If you are like me, after a long winter of indoor workouts, you crave getting outside and enjoying the fresh air that comes with spring.  For the past 6 months my workouts have consisted of working out at the gym on the stair climber (my new favorite!) and running on the treadmill.  I might throw in some abs, but only if my gym buddy suggests it.  Outdoor workouts have been off the radar for several; months... until now.


As the weather changes, so does my workout attitude.  I want fresh air, I want sunshine!  I feel like getting outside on my lunch break and enjoying the weather makes me a happier person and probably more productive as well.  Here are a few ways that I am taking my workouts outside this spring.



{one}  Lunch time runs.  When the forecast outside looks good, I head outside for a run instead of hitting up the gym.  I can run much longer if I am actually moving and it is even better if I can convince someone to come with me!

{two}  Long walks with friends.  While I do walk outside with one friend all winter, it is easier to convince other gals to walk when the sun is shining.  Per my fitbit, you can get 10,000+ steps on a 1.5 hour walk.  Next time a girlfriend suggests going for dinner or drinks, suggest a walk instead, or walk to the pub instead of driving.  Every step counts!

{three}  Get your family moving.  Just last week, my kids biked to the store for slurpees and I walked.  I could have biked but by walking I got a better work out as I was forced to walk fast, or even run, to keep up!

{four}  Be active while your kids play.  My kids love going to the park just behind our house.  When I go to the park with them I walk around the play structure while they play.  Alternatively you can do step ups on a bench or do jumping jacks.  Truthfully, I only do the last 2 if we are the only ones at the park!

{five}  Be active with your kids.  My kids like playing soccer in the field.  Jump in and play with them instead of watching from the sidelines.  I think I surprised the kids with how good I was.  Dad wasn't the only one who played soccer growing up!

{six}  Walk to run your errands.  Last week I walked to the post office instead of driving.  It took me 40 minutes instead of 5 minutes, but I ended up popping in at the bakery and grabbing a baby gift while I was out.  As an added bonus, I had extra weight to carry on the uphill walk on the way home.

I'm a huge advocate of making health a lifestyle.  Don't exercise because you want to eat an extra big dinner or to have a cupcake, exercise because it makes you feel good.  It makes you stronger. It makes you more confident.

Get out there, grab your music or friend, and enjoy the sunshine.  I promise you won't regret it!


Christy is a regular contributor for the Blended Blog and maintains her personal blog, RSquared.  She is also a working mom to 2 boys and a wife to James.  She loves everything to do with family, friends, fashion, fitness... and wine! 

We are well into January and maybe your resolutions (plans? ideas? desires? whatever you want to call them...) to get fit have started slipping. Maybe you live where it's cold. Really REALLY cold and you don't want to go outside to run or walk. And perhaps you've grown tired of your usual routine at your local gym. You know you need to do something active but you're bored with the same ol' same ol'.

Have you tried a barre workout? Here's a workout you can try at home.



If you like it then see if there's a Pure Barre studio near you. It is a low-impact, high intensity workout focusing on very tiny isometric movements. You do not have to be a ballerina (or look like one) to do a barre workout. It can be done by people of all shapes, sizes, ages and gender. It's a great full-body workout - strengthening and stretching the muscles - which will complement any other type of workout.
I'm a runner, but doing Pure Barre the last month has helped with tightness in my hamstrings and glutes which also helps with my plantar fasciitis, making me a better runner. It has also increased my core strength and overall flexibility.
 Shorts and an exposed midriff are not allowed so if you do go to a studio, you should wear leggings, yoga pants or capris. Most of the ladies wear a tank but I've also worn fitted tshirts. Also required are socks - sticky Pure Barre socks are what all the ladies wear in my classes. (I just wear regular socks.) The sticky part helps keep your feet from sliding.
The studio provides all the equipment you'll need so all you need to bring is yourself clad in the correct clothing and a bottle of water. You can leave keys, phone, wallet/purse, shoes  When you walk into the studio, you will see what equipment you'll need for that day's class: a stretchy band, small rubber ball and/or hand weights. At the end of class, we wipe down "everything red" with a wet wipe.
Have I mentioned the teeny tiny movements? At first it's hard to tell exactly what part is moving. Often the movements are "up an inch, down an inch" and at first you don't feel anything. But after a few minutes of these small movements, the focus area begins to burn and often the area will quiver or shake. This is good! It means that the muscle is reaching fatigue which translates into a long, lean muscle. After the shake, you will be able to stretch the muscle while it is still warm. The total body workout focuses on your seat, thighs, abs and arms, running you through each part for a total of 55 mins.

So if you are looking for something different this New Year, try a New Workout!

And if you want some support getting healthy this new year, consider joining a health challenge. The one for January is wrapping up but there's talk about one in February. Follow along on my blog to find out more!


Sheila is a regular contributor for The Blended Blog.  She is a mother, homeschool teacher and lives an inspired life.  She blogs at Making the Most of Every Day

The holidays...a time of joy, gratitude, sharing..and lots of eating and drinking! Am I right?? Not exactly a time when words like "healthy" or "exercise" come into our vocabularies. It's more like this:


I am ALL for Eat, Drink and Be Merry this time of year! However, I also don't like to feel terrible come January 1st and feel like I have to play catch up at the gym with the other 4 zillion people there! Here my 10 tips on how you can stay healthy this holiday season ~


1. Consistency with Exercise: This might be a no-brainier but the holidays are NOT a time to throw your exercise routine out the window simply because "it's the holidays." Consistency with exercise is KEY for several reasons. First--it helps balance out the extra calories you will undoubtedly consume! Also, exercise is also a huge stress reliever and I don't know about you, but the holidays aren't exactly stress-free around my house!!

If you aren't currently doing any exercise don't use the excuse that you'll "wait until the new year." Start NOW!! Get a jump start and get ahead instead of feeling so far behind come January 1st. It can be as simple as committing to a walk around the block, dusting off the treadmill that you vow to pull out January 1st, a workout video or a quick 7 minute workout (Google "7 Minute Workout"). ANYTHING to get your body moving and your endorphins released will help you through the holidays in more ways than one!


2. Stay Hydrated: Did you know the recommended amount of water to drink is HALF your body weight in ounces? So if you are 150 lbs, that means you need 75 oz, or roughly six 12 oz bottles of water each day. Water helps with so many things, but one thing it really help with is controlling the amount you eat and how full you feel. I never used to drink water with meals but now that I do, I find myself wanting LESS food!


3. Your Plate: When you eat a large meal, try to balance your plate so it's completely overloaded with fats and carbs. Here's a basic rule of thumb you can follow for a holiday meal ~

* 2 Proteins=the size of your palm (ham, turkey, steak, etc)
* 2 Carbs=what would fit in your cupped hand (those creamy mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and all the yummy starchy goodness!)
* 2-4 Veggies/Fruits=the size of your fist (hopefully there are veggie options at your holiday table! Salad, green beans, brussel sprouts, etc.)



4. Have a Plan: This may be the most important one of all! You MUST plan your meals ahead. If you don't, you will end up hungry (HANGRY!) and frantic which will 100% of the time lead to poor food choices. Been there, done that!! I have been planning my meals for years and it literally takes me less than 15-20 minutes on a weekend. It 100% sets me up for success the next week!


5. SNACK!!! When you plan your meals, plan healthy snacks too! Have them READY and AVAILABLE when those temptations creep up!! Here are some ideas of healthy snacks that are packable and aren't full of empty calories!


6. Avoid Temptation: If you work in an office or at a school like I do, the break room is my arch nemesis during this time of year! Cookies, candy, doughnuts are EVERYWHERE in the break room. I know I'm a sucker for a piece of See's Candy and a doughnut or two, so I just pack my healthy snack and STAY OUT! That way I don't have to see it or think about what I am missing! If you're at home, same thing--stash junk out of sight (no little candy dishes all around the house!) or better yet, give it away! You can't eat what's not around.


7. Gifts other than baking: A simple "i'm thinking of you" gift such as nail polish with a personalized tag, a DIY picture frame or a decorated mug or mason jars filled with cookie baking ingredients are all simple ways to say "Happy Holidays!" without sticking more cookies or fudge in front of someone...well, in front of US because if you bake them, you know you have try them...just to make sure they're good :)




8. The Ten Minute Rule: I LOVE to eat. Make no mistake about it! On Thanksgiving, I am typically the first one to get up for seconds of mashed potatoes and whatever other starch is left! This Thanksgiving though, I did things a little differently. I drank lots of water with my meal (#2 above!) and after I was done, I just sat and waited for 10 minutes. I enjoyed my glass of wine and just sat at the table and chatted instead of immediately rushing for a 2nd plate. IT WORKED!! After 10 minutes, I found myself just perfectly full (with a little room left for dessert!!) and I didn't need to get up for more food. Afterwards I felt AWESOME, not bloated and stuffed like I used to! You learn something new every day!! :)


9. Pre-Eat for Holiday Gatherings: It's a given that there is delicious food everywhere at holiday gatherings, and pretty much none of it is healthy! There is no avoiding it, but I have found it helpful to eat a decent meal before I leave for a party. Then you are able to indulge in SOME things, but hopefully won't have the appetite to go crazy on the meatballs and cheese tray!

10. Moderation: Most people fall into two camps around the holidays...ALL or NOTHING ~

* ALL: "I'm not exercising, I'm eating whatever I want, indulging...this is the HOLIDAYS! I want to enjoy!!"
* NOTHING: "No, I can't eat that, it'll ruin my diet. I can't eat dessert. I can't I can't I can't."

These "all or nothing" attitudes aren't healthy! Remember that moderation is key. Have a Christmas cookie, but ONE small one. Have a piece of candy one day, but forgo the workplace sweets the rest of the week. Don't deprive yourself, but practice self control. Listen to Julia!



With that, my friends, I am wishing you all a very, very happy, blessed and healthy holiday season!!!!




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Casey is a busy mom of 3, part time teacher, Sunday School teacher and health and fitness coach. Casey lives near the Napa Valley which keeps her busy finding the latest and greatest red wines. She blogs about fashion, food, fitness and family at A Little Bit of Cheer, she is also a contributor for The Blended Blog.

Before kids, exercising was easy.  I had the time and I didn't need to find childcare to make it to the gym.  After I had kids, finding excuses became easy as I had such little free time and the last place I wanted to be was the gym.  However, fitness has been a priority in my life since I lost 75 pounds in my late teens and kept it off for almost 20 years.  So although it wasn't always easy to be active, I worked hard to make it an important part of my life.  I think I am a better person, mother, wife, and friend because of it.

I've come up with a few ideas on how you can work extra activity into your typical day as well.



{one } Choose a time when you don't have to worry about childcare.  Personally, I go the gym over my lunch hour at work since I am a working parent.  That way when I get home from work I don't have to squeeze it into my already busy schedule.  I have 2 boys in hockey after all....  Some other ideas include when the kids are in school, after the kids go to bed, or getting a membership where there is a good childcare facility.

I think it is also important to recognize that the optimal time for exercise may change as your family's schedule changes.  Before kids I was a morning exerciser, but after kids I needed every extra second of shut eye so I adjusted my schedule accordingly.  I tried exercising after the kids went to bed but I was too tired and was finding many excuses to skip it, that is when I adjusted to lunch exercising and I find it is the best time of day energy wise for me.

{two} Put it in your schedule.  If you do this, you'll plan around your exercise schedule.  If someone asks you for coffee or dinner and you have it in your calendar to exercise you can suggest an alternate date.  I currently have a personal trainer and we meet every Wednesday and Friday over lunch, I also signed up for lunch hour yoga on Thursdays.  So if I want to go for lunch, I do not plan it on those days.

{three} Find something you like.  For years, I only did cardio.  I ran on the treadmill or went on the stepper every single time.  About 18 months ago I tried my first group exercise and LOVED it.  I really regret not trying it sooner.  Right now I love Barre and Spin. It doesn't feel like a chore to go at all.  I look forward to it.  Going back to point 3, I have it in my schedule that my hubby and I go to spin every Monday night.  Yes, sometimes life gets in the way, but then we try to reschedule.

Best cardio ever!

{Four}  Change it up. When I first started exercising, I only did step aerobic, years and years of step aerobics.  Then when I moved into an apartment I switched to running on the treadmill and stayed with that for years.  In the past 18 months, I've tried so many group exercises I've lost count.  I've incorporated free weights into my workout and I feel so much stronger.  The more things you try, the higher the chance you'll find something you love.

{five}  Join a gym.  I have been exercising almost daily since I was 17, I joined my first real gym this year and wish I would have done it so much sooner.  I was very intimidated by the gym as I had only worked out at home or at my office gym.  I thought everyone at the real gym would be fit and in better shape than me.  I was wrong.  Yes, the gym is intimidating the first time you go but once you get in your own routine it is so worth it.  The number of classes and different equipment that you have at your disposable is crazy compared to at home where it is very limited. The variety keeps your workouts interesting and challenging.

{six} Find a gym buddy.  Not only does having a buddy make it more fun, but it also keeps you accountable.  I have a gym buddy at work that checks in with me every day to see what class we are doing that day at lunch.  I have not been to the mall over lunch since I joined the gym in June, almost 4 months ago.  That is music to my hubby's ears I am sure.

My fave exercise buddy is my Mom.  She is WAY stronger than me.

I also have a friend that instead of going for dinner or out for drinks, we go for a walk.  Our walk can sometimes be well over an hour depending on how much we have to catch up on.  We have been doing this for over 10 years and it is a highlight of my month.  While we used to go every week pre husbands and kids, we now go at least once a month.  We've had to adjust the frequency but the important part is that we've kept it up.

{seven} Set attainable goals.  When you start a new exercise program, don't set an unrealistic goals, set something that you can actually do.  After my kids were born, I set my goal at exercising 3 times a week.  That seemed attainable to me.  While I would have liked to exercise more, I knew that I would be setting myself up for failure.   This is also true when it comes to food.  Don't tell yourself you are going to stop eating gluten, instead commit to removing gluten from a certain meal a day.  Set yourself up for success!

{eight} Buy new exercise wear.  When I was reading these tips to my hubby he didn't understand this one and I had to explain it to him.  If you have exercise wear you like and feel good in, you are more likely to wear it and exercise.  Also, you can set a goal and reward yourself with new workout wear.  For example, if you exercise 3 times a week for a month you buy yourself a new exercise top, or entire outfit.  This is my personal favorite tip and one I stand by .  Some of my favorite brands are lululemon, onzie, zella, and believe it or not, Forever 21.

Perfect bra and top for Hot Barre.

{nine}  Make lifestyle changes.  There are so many fad diets out there these days and yes they may make you lose weight quickly, but the odds are high you will revert back to your old ways post diet as they are too extreme to continue. Make food and exercise choices that you can maintain in the long run.  For me, I am more likely to reduce my sugar intake long term than I am to eliminate it.  That just ain't gonna happen.


{ten} Think strong instead of skinny.  For years I just wanted to be skinny, I was thin and but not strong.  My new goal is be strong.  I may weigh more, but I have more muscle and feel fit.  Or so that is the goal.  I need to be strong to lift those hockey bags into the van and to get all the groceries in the house in one trip.  Just because one is skinny does not mean that they are in shape.  I want to be healthy and to be able to keep up with my kids which is always a challenge.  Where do kids get the energy??
I hope that you have taken away at least one tip that will help you be more active in your everyday life.  Life is busy, full of commitments from work, kids, and other obligations, but we owe it to ourselves to make our health a priority.  Sometimes we fall off the wagon, and that is perfectly fine, as long we always find the strength to get back on.