This month our Amazing Active Mommy of the month is Christie Bruner, she is one of my former swimmers who is dedicated to fitness and being a great mom.  Christie was an All-American swimmer at Truman State and now owns her own Strollerfit franchise in Florida.  Christie has some great ideas for active mommies and will also write an article for our blog this week about heart health. 

My name is Christie Bruner and I live in St Petersburg, FL.  I have lived here for six years with my husband, Dusty.  We were both college athletes and have always lived pretty active lives.  I received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.  When we were blessed with our first baby three and a half years ago our lives just got turned upside down!!  Luckily I found a wonderful program called StrollerFit while I was still pregnant and started training to be an instructor as soon as my daughter was born.  StrollerFit is a great workout for new moms incorporating cardio & strength training all while providing a fun, developmental experience for the kids.  I bought the StrollerFit franchise when I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, and I decided that this would be my stay-at-home career while my children were young.

1. How do you handle working and raising your children?

Since I own my business and work from home, it is so hard to separate “family time” from “work time”.  I have a three year old daughter and a 15 month old daughter – and I want to spend as much quality time with both of them as possible.  However, I do realize that it is because I have the opportunity to work from home and earn some extra income that I can spend my days with my kids.  I’ve been trying to really schedule my day out so that we have play time, meal time, and quiet time (mommy work time).  It’s a work in progress.

2. How do you live a fit life?

It is definitely a lot harder to live an active life after kids come along.  Before I had children, I would take advantage of the wonderful weather and environment that I live in daily.  St Petersburg, FL is full of parks, gardens, beaches and more that beckon you to roller-blade, swim, and run.  While I can’t participate in these activities at the drop of a hat anymore, I try to incorporate my family into these activities that I love so much.  Eating well is also a lot harder when you have to figure in children’s appetites.  I always have lots of fresh fruits and veggies on hand to offer as snacks (another perk of living in Florida!).  It’s almost easier for me to eat better now that I know that I have two precious girls watching my every move – I want to model a healthy lifestyle for them.

3.What is your favorite form of exercise and why?

I am so glad that my “sport of choice” was swimming when I was growing up.  I was fortunate enough to swim through college (shout out to Coach Colleen!) and on to a Masters team.  Swimming is truly a lifelong sport, and is so healthy for all people in all stages of life.  I don’t have the opportunity to swim all that much right now (our pool needs to have a daycare!), but I love it every opportunity I get.  Whether it’s been six days or six months since I last swam, I get such a total body workout each time.  Since I’ve been swimming for so long, I know how to tailor a workout to get the greatest benefits – whether I want to just get a great cardio workout (4 x 500s) or to focus on my core (25s dolphin kick on your side).

4. How do you motivate yourself?

Hard question – sometimes I don’t feel very motivated at all!  I teach five StrollerFit classes a week, and I think that really helps me get out of the house and get going.  I know that other moms are there counting on me, and I want to bring something new and exciting to them every day.  It makes me be accountable.  Again, I know that my girls are watching my every move and I don’t want them to remember mommy watching Oprah every day when they were growing up.  I want them to remember being outside, having fun and being active.  Making active play-dates also helps – instead of just meeting at a friend’s house (and inevitably watch TV), I’ll make plans to meet friends at the zoo, go for a walk or attend a dance class.

5. How do you encourage your children to be active? What activities do you do as a family to stay fit?

I’ve been involved with my business, StrollerFit, since before my first daughter was even born.  I began attending classes when she was five weeks, and started teaching when she was six months.  Since StrollerFit has always been a part of her life, and a part of my life as a mom, it has been easy to live an active lifestyle.  Both of my daughters have grown up accompanying me to class, watching moms workout and have fun.  They think of being active as an enjoyable part of life.  I am so thankful that I was able to raise them in an environment such as StrollerFit.  My girls are both busy-bodies and can’t sit still to watch a movie or do indoor activities for very long, so we are always outside playing.  We take family bike rides on the weekend, pack picnics to bring to the park, and spend afternoons playing Frisbee at the beach.  Being active has become a natural, easy part of our lives.

6. What advice do you havefor other moms on staying fit and active?

My biggest piece of advice is to find other moms in your area.  Before kids, moms usually don’t have any “mom friends”.  It is amazing how much your life changes after baby, and how your friends without kids just can’t relate.  If you can find a group of moms to bounce questions off of, get together for play-dates, and bond with – you will be a happier, healthier mom.  When you get together with other moms, you’ll be more likely to participate in fun activities that will keep everyone moving.  You’ll be able to motivate each other to stay busy and try new things.  Consistency is key for new moms as well.  If you can get on a schedule of working out – whether it’s going to the gym every day or just going for a walk after dinner with the family – once it’s part of your daily routine it’ll be easier to stick with.

Thank you Christie for all your wonderful advice and ideas, check back this week to read Christie’s article on heart health.  In addition, Strollerfit is a national chain and has franchises throughout the country.  If you are looking for other active mommies to workout with check them out: www.strollerfit.com

Haley Scott DeMaria

This month I am beginning a new feature, the Amazing Active Mommy of the Month.  I am starting with one of the most inspirational women I know, Haley Scott DeMaria.  I had the pleasure of meeting Haley last fall when she came to speak to my swimming team in Phoenix.  Haley was on her book tour for her new book, What Though the Odds – Haley Scotts’ Journey of Faith and Triumph.  (http://www.haleybook.com)

In 1992, Haley Scott DeMaria was a freshman and a member of the Notre Dame women’s swim team when the bus carrying the team home from a meet overturned in a snow storm. The fatal accident left Haley paralyzed from the waist down. After two emergency surgeries, Haley was told she would never walk again. That was not acceptable to this swimmer. Days later, drawing on the strength and training she learned as a swimmer, Haley began to wiggle her toes, and then slowly unlock her body. Over the next several months, Haley endured hours of exhausting physical therapy, painful setbacks, and three additional life-threatening surgeries. Throughout her physical and emotional trials, her family, her teammates, Notre Dame and the swimming community were invaluable assets to her healing. In October 1993, Haley returned to Notre Dame’s swim team, competing again for the Fighting Irish and winning the first heat of her comeback race.

Haley Scott DeMaria graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelors degree in History, and returned to Xavier College Preparatory, her high school alma mater in Phoenix, Arizona, to teach and coach swimming. She has received several national awards as a result of her inspiring recovery; including the inaugural Gene Autry Courage in Sport Award (1994), Women of Distinction (1994) National Institute for Sport Fellow (1995), and the Honda Award for Inspiration (1995). In June 2008, Haley published What Though the Odds – Haley Scott’s Journey of Faith and Triumph, to chronicle her journey of swimming back from paralysis.

How do you handle the stress of a book tour while raising your children?

I have a great husband who is supportive of my work and mission. But he travels for his job as well – so I have great friends who help us out and watch the kids when we are both gone. I used to worry that they would miss me, but I am learning that it has made them (two boys, ages 5 and 7) more independent and has also shown them that their parents are serving others, which I think is a great life lesson for them to witness.

How do you live a fit life?

I make it a top priority. Again, I think it is essential for my children to see that being healthy is a priority. Working out keeps both my body and my mind in shape. I need exercise as much physically as I do emotionally. With that said, time is often not on my side! I have a core set of exercises that I do at least 5 days a week – that I can do anywhere: sit-ups (three sets of 20), push ups (three sets of 12-15 reps), lunges (three sets of 40 – 20 on each leg). Just doing that each day will change your core and muscle tone – and it doesn’t take long, nor require equipment, just a commitment.

What is your favorite form of exercise and why?

I have two: swimming and walking. I love to swim because it is second nature to me. But I also love the companionship of walking. Some of my closest friends have been women I have walked with. I also love being outside – even in 20 degree snowy weather, as long as it is not raining.

How do you motivate yourself?

I know I am a happier person, a better mom and a nicer wife on the days I get a workout in. I also enjoy my days off (at least one a week). And I can enjoy those “off” workout days without feeling guilty, since I know it is best to give myself and my body a break.

How do you encourage your children to be active? What activities do you do as a family to stay fit?

This is a tough one, because being an active family is not always the easy way to go. Thankfully, my boys love sports – and we do a lot together outside: playing football, baseball, taking nature walks. When I found my 5 year old on our elliptical machine I thought, “Okay, maybe I have gone too far!” I just want them to enjoy healthy activities. And the only way they are going to enjoy them, is for us to do them together and for them to see it as a family priority. That is very important to me.

What advice do you have for other busy moms on staying fit and active?

Make and take time for yourself. That is easier said than done; I am not always good at this! Most of my free time comes late at night, which isn’t always the best time – since I need more sleep than I usually get. The bottom line is it just needs to be a priority. Our emotional and physical health is essential to all that we do – and all that we are as mothers.  I also think good nutrition is essential. There are so many fast foods – both in and out of the house – that can create such poor life long habits. All children will eat good, healthy and fresh food – you just have to give it to them.

Thanks to Haley for giving such a great interview and inspiring all of us!  You can learn more about Haley’s book at: http://www.haleybook.com