Madonna, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Garner aren’t afraid to lift more than just their children and their beautifully sculpted arms are proof it's a good thing! I should start by saying: “weights won’t make you bulky”. This is a common concern that I hear from a lot of mothers and it’s actually far from the truth.

I’m all for discovering new activewear and when I do, you better believe I will tell you about it. What’s more, when a brand is local to Toronto then it's really caught my attention.

I love supporting local Canadian brands especially those that promote a healthy lifestyle for the entire fam. Say hello to Jill Yoga activewear! Aside from being a Toronto brand (which I love), I was really drawn to all the vibrant and bold colors right off the bat. If you know me, you’ll notice that we lack a little color in our workout wardrobe, so this line really brought life to our closet! Seriously, if you look at previous pics you will notice a whole lot of black. Boring, I know ... but not anymore!

Spring is in the air and with the new season it makes for a good time to do a little spring cleaning … and I’m not just talking about inside your household! This post is dedicated entirely to quick and simple tips to help you clean up your habits to support a healthier and happier lifestyle! By answering these three common questions, you will have a better idea of how to get your ‘spring cleaning’ well on its way.

This article I recently wrote was just featured on the Not So Mumsy Blog, but it's an important topic so I felt inclined to share it on my own blog too! For all you mamas, please (please) take the time to read this article.

The one concern I hear most about revolves around the tummy area. Mothers often ask, “why do I still look 6 months pregnant?” or “I have a pooch that won’t go away” or “I just want my pre-baby tummy back”. The mommy tummy is actually a ‘thing’ and is likely a result of a condition called Diastasis Recti Abdominis.

I can’t even tell you how proud I am of my cousin Emily, who is a beautiful mama of 3! She came to me looking to kickstart her journey and wanting to feel better inside and out, as well as increase her energy. But then when it came to numbers, she blew me away! In just 30 days she had lost an incredible 11.8 lbs, 2.5 inches off each thigh, 1.5 inches off her hips and 4.25 inches from her waist!

We're just two weeks into the new year, so I hope some of your 2017 resolutions are still standing strong. Like many of us, I'm sure something about health and fitness is included as part of your list. One of my intentions this year is to try at least one new fitness class each month. And let's be honest, there is just something about wearing fresh new active gear that makes a workout that much better. 

A lot of moms resort to hours of cardio to shed that "festive 15" or to “get their pre-baby body back”, but sometimes you can be doing more harm than good. Yes, it's an important component of your fitness journey, but cardio isn’t the end all be all of weight loss. You do have to be mindful of both the quality and quantity of cardio you do and this can make the biggest impact on your mommy mood and appearance.

Are you running out of time when it comes to holiday shopping? I feel like I am! And so many people have asked what's on our wish list this year and you know, it wasn't an easy question to answer. We are so blessed with a supportive family, great jobs and our good health that it's hard to think of wanting more. Of course, we do love to treat ourselves a little and the holidays seem like the perfect time to do so. But this year, Santa Claus (S.C.) was one step ahead of us and predicted what we wanted!! 

If you missed us on the Not So Mumsy blog this week, we just shared a post about fitness during pregnancy and more specifically, in the first trimester. It's a great topic and one of my favourites! I have to say that I still remember that there were times in my first trimester when I was so tired I could barely lift myself out of bed, let alone lift a dumbbell. On the other hand, I recall being in the final stretch of my pregnancy and still hitting the gym and squatting like it was nobody's business!!

A week since Halloween and the candy temptation is still going strong ... even more reason to give it our all in today's workout. This is what's about to go down: 

Halloween is just around the corner and this girl keeps changing her mind about what she wants to be. Yesterday was a police officer and today is a storm trooper. What a dilemma! Costumes aside, it’s that time of the year again where those baby kit kat bars and tootsie rolls are lying all over your home ready for the taking. Yup, say hello to Halloween! Sadly, those little two-bite candies can add up and before you know it you’ve eaten half a bag.

Now let's get down to business! Many of us haven’t jumped rope since grade school, but perhaps it’s time we skip down memory lane. You can get a wicked cardio workout in just 10 minutes and all you need is a skipping rope... and some jumping skills.

We are almost halfway through October which brings us to Canadian Thanksgiving. This weekend is usually a time when we feast on a little too much mashed potatoes and bread, plus one too many glasses of vino. But once this weekend is done, there is just no more excuses to get yourself back no track. Sure, cooler temps might give us a better reason to cover up with oversized sweaters and boyfriend jeans, but why not make October the month you take it up a notch with some new fitness goals? Let’s do this, mamas!

Sure, we lug around a heavy diaper bag all day and maneuverer busy malls carry a toddler, but sometimes this just isn’t enough to tighten that arm jiggle us moms often complain about. Tank top season might be over here in Toronto, but that doesn't mean you give up on toning those arms of yours. Last summer we shared this post on the Lot801 Blog so just in case you missed it, I want to make sure you're in the loop with three moves you can do to help you achieve shapely toned arms. Who wouldn’t kill for arms like celebrity moms Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker? Me please! Not to worry, this doesn’t involve rushing to your local gym and lifting dumbbell after dumbbell; these moves can be done right at home (with no weights required) and hopefully you’ll be sporting a tank top with confidence in no time!

I am so proud of Linda Blair and her progress from last month's kettlebell challenge. She is a mother of a two and following any type of "program" was also new to her, but she stuck to it all the way!

I was pressed for time today so here is a snapshot of this morning’s kettlebell workout:

Sometimes it’s getting yourself out the door and to the gym that’s the hardest part about exercise. Geez, some mornings you can barely get in a shower let alone a workout. So what if there are some basic moves you can do in the comfort of your own home that can help you get well on your way to becoming a healthier and fitter mama? Sure, you might have to deal with a toddler here, a baby there and a few Thomas the Train toys during a workout, but this could be an amazing alternative to having to get your mama-butt to the gym for a 7:00 o’clock fitness class.

Check out the official blog post on Bonjourblissblog.com and check out some of the great shots from our workout together. I'm so glad my daughter has a new workout buddy for life! 

We had lots of fun incoporating hula hoops and kettlebells, but for the most part we focused on bodyweight exercises; we kept it really simple (especially since the girls were with us).

If you knew me pre-Harper, I could be found in the gym 6 days a week for hours at a time. Things have changed and prorities have shifted; exercise is often 20-30 minutes at a time now and usually done in the comfort of my 800 square foot condo. Otherwise, I'm sneaking out at lunch hour to get in a quick workout at the local Goodlife. 

It's the weekend and there's lots to do, but if you do have a few extra minutes for a quick read about easing back into fitness after having a babe, check us out on The Rebel Mama blog. We touch on optimal postpartum moves to partnering with a pelvic floor physiotherapist! If you're also wondering if I saw a Pelvic Floor PT, I did. I went to the Proactive Pelvic Health Centre and I highly recommend them if you're local to Toronto!