MomActive

MomActive ~ Magazine Style Community Coming Soon! Seeking Writers and Forum Moderators to Join our Community!!

2009-11-05T09:13:00.001-08:00

Exciting news!!! The MomActive redesign and community are almost ready to relaunch!! I'm so proud of this project and can't wait to see how it grows with the strength and creativity of women just like you! If you are a blogger interested in getting exposure and expanding your audience please read the description below and submit your information for consideration today!

MomActive.com will relaunch as a magazine style community in correlation with MomActive Radio and MomTV. The mission of MomActive is to motivate and empower women to be a positive influence in their family. As head of our families it is essential that we engage ourselves in activity and dialogue that helps us to grow as individuals. Our own physical, emotional, and general state of wellness directly impacts our children and immediate family members. It is our goal to provide informative and fun content on the website and a strong community of support through positive and open dialogue in our forums. We are seeking women passionate about living their best life to join our team of contributing writers and forum moderators.

Contributing writers - The broad range of categories for this site are intended to allow writers the freedom to explore content that best fits the needs of the community. Writers will choose a category and primarily write within that category. Writers will commit to a specific weekly or bi-monthly day to post and have content submitted by 5pm the day before. A bio page of all contributors will be linked to the Home page. A shorter bio will be posted with all articles and include links to writer sites.

Categories (titles for categories are still being thrown around - feel free to brainstorm with us!)

Healthy Parenting

Fitness

Nutrition/Foodie

Focus on Mom (personal growth, emotional health, fun Mom)

Pay it Forward/Giving Back/Role Mom

Interested in joining the MomActive Team?

Please email the following information to bryan.fiona@gmail.com

Name:

blog/s:

twitter:

email:
category of interest:

example topic ideas:

weekly or bi-weekly commitment:
preferred day(s) of the week:

2 links to writing examples:

Tell us about yourself:

Changing My Body In 30 Days

2009-11-04T07:39:00.001-08:00

I fell in love with Earth Footwear a few months ago just before the Type-A Mom Conference. I purchased a pair of the Kalso light shoes because my buddy Leah from Bookieboo swore they were comfy and that I'd burn calories just by wearing them. I'm an exercise freak but if I can tone and burn calories just by wearing a pair of shoes? I'm all over it! I was skeptical though. I've spent a gazillion dollars on the ugliest MBT shoes you've ever seen, simply because my skinny minnie gal friends wear them. Honestly, I don't think they did much for me except that I did feel mighty tall in them.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I felt totally SORE after working out with Tracey Mallet and Leah at Type A Mom Conference Earth Footwear booth. Keep in mind that I'm a strong girl that hits the gym hard consistently. A fluke, perhaps ... or not?

I was totally excited when Earth Footwear contacted me and asked if I'd like to participate in the "Change your Body in 30 days" program. Who doesn't want to change their body?

They sent me a pair of the new Exer-Walk shoe that will be released to the public in January. (They "sent me" means FREE, just in case you are the FTC) It is a nice enough shoe - designed with the patented negative heel technology. It's a little heavier than the Kalso that I like so much but it's a comfortable enough shoe. I didn't truly appreciate this shoe until today.... when I weighed in at Weight Watchers.... the week after Halloween. Halloween is a chocolate infested holiday that holds my sweet-tooth hostage for a good week every year. This year was no different and I fully expected to weigh in with a gain today. BUT.... I neither gained nor lost and let me tell you friends, that is a victory!

I've been wearing my Exer-Walks for almost two weeks now and had definitely been noticing my glutes and inner thighs feeling a bit tighter. I wasn't giving them any credit for calorie burning though because it all seemed a little "black magic" to me. I'm sold now though, because this weekend we were in the mountains doing our usual activity (we are active, keep in mind) and I wore my Exer-walks most of the weekend.... while shoving Twix, Snickers, and Milkyway chocolate into my trap for three days straight (not that there was any candy in the house earlier in the week ...). Honestly, I should have gained weight this weekend and I normally would have gained. When I weighed in today with my jeans and winter gear I still hadn't gained a single pound. I was exactly the same weight I was last week. Phew.... so, do I think it is because I burned 4 times more calories, as Earth Footwear claims? I have no other explanation. It has to be the shoes. So, is my body changing two weeks in to a 30 day program? I have to say yes, despite the chocolate train that threw me off track, I do think that wearing the Exer-Walk every day has made a difference. I do feel that my legs are toning and for sure, I feel my glutes are tighter. I'm a runner so I've only actually exer-walked three times in these shoes on the treadmill, but even just wearing them in my daily life has definitely made a difference.

Banglz ~ Fitness Fashion Accessory Review

2009-10-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

Banglz are essentially traditional ankle and wrist weights covered in attractive fabrics. *I was sent a set of the 1lb. ankle bands to try and when I first saw them I was a little skeptical. They aren't exactly the most attractive fashion accessory but I was ultimately quite pleased with the product. I've actually worn them around the house for about two weeks and have even worn them to pick up my kids from school on occasion.

Muscle tissue is a key factor in weight maintenance and metabolism. I'm a huge fan of fitting in any kind of movement or exercise wherever you can, so even although the amount of weight is quite small, the resistance created by one pound on each leg is a nice addition to your normal workout. I wouldn't strap these babies on and expect to magically become buff or drop 10 lbs. over night, but I like the idea that I'm doing something while carrying on with my normal routine.

You can actually buy different pattern fabric covers and switch it up a bit. I love my Banglz but there is one thing that I'd love to see: the 1 lb weight is a bit sissy for us athletic types. I'm a bit of an over achiever when it comes to working out and I could probably comfortably make it through my day with 3 lb weights on my ankles. So Banglz, PLEASE make us some heavier weights! There is a 20% coupon code on the website right now for early holiday shoppers. Be sure to use the code "trickortreat" before October 31st.

*This item was sent to me for FREE. I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed here are my opinion based on my experience with this product.

How to Lose Weight Like a Real Loser

2009-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

In this video from Time, The Biggest Loser Trainer, Jillian Michaels, explains how to navigate the corporate lunchroom. Education is key and this video is full of great information.

Friday's Guest ~ Darcy Albrecht from Chicks n' Chickens Discusses Lullaby Exercises

2009-09-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

chick•en \chi-kn\ noun
1. one of your own 2. nickname for someone you adore

chick \chik\ noun
1. groovy lady 2. smart woman 3. creative female

Hey CHICKENS!!!! We've got a smart, creative, groovy lady coming on the show this Friday! Darcy Albrecht, Chief Chick of ChicksnChickens, will be here to tell us all about her Lullaby Exercises DVD. This fantastic program provides moms and babies with some of the basic early days' necessities - toning, soothing, bonding, and sleep!

Babies need to be soothed and mommies need movement. Lullaby Exercises grew out of Darcy's own experiences with her children. Her involvement with gymnastics, aerobics, and cheerleading helped develop a program that moms find enjoyable and productive. She spent six years as a national instructor, choreographer and judge for the National Cheerleaders Association. As a former advertising professional Darcy had the know how to move forward and market her product to moms all over. We look forward to hearing more about Lullaby Exercises and how this mom of two does it all!

Join us HERE on Friday at 2pm EST/11am PST

MomActive Welcomes Chalene Johnson!!!!

2009-09-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

I can barely contain my excitement! I'm about to hop up and bust a move because we have Chalene Johnson on MomActive this Friday!

Chalene Johnson is the extraordinarily energetic founder of Turbo Jam. She's also one amazing motivational speaker. Just check out some of her speeches HERE on YouTube. She has accomplished so many amazing things that I can barely begin to list them all here. These excerpts from her bio on Turbokick.com will give you some idea of who Chalene Johnson is. (Read the full bio HERE)

Chalene Johnson is an entrepreneur, TV fitness personality, clothing designer, author, motivational speaker, choreographer, wife, mother of 2 and relatable girl next door.

Now a world-renowned fitness expert with over 18 years of experience, Chalene is the CEO of Powder Blue Productions, a fitness company she started in a spare bedroom. Chalene has created some of the Nation's most popular exercise formats includingTurbo Kick®, Turbo Jam™ and PiYo™, to name a few. Chalene is the star of the number one selling infomercial in 2006, Turbo Jam™. Turbo Kick® is one of the highest attended workouts at popular health clubs across the globe, and offered as the "exclusive" kickboxing workout in such global giants as 24 Hour Fitness™. To date, in excess of 35,000 fitness instructors have trained through Chalene's programs resulting in millions of American’s participating in Turbo Kick® workouts at health clubs across the globe weekly. Chalene has been voted one of the top three Fitness Instructors in the World by IDEA Fitness 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In addition to being a leading force in fitness and business, Chalene champions the cause of helping others to live a fuller life. Through her motivational workshops and camps, personal writings, live internet chats, blogs and weekly video taped messages, Chalene has been able to help thousands change their life from the ground up.

On Friday we'll be talking to Chalene about everything from her health and exercise philosophies to what it takes to start a business and grow it to be as GI-NORMOUS as she has... all while being a MOM!

Tune in at 2pm EST/12pm PST on Blog Talk Radio ~ HERE!!!!

Smart Choices ~ Dumb Food

2009-09-06T09:18:00.001-07:00

When Leah and I first decided that we'd like to do a radio program geared towards moms, our main goal was to educate mothers on health, fitness, and nutrition in order to affect the lives of their children. With childhood obesity on the rise and hitting epidemic proportions, the quality of life for millions of Americans is headed into the crapper. We wanted to bring sound nutritional advice to Moms and teach them that they DO have control over what foods they offer their children and that they DO have influence over the eating habits their children will develop. By educating children at an early age we give them the tools they need to navigate the crap infested world they will experience as they grow older and head out into the world.

I'm a little fired up this morning so you'll have to excuse me just a bit. I have been a bit "head down" with work lately so when I saw this article in the New York Times Business section last night I just about spit my water across the screen. Apparently we are going to be seeing a green check mark indicating that such foods as Froot Loops are a "better for you food".

I've got about four posts going on in my head right now so I'll just break it down to this: a food that is 44% sugar is NOT a "better for you food". Encouraging people to buy processed foods because they have been fortified is like telling me to eat horse shit because you added enough vitamins and minerals to reach 50% of the recommended daily amount (RDA).

What really ticks me off is that the knowledgeable folks behind this effort are defending it. This is an excerpt from the NY Times article I referenced previously.

Eileen T. Kennedy, president of the Smart Choices board and the dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University (note to self do NOT send my child to Tufts University), said the program’s criteria were based on government dietary guidelines and widely accepted nutritional standards. (hmm I wasn't aware that those guidelines promoted consumption of processed foods)

She said the program was also influenced by research into consumer behavior. That research showed that, while shoppers wanted more information, they did not want to hear negative messages or feel their choices were being dictated to them. (So, what? Tell them what they want to hear? Well that makes sense. "That bowl of Froot Loops is 44% sugar but no worries, you are getting plenty of vitamins and minerals so just keep spooning that crap into your trap and put it out of your mind." As long as we feel good. I get it!)

“The checkmark means the food item is a ‘better for you’ product, as opposed to having an x on it saying ‘Don’t eat this,’ ” Dr. Kennedy said. “Consumers are smart enough (then why do we need a system at all?) to deduce that if it doesn’t have the checkmark, by implication it’s not a ‘better for you’ product. They want to have a choice. They don’t want to be told ‘You must do this.’ ”

This may not be an industry led initiative however, it is an industry backed program, paid for by industry. I don't begrudge these companies manufacturing their foods, I'm a capitalist at heart. I don't even care if people choose to eat their food. I do care that they are misleading people who are otherwise uneducated about nutrition. Let's take a look at the board of directors representing industry (these are the companies participating in the smart choices program - which I believe means that they have paid for the program and that you won't see these checks on any other brand foods):

Dr. Celeste Clark
Kellogg's
Battle Creek, MI

Dr. Susan Crockett
General Mills
Minneapolis, MN

Mr. Chris Doherty
Kraft Foods North America
Northfield, IL

Ms. Nancy Schnell
Unilever U.S.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ

This whole program is a joke and the fact that not one of the companies involved saw it is frightening. What concerns me more is that the board of directors representing non-industry, seemingly well educated members of highly reputable institutions, are comfortable putting their names on this program.

Dr. Dennis Bier
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

Dr. Mary Hager
American Dietetic Association
Washington, DC

Dr. Richard Kahn
American Diabetes Association
Alexandria, VA

Dr. Eileen Kennedy
Tufts University
Boston, MA

I love food, I'm not a freak about every little thing I put in my body. In fact, I eat light mayo which is also a "smart choice" (along with the full fat kind) and I'd probably eat full fat mayo if it didn't always end up as a big bubble on my ass. What you put in your mouth is up to you and I fully support your right to choose.

MomActive's goal is to EDUCATE so that when your kids drink milk they know that the calcium will help them grow strong bones and teeth, and guess what else has calcium? Broccoli! We'd like our listeners to teach their children to make a connection between the food they eat and the resulting benefit (or detriment!) to their bodies. Our hope is that with this knowledge they will then CHOOSE to consume foods that benefit their health.... and while the new Froot Loops may contain a bit more fiber and are fortified, those facts do not erase the fact that they are 44% sugar and contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil which all of my readers have been educated to know is a trans fat.

*Don't forget to enter our giveaway to win a free PUR Flavor Choice water filtration pitcher!

PUR Flavor Options Pitcher Review and Giveaway

2009-09-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Most of you have heard me on air encouraging everyone to drink more water. Drinking water is important to your health and weight goals no matter whether you are losing or maintaing. Water has no calories and can often stave off feelings of hunger. Those of us that exercise know that we need to replenish fluids lost during those workouts and that without water we can easily slip into a state dehydration.

We were recently given the opportunity to review the new PUR Flavor Options water filtration pitcher. We've been using the pitcher for just over a week now and it has actually been quite a hit! The great part about the pitcher is that it gives you the option of having plain or flavored water, so I have even started filling up my water bottles from the pitcher. My kids LOVE it most because they can have flavored water and it switches things up for them. They like the lemon flavor best. They also get a kick out of the light that flashes green to tell them that the filter is still working each time they pour water!

I am particularly happy that I don't have to buy bottled water anymore. Did you know that PUR filtered water is about one-tenth the cost of bottled water, and can lead to a savings of up to $600 a year? And that each PUR pitcher can replace up to 2,000 16 oz. plastic bottles of water in one year? I didn't know that, but I do now and I'm all over it!

Win a PUR Flavor Options Water Filtration Pitcher:

To Enter: Visit PUR Flavor Options and take the "What's Your Flavor?" Quiz - come back and post your answer in a comment.

For Extra Entries:

1. Favorite MomActive and sign up for show reminders on BTR

2. Subscribe to MomActive RSS feeed.

3. Become a follower of MomActive

4. Tweet about this giveaway as often as you want!

sample tweet:

Win a PUR Flavor Options water filtration pitcher! http://tiny.cc/hkpLI

5. Blog about this giveaway

6. Become a follower of BanteringBlonde blog

* Please leave a separate comment for each "entry"
* The deadline for entries is September 19, 2009, Midnight CMT.
* The winner will be notified via email on September 20, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment).

Friday's Show ~ The Healthy Lunch Box

2009-09-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

On Friday we will be talking to Jen from SavorTheThyme about yummy healthy foods for Back-to-School lunch boxes. My hubby and I have recently launched a campaign against incessant snacking in our home. We emptied our pantry of all the pre-packaged snacks and my children are irate! They've tried every guilt tactic there is. We are horrible horrible parents. Their friends tell them that their house is a horrible place to live and that it is no longer fun. Their friends will never come over because not only do we not allow them to watch TV or play Wii during playdates, we only eat fruits and vegetables and healthy snacks. THE HORROR!

Yes my friends, I have staged my own Crappy Snack Boycott. My kids would eat one 100 calorie bag of cookies after the other all afternoon if I let them. Their friends' lunch box may look sweeter, but I'm making an effort to keep the crap out. Now, I should note that my son has informed me that his BFF is incredibly generous and always shares a few of his cookies because he can't eat ALL SIX of them. Nice. Not much I can do, but I'm sending a message and setting an example and guess what? When they come home STARVING and the only thing available is a healthy wholesome snack... well, you'd never guess it but, they actually eat it! Go Figure!

So what do I put in their lunch boxes? Ok, it takes a bit more effort than just heading to the pantry and throwing an individually wrapped bag of crap in, but this morning I smiled to myself because I really truly feel good about this boycott! I cut up veggies ahead of time and put them into individual snack bags. I did the same with popcorn, nuts, and fruits, dried cereal, and whole wheat crackers (which they love) - I could use a few ideas so I'm glad that Jen will be on the show Friday to help us out there!

Be sure to join us HERE on MomActive with Leah and Fiona Friday at 2pm EST and call in and let us know what your ideas for healthy lunch box are!

Get Up and Get Moving ~ Our Friday Guest Jill Knapp

2009-08-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Jill Knapp's life changed when she was diagnosed three years ago with Type II diabetes, also familiarly known as adult onset diabetes. She has not only lost over 100 pounds, she has gone on to become an advocate for the American Diabetes Association and is a passionate public speaker sharing her story with and inspiring others. On Friday we will talk to Jill, who blogs at Get Up & Get Moving all about how she was able to lose 100 pounds and control her diabetes without any artificial medical means. If you or someone you know struggles with weight and/or diabetes you will not want to miss our motivating show with Jill!

Make Your Pancakes and Eat Them Too ~ Recipe Make-Over

2009-08-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

My kids love pancakes. Who doesn't love pancakes? It occurred to me this morning that my pancake recipe would be perfect for the MomActive Recipe Make-over series. I changed my old recipe by using half regular white flour and half buckwheat flour. I have tried other combinations of different flour but this seems to be the tastiest. I also use two tablespoons of agave nectar (or honey) instead of sugar. We also use the agave nectar in place of syrup. If you aren't familiar with agave nectar I highly recommend you try it. It is sweet and delicious and can be used as a replacement for sugar in many things.

Yummy Pancakes

1/2 cup buckwheat flour

1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3+ cup skim milk (I am generous with the milk because we like thinner pancake)

1 large egg

1 tablespoon melted butter

2 tablespoons agave nectar (or honey)

1. Combine flours, baking powder and salt.

2. Beat the milk, egg, butter and agave nectar.

3. Combine dry ingredient mixture with liquid mixture and stir.

4. Warm and grease griddle or pan with non-stick cooking spray and cook those babies!

Do you have a favorite recipe that you have made over? Would you like MomActive to make-over a recipe for you? Please let us know!

Arnold's Oroweat Sandwich Thins

2009-08-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

I love bread, I hate bread. OOOoooh I really love breads. I've always eaten whole wheat and whole grain breads. My children have never had a sandwich with white bread and I hope that they never do.

I'm not sure why I hadn't heard of these before but apparently "other" parts of the country have had Arnold's Oroweat sandwich thins for some time. I saw them at our local store and instantly caved to the buy one/get one deal. I tried both the whole wheat and the multi-grain varieties.

Did I like them? You bet! They aren't huge fluffy rolls but they are quite delish and I've made a gazillion things with them! The obvious things are sandwiches and veggie/turkey burgers, but here are a two of my favorite things to do with them:

Mini Pizza:

I just use sliced tomatoes, bit of fresh basil and some LF Mozzarella

Panini:

Use a bit of Pam spray in a sandwich press (or pan) and grille your favorite sandwich

Are you avoiding high fructose corn syrup? I have become vigilant at looking for this. I actually buy a lot of the different Arnold's breads and most (if not all?) do not contain high fructose corn syrup. These contain 19 grams of whole grain per serving, another thing I look for when I buy breads. The best part? They are only 100 calories and if you are a point counter like me, they are only one Weight Watcher point!

Have you tried the Arnold's Oroweat Sandwich Thins? What have you made with them? Share your ideas with us!

Recipe Make-Over ~ Emeril Lagasse North African Lamb Kebabs

2009-08-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new Saturday Recipe Make-Over series. You can submit your favorite recipes (send to Bryan dot Fiona at gmail dot com) and I will make them over so that they are tasty yet healthy and lower in fat. If you have favorite made-over recipes that you would like to share please send them in and we will post them for all to see. Since I'm not a laboratory scientist I wont be providing caloric details but it is quite amazing how a recipe can change for the better with just a little tweeking here and there.

Today, I'll be making over one of my favorite recipes from Emeril Legasse. You can find this online at FoodNetwork.com. This is a dish my family loves and is perfect for the summer grilling season. I'll highlight the changes I made in red.

North African Lamb Kebabs

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
2 to 2 1/2 pounds boneless leg or shoulder of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes with some of the fat attached
(2 cups whole cherry tomatoes)
6 warm pita breads, for serving (I substitute Lettuce tossed with a bit of fresh squeezed lemon juice here)
Yogurt Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the onion, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, cilantro, mint, salt, cumin, paprika, pepper, and olive oil. Add the lamb to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.

Soak 8 to 10 bamboo skewers in warm water for about 1 hour before assembling the kabobs.

Preheat the grill to high, and lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking. Thread the lamb (and cherry tomatoes) onto the soaked skewers and place on the grill, turning to evenly cook, about 12 to 14 minutes.

(DELETE THIS PART - Drizzle the pitas with sauce, then wrap the pita around the meat on the skewer, fold over and twist the skewer off the meat.) (Twist the skewer off the meat onto the salad and drizzle with yogurt sauce. Keep in mind that lamb is higher in fat than many other meats so you may want to be conservative with your serving sizes.) Serve.

Yogurt Dipping Sauce:

1/2 cup plain (non-fat) yogurt
1/2 cup (non-fat or low fat) sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mamavation Update ~ Week 1

2009-08-06T20:47:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I posted a Vlog about my recent weight gain and declared that I was ready to follow @boredmommy in the Mamavation campaign. I'm someone who knows better, someone who works out regularly and has health and fitness as a major focus in my life. Everyone faces challenges in life and how we choose to act in the face of challenge says much about who we are.

Who am I?

I am a strong and smart woman. I am stronger than my grief, my sadness, my anger and frustration. I am much stronger than that stupid Diet Coke and ice cream!

This week I have lost 3 pounds. I know I'm supposed to keep a food journal and exercise journal but ... I didn't. I counted Weight Watchers points and kept up my normal exercise schedule. I stopped drinking Diet Coke and drank more water.

This week? I plan to up my cardio and incorporate more interval training into my runs. Don't forget to visit the Mamavation group on Bookieboo.com to check in with all the other Mamavation Ladies and see how @boredmommy is doing!

Friday's Guest Momprenuer Lisa Druxman

2009-08-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to talk to our guest this week, Lisa Druxman. Lisa is a Mompreneur who turned her passion for motherhood and fitness into an amazing business. She is the founder of Stroller Strides, and a nationally recognized speaker and author with focus on pre/postnatal fitness.

All across America new mommies are working out with Stroller Strides. Having witnessed groups of women working out with Stroller Strides in my local park, I have to tell you it looks like a kick bootie workout!

Lisa has worked as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and has been published in numerous print and online publications. Her book, LEAN Mommy outlines her weight management program (Learn Eating Awareness and Nutrition). I also just read on her blog that she was filming a series of fitness videos! I have to say, that as a mom who tries to balance raising a family, working from home, and staying fit, I'll be interested not only in Lisa's views on fitness, but how she does it all!!

You can find out more about Stroller Strides on their website and also visit some of the articles that Lisa has written at ModernMom.com

Listen to MomActive with Leah and Fiona Friday August 6th at 2pm EST/11am CST on BlogTalkRadio HERE!

MomActive Getting Mamavated!

2009-07-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to @BOREDmommy (Maria) for winning the final vote to become the very first Mamavation Mom! I, along with so many of you, will be cheering her on. As an official Mamavation coach, I could not be more excited about this program. I will also be working hard along side Maria to get myself back into the groove of things. Watch my video to see what has been going on in my world and why I need a little MAMAVATION!!

MomActive is Heading to Blogher!

2009-07-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Just like many bloggers out there, I'm getting myself prepared for Blogher '09 this week. I ordered business cards from Moo.com and they arrived yesterday! I actually got to choose as many different colors as I wanted. Below, you can see that one side says, "Go Forth and Banter" and is pictured in green. I also had them printed up in an aqua blue and a hot pink color. I love these cards and am very impressed with the quality of the card stock. These were not a sponsored item, but I'd promote the quality of these cards any day!

The other thing I'll be packing? My poken from my generous Blogher Sponsor, StartPoken.com , of course! I'll be bringing my geisha poken...

If you don't have a poken yet, Bantering Blonde fans can purchase one from StartPoken and use the SP20 code to get a 20% discount! You can also let me know that you need one and I can bring one to you at Blogher!

If you'll be at Blogher keep an eye out for me because I really want to meet you! For those of you who won't be able to make it to Blogher, I'll be blogging my way through the conference and posting regularly. There will be opportunities for both Blogher attendees and non-attendees to win poken so STAY TUNED and follow me on twitter @banteringblonde !!!

Don't forget to listen to MomActive with Leah and Fiona on Friday at 2pm EST. I'll be broadcasting live from Chicago and dishin' all the good stuff!

MomActive Friday Guest ~ Master Pilates Instructor Lisa Johnson

2009-07-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

This week we will have Master Pilates Instructor LIsa Johnson as our guest! Lisa is the founder and owner of Modern Pilates Boston. She has been a personal trainer since 1997 and became a certified Pilates instructor in 1998. She is always expanding her knowledge base and has trained in Toronto, London, Sydney, Chicago, Phoenix, and extensively in California. Lisa is the first Pilates instructor to be accepted as an educational affiliate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She is the originator of the "Pro Zone" column in Pilates Style magazine. Lisa is a social media addict and is working on the Modern Pilates blog, ModernPilates.blogspot.com, as well as developing EcoHappyChic.com, a web site geared for the fashion aware with a green streak. ("Where Christian Dior meets Al Gore.")

Be sure to tune in Friday at 2pm EST for MomActive with Leah and Fiona!

Snack Yourself Silly to Boost Your Metabolism

2009-07-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

I'm an all or nothing kind of gal and this really isn't a great trait when it comes to trying to eat healthy. I often find myself having eaten breakfast around 8am, Lunch around 1 or 2 and then Dinner around 7. There are times that I don't snack much and this is a big NO-NO for several reasons. First, your metabolism is like an engine and if you don't oil it regularly it gets sorta ticked off and slows down. For best results, you should be eating something every 2-3 hours during the day to keep your metabolism happy. The second reason is that, by only eating three times a day, I tend to eat more and make different choices than I might if I were not absolutely famished by the time I slowed down enough to eat.

This is a dilemma for lots of moms, whether you stay at home or work in or out of the home, there is no denying that we mammas are a busy bunch. Taking time to feed our bodies small nutritious snacks helps fuel us both physically and emotionally. Chances are that at the very time of day when your toddler is throwing herself down in the middle of Whole Foods telling you she hates you, is most likely the same time of day that your own body and emotions are struggling stay stable. This state of being is partially due to the fact that your child has turned into a demon and partially because your body is running low on enough energy and strength to handle the situation!

I think there are periods of time in our lives when things go a little crazy and we lose our way. We take shortcuts or consciously go against what we know because it is easier. When this is the case we just need to reel ourselves in and make changes going forward. So, if you are not fueling yourself appropriately STOP and make a conscious decision to change this. Here are a list of five of my favorite healthy snacks that have a wee bit of protein for extra mileage.

1. Celery with peanut butter

2. Apple slices and a string cheese stick

3. Low fat yogurt (1/2 carton) with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese

4. Handful mixed nuts (I like the South Beach mix from Planters) and a piece of fruit

5. Turkey/Cheese roll (I just roll up slice of turkey and a slice of cheese ... so gourmet!)

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

MAMAVATION is Here!

2009-07-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

Mamavation is a social experiment and weight loss campaign on twitter. Mamavation, like motivation, is an opportunity for one mom to change her life and create a healthy lifestyle for her family. The Mamavation Mom will be supplied with a bonafide team of personal trainers, coaches, and a cheerleading squad comprised of fit mamas that know what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle. She will be challenged and encouraged for two months to make everlasting changes in her life. Once the time period is over, if certain goals are met, she will receive several prizes and become the first Mamavation Mom.

The campaign will unfold on Bookieboo where the Mamavation mom will keep a daily food/exercise journal. She will also be part of the Mamavation group on Bookieboo, where the entire membership and her team will encourage and assist her with her goals. She will be expected to post about her Mamavation experience on her blog weekly and tweet out often. She will also be asked to appear on the Momactive Radio Show and MomTV, as well as create bi-weekly confessional vlogs.

How will the mom be chosen? Good question. The Mamavation Mom will come from Twitter. Mamavation will be promoted as a healthy campaign while applications are submitted. Moms who apply will need to have a blog and twitter account. Three to four moms will be chosen for twitter to vote on. Those moms will ignite their own campaigns to get votes. And the first #mamavation mom will be annouced with a twitter party.

We hope Mamavation will touch peoples lives in a very real way on twitter. The world will be watching as the Mamavatioin mom struggles with challenges and overcomes. She will become an inspiration to all. Come watch how this unfolds.

Head on over to Mamavation.com to see how YOU can apply!!!

Friday's Guest: Sadie Nardini ~ Yoga

2009-07-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about this week at MomActive! Our guest this Friday is Sadie Nardini a master yogi from New York City. She is the co-owner of The Fierce Club in New York City, the author of the Road Trip Guide to Your Soul, and creator of the bestselling DVDs The Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga: Power Hour and Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga:Total Body Transformation and Weight Loss. If you take a look at her website and her YouTube site you'll instantly feel like Sadie is just like all of your best friends! What I'm loving about all of her YouTube videos is that they are all short in length and TOTALLY accessible to anyone. Take a peak at the different videos and spend 10 minutes with Sadie, you won't regret it. You can also see the MomActive featured video this week on the right side bar of this blog.

I'm so excited to bring Yoga to MomActive this week because it is YOGA that has transformed my body the most! My experience with yoga as a physical exercise has been varied over the years but overall it is the one activity that I credit with my strength. When "HOT" yoga or "Bikram" yoga became the trend several years ago, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else sweating their asses off. I enjoyed it but it became a bit routine and I lost interest in yoga until about three years ago when I injured my back.

I'm a runner by nature and a few summers ago while training for a half marathon (my favorite distance to race by the way), I did something really unpleasant to my back. It took me by surprise because I'd never had an injury before. I ran through the pain for a bit but ultimately had to face the fact that something wasn't right and rest was in order.

If you know me at all, you know that without exercise I go nuts and become unbearably grumpy! I went with a friend to a Core Power Yoga class and quickly realized that this was something I could totally get into. I've since been practicing with several yogis at my current club and it is now a part of my weekly routine. On days that I can't get to a class I pull out my mat and spend a few minutes with my favorite poses. Nothing more invigorating!

My body loves me for the time I spend practicing Yoga. All of my running and the fact that I've born three big babies has my hips in a crazy state. The combination of hip openers and working to keep my hamstrings loose protects my back from re-injury, this I am sure of. Need to strength train but hate weights? There is no better weight to train with than your own body weight! Even my trainer is in awe of the results I get from yoga three times a week.

So, my goal for Friday's show? To introduce you to Sadie, to have a conversation in which we dispel the myths about Yoga and talk about ways you can incorporate Yoga into your life!

Namaste Chickies!

Friday's Guest: Jennifer Leal on Nutrition and Smart Eating

2009-07-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

MomActive is excited to introduce Jennifer Leal of Savor The Thyme blog as our guest on this Friday's radio program. We will discuss smart nutrition and the challenges we all face when trying to incorporate healthy foods into our childrens' diets.

Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom with two children ages 3 and 5. She obtained a Master’s of Science in Immunology and worked for a large pharmaceutical company prior to becoming the creator of Savor The Thyme blog, which focuses on family-friendly healthy food and lifestyle. By coincidence, she happens to be my roommate for Blogher this year and I'm hoping she'll turn a blind eye to the high calorie margarita that I plan to imbibe the first day we are there! There has to be some goodness in a margarita... I shall find it and expose it!

From the time she was a young girl, Jennifer witnessed the deaths of family members due to cancer, heart attacks, strokes and obesity related illness. Although, she cannot prove or say that many of the diseases/deaths in her family were caused by what they ate, it made her determined to raise herself and her children to respect their bodies through exercise and food.

You can find Jennifer on Twitter @savorthethyme. We are excited to welcome this active mom who enjoys Pilates and lifting weights, to help us figure out the real deal with our kiddos and nutrition!

Jennifer has been kind enough to share several links to family recipes that will help us all get started in the right direction.

Baked Chicken Tenders

Sweet Potato ‘Fries’
Strawberry Muffins
Sweet Potato Muffins
Turkey Meatballs
Alphabet Soup
Even Oatmeal cookies can be enjoyed but I sneak in a nutritional boost!

‘Lil kids in the kitchen’ so folks can tune in all this month for some more ideas!

Who Knew? Camping is Fun and Will Get You Moving!

2009-06-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

If you heard Friday's show, you know that I was approaching my weekend camping trip with some trepidation.... with a lot actually. I knew the kids would have a blast, but I'm not one to go without showering for several days in a row and, while I enjoy the outdoors, sleeping with the critters has never been at the top of my "must do" list.

It occurred to me within minutes of arriving at our campsite, that this adventure was going to be awesomely bloggable and VLOGable (still editing the video!). From the moment we arrived at our campsite in the Rocky Mountain National Forest, we were all moving fast to get things set up. There had been some rain on the way in and we wanted to get situated in case it started up again. As we unloaded the car and set up our tent the kids were carrying backpacks and sleeping bags down the trail to our site. They were so excited running back and forth, eager to help us set up our "abode".

Our friends had arrived before us and were starting up a fire for dinner. I'd be lying if I said we had planned our meals with ultimate nutrition and health food in mind, but we did have whole wheat buns for our burgers so I think you'll have to give us a pass this time!

The kids were climbing up and down and all around on the mountain of rocks and by 10pm they were all pooped out and bundled up in their sleeping bags. We stayed up chatting with our friends, gazing at the sky and enjoying the beauty of it all.

The next morning we took the kids horseback riding. OK, that is not a passive activity folks! The trail ride we took wound up and down steep hills and I could definitely feel my core working to stay on the horse. I also had K riding on the horse with me and got a major bicep workout trying to keep her on the horse!

Later in the day we took a little hike and marveled at all the wildflowers, bunnies, deer, and awesome critters we never see in the city. The kids were definitely tuckered out by the time they settled in for the night.

As we packed up the next day, I decided that this was definitely something our family should do a few times a summer. We all enjoyed the outdoors and togetherness without computers or TV, and we created fun (and active) memories for our family.

Friday's Guest: International Fitness and Lifestyle Expert, Tracey Mallett

2009-06-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Our special guest on the MomActive radio show this week will be international fitness and lifestyle expert, Tracey Mallett! We were so grateful to Tracy for being the guest at our twitter launch party last week and we can't wait to chat with her on Friday.

Tracey is a mom just like us, and realizes the importance of teaching healthy habits early on. In fact, she leads the Jam School Program that provides lifestyle programs to over 1 millions school children across the country. I hadn't been aware of this program before but check out the website because it may be something you'd like to bring to the attention of your school district.

Tracey's resume is mind boggling! She contributes to a bazillion of the top health and fitness related magazines, including Prevention, Pilates Style, Shape, Fitness Magazine, Women's Health, Fit Pregnancy, SELF, Fit Yoga ... just to name a few! She is the author of Sexy in 6, and has created over 17 exercise DVD's. I am sure we'll also be talking on Friday about her new book coming out soon, Super Fit Mama covering pre and post natal exercise, and nutrition.

Just like you and I, Tracey experienced weight gain with her first pregnancy. 55 pounds to be exact! She lost the weight and made it her mission to inspire and motivate women to succeed in losing weight with quick (6 minutes, people!), simple, and realistic healthy solutions, along with smart nutrition.

I'm inspired! Six minutes inspires me and I can't wait to "meet" Tracey live on the radio show. Especially because she has that adorable British accent! Please comment on this post with the questions you'd like us to ask Tracey.

Be sure to favorite our show on Blog Talk Radio HERE and sign up for a reminder email so you don't miss our chat with Tracey Mallet!

Mommatudes Karrie Gets Us ALL Motivated!

2009-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun on our first show and Leah and I are overwhelmed by how supportive you have all been! Thank you!

If you missed the show you can always listen to our archived shows HERE.

Our special guest on Friday was Karrie, otherwise known as @knitpurlgurl on twitter. Her blog Mommatudes is a must read for me each and every day. You think Bantering Blonde is funny? This girl is off the hook! She also blogs at Knit Purl Gurl and ya'll should check out what she did with yarn yesterday!

Karrie had seen me and Leah on Chicks Keep Chatting and was motivated to make a change. She vlogged this experience and then instead of waiting until the next day to start her exercise program she just said, "what the heck" and jumped right in! To see this video click HERE! I asked her to come on the show because her story is EXACTLY what Leah and I are striving to do. Uplift women, empower them, and motivate them to take control and make positive changes in their lives.

I asked Karrie to tell us a little more about her blogging and vlogging life and to let us know how things have been going on her journey...

I’ve been blogging for about 1 ½ years. My philosophy is pretty simple – blog what you know and be true to yourself. If you try to mimic another blogger or write your blog in a format that is inconsistent with your personality, your blog will likely fail and you’ll be frustrated in the process. Basically, in real life I’m a pretty funny person (and modest, apparently). I like to see the humor in situations if at all possible. So I try to blog about the things that affect me personally in a manner consistent with my personality.

I just recently got into vlogging after I joined MomTV.com. Watching other moms’ vlog posts and participating in the live streaming web shows really sparked an interest in me. The social cues we normally pick up on in face to face conversations are often lost in written blog posts. So I was really excited about being able to convey my thoughts as though my readers and I were having a conversation.

Vlogging is a great way to make a personal connection with your readers. I’m an extremely expressive person in real life. (That’s code for drama queen.) And reading what I’ve typed doesn’t always convey the eyerolls, sighs, and expressions I meant for it to. When my readers can see me, they know I’m being authentic.

Simply, my basic philosophy is to have a concept in mind – but to go unscripted. Let it take you in the direction it wants to. It will be real, original, and more people will relate to it. 

 So since your decision to make changes do you see or feel a difference in anything?

Since my decision to make healthy changes, I’ve noticed that I have a more positive attitude. – the pity parties have ended. I feel like for the first time in a long time, I can control my destiny, or at least my health. When I first lost weight (after my first baby 13 years ago), I was rigid and ultra-disciplined. I never worked through the issues which caused me to hang onto the weight in the first place. I wasn’t willing to accept that the weight stayed on for any reason other than having a baby. This time around, I realize that it’s a life change. I know that if I am to be successful, I must work through the reasons I eat, or rather overeat. I realize that I am human and that occasionally I am going to eat BBQ ribs and potato salad. And I realize that I must incorporate these occasional splurges into my life. What’s important is what I do the other 29 days of the month.

How does that make you feel?

I feel like it’s a major breakthrough for me. Before, if I “fell off the wagon,” I threw in the towel and just gave up completely. I felt like I had failed and couldn’t possibly recover from the failure. But today, I know that the only failure is not striking a good balance between healthy eating, exercise, and occasional splurges.

What is your advice to people who know they should do something but don't know what or where to start?

Jump in! Waiting for tomorrow or next week or next year will become a bad habit unto itself. Start researching healthy eating and exercise programs and then give them a whirl. You may have to try on a few different programs until you find the programs best suited for you. Don’t do anything you can’t see yourself doing 5 years from now. That means no fad diets! And most importantly – you’re human! Forgive yourself when you have had a bad day and move on!

Don’t forget to reach out for support and accept help when offered.   

And my favorite bit of advice from this hot Mommatudes girl?

Love yourself no matter what. But love yourself enough to improve your quality of life. You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you to Karrie for making our first show so much fun and for showing us all that we can do it!

You Are Invited ~ MomActive Launch Twitter Party

2009-06-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

What better way is there to celebrate the launch of a new website and our new radio show, MomActive with Bookieboo and Fiona, than to throw a great big HUGE party with special guests, and TONS and TONS of giveaway prizes?!!

Well, there isn't one! So......

Join us for the MomActive launch party brought to you by Bookieboo and Childhood Clothing. We are assembling on June 18th from 5pm to 8pm PST (Mountain Standard Time: 6pm to 9pm, Central Standard Time: 7pm to 10pm, OR Eastern Standard Time: 8pm to 11pm).

You can access the custom TWEET GRID here, compliments of @carissarogers. You will still need to insert the hashtag #bookieb in the top right and your own Twitter ID in the bottom right. Tweet Grid is an awesome tool you can use that night to make following the #bookieb discussion easier. If you are unfamiliar with Twitter, click here for a great explanation.

~RSVP on the Mr. Linky at Serenity NOW~

Make sure to follow our wonderful guests:
1. ME!!! (Fiona Bryan), The Bantering Blonde
2. Tracey Mallett, Sexy in 6, author & international fitness star

Come follow the moderators:
1. Leah Segedie with Bookieboo
2. Kelly Loubet with Childhood Clothing

Here are giveaway prizes you can win:
1. Childhood Clothing-custom design
2. Stylish Baby Gear-Diaper Bag
3. Spunky Monkey-Trace Designs Traceable Wall Mural
4. My Hip-T-(1) Hip-T
5. Stroller Strides-One free month of membership (new members only)
6. Baby Emi--Jingle Bells Anklet
7. Baby Banz--$30 gift certificate
8. Sharis Berries--One Dozen Fancy Berries
9. A Mother's Boutique--Black Shawl Tunic Mini dress
10. Moon Drops Jewelry--chain and two charms
11. Karen Horton MD from Women's Plastic Surgery in San Francisco-Free plastic surgery consultation ($100 value)
12. JRB Shoes--flip flops
13. Nine Moons--Belly Bands
14. Boogie Wipes--Boogie Wipes Gift Basket
15. Aden & Anais--sleeping bags, single wraps, Baby Can Read DVD
16. My Body Belongs to Me book--Jill Starishevaky
17. Stork Magnets--30 announcement magnets ($65 value)
18. Cute as Buttons--Infant Tee Shirt
19. Be Present--Agility Pants

You will have to be present to win these prizes:
1. Pangea Organics- Radiance Gift Set (value $167 dollars)
2. Carolyn's Kitchen--Pink Dorothy Apron for Breast Cancer
3. Tracey Mallett--Quick Blast DVD Set

How to enter: Grab one of our banners and post them on your site. Make sure to leave a comment HERE when you do so and tell us your top 3 giveaway favorites. If you don't have a website, you can visit Childhood Clothing and tell us what your favorite product is from the site and then tell us your top 3 favorites from the giveaway.

For extra entries, tweet about the Twitter party. Make sure to use hashtag #bookieb in your tweet. Every extra tweet gets you an extra entry, but remember to go HERE to enter again. Kelly from @childhood is going to be using Random.org to determine the winners that night. You wanna be there when she calls your name.

Here is the example tweet again:

"Come join us for the MomActive launch party on Thursday, June 18th from 5-8pm PST. #bookieb, http://tinyurl.com/r843dt"

"Twitter Party! Celebrate the launch of MomActive Radio Show on Thursday, June 18, 5-8pm PST. #bookieb, http://tinyurl.com/r843dt"

RSVP at Serenity NOW to win!!

(I've disabled comments so that all RSVP will go to the linky on Leah's site.)

Keep Moving ~ Your Children Are Watching!

2009-06-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

As Moms, fitness is not just important for keeping ourselves healthy, but also for the example we set with our children. These examples will stay with them their whole lives.

Time, time, time. Whether you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, it is often hard to find time for fitness. No matter how hard it is to find the time, there is no doubt how important it is to carve out a place for activity in our lives.

My mother has been a great example for me. When I was very young she was "healthy", but she wasn't active and didn't work out or participate in a fitness program of any sort. Then, I remember one day, being in junior high and watching her start running around our backyard. At the time, I didn't think much of it. As kids we were involved in sports and always outside playing baseball, kickball etc. As I look back, I now see exactly what she was doing and I'm so very proud of her and grateful for her example.

My mother was a stay at home mom in the 70's and 80's and dedicated her entire life to raising me and my brother. She had gained weight and was trying to get in shape. She wasn't comfortable running out on the road yet so she worked her way up by running laps around our backyard, and eventually she hit the road. She then joined an athletic club and ultimately became an aerobics instructor! I can remember running road races with her when I was in high school, and it is amazing to me now to look back and remember that she started out by running laps around the backyard. This is a great example of how to get started if you are not already active.

You may be interested to know that my mother is perhaps the most active 60 year old you'll ever meet. She wakes up early every morning and road bikes with a bike club, she then heads to tennis where she is a ranked player in the Senior Division. She often ends her day with a run. On the weekends she crews on a sailing team and, let me brag on her a bit more, has been the Southwest Florida Ladies Day Helmsman of the Year for four years running. The only thing missing that would make this the dream life for me is winter snowboarding!!

Our children learn good and bad habits from us. If you aren't yet active, take a few moments and think of the ways that you can start.

Involving your children in activity is a great way to get started and to spend quality time modeling a healthy and fit lifestyle. Here are a few warm weather ideas that are fun for the whole family. I challenge you to take time this summer to find some new activities that your family will enjoy.

Hiking - Google hikes in your local area to see what trails or hikes are suitable for families. Many sources will even grade the difficulty of a hike.

Geocaching - Geocaching is a high tech treasure hunting game that people all over the world play using GPS devices. Visit geocaching.com for more information and stay tuned for a more detailed article on this topic soon!

Bike Riding - All kids love to ride bikes. I live in the city and we have many paths that are designated just for bike riding. My three year old rides in a seat on the back of my bike while my 9 and 6 year olds speed ahead. There are all kinds of contraptions for riding with small babies or children. You can often find great deals at yardsales or a used sporting goods store like Play It Again Sports. On days that I am not able to get to the gym I will often get a good run in by jogging along with my kids as they ride their bikes or scooters.

Walking/Jogging - Whether you have babies or tweens on up, walking is not only a great activity for fitness but I find that I have had the most amazingly open conversations with my sons while out walking. We walk to school and the park and often just take a short walk after dinner. My 9 year-old will often ask to come running with me. When we first started running together we moved slow but now that he is growing so tall I find that I'm getting a pretty decent workout when I'm with him!

Play Ball - Grab a ball, any ball, and head outside! Your kids will get a kick out of watching you and as they get older they'll even get a little laugh, and every laugh helps to build a bond and memories that will stay with them forever. I like to play basketball with my boys and since I'm 5' tall and they are growing fast, I'm getting quite a run around at times Soccer with my sons is a major workout, those boys move fast!

Swinging - If you have younger children that still want you to push them on a swing you can turn it into a workout. There is a fun game I play with my daughter. She calls it "Freeze Underdog". I push her in the swing and run under the swing yelling "underdog", back and forth. Every now and then I surprise her by holding her up in the air and yelling "freeze", I tease her by pushing her up and down (working my arms!) and then let her go... and then resume. Trust me there have been many calories burned this way!

What are some ways that you are modeling a fit and healthy lifestyle? Are there areas you could improve? Share your ideas with our readers!

Welcome To Momactive!!

2009-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Momactive.com is the blog home for the blogtalk radio show Momactive With Bookieboo and Fiona. This exciting new radio talk show will begin on June 19th and can be heard every friday at 1pm cst.

This show is directed to you! We will discuss all the current health and fitness topics that concerns us as moms trying to balance it all. Our approach is one of lighthearted fun as we search for information and good conversation. We will be joined by regular expert guests and real life moms, like yourself, to help us figure it all out and spread the word about active and healthy living for our families.

Some possible topics you can look forward to hearing about:

*Is your child a picky eater? How can we help our picky eaters get the nutrition they need?

*Are you trying to lose the baby weight from a recent birth or a birth years ago?(!) We will explore how our bodies have changed after childbirth and how our eating and exercise habits will change too.

*Summertime means sunshine and outdoor activity. How do we protect our skin from harmful UV rays while still enjoying those long training runs, hikes, and bikes? Are there things we can do other than sunscreen to protect ourselves and reduce the chances of skin cancer?

*How can you make the most of seasonal fruits and veggies in your cooking? We'll talk recipes, techniques and health benefits.

*What do you know about Yoga? Pilates? How are they similar or different and why are these forms of activity so popular?

*How do you fit in a workout with small children? Share your creative ideas on how to work exercise into your daily routine with a family.

Have an idea? Have an expertise? Email us at momactiveradio@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Wondering Where to Start? I Have THE Answer!

2009-06-10T13:03:00.001-07:00

Advertise

2009-05-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your interest in advertising with Momactive.com. For a list of advertising opportunities and rates please contact us via email.

Leah Segedie bookieboo78 @ gmail.com

or

Fiona Bryan bryan.fiona @ gmail.com

About Us

2009-05-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

Fiona Bryan is a co-founder of Momactive Radio and Momactive.com. She blogs at banteringblonde.com and is the resident Vloggist and a Classpert at TheClassyCloset.com. Her witty sense of humor carries her through her day as a work/stay at home mother to three children ages 9,6, and 3. Fitness has always been an essential part of her routine and she now enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and snowboarding with her children. Fiona is an avid runner, a dedicated yogi, and self professed gym rat. She'll try any fitness method or sport you throw at her and if it makes her sweat, she will smile!

Fiona's background is in music. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts - Violin from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from University of Missouri-Columbia. She taught and performed in Ohio and the St. Louis area prior to moving to Denver in 1998. Today she works from home as a freelance marketing consultant and Number One Mom to the Bryan Children!

Leah Segedie is a co-founder of Momactive Radio and MomActive.com and publisher of Bookieboo, fitness hangout for moms, and Bookieboo Rave Reviews & Giveaways. She also blogs at Bookiebooserenitynow.com. She is a stay-at-home mom of two boys with a busy schedule. After the birth of her first son in 2006, she lost over 100 lbs. and realized that fitness was the only way to keep her sanity in a world of diapers and temper tantrums. Fitness has been a great stress reliever, hobby and life saver. Earlier this year, she had another baby and is working off the remaining weight one pound at a time with hard work and dedication.

Leah's background is in Communications. She has a Bachelors and a Masters Degree from USC in Communication Management. She spent two years working for the California State Assembly and then another couple years as a fundraiser and then public relations manager in the corporate world. But when she became a mom, she found her passion.