Challenges

CHALLENGES....we all have them, right? It could be a person we don't really get along with at work or in the family. It could be your kiddos at times. Challenges can come in the form of life-changing decisions or just simply do I want a Grande or a Venti or will I get out of bed and go exercise today.

I am slowly learning to embrace challenges as they come my way.....this is going to be a long process but I am trying. I like them for the most part....I tend to learn a lot about myself.....but sometimes they come at the wrong time. But when they do come your way....what do you do? How did that work for you? Did you surprise yourself? Did you fail? Did you overcome with such vengence that you don't even recognize yourself? Did you realize that you were that strong?

As part of our month long StrollerFit - Fitness Takes No Holiday Challenge I gave my clients (moms) a challenge in class. How long can you hold a perfect squat? I mean a perfect squat.....keep the chin up, shoulders back, knees in line with the ankles.....and abs pulled in. Not one of the moms showed an ounce of hesitation when I called it out. They all lined up and took the challenge....even my 32 week pregnant mom....she is a trooper!!! All of them did so well....I was so impressed but two of them blew me away.........they held that perfect squat for over 5 minutes.....yes 5 minutes plus!!! (Did I mention the challenge was done during our class....they had already been exercising) I was blown away.....I was so proud of them! They took that challenge, sat back in the squat and held their stance.....legs shaking and all! I believe that moms have challenges thrown at them everyday and sometimes we complain and sometimes we sit back on our heels and keep our chins up and hold on tight and fight our way through it....even if it is hard!
Congrats to Anna and Melissa! YOU ARE AMAZING WOMEN AND FABULOUS MOMS!

FITNESS TAKES NO HOLIDAY!!

And our StrollerFit moms will not take no extra pounds this holiday season! Yes, we will fight with everything to not give in to the temptations during the season of giving. Watching our portions....moderation is key!

From now until the end of the year we will maintain our exercise routine...working out, staying strong and keeping each other motivated. Besides attending classes the moms have many chances to earn extra points. Simple ones like wearing StrollerFit clothes to class, being the first one to class......to fitness challenges.....who can hold a squat the longest. At the end of the challenge everyone participating will have maintained and even in some instances, continued to lose weight.....all will have continued growing stronger and everyone will be less stressful throughout the challenge.

Did you know that.... moderate exercise is a great way to flush coritsol (stress hormone) which can make us crabby, tired and hungry for sugar!

Just one of the many reasons to keep your exercise routine up during the holidays. What are you doing to get through the holidays lighter this year?

Convention and beyond

Well, I have been meaning to write directly after convention but life got in the way yet again. Convention was abolutely life changing for me as person this year. I have always gone to get insight on the business of StrollerFit. Too chat and mingle with other owners. Meet new friends and hang out with old ones. Certifications, classes and new exercises and moves are always a plus but this year was different for me. This year I found ME! Yes, at a convention for my personal business I found myself.

It was strange experience to find me. Each year we are offered to participate in non-StrollerFit classes. This year I chose a spinning class.....something I used to do 2-3 times a week before becoming and StrollerFit owner. During this class I couldn't keep myself from breaking down and crying....it was so overwhelming I couldn't stop it and almost got off the bike and left. I was so embarrassed by my actions or lack of control of those actions. For the love....why was I tearing up....I am exercises....working out....listening to great music and a great instructor. I am in the groove....I am feeling the "hills"...I a loving the fastest of the downward glide....I feel like I can actually feel the wind in my face as I "sailed' down the "road. So why, oh why am I crying like a baby.

Afterward I talked with the instructor who is our President. She said I wasn't the only one who had approached her....you mean there were others??? Holy Cow!! After she took the time to listen to me she helped me realize that I was ME for that hour....ME! Not, a mom, wife, sister, daughter. Not a fitness instructor or small business owner. I was Shawnie....just me! I didn't have a care in the world. I didn't have a child yelling Mom! A person asking where something was. I was working on the next day's class routine or helping my daughter with her homework. I wasn't playing chauffeur or making dinner. I wasn't reports or making goodie bags for an event. I was ME and it felt great! Where have I been? What have I been doing? Where in the world did I come from. The next day, I got to meet with two of the greatest life coaches around...Chris and Louis. While talking with them and other owners, I realized I had lost myself in my daily life juggling act. I can't believe I had let that happened. Isn't that what I tell my clients to do? Don't forget to take time for yourself. Get out and do something without the baby once a week....even if it is just a walk. Hide yourself in the bathroom when the hubby is home with the kids.....take a hot bath and read that book you haven't always wanted to read. I turned into one of them! UGH!!!

Since I have been back, I have vowed that it won't happen again. I am taking the time out each week for me. Am I being selfish....ABSOLUTELY NOT! I recharge moms daily....I am allowed to get recharged too. Not only can I help moms as they Restore their Cores.....I can take the time to restore me!

Don't lose yourself!!! You can be mom, wife, employee...whatever.....but still be you!

Don't deny yourself a simple pleasure of a hot cup of coffee or tea by yourself as you watch the sunrise. Take 10 minutes to read your favorite magazine. You deserve the time and energy for yourself.

Rainy Day

Okay, today wasn't the best of days. Weathermen all over said rain....BUT...all of which was way south of us....so they said. NOPE, as soon as we meet at the park....the rain came. It was a light rain but it came down. Luckily, I have an absolutely fabulous group of StrollerFit moms who took it in stride as we pushed the strollers to the nearest shelter. I had class....lacking a bit of the normal cardio... but we did it. I thought the rain was going to be my big issue but NOPE it was my little guy....he was at his persistent best today. I know it is due to 2 teeth coming in but really, MUST he find EVERY mud puddle around the shelter in the matter of 2 minutes??? As cute as he is, I was really tested as he was mud covered and crying throughout our core segment of class. I am appreciative to all my StrollerFit moms who hung in there despite a little rain and a lot of screaming but I am glad today's class is over and we made it out with just mud and tears. I am being optimistic that he will finish cutting those 2 teeth and Monday will prove to be a much better day. We will begin our 7th week of our fitness challenge on Monday. Everyone is working hard and several are gearing up for 5k's and even a mini marathon. This group of women are fabulous!

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend means many different things to many people. It originated as the observance of the American workforce but over the years it has become a weekend to spend with family and friends.
This year for those that are in my inner circles, Labor Day can mean something very different this year. Several of my friends and StrollerFit moms just had their babies or are due anytime. Two are so close that Labor Day could be the day!! As we sit down with are family and friends this holiday weekend, give an extra thought to our fellow moms that could be doing the real LABOR this weekend. I wish you all the best of luck for speedy and safe deliveries. For those that are just returning home with their bundles of joy I wish you the best as you and your family bonds with your newborn. Your family as been blessed.....treasure the time while they are small and enjoy every moment.

I wish everyone a fabulous weekend!!

SF Noblesville Moms at Heartland Walk for Health with Lady Cheri Daniels, Indiana State Fairgrounds

New Routine

Well, we finally are officially into our first full week of school. Ry is now in 5th grade and loves the fact she has a locker...I'll be it a "half" locker but a locker none the less. She is having a great time so far and I just pray that it lasts.

My next session of Restore the Core started last night and we had a great turnout of new ladies. Everyone worked hard and did a great job. StrollerFit classes are doing well despite the heat. The moms are working hard! We started our latest 8 week fitness challenges Monday and we are off to a great start. Watching our refined sugar intake this week....hard for a dessert addict like myself but I am hanging in with them.

Restore the Core

Our next session of Restore the Core begins August 18th. Classes are held on Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. at Billericay Park, 12690 Promise Road, Fishers.



8 week sessions are only $80 but I am offering the first 3 ladies that pre-register and pre-pay a discount for this session for only $60. There is a one-time registration fee of $35 that still applys.

Class size is limited and filling fast....please contact Shawnie to reserve your spot today!



Also, if you want to burn more calories and get longer, leaner muscles....the musclebar is for you. Limited time.....$55.00 plus tax. Bar comes with beginner slastix tubing. Resistance tubes and bands are great but adding weights can increase your results!! See Shawnie to get your musclebar ordered!

www.strollerfit.com/fishers
www.strolkerfit.com/noblesville
www.strollerfit.com
shawnie.peterson@strollerfit.com
(317) 842-8817

Summer

Well, I have been extremely bad and haven't blogged like I promised myself I would. This has been an extremely trying year for us and I have kept to myself. But now....I am going to get down to business!!!

This summer has been an unusually mild one....lots of rain and some record low temps. We have kept our cool during our morning StrollerFit workouts and have enjoyed the not so humid weather. We are gearing up for a couple of walk/runs and a couple of us are possibly doing a half marathon in November...note to self...sign up already!

We have had several of our long time moms move to different states and cities due to their hubbies jobs. We miss all of them very much and look forward to their updates and pictures on Facebook.

Our oldest turns 10 next week and in entering 5th grade.....WOW how time flies. She has been a trooper this summer and decided to come workout at StrollerFit with mom. She runs with us every day and has been a huge help for the other moms pushing strollers when babies have cried and playing with all the kids during our core sessions. She is such a blessing. It is an incredible feeling knowing that I am able to teach her that exercise is fun and necessary.

Gavin has had a chance to participate in a couple of our local park camps and has had an absolute blast. He loved pretending to be a knight and fight of dragons and had fun making science experiments.

Our youngest turned 18 months and gets into everything....I mean everything. He keeps us all very busy! He has also started to mimic me and the other moms in StrollerFit. Trying to sing songs and stretch with us. I am so blessed to offer this experience to all of my kids! Being a small business owner and staying home with my kids is a dream come true.

I also finally found a fabulous location for Restore the Core and officially kicked it off to the public this summer. It has been very successful in a short period of time and I hope that all women get a chance to experience this workout...truly incredible.

We have had many Moms Nights In/Out as well as playdates with the kiddos this summer. My clients are fabulous women and I am so glad they have bonded so well. I see many great friendships blossoming daily and pray that they lead to long lasting relationships.

Summer is hanging around for a few more weeks and then the school year begins again. Life will adjust to the new schedules but I know that our daily StrollerFit workouts will help all the moms begin their day in the right direction.

A New Year, A New Me!

Well, 2008 was an eventful year to say the least. Lots of ups and a ton of downs but through it all I am still standing. Not everything happened the way I would have liked but that is probably me being a bit selfish. That is okay though, I am trying to learn to let go of what I cannot control. A hard task at times but one I am willing to learn to do more often. It helps to have a wonderful support system too. I am the one used to helping other out and love, love to do that so it has been a challenge in it self to lean on others for so much. Thank you to everyone for everything!

As the new year approached and everyone was talking about resolutions, I kept thinking what I could I do that is actually a challengethis year? There are so many typical ones that are stated each year and lost 2 weeks later. I wanted something hard, something that would really hold me accountable. First, I want to keep up with my blogging...Uh....Errr....it is January 20th and I am finally working on that one...LOL Oh well, not everything will be easy. Second, was to get my Restore the Core classes up and running. I am working some final details out about that so I am almost done with that resolution. But I finally took the step forward this year and signed up, oh yes I did, I signed up for the Indianapolis 500 Mini Marathon through Team in Training. Am I crazy? How will I get my miles in with 3 little ones at home? What was I thinking? I need this challenge! I want to do this and have for many years, so here it is!! The great thing about doing this with Team in Training (TNT) is that I also get to raise money for them to help with the Leukemia Society. I am so excited and thrilled to be able to attempt this challenge this year. I will keep you posted on my progress! Wish me luck!

2008 ended on a very low note but 2009 has been great. I feel good, I am blessed with the most amazing family and friends and of course my fabulous StrollerFit moms. Some of them have signed up too for the Mini and I can't wait to begin training with them. I know we can do this and reach our goals! We are moms, we are women, we are strong, we are athletes and we will and can conquer any challenge or obstacle!