Lindsay Brin

Guess who's pregnant???

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:16:00 +0000

Nah, not me, this bod needs a break from being pregnant for 4 years. Moms Into Fitness is pregnant with the newest in prenatal exercise!

Our newest Pregnancy Workouts are available for Pre-Order, shipping out May 19th, 2013! There are 3 workouts, 1 for each trimester, plus a bonus core Recovery Program! If you want to see all the details CLICK HERE.

You can also try it for FREE right now.

Isn't it funny how photoshop works...my 5'1" self next to Laila, a former fitness model at 5'9". We had to do some trickery:)

And here is a little glimpse into it all. And might I mention there are some new safety guidelines. So we did all the latest research and follow ACE, ACSM, ACOG, SOGC and CSEP!

Update April 2013: Pregnancy Exercise Guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Can you lose weight by working out 1x a week?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 02:44:00 +0000

Well the short answer to my question is "nope"! After you have a baby you have to use your muscles consistently to get them to bounce back!

Do you ever look at somebody and just assume they have it easy? Like when I looked at a mom with a 7-month old in her cart at Target thinking gosh she has it easy. Or like when you look at moms walking their kids into school and think she can eat what she wants or she has time to work out and I don't.

I went straight to our moms and asked how they do it. Get to know the moms you see on DVD everyday, well almost everyday:)

Michele (Full-Time-Job, mom of twin girls) How I fit it in….I have a wonderfully flexible and supportive husband! We both have full time careers so the week is hectic but even with unexpected events, we stay on task. My husband manages the kids on Monday and Thursday nights while I teach and also Saturday mornings for my 8:15am class. I run home from class on Saturday and we return to Lifetime for 10:45am swim lessons while he gets a workout in. He also takes Tuesday and Wednesday for his gym days and I get the girls to gymnastics. We get up on Sunday, make strawberry banana and blueberry pancakes and head to Lifetime so the girls can play in the Child Center while we get a mid-morning workout in. The girls enjoy doing this once a week and they never let us leave without a strawberry smoothie from the LifeCafe. Wednesday is my day for Pretty Fierce before I pick up the girls from day care at 5:15. This is a good balance for my husband and I but even with splitting the week between us, we still get quality time with the girls, always make sure we have dinner together each night and squeeze in our TV shows!!!

Amy (Stay-At-Home-Mom of 3 boys) To get my workouts in, I focus on two things. First, I plan ahead that days workout, so if it is written down it is harder to ignore. Second, if at first I don't succeed try try again. In other words if the 630am treadmill run was interrupted by a "mommy, I want!" Then I move it to another time of day, and try try again. Because, I will succeed!!

Me - Lindsay (Work-At-Home-Mom of 3) Weight Maintenance = 4x/week, Weight Loss = 5-6x/week. And I do my best to stick to it. Every other Sunday I do 2 things 1) Cook and freeze dinners for those 2 weeks and 2) Schedule my workouts in my iPhone. Because my routine never seems to stay routine. Somebody is always sick, somebody at work always needs something, house chores etc. Usually 2 days a week I wake up at 5am and 2 days a week I workout at night. I always try to get to a class once a week as part of my workout routine! Lately it's between Boot Camp, Bikram Yoga and the Bar Method.

Stephanie (Part-Time-Job, mom of 1) I absolutely have to schedule social workouts a few times a week. I've been doing the 5am classes for years now and it also works with my work schedule. Not only is it more fun to work out in a group but it keeps me accountable. When I don't have scheduled workouts I usually fit in a quick workout either during nap or a run after hubby gets home.

Katy (Full-Time-Job, mom of 2) Being a full-time working mother with a husband out of town most days of the week makes it important for me to have my workouts scheduled. I utilize any free time that is available to me (which is not much)…that may mean an early morning workout when my husband is in town or possibly hitting the gym at the end of my workday before going home to the kiddos. I find I am a better mom and employee as long as I can carve out an hour for me…no matter what time of day it is! Making exercise a priority and scheduling it is key to making it happen!

Tiffany (Stay-at-home-mom of 4)
I workout around 5:45 AM every morning. If I don't get it in early, the chances of it getting done are much less likely. If I happen to miss an early morning workout (which DOES happen sometimes), my workout clothes come on first thing in the morning and it becomes my main personal goal for the day!

Jana (Creator of Baby Steals, mom of 3) I fit in my workouts by making sure I don't let myself go to bed without a workout! It's really difficult getting the energy to workout at midnight (or later) so it motivates me to shoot for earlier the next day. I have to be realistic being a full-time mom & running a company- but you have to make that time to keep yourself active and healthy!

Jennifer (Work-at-home-mom of 2)
Being a working mom, I treat my workouts like an appointment. I schedule it and don't miss it...just like a work appointment!

Deidra (Stay-at-home-mom of 6) With all the busyness that comes with having a large family, I have found the only time to consistently get in my workout is in the early morning. I have gotten up at 5am to workout for years. It's a non-negotiable part of my day.

I have come to enjoy getting up before the sun to workout even though I am NOT a morning person. The house is quiet and I am able to do something that's just for me. I want my kids to see me practically and consistently walking out a healthy lifestyle. What they see me doing will have more impact than just my words. If I wait to workout until later in the day, it NEVER happens.

34 took my youth!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:12:00 +0000

The age of 34 has taken my youth. I only want convenience - and not to tear my rotator cuff putting 28 lb. Harper into her car seat. And to take 5 minutes to do my hair - and not always put it in a ponytail.

So comes the year of the minivan, and saying bye my SUV I have had for 9 years!

And to the hair that I chopped off earlier this year. I said good-bye to 9" of youthful hair.

But 34 is awesome, once I got over the fact that I am in my mid-thirties. I am starting to realize I need to do what makes me happy and sometimes skip the To Dos. I enjoy my job, my kids (except yesterday at 4:30 - their 7:00 bed time could not come soon enough), the hubby, and my new minivan:)

Free App & Free Workout Downloads

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:30:00 +0000

After 9 months of revising/editing/adding, our App is finally ready! It comes with all kinds of goodies including Free Pregnancy Express Workouts, Free Core Fitness Video, Progress Tracker and Food Journaling (soon to come with a nutrition database like you see on myfitnesspal).

My Journey Post-Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:13:00 +0000

So we are 3 kids into it, although I want 5 kids, we at least want a little space before #4. The baby (Harper) is already 20 months old, Taylor is 4 and Rylan is 3. It's hard to think that we might prevent getting pregnant after going through 4 IVFs to get #1 and #2. But that's another story for another day!

I am currently pretty much where I was before getting prego with baby #2. And now even better than where I was before having kids.

It wasn't without fluctuations, as you can see here. And currently the 10 boxes of Girl Scout cookies are staring at me. I mean who doesn't love a Thin Mint! But I will have to stick to a few cookies - not a sleeve - for 2 reasons
a) I am not breastfeeding:)
b) I just did our Fierce Lean Out Program after the Christmas Goodies got me, and am back into my clothes.

If you want to see my measurements from pre-prego to 3 weeks to 10 weeks to 20 months post-baby #3, I have them here.

My Holiday Weight GAIN, gone!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:30:00 +0000

Yup, happened to me too. For the last 4 New Years I have basically been pregnant or losing baby weight so my goal was always to get my body back. This year was different!

I started December 1st as my normal self. I started January 1st as my normal self + 4-5 lbs and a lot of empty Puppy Chow & Chex Mix tins!

Got myself back on the Pretty Fierce: Lean out Calendar. I do my own workouts, on mute and with some modifications to the calendar so I don't workout with myself everyday:(

Week 4 of the calendar - the recovery week - yielded my December 1st body! I mean my workout clothes were even uncomfortable, as you can see. My legs slimmed back down and my tummy fit back into the spandex.

The good news is at age 34 (yikes I just hit my mid-thirties!) it is easier to lose weight than when I was 20. So all the hard work over the last 5 years comes into play!

I cook 2x/month - here is My Food Journal!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:34:00 +0000

After I posted a Facebook post about my 4 Hour Cooking Marathon, you all wanted to know what I cooked! On Sundays or Mondays while the 2 lil' ones nap I get in some 1-1 time with Taylor and my Crock Pot.

Some weeks I double up the recipes so I really only cook every 2 weeks. I freeze the Crock pot meals in those Crock Pot Liners. And I prepare oven meals in a foil tin and freeze or put in the refrigerator if we are going to eat them that week.

7 Day Meal Plan: Most weeks we do a "frozen" meal every week night. Leftovers for lunch. And eating out on the weekend and/or easy sandwiches. It sure does make my life easy!

I always make sure we have a veggie with every meal. And I usually will prepare veggies in a steam bag and throw them in the fridge. Heat them up and serve as a side.

Our Meals are not always the Best choice, but the better! Oh, and not necessarily low-sodium:)

Mom of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:01:00 +0000

So the moms at MIF here about your stories all the time. And we just love them! We would like to start sharing them with other mamas...because we are willing to bet some mom out there has been were you were and needs that lil' something to help them out.

Here are two mamas that went through the Pretty Fierce R & D. Jennifer is a triathlete, but had never used weights for the fear they would make her bigger and she figured all the cardio she was doing would get her where she wanted to be. Angie had been battling the last 7 lbs. for 10 years and needed something to take it off. Their hard work paid off!

Do you want to be our Mom of the Month? I want to feature YOU! I love hearing about everyone's progress and now it's time to recognize you for all that you have accomplished. I want to hear whether you've lost 5 lbs or 50! Please submit your story including the workout programs you have completed, pictures and a little more about yourself and your family. If you are selected, the information you provide will be posted to inspire and motivate real moms like you. Winners will receive a FREE copy of the new Pretty Fierce downloads!

FREE Pretty Fierce Core Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Get the Instant Free Trial of the newest Moms Into Fitness workouts. Click Below.

Postpartum Video: Core Recovery 0-6 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Find more PostNatal Core Recovery Exercises.

Top 10: Workout Wear of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Ok, so it's my Top 10 of 2012. I am no Fashion Editor, but I do wear work out clothing for a living. Every single piece will be on my Christmas list because one can never have enough of these staple pieces.

Hawaiian Workout Skirt - Always looking for something a little different, and one can always find unique pieces on Etsy.com! It is super flattering. $55

TurboWear Workout Skirt - Since I own every capri TurboWear ever made, it only seemed like the next logical step to buy the skirt when Tiffany (an MIF veteran) sent me a picture of it! Their material is always super comfy and very forgiving. $59

Lululemon Running Skirt - So Lululemon has a variety of skirts, but this skirt has been a staple. And most recently they started using a new fabric, which is oh so soft and flattering. $58

Old Navy Compression Capris - Old Navy has really come out with a great Activewear line, and so reasonable. I have the compression capris in black, but the bright blue will go on my Christmas list! $22

Aerie Sports Bra - Ok so my favorite Sports Bra is not online, but this one is close to it! I barely have anything left in the chest after 3 babies, so the cups (which are sewn in and not floating in my dryer) are a nice touch. I wear a Medium in these, they seem to run a little small, I am thinking because it's a teen store! $24

Athleta Skirt/Legging Combo - Sometimes leggings are a little much! So some extra coverage with a cute gathered skirt over the leggings can help. $79

Gap Long Sleeve with Thumb Holes - I have never paid more than $20 for these, they are always on sale. BUT my favorite part about these, they are lose fitting. Still fitted, but the tummy region is not tight at all, just fitted. $34

Target 1/4 Zip Long-Sleeve with Thumb Holes - The back covers the buttocks and it comes in fitted and semi-fitted. The problem with Target (and Old Navy) is I go in for 2 things and always breeze by the Activewear! I sued to think online shopping was bad because everything I available at your fingertips, but the store retail placement is worse (worse for my pocket book!)

H & M - I always find long tank tops and solid color leggings and capris here. $7

Under Armour All Day Pant - Finally some pants that make me look tall! And they are not tight, but baggy and comfy! Usually baggy pants make my 5'1" frame look a little frumpy. I have 2 pair already and they are always dirty! At Dick's Sporting Goods I think there are 3 different fittings: fitted, semi-fitted and loose, I have the semi-ffited. $51

P.S. Although it's on my Christmas List, the hubby and I decided Santa only has enough room on his sleigh for 1 gift for each kiddo, plus stocking stuffers. But wouldn't it be fun to have endless work out wear under the tree:)

Sleep and Eat your way through the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0000

The average woman gains 2-5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. Yikes! This means moving up 1 pant size! About 5 pounds = 1 size.

Sleep. New York Obesity Research Center found that subjects fed themselves about 300 more calories when sleep-deprived than they did after sleeping normally. Eat. The University of Kansas Medical Center rsearch says that Postmeal hunger and desire to eat were greater when subjects consumed liquid calories than when they consumed the same amount of energy from solid food. There is a greater drop in ghrelin (a hunger-prodcuing hormone) when eating solid food.

Keep your exercise regimen. You don't have to commit to 5 days a week during the Holidays, but try to exercise 20-30 minutes at least 3x/week.

Use your time wisely. Working out at a higher intensity makes for better results in less time! In December you will see some new Free Workouts like HIIT & Loading!

Stay well hydrated Most of the time you think you are hungry you are really just thirsty.

Eat breakfast within a few hours of waking up. This can prevent overeating, as well as boost your energy for the day!

Eat balanced meals. Try to fill half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein and a quarter with carbohydrates.

Slow down or eliminate alcohol. It stimulates appetite.

Plan ahead on exercise and meal times.

Be flexible with your meals. Balance over a few days, 1 bad meal doesn't completely ruin it!

At parties eat off of a small plate. Indulge in ONE plate and make your plate colorful! ONE plate will keep you from the bites, licks and tastes...

Mingle away from the food table.

Bring gifts of candy and cookies to work if you've already had your share.

Make smart choices. Your goal should be maintaining your weight throughout the Holidays. Second servings can make you gain weight!

Determine how much you can eat by going to the MIF weight loss Calculator.

1/2 cup mashed potatoes = 150 calories = 25 minute walk
1 slice pumpkin pie = 350 calories = 30 minute boxing class
1 slice pecan pie = 650 calories= 60 minute jog
Palm size turkey = 100 calories = 10 min jog

"I'll start my diet in the New Year" We've all said it before. So this year get a jump start to the holidays, so in January you can have a different resolution!

We all have "stuff"

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

After reading an email from one of YOU (Blog readers) & a bunch of emails from our Research and Development group, I thought I would share one that I could totally connect with.

Besides losing the weight and inches I really feel stronger and finally more in control of my eating (sadly that didn't happen until the end ;). Through Pretty Fierce R&D everything in life has seemed to go wrong including our grandma who lives with us falling and breaking her collar bone and requiring 24/7 TOTAL care! With kids screaming for lack of attention to them, sick kids, kids up at night and no sleep, hubby gone for a few days, hubby deciding to switch jobs and the possible move! I'm not telling you all this for sympathy, but to show that I'm really learning that there will always be excuses and if I could get all my workouts in through this then I can do it through ANYTHING!!!

I constantly have "stuff" and battle the dishes vs. workout on a daily basis. I present broccoli 50+ times to a 2 year-old to finally find success. I end up in standoffs most mornings for at least 30 minutes to get all 3 kids dressed in weather-appropraite gear. I see how badly the carpet needs cleaned everyday and try my best to choose learning time over cleaning time. I let the kids into my bed when they are sick and spend the next 2 weeks getting them back into their bed and their routine. We do fast food some times because it's all we can do (and yes I know we could go without but we also enjoy some good ole french fries every now and again!)

We all try our best, and we all fault throughout the day. But we sure try! I am constantly wondering if I am doing an ok job. I rely on my faith, I rely on my husband a lot, I freeze crock pot meals at the beginning of the week, I do my best to fit in exercise 4x/week because it puts me in a better mood, and I am constantly trying to find a good balance! There is always something, rarely do I feel like our routine is really "routine"...but organization at the beginning of every week keeps me going. And I start the day with a smile - a smile is also on my kids chore chart for the beginning of the day. When it comes down to it, my kids are only small for so long and I try my best to embrace it, especially after losing my sister-in-law (mom of 3). But in all honesty 30-40% of the time I score a 2 out of 10 on the mom scale. And I am working on that.

Precious

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:33:00 +0000

So this is not something I would usually put on a public forum, but so many of you have touched my heart and I know my nieces, nephew and brother-in-law can use all the prayers you have to offer. We lost my sister-in-law, Heather, to cancer 13 days ago. She fought a long, hard battle, even changed her name to "Badger" like Honey Badger. We got to enjoy her for 30 years and now God will be enjoying her for eternity.

She loved Dr. Seuss quotes and left this world with “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ~Dr. Seuss

My heart weighs heavy and it's hard to go an hour without tearing up at the thought. I can only imagine how her kids and hubby must feel not seeing her everyday.

But if I learned anything from Heather it's to decorate heavily, (although I could never match her Holiday creativity), make sure everybody always feels welcome, have fun in any situation, swear words are ok, talk with other family members everyday and never waste a precious minute on stupid stuff.

So although I am so behind in my own "stuff", it now lacks importance. I am putting the phone down, taking Facebook off of my phone, only checking email the 2 days a week I am working and realizing it's ok if I don't meet the deadlines for my new DVDs.

And the next morning, which is every morning, my kids wonder why they have to get dressed by 8:15 a.m. I will make light of the situation! The next time they don't want to go to bed before reading a gazillion books, well, the dishes can wait. And the next time my husband folds the laundry I won't huff at the way he folds the towels.

Lindsay's Family Recipes & More!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:19:00 +0000

Raspberry Smoothie: Mix 1 cup raspberries, 4 oz. vanilla yogurt, ice & milk to your liking,1 T sugar and fiber powder (read directions on the package to determine how much to add) mix all ingredients in a blender

Egg pita -make ahead of time-scramble 4 eggs, mix in your favorite vegetable (love spinach) and a few tablespoons of salsa. Place into 2 whole wheat pitas and sprinkle with shredded low-fat cheese. Heat in microwave to desired temperature. Take one this morning and one tomorrow!

English melt: prepare a package of turkey bacon at the beginning of the week (you can use it to top salads, pastas and breakfast)-toast a whole wheat emglish muffin with 1 slice low-fat American cheese. Place 2 slice of turkey bacon in the middle of the English muffin and go!

Grab a piece of fruit to go and when you find time sit down and savor some oatmeal.

Soups - at the beginning of the week make double batches of brown rice and/or barley. Mix and match all week long with different vegetable soups or toss it in our chicken fiesta soup!

Taco soup: 3/4 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey, 1 package Ranch dressing mix, 1 package reduced sodium Taco seasoning mix, 1 can chili beans (15 oz.), 1 can whole kernel white corn (16 oz.), 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies (15 oz.), 1 can stewed tomatoes (16 oz.), 2 cups water (you can vary this for thinner/thicker soup).

In a browning pan or skillet, heat the lean ground beef until cooked thoroughly. Once the beef cooking is underway, begin heating a pot (medium size) of water on medium-high heat. Add diced tomoatoes, together with the green chiles and stewed tomatoes. Once the beef is fully cooked, drain excess liquid, then add Ranch and Taco mix to the beef. Add beef mix to the water, tomato, and chile mixture. Add remaining ingredients and simmer. I enjoy adding ¼ cup tortilla strips. Makes 6 servings

Chicken Fiesta Soup: 2 boiled chicken breasts, shredded, 4 cups chicken broth (less sodium), 1 cup salsa, 1 package Mexican seasoning, 1 can corn, 1 bag of spinach.

Boil broth and salsa. Add in remaining ingredients and simmer. Top with low-fat cheese. Makes 4 servings

Meatless Chili: 1 medium onion chopped (or use ½ frozen bag of chopped onions), 4 cloves garlic, minced, 1 T olive oil, ¾ cup julienne carrots, 1 can stewed tomatoes, 1 can diced tomatoes, 2 cans black beans, drained, ½-1 package chili seasoning mix, 1 T chopped parsley.

Saute onions and garlic in oil in a pan large enough for remaining ingredients. Add carrots, tomatoes, beans, seasoning mix and parsley. Cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Makes 6 servings

Stuffed Green pepper soup: ½ pound ground turkey, 2 cans condensed tomato soup, 2 cans water, 1 cup green bell peppers, diced, 1 cup white or brown rice, 1/2 cup onion, diced, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce (optional), 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon basil, Ground cayenne pepper to taste.

Add the cans of soup with two cans of water along with the peppers, onions, garlic and basil into a pot and heat on medium-high. In a skillet, brown the ground turkey. Pour Worcestershire sauce over the ground turkey and sprinkle with cayenne pepper and simmer until the liquid is cooked in, then add the meat to the pot. Prepare rice according to box. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked through.

Raspberry salad: ½ bag of spinach mix, ¼ cup sliced almonds, ¼ Pasteurized feta cheese crumbles, ¼ cup dried cranberries, 1-2T Light Rasberry vinaigrette dressing (Kraft makes a wonderful version of this with an olive oil base)

Makes 1 serving

Tuna salad: ¼ bag of spinach, mixed with ¼ bag of romaine , 1 can tuna in water, ¼ peanuts, sliced almonds or sunflower seeds, ¼ cup dried cranberries, optional, 2 T Low-fat version of your favorite dressing (I prefer the raspberry or balsamic vinaigrette by Kraft)

Serve with a toasted pita round. Makes 1 serving

Remember, it's all about the BETTER choices, not always the BEST choice. For my family, most nights wet end up with Crock Pot dinners or Fish-Steamed veggies-Rice (sometimes rotated with chicken). And the fish is easy, I buy those $1 Halibut or Salmon single frozen packs, add some seasoning, lightly coat with olive oil, place in pan for a few minutes each side.

Crock Pot Beef Stew: made with round steak or 90% lean beef stew cuts, 1 can tomatoes, 1 package frozen onion-cut, 1 can beef broth,1 small package baby carrots, 1 small package red potatoes, package of onion soup, water to cover ingredients-cook beef in pan with 1 T olive oil then place all ingredients in crock pot and pour enough water to cover ingredients. Cook on 4, 6 or 8 hour setting in crock pot.

Homemade Grilled Cheese w/spinach: 2 slices whole wheat bread, 1-2 t olive oil, 1-2 slices your favorite cheese, the low-fat version (mozzarella works great with this recipe), 2 slices tomatoes, 1/3 cup spinach

Coat 1 side of each slice of bread, build sandwich. And grill in skillet or Panini press.

Sweet and Sour shrimp kabob: 3 T chili sauce, 1 T soy sauce, ½ t garlic powder, 8 ounces pineapple chunks in juice, 1 green pepper, sliced to fit kabob, 1 small onion, sliced to fit kabob, 1+ pound medium peeled and deveined shrimp (place 6-12 shrimp aside for shrimp cocktail on following day).

Combine first 4 ingredients in a mixing bowl. Drop shrimp into mix and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Skewer shrimp, pineapple, green pepper and onion and grill

Black bean dip: ¼ can black beans (drained and rinsed), fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, 1/8 cup corn, jalapenos-chop tomatoes and cilantro and mix ingredients to your liking. Use a pita to dip into dip: Spray pita with olive oil, toast and slice into quarters.

Zucchini Stix: 4 T dry bread crumbs, 2 T parmesan cheese, 1 egg white, 1 t milk, 2 zucchini cut lengthwise into quarters, ½ cup spaghetti sauce. Combine bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Combine egg white and milk in another dish. Dip each zucchini stick into both mixtures and place on baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray and bake 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve with sauce. Makes 2 servings

Pasta Fazouelle (it looks like a lot, but its really easy!): 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 cup diced onion, 1 cup sliced celery, 1 cup sliced carrots, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 can tomatoes (15 oz.), 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz.), 1 can red kidney beans (15 oz.) undrained, 2 cups water, 5 t. beef bouillon, 1 T dried parsley flakes, 1 t salt, 1/2 t oregano, 1/2 t sweet basil, 1/4 t black pepper, 1/2 cup small macaroni.

Brown beef in large skillet and drain. Add all ingredients except macaroni, bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add macaroni and bring to boil. Simmer until vegetables are done (10 minutes).
If your kids don't like it, freeze it in small containers for a quick lunch

Super Embarrassing

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:54:00 +0000

I get super embarassed behind a still camera lens. And looking "fierce", well let's just say it's not my thing. After already having to do a 2nd photo shoot because I could not do it in the first, I am unsure if our new 10-DVD series Pretty Fierce™ will ever be released. And if it is it will just have Jana (Baby Steals owner and mom of 3), Tiffany (SAHM of 4), Jennifer (WAHM of 2) and Deidra (SAHM of 6) on it! They rocked it! I just can't release their pictures yet:)

Do I workout everyday?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:59:00 +0000

So our Research & Development team for the Pretty Fierce workouts asked me about my routine, and I thought I would share. YES, I totally fluctuate a few pounds. Actually just this week I kicked it into high gear...I weigh myself and use the same jeans as "standard" every few weeks. Let's just say the jeans were tight on the thighs and I did not like the scale this morning! I followed the Fierce workouts the beginning of summer and then kinda hit the pool snack bar and slowed down my workouts:)

For about 4 months I am regimented, working out 5x/week sometimes alternating with 6x/week and watching what I eat. I say 4 months because for the last 4 years it's been getting my body back after pregnancy by about 5-6 months postpartum. And trust me half of those days I am fighting myself to workout, especially postpartum tiredness! Back in college trying to get off 40 lbs it took me a good year, the first 6 months being regimented in my workouts. When I workout I make it count...if I am spending the time doing it I do it right with workouts like the Pretty Fierce Muscles Splits and Hybrids. And I love nothing more than a 20 minute workout, although most of my workouts average 40 minutes.

When I am not trying to get my body back (going for MAINTENANCE) I usually workout 4x/week, sometimes 3 when craziness is at it's peak. One really long workout followed by 3 shorter workouts. I am active most days like walking to the park, jogging around the soccer games or doing some yoga before bed. 2-3 of my workouts focus on toning while the other workout is a run of some sort (V02 max, HIIT etc.).

And when I say watching what I eat, I do not count calories, I do not let it consume my day whatsoever. Most of the time we eat the same things (on Crock Pot rotation!) and I know what works for me. I found what worked for me after watching my calorie intake for several weeks when I began my weight loss journey in 2001. I really haven't done it since, except teetering that fine line with Breastfeeding! A majority of the time it's things like not eating after dinner and only allowing Mexican food 1x/week (my arch nemesis). I know I do this for a living so it's easy for me to know more about nutrition. But if you monitor yourself for a few weeks and teach yourself good portions, you do not have to be a slave to calories! The biggest lesson I learned was eating inside my perimeter...no food outside of breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.

On that note, I have not had metabolic testing in 10 years. I look forward to seeing my new numbers, as I feel I eat more/burn more than I did on my twenties.

Time Machine: LB 40+ lbs

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Since I was in Time Machine Mode the other day thinking back to when things seemed simpler at the age of 26. I thought I would share some old pics of me 40+ lbs heavier at age 22. I have mentioned it here on the Blog before, but I spent a few months nailing down what was a normal serving and what I thought was a normal serving. Then kicked it into high gear with the toning, which was hard to get out of the mentality of the 1990s and cardio, cardio, cardio!

Back when things were simpler

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:19:00 +0000

Do you ever wonder how simple things used to be? Or how awesome it would be to just sleep one day until 8:30 am?

Today an old friend asked me if I would be dancing at the Cheerleader Reunion. My NFL days seem like yesterday and an eternity away all at the same time. Between that and having a moment last night, ya know around 6:00 when everybody needs something and a 4, 2 and 1 year old are getting tired. I just wanted a night to myself. That's not a large request right?

Back in 2005 where the world revolved around my hubby and me. Not laundry, preschool, swimming lessons, teaching right/wrong, sleepless nights making sure the kids are still breathing, dinner preparation, lunch packing, buying new clothes so the kids are not in high waters, reward charts, poopy swim diapers, relentless stain scrubbing, the never-ending To Do list, work lists a mile long, you get the gist.

I used to oversee 7 women's health clubs and thought that along with practice, charity events, certifying instructors in TurboKick and running the household of 2 people was a lot. My oh my how things change. P.S. What did we do on Saturday mornings before kids???

I just wanted a night to myself. So the hubby put the kids to bed and I did nothing. I mean nothing but the Bachelor Pad and me. I didn't even read my Bible Study which I just promised myself JUST last week I would do every night. Already slipping on that:)

But the thing is, when I evaluate my life now and my life in 2005 I could not be happier. We had kids to enrich our lives and they do that everyday.

In Bible Study I learned we don't just spend time with our kids, but we need to make sure we are impacting them everyday. So here's to keeping that in mind every time I have a thought of "when life was easier".

...On that note, a prayer for my sister-in-law battling cancer would be appreciated from anybody that prays!

Husband : Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Yep, it's another edition of Husband : Wife, 6:15am-8:45am My morningup at 6:15 with the babybrushed my teeth and pottied with babymade homemade waffles3 diaper changes3 outfits for the day3 shoe changes involving a few cries when we could not find the blue crocswim bag packedsnacks/bottles packedfight about who sits in the car seat by the windowsweating cause it was so darn hot spending 10 minutes gettings 3 kids into the caroh wait, my hot tea is no longer hot since i made it at 6:30oh, and, i have yet to get out of my jammiescar is on so i quickly change into my swimsuit (no makeup, no nothing, maybe some body mist) while changing into my swimsuit i see the hubby is getting reday to leave for work... His morningwake up to an alarmpotty by himselfshower by himselfmade breakfast just for himselfkissed the kids and i good-bye I tell ya, I would just like his morning 2x/month. That's it! Although I have to admit he totally took care of me after our pregnancy filming...I got to sleep in after my 12 hour filming day!

Preggers DVD & 2 things I need from you!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:03:00 +0000

And that's a Wrap! Ahhh, my favorite words after 12 hours of shooting our videos! We shot the new Pregnancy DVDs here in St. Louis. And I gotta tell you, they are not only awesome because of Laila and Erin (our prego mommies), but they will offer so much! Pregnancy Stackers, Toning, Muscle Splits for Pregnancy, Core, Yoga and more! And of course trimester-specific to keep mom and baby safe. Coming this fall:)

So on to what I need form you! We are not just releasing our new Pregnancy DVDs this fall, we have our Post-Post-Natal Challenge (see those pictures from Pampano Beach 2 posts below this one)! We are in the midst of the meal plan for the Post-Post-Natal Challenge and I want to here from YOU what meals work for you and your family. Ya know, something less than5-7 ingredients and made with ease!

Then myself and the MIF R.D., Stephanie, are going to go through your top picks. Of course if it comes from a Cook Book or recipe from somebody other than a friend or family, let us know so we can give proper credit!

What would you like to see in a Meal Plan? Please post your recipes in the comments section below. Thank ya!!!

Do you Tally Mark?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 21:10:00 +0000

Ok so as much as I love vacations with the kids, I also love vacations without them. I can only count 2 vacations without kids in the last 4 years, but I think that's pretty good considering I was pregnant 3 out of those 4 years. We got to go to my in-laws in Naples for 7 days after our filming a few weeks ago, and it was bliss. We did nothing except beach, movie, dinner, repeat. But I am secretly keeping tally marks for an afternoon to myself so I can remember just how relaxed I was just a few short weeks ago (seen above). No, we don't tally mark - ya know - I put the kids to bed so you can get up with them. We usually do our fair share. But lately I think my hubby forgot and is still in vacation mode. So the tally marks are adding up between his volleyball and my getting up 1-2x/night. Just one more week and I will be well on my way to an afternoon of running errands by MYSELF! Maybe even a movie? Maybe even a Sunday morning where I get myself ready and the hubby gets everybody else ready for church?

1 pool: 1 mom: 3 kids

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:12:00 +0000

I am not sure if I am stupid or desperate to get the kids out of the house. Most days at the pool are either with my husband or our babysitter (on days I can take a long lunch hour). But yesterday I did it all by myself! Sure, 2 hours later I was ready for a nap, but I did find out my kids do listen. That is, as long as I follow the "keep your swim wings on" with a threat like we will leave immediately should you choose to take them off. I really do need to. Ome up with a new system. Lately all my sentences are followed by "if you...i will...". Ha! I always said I would be a non threatener and non briber. Here we are 4 years into it:) So I gotta know. How do moms juggle kids at the pool when they are so young? And how do you not bribe your kids?

New DVD Filming!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay Brin) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 03:35:00 +0000

So 2 weeks ago myself and 4 other moms traveled to Pompano Beach for a Video Shoot. I was so lucky to have Jana, Deidra, Jennifer & Tiffany by my side! Get Ready, our Hybrid workouts are coming early this fall!!

It started with a make-up call at 7am and ended at 9pm with a craving for my bed. But instead of bed we all headed to dinner...how often do you have the chance to hang out with girlfriends (+ my hubby) and no kids?

I wish I had a picture of our dinner plates that night. Or a picture of my breakfast the next morning! I have never eaten so much bacon and cottage cheese in 1 sitting, in fact probably more calories than I should eat in a day. Not sure if it's the 12,000 calories I burned the day before or my "reward". And food rewards are a no-no!