blog

blog http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/ This Is Your Body, This Is Your Body Without Carbs! http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/this-is-your-body-this-is-your-body-without-carbs/ What can I say about carb depleting???? UMMM I can say it SUCKS!!! If I may speak freely I don't know why anyone would do the Atkins diet....its just crazy. Last week I carb depleted for 4 days as a trial for competition. Needless to say I was more than a little nervous about the process. I don't eat a ton of processed carbs but I do like fruit and about a million other foods that you don't even stop to think about having a carbohydrate in them. 
For 4 days I had to drink my coffee black, I mean I might as well not even drink it at that point! In fact that was the HARDEST part. I have 1 cup of coffee in the morning with a little organic sugar and a tablespoon of creamer. Its one of my simple pleasures, especially when I have to start my day at 4:30am. Giving it up was brutal. As for the other food, that wasn't so bad. Oh wait, wait, wait I LIED!!! Ok fish, chicken and green vegetables are not bad at all. I did get to have oatmeal in the morning so that was good, and 4oz of sweet potatoes at 10am which I also enjoy. BUT and this is a HUGE BUT!!!!!! Enter the coconut oil....I like coconut oil, I actually use it in a lot of my cooking. I had to have a teaspoon of coconut oil with 6 of my 8 meals, this isn't that bad if you can MELT the coconut oil, however there was more than a few times that I had to just scoop it out of the jar and eat it off the spoon. For those of you who don't know, coconut oil stays solid up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So basically I just had to eat a spoon full of fat...talk about making me want to puke! 
Ok all honesty, other than the coconut oil and not having my coffee the way I like it, it wasn't that bad. I would hit a wall around 3pm, I was so tired all I wanted to do was go to bed and it would take me a few extra minutes to gather my thoughts and put a sentence together but other than that I survived. I did have to cheat once. The last day of depleting I was filming workout videos with Brooke Burke, my call time was 2:30pm, perfect! 30 minutes before I hit my wall of exhaustion. I made it through the first 2 hours but then I felt like I was going to fall over. In an effort to have a tiny boost of energy I ate 2 grapes and 1 slice of kiwi. Yes you read that right, 2 grapes and 1 slice of kiwi....believe it or not I was wired for the rest of the night. That little bit of sugar took me through the rest of the shoot and the rest of my night. CRAZY how little our body actually needs.
I am happy the carb depleating is over for now, and I will say my body looked/looks amazing! Cant complain about that. I'll have to carb depleate again in 4 weeks and then again the week of the competition but at least now I know what Im getting into.
Next up switching my workouts from drop sets to plyometrics...Super excited for the change! Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:52:31 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/this-is-your-body-this-is-your-body-without-carbs/ Parents Just Don't Understand http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/parents-just-don-t-understand/ It would seem DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince had it right when they said "Parents Just Don’t Understand." At least that is the case when it comes to my Dad. What can I tell you about my Dad? Well he is your typical over-protective, Italian father. Growing up under his roof was not exactly a walk in the park. There were strict rules about bedtimes, grades, work, going out and for his two daughters...boys. My early high school years consisted mostly of going to school, hanging out with my one best girl friend and going to dance class. The up side to this was that I was very focused on dance; I was at the studio 3-5 days a week taking class and rehearsing.
When it came to my dancing my dad is and always will be my BIGGEST fan! The support was always there, never ending, never doubting, never waiving. I'm truly blessed to have the support of my father in this aspect of my life, it's what gave me the courage to go for my dreams, to pack my bags and move across the country...to California..by myself! I did it with out an ounce of fear in my mind and an abundance of love and excitement in my heart. That being said, my dad has NEVER stopped giving his opinion, even when I don't want it. He has never stopped keeping tabs, making sure I am staying on track. In fact when he feels I am not doing something "right" he jumps right in with what I should be doing...I say "Dad I've got it, I don't need you to tell me how to handle x y or z." Then comes my favorite line..."Young Lady, I'm still your father, I'll give you my opinion until the day I die." I can't help but laugh because I wait for it every time I bring up a topic he might not be fully on board with.
As you all might know I'm a 31 year old, divorced, single mom, fitness expert, entrepreneur and most recently Fitness Competitor. I've managed to keep my nose clean and my head up through all of my ups &amp; downs, a large part of that is because of my dad. Given my relationship with my father you would think he would be the first person I told that I was entering a fitness competition.... hahahaha NOOOOO!!!!! Did I mention Bobby Cal (my dads nick name) is an over-protective ITALIAN father?! Ok when I say over-protective, ITALIAN dad some people might not understand this, let me explain. Italian Dad, as in I grew up in a very small Italian neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio. Everyone knows everyone, ESPECIALLY Bobby Cal and his family. My dad owned the best Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. Ever seen the movie A Bronx Tale? My dad is Robert D'Niro in that movie. You do what he says, you walk the straight and narrow and everyone loves him. So now you might understand WHY I haven't told him about the competition yet. After all I will be on stage in a rather small bikini, not doing much but posing and showing off my body. If you don't understand the insanely hard work that goes into preparing for the competition then you might think it is very shallow. I could try to explain the workouts, the nutrition, the discipline to him but he will probably only hear what he wants to and that might not be good. Being that we are Italian, we like to eat, a curvy woman is beautiful. Even though I weigh the same that I did 3 months ago, I am A LOT leaner than I was. I know my dad, I know his reaction will be "you are to skinny, what are you doing? you better be careful." I want him to be excited, not judgmental, that’s not always easy for him. When he doesn’t approve it sort of sucks the wind out of my sail, so I have not told him yet.
Being that my dad is my biggest supporter, I have wanted to tell him about the show sense the day I decided to do it. It's very hard not sharing my successes and failures with him as I take this journey. Last weekend I decided to test the waters. I sent him a few pictures, the first group was me working out...running stairs, squatting a 110lb barbell, and doing push-ups with a 25lb weight on my back...the caption "Dad guess what? Strong is the new skinny!" The second group of pictures was of me on set recently with Brooke Burke, and at my photo shoot for Equinox. I hit the send button and waited for the response...it didn’t take long...."I'm glad you are strong but you are to skinny." "You better be careful."...SMH and there it is, the response I knew I would get. That being said I decided PARENTS JUST DONT UNDERSTAND! This is one journey I just won't be able to share with him. It makes me a little sad because I would love to have him come in town and be in the audience but sometimes it’s better to keep Dad in the Dark.
 xoxo to the most amazing Dad in the world...You don't know it but I'm up there for you, hoping you are proud of your baby girl! Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:06:53 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/parents-just-don-t-understand/ This Is Your Body, This Is Your Body Without Carbs! http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/this-is-your-body-this-is-your-body-without-carbs-2/ What can I say about carb depleting???? UMMM I can say it SUCKS!!! If I may speak freely I don't know why anyone would do the Atkins diet....its just crazy. Last week I carb depleted for 4 days as a trial for competition. Needless to say I was more than a little nervous about the process. I don't eat a ton of processed carbs but I do like fruit and about a million other foods that you don't even stop to think about having a carbohydrate in them. 
For 4 days I had to drink my coffee black, I mean I might as well not even drink it at that point! In fact that was the HARDEST part. I have 1 cup of coffee in the morning with a little organic sugar and a tablespoon of creamer. Its one of my simple pleasures, especially when I have to start my day at 4:30am. Giving it up was brutal. As for the other food, that wasn't so bad. Oh wait, wait, wait I LIED!!! Ok fish, chicken and green vegetables are not bad at all. I did get to have oatmeal in the morning so that was good, and 4oz of sweet potatoes at 10am which I also enjoy. BUT and this is a HUGE BUT!!!!!! Enter the coconut oil....I like coconut oil, I actually use it in a lot of my cooking. I had to have a teaspoon of coconut oil with 6 of my 8 meals, this isn't that bad if you can MELT the coconut oil, however there was more than a few times that I had to just scoop it out of the jar and eat it off the spoon. For those of you who don't know, coconut oil stays solid up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So basically I just had to eat a spoon full of fat...talk about making me want to puke! 
Ok all honesty, other than the coconut oil and not having my coffee the way I like it, it wasn't that bad. I would hit a wall around 3pm, I was so tired all I wanted to do was go to bed and it would take me a few extra minutes to gather my thoughts and put a sentence together but other than that I survived. I did have to cheat once. The last day of depleting I was filming workout videos with Brooke Burke, my call time was 2:30pm, perfect! 30 minutes before I hit my wall of exhaustion. I made it through the first 2 hours but then I felt like I was going to fall over. In an effort to have a tiny boost of energy I ate 2 grapes and 1 slice of kiwi. Yes you read that right, 2 grapes and 1 slice of kiwi....believe it or not I was wired for the rest of the night. That little bit of sugar took me through the rest of the shoot and the rest of my night. CRAZY how little our body actually needs.
I am happy the carb depleating is over for now, and I will say my body looked/looks amazing! Cant complain about that. I'll have to carb depleate again in 4 weeks and then again the week of the competition but at least now I know what Im getting into.
Next up switching my workouts from drop sets to plyometrics...Super excited for the change! Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:54:00 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/this-is-your-body-this-is-your-body-without-carbs-2/ No Carbs http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/no-carbs/ WOW!!!! What a crazy couple of weeks!!! I guess there is a lot to catch up on when it comes to this roller coaster of competition prep. Where to begin? Ok well after my last post I fell apart a little bit...literally. I got sick, a throat infection, a cold and I lost my voice....like completely lost my voice, totally gone, could not talk at all! My throat felt like I swallowed knives and I was beyond exhausted. Needless to say I had to take a few days off of training to let my body rest and recover. I was still working 12 hour days so something had to give, that something was my training and I was NOT happy about it. Being as dedicated as I am I don't like having to put things on hold, I felt like I was falling behind, even though it was only 3 days of workouts that I missed. It really started to mess with my head. I was just feeling fat and completely unprepared, yes I know this is silly but its how I felt, oh and I was getting my period which if you are a woman reading this you know the hormones will really F* with your head. 
So there I was...sick...bloated...crabby...and missing workouts! Recipe for DISASTER!!! I talked to my trainer, he helped get my head back in the game a bit but then we ran into another problem. His daughter got sick then he through his back out. Another week of off workouts....are you kidding me?! I was about to lose my mind and throw in the towel. My thought: "I'm just wasting my time, Ill never be ready." Enter the life saver, my boss Leo. He is also competing as are 2 other of my co-workers. At this point I had 2 weeks of shitty workouts &amp; scheduling conflicts with my trainer. I talked to Leo basically to say "I don't think I can do this, everything is off, Ill never be ready." Leo sat down with me &amp; we created a new workout program, one that I can take myself through so that I know exactly what I need to work each day. I mean after all I am a trainer, I do know how to workout, I just needed a little direction in terms of what rep range I should be in and what body parts I should be working each day. Once we had that down we revamped my nutrition. 
I finally got back on track this past week. Thank God! Its Super Bowl Sunday, I just got home from a fun party with my friends, I did enjoy today as my last cheat day. I wont lie I had two beers, carne asada and two bites of chocolate cake. But I did get my workout in this morning :) Go ME!
So tomorrow starts a trial run of carb depleting: Lord help me...actually Lord help the people who have to deal with me for the next 4 days! lol sucks to be you. Those who know me know I like to eat, I'm a healthy eater but to cut the carbs out will not make me a very fun person to be around. Why am I doing this you might be asking? Well its a test run. We need to see how much muscle my body has actually gained and what it looks like when I am carb depleted. This is how we are able to tweak my program and my food. Wondering what my next 4 days looks like? Here it is.
5:30am Cardio on an empty stomach
Meal 1: 1/2 cup steal cut oatmeal, 1/2 cup egg whites and a teaspoon of coconut oil (yep just have eat the coconut oil off a spoon...gag me)
Meal 2: 4 oz chicken 4 oz yams
Meal 3: 4 oz cod, 1 cup chopped broccoli 1 Teaspoon coconut oil
Meal 4: 4 oz chicken, 1 cup zucchini, 1 Teaspoon coconut oil
Meal 5: 6oz Cod, 1 cup chopped broccoli, 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Train
Meal 6: 6oz chicken, 1 cup sugar snap peas, 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Meal 7: 6oz cod, 1 cup broccoli
Meal 8: 6 oz chicken, 1 cup zucchini
Yep you know you're jealous hahaha Ok wish me luck Ill let you know how I do and Ill post pics of what I look like on day 1 and day 4
 
 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:34:28 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/no-carbs/ You Had To Eat What? http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/you-had-to-eat-what/ I've talked a lot about the fact that my eating has had to change for my fitness competition. The last month I have been working on gaining muscle/size, this means I need to eat more than I normally would and I need to eat foods that I dont always eat. What exactly does that mean though? Well....here it is....this is what I am eating today.
Meal 1: 3 Egg Whites and 1 Whole Egg (4 eggs total) 2 slices of whole wheat Ezekiel toast and 1 cup of Vegetables....I also have my coffee I use 1/4 of a teaspoon of raw sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla creamer
Meal 2: 6oz Low fat cottage cheese and 10 unsalted almonds
Meal 3: 3oz of Steak, 1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 medium baked potato... no I dont get to put butter on my potato I just use a tiny bit of salt and pepper
Workout
Meal 4: Post workout protein shake....15 grams of whey protein powder, 5 grams of l-glutamine and 1 serving bcaa's (this is all amino acids and protein to help my muscles recover)
Meal 5: 3 oz of steak, 1/2 cup spinach, 1/2 medium baked potato
Meal 6: 6oz of Chicken 1/2 cup of brown rice, medium mixed green salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
I'm also drinking about 70 oz of water a day
 
 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:48:00 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/you-had-to-eat-what/ DJ Drop That Beat http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/dj-drop-that-beat/ Are you wondering what is getting me through these INSAIN workouts? Its simple... a BUMPIN BEAT!!! Music is the ONLY thing that can get me through a tough workout. Here is my latest playlist.
ENJOY!!!
You Da One: Rihanna
Booty Wurk: T-Pain
Can U Werk Wit Dat: Quik &amp; AMG aka The Fixxers
Get Buck In Here: DJ Felli Fel
Save The World: Swedish House Mafia
Turn Me On: David Guetta Featuring Nicki Minaj
Empire State of Mind: Jay-Z
Slight Work: Wale Featuring Big Sean
This City: Patrick Stump Feat. Lupe Fiasco
Double Dip: Problem Feat. TyDolla$sign
 
 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:32:21 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/dj-drop-that-beat/ Scuse Me? And Mighty I Add Seriously? http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/scuse-me-and-mighty-i-add-seriously/ I'm sitting on my couch with my upper body aching and my legs trembling...my trainer kicked my ASS today!!! Sorry for the swearing but anything less just would describe the brutal workouts Ive been through the last two weeks. Im not complaining, in fact I thrive off of the pain, it pushes me to work harder but honestly the workouts are insane. They are the most dreaded and most looked forward to hour of my day. I am exactly 14 weeks away from competition day, that might sound like a lot of time but its not....at all!!!
There is a lot of work to be done in the next 14 weeks. Right now I am in a gaining phase, its not weight that I am trying to gain but rather muscle. This gets very scientific in terms of what I eat and when and how I workout. That's why I have Nick, it is a daily adjustment in terms of my food and workouts. The food has been the most difficult part for me thus far. I love to eat but I am also a creature of habit. I eat the same thing...every day...seriously...every day. Unless it is a special occasion I stick to what I know I like and what works for me. For competition this all changes, for example, I eat carbs, usually in the morning and early afternoon but for competition I have to add in way more carbs than I would normally eat and at times of the day that I would NEVER eat them. I mean honestly, who eats steak, potatoes and veggies at 8pm at night? Not me that's for sure! Well I didn't used to but now I have to. AHHHHH!!! Yes it freaks me out but I know its what I need to do in this stage of the game. Today Nick told me "you look smaller than I wanted you to look today, you need to eat more even if you need to force it down." Scuse me but WTF???? And might I add SERIOUSLY???!!! Ok more food here we go.
As for the workouts, they really are brutal. Ive never squatted, lunged, pushed and pulled as much as I have in the last two weeks. My body hurts so bad, some nights its hard to sleep. There isnt a day that goes by that I don't ask myself "What are you doing?" Are you crazy?" Then I remember its not about the destination its about the journey. Part of that journey is pushing myself past where I thought I could go and taking myself to the next level. The support I have from my family, friends, clients and random strangers at the gym is amazing and helps get me through those difficult moments. I know when I step on the stage April 14th I will have done everything in my power to be a winner.
Let me end by saying: Don't be fooled by my size, I am a competitor at heart. I believe that hard work, dedication and perseverance are the ONLY way to win! #GoBig Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:31:17 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/scuse-me-and-mighty-i-add-seriously/ Week One...Oh What a Week! http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/week-one-oh-what-a-week/ Last week I announced I will be competing in my first fitness competition. I'm excited for you to come along on this journey with me, and oh what a journey it is going to be! Lets just say I don't think I knew EXACTLY what I was getting myself into. Once I commit to something there's no turning back so here we go. The day after I announced I would be competing I decided to start asking for some advice, usually a good idea when entering into something you have never done before right? WRONG!!!! To many cooks in the kitchen as the saying goes, everyone had an opinion on how I should train, how I should eat, when I should compete and even if I could be successful at it. 
For those of you who don't know me personally, this is a problem because I start to obsess. My biggest concern is the workouts because I have to train like I have never trained before...like a guy, better yet, like a body builder. Don't panic I'm not going to look like a man for this competition, it is impossible for me to put on That Much Muscle. I do need to put on about 5lbs of muscle though. For those of you who don't know, I am the founder of Mighty Mommies Fitness but I am also a personal trainer at Equinox, here in LA. All of the guys wanted to tell me how I should train, in 24 hours I was confused and frustrated and debating throwing in the towel...cause maybe I just didn't know what I was doing. 
Then I took a step back, regrouped and went to the expert. I hired one of my fellow trainers, Nick Estrada, who has competed in the body building division for years. Nick and I sat down on Friday and went over everything I need to know to prepare for the show. First of all he was brutally honest and let me know if I want to win (of course I want to win!) then March 10th probably wasnt the right show for me, so we pushed my competition back one month to April. This is not because he doesnt believe in my abilities but because we just need a little more time to take me through the training stages properly. I am now feeling very confident about my abilities, my workout schedul and my eating. Nick and I planned to officially start my training today so last week I did my own thing.
I was doing two-a-days, lifting heavy early in the day and doing light cardio later in the afternoon. Needless to say my body felt like it was hit by a Mac Truck but that is to be expected. I took Christmas Eve off, after opening presents with my son on Christmas Day I headed to the Santa Monica stairs with my girlfriend for some Christmas cardio. Have to say I am truly blessed to live in such a beautiful state with so much outdoor activity all year round. It was 75 and sunny, blue skies as far as the eye could see! Today Nick and I had our first official workout... I'm proud to say I got my ass handed to me but I survived. Lunges and squats and abs oh my!!!!! I'm sure I wont be able to walk tomorrow, call me sick but I LOVE IT!!!
So that was the first week. I am officially in hard core training mode, clean eating, killer workouts and lots of rest! Happy Monday
#TrainHardOrGoHome Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:24:47 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/week-one-oh-what-a-week/ The Road To Competition http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/the-road-to-competition/ I was a competitive dancer for most of my childhood and young adult life. I loved everything about it! The stage, the lights, the music, the costumes but most importantly ALL EYES ON ME!!!! Yes, I know how this sounds but what can I say I love to be the center of attention. I love to perform and entertain a crowd. The adrenaline rush you get when you are about to step on stage is like nothing else I have ever experienced....and I miss it!!!!
An injury took me out of the competitive circuit in college, now I dance for fun, for the pure joy that it brings me, but I am left missing the thrill of competition. I welcome the challenge of preparing not only my body but my mind for competition. After 10 years of being out of the spotlight and off of the stage I have found a new challenge, a new platform if you will to be challenged mentally and physically. Somewhere where after months of preparation, I can take the stage, feel the music and have all eyes on me. 
On March 10th I will be competition in my first fitness competition. There are several divisions, I am entering in the bikini division. Your first thought might be "oh that sounds like a tits and ass competition" yeah that was my first thought as well. Then I looked into the competition, did a little research and went and watched a show. Trust me it is FAR from women prancing around in a tini bikini. Make no mistake I will be on stage in a VERY SMALL bikini, but there will be a whole lot of work put in in the gym long before that day.
I invite you to take my journey with me. Follow my blog, see where I am starting at today and how I look the day of competition. I will be posting pictures of my progress, keeping you up-to-date on my workouts, nutrition and even my play-lists getting me through the pain in the gym. Feel free to comment, ask questions and cheer me along.
 
Here are my stats as of today December 20th 2011
Height: 5'4
Weight: 109
Body Fat: 16%
90.94 pounds of Lean Weight
18.05 pounds of Fat Weight
xo,
Autumn Calabrese Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/the-road-to-competition/ Jillian Michaels interviews Rita Wilson for Everyday Health http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/jillian-michaels-interviews-rita-wilson-for-everyday-health/ Hey Everyone,
Check out Jillian Michaels interviewing Rita Wilson. This is a wonderful interview and a truly inspiring story.
<div>Jillian Michaels Interviews ...</div>
<h1>Rita Wilson on Her Career and Her Family</h1>
<h2>Jillian spent time with actress, producer, and writer Rita Wilson for an exclusive, intimate interview on getting started in acting, her proudest moments, and her big new gig, as editor-at-large for Huff/Post 50.</h2>
<a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/jillian-michaels-interviews-rita-wilson-on-her-career-and-family.aspx">http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/jillian-michaels-interviews-rita-wilson-on-her-career-and-family.aspx</a>
 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:57:00 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/jillian-michaels-interviews-rita-wilson-for-everyday-health/ Sleep Your Way Skinny http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/sleep-your-way-skinny/ Being a go-getter is great but skimping on sleep is not. AM workouts are great if your going to bed early enough (10pm or earlier). Recent studies show that women who slept seven hours or more were less likely to put on weight then women who didn't. Those who slept only 6 hours were 12 percent more likely to gain weight...on average 33 pounds over 16 years. Other studies have shown that lack of sleep affects the levels of appetite hormones and may cause you to have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). Moral of the story....start counting those sheep an hour or two earlier each night and those workouts will start being a bit more effective! Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:18:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/sleep-your-way-skinny/ A New Definition of Mighty Mommy http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/a-new-definition-of-mighty-mommy/ When I created Mighty Mommies the idea was to help women stay in shape during pregnancy as well as after giving birth. Five years later, a mother of a 2 year old and now a single mom I find myself expanding on my idea of a TRUE Mighty Mommy. One who takes care of the children, does the dishes, the laundry, the grocery shopping, pays the bills, gos to work, gos out with friends and still finds time for a mani, pedi...all on about 5 hours of sleep. I have a new respect for single parents especially my dad who was a single parent of 3 and an entrepreneur himself. I don't want to come off sounding like I am complaining at all because I am not, although I am no longer married (the details really are not important) I have a GREAT relationship with my ex-husband. We work together every day to make sure that Dominic is getting exactly what he needs. However there are new responsibilities and projects that I now have that I didn't before. This is where the real fun begins.
Last night the smoke detector starter beeping, I'massuming it needed new batteries, trying to figure out how to reach the smoke detector was a blast. Its positioned on the ceiling, over my bed. I have a canopy bed so after I found a chair and stacked enough books on it to reach the ceiling I still had to figure out how to reach over the canopy to get to the smoke detector. IT was only after I got the cover off that I realized I didn't have the right batteries. Needless to say I ended up letting it beep all night and changed the batteries this morning. This is just one example of me trying to find my way down a new path of doing it all on my own. 
Life is full of adventures, I hope to share all of my new adventures on being a single mom, running a business, potty training, re-entering the dating world and more with all of you. Please join in the conversation. Let us know your adventures, challenges, conquests and ideas. We're all Mighty Mommies so lets be there to support each other, laugh with each other and even share a cry when needed. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:25:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/a-new-definition-of-mighty-mommy/ Rules To Live By http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/rules-to-live-by/ Rules To Live By
I love all of them but marked my favorites in BOLD, ENJOY!
 
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Record your late night shows and get more sleep. 
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to____ today."
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in the last year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds &amp; walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a child.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to other's. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. Burn the candles, use the nice bed sheets, Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. So stop complaining about the weather, the job, the rents, etc, etc
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come. 
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your family often. Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:25:19 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/rules-to-live-by/ Doula Who? http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/doula-who/ Finding out you are pregnant is one of the most exciting moments in a woman's life. The next nine months are a roller-coaster ride of physical and emotional trials and triumphs. One of the biggest trials a woman will face is childbirth. The actual labor and delivery process can be a huge challenge both physically as well as emotionally but it can also be an amazing, beautiful journey to the birth of your baby. The big question is....Will I be able to do it? The simple answer is YES! Women have been doing it for centuries, we all find our own way through it. How you do it is another story and complete up to you. Everyone has their own path to bringing their child into this world, deciding how you want to do it and delivering (pardon the pun) this plan can be a bit tricky. This is where a Doula comes into play.
What is a Doula? 
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period. 
<ul><li>Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life </li>
<li>Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor </li>
<li>Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth </li>
<li>Stays with the woman throughout the labor </li>
<li>Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision </li>
<li>Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers </li>
<li>Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience </li>
<li>Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level </li>
</ul>When picking your Doula be sure to interview several women. Ask questions like how many births have the been a part of? Do they use a certain birthing technique? Are they open-minded about the use of epiduirals during labor? What happens if you end up needing a C-Section? Keep your partner involved in this process as he/she will be receiving a lot of support from the Doula as well. Make sure to find someone who you connect with. This is one of the most special days of your life, you want to be surrounded by people you feel safe and comfortable with. At the end of the day this is your birth experience, the Doula is there to help you and your partner through it. Remember, labor and delivery is complicated and no matter how much you plan things change. Expect the unexpected and go with the flow because at the end of the day the most important thing is a healthy happy baby and mommy.
 
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
To Find a Doula near you check out: <a href="http://www.dona.org/mothers/find_a_doula.php">http://www.dona.org/mothers/find_a_doula.php</a> Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:32:00 -0800 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/doula-who/ 5 Favorite Full Body Moves http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/5-favorite-full-body-moves/ I'm asked on a very regular basis if I work out at the same time that I train my clients...to this I reply "No, when I am with a client that is there time to have my undivided attention." The next question to quickly follow is How do I find time to workout then and what do I do to stay in such great shape? To this I reply "I make time, my workouts are written in to my schedule just like any other appointment I have each day." As for how I stay in shape, I change it up....A lot! I do cardio 3-4 times a week as well as weight training 3-4 days a week and if I'm lucky I squeeze in a dance class on Friday mornings. 
There are some days that are harder than others to fit in my workout and when time is short I turn to my five favorite exercises that target my entire body. Here they are, please remember to consult with your doctor before beginning this or ANY exercise program. 
1. Squats: Squats are great for giving you toned thighs, hips and glutes. I like to hold weights while I do them for an extra challenge
2. Pull-Ups: Pulls ups primarily work your latissimus Dorsi (Lats) and have assistance from several other muscles.
3. Lunges: a lunge targets your quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings. This is another great exercise for shaping the lower body. Add weight for a challenge
4. Push-ups: push ups target your pectoral muscles as well as your triceps and have get assistance from several other muscles. I love push ups because not only do they work your upper body but you have to use your core as well.
5. Plank: The BEST ab exercise you can do. A great way to build endurance in your abs, back and stabilizer muscles. To test your abdominal strength see how long you can hold a plank with proper form, 1 minute or longer is considered good.
 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:16:03 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/5-favorite-full-body-moves/ FIT TIP http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/fit-tip/ FITNESS TIP OF THE DAY: Doing three 10 minute cardio sessions has the same benefit as doing one 30 min session...so even if your short on time take a brisk 10 minute walk, do some jumping jacks, jump rope....every little bit helps! Mon, 31 May 2010 13:53:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/fit-tip/ Portabella Mushroom Burger http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/portabella-mushroom-burger/ I am very impressed with my self, i can cook well when I am following a recipe but it is not very often that I get creative and come up with my own. Last night I decided to make myself a portabella Mushroom "burger" for dinner. I'm a little tired of the usual things that I have been cooking so the mushroom burger sounded like a nice change.
Just so we are all clear I have never made a portabella mushroom burger before and figured I would just wing it. It came out AMAZING! So Yummy! It was quick and easy so I am sharing my recipe with all of you. Hope you like it.
What You Need:
1 large portabella Mushroom
1tbs coconut oil (expeller pressed) or you can use olive oil
1 clove of fresh garlic minced
3 slices of onion
1 tsp of goat cheese
5 spinach leaves
Put half of your coconut oil/ olive oil in a skillet and begin to heat on low. Add in your whole portabella mushroom. Put the rest of your oil over the top of the mushroom. Use salt and pepper to taste on the top of your mushroom. Cover the pan and let cook 3-5 minutes. Flip the mushroom over and use salt and pepper to taste on the other side as well. Cover and let cook 3-5 min. Flip your portabella over again and add in the minced garlic. Let cook for 3 more min. Flip the mushroom one more time. Add in your onion to saute it. Once your onions are sauteed and the mushroom feels soft when you press on the center it is finished. Remove it from the pan. Now cook the spinach leaves in the pan you just used. It should only take about a minute. Put the spinach and onions on top of your portabella mushroom, sprinkle on the goat cheese. Now your burger is finished. If you would like you can put it on a hamburger bun but I ate mine just like this. It was so good.
You can play with this and add lots of other things, like peppers, and avocados. Have fun with it. If you have any versions please share. Sun, 30 May 2010 10:20:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/portabella-mushroom-burger/ Give Me 20!!! http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/give-me-20/ Keeping up with our theme of what to do this Memorial Day Weekend, I have decided to create a play list and workout for you. Take a cue from all of our amazing and brave troops, lets get back to the basics of working out with jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, lunges and soldier crawls. Download the play list below and get to work.
WARNING: You must consult your doctor before performing this or any other workout routine. Not all exercise programs are suitable for everyone, and some may result in injury. Any person performing this workout assumes all responsibility or liability for any ill effects resulting from any exercises suggested. The advice and trainer instructions are in no way intended to replace or substitute medical counseling. The creators, producers, and distributors of this workout in no way assume any liability in connection with the exercises or advice given.
PLAY LIST
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor This song is a bit slower so use it to warm-up. Take a brisk walk
It's America - Rodney Atkins -30 Jumping Jacks -10 Pus-ups -50 crunches Keep rotating between these 3 exercises throughout the song
Courtesy of the Red White and Blue - Tobey Keith - Jog in place for 1 min. (make it hard get those heals up to your booty) -High Knees for 30 sec. (pick em up high!!!) -Hold a plank for 30 sec. (to perform a plank, get down on your for arms and toes, your body should be in a straight line, no booties in the air. Be sure to hold your tummy in to protect your back. Now just stay there for 30 sec.) Keep rotating between these 3 exercises throughout the song
American Woman -Lenny Kravits -20 Squats (Stand with your feet under your hips and your toes facing forward, squat down like you are sitting on a chair. Let your booty go back and keep your knees behind your toes. Then stand back up.) -20 alternating lunges stepping back (start with your feet together. Step back with your right foot and bend your right knee so it drops toward the ground. Then push off of the right leg and step back together. Do the same with the left and keep alternating.) -Bicycle crunches for 50
Living In America - James Brown -20 Bicep Curls -20 Shoulder presses -10 lateral side raises -50 crunches with your legs in the air (remember to pull your bellybutton to your spine and push your lower back into the flour) Repeat until the song ends
Heart of Rock n' Roll - Huey Lewis and the News -20 Squats with front kicks (alternate legs when you kick) -20 Alternating lunges stepping forward -20 Front Shoulder raises (hold the weights infront of you with your arms straight, raise your arms up to shoulder height, keeping your elbows only slightly bent) Repeat until the song ends
Round out the workout with 20 Jumping Jacks, 20 Push-ups, 20 squats, 20 lunges, and 100 crunches!!!!
God Bless the U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood Use this song to cool down and stretch. You must cool down and stretch. It is very important to prevent injuries. Other ways to use this play list: Use it while you go for a run Walk 1 song, Jog 1 song until you go through the whole play list Play it at your barbecue to show a little American Pride Use it while you jump rope or ride a bike
What are your favorite songs about America? Sun, 30 May 2010 10:20:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/give-me-20/ Whats Cooking? http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/whats-cooking/ The holiday weekend is hear and I'm sure everyone has plans at some point to go to a BBQ. I myself love BBQs and all the tasty food that comes with it. A traditional barbecue consists of all of our favorite foods including, hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwursts, fried chicken, chips, dips and a plethora of deserts right? We like to think, its only one day, I can splurge, but is the splurge REALLY worth it? When put together these foods can wreak havoc on your waist line.
Below is a list of "traditional" barbecue foods and what the calories are in each one. Hot Dog: 130 calories Hot Dog Bun: 110 ketchup and Mustard: 30 Calories Total=270 Calories Cheeseburger (including bun, condiments and veggies): 360 Calories Bratwurst: 280 Calories (no bun or condiments) Fried chicken (Drumstick): 140 Calories Potato Chips: 150 calories (per oz. on average people put 3-4oz on the plate) Potato Salad: 356 Calories per cup Baked Beans: 240 calories per cup Homemade Lemonade: 156 calories (8oz) Soda: 100 calories (8oz) Cheesecake: 580 Calories per slice Ice Cream: 280 Calories in 1/2 cup Apple Pie: 411 Calories per slice Brownie: 243 Calories Chocolate Chip Cookie: 80 Calories per cookie Now lets look at the calories in a "normal" plate of food at the bbq. Plate #1 Cheeseburger with condiments, baked beans, potato salad, chips, 1 brownie and 2 chocolate chip cookies. All of that washed down with a large glass of lemonade. The grand total calories....... 1,956 Calories!!!!! THAT IS YOUR CALORIE IN TAKE FOR THE DAY!!!!! You would have to jog for 3.5 hours to burn off all of these calories. NOT FUN!!! Now lets look at a few little changes and healthier options that will greatly change the calorie count without changing the taste. Plate #2 BBQ Chicken Breast: 190 Calories Corn on the Cob (w/tsp butter): 155 Calories 1/2 cup potato salad: 178 Calories 1/2 cup baked beans: 120 Calories 10 watermelon balls: 37 calories 1 cup strawberries (cut in half) w/ light cool whip: 70 calories Bottle of water: 0 calories For a grand total of..... 750 Calories!!!! WOW THAT IS A DIFFERENCE OF 1,206 CALORIES!!!! You would only have to jog for an hour and 15 minutes to burn off this plate of food. If you ask me making these small adjustments is soo worth it. So when your filling your plate this holiday weekend take an extra second to think about what you are putting on it and how that is going to affect you in the long run...no pun intended! What are your favorite healthy barbecue recipes? Sat, 29 May 2010 07:46:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/whats-cooking/ Let The Games Begin http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/let-the-games-begin/ This weekend people will be hitting the pools, the beaches and the bbqs to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, the official kick off of summer. For the next four days I will have a new post on how to celebrate this weekend and still stick with your workouts and healthy eating. PICNIC GAMES: Who doesn’t like a fun picnic game? They are a great way to have fun with the whole family and keep your body moving. You'll be burning calories with out even realizing it. At your bbq or pool party try playing a few of the games listed below. Frisbee: Toss it back and forth or you can turn it into a game of football Frisbee. Just replace the football with the Frisbee and have at it. Relay Races: Adults and kids alike will enjoy a fun 3-legged race.
HOW TO PLAY: 1. Divide players into teams of two (matching an adult with a child keeps things fair and interesting). Using a bandanna, each pair ties one partner's right ankle to the other's left ankle. 2. When the whistle blows, all of the pairs, assembled side by side at the starting line, race to the finish line. The first team whose pairs all cross the finish line wins. Tug of War: Equipment Needed – Strong, thick rope (not nylon, which can stretch and break).How to Play – Divide the group into two teams (try to make them even by total size, not necessarily by numbers). On the mark, each team tries to pull the other across a line – a small creek, mud hole, or the stream of water created by a hose.Variation – One branch of the family against the other, male against female, et cetera. FOR THE KIDS: Have a hula hoop contest: Put on some fun music and see who can last the longest. Play a game of HORSE: This can be done with a regular basketball and net or in the pool with a pool hoop and a smaller ball. T.V. Tag: Take your kids back to YOUR childhood and teach them how to play T.V. tag. They will be burning off those hot dogs long before the sun gos down and the firefly's come out. How will you keep your body moving this Memorial Day Weekend? Share your family's fun traditions, games, and weekend plans! For more fun family activities check out http://family-reunion.com/games.htm Fri, 28 May 2010 12:32:00 -0700 http://www.mightymommies.com/blog/let-the-games-begin/