Mummy Tummy Begone

A Few Seconds of Fame

Posted by cafebebemama on Dec 10, 2010 in Motherhood, Mummy Tummy Begone | 7 comments

About a month or so ago, I attended the launch of the new Weight Watchers Pro Points Plan in London. They just released a video of the launch. See if you can spot me!

As some of you know, I’ve been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. I am undergoing a gastroscopy on Monday morning where they’ll shove a long scope down my esophagus to have a peek in my stomach and snip a sample of the lining just to be sure. How much fun will that be??

After that joy, I’ll be referred to the Coeliac Dietician in Peterborough. There’s obviously enough of a need to have a dietician specifically assigned to Coeliac Disease. Bizarre! I’ll then learn how to live a GLUTEN FREE life which I’m not totally jazzed about. But I am looking forward to feeling better and, ultimately, looking better. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to use my knowledge and embark on the new Weight Watchers Pro Points Plan as well.

Until then, I’m going to enjoy the last few days of GLUTEN FULL life and then bid au revoir to gluten forever. Weep. I’ll be documenting my journey but probably not my gastroscopy! Wish me luck kids…see you on the other side!

Buggy Fitness for Cafe Bebe

Posted by cafebebemama on Oct 4, 2010 in Motherhood, Mummy Tummy Begone | 8 comments

Four weeks ago I began a new fitness regime. It’s called Buggy Fitness for Cafe Bebe! I attend a Buggy Fitness class once a week and get my ARSE kicked while Little Miss looks on and cheers. It’s rather fun and reminds me every time that I always feel so much better when I exercise. Then Wednesday rolls around and I forget. I find excuses to NOT exercise. Here are some of them:

• It’s raining.
• It’s too cold.
• I’m sore from Tuesday’s workout.
• I have to send some emails.
• Little Miss has to have a nap.
• My neurotic, separation-anxiety-ridden, 14 year old dog is neurotic, full of separation anxiety and is 14 years old.
• It’s raining.

Taking part in a Buggy Fitness class is brilliant. The personal trainer tells us what to do. I do it. The problem is that when I’m on my own, I don’t listen very well to MYSELF! I enjoy going out and about with Little Miss but (curse it) she’s getting old enough to NOT want to be in the pushchair as much (I’m crying inside about this). I’ve even considered running a Buggy Fitness class myself as I do have a Fitness Degree from the US of A, don’t you know?! Unfortunately without UK qualifications, I don’t think I’d get very far.

I desperately want to change my physical form. However, I am seriously lacking in ACTION. I suppose I have the motivation but I lack the action to make it happen. I had an interesting chat with hubby last night about this very thing. He wants to help me. He doesn’t like me getting upset or being irrational and throwing out 3/4 of my wardrobe because I don’t fit into it anymore. As with most men, he’s a problem solving kind of husband. If he can’t solve it, he gets cross. I don’t like it when he’s cross with me. I don’t like it when anyone is cross with me. I have OPD- Obsessive Pleasing Disorder…I’m about to commit myself, to be honest!

My ideal form of fitness is attending fitness classes at a gym. I adore Body Pump. I transformed myself about 10 years ago thanks to Body Pump. It’s the perfect combination of weight training exercises to kick butt/toe tapping/current and classic tunes for 60 minutes. It’s a great total body workout (minus the cardio tho). When I was in the year 2000, I attended Body Pump 3-4 times a week, attended a Boot Camp class once a week and Pilates once a week in addition to my job of teaching gymnastics to adorable (and not so adorable) preschoolers. The fitness centre was free as I was an employee and was in the same building. I had no excuse. I’m good at excuses (see above). I lost about 15 lbs and looked very good (if I do say so myself). This was at least 2 stone ago. (sob…weep)

So, here we are in 2010. I am a mostly happy mum to a gorgeous 2 year old and devoted wife to my weary hubby. We don’t have EXTRA money to shell out for a health club membership even though two MAJOR franchise health clubs are only about a 10 minute drive from our house. Bannatyne’s Health Club is the closest and has quite a few sessions of Body Pump on offer in addition to a slew of other great fitness classes and equipment. It’s also about £40 per month. We’d have to nearly stop eating to afford that. Well, maybe if I stopped eating?

Fitness First is a bit further down the road to me but also has Body Pump classes on offer as well as Pilates, Yoga, Spin and other fun offerings. My goal was to see if either club wanted to exchange a membership for an online diary, blog posts and advertising. I’m not sure that will happen even though I’m a delightful blogger and worthy recipient. I feel like if I had a fitness club to go to, had classes to attend (versus just going and “working out”) and had to account for my progress I would follow through and do what is necessary for me to succeed. I also have Wii with 2 fitness programmes which I really SHOULD just plug in, turn on and get down to it.

I would love some encouragement or clue as to why I sabbotage myself. Please feel free to share your tips, tricks and advice as I clearly need it. Just please don’t yell at me…I hate it when people yell. I’m a bit like a hedgehog in that respect. Watch me curl up into a little ball! In the meantime, until Duncan Bannatyne rings me up, I’ll keep attending Buggy Fitness and subjecting Little Miss to mummy’s huffing and puffing.

Commit to Get Fit this Autumn

Posted by cafebebemama on Sep 1, 2010 in Mummy Tummy Begone | 4 comments

You’ve heard it before from me. You’ve heard it a fair few times from me. But this time, I mean it! I’m 3 months away from turning 40, I have a funky new hair cut which has given me back some of my chutzpah and a clearer view to the future. It’s time to do something about the PHYSICAL ME!

I’ve been working with Maclaren and Pushy Mothers to promote their Stroll Back to Shape programme and have been reviewing the Maclaren GTLX along the way. I have a LOT of experience with pushchairs. I have reviewed over 20 since I began blogging a year an a bit ago. I have reviewed some for this blog but most have been for MadeForMums website. Amazingly I have never reviewed a Maclaren! Maclarens are everywhere. They are very popular in the lightweight, “umbrella-type” stroller category in particular. The Maclaren GTLX is their “luxury” edition pushchair and it was most definitely an interesting pushchair to trial.

The Maclaren GTLX is an impressive pushchair. Gadgets abound on this model which allow you to know what time it is, what the temperature is and just how fast you’re walking while lighting the way at the same time! There is a Strollometer built in on the Maclaren GTLX as well as a “dashboard” housing a clock and temperature gauge in analog style. There are running board lights to make others aware of you and potentially light the path in front of you on a dim day or late night walk (not sure that you need to be walking late at night WITH your child but teething pain may make it a necessity).

The seat seems very comfortable, according to Little Miss who readily climbed up and had a seat within seconds of spotting the new pushchair! And I dare any toddler to try to get out of the carefully crafted 5 point harness! You have to be Houdini, I think! It’s exceptionally well secured. The seat can be forward or rear facing which is very comforting to parents of newborns and young babies. You can easily and smoothly recline the seat without disturbing a sleeping tot and can carry on calorie burning while they snooze away, safe under the large canopy/hood. You are also protected from rain and bugs with a rain cover and mosquito cover which are stowed in handy pockets on the back of the seat…genius touch!  I was also infinitely impressed with the amount of accessories that came with the Maclaren GTLX. There was a pushchair cover, wheel bag, changing bag with stroller straps, cup holder, carry cot and newborn insert, footmuff and shopping basket. It’s all you could ever need and then some.

One of the drawbacks to the Maclaren GTLX is its size. It’s a rather hefty beast at 14.2 kg and requires a pretty strong TWO hands for steering, especially on uneven ground. I was a bit disappointed when my right front wheel popped off while traversing a bit of rough terrain. It easily snapped back on but I don’t really expect my wheels to fall off! Storing the Maclaren GTLX is a bit of a challenge as well. Ideally you need to take off the seat and potentially, even the wheels to allow it to fit smoothly into your boot. I think you would be hard pressed to fit it into a small boot. The price is a bit steep as well (between £530-590 on various internet sites) but considering the amount of kit that comes with the system, you are getting pretty good value for money.

Maclaren GTLX à la Cafe Bebe

One of the bonuses of the Maclaren GTLX is the Strollometer. The Stroll Back to Shape programme really encourages new mums to get out and get fit with their babies. With the Strollometer you can easily track your progress and see how far you’re going and how fast which is a great incentive and motivator for a lot of mums. I found myself trying to keep my pace at a particular speed which made a great difference to the intensity of my walk. Doing this several times a week will take you far…just remember to come back home at the end of each journey!

This is my challenge to you then, mummies: Get out and Commit to Get Fit this Autumn! Keep yourself moving, burning calories, getting fresh air and getting out of the house. It will do you and your child a world of good. Next week I’ll be attending my first “buggy fitness” class in Stamford. I’m a bit frightened as I imagine most of the other mums will be more post-delivery than I am and will definitely not look 5 months pregnant like I do. I feel like I might need to wear a hi-vis vest that says “Not Pregnant, Just Fat” so I don’t get any “so…when’s the next one due” comments. Or I just need to say, “Yeah, due in February!” and smile. I will report back on my class and whether I’m able to move the next day or not. I’m looking forward to taking a CLASS again which forces me to commit and follow through which is something I’ve been lacking a ridiculous amount bit lately.

I challenge you to do something new this month. Take a class, take a walk, do some Wii Fit, do SOMETHING! And blog about it. Or maybe you have been blogging about it? Share your success here! I’m adding a MckLinky to the bottom of this post for you to add links to your fitness/mummy tummy/empowerment/pushchair posts. It’s always helpful to know that others out there are struggling and, hopefully, succeeding. Let’s do what we can to push each other forward this month! I’ll expect some results and you can expect them from me in return. Have a great September…commit to get fit!

Stroll Back to Shape Finale!

Posted by cafebebemama on Aug 25, 2010 in Mummy Tummy Begone | 0 comments

If you’ve tuned in to Cafe Bebe for the last few weeks, you will have seen videos and posts about Maclaren and Pushy Mothers Stroll Back to Shape programme. I wholeheartedly support this programme which is geared to new mums. It’s the perfect way to get your bum off the rocking chair and gently and easily get back into action. I bring you the final installment of the Stroll Back to Shape/Pushy Mothers programme…The Ultimate Push! (I particularly love the way the baby in the Maclaren GTLX stares at Rachel Berg, the instructor!)

One of the challenges I have faced is that for better or for worse, I am not simply 6 weeks post delivery. The Stroll Back to Shape programme is ideal for a starting point and really gets you into a routine which is half of the battle. I love going out for a walk with Little Miss in the pushchair and she enjoys it as well but I need to take it to the next level. So, starting on Tuesday 7 September, I will attend my first Buggy Fitness class run by a personal trainer in Stamford. It’s not Pushy Mothers but I know he’s going to kick our bums!

I love fitness classes. I’m weird! I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the US in Fitness. I know exactly what I should be doing but I always seem to do better when I’m following the lead of an instructor. I do even better when there’s music involved but beggars can’t be choosers. I’m really looking forward to having a personal trainer tell me what to do. I’m looking forward to having to go whether I want to or not. I’m looking forward to a new challenge. I’ll let you know how I go!

In the meantime, start out with the Stroll Back to Shape programme to ease you into a regular walking routine and then find a way to take it to the next level yourself. Pushy Mothers has released a workout album that might work well for you. Check out the gyms and leisure centres in your area…maybe they offer a buggy fitness class for a nominal fee that will help you where you need it. Just do it as some rather famous running shoe company says! Do it for your child(ren), your husband, yourself…do it to get back a bit of YOU. Report back on your success! I’d love to hear how you’re getting on.

Stroll Back to Shape Week 5

Posted by cafebebemama on Aug 16, 2010 in Motherhood, Mummy Tummy Begone | 0 comments

Ready to Roll?

Ooh! Stroll Back to Shape last week was a bit of a challenge! Hill climbing…argh! I must say that even though there aren’t a lot of hills in Lincolnshire, the are a few and they do kick my butt! Which is a good thing I suppose.

This week it’s time to “Mind Your Back” which I really need. I have had quite the aching back thanks to rather significant Diastasis Recti and being a mum to a 2-stone 2 year old! This week’s video shows you how to do lunges. I’m weird; I LOVE LUNGES! Walking lunges, stationary lunges, you name it, I’ll lunge it! I’ve got me some strong legs. Shame the rest of me can’t follow suit! Have a sneak peek at the Stroll Back to Shape Week 5 video. You’ll thank me when your hubby comments on your pert bum!

Remember to take your time with the Maclaren/Pushy Mothers Stroll Back to Shape programme. It took you 9 months to put on the weight (well, for me, 9 months + 2 years) so taking it off is not a piece of cake. We can’t all be Heidi Klum…dammit! Good luck, keep strolling and check back with me next week for WEEK SIX!!!!

Burn Baby Burn with Stroll Back to Shape

Posted by cafebebemama on Aug 9, 2010 in Motherhood, Mummy Tummy Begone | 0 comments

Monday dawns with new inspiration from Pushy Mothers, Maclaren and Stroll Back to Shape…don’t we all need it on a Monday? Session Four is called “Burn Baby Burn” and I think you’ll find this interval training just what the Guru ordered!

You can find Sessions 1, 2 and 3 at Stroll Back to Shape to catch up on what you’ve missed. Makes you just want to get that buggy out there in this glorious sunshine and BURN BABY BURN! Good luck…report back on your results!