Fabulous Friday Fitness Challenge

Happy Friday! Thanks for tuning in for a challenge. Today it's all about getting the heart rate up. Taking just a few minutes to get your heart pumping adds time to our lives. Really, one of my favorite fitness facts is that an hour of exercise today can add 2 hours to your life. And it can be an hour broken up into several chunks throughout your day. So let's get movin'!

This one is a do nearly anywhere exercise. March in place. Simple. Stand, march in place in 10 minutes. To mix it up we're going to add intervals. March for 2 minutes easy, then pick up your pace and march a little faster for 30 seconds. Alternate 4 times.


READY...SET...GO!!! 

comment when you are done.

Fabulous Friday Fitness Challenge...step it up!

Time to S T E P  I T  U P girls!

The other day a random guy at the gym paid me a compliment on my legs. Compliments are far and few between for me, aside from my hubby who believes in flattery, but when I do get one it's always about my legs. Why? I believe it's a combination of good genes and billions and billions of squats and lunges.

So find a step and do one of my favorite leg exercises. This one will get your heart pumping and tone those legs. Face the bottom stair of a flight of stairs, a turned over (sturdy please) box, a curb or for a real challenge a picnic bench. Step up with one foot, follow with the other for a toe tap, then back down you go. Repeat leading with the other foot. That's one. Repeat for 20. Rest. Repeat.

Thank me in the morning for those burning hamstrings, glutes and tight calves.

READY...SET...GO!!! 

comment when you are done.

See the finish line...

Having a specific goal in mind can help boost your dedication to a workout schedule. Visualizing that finish line may even propel you to get up early to walk before work, or to run while the kids ride bikes to the park. Summer is a great time to pick a local event and start training!

Here are a few nearby events to check into:

July 16 – Davis Moo-nlight Races: 5K, 10K, half marathon and 1 mile kids run.

An evening event, with 4 distances to choose from and a 7 p.m. start time.

July 23 – Eppie's Great Race

Combines running, biking and paddling for a twist on the usual triathlon.

Aug 7 – California Kids Triathlon

Get the whole family involved and sign the kids up for a kid-size triathlon! Or join the parent/child division and complete it together.

Sept 3 – Elk Grove 5k Fun Run

Save a few $$$ and participate in the Elk Grove 5K Fun Run series right here in town! Ten dollars gets you registered and entered to win great raffle prizes.

Oct 2 – Urban Cow 5K, half marathon, relay

Get your mooooo-ve on at the Urban Cow with 3 distances options to fit every runner and walker, with a fun new course this year.

Visit http://zinsli.com/events/sacevents.asp for a full listing of local events. Once you’re hooked and become a repeat event participant, you can even plug in your name to see a history of your results for the local events you’ve completed.

Elk Grove is host to many local training groups to help you prepare, including Moms in Motion. So lace up and put on your sunblock: Summer training season is here!

Blog post originally posted on Elk Grove Patch.

Summer teams now forming- Core Team

Moms in Motion Kick Off

Our Summer season starts 8pm Monday June 13th

Train 8 weeks to tone and strengthen the whole body with a focus on the muscles attached to the spine and pelvis.
Join us for a fun workout with a wonderful group of women.

Summer Core Season
June 13- August 3

Mondays and/or Wednesdays 8pm
Two weekly workouts: Pick one or do them both!
meets at Laguna & Franklin

Exercise, meet other moms, feel stronger and fitter! All team workouts include warm up, resistance training, mat work and stretching.


Join us for our First Workout
New members can try one free!
Monday June 13th OR Wednesday June 15th

Women of all fitness levels encouraged
(workouts are not for kiddos, carve out time for mom!)

Cost: Annual MIM membership fee is $65
Local Team fee: $140 - 2 weekly workouts, $70 - 1 weekly workout

*This team does fill up. Register early to guarantee your spot.

Summer Philanthropy: Runnin for Rhett

Your RSVP helps with planning: momsinmotioneg@gmail.com 916-690-762

Run Walk Team begins June 18th
Triathlon Team begins July 16th

Mission statement

You know how businesses, organizations and college teachers like business statements? Maybe as people, we should also have a mission statement for our lives. I was at a moms time out get together yesterday, and the suggestion was to go back to our roots, our lord, or our parents to remember what we are all about before saying something or making a decision.

The topic reminded me again that we must always remember who we are when we make decisions. As small as how we answer our 9 year olds' question about a pocket knife, to how we decide to accept a job offer. Each of these makes a huge impression on how we show ourselves to the world, and how we feel about ourselves each day.

My reaction to this was to think for a minute about what I do and why I do it. Just to be sure I'm thinking of my roots and what my parents taught me. This of course resulted in a blog...for you to read. =)

6 years ago, I was an at home mom of 2, teaching childbirth education for the local hospital. I truly enjoyed the work, not so much working for someone else, and reality was telling me that my family needed more income. When I decided to buy a fitness franchise, and convinced my husband it was worth the significant financial investment, I had no idea the impact it would have on my family.

Ever since, I’ve been teaching fitness, leading teams, and helping the mamas of Elk Grove to be stronger, fitter, healthier, more confident and great role models for their families. There is no “J-O-B” in the world I’d rather have. Showing up to a workout knowing exactly what each other woman there went through, arranged, negotiated, promised or set up to be there is huge motivation to offer the best fitness program possible. AND the accomplishment and pride I feel when a mom shares her successes with me and with others is priceless.

As the owner of Moms in Motion Elk Grove, I lead the Run/Walk Team and the Core Strength Team, and assist triathlon coach, Rachelle Hightower, with the Triathlon team. What makes Moms in Motion unique is the combination of Fitness, Fun and Philanthropy we bring to ALL levels, ages and abilities of local moms.

This dedication to health and wellness made me stop and pay attention when I heard about a product called Juice Plus+. It simply made perfect sense to me as the perfect addition to my tireless efforts to keep my family active, feed them real food and help them thrive. We add the 17 fruits, veggies and whole grains in Juice Plus+ to our diets each day, and I can't help tell others about it as well. This lead me to become a distributor and open the door to sharing this discovery with more families.

When it comes down to the basics of who I am, this is it folks. Every job I have ever had, from customer service, print sales person, mom, wife, tire delivery person (great story!),project manager, to fitness professional, has been about helping others to succeed. That's what I love, that's what I hope to do for the rest of my days.

What do you do?

Spring Kick Off Event

Moms in Motion Kick Off 5K/ 10K Run/Walk training begins April 16 Our Spring season starts 7am this Saturday morning to train 8 weeks for a 5K (3.1 miles) or a 10K (6.2 miles) Join us at Morse Park for a fun workout with a wonderful group of women. Spring Run walk Season Saturdays 7-8:30am April 16- June 5th meets at various Elk Grove parks Training for Roseville Memorial Day 5k/10K May 30 &/or Womens Fitness Festival 5K June 5 Exercise, meet other moms, enjoy the outdoors! All team workouts include warm up, running/walking, resistance training, and stretching. Train to run or walk the distance as a beginner, or do speed work & drills for a personal best. Join us for our First Workout New members can check it out for free! Sat April 16 at 7am Meet in the lot by the playground on Bella Terra & Fire Poppy. Runners and walkers of all fitness levels encouraged (workouts are not for kiddos or strollers, carve out time for mom!) Cost: Annual MIM membership fee is $65 Local Team fee is $80 for the 8 week Spring Season Interested in triathlon or core training? MIM Core Team MIM Sprint Triathlon Team About Team Leader Wendy Hoag: I have been helping women build self confidence, strength and health through fitness for the past 6 years. Specializing in pre & postnatal exercise, childrens fitness, mat based pilates, strength/cardio combination's and run/walk training, I'm always up for something new. Currently, I lead Moms in Motion teams, educate families on nutrition with Juice Plus+ and try to keep up with my two active children and husband. I offer other classes in the area as well: Am workout for mamas (kids welcome!) Mon/ Wed 9:30-10:30 am Various Elk Grove Playgrounds Small group workouts Grab at least 5 friends, a mat and pick a day & time... I can taylor a workout to fit your group! Contact me for pricing and details Wendy Hoag momsinmotioneg@gmail.com 916-690-7624 Your RSVP helps with planning

Something fresh and new at MIM

Spring season is bringing so many new things to Moms in Motion, I just had to blog about it. I don't even know where to start!

Philanthropy is a big one, lets talk about that. Few women these days do not have a personal connection to breast cancer. Mine? My mom is a 6 year survivor, it barely gets more personal than that. Here are a few things we'll be doing to help spread awareness and funds for breast cancer.

- 1. Start today, schedule a mammogram annually as soon as allowed, do monthly exams yourself and encourage others to do so as well

- 2. Register for Race for a Cure- our team website will serve as our fund-raising hub. Event May 7, register, “sleep in” or donate on our team site. (untimed slow walk & timed run Options)

- 3. GNO clothing EVENT! Bring a few items, stay to eat, drink & chat….AND shop! Fri. May 20^th Sylvan. Friends, family, etc encouraged to attend

4. Speaker on breast cancer detection, prevention and education 5/21 sat 8:30am

That's exciting stuff, what else is new you say? Our Core team will add a new spin on the tried and true plank challenge. Whew, this one will challenge our new members and returning members alike!

Run Walk Team is adding more to the program as well. In addition to our gradual increase in milage for those new to the 5K & 10K distances, we'll challenge runners and walkers with more experience as well. Y'all will be doing some exciting repeats, hills, reverses and more to get your speed and endurance up to achieve your personal best this season. Each and every all team workout will also include strength training sessions. By combining cardio with resistance training, we give our metabolism a boost AND keep that fire burning up to 48 hours! So be ready to mix it up.

That's the "whats up" about Fitness and Philanthropy...I guarantee we won't leave out the Fun. This season will round out with a combination of our favorite team breakfast and end or season party. June 5th, mark out your calendar all morning so you can meet the MIMS for breakfast downtown at Capitol Garage. Yummmmmmmy!!!

Not to be missed, we have a "bonus" event this season and great opportunity to help out some young girls reach their fitness goals. Girls on the Run is a local program geared to helping girls in grade school train for a 5K and learn some valuable life lessons along the way. Each season many girls do not have a family member to do the 5K event with them.
THAT's where MIM steps in. We have the opportunity to be running buddies for these girls, or to volunteer to make the event go smoothly. Very exciting stuff.

Can't wait to get movin;...now tell a friend. Spring teams begin this week, the more the merrier in MIM!

Wendy

more than exercise

There is something really special about making exercise a social activity. This morning was our first Winter run walk team workout and wow was it fun!

This group of women has become so much more than a fitness group. It's just an excitement getting ready for a workout, then it slowly builds as cars pull into the parking lot, moms get out with smiles (even though they are bundled up against the cold!), greet me and THEN the magic begins.

Women begin to greet each other, with smiles, hugs, HEY THERE!, glad you're back and ask about each others families, jobs, activities, new hair cut,etc. Its awesome and heart warming.

We begin with a greeting to each other reminding each person how awesome they are and what an important part of the group they are. Then head out for a brisk warm up walk, where the chatter begins to take on a whole new level.

During the run walk women offer each other gloves, tissues, the time and cheers.
I'm so glad to be part of this group!

We all did get in a great workout, filled with a timed mile (or two!) and a partner strength workout. There is no doubt about that. But the secret, the difference that keeps people coming back is the team camaraderie, the excitement, the friendship, the support when you need it and how much fun it is to carve out time for yourself to meet women who were once strangers, and now wonderful friends.

Keep movin mamas!

times are a changing

This has been one of the stranger months of my life. Just in an unsettled, change brewing, new schedule kind of way. I recently sold my StrollerFit business of 5 years off to two wonderful local women. Although I'm excited about the prospect of what they will be able to do for local moms with little ones it's left me adjusting to a totally new schedule. No morning classes to teach, I've actually been able to take a few at the gym.
That has lead me to discover that I'm a horrible participant in fitness classes now. Always critiquing the instructor, she didn't warm us up much, or hey lady why aren't you walking around cueing and correcting form, and my pet peeve, 2 stretches...really an hour of strength exercise and we only need 2 stretches?!
The wonderful part about the change is that I really do feel I'm able to put my full effort, focus and best into one fitness avenue rather than balancing two businesses. I now have time to add speed workouts the more experienced members need to get to the next level, I'm able to offer strength/core classes that are so important in preventing injury for runners and walkers and I'm able to start thinking of some fun ways to connect the families of this wonderful group of women.
I have also discovered that my Juice Plus+ business is much more than I originally expected. It turns out, I love teaching people about nutrition too! since May, I have learned so much from others at wellness presentations, listening to the great line of Juice Plus+ educational DVD's and great conference calls. I've discovered that this is another avenue that allows me to directly help others, but simply sharing what I've learned and have a passion for.
It truly doesn't get much better than that....so I guess I better get back to work before the kids get our of school. =)

I look forward to talking to YOU soon about Juice Plus+, Moms in Motion or all the crazy things our kids do.

In health,
Wendy Hoag

Moms in Motion getting Fit to Give

Moms in Motion Getting Fit to Give

Wendy Hoag

Moms looking for a place to focus on fitness, make new friends and give back to their communities are flocking to a new fitness trend called Moms In Motion. Founded by teacher, triathlete and mom Jamie Allison in 1999, the company was designed to bring women together in a constructive, meaningful way. “Women—especially moms—often find themselves overwhelmed with multiple roles, and limited time for themselves,” Allison explains. “As a new mom myself, I wanted a place where I could connect with other women in a positive way and who could understand what it meant to be a mom and still get to practice.” With over 8,000 members, and teams in 26 states and 8 countries, Jamie has tapped into a much needed, unique niche.

With that goal in mind, Moms In Motion was born. Each group trains for a specific event (“We’re all about the carrot,” says Allison) and chooses a charity to support. Leaders take members through a “season”, building towards a culminating event. At the same time the team selects a charity to support, deepening the overall experience.

Moms In Motion draws women of all ages and abilities, women who have recovered from life-threatening illness, women who have never been active before, past athletes, women looking for a new challenge, women who want to address weight issues, and women who just want to make new friends. “For thousands of women, Moms In Motion is the highlight of their week,” says Allison.

Here in Elk Grove,Ca, Moms In Motion has been inspiring moms to get moving for two years. Lead by Wendy Hoag, local director, group fitness instructor, marathon racewalker, triathlete and mom of two, a run/walk team and a strength/core team run year-round. Triathlon coach, personal trainer and mom of two, Rachelle Hightower, leads triathlon teams in the Spring and Summer. “Seeing the community of Elk Grove embrace the fun, fitness and philanthropy of Moms in Motion is very fulfilling.” says Hoag. “Giving back to many local charities in so many ways makes me proud to be part of it all.”

To find out more about Moms In Motion, please visit www.momsinmotion.com