CrazyBusy Mama! (Dot Calm)

When I was a kid, the word “plank” had one meaning: a piece of wood. And not just any piece of wood: In my mind, that plank was something to be walked on…then walked off of…followed by a big “splash.”

Probably had a little bit to do with my trips to see The Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. That, and my voracious appetite for reading.

Nowadays, plank has a new meaning that’s been gaining steadily in popularity. It’s still a noun, but instead of just being a piece of lumber, it’s also now an exercise.

An exercise that resembles a piece of lumber.

As exciting as that sounds (not), the plank is actually one of my favorite exercises for increasing core stability and strength, and for toning the abdominal muscles. And when you’re finally able to do it — and hold it for a millenium…er, minute…that’s really something to brag about.

I first learned to do a plank by following Holly Perkins’ Pink Ribbon Workouts. You’ll find it in Strength Training for Runners and Walkers, a workout I would recommend to anyone and everyone, whether they’re into walking and running or not. (It’s often on Exercise TV OnDemand; keep an eye out for it. Otherwise, check the Exercise TV site.

The plank Holly teaches in the video is a side plank, and as she says, you may find while doing it that you are stronger on one side than the other. (It’s a great diagnostic “tool” to discover which side of your body needs a little more strength training and toning.)

To do a side plank, lay on your side, your top foot stacked evenly on your bottom foot (see the picture, above). Resting on your forearm (keep your elbow under your shoulder, not at an angle), push your body up so all that’s touching the floor is your forearm and foot. Keep your body straight and don’t let your hips sag. Hold for 30 seconds for beginners; longer if you’re more in shape, and release. Try to do it a couple more times. If you lose balance or feel shaky on one side, you’ll know that’s the side you need to focus on strengthening more.

See Holly’s Strength Training for Runners and Walkers to see how she adds to this exercise to really tone your core.

The traditional plank is one you may have already seen or heard of — or done yourself — and is really very simple. For beginners, lie on your stomach on the floor. Push up onto your toes and forearms (bent at the elbow, just under your shoulders). Keep your body straight, not letting your lower back sway or your hips arch. Hold for 30 seconds to one minute. If you’re more advanced, do the exercise straight armed so your hands are supporting your weight instead of your forearms (I actually find this to be more comfortable, anyway), and hold for longer.

Combine both versions of the plank with your other favorite abdominal exercises, and you’ll be beach-ready in no time, mama.

Just stay away from the pirate ships.

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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

We’ve been having some truly beautiful fall days here in the Pacific Northwest. The crisp foggy mornings softly give way to sunny…almost warm (60-ish)…afternoons, all framed by firey orange and red leaves. It’s an absolutely perfect time to go for a walk or a drive just to soak up the beauty of it all.

But…it’s definitely one of those things that you feel you have to “hurry up and enjoy” — and take lots of pictures to remember it by. According to local and national weather forecasters, our usually-mild section of the country is going to be hard hit when grumpy, icy old man winter clashes with La Nina…and maybe sooner than later.

(Check out the country wide winter forecast and get the details at AccuWeather.com.)

If you’re a runner or walker and living in an area of the country that typically gets cold and snowy (or is usually mild but is going to be cold and snowy…brrrr!), here are some ways to make sure you don’t freeze your limbs off while getting your workout.

1. Bundle up! Now, this doesn’t mean wear a parka. (If it’s that cold, just stay inside and workout to Exercise TV or a favorite DVD.) Instead, dress in layers — the idea being that you can remove them as needed while still staying somewhat warm. Make sure your jacket is one that you can remove and tie around your waist if you need to. To protect your hands, wear gloves or at least place some air-activated hand warmers in your pockets. Pull on some leg warmers, toss on a beanie (around 40% of your body heat is lost through your head) and a scarf, and you’re good to go.

If possible, be sure any fabric you wear is the kind that wicks moisture away from your skin. Leaving moisture next to your skin on cold days can make you even colder and be a contributing factor for hypothermia.

2. Wear shoes with good traction to keep from slipping on snowy, icy, or wet roads. The last thing you need is an injury that might put you out of commission for a while. What you wear on your feet is just as important as what you put on the rest of your body.

3. Carry your cell phone and driver’s license. To me, these are all-the-time necessities, not just during the winter. But if you do fall and get hurt, you’re going to be glad you’ve got your phone. And keeping your identification on you is always a good idea.

4. Stay hydrated. It doesn’t have to be a hot day in order for you to get dehydrated. A hydration belt is a great way to keep your water handy…without having to carry it in your hand.

5. Go with a buddy. Walking or running with a friend is not only more fun, it’s safer, too.

6. Check with your doctor first. If you have a medical condition that might make cold-air exercise not such a good idea (like asthma), check with your doctor first. If he says no, running on a treadmill or indoor track will still give you a great workout.

7. Make sure you’re visible. With fewer daylight hours, chances are you may have to do your walking and running during times of low light or even darkness. Take a flashlight with you, and wear something reflective. Here’s a good selection of reflective gear to choose from. Personally, my plan is to get a reflective vest, but the arm bands I have should also do the trick nicely (I bought them a while back and will definitely not be leaving home for a run without them.

8. Finally, before you leave for that walk or run, take a few minutes to prepare your muscles. They’re more susceptible to injury on cold days, so take the time to warm up those muscles before you go, and don’t push yourself too hard if it’s especially cold outside — save that for the gym (or your at-home workout).

So remember — bundle up, keep hydrated, stay safe, and have fun. And don’t forget to thumb your nose at old man winter as you pass by.

©2010 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

The start of this school year, like most others, was met in our house by groans, nervous stomachs, and mixed feelings of dread and anticipation. But one of the positive things about school being in session again is that it forces my family to get on a better schedule – something we’ve needed to do for quite a while now. The lazy routine of summer is gone, and we find ourselves having to work that inner, unseen muscle called self-discipline…stronger in some of us than in others.

This year, my daughter has to catch a too-early (in my opinion) bus to the junior high, and because I’m a mom and it’s what I do, I get up with her. At this time of year, though, it’s still dark outside when my alarm clock beeps and getting up at that moment feels unnatural…and that’s an understatement.

Getting up before the birds means I have to go to bed sooner than I’d like to. For me, that means no more late-night snuggle time with my husband watching Frasier and Jay Leno, and it also means no more late-night Exercise TV workouts. I’d grown accustomed to putting my youngest to bed and then getting in a few 10- to 20-minute workouts in front of the family room TV. But being a new member of the early-to-rise club means I now have to join the early-to-bed club. My night owl schedule was really wearing on me, so I know this will be a good thing! (And I keep telling myself that over and over and over….)

But, you know, I’ve decided I like this new way of doing things. Once my daughter is on her bus, and my son catches his about an hour later, there’s no going back to bed for me. I’m forced to be disciplined, so I spend the morning hours working on my home business, catching up on housework, and exercising. My four-year-old is usually up shortly after her brother leaves, so this morning I decided I was going to get her started in a health habit that I’m hoping will last a lifetime.

I told her I was going to work out and — just as I expected — she said she wanted to work out with me (she’s my shadow and loves doing anything I do). First, we had to find her “stretchy clothes,” as she calls them, then we went to the family room for our workout. Once the coffee table was yanked and shoved out of the way and my yoga mat was in place, she got her mat: my grandmother’s quilt. (I’m thinking I should get her a yoga mat of her own!)

We did the “Pilates Fit” workout by Tandy Guitierrez, and Bethany made it about halfway through. Next up was the “2 Mile Walk” with Leslie Sansone. (In my opinion, putting these two workouts together is a great combo – you get to tone your muscles with Tandy’s workout and burn calories with Leslie’s.)

Bethany joined me again off and on during the “2 Mile Walk,” and that included running circles around me while I tried to keep from running into her. She thought it was hysterical each time I pretended to try to step on her feet during the side steps, and she even attempted to get her arms moving during the power walk. She never quite got the rhythm down, but she was moving and having fun, and that’s what it’s all about: having a fun time getting fit.

If you’re a parent with little ones at home, get them involved in your workouts! It’s a fantastic way to teach them healthy living by example. When they’re young, they don’t always pay attention to what we say, but they do watch us – like hawks. Eat right, get the sleep you need, exercise, and have them do it, too (and cut down on time spent in front of the TV – unless you’re doing a work out, of course). Starting healthy habits in our kids while they’re young will go a long way toward ensuring those habits stick with them when they’re grown.

By the way, did you know that Exercise TV on Comcast On Demand has a section just for working out with your kids? It’s called “Kids Fun Fitness.” Definitely check it out!

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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

It was a dark and cloudy night….

Well, actually…it was a cloudy and rainy morning last June (Father’s Day, to be exact), and I had just dropped off my daughter at her Sunday school class at our church. The class is in an outside portable, and between the portable and a covered walkway were a couple of outdoor rugs. One of my feet caught on the rugs (actually, it felt like both feet, since I couldn’t move either to try to right myself), and down I went like a rock.

You know how, when you’re going through something that’s even just mildly traumatic, it seems to happen in slow motion? That’s how it happened for me, and I remember every detail: a) My feet caught, b) I tried to right myself but couldn’t, then c) I made some very hard contact with the ground. My right knee took the brunt of it, followed by my right hip, right elbow, right shoulder, then both hands. The only good thing was that my head didn’t hit the pavement, too.

I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with my knees, dealing with cartilage issues and various pains, and had been working over the last year to strengthen the muscles that support them, so that made this fall especially disappointing. Because of the fall, I’ve had a constant ache where my knee hit the ground. I’ve been taking it easy and giving it time to heal, but think I may be headed for an MRI, as my doctor suggested. Ugh….

The big bummer is, thanks to my knee injury, my aspirations of running in a 5K (and on up) have had to be put on hold. I haven’t even tried running again — I’m scared to, to be honest. But I can walk (though I haven’t tried very long distances yet), and I can do other things to stay in shape. If you’re dealing with a knee injury, follow the tips below for staying in shape in spite of it. (Assuming, of course, that you’ve gotten your doctor’s approval to do so, as I have.)

1. Try walking. If you can do that without pain, or at least with only minimal pain, you may be able to try other gentle forms of exercise. Walk only short distances first, gradually increasing that as time goes on.

2. Try Pilates. If you want a gentle yet effective workout, Pilates is the way to go. If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know I’m a huge fan of Exercise TV. I find it on my local cable network (check your listings to see if you do, too), and do the workouts when I want to. I recommend the Pilates workouts by Nicole Stewart or Tandy Gutierrez.

3. Modify Your Favorite Workouts. I love Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shredworkout, but until my knee is completely healed, I’m laying off the lunges. Depending on your pain level, either forgo the lunges or just don’t lunge as far. This applies to squats, as well. Only go as low as is comfortable for your knee.

4. Swim. I’m not a swimmer, but if you are, go for it. Swimming is a great way to get in a low-impact workout. Water aerobics is another option — check with your local hospital, swimming pool, or YMCA for details.

Finally, it’s probably a good idea to get off of your knee (as soon as you can) for a while post-workout. Put it up, and use ice if it’s bothering you. Remember not to overdo your workouts! Baby that knee and it’ll take you far (yeah…pun intended).

©2010 Sally Dinius
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Sally Dinius is writer-in-chief here at CrazyBusyMama.com, a blog created to inspire and motivate busy mamas everywhere to feel healthy, fit, and in control of their lives. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sdinius, and come join the CrazyBusy Mama Facebook page by clicking here.

I hope you’re enjoying the videos from New Balance this week. Each one is designed to help you get the most from your running workout. These videos are good for walkers, too. If you’re not a walker or runner, perhaps you’ll be inspired to start.

This particular video will show you how to recover from a run. It’s great information!

I am a firm believer in stretching, especially for runners (walkers, too). Here’s a video from New Balance (maker of my favorite shoe — the same one shown in the video) showing several ways you must stretch before and after your run.

So, after my less-than-successful intro to running, I’ve decided that I’ll focus on walking for the time being. My legs are getting very strong from my workouts, but not in the right places for running (primarily my ankles).

After doing a little online window shopping, I’ve come up with some fun items that will make my walking (and, eventually, running) workouts a little more enjoyable, not to mention productive:

1. GoFit 10-Pound Walking Vest with Removable Water Bottle Holder

Even Leslie Sansone, creator of the Walk at Home exercise program, recommends using a walking vest. Why? Walking vests are weighted. If you’re carrying extra weight around with you (besides what your body is used to carrying), you’re going to burn more calories than you normally would.  It’s a small investment that will speed up weight loss. Sounds good to me!

2. Omron HJ-112 Digital Pocket Pedometer
If you’re walking without this pedometer, you’re missing out on a great hand-held support system. Not only does it accurately measure your steps, aerobic steps and minutes, and distance traveled, it also measures the amount of calories you’ve burned. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? We want to make sure we’re working hard enough to cause our bodies to start burning our stored fat for energy. Comes with a detachable belt holder and security strap, and has easy-to-use push button technology. Great price, too.

3. Sportline Walking Advantage Water Bottle Holder
When I walk, even in my own neighborhood, there are certain things I like to take with me: water, cell phone, house keys, and driver’s license (hey, if the neighbor’s lawn mower tosses a rock and knocks me out, the paramedics will need to know who I am, right?). I’ve found the perfect “fanny pack” just for this purpose. It’s so much more than a fanny pack, though. For one thing, it isn’t ugly. Secondly, it’s made primarily for holding a water bottle. Two side pockets hold other necessities, like my cell phone and keys. Handy, handy! And under $10.

Now get walkin’!
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