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Over and over again, I hear how busy moms (and dads) are – and how difficult it is to try to fit in some time to exercise. It occurred to me that there IS time…you just need to see it. Here are three opportunities our peer group has identified:
First, if your child(ren) is(are) on the after-school-activity circuit…soccer, t-ball, baseball, dance class, etc…you may constantly be on the road. “I feel like all I am is a taxi cab” seems to be a common comment. I say, “That’s perfect! What a great opportunity to exercise yourself!”

If you have an hour with nothing to do but wait for your child’s activity to be over…DO SOMETHING WITH IT. Our children go to Tumblebus once a week – which is a great program that builds self-confidence and enhances physical and motor development in children. It’s a gym on wheels with bars, beam, vault, ropes, rings, zip line and monkey bars inside (for children ages 2-10; for more information call 985-725-0143 or email thetumblebus@bellsouth.net).
During that hour, parents must stay on site – so, a few of us decided to jog around the parking lot and up the local street. We’ve turned an hour of sitting in our cars doing nothing into a 30-minute cardio session followed by a round of push-ups. Kids exercise; moms exercise.
Another great “family time” option is just going for a walk around your neighborhood. Bring the dog, have the kids ride a bike, skip, jump rope, bounce a ball, tell a story about every green thing they see…whatever it takes, just walk out the front door.
The last idea came from a former colleague of mine who moved to New Orleans from up North. He was so excited to have a swimming pool he could use most days of the year. Every night after work and school, he and his daughters would hop in the pool for 30-45 minutes of swimming time. He would do laps while they played and talked. If you’re lucky enough to have a pool – go for it! Make it a habit and embrace these hot summers with a cold splash.
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Alison Soileau is currently the owner of Self Confidence LLC, and is a District Manager/Independent Consultant with Arbonne International, a 30-year-old international health and wellness company. Experience includes 11 years with Ochsner Health System. Alison is the mother of 5-year-old twins, Cole & Cassidy…who led her to gain and then lose over 80 pounds…through diet, nutrition and exercise.
Per my previous post - time to talk about program structure and design. Everyone who enters a gym has their own unique goals based on their body type, lifestyle and work schedule. While conducting the initial evaluation, the personal trainer (PT) should be talking to you to understand how you’ve been training, any areas of concern, any injuries, certain things you can’t do, etc… All of these details will help the PT when designing your program. It’s much better to know that type of information up front instead of learning about it after the program is designed and you’re getting ready to do the exercise for the first time.
What you should understand is you’re paying a PT to design a program custom made for your specific needs – that’s the point/purpose of hiring a personal trainer and essentially what personal training means.
Probably one of the most sought after goals clients have is to tone up, lose body fat and drop weight – those 3 goals essentially go hand-in-hand. The various types of training that exist to meet those goals are limitless; a good personal trainer can be pretty creative with exercise in maximizing results. Since a client will generally have a one hour session 2-3 times per week, it’s incumbent upon the PT to provide the client with the best program that will maximize results in that rather short period of time. In order to make that possible, the PT should have knowledge with regard to the human body (physiological effects, biomechanics, kinesiology, etc…) and how it works relative to the client’s lifestyle. You can’t just take cookie-cutter workouts and expect them to work for everyone.
Here’s a general example of what I’m referring to when I talk about custom made program designs; I’ll use 3 of my clients as an example.
In the next few posts we can discuss some of the methods of training I mentioned above: supersets, interval training and core conditioning. Some of you are probably wondering what those are.
Here are a couple of tips:
I’m far from being a serious cyclist of any kind – but I do love to ride my bike particularly right now with how wonderful the weather is/has been. Riding my bike makes me feel good; I know by riding I’m doing something good for my health and something good for the environment.
I’m working on finding a true cyclist to blog for Be Fit NOLA but I haven’t had much luck thus far. However, in the meanwhile, I want to share the resources and information I have come across in relation to Cycling in New Orleans. I have divided the information by Advocates – organization working to improve the cycling experience in New Orleans, Clubs – A place to find other cyclists and people to ride with and Providers – where to buy, rent or take a bicycle tour.
The Metro Bicycle Coalition is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving commuting and recreational cycling conditions in and around New Orleans, Louisiana. MBC works to increase transportation choice, mobility, and infrastructure by establishing a safe network of bicycle lanes, paths and facilities, educating cyclists and drivers on safety and the rules of the road, and advocating at local, state and national levels for routine accommodation of bicyclists and pedestrians.
Another must check-out site is NOLACycle, Bike Map Project. NolaCycle is a project aimed to create a high quality cycling map of New Orleans. Cycling maps include information beyond just streets and their names that benefits cyclists. In our map, we highlight the pavement quality, car travel speed, lane width, and special caution areas (busy intersections, man-eating potholes, or high accident areas). Volunteers help to collect this data by attending mapping events. Please consider volunteering and be sure to have a look at the NOLACycle Map before heading out on your bike.
Where Ya’ Rack? is a Young Leadership Council initiative. Our objective is to provide unique and secure bicycle parking throughout New Orleans to encourage cycling for commuting, short trips, and errands. We are also a community of citizens and cyclists and who feel safe and secure bicycle parking can enhance New Orleans.
Crescent City Cyclists is the oldest and largest bicycle touring club in the New Orleans area. The CCC was founded in August 1977 to provide bicycling activities for its members, to educate its members in the rules of safe bicycling, and to promote bicycling as a recreational and sports activity as well as an alternative mode of transport
New Orleans Bicycle Club (NOBC) is dedicated to promoting bicycling, with the emphasis on bicycle racing, in the Greater New Orleans area. The NOBC was founded in 1968, and remains at the forefront of competitive cycling activity.
New Orleans Metro Area Mountain Bike Organization (NOMAMBO) was formed in March 2003, under partnership with the Corps of Engineers and sanctioned by IMBA (International Mountain Bike Organization) to build a multi-use trail system (hiking/biking) at the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway in Norco, LA.
Bayou Bicycles
Bicycle World
Bicycle Michael’s
Joy Ride Bike Rentals
Big Easy Bike ToursConfederacy of CruisersNinth Ward Rebirth Bike Tours
Time to wrap things up on the home workout portion of the affordable workouts in New Orleans blog series. Saving money is almost synonymous with proper prior preparation. Just like you’ll save money by cooking your own meals and taking your lunch in from home to work – in order to get an adequate workout at home, it will require solid proper prior preparation.
For a quick review…in the last post on this topic, we discussed establishing structure by: setting a workout schedule, establishing your home gym, ensuring your write out your weekly workout plan, investing in the proper equipment you will need, setting realistic goals and including activities like walking, running and biking into your routine.
If you aren’t ready to invest the time in creating your own routines – the best thing to do is to get the right home workout video series. An example of a great workout series we discussed in the past is P90X. Between paying for the DVDs and the equipment you’ll need – the cost will be approximately $300.
If you want to truly create your own routine…than you can do so for free or very little money with websites like:
Exercise TV: What I like about Exercise TV is that they will put a workout routine together for you and break it down from day to day. I’m a little hesitant to say that following their guidelines is enough…but it’s certainly a good start.
yogadownload.com: Yogadownload.com is a great way for you to include yoga to your DIY routines. Many of the 20 minute workouts are free to download and the cost to download longer videos is very inexpensive.
Don’t Weight To Lose YouTube Channel: Our own local motivator Jacques Courseault created a series of workout videos that you can do with just using a resistance band – which counts as resistance training.
SparksPeople YouTube Channel: To be honest, there are a lot of various workout channels on YouTube – so if you take the time to check them out; you’ll be able to line up the workouts you need to put a good routine together for FREE.
1. Watch and Tag Videos – watch a lot of videos of various lengths to know exactly what the video will require of you, the intensity of the workouts and whether or not you would enjoy doing the workout(s). Tag all the videos accordingly, i.e. high intensity cardio, yoga routine, low intensity cardio, bicep, shoulder and back workout…etc. You might actually want to use a bookmarking site to do this.
2. Mix and Match – Start planning your routines by mix and matching your videos. If you are trying to lose weight, than you need to be doing 40-60 minutes of cardio…preferably 5 times a week and resistance training 3 times a week. Remember…add going for a walk, run or long bike ride in your routines.
Example One Week DIY Routine:
Monday – 3 miles run/walk (depending on your level of fitness), abs workout video
Tuesday – (2) 20 minutes workout videos medium intensity and arms and back resistance workout
Wednesday – Rest Day
Thursday – 1 hour of yoga video and abs workout video
Friday – Bike ride and shoulders resistance workout
Saturday – Rest Day
Sunday – (2) 25 minutes workout videos ((1) high intensity (1) low intensity) and calves, legs resistance workout, abs workout
Yes…I know – that is a lot of planning!! But that’s what it takes to save money by working out at home.
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I am in no way, shape or form a professional racquetball player. I am, however, a girl/lady/woman who LOVES playing it just for the fun of it – and the cardiovascular benefits are amazing.
When I think of racquetball, I tend to think of the sweaty guy with the headband, goggles and armpit stains on his shirt…oh-so-not ladylike. When I was in college, my boyfriend and I decided to try it out – and immediately fell in love with the sport, if not each other. Fifteen years later, the level of enjoyment is still as high – competition rears it’s little head, and GAME ON!
After one hour of play, you feel more invigorated – alive – and completely satisfied with a fabulous cardio workout. Racquetball is one of the ways I helped shed the pounds after having twins – and it is an outstanding stress reliever! Here are some interesting factoids regarding the health benefits of racquetball (Source: www.homefieldadvantage.com):
Want to try racquetball for yourself? Here are some of the racquetball courts in the New Orleans area:
Elmwood Fitness Center
Harahan; 733-1600
Recreation & Fitness Center at UNO
UNO campus; 280-6357
New Orleans Athletic Club
New Orleans; 525-2375
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans; 556-3742
Manhatten Athletic Club
Marrero; 341-2582
Also, you might want to check-out the Louisiana Racquetball Association
Have fun – and always be sure to wear goggles…not the best fashion accessory, but certainly the best way to maintain good vision in the future.
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Alison is currently the owner of Self Confidence LLC, and is a District Manager/Independent Consultant with Arbonne International, a 30-year-old international health and wellness company. Experience includes 11 years with Ochsner Health System. Alison is the mother of 5-year-old twins, Cole & Cassidy…who led her to gain and then lose over 80 pounds…through diet, nutrition and exercise.
It’s getting to be that time of the year, Spring and Summer, when everyone wants to be in better shape, or a little healthier. The New Year’s resolution is over and some have fallen off the initial “push” to start the new year off right. It’s tough to join a gym and have a goal in mind only to realize you’re not sure how to achieve it. For example: losing body fat, gaining muscle, improving endurance, etc… Well, there’s a lot to understand when it comes to the human anatomy. You’ve got to know how it works in order to achieve maximum results.
For those of you who may be discouraged about your results so far, or haven’t taken that first step in joining a gym because you might be a little intimidated – there is hope! It’s still a new year and there’s plenty of time…the hot weather might pretty much be here already in New Orleans but you can still look and feel better by summer! You can still join a gym and most gyms offer a free initial evaluation with a certified personal trainer (PT) when you sign up for a membership. If you weren’t told about that, you may want to ask.
An initial evaluation is a one-on-one session with a PT and usually takes about an hour to complete. The evaluation will cover a basic overview of your lifestyle, health, diet and a couple of tests to gauge your current strength and endurance. Generally, the personal trainer will take your blood pressure, your weight, ask you to perform a sit & reach test (for flexibility), and measure your body composition (lean mass & fat). The strength test may include an exercise to determine muscular strength and sit-ups (or crunches) to measure muscular endurance.
Once that’s all complete, the PT will give you the results of all that information. What kind of results? You’ll find out where you are at on a health scale of “Poor, Fair, Average, Good or Excellent”. You’ll be able to hear the recommendations for training the PT may have in mind for you based on those results. At that time, the PT may be able to explain a couple of tips about a creating a balanced program that may help in achieving the results you want. Then it’s time to decide.
At this point, some people feel comfortable enough to move on by themselves; they may have just needed to get some extra motivation by seeing where they stood from a health perspective. If you’re thinking about going solo, always remember, if you have any questions about an exercise or how to use a machine, don’t hesitate to ask a PT – they should have no problem helping you. Others may be ready to take the step in having a PT train them. If you select to work with a personal trainer – he or she will use your evaluation to establish a structured program to guide you towards your goals. We’ll get into program structure and design in the next post.
How many of you hate going to the gym because it’s too crowded, your intimated, or you don’t want to get stuck in a long term contract that you can’t get out of?? If you hate running on a treadmill like a hamster on a wheel, outdoor fitness boot camp might be for you. I know I would much rather be outside exercising and enjoying the beautiful New Orleans’ weather. This is what outdoor fitness boot camps provide.
Fitness boot camps take fitness out of the gym and into our local parks and green spaces. At XLR8 Fitness Boot Camp we are outdoors jumping hurdles, running agility ladders, and meeting new friends who all have one purpose in mind; to get healthy.
A common misconception about boot camps comes from the words “BOOT CAMP”. People think “Am I going to get screamed at?” This is very far from the truth. There is no reason to be scared; you won’t find any screaming drill sergeants!! You will find a support system with instructors who have an optimistic outlook that says, despite the odds and challenges of leading a healthy lifestyle, the future is promising. Some boot camps are for women only, but other boot camps, like our boot camp is designed for men and women of all fitness levels.
As a boot camp instructor/owner, most of the questions I get are from people who are new to fitness – they feel like they will hold the group back. The thing to know about boot camp is although it’s considered “group exercise” – the majority of boot camps are designed for you to be able to go at your own pace. Believe me, you can put your mind at ease, no one is watching or judging you…other people are worrying about their own ability to perform the best they can. You do as many repetitions as you can within the amount of time, whether it be 3 or 30. Boot camp instructors are there to motivate you to do your personal best.
So I know you are wondering what types of things do we do in a boot camp class. Each class is an hour in length. There are no two workouts that are the same.
Workouts include:
cardiovascular, muscular endurance, strength training with dumbbells and body bars. We also take campers through group challenges, partner resistance, medicine ball drills, agility hurdles and ladders, plyometrics and obstacle courses. Tons of repetitions will tone the muscles and the fast pace drills will keep your heart pumping.
RESULT = a serious workout and great calorie burner.
If you are looking for something that reaches Beyond the Gym to get motivated and inspired – you might really want to consider trying out one of the boot camps being offered around town.
When choosing a boot camp here are somethings to keep in mind:
1. Size: Be sure to ask about the size of your class. If you are not comfortable in large groups and you want to ensure you get more personal attention, I recommend going with a boot camp that limits their class size. You can also check on instructor to student ratio. It’s possible to have a larger group with multiple instructors.
2. Location: Most boot camps are early in the morning, you do need consider accessibility to where your boot camp class is being held. A boot camp closer to home will be easier for you to get to…and the distance won’t be an excuse for you to not go.
3. Women or co-ed: Like I already alluded to, some boot camps are co-ed and some are for women only. If you have a preference one way or the other – this will impact which boot camp you participate in.
4. Cost: Boot camps do vary in cost so ask around and find out what you’ll be getting for what you’ll be paying.
5. Duration: Some boot camps are 4 weeks long, some 6 weeks and some even longer…perhaps a shorter boot camp to try it out is better for you before making a bigger commitment or perhaps you already know you want to commit to losing weight in the next 6 weeks before a big event so you want a longer program. Who knows! Just know you have options.
6. Read Reviews and Feedback: Do take the time to read reviews on third party sites like Be Fit NOLA to find out what others are saying about the boot camp(s) you are considering.
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Emily Eoffreceived her M.S., in Health and Exercise Science from Louisiana Tech University, as well as, her B.S. in Kinesiology and Health Promotion. She also holds her personal training and group fitness instructor certificates from some of the leading certification programs in the country. As a motivator, role model, and leader, Emily brings nine years of experience in the health and fitness industry to her XLR8 Fitness business.
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In addition to the 4 layers of abdominals I talked about in my last post, the core consists of other muscles that stabilize the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle and run the entire length of the torso. Those muscles that create this solid base of support also help shift body weight, transfer energy from the center of the body to the “levers” or limbs and protect the back.
The “Other” Core Muscles
With our 4 layers of abdominal muscles are a handful of other muscles that help the core with its important duties. They are:
Erector Spinae: This group of muscles sounds more like a Transformer toy than the muscles that run along your neck to your lower back.
Multifidus: These spine rotators run under the erector spinae along the vertebrae.
Hip Flexors: 5 muscles make up the hip flexors that are found in front of the pelvis and upper thigh. They are the psoas major, illiacus, recturs femoris, pectinues and sartorius. Often they will tighten up and grip during abdominal exercises when the abs are weak.
Gluteus medius and minimus: The side of the hip houses these are the glute muscles.
Gluteus maximus, hamstrings and piriformis: Well known, this group is located in the back of the thigh and upper thigh leg.
Hip adductors: Otherwise known as inner thigh muscles.
These other core muscles aren’t as sexy to the training community as the 4 ab layers, but they are key to a strong back. In fact, when these muscles are under activated and weak, back pain often presents itself. You can have all the six packs you want, but if your lower back is weak, you’ll find yourself with a swayback posture and low back pain due to the strain on the spine.
The key to core training is training the whole core, not just the abs. Powerful movements of the arms and legs emanate from a strong core. The more stable and strong the core, the harder the levers can work whether during sports performance or in the daily adventure race that is functional fitness. So get to the balancing act of training BOTH sides of your core – front and back!
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Kerrie Ann Frey is the founder and owner of Fit Mom USA, a former stroller exercise-based program that has evolved in to an online presence with fitness, wellness, and nutrition information for all men and women. Her passion for fitness began with credentials including A.C.E. PT and LWMC and grew to include her true love – Pilates. She is West Coast Pilates certified and trains clients in several studios in the New Orleans area.
The Home Workout and Do-It- Yourself (DIY) RoutinesI eluded in my first post about Affordable Workouts in New Orleans that working out from home will be affected by your level of experience and motivation. In regards to your level of experience, for example, for me to workout at home and create my own routines is pretty simple – I have enough knowledge and experience to put together DIY routines that will either provide me with full body workouts or target body parts. I can also ensure I have plenty of interval training by mixing things up to get maximum results. However, if you don’t have a full repertoire to rely on; you will need to do more homework, research and experimenting to find out exactly what will work for you. We’ll gladly help with that!
Second – lets address MOTIVATION. Here are my recommendations to ensure you have and maintain your motivation to workout from home.
Set your schedule. Carve out the exact time you plan to workout. Preferably it’s the same every day. Let everyone in your life, your family, friends, co-workers…whoever has an impact on your time that from this time to whatever time on these days – that is your workout time. Yes, you should write this in stone.
Create Your Home Gym. Figure out where you are going to workout and buy the equipment you will need (more to come about equipment). Things to consider when selecting a space…if you plan on jumping up and down – you must make sure that you’re on a floor (preferably basement) that can accommodate that without destroying your house. You will likely need a TV or computer in the room. You will need to de-conflict the use of the room with other members of the household based on yours and their schedules.
Say you plan to use the garage…how will you hold up in the New Orleans summer heat and humidity?!? Is there proper ventilation and cooling?
Write Out Your Weekly Workout Plan. The clearer you are on what you are doing on which day – the more likely you are to stick with it. If you need to figure out what you’re doing last minute; it won’t take long before you find a reason to do something else. This is why workout videos come with planners and specific instructions – it’s what helps people stick with the program. You’re welcome to send me your plan each week!
Have the Proper Equipment: You definitely don’t need to go spend an arm and a leg on home gym equipment. I recommend you start out with some dumbbells (3 pairs of 3 different weights), a mat, and an resistance band…may be a jump rope, medicine ball and exercise ball. Eventually you can look into also getting a home pull-up bar and some other things you will come to realize you want. You can find all that you need at either Walmart or Sports Authority. My other recommendation is that you go to the store instead of ordering online…first because shipping for 3 sets of dumbbells is likely to run you an arm and a leg. But also because it will be good for you to see what other equipment is out there. DO NOT get wrapped up into gimmicks – stick with the basics.
Walking, Running, Biking. Any one of those three or all three are also part of your home workout so don’t forget about them. Figure out routes and distances that you want to either walk, run or bike. Plan accordingly if you need to drive to a park to do it.
Set Realistic Goals. Don’t get into a home workout routine expecting crazy results after a week or two. Look at this as a learning experience and adventure. Set your goals to sticking to your new establish routine. Take it one day at a time and enjoy it.
This post is getting a little long – in the next post we’ll get into some recommended routines, videos to check-out and basic things to workout by!
We are less than two weeks away from the Crescent City Classic which will be taking place on Saturday, April 3rd at 8:30am. I ran the Crescent City Classic last year – it was without a doubt the biggest race I had ever participated in. Just like the Rock N’ Roll Mardi Gras ½ & Marathon attracted large crowds and top class athletes…so does the Crescent City Classic.
The CCC 10K is known as one of the world’s greatest 10K races. It runs on a flat, fast, 6.2 mile course that lends itself to world records, as well as to those who just want to get some exercise. The run starts at Jackson Square where the Marine Corps Band provides the runners some entertainment (it personally helped settle my stomach, last year). Runners than run to Poydras, up to S.Rampart/N.Rampart to Esplanade and than on to City Park. In City Park, the runners are welcomed by cheering fans, food and festivities. The weather last year was absolutely perfect.
This is a race for everyone. I ran it a little under an hour last year and saw people walking, saw military formations, and people in costumes etc. People were having fun, enjoying the fresh air, and getting some exercise!!
If I didn’t have plantar fasciitis I would be running it again this year. If you are planning to run and have not registered, I HIGHLY recommend you register online. It’s a bit of a mad house the days before the race so it’s best to register ahead of time. Online registration will close at midnight, Sunday, March 28th.
Concurrent with the CCC, will be the Crescent City Classic Expo at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. Held on Thursday, April 1 and Friday, April 2, the free expo will feature exhibitors showcasing the latest in running apparel, shoes, exercise equipment, nutritional and wellness products, fitness services, and much more.
Race Day Schedule
6:30 a.m. Buses begin running from City Park to start area near Jackson Square
8:15 a.m. Final Announcements, Dignitary Welcome and the National Anthem
8:30 a.m. The Times-Picayune Crescent City Classic Begins!
9:00 a.m. Post-Race Party and Festival begins near finish in Tad Gormley Stadium
10:00 a.m. Complimentary Bus takes participants back to Canal St.
10:30 a.m. Awards Ceremony and Giveaways from stage in Tad Gormley Stadium
11:00 a.m. Festival Bands resume playing
1:00 p.m. Festival officially ends, Complimentary bus transport to Canal St ends
For more information – visit the Crescent City Classic Website. Let us know if you are running by leaving a comment!!