Best Gear for Exercising Moms

Our Top Gear Picks

Gear	Our Top Picks
Gym bag that doubles as diaper bag (or vice versa!)	Storksak – fashionable, practical, roomy (especially styles like Tania and Jess)
Jogging stroller	Baby Jogger F.I.T – we could go on! Great canopy, washable seat cover, one-handed fold, adaptable for car seats, large storage basket and more!
Sunscreen (when exercising outside)	Little Twig Mineral Sunscreen – rated best mineral sunscreen by Babble – so important for you and your baby – doctors recommend not using sunscreen on your baby for 6 months (see above re F.I.T. canopy!)
Sun protection for your child	Baby Banz – sun hats with UPF 50+ and sunglasses with strap and 100% UVA/UVB protection Category 3 lenses
Sneakers	Best sneaker for you, your body, and the type of exercise you’ll be doing – stores like Georgetown Running Company provide personalized, customized fittings and recommend the appropriate shoe for you
High-quality, flattering work out clothes	Apifeni activewear for women – ShapeTech™ waist technology provides seamless support & stability for your core, while SoftTech™ activewear bottoms will flatter your curves, keep you dry and prevent chafing; you can happily wear it to drop-off & pick-up!
Baby carrier for walking when your baby is young and wants to be held	Britax Baby Carrier – padded waist belt distributes weight across shoulder, back and hips; easy to snap, buckle and adjust with one hand; babies can face in or out; can use with newborns
Water! Water! Water!	We love waters like SmartWater because they are electrolyte-enhanced but don’t contain the sugar of many electrolyte-enhanced drinks
Snack bar (and kid snacks)	For adults: LÄRABAR – delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices; nothing artificial! Our favorite flavors? Chocolate-coconut Chew and Cashew Cookie For children: Snikiddy Snacks – made from simple, wholesome, real ingredients, unlike so many other handy snacks
Cool App	Runmeter – uses iPhone’s GPS to track info about various aerobic exercises; can track your pace, distance & calories burned while running, biking, swimming, walking, hiking, skating, or skiing; can set up audio prompts that will play as you exercise; can set up email notifications to email out a map of your location at certain time or distance intervals, recipients will receive a link to a google map that shows where you are, which is great for peace of mind
Pedometer	Omron HJ-112 pedometer - wear it on your belt, carry it in your pocket, clip it to your bra, or wear it anywhere it is perpendicular to the ground; counts steps and calculates distance and calories burned; tracks aerobic steps separately when walking or jogging more than 60 steps per minute or more than 10 minutes continuously; 7-day memory – take 10,000 steps/day!

*If you are exercising with your child, don’t forget to bring some of their favorite toys or books. If you are going for a really long walk or run, we recommend one or two toys from the dollar store – new toys go a long way with your child while you go a long way on your feet!
** If you happen to get deodorant marks on your exercise bra or tank (is it possible to avoid?!?), wipe away with denim. We don't know why, but IT REALLY WORKS!

An Extra Set of Hands Can Help Moms Get Back into Shape

Submitted by Au Pair in America

Is there anything that new moms could use more than extra hours in the day? Unfortunately, we haven’t found a way to get more hours in the day.  What we have found is that having an extra set of hands can help you fit more in your day.

In years gone by, it was common for new moms to have the support of their own mothers or other family members in the early weeks after giving birth. That is not always possible nowadays.  Many new moms have found that having an au pair can provide that much needed extra set of hands.

Au pairs are carefully screened, live-in child care providers from countries all over the world. These young woman (aged 18-26) come to the U.S. to live with an American host family to provide child care and learn about American language and culture.

During the first three months, an au pair can assist you in caring for the baby as well as independently caring for older siblings. Once your baby reaches three months, an au pair is authorized to care for the baby on her own. Au pairs can also help with childcare related housekeeping tasks such as the children’s laundry, preparing meals and tidying their bedrooms and play areas.

Having someone to help with these tasks can allow you to carve out a little “me time.” It’s important for new moms to set aside time to take care of themselves. In addition to getting adequate rest, exercise is an important thing for new moms to make time for. The health benefits of getting back into shape post-baby are only part of the equation. Exercise is also a great stress reliever. Taking care of yourself is essential for you to be able to take the best care of your baby.

Getting and staying in shape after the birth of your baby will help you be a more physically active and engaged parent. Making fitness a priority for your family, will set a positive example for your child and set them on the path to an active, healthy lifestyle. 

Balancing Act of New Parent Fitness

-submitted by Britax

“What does baby gear and being a 'fit' parent have to do with each other,” you ask? May seem silly, but certain types of baby gear can in fact make it easier for mom (and even dad…) to get back to her (their) pre-baby shape. Strollers and baby carriers offer great health benefits if you use them correctly.

Below is just a short list of ways to get back on track with baby in tow! By “shape,” we are referring to your mind, body AND spirit! As always, to ensure that you are cleared to begin exercising, get the approval from your OB-Gyn during your post-delivery check-up.

Getting your mind back in shape:
· Set realistic goals and start by taking a short stroll with your sleeping angel in her B-Ready Stroller to clear your mind. Take in the sights and smells around your neighborhood that you haven’t been able to truly appreciate for most of the third trimester.

Getting your body back in shape:
· When you’re ready to get really serious, throw your B-Agile Stroller in your car and drive to the closest Stroller Strides class. First class is usually free! Don’t forget your nugget, b/c he will provide the extra weight you’ll need to build those lean muscles!

Getting your spirit back in shape:
· Pull out your brand new Britax Baby Carrier when your little guy hits eight pounds. With the simple slip-on-and-off design, you can easily check a few chores off your growing list while “little cranky” naps quietly on your chest.

Just keep reminding yourself that your miracle monster who keeps you up all night really does mean well. Try your best to keep your mind, body and spirit in check during this trying time and you’ll be the best parents you can be! After nine months of constant catering and then being forced to enter a foreign world of bright lights and weird looking googly-googly-goo faces, I would want a little extra attention every now and again, too.

One Hot Mama Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Debbi Mayster

DMM Communications­­

debbi@dmmcomm.com

240.988.6243

ATTENTION MOMS AND MOMS-TO-BE -- CAPITAL CITY MAMAS PRESENTS

ONE HOT MAMA AT EQUINOX BETHESDA, JULY 25-30

Moms and Expectant Moms Invited to Celebrate Being a Mom with

FREE Fitness Classes and Speaker Series

(BETHESDA, MD – JULY 12, 2011) Capital City Mamas, the event arm of Capital Baby Planners, LLC (www.capitalbabyplanners.com), a premier Washington, D.C. business offering a full array of baby planning and consulting services, is pleased to host One Hot Mama, a week-long event at Equinox Fitness in Bethesda, Monday, July 25- Saturday, July 30. The event is designed to help moms and expectant moms feel strong, stay healthy, and look fabulous. In addition, this event is the official launch of Capital City Mamas, a resource for moms and expectant moms to meet, socialize and create a community.

“The goal of One Hot Mama is to get women to focus on themselves so they can give their best to their children,” said Meredith Wade, co-founder, Capital Baby Planners/Capital City Mamas.  “Capital City Mamas is excited to offer area moms a week filled with activities that celebrate being a mom!”

The One Hot Mama event will feature nationally-recognized fitness guru Robert Sherman, who designed a varied schedule at Equinox geared toward moms and moms-to-be.  In addition, Capital City Mamas will host a speaker series over lunch and dinner featuring topics that focus on health and wellness for moms and soon-to-be moms.

Speakers include: Aviva Goldfarb, chef, PBS Parents contributor, and author of The Six O'Clock Scramble (http://thescramble.com/cookbook); Kelly Dorfman, speaker and author of What's Eating Your Child: the hidden connection between food and childhood ailments; and Lindsay Buscher, owner of Urban Chic. 

Details about One Hot Mama are available at http://ccmlaunch.eventbrite.com.

“Capital Baby Planners is thrilled to launch Capital City Mamas. The Equinox kick-off event will be followed by many educational and social opportunities for moms and expectant moms,” said Sharon Cichy, co-founder, Capital Baby Planners/Capital City Mamas.  “Our mission is to bring valuable information and resources and offer a community to moms, new moms and expectant moms.”    

# # #

About Capital Baby Planners, LLC:

Capital Baby Planners, LLC, is a premier Washington, D.C. business offering a full array of baby planning and consulting services.  Founded by Sharon Cichy and Meredith Wade—experienced mothers, professionals, and meticulous planners and shoppers—Capital Baby Planners truly adheres to its motto, “You do the labor, we do the work.” 

Capital City Mamas, the event arm of Capital Baby Planners, hosts experts in a variety of fields, from breastfeeding to marital relationships after baby, providing a forum for women to form friendships and feel connected to a larger community of expectant and new moms.  Sharon and Meredith of Capital Baby Planners have become the women to see when having a child in Washington, D.C.

Equinox Deets!

Come to any or all of these fabulous events. RSVP HERE! 

July 25, 2011

10:30 a.m. Streamline Sculpt

12:00 p.m. Redwood sponsors lunch ($8 gratuity is all you pay)! Speaker and PBS Parents contributor Aviva Goldfarb, author of The Six O’Clock Scramble, will present “Saving Your Sanity at Six" (@ Redwood)          

7:30 p.m.   Yoga Fundamentals 

July 26, 2011

10:30 a.m.  Aqua Motion

7:30 p.m.    Kettle Ball

8:30 p.m.    Speaker Glennon Gordon, LICSW, presents “(Happily) Married with Children: Managing the Shift from Couplehood to Parenthood.”  Light dinner provided and sponsored by Lebanese Taverna (@ Equinox) 

July 27, 2011

9:30 a.m.    Sculpt & Dance Stretch

7:15 p.m.    Thread

8:30 p.m.    Capital City Mamas founders Meredith Wade and Sharon Cichy present, “Best Gear for Mamas on the Move.” Psst… don’t miss the giveaways (be among the first 20 RSVPs) and raffles!  Light dinner provided and sponsored by Lebanese Taverna (@ Equinox)

July 28, 2011

10:30 a.m.  EQ360

6:30 p.m.    Zumba

7:45 p.m.    Urban Chic founder and mom Lindsay Buscher presents, “One Haute Mama: Dressing for Your Changing Body.” Cocktails, Treats, 15% off all full-price and 35% off all sale purchases! Special gift from Teething Bling for first 20 RSVPs! Dessert provided by Lebanese Taverna! (@ Urban Chic Bethesda) 

July 29, 2011

10:45 a.m.  Barre Burn

12:15 p.m.  Mon Ami Gabi luncheon ($8 is all you pay!) featuring speaker and nutritionist Kelly Dorfman, author of What’s Eating Your Child? the hidden connections between food and childhood ailments (@Mon Ami Gabi)

July 30, 2011

1 p.m.        Tabata

3 p.m.        Skinny Jeans

4-7 p.m.      Equinox and Capital City Mamas will toast you at a not-to-be-missed cocktail/mocktail party filled with prizes and giveaways! (@ Equinox)