Get 5 Home Fitness Routines for 5 Days Free! If you want to try 5 of our most basic home fitness routines through our web app, just click here to learn more about this awesome offer! Our members have been using the full version of Fit2B Mobile since it’s launch in early January 2016, and […]
“Are those big exercise balls safe?” I get asked that question all the time, and the answer is that it depends what you do on them. This routine explores a huge variety of motions – everything from easy to hard stuff like mountain climbers and pikes – with my classic “tummysafe” cueing. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some […]
What’s a person to do when getting outside for a walk just isn’t happening? While walking in one spot isn’t the same as going for a real walk because there’s no propulsion or hip rotation, a workout like this has many benefits. Adding this fun variety of arm motions to a simple “march in place” can […]
A couple years ago, we started putting blooper outtakes at the end of each of our workout videos. However, I’ve made so many bloopers while filming for our routines and online learning ecourses that we still had extras! So here is the best bloopers of 2015 from behind the scenes of Fit2B… Go ahead. Laugh. […]
While many people were setting goals around the first of this year, something different happened organically in the private Fit2B member forum when Holly J. posted her victory picture and long term success story about coming out of a very hard place thanks to Fit2B. Here’s what she wrote and posted: “I want to post here because […]
Please welcome guest instructor Lorraine Scapens of Pregnancy Exercise in New Zealand. Lorraine has contributed to many sections on Fit2B including our “Experts on Diastasis Recti” ecourse, and I consider her a close colleague and friend. While I provide ongoing fitness, she has sever stellar programs that align well with what I do. I’m thrilled […]
For most of my early group fitness career, I accepted the fitness myth that squatting would hurt the knees if the hips went lower than the knee. The mantra was “no lower than 90-degrees!” We understand now that knee injury is not about squat depth but about proper form during squatting, and getting low is CRUCIAL […]
Question about heeled shoes posted in our forum: “Beth is it possible for someone to have “short tendons”? My mom was told she needed to wear shoes with a heel because she has short Achilles’ tendons. Are their specific stretches to lengthen them?” -Lauren F. That question was posted in our private member forum, and […]
Okay, I admit that title is long and cheesy, but it summarizes the choreography theme in the patterns you’ll be doing with me in this fun routine. You’re going to be all over your bench on every side, pivoting all over. As always, I’ve got your back with modifications if you’re not ready for jumping […]
Naked is not a bad word. It’s not the “N” word, and it’s not vulgar. It’s how we were born, totally bare, but I’ve talked with far too many women who can’t stand the sight of themselves. They hide from mirrors and mock their own worth by reducing themselves to self-imposed labels like “Fat” and […]
In addition to being a fitness professional, writing is a huge outlet for me. I’m fairly certain I have never gone to sleep at night without writing something somewhere about something, either in my journal, or online, or whatever. Even so, when I dove into a 30-day blogging challenge – which I am finishing today WITH […]
As long as you’re moving and exercising that’s all you need for a healthy body right? Nope. You are more than your muscles, and since your posture affects not just the shape of your belly, but also your digestion, pelvic floor function, emotions, chemistry, and also how you present yourself to others, we need to […]
“Thinking that because you are good person, hard times won’t come is like thinking that because you are a vegetarian, the bull won’t charge at you.” After reading this pivotal article on GNOWFGLINS many moons ago about how eating real food didn’t stop severe illness in two families, I began pondering the same truth about fitness […]
Many women live with debilitating cramps, diminished energy and moodiness that affects their relationships in the days before and during their periods. You can blame Eve or pollution or modern stress levels, but PLEASE don’t just lay there when you can minimize most of the major discomforts of menstruation. Here at Fit2B Studio, we have a specialized […]
It was a huge honor to be the special guest for The Birthful Podcast: Diastsis & Tummy Fitness with Adriana Lozada earlier this week. She said she chose me out of all the other experts she researched as possible guests because my program is the most comprehensive, evidence-based, straightforward, mama-friendly one she could find. The show […]
I am beyond grateful to our military and all those who serve in the armed forces here abroad, and in our communities. Therefore, it angers me to hear about outdated fitness testing methods hurting many recruits and soldiers. We need to stop thanking our veterans by giving them traumatic core issues like diastasis recti and urinary incontinence. Please […]
Confession: My kitchen timer is seldom used for anything cooking related. As a fitness professional and healthier mom in the making, I tend to use timers for better health and wellness applications. Not that setting one to avoid burning dinner wouldn’t be healthier for my family, but this is the scoop on how my stove timer […]
As you work to improve your alignment and overall strength from your core outward {like we do in Fit2B routines} it’s important to NOT sweat the small stuff. Working on the little fitness things, just one at a time, has really payed dividends to my overall wellness in the past several years. Most of us […]
Referring people to Fit2B for family-friendly home fitness videos that are TummySafe for diastasis recti and knee friendly, is so easy! As a thank you we give back to you! All you need to do is sign up as an affiliate with Fit2B here and then just use your special link whenever you’re talking about us […]
Go to our facebook fan page Fit2B – TummySafe Fitness right now to bid on our silent auction of all the shirts worn in the following routines. All proceeds benefit Mercy In Action which has a charity birth center in The Philippines, a midwifery school, and other training for maternal and child health. Their […]
You don’t have to turn your home into an athletic club to encourage fitness and wellness in your environment. As your strengthening your Diastasis Recti, your goal is to facilitate as much alignment, movement, core recruitment, and even positive pressure points as possible. It’s about making small changes in small areas. It’s also about making some big changes if […]
Many people with weak cores and back pain turn to yoga for help, but if you have diastasis recti, many yoga poses should be approached with caution. This shocking photo will hopefully help all of you better understand how DEEPLY a diastasis recti affects your abdominal’s appearance, function and integrity. That is one my members […]
Every now and then, we get an odd message from visitors to Fit2B who watch our diastasis recti self-check videos and then get all judgey about Kelly’s body type. “Great video, but why would I do your program when you’re not in shape?” Um, first of all, Kelly Dean is in great shape! She’s an elite masters swimmer who has […]
It’s Autumn here in the Pacific Northwest where the founding Fit2B families are located. The leaves are changing color as the rain returns, and most mornings I wake up to mist creeping across the fields here on our little homestead farm… Along with carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds for snacks, I find myself instinctively reaching […]
“You’re walking faster than I’m running!” That’s what I heard over and over as I progressed through my first half marathon last weekend in Bend, Ore. I’ve done Portland to Coast which is part of the “Mother Of All Relays” Hood to Coast seven times, and when my most recent set of 3 legs added […]
Ah, running… The activity that everyone thinks they should be doing to get super fit, but should you run with diastasis recti? Is running detrimental for a dysfunctional core? Some people truly love running; it’s a release for them just like race-walking is a vent for me. I understand that if you’re an avid runner, it’s […]
I’m not getting any “Mother of The Year” awards under the category of healthy lunches here, folks. In fact, in the spirit of full disclosure, you should know that my kids are finally old enough that I made “Pack Your Lunch” into one of their chore magnets because they’re quite capable of doing most of it […]
In the first article of this mini series on how to protect your core and pelvic floor from diastasis recti, prolapse, incontinence and other unpleasantries when you’re fighting a cold or bouncing around like a maniac on a friend’s trampoline, I wrote about what you can do before, during and after a fit of sneezing, coughing […]
A few weeks ago I jumped on a trampoline for the first time in a long while, and right after I came down with a colossal 3-day head cold. HooWee! Let me tell you! Even though I’m certain that I’ve laid a good foundation in my core and pelvic floor (PF) with great exercises like walking, proper […]
Disclaimer: By clicking play and participating in this routine or any other video on Fit2B, you signify that you have read and agree to the terms of our conditions and disclaimer found here. When I taught step aerobics classes at a local community college, I’d always finish the class with 10 minutes of basic step […]
Relaxing + Foam Rolling = Rollaxing! Get it? We crack ourselves up over here, but seriously, this will become a bedtime favorite for many of you. Basically, Beth walks you through what she does on the foam roller at night while her hubs reads to their children. Foam rolling can be painful and very NOT […]
Thanks to all your positive feedback on the Bag A Better Back routine, we are excited to debut this, and we have plans for “Bag a Better Bust” as well 😉 And in case you’re wondering if it’s awkward to control a swinging grocery bag as the training tool for a toned tushie, yes! But wow! […]
This routine was designed on a quiet day in our tiny off-grid shabby cabin in Montana, dubbed “The Shabin.” There isn’t much room in it, and it was raining outside. I needed to move or go crazy! So I just stood up and started playing with basic leg and arm combinations. It was easy to come […]
It such an honor to have been bombarded with requests for a video that explains and demonstrates various movements that can be practiced by a woman preparing for labor and delivery. Next to fitness, birth is my favorite thing to discuss and research, and I’ve been passionate about it since I read my first birth book at […]
Join Beth in her country kitchen as she leads you through some basic chair fitness moves and stretches. You will feel so yummy and relaxed YET ready for more at the end of this video. Notice the dishes in the sink? We’re real people here, and we’re excited to provide yet another routine that benefits […]
Your kitchen is FULL of great fitness props, and this video will show you how to incorporate some simple movements into your everyday tasks. Discover how to create “work stations” in your kitchen that produce great food AND a great body! What’s more, this workout is easily transferable to other kitchens. Share it with your […]
Goodness gracious great glutes of fire! That’s what you might be saying when you finish this long set of booty burnin’ moves! The glutes are major stabilizers and players in your core and pelvic floor function, so having a strong set of buns to support you is crucial. Learn how to work your rear-end from […]
How about recycling some grocery bags and using water bottles as weights to create a fun and unique workout for your upper and lower back!?! Here at Fit2B we are all about using what you have on hand to facilitate a great workout. If you’ve got dumbbells, great! But a lot of people don’t, or maybe […]
So light. Surprisingly soft. More sturdy than you think. Blocks are an awesome tool to encourage movement and explore your flexibility. Learn how to use this fitness prop to pursue some of the most blissful block moves ever! This routine is a delightful combination of gentle, restorative work + relaxing stretches. Perfect for days when […]
Just the second in what we plan on being a very long series of basic step aerobics workouts that we plan to debut on Fit2B over the next year, this 30-minute video will give you a fun total-body cardio session. Beth is in the same outfit and on the same set as the first one, but […]
Wait, wasn’t basic step aerobics only popular in the eighties along with big hair and thongs over spandex? Ha! Thankfully, it’s still a favorite among many minus the perpetual wedgie-wear, and it was Bethany’s first favorite in group fitness! Of course, she had to get some throw-back pants as a nod to the flashy style of […]
Guess what? Beth – that’s me, the one who writes all these descriptions – doesn’t spend a bunch of time on her arms at the gym each day. I spend about 10 minutes, 2-3 times per week doing the same moves you’ll see in this band workout and the other routines in the “Amazing Arms” […]
The second in our mini-series that focus on heart-elevating, muscle-toning moves to bring out some definition and show off the strength you’re building! We filmed this one outside, and it was so fun! Here is the link to the squatting video that is mentioned in the routine. Personal note: Beth had just recovered from Strep […]
The fourth in our uber basic yet super effective basic aerobics routines, this video will get your heart rate elevated and your muscles moving in all directions! Just like Beth, you don’t even have to get out of your slippers to do this mini-workout that shows you how to bring some small hand-weights along for […]
Join Princess Belle and Princess Beth in learning some lovely ladylike movements that your little princess will enjoy practicing! We had a lot of fun doing our hair pretty with tiaras and dressing up for this precious routine {mostly} led by “Belle” who is Chris’ daughter. She has been in Fit2B routines since she was […]
The chief resistance your body fights every day is gravity: The pull that holds you against this Earth we live on. The surfaces we walk upon effect how we interact with gravity. Walking on grass is different than walking on sand which is different than walking on wood floors… especially in slippery socks. As you do […]
If you can see various props with new eyes, then you’ll gain a fresh perspective on playful movement. Playing with your foam roller {or similar objects} provides further avenues to safely get more action into each of your days. In this short video containing some unique foam roller exercises, you will learn how to use […]
Stretching via pulling or reaching is one way to lengthen tight muscles, while relaxing into restorative positions where no “work” must be done – only releasing – is a whole different approach. This valuable method is useful to all fitness levels and abilities. For this “routine” you will need to find a quiet place where […]
As you start putting your body back together with the safe, effective home fitness videos here on Fit2B, beginning with your core, you might find several areas calling for your attention. Most of my clients realize they need better neck posture which will in turn help their core. You see, when your core isn’t […]
Focusing solely on Pilates workout movements you can do at home, there really isn’t anything plain about this routine. It’s just all about mat-style Pilates and nothing else. With several levels and modifications provided for each portion, we know it will be a favorite for anyone wanting a straightforward, fun approach to some of the best […]
As you advance in your fitness journey, adding some balance poses will definitely increase your intensity. Especially if those poses are inversions where your head is below your heart. This pivotal workout will take you to a new level of fitness and body exploration, starting with simple inversions, then adding balancing into the equation. Note: […]
Are you ready for some DVDs and not just online workouts from Fit2B Studio? Our first release “Fit2B Firm” has 4 of our best, most popular and FUN total body workout routines! Our second release “Fit2B Beginning” has 6 of our most basic routines including 4 of our foundational videos, plus the Transitions routine and Restorative Poses! […]
Please welcome style coach, Lisa Landis, who has THE SOLUTION to uncomfortable, sticky belly wraps that are worn ’round the clock during abdominal rehab for recovering from diastasis recti. Lisa has two boys and lives in Colorado Sprints, CO. One of the best things we can do to extend the life of our abdominal splint is […]
The perfect routines to do all by yourself, these candid yet tasteful videos are designed to help women connect to the most intimate part of their core: the pelvic floor. Using straight anatomical terms and tender talk, I will offer you several non-invasive methods and movements for the purpose of reconnecting your control over your most […]
It was 5 years ago at a family Christmas party that my soon-to-be business partner, Christopher Behnke, asked me the same question that is showing up on my calendar today: What would you try if you knew you would be successful? What would you attempt if you could be guaranteed NOT to fail? I told […]
“After not being able to lose weight forever, I lost all the baby weight and way more getting back to my early high school pant size by doing one fit2b video, sometimes just a “foundational five” also known as “F5” each day for 3-4 days a week, and a paleo-ish nourishing traditions diet. Small steps!!!!! Just […]
For various reasons, Yoga isn’t everyone’s dream workout. Here at Fit2B we want each of our members to find the routines that uplift and encourage them, and we recognize that Yoga isn’t doable for some and sometimes controversial to others. Thus, this pathway has most of our routines that feature non yoga exercises + a […]
We are about strength, not soreness here at Fit2B Studio, but sometimes our more challenging workouts will leave you feeling sore, and then what? Proper nutrition to fuel your muscle’s work AND excellent alignment are the biggest keys to preventing unnecessary pain, but we’re talking about how to treat those tight muscles DURING the discomfort. […]
Oh! Such a sweet surprising challenge to the whole body, this short – yet full – total body routine brings the whole body to bear strongly on your core. Forgive the heavy breathing, but these moves are challenging and Bethany was JUST getting over strep throat while filming this! Also, this routine features our very […]
With so much WRONG information about the core out there and bad advice about how to safely tone your tummy and strengthen your whole midsection, it has become vitally important to me that fit2b.com provide the RIGHT education from MANY viewpoints. So a couple years ago, I began dreaming and talking with my co-founder Chris […]
Kettle Bell training is HOT but “tummy safe” the moves often are NOT … In this second, slightly more advanced installment of Bethany’s “how to” kettle bell series, you’ll learn more moves in a safe manner that will protect your core and tune you into the proper form and breathing patterns, so that one day when you […]
As you get strong and ready for more challenges, this will become one of your favorite routines. Bethany packs a set of great moves into this short 20 minutes that will safely leave you sweaty and breathless. Get out those handweights and find a wall, because there’s not much downtime in this video! Let’s go! […]
At least once a week, Bethany guest writes for other sites about birth, diastasis recti, pregnancy exercise, fitness, why you shouldn’t do crunches, and many other topics. Really, it’s more often that she gets to blog here! So we have put together a run-down of some of her recent blogs, with the first one being […]
Doesn’t stretching require being still? How does that work with children? Well, it is a challenge, but it’s not impossible! This 10 minute shortie proves that children can learn to stretch their whole bodies AND have fun AND learn about alignment at the same time! Stick around for the blooper at the end 😉 By […]
Holding your tummy in all the time is NOT the solution for your big belly. In fact “holding stuff in” benefits FEW facets of our life. Yes, I know, sometimes we just don’t know how to let go of stuff, and by “stuff” I mean dreams, children, tummies, that one exercise we just can’t seem […]
Now, I’m not sure if you know this, but my husband, myself and our two wildlings live on 7 acres of God’s green earth in rural southwest Washington State. It’s been just a little over a year now since we traded one-tenth of an acre surrounded by busy streets and nosy neighbors who tut-tutted […]
Having trouble falling asleep? Need to get away from your day for a few minutes? This routine is your solution to stress. I’ve heard it said that laying on the floor is a primal way to reconnect to your body because that’s where we all start with movement as babies: on the floor, figuring out […]
Our favorite guest instructor and licensed physical therapist, Kelly Dean of The Tummy Team, joined us yet again to film this unique cardio session that works the total body and core with great moves and fun visualizations. It’s not too long, but it gets intense while staying safe for anyone with abdominal trauma. Have fun! […]
Having taught group fitness and floor aerobics for 18 years, I was excited to put together another great set of moves to get your blood pumping. Similar to Basic Aerobics I & II that can be found here, it’s not necessary for you to stay on beat or memorize choreography. Just enjoy the music as […]
“I actually am 2 years out post baby. But I didn’t know that I had diastasis recti. I just thought I had belly bloat or that my trunk was too short for all my insides. So I posted the first picture {see photo below} on the trim healthy mama site asking what people recommended to […]
Oh the neck… how small it seems, yet how important is it’s role? Very! If the muscles in your neck are tight they cause headaches and pull the rest of you out of alignment. If you’re out of alignment, your neck will be tight. It’s a vicious circle, and one that we here at Fit2B […]
Faith, fitness and birth: those are the 3 passions of Fit2B Studio founder, Beth Learn, and that’s one reason why Fit2B Studio is so involved in diastasis awareness and core health. We truly want to help people where it matters: their center! So when Kristen Benoit, a member of Fit2B, certified midwife, and servant with […]
Want a literal booty kickin’ with some boxing on the side? This fun workout will introduce you the basics of kickboxing in typical “Fit2B Style.” Get your attitude, intensity and heart rate all elevated as you jab, jack and kick your way through 23 minutes of simple, no-nonsense cardio that could double as self-defense. Note: […]
When a member of Fit2B’s diastasis-aware fitness video site posted this gorgeous photo and cute story in our private member forum on facebook, I decided to ask for more submissions of what home fitness really looks like for our core-focused members. The photos sent in are fun and raw, some neat, some messy… because that’s […]
Foam rolling is an excellent way to stretch muscles from the middle, but this form of myofascial release is often demonstrated with crunch-like motions that can damage the connective tissue of the core… talk about irony! In this introductory routine, Bethany demonstrates a year of careful research and collaboration with other experts as she brings […]
We know you’ve always wanted to hear Bethany sing and teach your kids some anatomy, right? Okay, at least that’s a yes to the second. We normally sing it like this: You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out… but in our version, the lyrics are changed to basic anatomical terms […]
Things that caught my eye and made my body-nerd-brain glow this past week… The feeling of being surrounded by supportive colleagues; images of movement in 3D on an awesome yoga site; a happy member who is back into her unpregnant jeans at 4 wks postpartum after her 4th baby; a great phone call […]
The Fit2B team took diastasis recti awareness to some race walking relay races this summer, and I have such fun pictures to share with you. We wrote core abdominal info all over the vans, played loud music, wore funny wigs and gnarly teeth, so – needless to say – I’m not looking as polished after […]
If you’ve never heard of Roku, it’s a little tiny box that acts like a wireless router, attaching to your old TV with audio/visual cables or to your new TV with an HDMI cable. However, you don’t surf the web with it; you watch channels like Netflix, Hulu, etc. You plug it in, and voila! […]
Kettlebell training is very popular right now, but most of the moves are demonstrated in such a fast and hyper-extended manner that most of the general videos on YouTube that show how to work with kettlebells are unsafe for the beginner exerciser or anyone with knee, hip, shoulder and core injuries such as diastasis recti […]
Challenge your body wisely today and enjoy progressive strength tomorrow. Fit2B from A – Z E is for Easy. M is for Moderate. C is for Challenging. TS is for TummySafe. K is for Kids. R is for relaxing. P is for pregnancy. 5 Minutes With Fit2B – 5:36 – Improve various areas by focusing on them […]
Oops! This isn’t the right page anymore. You should be redirected here. Non-TummySafe Routines (Despite her degree in exercise and sport science and countless certifications as a group fitness instructor, Bethany didn’t realize that diastasis recti, hernia and prolapse should merit a change in fitness patterns. It’s simply a matter of avoiding certain movements […]
Now an official part of our F5 series, this fantastic stretching routine introduces Guest Instructor Kelly Dean, licensed physical therapist and owner of The Tummy Team, as she joins Fit2B Studio to share how it’s not always about flexing and “working” a muscle back into shape; it’s also about lengthening the tight muscles that are […]
What if you could have a core workout designed by a physical therapist? Especially one who is world-famous for her work in providing continuing education training for instructors, midwives, doulas, nurses, and many more who work with the true core? Well, here you go! Join guest instructor, Kelly Dean of the Tummy Team, for […]
While searching for a picture of a tear in the side of a bag (since it reminded me of my core and how it used to be) among other images I send myself via email, I came across this old email with the word “tears” in it, too… Sweet Fit2B member Lola wrote – “Thank […]
Welcome to the Core of Fit2B Studio This is where we like everyone to begin their journey with Fit2B. We call this page the “Foundational Five” or “F5” pathway because each section has 5 parts. The 3 buttons below will give you a solid foundation so you can rebuild, reclaim and restore your body beginning with your core. […]
It’s all about “the more” … the diastasis which is caused by more pressure than normal, the stress that’s caused by pressure to do more, the anxiety that’s cause by pressure to be more, the adrenal fatigue that’s caused by all of those and the need to sleep more and have more caffeine to do […]
Don’t feel like breaking a sweat? Just want to tune into your body and do some lengthening and releasing? This routine is “simply stretching” and all of the movements are TummySafe™ with minimal twisting, no crunch-like transitions, and it’s very gentle yet effective for all fitness levels. We have refilmed this workout a total of […]
Even the smallest bellies can establish a healthy core connection! Let your child join our children for some bitty belly moves that teach how to activate the transverse abdominus. Plus, learn how lots of other fun moves and tricks utilize our core on a daily basis. Leave lots of room in your exercise area for […]
When I respond to questions in the private member forum, sometimes the members “like” it a whole bunch of times, and that’s when I think to myself, “Hm, you should make this into a blog!” But grand ideas get away from me, so I’ve created this post to just copy and paste these random threads […]
“Do you have any stretches for ‘that time of the month’ to help me with cramping?” That thread on our private member forum on Facebook got my wheels turning, and after doing some research and thinking about what I’ve always naturally done with my own body to release tension, I designed this routine to help […]
Do you ever just sit back and watch your kids do “dangerous” stuff? Of course, I’m not talking about playing with fire, but I’m just about the furthest thing from a helicopter parent because I believe kids are capable. One of the many reasons we moved to a 7 acre farm in the countryside with […]
My brain works in circles, and while I focus a lot on core fitness, I’m also a wife and mother who lives in a fixer upper farm house. This blog is a mish-mash of intersecting things I experienced one week as a farm girl and fitness professional. Our private members-only forum is always hopping and […]
Equipment needed: Bench or straight back chair. Maybe a pillow for your lower back. Here is one of our most basic routines designed for those who need to dial it back to the most simple aspects of “finding” their core via the basic breath. The title comes from a term that means “root lock” in […]
This standing fitness routine is safe and FUN for mom and baby. If your child fits in a carrier of any sort (wrap, pack, ergo-style, sling, etc) then this routine will be awesome for you. Leah’s little guy literally went to sleep while we did this workout! We keep the motions smaller and soothing, […]
There is 3-finger gap in maternal care, yet with all the awareness being raised about birth empowerment, this one is not being discussed much. Diastasis Recti is another form of pregnancy and birth-related trauma that is preventable and treatable without surgery, yet women are willingly and silently suffering with it because general practice doctors often […]
At 44 minutes long, this is a delightful and gentle cardio routine that uses principles of Tabata to work and rest your muscles. You’ll perform several exercises for 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, for 4 minutes each with a 1 minutes rest before moving onto the next exercise. The exercises in this routine […]
I never tire of talking about abs and bellies and diatasis, but how about I take a mini break and give you a peek into my current life? Six months ago, my family ditched city life in Portlandia, sold our .16-acre lot and 1,700 sq. ft. bungalow, and moved to a 1,400 sq.ft. “fixer upper” […]
Finding a qualified nutritionist and personal trainer in ONE person is rare, but my pal Dave Barnas of True Health Unlimited is. that. guy. When he offered to send me copies of his two latest releases – Real Food Therapy Guide and Y.E.S. Your Eating Solution – so I could do a review for the […]
A sweet thank you to member, Leah, for lending us little Patrick for this workout where you will learn how to exercise with your baby in a safe manner. This interactive routine is gentle yet thorough, dealing with alignment while holding your child, fun movements with your baby as the “weight,” and total body moves […]
When you think of cleansing, is this the image that comes to mind? LOL! I think that is the number one question I receive from people when they ask me about doing a cleanse: “Am I going to be, you know, on the toilet all day?” The truth is, there are many different types of cleanses […]
Okay, I get a bit giggly at my own cheesiness whenever I can work my last name – which is “Learn” – into a blog post. And now that I’ve got that tidbit out of my exhausted brain, I can tell you some of the AWESOME things I learned while on a roadtrip with Kelly […]
Cardio Workouts The recommendation is a minimum of 150 minutes per week of accumulated moderate to strenuous activity to keep our hearts and muscles and minds healthy. The following routines will nudge your heart rate well past resting mode and help you break a gentle sweat. These workouts are in basic order from “E” for […]
Twice in the past week, I’ve been contacted by women who want to join Fit2B Studio’s online Tummy Safe™ video library, but they’re concerned about “the yoga part.” One wrote: “Hi- I found your site this morning through Wise Woman Builds Her Home. I am a homeschool mom of 6 also in the Pacific Northwest (greater […]
Our abdominal tummy muscles have to work harder in certain positions than others, and if you don’t know how to “turn on” your transverse abs, those moments may be contributing to your belly getting bigger, not smaller. The job of your abs isn’t crunches and situps, although they work together to do those things if […]
How much time do your kids spend on the floor? Not much, right? They sit at tables or desks. They lounge in chairs and on sofas. Yet their ability to get around on the floor will become more crucial as they pass their prime and begin to age… hopefully with grace. Get your teen or […]
Get your teen or tween involved in exercise with this fun, informal 10-minute routine. They won’t feel the need to be perfect, because we allowed the “stars” of this routine to follow along at their own pace, too! Be sure to check out our “Floor Yoga” routine for teens as well! By clicking play and […]
Giving gifts of fitness is awkward sometimes, and you have to be careful how you present your present, if you know what I mean. Just last week, I “tipped” the guy who dropped off and installed my new-to-me washer and dryer with 3 free months on Fit2B Studio to give his wife. He looked a […]
A new member recently posted in our private member forum: “I’m a mother of 2 with my second pregnancy ending in a c-section as a result of my diastisis that went unnoticed (the midwife at the delivery was appalled that no one had addressed the problem, yet had little advice to offer me afterwards). Having […]
We’d like to welcome Susanne Reinhold from Kangaroo Fitness who is a fitness instructor and personal trainer working with the pre/postnatal population. Susanne has a special interest in the abdominal muscles given that the belly is the number one concern for most new moms. Learning more about the core has taken on a new level […]
There are TWO versions of this routine on this page because every BODY is different. The more I research the core and diastasis, the more I’m learning a simple truth: our body’s position throughout the day matters a lot! You can workout with perfect form… but what about the rest of your day. How are you […]
Bound to be a member favorite, this workout incorporates weights and bands and balance moves to fire up your core and your whole body! Get ready for a slow yet powerful 20-minutes of solid action and education as you learn more about alignment and balance are you core’s main job. Equipment needed: Elastic band or […]
As we build our own set of slightly insane workouts, you must be aware that this series will leave you with more “muscle reminders” that you exercises. If you are too sore to lift your arms the next day, that’s not a good thing. Working should fatigue your muscles without hurting you or hindering your […]
This therapeutic routine is gentle but also a thorough workout of the entire body. It starts in a standing position and then transitions you to the floor with safe queues. The routine starts and finishes with some deep spiritual connection imagery that will leave you centered and peaceful. By clicking play and watching any video on […]
If your middle is muddled like mine was after having two kids – but you’ve never had kids, or maybe you have eight – and it makes weird shapes when you try to sit up, or you could swear you can fit your whole hand in your tummy trench, and no matter how much you […]
Dear Doctor who doesn’t understand diastasis or how it has impacted me and my friends, my cllients, our bodies, our lives, our ability to mother, our comfort in the bedroom, even the way we laughed for a while… I hope you read this! I’m angry at you. You should have known about this common abdominal […]
Red or Blue, I don’t care one bit. I’ll help you if your abs are split. Diastasis doesn’t take a side, but it sure does cause a big divide… in your six pack. It tears the left away from right and puts your posture in a plight. It’ll leave you slouched upon a bench contemplating […]
It all started with one member’s post in our private facebook forum when she wrote, “My husband and I are going to start F2B90 starting Nov 1st. A Fit2B 90-day challenge. 🙂 Complete with before and after photos, weights, and measurements.” Thirty-seven comments later, almost 10 other gals had jumped on board, and now they’ve […]
Like many of us, Teresa is a mom whose goal is to keep her body strong and her abs flat the healthy, diastasis-aware way. However, not only is Teresa one of my founding members, but she also has such a unique and vibrant approach to her everyday fitness. Almost every day, she shares a picture […]
My parents are in their 70’s now, and nothing is more precious to me than seeing my daddy – who has neuropathy – work his way down onto the floor to play blocks with my boy. They were my biggest fans when I started this business, handing out cards to total strangers on the street […]
This is a guest post written by Allison Morris, co-creator of an enlightening graphic that shows how children who exercise are smarter. Allison found this article on Fit2B Studio’s blog, and she wrote directly to me to see if I’d like to carry this educational piece on our site. Of course I said YES! Here’s […]
What is Fit2B Studio? Well, sometimes I think it’s easier for me to say what Fit2B Studio is NOT because there are so many cliches and turn-offs in the fitness industry that I am purposefully trying to not imitate. First of all, I am not out to deliberately make you sore, shred your gut, kill […]
My daughter spent a healthy amount of time this weekend with her cousins while I did the Portland to Coast Walking Relay. We ended up having a spontaneous aerobic dance party in the car after I retrieved her and my sister’s kids from my parents. Later we looked those silly songs up on youtube and […]
When my sister, Aleta, asked if I’d like to be a part of a “laid back” walking team for the Cascade Lakes Relay, I was pretty excited. I’m in my third year of doing Portland to Coast – this year as a competitive 8-person walker with Team Toe Jammin’ since we took 6th last year – […]
Life happens. Sometimes it’s a knee, hip or foot injury. Sometimes it’s a child who needs floor-time with you. Fit2B understands that. We’ve been there, so these routines allow our members to continue to strengthen their bodies with optional leg motions. Seated and floor routines literally become a life-saver when you need a workout that […]
Before any major abdominal training is done, it’s important to lay a foundation. This simple 4-minute routine will wake up your ab muscles in a safe and gentle way. As if setting a gently morning alarm, you’ll be tapping them on the shoulder and saying, “time to wake up and do your job for me!” […]
What do you tell women who are trying to lose that post-baby line of fat around the belly button? Does it sometimes not go away? (And if that’s the case, what do you say?) This question came to me in an email from Jenn Sinkler of Experience Life magazine, and here’s how I answered it […]
Welcome to the Office Workout section of Fit2B Studio! Working at a desk for several hours a day can take its toll on your posture, digestion, core health, hip flexibility, lower back strength… the list of debilitating effects goes on and on! The first thing you can do to fight those effects is switch to […]
I’m a real woman, so I do lots of multitasking. I have this fitness site, but I also edit for indie authors, crochet rugs out of t-shirt yarn, give lectures in my community about diastasis, spend lots of time in birth conversations (yes, I want another one), and I’m also a mom, taxi-driver, cook, maid, […]
I follow a page on facebook called Made to Birth, and she asked a question: How do you go with your body? What do you do to be tuned in to birth? For me it always goes back to fitness, because that’s how I’m wired and trained to think. Babies and workouts are my two biggest […]
This is an interview with Mommy Baby Spot, Darlene Watson. A birth educator and mother of two, she is also a member of Fit2B Studio! Bethany: Welcome Darlene! You are very passionate about helping moms have healthy, fit births. Can you tell us little about your own births? Darlene: My own births are what made me […]
By: Jaime Arnold. We connected with Jaime via twitter in a conversation about crunches injuring spines. Jaime is a staff writer for backpainrelief.net and yoga enthusiast. Jamie is also an animal lover and avid traveler, and she was excited to write for us about beneficial back pain relief therapies. Jaime says… Incorporating aerobics, strengthening and stretching is instrumental in […]
I have revered and respected Julie as the founder of The Tupler Technique® ever since her program helped close the split in my abs that my surrounding fitness communities was ignoring and accepting as “normal.” When I wrote to Julie and asked for a guest post, I never dreamed she’d give me an open ticket. […]
When I first watched this video about why exercise does NOT need to be hard or hurtful to work, I felt like standing up and cheering! As a mom who understands the quest to get your abs back, I nearly destroyed my post-birth body doing too many crunches and crazy workouts. My diastasis was still […]
The following exercise videos are arranged by difficulty.
Kara in Texas writes… “So I did my 3rd workout of yours this morning, and I haven’t felt sore or anything. Am I doing it wrong? I’m really excited to try this, thank you for getting back to me!” Much has been written on soreness. Some believe very strongly that if you aren’t sore, then […]
Anne Marie Gurney is a a homeschooling mom friend of mine, and she’s running – and I do mean running – for the Oregon House of Representatives. When I asked if I could interview her for Fit2B Studio, she said yes! Here is her video, and our interview follows. Bethany: How does fitness play a […]
Our April, 2012 trip to Montana Montana is a place of rugged beauty and stark contrasts: Immaculate Escalades with cattle-grill-guards parked next to beat-up Subarus still displaying blood stains from last year’s hunting season; the sharp cut of the Mission Mountains against the rolling plains; the dirt on the faces of beautiful children out playing […]
What comes to mind when you think about Relaxation? Facial. Detox. Relax. Unwind. Spend this week in our virtual spa and do one gentle set of exercises every day that will lift your face, purify your body, relax your mind, and unwind your muscles. Each of the following “workouts” are more about leaving the work […]
It’s easy to focus on the BIG muscles of the arms, legs and core. But what about the ones in your face and neck? We tend to spend a lot of time staring and squinting, turning to look over one shoulder but not the other, resting our jaw on one hand, etc. All of those […]
Strengthen your ankles and tone your calves while doing some gentle upper body work at the SAME time! Talk about multitasking, eh? Bethany sure knows how to pack a lot muscle into every minute, so that you can “FIT” an effective workout into your busy schedule. Click play and discover how you can wake up […]
We’ve had great feedback about the original Backside Burner, so we knew it would need to be made into a series. This second installment is tummy-safe and full of new moves that don’t require much space to perform. Just be warned: the workout is simple and easy, but your backside will be burning, baby! By […]
According to our members, this routine is where many things click. It’s where all the pieces from the other Foundational Five “F5” fall into place. Mula means root or source and Bandha means lock or bond. Simply put, it’s about controlling the root-like bundle of nerve connections at your trunk’s base. I have to tell […]
“Welcome to my home and this workout!” -Bethany This routine was filmed in my old home in Portland, Oregon! It’s not as swanky as some of other places we’ve filmed, but these are my pictures and my 1940’s fireplace, and the green chair is where I spent many an hour nursing my sweet boy. We’ve […]
This high-energy and high-impact workout is sure to help you burn major calories and tone your muscles along the way, yet as I analyze turbofire clips on youtube, a few things make me cringe. As a fit mama with a bachelor degree in exercise and sport science, multiple certifications, and 16 years of experience […]
Yes, that’s me. I’m wishing myself a happy birthday. I’m 33 today and I’m so excited for the coming year of my life. Here are some of my favorite pics from the past year 🙂 That’s me: The minivan mama with my two kids smiling behind me! A cute shot of my kiddos playing at […]
This is the second long thigh workout we have filmed. This one moves at a fun pace and offers more options for the inner and outer thighs, glutes and core. It is safer than the first one for those who may have a diastasis or split in their abs. The QUALITY is astronomically better than […]
Moms often turn to oils and lotions to reduce stretch marks during pregnancy, but I am starting to wonder if preventing these scars is not only related to skin hydration and genetics but also to the tone of the muscles underneath the skin. The stronger your core is, the more pressure will be taken off […]
This workout is available within several pathways here at Fit2B Studio. Bethany stays in her pretty PJ’s for this relaxing yet challenging home workout routine. It’s tummy safe and total body! By clicking play and watching any video on Fit2B Studio, LLC you certify that you agree to the terms of our disclaimer found HERE!
I used to be one of them: a trainer and group fitness instructor who bragged about how sore I could make my clients. Then I had an epiphany: What if I could make people stronger without hurting them? It was all about delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) back then – back before I had kids, before […]
When my college bestie Tricia of Seriously Smitten wrote on facebook about a running experience she had a couple days ago, it moved me to tears and I begged her to let me share it with my readers: “As my feet hit the pavement, I see a woman up ahead who I can see is clearly […]
We had just finished the step aerobics portion of class, but she left – walked out – after just a few Yoga warrior poses. I had been wondering if she was another instructor because she had such great form, fancy moves beyond the ones I was teaching, strong arms, and she wouldn’t make eye contact. […]
Please welcome Wendy Powell, MuTu System Founder and member of Fit2B Studio. Wendy is a fellow crunch-free advocate, and – while Fit2B Studio offers ongoing TummySafe™ Fitness – Wendy’s 12-week program will help you put your core back together even YEARS after babies. I am so delighted to be asked by Bethany to write a […]
Jenn Bonner is endorsed by Fit2B Studio as a health coach. She shares more of her story about being obese during pregnancy with us today… Shame – what a shameful word. Unfortunately too many of us women live with shame every day. There is a range of shame women and moms go through on a […]
This simple yet stimulating upper body workout will reshape your arms if you stick to doing it at least twice a week for a period of 6 weeks. Or combine it with other workouts in our “Amazing Arms” pathway. While I’m demonstrating this routine in a chair, you can certainly do it standing. Don’t have […]
Valentines Day = Love … Love = dancing … Dancing + Pink = Pink Glove Dance to raise breast cancer awareness. I know, the brain of this fitness chick works in mysterious ways. But this became a blog post when I went on youtube to watch the “Pink Glove Dance” that was originally filmed at […]
Do you believe you can get a HARD workout without jumping around, doing crazy contortions, or lifting extreme loads? We believe it! We believe that all you need is your body to get one TOUGH workout. This 20-minute routine has some crazy stuff you may have never seen before, but it is straightforward and simple […]
Safer exercises for stronger tummies is the theme of this workout. Many prenatal and postnatal workouts on the modern market promise to help keep you in shape before baby comes and help you get your body back after baby arrives. Yet they have moms doing super crazy stuff that leaves tender joints and ligaments “sore” […]
It can be hard to get your teenager interested in working out at home when he or she has a day off from school. We always have an audience of kids and adults watching our filming take place so, when we filmed in their home, these teens and pre-teens WANTED to participate in one of […]
Bravo for Buttocks! Three cheers for Thighs! These body parts are often the “butt” of much lewd laughter, but the gluteal muscles in your toosh and the thigh muscles in your upper leg are CENTRAL to your health and fitness! After all, these muscles play a key role in one very crucial daily activity: using […]
This pathway is for those wanting to explore Pilates in a TummySafe manner Here at Fit2B we bring the breath into every motion we make. If you’re dealing with diastasis recti, some Pilates moves should be avoided, but we take the guesswork out of wondering what those are. Using this path will orient you to which […]
This pathway of workouts is for those wanting to learn Yoga in a TummySafe manner. Please Read First: Do each of the following workouts in order so that when you reach the end of this section, you have built a solid, progressive foundation of basic to advanced motions. Look at this path like stepping stones where […]
F I T 2 B® K I D S ! This special page is just for kids! Our smallest members love this page best, as do the homeschooling families who utilize this section to supplement their home-based physical education! Preview all the titles below! Children will burn endless energy once they are given permission to have […]
This may have been one of the most hilarious filming adventures we have ever enjoyed! The producer’s boys join Bethany for this laughter-filled workout that is very impish and spontaneous. The truth is we had to splice several bits together because “someone” kept running off camera! We just rolled with it! By clicking play and […]
Subscribe to our newsletter if you want more 🙂 Every personal trainer and fitness instructor worth their weight knows about “The Principle of Progression.” It means that you start with small motions and work up to bigger motions. It means you start with light weights and work up to heavier weights. It means that – […]
We always take some pictures while the Fit2B Studio camera is rolling, and so we’d like to share a few with all the moms, dads, and families who follow us, along with exercise tips of the movement that was captured. This one was posted on our facebook yesterday, and it’s such a good one! Gate […]
Just like having an injured shoulder changes how you lift weights with your arms, the same is true for your abs, and a very common injury known as diastasis merits major changes in your core routine. However, I can’t begin to number how many personal trainers, group fitness personnel, and dance instructors whom I have […]
We launched our facebook fitness page just shortly before we launched Fit2B Studio. The name “Fit to Be Us” is based on our domain name. We wanted a dot-com name, but we couldn’t afford one at the time. When fit2b.us popped up as a possibility, and we said it out loud to each other, we […]
This quick crunch-free, plank-free mini-workout you’re about to do will connect your breath and alignment to your core throughout several simple motions. The second video summarizes the first video in a short recap. You’ll find two videos below – the long and short version – but Fit2B has more (and less) when you’re decide to shift […]
We have some amazing things coming up, and I just want to take a moment to inform our blog followers about all of it. 1. We are partnering with Nisha Riggs of Healthy Moms Kitchen to create an amazing new product that will bring fitness and meal planning right to your email inbox every week. […]
Pinterest allows users to download a button for their browser. When they see an image or graphic or quote that they like on a blog, they “pin” it by clicking the button and selecting the image. It’s a fun way to build traffic as you inspire others. Here’s another one I made for a new […]
Kim Vopni has two boys, and she is the founder of EPI-NO Canada. We met through a twitter conversation about the damage that crunches can do, and I learned that she has been trained in diastasis recti rehab. Kim holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario and a Post Graduate Diploma in […]
Before I became a mother, I thought fitness would be just as easy as it had been for me all my life. “I’ll just put the baby in the stroller and go for a jog!” I wasn’t accounting for a screaming baby half-way down the block, leading to a let-down that would soak through two […]
“I cooked dinner last night. I need a padded room now.” Even though dinner turned out great, and my kids (3 & 6) both asked for seconds, that was this mom’s facebook status last night. Having a glass of wine while I cook seems to help counteract the rise in blood pressure that happens when […]
I want to thank Selena Moffitt from 1momsmission.com for being our guest blogger today … Do you use the same advice you were given as a child: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Do you model what you preach? Do you treat this meal as THE MOST IMPORTANT meal? Between the kids’ needs […]
When people ask me if I like to cook healthy meals, I usually look at them sideways and mutter something about being a fitness mama not a “Betty Crocker.” I find joy in making people burn calories, not consume them, so most of my aprons are wadded up in the back of my kitchen towel […]
The signs are all around us, and they tell lies. Lies about nutrition. Lies about health. Lies about fitness during pregnancy. Lies about what kids really need. Just this morning, I saw a billboard by Burger King that had a picture of an ice-cream cone, a goody-covered sundae and a milk shake. It proclaimed that […]
As creators of our own yoga and pilates workout videos for kids, it could be a conflict of interest for us to review other kid yoga DVD’s. But unlike other exercise business owners, we don’t believe we are THE ONLY ONES with ALL the answers. So we don’t see the Storyland Yoga DVD as […]
One of my friends who has lost nearly 200 lbs was facebooking about how she is now going to rehab her abs, shrink her midsection and tighten her core by going through diastasis rehab with The Tummy Team like I did. Then an interesting comment popped up on her facebook comment thread about the notion […]
Last week was a hot one here in Camas. Specifically last Wednesday, the 7th at 4:00 in the afternoon on the Captain William Clark trail in Washougal. On that trail it was about 95 degrees with little to no shade. Somewhere during the day I thought this would be the best time to go for a […]
Your muscles‘ ability to move in various ways is a lot like a government employee’s vacation time: Either you use it, or you lose it! As you move past your prime, it is crucial for you exercise in ways that maintain the motions that will contribute to your quality of life when you are 50, […]
I see my triceps meeting my posterior deltoids. I see the blur of the background as I leave it all behind me. I hear the rhythmic worship music blasting from my shoulder speakers. I feel my sweat-plastered shirt sticking to my sports bra … and I am proud. Because I am four months post-op from knee […]
Me and my sister Aleta, who just recovered from a bout with thyroid cancer, both did the Portland to Coast walking relay race as part of Hood to Coast for the second time this year. I was on “Toe Jammin” an 8-person womens team, and Aleta was on “Rockin’ Walkers,” a 12-person co-ed team that included […]
When hundreds of relay running teams leave Mt. Hood, and hundreds of relay walking teams leave Portland, and they are all trying to reach Seaside, Oregon in the shortest time possible … well, things can get a little sticky and stinky and FUN!!! Hood to Coast and its sister event, Portland to Coast, have been […]
How does one survive Hood to Coast, the world’s largest relay running race that also includes Portland to Coast, a walking relay race? Having just placed sixth with my Team Toe Jammin’ #2100 means we have a guaranteed place in next year’s race without submitting to the lottery … but are all the funny team […]
Hi, my name is Kate, and I have recently started writing a blog called Spirtually Obese. It’s been on my mind for a while to start a blog writing about my own struggles with weight and faith. As an overweight Christian woman, I have often been told that if I just relied on God enough, […]
Guest Blogger Luci Smith: For a few years now, it’s been a dream of mine to do a marathon. But for a mother of two very energetic girls and a wife of 17 years, I was seriously lacking the motivation needed to train for such a thing. But that all changed last Spring when I […]
Why did it take me so long to figure out that my children are ALWAYS hungry? When they start whining for food, I start digging through the diaper bag, giving them whatever is in there. It used to be that if I came up empty, well, then it was McDonalds! The reality is that having […]
This is the sequel to Maternity Mix I and both workouts are perfect for the soon-to-be mother. Safe for virtually any stage of pregnancy, this short workout gets every muscle without stressing loose ligaments and blossoming bellies. This workout is “tummy safe” and uses core exercises that keep the abdominal area toned during pregnancy. Rock […]
Having chiropractic work done on my spine has literally kept me on my feet through all my years of bouncing around as I teach group fitness and play hard. So when I met “Dr. Doug” at a networking event here in Portland, and he offered to guest blog for me, I jumped at the chance […]
For my 2011 New Year’s resolution, I swore off drinking soda pop for a year. This has been hard for me, but not as hard as I expected. Please know that I’ve never been a pack-a-day pop drinker, but I did enjoy a can of Mt. Dew with lunch on a regular basis … or […]
Are you refusing to do a yoga-based thigh stretch just because it’s called trikonasana (Triangle Pose)? Are you refusing a whole mode of wellness just because it comes from another part of the world, is spoken in another language, or has ancient roots in a different belief system? Some might label that mentality with strong […]
We are blessed with a life estate in Montana where my husband grew up as a boy, running wild and free. Twenty acres of land currently used by his father for hay and cows and chickens now also holds a tiny, blue cabin. It’s a shabby little 12×20 shed with two levels, making it roughly […]
Lunges are an effective way to tone and tighten your entire lower half, and they can also contribute to pelvic stability during pregnancy and as we age. All of your lunging should leave you saying, “Ooooh, I look and feel good!” Not, “Ow, I pulled something!” However, when you don’t have a mirror – or even […]
Whether you worship the “Universe” or the One who breathed it into existence – or even if you don’t worship anything at all – it seems we all have stages of life where a certain soul-message is continuously weaved through every single situation we experience. Things that happen to us, things we observe and hear – […]
If you’ve heard of the Insanity workouts, well here is one of the most insane workouts we’ve ever filmed. Why is it insane? For starters, it’s super hard and the moves are just plain crazy! Even Bethany is out of breath in this one, but it’s totally safe as long as you have a baseline […]
Some people like to cook. I don’t. I derive no joy from making a mess in my kitchen and cleaning it up. So when I find a simple recipe that makes my family happy and healthy, it gets written down on a receipt or envelope. If it comes back for a second round with good […]
Summertime means road trips with the family, friends or by yourself with one hand surfing on the airstream and the radio cranked all the way up. As fun and exciting as road trips are, though, the road map often directs adults toward weight-gain and children toward boredom. We know, because we – the two families […]
Last week my daughter, who will be six soon, had a huge epiphany. We were driving in the car, going through our usual routine on the usual days when she said, “Life is just circles, Mom.” In the moment, she really wasn’t too happy about these “circles” because she was craving a change. But we […]
It’s a rap about organic food stores. It will leave you laughing and wordless, and it tells you where I’m at. If you have no idea why I have deviated from my usual fitness rantings, you need to know about something special that happens on twitter on Wednesdays. Well, two things really. One is “Wordless […]
If you have ever labored to bring a baby into the world, you know what a workout it can be, and you know how in-tune with your body you must be, especially if you want to be in good shape for a natural, drug-free childbirth. Well, over coffee with Lisa Johnson, a dear woman whom […]
Here’s to all the daddies who are fit to be fathers who are more than just sperm-donors who really invest. Here’s to all the fathers who are fit to be the coach Fit … 2 … B the strong man the one the children cling to Here’s to the men who are fit to […]
Guest Post: Health Coach Jenn Bonner My reality used to bite. Being an athlete at heart, morbidly obese and hopeless was my reality and I hated it. I wanted to be ‘normal’ – whatever the definition of that is anymore. I wanted to be able to do the activities I used to enjoy so much. […]
Youtube is full of free workouts for all fitness levels. The problem is that they aren’t categorized or monitored, and any “Tina Trainer” can post what they think is the best workout of all time. You need to look for three things when downloading or purchasing an exercise video: Is the professed workout instructor or […]
How can your pilates and yoga workout help victims of the Joplin Tornado? Fit2B Studio has partnered with Victor Knowles, president of Peace on Earth Ministries in Joplin, Missouri to help fund tornado relief efforts. Join for a year and mention “Joplin” at checkout, and we will give HALF of that amount to POEM and send […]
Trees have always known how to get their message to millions of social network users. Since the dawn of creation, trees have set a standard that every blog writer and product seller and business owner should emulate. Take the ancient tree in my neighbor’s backyard for example: As one of the oldest trees in our […]
Hey guys! The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $9,200 worth of cash, goods and services to their recipient, the Stalnaker family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the effects of the BP oil spill on the Louisiana economy. The family was in need […]
Welcome to the 6×6 Path Goal: 6 videos in 6 days for 6 weeks If you have worked your way through the Fit2B Beginning and Fit2B Advancing Pathways, then you should be ready for this section. This path mixes some of our more intense routines in a manner that slowly builds how much time you move each […]
We have a LOT of workouts, and more are coming. We want to make it very EASY for our members to know where the EASY workouts are, no matter what section they are in. We want Fit2B Studio to be a place where anyone of any age at any fitness level can EASILY find what […]
K = Kids E = Easy M = Moderate C = Challenging R = Relaxing P = Pregnancy TS = TummySafe™ Fit2B™ in 10 … These workouts are 10 minutes long or less! 5 Minutes With Fit2B – Improve various areas by focusing on them for […]
If you’ve been rehabbing your abs, and you are feeling stronger and ready for more, this workout will keep you standing and moving the whole time while helping you safely transition to slightly more intense motions while also showing you how to incorporate your transverse abs with breath and activation at the proper times. This […]
Newly filmed and re-released, this routine will put a jump in your step! Every transition in this workout is accomplished with a jump, but several options and levels are provided. The pace and attention to the transverse abdominus makes this a very “tummy safe” workout. It is good for bone density and your heart rate, […]
Introduce your kids to the most basic warrior poses plus a few extras! It’s not about perfection; it’s about happiness and healthiness. This kids workout, will inspire boys and girls alike to see fitness as fun and fulfilling! This is one of our oldest routines, and you can tell! We’ve improved {and our kids have […]
Turn balancing and core work into a game with your busy little ones. Littles of all ages can join the fun of learning how to balance in different ways! This short workout teaches healthy competition, bone density building tips, and lots of laughter. Watch for Watson! By clicking play and watching any video on Fit2B […]
If you like to run or jog, but you get tight and tired too quickly, try this routine as your warm-up or cool-down. It’s a great stretching regimen for any type of exerciser, but Bethany’s queues are directed to athletic runners who want to care for their knees or hips. NOTE: There are now TWO videos […]
Kiss your love-handles goodbye by performing this short but challenging workout on a regular basis. Target the soft spots on your sides below your ribcage and above your hips while working some surrounding muscles as well! This is a second rendition of the first Love Handles Lost workout. It contains the same flow of exercises […]
How long can you hold a pose? This workout encourages you to hold each position for at least 10 deep breaths. Don’t let the lack of repetitive motions fool you into thinking it won’t get your heart pumping. Holding a muscle in place can be harder than moving it! This workout was originally filmed in […]
One of the best things about our site is that you don’t have to buy or wear workout attire so that you look good in public just to get all sweaty! Bethany will openly confess that as a stay-at-home mom herself, she’ll just stay in her pajammies all day if she’s not going anywhere. Why […]
This workout features six exercises done tabata-style, meaning each movement done for 8 sets of 20 seconds each with a 10 second rest between each set. However, unlike mainstream tabata classes that perform the exercises as fast as possible, Bethany pays careful attention to form and core positioning and keeps things at a safe pace. […]
I recently entered Circle of Moms’ contest for Top 25 Fitness Bloggers, and it’s been an exercise in humility! Even though the top 25 bloggers will get quite a bit of PR on Circle of Moms, my reasons for entering were mostly out of sheer curiosity. Who are these other women who label themselves fitness […]
Kelly Dean from The Tummy Team makes a guest instructor appearance in this quick, total body workout that offers some excellent ways for men and women dealing with diastasis to further strengthen their core. If you haven’t gone through any of the amazing Restore Your Core” workshops with Kelly via webinar or live seminar, we strongly recommend you invest […]
Have a baby who wants to come along for the ride? Introduce him/her to movement with mommy just a few minutes at a time. This 12-minute session makes a great warm-up for mom or dad. A baby carrier such as an Ergo or Snugli is needed, and if you start while your child is small, […]
Let your kids bounce along with ours as we go through an unhurried exploration of the amazing things that our bodies are capable of. Structure? Who needs it? We just need to move and groove and have a great time doing it! By clicking play and watching any video on Fit2B Studio, LLC you certify […]
Relax your upper body with gentle stretches and basic movements that focus on your arms and neck muscles, plus just a little core work. This simple but beautiful routine will show you how to do yoga without losing your balance as you utilize a chair to stabilize yourself through the whole workout. By clicking play […]
We have several warrior workouts, but this one was filmed specifically to be very tummy safe for those with diastasis. We actually renamed our warrior workouts so that the first one is the safest one for those with core-strength issues, while the second one offers fewer core queues and slightly more intense options. If you have […]
Take your lower body out of the equation for a few minutes while you relax your upper body. This workout lets you isolate your core with purely upper body movements from both Pilates and Yoga. All of our chair workouts are perfect for those dealing with disability or injury in their lower body, but this […]
The Yoga Warrior poses are powerful enough all by themselves, but what if you held hand-weights while flowing through these poses? Find out how to use weights in a safe but stimulating manner to greatly increase your warrior workout intensity! Tummy Safety Tip: Remember to maintain neutral alignment and actively recruit your transverse abs whenever […]
Functional fitness workouts involve exercises that use multiple joints, multiple limbs, multiple muscles, all at once! Grab your dumbbells {or cans of food} and get a terrific workout that exercises every area. The total-body movements really escalate your heart rate and calorie burn. This TummySafe™ routine is a re-do of the original which wasn’t diastasis friendly nor […]
This was one of our earliest routines filmed in 2010, and this is the NEW version refilmed during Summer, 2015. You see, shortly after we filmed this workout, we began shifting Fit2B towards total diastasis-awareness after Bethany met Kelly Dean of The Tummy Team and was educated about how some moves in this workout might contribute […]
As a mother herself, Bethany has been through two healthy, fit pregnancies and births. She has a real heart for new moms and mommies-to-be, and you can see that shining through in this workout. Experience gentle queues that will connect you to your changing body and the precious life within you. Find out how to […]
This moderately intense, total-body exercise routine was refilmed in early March 2013 for better TummySafe cues and lighting. The music is a bit more upbeat, and the transitions are faster. So if you want a more mellow workout, this isn’t really it. If you want a total body floor workout, this is it! Equipment Needed: […]
If you only want to work your upper body with some basic Pilates moves, this routine is a great way to start your day. Sit on the edge of your bed, an exercise ball or a chair while getting an arm and ab workout! This workout is tummy safe. By clicking play and watching any […]
If you worry about your balance, or you are still finding your yoga legs, try this short routine to further your progress. Bethany shows you how to use a chair to stabilize yourself through all of the movements. Two Tummy Safe Tips: When you do the “Cats & Cows” at the end of the workout, […]
Just hearing the word “Tabata” is enough to make some folks’ knees ache. But Beth takes the risk of knee injury out of the equation by slowing down the reps a wee bit. It’s still the same pattern: 8 sets of one exercise. 20 seconds per set. 10 seconds rest between each set, for five […]
Normally I’m not a big fan of “attacking” our abdominals, because in the mainstream fitness industry, that can often mean “shredding” and “ripping” our core apart, literally. This routine, however, will focus on all four layers of your abdominals with a safe intensity. Learn how to recruit every muscle fiber in your core while keeping […]
Here is our most recent routine of blended Pilates and Yoga moves that are not only TummySafe but also “loaded” with goodness for your whole body. Go from standing to kneeling to sitting to laying all within 25 minutes, and all while utilizing your core to move your limbs. Equipment needed: a pair of handweights […]
Kids books are a dime a dozen these days, full of cuddly bears and kids eating treats at picnics with rainbows and unicorns … but it’s not everyday that a fun, quality fitness book for kids is released by someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. So when I was contacted by Steve Ettinger, […]
This surprisingly intense routine is one of our longest on Fit2B Studio, but you might not even realize that you are working out! The subtle transitions and deep core focus will sneak up on you, so that by the time you are relaxing and breathing deeply at the end, you will only feel… peaceful. This […]
For Mothers Day, we invited an amazing “Fit2B Mama” who recently lost about 200 lbs and kept it off to write a guest post. Meet Jenn Bonner! “I ran a 10K. That was huge for me! I RAN a 10K! I never stopped. I never walked. I never gave up. And my reward was to […]
I’ve been wanting to write a blog about how to turn your kids’ playground adventures into your own personal workout without looking like an idiot, but I couldn’t figure out how to get pictures of myself demonstrating stuff without sounding like a weirdo: “Um, hi! Can you use my camera phone to take some pictures […]
The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $6,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Kahlen family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the economy (and whose daughter is currently battling Tuberous Sclerosis). They focused on their love of spending time together, and brought […]
Except for a few very slow attempts at chasing down my belligerent toddler-age son, I’ve been flat on my back with my right leg elevated all week since having arthroscopic surgery to repair a partially torn medial meniscus. After showering this morning for the first time in – I’m going to keep that secret to […]
Right before and right after a new Fit2B Mama gives birth, it seems like everyone tells her to rest and to eat whatever she wants, but is that a healthy fitness standard? I’ve had two kids myself, and I remember the exhaustion and feeling like a perpetual food vacuum. However, I also remember wondering why […]
It’s the cluttery days when there’s no space on my windowsill for one more rock or fist-picked flower, let alone time to deep breathe and stretch for a workout, that I feel like grasping or running. I’m not sure which because if I run away, the children will only cry harder, but if I dare […]
As much group fitness as I have taught in studios and gyms over the past 14 years, my favorite way to workout is not indoors. Give me a hiking trail, a mountain bike, an outrigger canoe, or a pair of waterskis and you get a very happy Bethy! Planning my recent 32nd birthday party was […]
Of course I love hearing what my members are saying about my online workout site, Fit2B Studio. I’ve told them that if they ever want a one-month credit (just $7.95) they can write a blog about how their membership has helped them get in shape. This review arrived in my facebook messages today. It has […]
Working out is important, but our fitness usually comes in last when it comes to organizing our schedules. Then again, what mom or dad of little ones really has a schedule? When our children are tiny, it seems like a whole day of diapers, feedings, play-dates, doctor appointments and messes can just fly by without […]
Neatness and fitness don’t usually go together, or do they? Housework is not my favorite thing. Even though the result is a clean house, it still somehow feels like a waste of my time when I’d rather be planning a new workout or editing. Long ago, I took Flylady‘s advice and lumped a bunch of […]
I love my children, but I confess a certain snappiness when I haven’t been able to work on my fitness or fit a workout in for a couple days. It’s a vicious circle: My kids take priority, my workout gets shoved to the back-burner, I miss that negative energy expenditure, I get snappy, I have […]
You think you’re strong? Maybe you are. You might have well-defined six-pack abs and be able to complete 100 push-ups without a single break. You also might be able to do endless Yoga poses and run marathons three times a year. But if you don’t know what your transverse abdominus is and how to strengthen […]
One of my relatives, Frank W. Buckles, was the last surviving veteran of WW1. He died last week at age 110. Then this week, my husband’s beloved work kitty passed onto the land of endless sand and catnip. No less young in cat years compared to people years, this picture of Marbles sitting on a […]
It’s been a productive morning, but at a great price to my sanity. Getting it all done is not usually too important to me, but now that we’re half-way through our first year of homeschooling, and I’m not nearly half-done with the curriculum … well, it’s time to get it done. However, as I continued […]
“This is true joy in life, the being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” -George Bernard Shaw I read that […]
Have you ever been really overweight and then lost that weight only to still have a mysterious belly pooch? Have personal trainers promised you a flat six-pack, but your stomach got bigger!? Ever been pregnant? Have abdominal surgery to correct a hernia, take out your appendix, or perhaps a c-section? Then you may have a […]
Crunches & sit-ups are human-invented exercises. Someone decided that the abdominals work like every other muscle (spoiler alert: they don’t) and that shortening a muscle flexes it, and that flexing your spine over and over makes your abs flatter. Wrong again. While we might do a few crunch-like, sit-up type motions, one at a time […]
We strive for perfect bodies. We spend billions a year on makeup, toning products, books and even videos like mine. It’s all in an effort to look better. But what if you couldn’t look better? What if you were destined to have the body you have now for the rest of your life? Take away […]
“I have been a member of Fit2B Studio for a few months. I loved the idea of getting in shape at home, plus the variety of workouts available. Yes, I loved the “idea” but after a month I had only tried a few workouts. Some were great and made me laugh, but nothing caught on […]
The words “Love Drop” caught my eye last week as I stared at my Facebook stream. It was the third time I’d seen it. Three reputable bloggers, all VERY excited about this new kind of candy? But it’s not candy. It’s about community and creativity and compassion. This is what Love Drop did last month […]
If you are married to a fitness addict – like myself – you will enjoy reading this article that I just came across in the Wall Street Journal entitled, “A Workout Ate My Marriage.” It takes an inside look at the lives of two families with dedicated athletes, and it examines how the time that […]
As a homeschooling mom – a very NEW homeschooling mom – I need lots of ideas and inspiration. Being a fitness junkie, I’m all about getting my kids outdoors, but that can be a toughie seeing as how we live in a big city in the Pacific NorthWest (a.k.a. where Twilight was filmed because it’s […]
Exercise gives you energy, and you need energy to get things done. Most people know that, but I never believed it. I usually figured that I didn’t have enough energy to fold the clothes so I certainly didn’t have enough to work out. My idea of the best thing to do in under these circumstances […]
Exercise gives you energy, and you need energy to get things done. Most people know that, but I never believed it. I usually figured that I didn’t have enough energy to fold the clothes so I certainly didn’t have enough to work out. My idea of the best thing to do in under these circumstances […]
Photo shoots, filming, networking, planning meetings … Those activities made up most of my day yesterday, but if I posted them as my Facebook status then it comes across like I’m this poser of a superstar when I’m not. The reality is that I did do all those things yesterday, but my day actually started […]
Photo shoots, filming, networking, planning meetings … Those activities made up most of my day yesterday, but if I posted them as my Facebook status then it comes across like I’m this poser of a superstar when I’m not. The reality is that I did do all those things yesterday, but my day actually started […]
We were able to put my daughter in a lovely private christian preschool last year. But our finances for this year were tapped out by medical expenses. My husband ended up in the hospital overnight for fainting while driving. My daughter had to have surgery to correct her bilateral ureter reflux, and right after that […]
Kids love to have fun, and if fitness can be figured into the equation then that makes parents happy, too! It can be as simple as a quick trip to a neighborhood park or turning on some dancing music with a good “pop” that gets little feet – and maybe even your bigger ones – […]
Ta-Da! Here it is: My new blog design. It has been quite a journey due to the fact that I had no idea what I wanted at first. My sweet blog designer, Dana Sears, was quite patient with me as I drug her through hills, flowers, babies and finally settled on a (hold the phone) […]
When you first start working out it can be hard to have people watch you. This is the very reason why many people, especially women, avoid gyms. Most people don’t enjoy being stared at when they are trying to master a new skill. So you would think that exercising at home would save you from […]
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but my daughter doesn’t have the day off. We home-school our kindergartner, so we were just going about our day until it was time to put the next number on the calendar. Thankfully, I had put the MLK Day square from the calendar kit up at the start […]
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but my daughter doesn’t have the day off. We home-school our kindergartner, so we were just going about our day until it was time to put the next number on the calendar. Thankfully, I had put the MLK Day square from the calendar kit up at the start […]
We all know that a home life rich with playful movement benefits the mental, emotional and physical health of kids. But what about adults? I have been working my mind and muscles a lot lately, trying to get Fit2B Studio off the ground. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. […]
I never have to remind my kids to move or to be active at home. That might be because we don’t have a t.v. or simply because they are young. Children are naturally fidgety and fit. It’s so tempting to holler at rambunctious rugrats to “Sit Still!” But here in America, where we are known […]
I decided to snub soda for one of my resolutions this year. This is no small thing for me. Confession: pop has been a habitual part of my routine for years. I sucked on soda all afternoon while working full time prior to having kids. After having kids, I’d have a can during naptime. I’ve […]
One of my New Years Resolutions is to give up drinking soda pop, cold Turkey. I’m on Day #3, people, and I might need be admitted. Just kidding. It’s not that bad. Okay, maybe. It’s just really hard to travel and keep resolutions. Today, we’re traveling 550 miles back home after being with family in […]
“Give more. Spend Less. Cook more. Eat less. Love more. Hate less. Read more. Watch less. Recycle more. Waste less. Family more. Computer less. Bike more. Drive less. Learn more. Reject less. Listen more. Talk less. Exercise more. Sit less. Laugh more. Yell less. Jesus more. Self less.” … It’s about contrasts … *snow on […]
I found myself working out on my couch the other day. I had a cold, and I was tired of just laying there, but every time I stood up my head would throb to the rhythm of a polka song I’ve never heard. So right there on my cozy red couch, I started moving … […]
I often find my days settling into a strange system of crazy countdowns. For instance, I went grocery shopping tonight while the hubby put the two rugrats to bed … It is FIVE days until Christmas … I saw a family of FOUR helping themselves to the bulk candy chocolates … THREE people looked at […]
I often find my days settling into a strange system of crazy countdowns. For instance, I went grocery shopping tonight while the hubby put the two rugrats to bed … It is FIVE days until Christmas … I saw a family of FOUR helping themselves to the bulk candy chocolates … THREE people looked at […]
I am gearing up for a HUGE fitness blog hop with a linky that will open to bloggers offering a fitness/wellness/health oriented giveaway on December 27th. The hop will open to “hoppers” on January 1st. Some of my participants have never done a blog hop before. If that’s you, here’s your chance to practice! This […]
Maybe it’s the hush of falling snow or the quiet cubicles missing employees spending their “use or lose” vacation time. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone is going to Christmas parties and not the fitness gym. Maybe it’s that spending is directed outward and not inward at this time of year … But things are […]
Enter to win a free download of this book by commenting below! Cyclists! Have you ever wondered if riding requires the same nutrition as other sports? Do bicyclists need more fat or less in their diets? Do bike riders need to lift weights? How should cyclists cross train? What about that cup of coffee that […]
Enter to win a free download of this book by commenting below! Cyclists! Have you ever wondered if riding requires the same nutrition as other sports? Do bicyclists need more fat or less in their diets? Do bike riders need to lift weights? How should cyclists cross train? What about that cup of coffee that […]
You need to move to be able to move … Let’s see, how else can I put that … You need to stay moving to stay moving. Move now or don’t move later. Move your booty or your booty will start moving on it’s own, and I mean jiggly kind of movement, not the firm […]
It’s a little after 5 a.m. My two year-old boy is having hernia surgery at 8:30 a.m. So why am I spending time networking for my online fitness studio and connecting on social platforms in these last few precious minutes before I have to wake him up and take him to the hospital? Because it’s […]
It’s a little after 5 a.m. My two year-old boy is having hernia surgery at 8:30 a.m. So why am I spending time networking for my online fitness studio and connecting on social platforms in these last few precious minutes before I have to wake him up and take him to the hospital? Because it’s […]
Exercise used to be like breathing for me, meaning I worked out every day without having to really plan or think about it. That was before I had kids. I was the assistant manager of a fitness facility, and that job included personal training members at least once a day, teaching group fitness classes a […]
If you workout at an athletic club, as opposed to working out at home, sometimes the rewards are built into the gym’s system. Group fitness has the benefit of socializing and hiring a personal trainer offers more accountability and verbal affirmation than home workouts by yourself. So how can you reward yourself for reaching your […]
Jumping is a healthy activity for all ages that’s good for bone density and fighting osteoporosis. But sometimes the risks of jumping to increase fitness or get in shape outweigh the benefits … Like when you’re a new mom, and you have no bladder control. Or when you’re an old mom, and the “girls” just […]
We personal train ourselves every day! I’m not talking about fitness; I’m talking about habits in general. We make decisions in nano-seconds that either re-affirm or re-train our personal wellness and fitness routines. Am I going to put a little less sugar in my coffee this morning? Am I going to spend five extra minutes […]
My heart fell into my feet as I read a 3-week old post on our facebook fan page from a member having real technical trouble with our site … If you own a business, then you know the feeling. What’s worse about it for us, though, is that she reported a problem that WE didn’t […]
It was 10:42 p.m. “We look like the tail-end of a hollywood love-making scene,” I told my hubby, eying the sheets pulled up around us. “zzZZSssNRK! Hm?” He wasn’t really awake, but I was. Tons of energy and mind abuzz. I flung back the covers. “I’m gonna workout for a bit,” I announced. “Wha- huh?” […]
It was 10:42 p.m. “We look like the tail-end of a hollywood love-making scene,” I told my hubby, eying the sheets pulled up around us. “zzZZSssNRK! Hm?” He wasn’t really awake, but I was. Tons of energy and mind abuzz. I flung back the covers. “I’m gonna workout for a bit,” I announced. “Wha- huh?” […]
Gym memberships get benched when budgets get tight, and that’s when people find themselves trying to get fit at home. Getting in shape on the home-front is harder than it seems, though. Stay at home parents have a LOT of small moving hurdles to overcome. Sometimes we fall exhausted into bed, wondering where the day […]
Fit2B Studio and its revolutionary tummy-safe workouts for diastasis was featured on a major news site last night. This morning, I’m doing laundry and haven’t made it out of my pajamas – let alone done any pilates – at least not yet. Such is the life of this fitness sahmwahm (stay at home, work at […]
I have never done a “Wordless Wednesday” post until today. But when my business partner, Chris, returned from volunteering in Haiti with this video, I just had to share. This 90-second clip contains no speaking just music. It captured the skepticism and anger and pain of a hurting child, but then you see a gradual […]
If you like Netflix or working out via online fitness studios like ours – Fit2B Studio – then you might find yourself wishing for a larger screen. Well, these days if you’re wishing for it, someone has probably already invented it. Here is a list of docking items that allow you to grab your laptop, […]
If you have ever ridden on an airplane, you’ve heard the flight attendants discuss what to do in case of an emergency. They tell you to fix an oxygen mask to your own face before trying to get a mask onto a child. That speech flies against our instincts as mothers, as parents, as spouses. […]
I was taught compassion by my own broken body last week. Waking up with a spine that refuses to move or let anything else move will do that to a person. I spent the first few hours testing myself with some gentle pilates and yoga moves, the next few hours finding a good chiropractor, and […]
Sometimes I get tired of my so-called “second-hand” life. My mother taught me the joy of a bargain very early in life. In fact, I was born wearing hand-me-downs that barely fit. I didn’t get my own store-bought dress until I turned 10! I often wince at Target prices – thinking to myself that I […]
If you have a list of kids to buy for during the upcoming holidays, consider giving them things that will get them moving. As a nation, America is facing a growing obesity epidemic because too many parents park their kids in front of the t.v. with fatty foods and snacks. Children – just like adults […]
If you have a list of kids to buy for during the upcoming holidays, consider giving them things that will get them moving. As a nation, America is facing a growing obesity epidemic because too many parents park their kids in front of the t.v. with fatty foods and snacks. Children – just like adults […]
Read Google ads or get on Twitter, and you will be promised lifelong health, bones that never degenerate or hurt again, and a body that will remain perfect once you take five pills and jump through ten hoops! I hate to break it to you, but that’s so NOT true! I was reminded of this […]
That’s what I decided to call my first weekly fitness column that wrote for The Daily Barometer at Oregon State University: More Than Movement. I had started my freshman year in college as a beat reporter, covering politics and crime. Those interests fit my major which I initially declared as Political Science – or “poly-scy” […]
It doesn’t matter if you are late to my classes, online or in the club. My focus isn’t ruined by your tardiness, and I tell people all the time that, “Something is always better than nothing.” In the physical realm this is true. If you don’t have an hour, then exercise for 20 minutes. As […]
What would make today a healthy day for you? What do you need to accomplish or eat or consume to be able to say you had a great day of fitness? Do you have an unwritten “health” checklist that you mentally compare yourself to and berate yourself for if you don’t achieve it all? Workout […]
Children love to use their imaginations, act like animals, pretend to be things that they are not. In the process of pretending, they often tumble into positions that could be labeled as Yoga. Little tykes often do “Downward Facing Dog,” also known as Down Dog without even realizing it. As adults, we forget how to […]
The stage was set. The lights were on. My makeup was done, my hair kinda-done … and that’s when my biz partner, Chris, asked an interesting question. No, wait, he didn’t ask. He stated: We’re going to do this live on U-stream. “What’s U-Stream?” I asked, and he shook his head sadly at my ignorance. […]
We know how hard it is to take time to exercise. Your job wears you out. Your munchkins wear you out. Body and soul, you are tired. You might wonder if you have any energy left to put into a decent workout. What do you usually buy to boost your energy? Coffee? Soda? How much […]
We film more videos for the site tonight. I stand in front of my closet full of simple things and a few flashy things, and I think about my standard for this site: clean, modest, inspiring, non-intimidating. Unfortunately, that means this site might not grow as rapidly as other more “visually appealing” sites that have […]
Why has it taken me five years to get it? I had my first child five years ago and went from every workout being paid for and planned as part of my job to having to find ways to fit in fitness on my own. At first I tried to keep teaching aerobics … Have […]
When I was pursuing my degree in Exercise and Sport Science at Oregon State University, I had the privilege of attending a lecture series about the Psychosocial Dimensions of Fitness and Sports. No other class in all those four long years excited me more, because the professor finally highlighted a truth I was raised to […]
If there’s one important thing I’ve learned about the deep desires that everyone seems to have concerning their physical fitness it’s that you don’t want to be intimidated by a skinny bimbo at the gym. I mean, it’s nice to see what kind of body we all might be able to work for – if […]
My kids have a yoga instructor for a mom. When people discover this interesting tidbit, they usually say something like “Oh you must love teaching poses to them!” Confession: I have never “taught” my kids any poses. We don’t start every morning with prayer and meditation and the lotus pose. Okay, we do pray over […]
I find myself counting things at least once a week. It usually happens on my crazier days at home with my kids when more than one of anything seems to happen in quick succession. Take today for example … Five major meltdowns, four cups of strong coffee, three chickens loose in the backyard, two more […]
How long do you have to exercise before you feel like it really counts? If you are like me then you tend to look at a 15-minute window of opportunity to exercise like it’s not even worth your time. We get sucked into the trap of laziness, though, when we pigeon-hole ourselves into the 30-minute […]
Did your parents ever give you the three-legged stool lecture? The one about the triangle between quality, time and money? Basically, if you change one of those things, then your whole outcome is affected. If you want to save time, it will cost more money to still get good quality. If you want it done […]
Also known as the extended child’s pose in Yoga, this is known as the praise pose in Pilates. In the photo, the child is resting on her elbows, but the arms can also be “extended” out in front. The stretch is quite useful for lengthening the lower back muscles and relieving pressure in the hips. […]
If your bones are the skeleton – the girder, the rebar, the forms, the I-beams – of your body’s bridge, then your muscles are the cement that holds it all together. If you want a nice-looking bridge, then you had better make sure that you are mixing quality cement. I have always told my classes […]
If you are wanting to diet to lose weight, feel better, or maybe you need a diet to control your diabetes, but you can’t afford that fat loss for idiots diet handbook you have two options. You could find fast diet help by downloading some free menu planning software, or you can make your own […]
So I was hired for my first guest blogging experience through Girly Fitness. My instructions: Write 200 words about fitness that make people laugh at least once. No problemo! Here is the start of my first one. You’ll have to click the link to read the rest at girlyfitness.com “I miss my lovely Legs … […]
As parents, the amount of time we spend sitting on the couch with our kids is staggering! Yes, we chase the little rascals around a lot, too – just the other day my 21-month-old son ran into the bathroom, wanted to try going potty, then stole my hairbrush! I was chasing his naked little fanny […]
My daughter started where we all start: She started small. Small in size, small in goals. Rolling over, then creeping, crawling, cruising, and finally walking. Each accomplishment was greeted with cheering and camera flashes and pats on the back. Now she shouts “Look at me!” And I say, “Wow, I see you,” for what seems […]
The garbage that your home and family tosses out on a weekly basis dramatically increases when you have children, and disposables add even more to the dump. Environmental fitness is part of your overall wellness, so why not consider cloth diapering. Full time cloth diapering might feel expensive and time-consuming at first, but it is […]
As a mom, I am a lot better at forcing pills down my kids throats than down my own gullet. My mother had a pile of pills waiting by our breakfast plate every morning when I was a child, so I think I have subconsciously decided that I have already ingested a lifetime supply of […]
One of my good friends recently had her third baby which means she is looking forward to round number three of trying to get her pre-baby body back. However, along with her desire to get back in shape, she had an epiphany that every mother has at some point. Every mother also has trouble hanging […]
We love our children. We really do … But they exhaust us. Thus, the coffee. In a recent article, I talked about how coffee can strip certain vitamins and nutrients out of our bodies. ‘Tis true, but ’tis also true that coffee is kinda good for us. Strike that! It’s really good for us. Several […]
Pregnancy, then labor, then birth, then nursing, then carrying carseats, then … Face it! Motherhood is hard on a woman! If her mommy muscles aren’t strong enough, nursing will pull her posture out of place and carrying all that gear will strain her back. And let’s not forget the endless hours of back-patting while we […]
Parenting is stressful, and all that stress depletes our bodies. Then we drink coffee to stay awake, and caffeine removes nutrients. Then we take aspirin for our headaches, and birth control so we don’t have more kids and get more stressed out! And that stuff pulls goodies out of our bodies, too. It’s important that […]
Do something fun and healthy every day for your kids in two or three of these five areas: muscle strength, heart endurance, flexibility, nutrition, and balance coordination. With the obesity epedemic striking at the little hearts of our young kids, creating fun and healthy activities for children is very important. See the full article here…
Whether you believe in global warming on not, you have to face the full garbage dumps, littered streets, toxic chemicals in most of our cleaning and gardening products, and we must consider what we are leaving behind for the next generation of exercisers too! Read 4 tips below for greening your fitness routine! Real fitness […]
It’s simple: the more you move, the more calories you burn. The more flexible you are, the more you can move. Tight muscles restrict your range of motion. The bigger your range of motion is, the more muscles and muscle fibers you recruit. A regular routine of stretching, done at home or in a class, […]
Ankles weights used to be really popular. The appeal of burning extra calories by strapping a little extra sand to your stride is hard to resist. We add weight to our lifting routines to get stronger, so why not add weight to our cardio routines? The answer lies in numbers. Some quick math will reveal […]
You can burn calories and melt away that cottage cheese on your thighs without standing. Chairs don’t have to limit you to non-motion. You have so many options for movements and positions on a chair or seated on a floor, and Fit2B has outlined many ideas in our “Sit and Get Fit” workout pathway! […]
Vacations are for relaxing, but too much sitting around can lower your metabolism. Find a vacation spot that keeps you and your family busy. Don’t just sit on your sun-bathing fanny, sipping soda the whole time. Go! Do! Run! Bike! Play! Snorkel! Swim in the ocean. Rent a paddle-boat. Go horse-back riding. Check out the […]
It’s just another “Manic Monday” as I write this, and I’m feeling the need to catch up, to shake the cobwebs off my body from yesterday and make up for lost time. But once again I remember how God himself rested on the seventh day. If God needed a break to sit back and breathe […]
“Kris-Kross will make you jump! Jump!” And the Pilates Criss-Cross will get your abs in shape. (I know I just dated myself.) Also known as the “bicycle crunch,” this abdominal exercise recruits more muscle fibers than any other ab motion. However, it is NOT safe for those dealing with diastasis because of how the twisting […]
Ditch your stroller, and make those kids walk! Children over age two are perfectly capable of covering the entire Zoo on foot. They can hold your hand while you walk together to a neighborhood park. Preschool children can pedal a bike about as fast as you can jog or walk fast. Older children can go […]
Sure, moms might have the most daily, demanding job in the universe, but daddies work hard, too! If you work full-time, Dad, you are really limited in exercise options after you put in your shift, help with dinner, tuck the kids into bed, a get some quality time with the wife. One way for Dad […]
Design your own stroller workout. Baby will love getting out of the house and eating some snacks while mom or dad enjoys a workout. Utilize a local school track by yourself or with some friends. Walk half a lap and jog or speed-walk half a lap. Stop and do some conditioning exercises between laps: squats, […]
Put your workout gear where your children play or watch movies. Our children like to be where we are. If you must work out by yourself, then do it during naps. However, exercising with your children while they play or watch a movie allows you to observe what is happening and talk to them about […]
In the movies, a woman lies on her back, and the doctor says to push. She squints her eyes and screams through gritted teeth. Then you hear a little cry, and the fairly clean baby is handed to a beaming mother. However, anyone who has ever had a baby will mostly likely tell you a […]
I am always fielding questions from pregnant women about what they can do to stay active. Most of them fit into two extremes: They are either curious about prenatal yoga or they want to know if they’ll be able to run an 8k when they’re eight months along. As a fitness coach, the first thing […]
I had the house to myself, sort of. My husband and daughter went to Home Depot, and the baby was napping. I grabbed my husband’s Valentine gift of a pint of Haagen Daz Coffee Ice cream and settled into the couch to catch up on my current favorite show. I felt so peaceful and relaxed […]
I had the house to myself, sort of. My husband and daughter went to Home Depot, and the baby was napping. I grabbed my husband’s Valentine gift of a pint of Haagen Daz Coffee Ice cream and settled into the couch to catch up on my current favorite show. I felt so peaceful and relaxed […]
I asked my cycling class to think about something awful this morning. We were in the middle of a seven minute hill-climb, and they were too busy watching the clock and not busy enough focusing on their workout. “Imagine that you leave this club, get into a horrible wreck, and wake up in a wheelchair…” […]
Life is crazy! The work, the kids, the house, the meals, the meetings, the shopping, you name it, it pushes fitness aside. Working out gets crowded out, and then your pants fill out. Ducking the duty to stay in shape isn’t usually intentional. Time just gets away from us. What is enough time? I mean, […]
THE KID LIST It’s hard to find cheap but good activities for the kids. It’s even harder to find quality restaurants that cater to your whole family. If you’re looking for a day out with the kids or a night out with the family, here’s my review of places that I’ve actually been to with […]