Back to school shopping at Kohl’s!

School starts here soon and I have 4 boys who need a lot of new clothes!  Thankfully, we have a Kohl’s up the road that meets all of our back to school and fitness clothing needs. I took my oldest with me for a shopping spree, and as you can tell, he was more than excited!   (our Kohl’s plays some awesome in-store music that always leads to dancing!)

If you need quality sportswear,  either for yourself or your kids, Kohl’s has you covered.  Shorts, shirts, hoodies and everything at fantastic prices. My son has a field day with the large selection of Nike socks.  

TIP: If you don’t want the higher prices of the name brands,  Kohl’s also offers a brand called “Tek Gear” that is affordable and just as nice.

As for me, I can always find something to buy in the women’s sportswear department.  The clearance rack was full of summer close-out items at an additional discount.

I really liked these funky capris, although my son did not agree!

My son even found a “cool” outfit that he is excited about wearing when school starts. 

We just love shopping at Kohl’s, don’t you? 
Have you done your back to school shopping yet?

Disclosure:  I was compensated for this post but my love for Kohl’s is entirely my own!

Get in the best shape of your life! 

The post Back to school shopping at Kohl’s! appeared first on Workout Mommy.

Fat mice bred to have more muscle give insight, new targets for battling obesity's cardiovascular risk

Even without losing fat, more muscle appears to go a long way in fighting off the bad cardiovascular effects of obesity.

Fitspiration journal

I came across this on journal Instagram and went immediately to Target to get one……but sadly my Target did not have them.  The super kind people at Fitbook sent me one to review and I absolutely LOVE it!

As someone who leans toward the negative, I love the daily reminders about being grateful.

When I took this picture,  my first thought was about how my love handles spill over the sides of these shorts.  When I went to write in my journal, it asks me to write something I “appreciate about my strong bod today”—which made me realize how strong I am (hello, that’s a 35lb weight plate over my head!)  vs. the stupid love handles.

I love this journal because it helps me change my perception.
Focus on the good and see the positive!  

Stay strong gang!

Liver problems will likely increase in adults

Liver diseases affect hundreds of millions of people and cause significant illness and death.

Quick home workout ideas

This summer has flown by, hasn’t it?  I’ve managed to stay on point with my workouts, despite having 4 kids at home with me at all times. I have been able to let go of the perfect workout and focused on being flexible and creative!
Here are some ideas:

Wall sits: These are great for your legs.  Make it more challenging by putting a weight plate on top and lifting your toes.  These can be done anywhere.

Burpee broad jumps:  Looking to take your burpee to the next level? (aren’t we all?)  I did them in the street the other day for a quick (yet holy cow intense!) workout.

Field runs/frog jumps: Here is something fun you can also do in your backyard with your kids.  Just fair warning—all these frog jumps will cause you to walk funny the next day.

Lift something heavy:  The best thing for my mood these days is to lift some heavy weights.  The iron never lets me down.  I found this bar and plates on craigslist for a great price a few years ago!

I also have to give a shout out for my outfit from Dick’s Sporting Goods because not many shorts can go from running shorts to weight lifting shorts too. These pass the test with flying colors!  (and the top is cute too!)

Those are just a few of my ideas, I would love to hear some of yours!

How are you staying fit this summer? 

Vitamin D supplements offer limited benefit to obese teens

Researchers examining the effects of vitamin D supplementation among adolescents with obesity found that it could increase cholesterol and levels of triglycerides.

Tips for staying fit as a single mom

If there is one thing I have learned over the past year as a single mom, it’s that LIFE GOES ON.
Bad shit will happen,  it is inevitable.  You just pick yourself up and move on to the next thing.
Just as in fitness….you may experience a setback, which will no doubt suck…..but you just pick yourself up and start over again.

Here are my five tips for how to stay fit as a single mom:

1. Just do SOMETHING. Grab some free weights and do some lunges. Do step-ups on the coffee table.  Run laps around the block while your kids are playing.  Any bit of movement will do wonders for your body and mind.  Endorphins are your friend!  

2.  Eat healthy.  I know there are many times I want to drown my loneliness and sadness in a bowl of ice cream, but that isn’t going to help me feel better.  As I often need to remind myself,

---

Face your stuff, don't stuff your face.
Click To Tweet

---

3.  Be kind to yourself.  Think of how you would talk to a friend going through the same things you are experiencing.  Would you tell them “you suck”?  Or “you failed”?  Of course not, so don’t say it/think it of yourself either.

4.  Invest in some decent equipment for home or find a gym with decent childcare.  Working on your health is NOT selfish. Take care of yourself and if you can afford it, hire a trainer.  Let him/her do the thinking for you.  If you cannot afford a personal trainer, consider a less formal training program.(of course, I love all the trainers from Ashley Horner!) Search yard sales and craigslist for some free weights.  Have a plan and work on YOU!

I found some junk tires and flipping them is GREAT stress relief!  Even my kids like to join in on the action! 

5.  Meditation/therapy/stress relief:  Aside from fitness, you need to find time to relax and clear your brain of all stress. Whether that means talking through your issues or spending an hour getting a massage,  find a way to fit it into your budget and life.  

---

Constant stress if not good for anyone, especially a single mom.
Click To Tweet

---

Right now, it may seem like you have the hardest job in the world, so I just want to say you are an amazing, awesome person. Keep your focus and stay strong!

Believing you are overweight may lead to further weight gain

People who recognise they are overweight or obese are more likely to put on weight than those who are unaware that they may be heavier than doctors would advise, according to research by the...

Happy Birthday to me and to Workout Mommy!

This week I celebrated my birthday by visiting VA Beach and managed to snag a personal training session with my FAVORITE personal trainer, Ashley Horner!!  (insert large girl scream here!)  

If you have followed my blog for awhile, I am certain you know how much I respect/adore/admire her.  She is an absolute inspiration and I was so thrilled to discover she is just as nice in person.  (have you ever met someone you admired and it turns out they are a huge jerk? I have….and it sucks.) 

Ashley Horner rocks and if you live in the VA Beach area, you need to check out her private gym, Sled Dogs.  Or you can check out her online training programs/products.

And here I am, caught in a total fangirl moment.  

---

Training with Ashley Horner was pretty much the best birthday present ever!
Click To Tweet

---

Not only was it my birthday, but August also marks the birthday of Workout Mommy.  I started this blog 8 years ago, which is hard for me to believe.  I have met some amazing people, had some crazy awesome experiences,  and even managed to make a few dollars along the way.

My life has changed A LOT over the past 8 years though and I felt it was time for a new “look” for Workout Mommy as well.  Please click through this post to see the new “look” and let me know what you think.  

Coming up this fall I plan to offer some online training programs and boot camps to help you meet your goals.  If you are interested, please drop me a line and I will add you to the list of the being the “first to know”!

This morning I did my birthday workout to celebrate each year of my life.  I did 43 reps of each of the following:

Ball Slams
Kettlebell Swings
Burpees
Pull ups
Push ups
Box Jumps

I am not going to lie, it was rough!  

---

Try out my birthday workout and let me know what you think
Click To Tweet

---

I am excited about another year of new challenges coming my way!

Never underestimate the power of a workout gang!