mother-related stories
Leah Galione Stays Fit with 4 Kids Under 6
That's Fit Club, Fitness, Motivation, Success Stories
That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader. We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other. That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.
Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Adidas is giving gorgeous gym bags to each featured member. To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions, with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!
Name: Leah Galione
Age: 35
Occupation: Mommy of 4
How often do you exercise? About five times a week
What type of exercise do you do? Stretching class, water aerobics, running, cycling, walking and strength training
What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I get up before the kids to work out, because I really need to do something just for ME before my day starts. It helps me to be more patient knowing that I've started the day doing something for myself.
Kate Winslet Has a Crumbly Stomach
Maintaining a hot body after two kids is difficult -- something acclaimed actress Kate Winslet can and will attest to. The star recently bared all to reporters -- well, verbally anyway. Here's what she recently said: "I have a crumbly baby belly, boobs are worse for wear after two kids ... I'm doing all right. I'm 33. I don't look in the mirror and go, 'Oh, I look fantastic!' Of course I don't."
But don't feel too sorry for her. As Jacki told us last week, Winslet is perfectly OK with her body, crumbly bits and all. In response to her nude scenes in an upcoming movie, she pooh-poohed the idea of using a body double, insisting, "Nobody is perfect. I just don't believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect.' I'm proud of that."
Good for her! Your thoughts?
One more reason to maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight lowers your risk of heart disease, type II diabetes and other obesity-associated conditions. But did you know that obese women are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage? A research team followed up with nearly 700 women who had had unexplained miscarriages. The researchers determined that, for obese women, the risk of a second miscarriage was 73% higher.
Unless your OB/GYN gives you specific instructions to do so, it's not recommended that you try to lose weight while pregnant. Your best bet is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight before becoming pregnant. AOL Health has tips on diet and fitness to help you.
FitSpirit: The Middle Place
I'm a bit of a sucker for memoirs. I even read A Million Little Pieces after James Frey was deemed a fraud. (He's still working, by the way. No such thing as bad press, right?) I just finished The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.Jacki Donaldson read and posted about the book a while back. But I read it after a new friend of mine recommended it. She recently went through the excruciating experience of losing her mother to ALS while living an airplane ride apart. I am currently going through the same thing.
The Middle Place instead involves dealing with cancer, but the themes involving parent-child relationships, distance, disease, and faith are the same. Kelly, who survived her cancer, struggles with all of it, but particularly faith. She is baffled by the Buddhist truth of detachment, "even to people." She still struggles with faith to this day, several years later. I struggle with it a bit as well and I suspect all of us do to some degree. It's the very nature of faith, after all. It's transparent, intangible.
Explaining plastic surgery to kids
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
Quite a few years ago, a friend of mine had breast augmentation surgery. Nothing outlandish -- in fact, you could barely notice a difference. She just wanted to restore herself to the nicely-filled B cup she was before her pregnancies. She said that after her pregnancies and the subsequent years of breast feeding, she had "deflated." (Her words, not mine.) As a result, she felt self-conscious and didn't even like to wear t-shirts because she didn't feel good about herself. Post-surgery she had two young kids that wanted their mom to lift them and play with them like she always did. She kept the explanation simple and just told them that mommy had an "owie" and wouldn't be able to lift them up for a while. When Jacki had her tummy tuck, she also had to find an age-appropriate way to explain her surgery to her young kids.
It can be scary for kids to see their parents hurting. And plastic surgery -- where a parent might end up looking a little different than they did before -- can be even scarier. A plastic surgeon has written a book called "My Beautiful Mommy" to help explain plastic surgery to kids in a positive, non-frightening, and age-appropriate manner.
National Women's Health Week May 11th - 17th
Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements
National Women's Health Week kicks off on Mother's Day with the purpose of empowering women to get healthy by taking action. Your health should be a major priority, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health has a few steps designed to help you achieve that. Businesses, government, and health organizations across the United States, hopefully near you, will be taking part in this event.
Objectives of the week are designed to teach women the benefits of:
- Engaging in physical activity most days of the week
- Making healthy food choices
- Visiting a health care provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings
- Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seat belt
Want to have a baby boy? It's not just about cereal
Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Moms who followed a "hearty" diet prior to conception are more likely to give birth to boys, according to a recent study. We touched on this here at That's Fit yesterday, but I thought I would go into some of the details I discovered.The study found that, out of a group of women who followed a high energy diet (which generally included a daily bowl of breakfast cereal) around the time of conception, 56% had sons. Out of the group that took in fewer calories, including moms who skipped breakfast, only 45% had sons. The women in the first group not only consumed more calories, but but took in a large variety of nutrients.
Not everybody is sold on this theory, but there are some valid points to back up the findings.
Wombs for Rent: Giving birth becomes outsourced too
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Globalization has been taking the world by storm with jobs going overseas and import/export markets booming. It's a hot topic that can sometimes spark a debate. Well add one more applicable job for the female workforce in India: commercial surrogacy. Imagine a clinic where dozens of women carry babies for people all over the place, including the United States.These surrogate mothers eat, sleep and live together. Since 2002, this type of commercialization has been legal in India, but the government doesn't even regulate the practice. Some critics are saying this undermines the health of needy women looking to make money to support their families. After all, to be considered for the job, the women must have at least one child already.
When clients end up paying only $10,000 or less for this whole process, it becomes clear that outsourcing birth is just as competitive as any other industry. But the surrogate mothers are providing a global service for couples aspiring to build a family of their own. This comparably high compensation also provides well for their own families. Some women are making more than what others could make in 15 years! Would you consider being a commercial surrogate mother? How about contracting one?
With 17 kids, this mom has seen it all
It's amazing to most of us that there is a woman alive today that has given birth to 17 children, but an Arkansas mom has been there. Again. And, again.From a few cases of umbilical hernia to swollen breasts on some of her boys, Michelle Duggar has seen it all. In other words, the panic that grips some new parents over things that appear wrong (but are normal) can be stressors initially, but my guess is that Duggar has seen most of them.
From baby acne to enlarged breasts (due to hormonal exposure for nine months), some things are perfectly normal with many babies. The key is to make sure of this normalcy with your physician so that worrying can go away.
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Your first 5K and the Marathon Mommy
Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Fitz. I've just begun jogging as a part of my fitness routine. I've traditionally walked a lot and jumped rope. My husband, Aaron, is trying to convince me to run a 5K race with him within the next few weeks. I don't think I can run it all! Do you have any expert advice that will help me get out of it? Thanks. Amy
A. No can do, Amy! I suggest you sign up to complete that race and get the fancy t-shirt that goes with it as soon as possible. Nothing motivates like an upcoming athletic event. Look at it this way. You are a new runner, and that's fine! In fact, it's terrific. We already know you wouldn't be racing to win, right? You'd just be going out to get some exercise and probably support some charitable cause. That alone makes you a winner. Jog as much as you can, and fill in the spots when you get tired with all of that walking you've been doing.
Trust me. I've participated in a bunch of 5K races, and haven't won one. I didn't care, nor did anyone else around me. It's a ton of fun to lace up your kicks and get moving with hundreds or thousands of others. I bet you'll enjoy it so much that you start looking for another race as soon as you're done. Thank your husband for the invitation and the motivation. Then let him know that you're eager to cover the distance at a pace that feels good to you. If he moves faster, he can wait at the finish line with a kiss for you as you cross it. Have fun and let me know how it goes! Fitz
Q. Miss Fitz. I was startled to read that the woman who won the New York Marathon had a nine month old baby. Isn't that really unhealthy? I was shocked! Mark.
Make a statement with simple shoes
Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health
It's a simple concept by a company calling itself yes, Simple. There's nothing over-built or over-hyped about the gazillion products sold by this green group. All items are 100 percent sustainable and are made using a method called Green Toe. It's not a magical formula, or a cure, according the company's website. It's just a compass that points to a bright green future. Using a scale of "good, better, best," each product is rated according to it's contribution to Mother Nature.
It's all very cool, the vision of this company, the trendy eco-sneaks available for men, women, and kids, the fact that these Simple products are made from bamboo, organic cotton, cork, and recycled car tires. Now that's what I call a fashion statement.
Eco-fitness tools at your disposal
This shop has quite an inventory of green items -- stuff for the kitchen, the bed and bath, the garden, the mind, and of course: The body.
Check out these fitness tools. There's a bamboo yoga block, a hemp yoga mat bag, and a hemp yoga bolster. How about a natural rubber fitness ball? Or natural rubber weight balls? These are just some of the finds you'll discover with one swift click of your mouse.
If you're an earth-loving enthusiast who lives and breathes the green life, this may be just the stop for you. If you've located other great green fitness locations, drop us a comment and let us know how to get there.
Celebrity Fitzness Report: Jacki Donaldson, Author & Breast Cancer Survivor
Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.
Our featured celebrity this week is one of our very own That's Fit bloggers, Jacki Donaldson. Jacki has published and become the feature of more than 1,000 magazine and online articles. She's an eloquent writer who guides her readers towards healthier, more appreciative and joyful lives with ease.
Jacki is also a Breast Cancer Survivor. Jacki was diagnosed in November of 2004, when her two small sons were only three years old and 18 months, Soon after, Jacki endured a lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy and all of the great side effects that go along with it. Jacki lives in my neighborhood and approached me about personal training in April of 2006. I considered her a friend before this, but truly had no idea what an inspirational and fun person she would be to have in my life.
As I've cheered for her, she's inspired me to become a better person in every aspect of my life. Her writing makes we want to be more insightful. Her parenting makes me want to be more creative. Her friendship makes me want to be a better person in general. Jacki has turned her experiences with cancer into a positive somehow. She's turned the most rotten lemons into the sweetest lemonade. She's now a role model for health and I'm grateful to be able to share her with you. I recommend visiting JackiDonaldson.com to get her full story.
Fitz: Describe your original diagnosis of breast cancer and your life at that point.
Jacki: I found a lump in my breast while washing in the shower. I knew in my gut it was cancer. After a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy, I knew with absolute certainty. I had cancer. I was 34 years old, with a husband and two little boys, ages three and 18 months.
Fitz: What type of treatment did you undergo and for how long?
Jacki: I had a lumpectomy to remove my tumor and four lymph nodes. Then I had four doses of chemotherapy, six weeks worth of radiation -- I was zapped every week day for all these weeks -- and then a year-long targeted drug therapy with a new wonder drug that cuts the risk of recurrence by 50 percent. I also received physical therapy -- both surgery and radiation affect range of motion in the arm -- and talk therapy, and I took an anti-depressant for more than one year. My treatment began in January 2005 and ended in July 2006, just more than one year ago.
Fitz: You hired me as your personal trainer about 17 months ago. You said you wanted to "get strong." How were you weak?
Jacki: My body had been battered by both cancer and the treatment designed to save my life. I was fatigued, worn out, and without physical strength. I knew I needed to make a comeback. I just didn't know how. Then I found you.
Fitz: You were still undergoing chemotherapy once every three weeks for your first few months of training. Small things like lunges and strength training with tubes would leave you dizzy quite often, but you persevered. What kept you coming when you certainly were not required to?
Jacki: I believe the healthier and stronger I become, the less likely I am to develop cancer again. So I require myself to work hard. It's my way of controlling an unpredictable disease.
Fitz: You began training in April, 2006 and ran the entire Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k in October, 2006. You were the first survivor to cross the finish line as you ran every step of the way. As I finished a few steps behind you, I couldn't think of a more proud moment in my career. What did that physical accomplishment mean to you?
Jacki: It meant I really could run, not just around the block which I could barely do even before cancer, but for 3.2 whole miles. It meant that I was taking powerful steps against a disease that threatened to take my life. It meant I could keep up with you -- which is no small feat!
Fitz: You've now revamped your entire way of eating. Tell me about the changes you've made and the results you've experienced. You look really hot by the way!
Jacki: I love you! I've cut out all sweets, soda, and red meat. I eat low-fat, low-sugar foods and lots of fruits and veggies. I drink only water. I've cleared my kitchen of butters, oils, dressings, and more. Results? I've lost 15 pounds, 10 of which crept up on me during treatment. I'm leaner, firmer, and so much happier in my slimmer body.
All about the bike
Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements
With aching legs and labored breathing, we rode over flat terrain, and up hill, and down hill, and when we arrived at our half-way destination -- my sister's house -- we took a break. Then it was back on the bike for the return trip home. Joey said mid-way home, and mid-incline too, that he wished his Daddy would arrive -- Daddy has a truck, and Joey thought he needed rescuing. He didn't, though. He muscled his way through our journey and even announced at one point, "Can you believe a little guy is riding all this way?" I could believe it. I was witness to it. And it was grand.
Riding his bike this morning was so good for Joey. It was physically good, and mother-and-son good, and most of all, it was self-esteem good. Joey is proud, amazed even, that he accomplished such a task today. It makes me want to ride with him again, after he recovers from this fitness feat. When I told him, "Joey, I think we should do this every weekend," he replied with pure fatigue, "No! How about every 10 weeks?"
Every weekend, every 10 weeks. It doesn't matter to me. I'm game either way.
Being a mom -- one of the hardest jobs of all
Moms are amazing. They generally are the ones who raise a child in many respects in addition to carrying a child to term for the better part of a year. Is the job worth it? I almost unanimously hear the word "yes," even though the moms I know were mentally and physically exhausted for over a decade during the raising process.They still carry on. But the moments that arise from being a mom are more rewarding than the massive amount of effort raising a child can take. Dads aren't out of this picture at all -- but today, we're talking moms.
Some of the areas not covered in any parenting class (well, maybe in a few) are listed here -- these are things nobody tells you about when you become a new mom. Want some inside info? Read on!

























