann

Ann Gilbert is a Director of Fitness with Shapes Total Fitness for Women. Weekly she will be answering your fitness questions as well as offering tips to maximize your workouts.

I'm a working mom and it's hard for me to find the time to work out. When I get home I feel "mommy guilt" about going to work out & putting my 2-year old son in a gym daycare when he's been in daycare all day! Any suggestions?

ok, well I'm on day number 4 of all this mess, and I can honestly say I feel 100% different, healthier, I don't wake up puffy, or stiff I actually feel refreshed in the morning, I can deffinatly relate this to eating well, and getting off my @$$ to change my life...

I'm TERRIFIED to get on another scale because Ann freaked me out, I hope to god she was standing on it... I can say I was soooo disgusted with myself, I cried that night she took all my measurments, NEVER thought in a million years I would have put on that much weight... BUT!!! no more, I will win , NOT for the prizes but for myself, and my jeans...
i'll be in touch..
Diane

Heather wrote:

I'm a working mom and it's hard for me to find the time to work out. When I get home I feel "mommy guilt" about going to work out & putting my 2-year old son in a gym daycare when he's been in daycare all day! Any suggestions?

Heather... YES i have a suggestion, but you may not like it much... I feltthe same way for a long time, and I'm a mother of 4 with a full time job, football, soccer, basketball, and thats not even including time for a shower... just do it.. you can walk with your son at night when you get home from work... he'll enjoy the time with you and going fast in the stroller...save your gym time for the weekends when you have spent sufficient time with him. Dont make excuses I did for a long time and am now regreting it, getting the weight off that has been there for years is harder than ever.
good luck
Diane

SmartyC wrote:

Ann Gilbert is a Director of Fitness with Shapes Total Fitness for Women. Weekly she will be answering your fitness questions as well as offering tips to maximize your workouts.

ANN is AMAZING!!!!! she is about to show me how to change my own life...

Thanks Diane. Yes, I do walk with my son sometimes at night, but usually I end up going around the neighborhood & visiting with all of my neighbors instead of working out! I have to find a place where I don't know anyone to walk with him. Then on the weekends I'm so busy and I don't have the motivation to go to the gym. Keep ispiring me with your weight loss results & maybe one of these weekends I'll sign up. I definately appreciate the advice about how hard it is to get it off after all the years of not working out. I have to take chare of it now. Thanks for the advise!

Heather wrote:

Thanks Diane. Yes, I do walk with my son sometimes at night, but usually I end up going around the neighborhood & visiting with all of my neighbors instead of working out! I have to find a place where I don't know anyone to walk with him. Then on the weekends I'm so busy and I don't have the motivation to go to the gym. Keep ispiring me with your weight loss results & maybe one of these weekends I'll sign up. I definately appreciate the advice about how hard it is to get it off after all the years of not working out. I have to take chare of it now. Thanks for the advise!

Please tell us how you are doing after 30, 90, and 360 days, OK? I'll bet I've lost 400 pounds total with all these rah rah plans. But I put on 450. Help !! thanks.

Marge wrote:

<quoted text>
Please tell us how you are doing after 30, 90, and 360 days, OK? I'll bet I've lost 400 pounds total with all these rah rah plans. But I put on 450. Help !! thanks.

Marge,

Thank you for your honesty.

I have lost 14 pounds each of the last 3 years by walking 2 miles a day and carrying 5# weights. I get up 43 minutes before my 3 children and my doors are locked.

I need to lose about 18 more and think I can by walking.

Nina

Nina wrote:

<quoted text>
Marge,
Thank you for your honesty.
I have lost 14 pounds each of the last 3 years by walking 2 miles a day and carrying 5# weights. I get up 43 minutes before my 3 children and my doors are locked.
I need to lose about 18 more and think I can by walking.
Nina

Nina, Oh thank you. I see you know how fads--diets or exercise binges don't work. All they do is lower the body's natural "set point" so once the activity is stopped the weight comes back and then some.

I found that walking and doing a few simple exercises each day helps me.

Your new friend, Marge

Diane wrote:

ok, well I'm on day number 4 of all this mess, and I can honestly say I feel 100% different, healthier, I don't wake up puffy, or stiff I actually feel refreshed in the morning, I can deffinatly relate this to eating well, and getting off my @$$ to change my life...
I'm TERRIFIED to get on another scale because Ann freaked me out, I hope to god she was standing on it... I can say I was soooo disgusted with myself, I cried that night she took all my measurments, NEVER thought in a million years I would have put on that much weight... BUT!!! no more, I will win , NOT for the prizes but for myself, and my jeans...
i'll be in touch..
Diane

Diane! I am so proud of you! I feel great too! Even though the Step and Sculpt class left me sore for two days!!:) And yes, Ann is amazing....she is an inspiration to us all!

-Christina

Marge wrote:

<quoted text>
Nina, Oh thank you. I see you know how fads--diets or exercise binges don't work. All they do is lower the body's natural "set point" so once the activity is stopped the weight comes back and then some.
I found that walking and doing a few simple exercises each day helps me.
Your new friend, Marge

Marge I have to toally agree with you! I tried many diet "fads" and the day you get off them, you gain everything back! My biggest problem is portion control and I have found writing everything I eat in a "Food Diary" has been very beneficial. You know how much you have eaten and the calorie intake (we can eat 1600 caloriesd a day on our plan), it is making this weight loss journey very successful!

-Christina

Heather wrote:

I'm a working mom and it's hard for me to find the time to work out. When I get home I feel "mommy guilt" about going to work out & putting my 2-year old son in a gym daycare when he's been in daycare all day! Any suggestions?

Dear "mommy guilt", I totally understand, for I raised my three in fitness facility daycares! Remember when you do go, you are leading by example and your children will soon understand the value of having mom working out! Although you child may be too young to understand why he/she may have to go, she will reep the benefits of having a calmer, less stressed mom when the workout is over. Both of you will be apt to partake in a healthier supper and bedtime will be more relaxed after mom has released the tension of the day in a popular dance fitness class or with that pair of dumbells! Always review the benefits of getting that workout in...go over them, repeat them and even discuss with your toddler...Believe me, soon exercise will be part of the daily habit.
Plan a shorter workout when the day has been stressful or your child has been cooped up all day. 30 minute workouts are available and experts teach us that they can be effective. An aggressive circuit workout can burn as many calories as the outdated 1 and 1/2 hour workout you may have planned. Get with a trainer and have her plan a high energy option for you.
Good luck
Back to you soon
Ann Gilbert

Hello everyone, Alexander Graham Bell wrote, "great discoveries and achievements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds". This is so true when making a fitness or weight loss goal. The best of the best teach us that we need to share the goal, do the math, calulate the time involved and get a coach to assure the job gets done and the plan is made. I challenge you to write down your goal TODAY and then no matter how awkward it may feel, share it with everyone you know and with those who care about you. Show the numbers, ask for help and you will be more apt to stick to it...you will not want to cheat, knowing that your support team is watching you....Just a hint...

Hello Contestants and readers. At this time in the challenge you will find all those around you questioning your workouts, your meal plans and your intensions. Why would you ever think there is a better message than SCIENCE. Stick to the science based plan. Embarce the science based facts...and remember that the others have never worked in the past. We are here for you in all you are doing...Just reach out and find us waiting and watching you succeed with SCIENCE...

There are no quick fixes...I have tried them all, and when given the opportunity I will stand up tall for the science based information I have gotten over the years...Be true to yourself and trust science.....

Thinking of all of you tonight...Science teaches me it is time to take a walk.....Have a great night

Ann Gilbert
CPT ACE
IHRSA/ACE Trainer of the Year 2001
Director of Fitness
Shapes Total Fitness for Women

Ann! I had to go shoppng today for a size smaller jeans....it felt sooo great :) P.S. the quiche recipe is a HUGE hit at my house!

Hello everyone, I have returned from Industry Convention with great news! You all are SO ON IT. All experts/scientists agree, it is the balance of great fuel and excerise that will keep those pounds off for LIFE! There was no research studied at the convention to support that a drug or surgery can show life long weight loss or management. You are on THE RIGHT PATHWAY to a life filled with good health.

Water Water Water! I hear it day in and day out...yes, it is a key to our health focus. We are, in a sense, a water recycling plant. Water yourself today........

Drink up!
Ann

Heather wrote:

I'm a working mom and it's hard for me to find the time to work out. When I get home I feel "mommy guilt" about going to work out & putting my 2-year old son in a gym daycare when he's been in daycare all day! Any suggestions?

try signing on to a gym close to your work and work out on your lunch. I have arranged to cut my lunch hr 2x a week which allows me to have longer work out & time for a shower

Back to life, back to reality...is not the way we all feel after a trip, a vacation, or a break from work.

Today is the day to plan for the week after the holiday. Start with water and sleep and schedule all your workouts for the short week to come. Many of us feel an end of the month crunch right now and are apt to stip out of the favorite workout...DON'T! Workouts this week will make you feel as though you were never away!

Get a short walk in early today as the holiday starts, stay away from sugary sodas or juice filled drinks. Skip the chips and go for the veggies tray instead. If the household at which you will picnic has not as of yet found the value of healthier eating, bring the salad. Swim instead of just sit and plan another short walk when you get home tonight.

No excuses this week when you have planned ahead.

Ann

I knew I was getting out of hand when i was doing laundry on day and had to separate a crib sheet from my underwear to determine which was which.I give up I just wear sweatpants now and eat whatever i want!