Update #9 from Mamacat

It's been a month since Mamacat's Iron Girl Duathlon finish. I thought I'd check in with her to find out how the fit lifestyle was going, how she planned to keep up the momentum and specifically, What Is Next! As you'll read, Mamacat is motivated to keep moving and confident she can keep crossing finish lines. In fact, the events she's planning make me want to get out and join her. She has set a significantweight-loss goal for herself and she needs your support! Please share your wisdom with her, especially when it comes to shedding those pounds and quitting her diet coke addiction!

Here's what Mamacat had to say:

You'll be happy to know I couldn't stop working out even if I tried. Despite the goal race being over, I have not lost my will or my drive. I can not skip a day of working out without going insane. It's  a solid habit. We love that, don't we? 

I've done the "stairs" in Stillwater (a fat burning 1000 step trail of hills, steps, more steps and steps). I've done as many 25-mile bike rides as I can with the nice weather. We've declared family fitness night for TWO nights a week. I've even started to wean myself back into club time instead of outdoor time. I'm still doing Moms on the Run and still LOVE IT. I love the women and that no one judges me even if I am the slowest runner alive. We only have about 2 weeks left and I think I'm going to cry. This season we've been doing more interval training and working on bootcamp drills. My legs have gotten really strong. 

Fitness is such a habit that it naturally has a place on my to do list, daily. This is significant because I was very afraid once the Iron Girl was over I would find it easy to pop an excuse (not a reason) in here or there. No way, Jose! 

One thing is certain, this journey is not over. I bought  a wet suit in an end-of-season sale. This commits me to open water swimming and triathlons in the spring (lest I prefer divorce court for spending money frivolously) and keeps me 'mentally' in the game. 

My most immediate goal is the Scare In White Bear 5K with my husband and son. My girls will do the 1/2 mile race. I've got my eye on the Fast before the Feast race on Thanksgiving Day, a February cross-country ski event, a paintball gun race, and a May Duathlon. I'm also eagerly awaiting details of an indoor triathlon at Lifetime Fitness and planning some kind of neighborhood family fun race day that will involve skiing, skating, sledding or all of the above. 

I will revisit the early days of our journey where you challenged me to quit it with the Diet Coke. I went way down in my consumption and then back up to large amounts (no where near the 8-a-day mark but a heck of a lot more than one a day). Reality is I think I just have to cut out Diet Coke COMPLETELY.  I'm still saying "yup, I've gotta do that" but have not yet been able to actually do it.

I have been writing down everything that goes into my mouth and it's not as great as I let myself think it is. I need to get back to the nutrition focus I started with that slowly got away (funny how I did eat my veggies when i was getting free massages).  So I am going back to a serious focus on nutrition and not just eating my vegetables and fruits, but enjoying them in new ways. I can tell you in no uncertain terms that eating smart the few days prior to the Iron Girl made a big difference for me compared to the previous triathlon, in which I was worn down, dehydrated and lethargic.

My next goal: My OLDER sister turns 50 in a year and I want to cross a finish line with her before then. Fifty pounds lighter. I want to be 50 pound lighter before she gets to 50. And I want the finish line to be the Iron Girl. 

Success not Dog Meat: Update from Mamacat

OK, must admit I was a little concerned about my friend, when I got this email from her just three days before the Iron Girl Duathlon:

Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Subject: DOG MEAT

Kara,

I just read the rules for Iron Girl and I have to run 2 miles in 24 minutes. For you speedy types, this is a breeze. For a poky old girl who runs a 13 minute mile....umm. I be in big trouble. 

FRET. FRET. FRET. 

My Response to Mamacat: 

Just means you can't walk. Think turnover. You can do it. You just did a triathlon in a cold rain. What can't you do??? Here's some homework if you have time before Sunday. Go to a track and do two warm-up laps, then do 8 laps all at 2:55 or less. You need to run each 400 lap in 3 minutes to make it a 12-minute mile. If you can make that easily bump the laps to 2:50 or 2:45. Give yourself a minute to recover between each lap. Go!

Mamacat's Reply:

Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011

Subject: RE: DOG MEAT

My first lap was 3 minutes. And trust me when I say they didn't get faster. Interestingly, I had to walk more in the first few laps but was able to keep going without a break in the later laps. But they were s-l-o-w. Husband insists that it was a longer track than 1/4 mile but I wouldn't know the difference. I am not worried about going the distance but do worry about the speed. I'll try again tomorrow and Saturday too - even if it's rest day. I'll just have to make it happen. 

My Response (and in my head I'm thinking how sweet it was for her husband to say that the track was long):

Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011

Subject: RE: DOG MEAT

You are not factoring in the race atmosphere, which absolutely increases speed without you even realizing it. All that's required of you Sunday is to do your best. 

Mamacat's Reply:

Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011

Subject: RE: DOG MEAT

Right. Good point. I will do my very best. The first two Tri's were about finishing and this race can be about starting to pick up the pace. 

We eventually figured out that the cut-off was 26 minutes, not the 24-minutes she originally thought. She made the cut-off time and finished with a grand Mamacat-signature smile. Here we are after the finish:

Now, 10 months after Mamacat asked me to help her become a Hot (Sweaty) Mama, we both know she has earned that title and owns it. 

Beyond Mamacat's personal goals, she has experienced the benefits of the last secret in Hot (Sweaty) Mamas, "Act Like Others Are Watching Because They Are." What started as a solo journey has ended with her whole family being more active, including "date" bike rides with her husband and "family night" at the running track. Her son wants to join the local tri store's triathlon team next spring and together they've set their next goal: to run a 5K at the end of October. Mamacat set out to be mentored, but now she has become the mentor.


I think that new role became crystal clear for her at her second triathlon, which was full of obstacles for her; namely, recovering from a root canal that put a crimp in her training, frigid water and a rainy, cool day. Here's what she said about that race, which includes a great suggestion she got from a fellow Hot (Sweaty) Mama:

When the kids saw me coming through the trail head in the woods, they started calling my name as they waited at the top of the hill. "Come on mom, you can make it, we'll finish with you!" When I got to the top of the hill and rounded the corner to the last few hundred feet, my wee ones were there and running with me and we crossed the finish line together. It was awesome.  

A day or so later I started beating myself up for not going faster or doing a better job in the race. I confessed this to a mom at Moms on the Run and she, after admonishing me for such behavior, gave me a nice little piece of advice. "Write a letter to each of your children. Tell them how you ran your first real triathlon when you were sick and it was cold and rainy. Even though there were times you wanted to give up, you didn't. You kept going and kept trying and you finished it. Doesn't matter how fast, it matters that you didn't give up. Write this letter to them now while it's fresh in your mind. Let them open it later in life when they need to remember all the reasons why they should "try" or "do the best they can do" or why they "shouldn't give up." It'll be quite a gift for them and a beautiful lesson. " 

Love it!

Whether because impressionable people are watching or your actions to mentor are intentional, paying it forward is part of living a fit lifestyle. 

When Iron Girl sent me their post-race email, they included this quote, which I think sums up Mamacat's event, as well as her quest to become a Hot (Sweaty) Mama. We should all aspire to do this definition of success:

Success is a peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

--John Wooden, former coach of the UCLA basketball team

Update #8 from Mamacat

Back when we started following Mamacat's journey to becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama, her goal was to finish the Bloomington Iron Girl Duathlon on September 25, now less than two weeks away. Girlfriend is ready. How do I know? Because she was able to pre-empt this goal with her first triathlon on August 27.

I think someone has the bug and couldn't wait to compete.

I got to hear all about that first triathlon finish the next week when we trained together on a 20-mile ride and 15-minute run (by the way, it was her idea to go farther than we planned). What she knows, and will reminded every time she finishes a hard workout or steps over another finish line, is something we say in Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom about crossing over from "exercise as dreaded task" to fitness as a lifestyle:

The reason exercise becomes habit-forming is because it provides you with a sense of power over your life: You can control what you do with your day and take time to do something that makes you feel good. It literally makes you feel strong and powerful. Exercise is a bridge between mind and body, and it empowers them both. Once you're been exposed to that power (like the endorphins) it's hard to give up. This positive force is self-perpetuating. Now fitness is more than a habit; it's a lifestyle.

You'll see what I mean as Mamacat shares her race experience. She is definitely in a place where her fitness is self-perpetuating. In her words:

I'm am overjoyed to report I finished my first triathlon, something I never in my wildest dreams would have guessed I'd ever say. There was as much mental effort as their was physical effort involved in me getting to this point. But I did it. I had all the tools, all the support and all the drive. Had I never read Hot (Sweaty) Mamas, I never would have dreamed that I'm not the only woman to struggle with finding time or more importantly, find the WILL to make it happen.  

The thing I kept with me the whole race was Kara's encouraging words the night before the race: "you have trained for this, you are ready"...without that mantra, I may have given up before getting across the start line. She was right, though, I did train and I was ready. Was I a super-power-house-record-breaking-newsflash...no, but I had worked for this and was able to apply both endurance and free will to cross that finish line.  

Mamacat in pink, just steps away from her first triathlon finish.

WHAT A FEELING. Better than any job promotion I had ever received, which is noteworthy because so often it was work that stopped me from finding time for fitness. My kids and my husband were so proud, which is noteworthy because it took away the guilt I had put upon myself when I choose to run, bike or swim instead of get an extra time with them. My body did it, which is noteworthy because of all those times I told myself I never could and it never could...and then it did! And I feel so much better these days...why would I ever deny myself this healthful way of life? 

I was so elated to finish this triathlon that I signed up for a second one just one week before the  Iron Girl Duathlon. Who'd a thought? I'm as nervous for the Iron Girl as I am excited. All those women. Athletes. Racing against themselves. Racing against each other. Pushing their bodies to peak levels of fitness and knowing the reward of accomplishment awaits at the end. And no matter what, NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY from you. How awesome.  

My Moms on the Run comrades were so supportive and all Hot (Sweaty) Mamas for crossing their own finish line at the Silvera Run the same day of my triathlon. I wish I could have run with them but I was there in spirit and now glad to be back with them for the fall program. 

My husband was so inspired by my inspiration that he's hogging my Hot (Sweaty) Mamas book, a book that I pick up often just for a little mental juice to keep me motivated and trying new ways to make time, take time, share time or snare time. He's replacing "mom" with "dad" and starting his own journey of fitness par excellence! (Man, talk about smoking me on the bike trail yesterday!) 

Less than two weeks until the Iron Girl and less than one week until the next tri. I'm committed....100% committed! 

What about you, is your fitness self-perpetuating? Crossing a finish line is powerful for a lot of people (me and Mamacat included) but if you're not one to register for an event, what is it that empowers you?

Update #7 from Mamacat

How is Mamacat doing these days? Remember, the end goal for her is the Bloomington Iron Girl Duathlon on September 25. 

Some days are good, as I learned in this report:

On my way out the door this morning for a bike ride before the heat set in, I bumped into my neighbor who was also on her way out for a ride. We ended up venturing off together, hitting a state trail and 17 miles later had a long ride under my belt for the day. It was nice to have company. She's a biker so keeping up with her was a good workout for me. 

Some days are more challenging:

I rode to Moms On The Run this morning, ran for 30 minutes and pushed myself harder than I have been. Then I proceeded to ride 17 miles up hilly terraine. If the duathlon was 2 miles running then 22 mile biking and that is all, I know I could do it. But the thought of getting back into running mode after already having run and done the bike ride does not sound like my body will love it. I won't give up but today this is a mental hurdle. Tomorrow is a new day and perhaps I'll forget how I would have rather put screws in my eyes than run again. On the flip side, I had a great ride and I'm comfortably exhausted. 

I told her that feeling of, "would rather put screws in my eyes than run again," is the training effect. She's pushing her body to new limits. The next time she'll get to that same place and be able to go farther. That's how you get stronger, but you never know until you push those boundaries. So what did she do? She pushed boundaries: 

I took a trip to the local Tri store to find some skorts that actually STAY in place and ended up not only with a few new cute outfits but also asking myself when my first triathlon would be. WHAT? Did I just say that? Before I picked up your book, I would have never in a million years even contemplated any kind of race and I actually had myself wondering if I could do a tri! It's a big question for myself but the first step is just thinking about it, right? You've influenced me in so many ways!!! 

She went from thinking about it to:

I am officially signed up for the "MY First Tri" out of Tri Fitness. I started swimming with the masters swim class on Thursday nights up at Square Lake. It is a deep, cold lake and you can see a lot of 'lake things' with your goggles on...that creeps me out. I did go ahead and rent a wetsuit and swimming was pretty easy peesy with that thing on. Getting the wetsuit on was like a bad spanx experience. Putting my swm cap on my fat little head and bulging eye goggles on top of that made me look more like a weeble than a snausage but heck, I tried it and it was fun.

I'm so proud of her and her bulging eye goggles I could bust out in a bad rendition of "We are the Champions." Oh, I know, she hasn't finished these races yet, but I believe signing up for the race is the hardest part. Committing. That's hard stuff. And Mamacat knows this as someone who has also battled alcohol addiction. Turns out her commitment to sobriety has a few things in common with her commitment to fitness:

Early in this journey, we said we'd talk about recovery and how one can committ to staying fit just as one commits to staying sober. It has not escaped me. And these worlds are not so far apart. It's about commitment, making habits, educating yourself and being present in the world you want to be living in. Right now. Not sometime, but right now.  Specifically, in an effort to stay sober one must do a few things and it's called "working a program." It's also called having all the tools you need to find success: 1) Make a routine to go to meetings. 2) Read The Big Book or any of AA/AA approved reading material when things start to get tough. READ READ READ to remember what it was like before you were sober and how great it is now that your are sober. 3) Surround yourself with sober people. 

In fitness it appears to be the same 1) Make a routine out if it. Go to your run club or your favorite weekly classes at the gym. See the same people in the same positive patterns. 2) Read. For me, I am reading Hot (Sweaty) Mamas when I need to get back on track. I carry it with me and it has become my Big Book. Any fitness related (read: inspiring) article or magazine will work, too. I like the fitness magazines as a second choice because I can pick up some much needed fashion tips. I now know who Lululemon is and she's not the skinny bitch in the Latte line. I've learned that running bras do come in big girl sizes, that there are more places to shop than the picked over fit section at Target, that neon is making a comeback! Lastly, 3) Surround yourself with fit people. I could go on and on here but I think you get my point. And you can tell I've had a good workout today because my endorphins are dancing. 

Keep dancing Mamacat! She's motivated and working hard. And like an answer to the Serenity Prayer she earned a massage with Serenity Now Healing Center. I know Mamacat knows what a good massage feels like, as this is her treat when traveling for business ("What else am I going to do," she says, "I can't go sit in a bar.") When I asked about her massage from Serenity Now her eyes rolled back in her head. She couldn't even find the words, just some "Aaahing" and "Ooohing." I think I could make out the words, "Sooooo Goooood." When training this hard I'm one to believe that a good massage is a necessity, not a luxury. We all need to include a massage in the "cost of doing fitness."

Now Mamacat is not only becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama, she's also becoming a triathlete. Want to give this first timer some encouragement? Any other similarities between living a fit life and sober life? How long has it been since you've had a massage? Too long?

Update #6 from Mamacat

The last report from Mamacat had us all a little worried as she struggled to keep up with fitness with her hectic business travel schedule. That was six weeks ago. Here’s what she had to say:

I've been too busy working out to write you an update. For more than a week, my Polar Activity Monitor has been doing the boogey woogey dance with no less than 2-hour workouts each day. I've been getting back to spin class, hiking, going to Moms on the Run and general all around time for ME. When my project in Boston wrapped up and I got the Iron Girl training schedule, I had no choice but to catch up on lost time after those late Boston evenings in the office instead of the gym. 

The training scared me...not that I couldn't do it but just that I should be farther along by now. I got scared straight to the gym! AND I’M ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. I've been enjoying the work break (but miss the Boston gals) and putting fitness first every single day, sometimes with workouts in the morning and again in the evening. It's been awesome. 

You'd think the weight would be melting off but it's doing the opposite and I don't even care (that says a lot for my mood) because I feel better regardless of the stupid f-ing scale. 

I'm still a pokey little runner that can only handle a few minutes at a time but the minutes are growing longer with the walking time becoming less. When I'm tired, I looked to my MOTR peers and they help push me—it's really quite awesome. 

Oh—and check this out—I ORDERED vegetables on my chicken at lunch today. A first. (You don't have to post this part, it's actually quite embarrassing that I’m such a veggie hater. But oh, am I trying.) 

Of course I have to post that part! Can you hear the enthusiasm come through? I can. However, my hunch is that she’s going to want to see that “stupid f-ing scale” reflect her increased activity level. Still, I know she can feel other benefits at work. Here’s a little more from Mamacat:

I am having a good week. It's full of variety and activity. It is almost like one workout isn't enough. I have so much more energy and therefore so much more motivation. (My knees hurt, though.) 

Focusing in on your chapter 13, we (hubby and I) both have fitness goals and we are appreciating each others efforts with support. He helps me make time (and helped me to pick out my swank new bike) and I have put his fitness way ahead of his massively growing honey-do list. And likewise, I am out the door to the gym long before I tackle laundry or dust bunnies. The children are also getting in on it...helping more with their own chores and—get this—keeping track of how many Diet Cokes mom has. If I have too many, I get assigned extra sit ups before bed. There is a new chart in the kitchen to track it! Hub and I have even had a few riding dates and it is awesome.

Since Mamacat brings up Chapter 13 from Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom, which is “The Sweat on Significant Others,” I’ll elaborate on the content, which is about “Couples who do it together and those who don’t (workout that is).” The chapter offers “sweaty vows” for those couples where only mama sweats and for those that have sweat equity. Make no mistake, one situation is not easier than the other! One vow for the couples who sweat together is to go on sweaty dates. And if they end in such a way that you’re swapping sweat, well, all the better!

So I love that Mamacat is recruiting the support of her family. Having cheerleaders at home makes becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama all the more enjoyable.

Let’s keep cheering for her too!

Update #5 from Mamacat

When the subject line showed up in my in box, "Weak Week," I expected the worst from Mamacat. After reading the email, though, I am certain she is farther down the road to becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama than she realizes. In the book we talk about qualities that every Hot (Sweaty) Mama needs to sharpen. Those are 1) Initiative, because no one is going to workout for you, 2) Confidence, feeling strong about your priority to be fit, 3) Persistence, try and try again and if it doesn't work today try again tomorrow, and 4) Creativity, because sometimes we have to exercise "outside the lines."

Mamacat used all of those qualities last week, don't you think? Here's her report:

It feels like this past week was a weak one for me, but in hindsight I ran twice so it wasn't a complete wash. I left for Boston at the crack of dawn on Monday and returned home in time to make it to the launch of Moms on the Run. That is going to be really cool. I think it helped, both mentally and physically that it was freezing cold by the lake... we couldn't get started running fast enough. Before I knew it, we had completed our first run/walk class with 60 second runs and 3 minute walks. There were a few "bursts" that went by quickly and others in which I felt like I was sucking sand. The camaraderie was cool, though: Sisterhood rocks. I actually had to say outloud that I was 1) running to try and like running and 2) running so I could do a duathalon. The latter made me sound like I was fit.

Kara interrupting here to say, YES! YES, to all of it, especially that part about sounding like you are fit. You are walking the talk (quite literally).

I ate my veggies that night, too. Rutebega slices and cucumbers; both raw, both fresh and both good.  I also started buying fresh fruit from the deli counter when I stop to get my morning Diet Coke. With fruit at my desk, I nibble on that instead of naughty things. 

Rutebega? That's pretty darn bold for a woman who doesn't like veggies! Sounds like someone who wants to earn her massage!

No work out for the next few days after a multi-day migraine. Saturday morning I slept through the 8 am spin class and by the time I left for the gym realized they didn't have daycare hours in the afternoon. I stayed in my workout clothes and when my weekend-working husband arrived home, I took the kids to the track at the park and did the same workout as I did on Wednesday with Moms on the Run, while they rode bikes. Having had "direction" on what to do, I couldn't cheat myself. 

Today, Sunday, I had to catch a flight and I felt too much pressure to hit the gym and pack and make it to the airport on time. The flight was delayed so it will be too late by the time I get in. Monday is a new week and a new day. I know I will find time to do my Moms on the Run homework and am jonesing for a spin class!  

Initiative, Confidence, Persistence, Creativity. It's all there!

Oh, did I mention breaking in my new running shoes, a serious-support-the-girls sports bra and really good socks? Mental and physical difference. Tonight I'm gong to sleep with my Hot Sweaty Mamas book under my pillow so all the good karma and tips will seep out into my brain. I'm serious. Why do you think I bought the shoes? There is a chapter for that.  

Just for the record nowhere in the book do we recommend sleeping with a copy of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas under your pillow, but hey, if it works for you we won't discourage it either! A New Jersey publication called Parent Paper just published a Q&A with Laurie and I, where you can read more about our thoughts on being Hot (Sweaty) Mamas!

Update #4 from Mamacat

Which is harder? Finding fitness in the chaos of motherhood or finding fitness in the chaos of business travel?

Much like our children don't ever give us "time off," when you're on the road for work it can seem as if you're on the clock from take off until you touch down back home. Mamacat is persevering, but here's what she had to say in an email to me last week:

Mamacat is PENT UP LIKE A CAGED DOG doing taxes and work. I've been in my workout clothes all day--since the lead on my project called and said, "You are going to the gym? Oh, that must be nice. I had to skip church. But the client is expecting this document today and the multi-million dollar contract is waiting for YOU, so can you please make it your priority?" Like a sucker I caved. Weak, like the jiggle of my thighs (that were in route to firmness!). 

Oh, haven't we ALL been there? And sometimes that person who keeps us working instead of working out is ourselves. And you know what? Sometimes, honestly, that IS the right thing for us to do. There's a little something in the book, "Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom," we call the "Sweaty Decision Tree." It helps answer that question, "Should I work out or not?"Variables include whether or not the workout will leave you more or less stressed out and what your workout plans were the day before and if you think a workout is possible the following day. Ultimately Mamacat's thighs had to wait another day for a workout. No big deal. Has she worked out since? Yes, she has. And that is enormous progress for her, because in the past, these massive work projects were an excuse for her to go months at a time without a workout. No more. If she misses a day (or two or three) she doesn't see that as giving up. Now she's finding a way to get to that workout as soon as she is able and finding ways to "snare" time, as we say in the book:

I walk instead of taking a cab, I take the hotel stairs instead of the elevator. I've even gotten up in a few (women only) meetings and done lunges while we work. It has been very challenging to get a long hardcore workout in, but I'm keeping my body moving. I also bought a new "across the body" purse so I could swing my arms better when tramping through the airport to log more time on my Polar Activity Monitor. That was a smart move (except for the divorce court I may end up in when my husband sees the price of the purse!). 

One of the hardest shifts in my thinking as a "Fit Mom" was allowing these short fitness bursts to count toward workout time, or a short workout worthy of being considered a "real" workout. Not only do they do your body good, they also keep your mind engaged in the sport of snagging exercise wherever you can get it (this can become a fun challenge) and ensures that you keep thinking of yourself as a fit mom. Because at the end of the day you will feel better about doing leg lifts while waiting for a cab than if you had done nothing at all.

Mamacat is crisscrossing the continent again this week. And I want to make sure she sees this video from Coach Troy Jacobson about training for cycling while traveling. 

And because you're persevering with your workouts on the road and at home (Mamacat recently watched her son play baseball while lunging and squatting on the sidelines--atta girl!) I'm throwing in a package of FitDeck Cards donated by Skirt Sports. When you're looking for a fitness idea while couped up in a hotel room (and let's face it, getting up to move will allow more oxygen to the brain, which will ultimately help you be more productive) break out these cards and keep moving!

Next challenge for Mamacat to conquer? Eating more vegetables. Girlfriend gags on just about everything except iceberg. She's motivated though, because at the end of the month she starts training with Moms on the Run, and if she eats their quota of vegetables every week for a month, she will be rewarded with a massage. Yeah, huh. Do you have a try-it-you'll-like it vegetable or recipe or sneaky way to consume veggies? Please share with us here for Mamacat (and those of us with veggie avoiders at home). Anyone who leaves a comment will win their own FitDeck via Skirt Sports.

P.S. For those readers in the Minneapolis area, Mamapedia is offering a sweet deal for the Moms on the Run Program. More than half off their 18-week fitness program and you get to train and bond with other moms! Incentive galore!

Update #3 from Mamacat

We are following Mamacat on her journey to Becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama. Last week Mamacat got to her new gym, broke out the heart rate monitor she got for Christmas and signed up for Moms On The Run. The week had it’s challenges, most notably, and not surprisingly, juggling other roles (motherhood, work) as she tried to fit in fitness. I think Mamacat is starting to feel the endorphin high that comes from accomplishing a workout despite that frenzy. I know I always feel good after a workout, but those feelings of well-being are even greater if I’ve done it successfully despite everything else going on around me. What I’m saying is, the harder it is to squeeze in that workout, whether the challenge is mental or physical, the more of a bad-ass you’ll feel once it’s over.

Mamacat’s goal for now is to make fitness a HABIT. How does fitness become a habit? Here's a little tidbit from the book "Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom"... By finding activity that is:

• Happy-inducing (you have to enjoy yourself)
• Authentic (the workout is an expression of the true you; it fits like your favorite pair of jeans)
• Better off than before (that feeling of empowerment you get when it’s over)
• Integrates easily into life (slides right into your schedule, or at least into your chaotic world)
• Time-valued (when the workout moves higher on your to-do list because you really want to get it done)

Here’s a run down of Mamacat’s activity last week. I’ll interject with my feedback in bold, because I can’t help getting a word in...

Saturday

Went to the new gym and after 45 minutes on the elliptical, we took the kids swimming. I expected frolicking in the pool more than laps--but I got lucky. This was the first time I've done "true" laps in years. I don't know if it was the salt water pool or simply the joy of the water (perhaps both) but I just moved through the water like a ripple in the tide. Notice I don't say anything here about speed, but I did focus on form. I had no swim cap and no goggles but went as long as I could without burning my eyes (they burned later, oh boy did they!) I added another 23 minutes on the Polar Active. I'll up it to 30 next time.

Note that she used the word JOY to describe swimming. That’s HAPPY INDUCING! I’d venture to say that swimming is also an AUTHENTIC activity for her because she loves being in the water.

Tuesday
It took everything to drag my sorry, crabby arse to the gym. My neck hurt (the accident), my back hurt (the accident) and I was puffy. Tired. BUT, I told a friend I would meet her at spin class. The step to meet a friend makes a big difference, especially in the evening hours after a long day of work. Additionally, I knew I didn't have a reason to skip. I had an excuse but not a reason. So I went. Well, someone invited my inner Hot (Sweaty) Mama to the party because as soon as the 80's music starting blaring, I was taking names. I fleshed out every bad piece of mood in my bones and left on such an endorphin high--the party was rocking!

This is what it means to be “BETTER OFF THAN BEFORE!”

Wednesday

Today I did laps in the pool at the old gym while the kids had swimming lessons.

Are you following me folks--Mamacat swimming when the kids are swimming means this workout INTEGRATES EASILY INTO LIFE.

Thursday

Today I had to make a major effort. First I deposited kids at various places then went to the old gym. Along came my computer and client files. I got there early to secure a bike, then disappeared to find a quiet spot for a client conference call, before the 9:30 start. Once on the client call (in the gym lobby)...my boss wanted to know which one of us on said call was making the noise. With five of us in different locations on the call, I might have gotten away with the mute button. But 1) the call was mine to lead and 2) one client suggested to the other client that the noise might be her kids and I could not let her take that rap. So I fessed up, finished the call and spun my guts out! ! It was worth it.

Not only is Mamacat applying her professional title of “Director of Radical Efficiency” to her personal life, she is getting a sense for the TIME VALUE of her workout and going to greater lengths to make sure she can squeeze in that workout!

I don’t know about you, but Mamacat seems to be on her way to making fitness a HABIT. From here on out, it’s all about repetition! This week Mamacat travels to Boston for business. “No kids to shuffle around but also no girlfriends to meet me at the gym,” she says. Can we give her some advice for being active on the road?

Update #2 from Mamacat

Who loses 5 lbs on vacation? Someone Becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama! Mamacat is back from Florida. Here's her report. She has a serious challenge ahead in moving to a new gym. Leaving your comfort zone is one thing, but your sweaty sisters? Any advice for helping her with that transition?

The trip to Flordia was great even if just to have my body in constant motion in fresh air. I walked, walked, and walked...power walked, leisure walked, errand walked. There were some days I had 4 1/2 hours of moderate activity on the Polar Activity Monitor. There were others, like the day I went (via car) from Miami to Benita Beach, when I gave my body a rest. Having the Polar Activity Monitor made me concsious of "movement" at all times. Even standing in line or cooling off in the pool, I shifted my mind to squats, lunges and laps. And it paid off...my mood has been great, my stress level even, and my weight is down 5 pounds!

There was little temptation for Diet Coke while in Miami because we were at a "Pepsi establishment." That was good -- I drank more water. I do confess, though... as soon as I got to a Pepsi-free zone I overindulged in my beloved Diet Coke. In no time, I was back up the three or more. Now that I've returned to snow country, I am trying to manage back down to one or two a day.

We have joined a new gym, officially, but I'm having a hard time letting go of my membership to the YMCA. I know the classes so well and the camaraderie in the classes has been built up over a long period of time. I am in a comfort and motivated zone when I am there. I don't want to be the rookie at the new club. I fear I will look foolish trying to figure out the machines. This is stupid, I know, I must get over it.

We are mid way through March and I know April brings Mom's On the Run...the anticipation is growing and I'm excited. There is potential work travel ahead of me, and while I worry that will bring on challenges in becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama, I am trying not to get ahead of myself... as your book says and I learned early in my recovery program... one day at a time.

Update #1 from Mamacat

Mamacat checked in with me to let me know how she's fairing early in this journey to Becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama. I've inserted my own feedback in italics:

Mamacat says:

Friday the kids had no school so I planned for an active day for all of us. Skiing. It's been 15 years since I was last on downhill ski's and the equipment has changed. I also was very fit and skied in the West so it's a different experience altogether. (Awesome! Family fitness!)

I put the three kids in lessons and then put myself in a lesson. The instructor would not let me ski with poles! I knew my legs would get a decent workout so I wasn't thrilled at what the Polar Activity Monitor gave me for a reading. Several hours of leg work and concentration to get a close to nothing reading! Still, I had a blast, as did the kids and we are hoping for more snow so we can go again very soon. (These are the times when you have to be smarter than the Activity Monitor. Even though it says you weren't active, you know better. Had this experience today when I did an hour of yoga to to the tune of 1 minute of activity. When you've had a good workout you know it counts. On the flip side when you've been running around like a crazy woman just keeping up with kids and work and home, you get to see that your day was probably more active than you thought.)

Saturday morning I had pre-arranged to meet some mom friends at the gym. We have been known to power walk the Stillwater stairs, try new classes and just have fun hanging out. The class was an early morning spin class and if I had not vowed to meet them there (not to mention I instigated it) I may have slept in. But I took advise (from the book) and got my stuff ready the night before so the only thing I needed to do was haul my arse out of bed and brush my teeth. (This truly does make a difference when it comes to committing to early morning workouts. Some moms even sleep in their workout clothes. Why not? One less thing to do in the morning.)

I'm soooooo glad I went! (Really, has anyone ever gotten up early to workout and then regretted it? Nah! Remember that when you feel like hitting snooze!) Everyone showed up and the instructor played every '80's rock band you could think of...Styxx, Journey, Led Zepplin,Jethro Tull, Boston. One of the mom's knew the words to every song and could call it on the first three notes. Seems like all of us and our "first concert" on the list of what was played and it made for a lot of laughs. (Sweaty sisters! One of the best things you can do to stay committed is workout with friends!) It was an awesome workout with heart rate monitors reading about 700 calories. Yet my Activity Monitor gave me an solid 7 minutes of activity. I must put it on my shoe next time. (I TOLD you!!)

By last night, my luck and moxie were waning. I had gone from signing one child up for swimming lessons to signing all three up. I was planning to swim myself but at the last minute shifted gears to plan time on the treadmill. Once I got the youngest to class I quickly realized I couldn't leave the pool deck while she was in the water. To make matters worse, I didn't even pack my suit. AND EVEN WORSE, my husband had homemade caramel chocolate shortbread made when we got home. OH THE CHALLENGES! (Here's the thing... if you've had 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables, and eaten healthy meals all day, I say go for a little homemade caramel chocolate shortbread... oh my, my mouth is watering as I type... as for the swim debacle, you live and learn. Don't beat yourself up. Consider it a dry run -- haha, pun there. Next time you'll know how to make your plan work.)

I have the next five days in a hot sunny location and have packed my workout clothes. I will be without kids and know I'll find time to get some good readings on the Polar Activity Monitor. (What are you trying to do, torture me? I'd like to propose a little contest. The first of us to hit the 2-hour mark on our Polar Activity Monitor wins. The loser treats manicures.)

And for those of you who haven't heard Polar is letting Mama Sweat readers in on a deal for the Polar Active unit I love so much. Just email sales@polarusa.com and let them know you want the Mama Sweat price of $89.95!

Becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama

This is Mamacat.

Mamacat is a long-time friend of mine. This is a woman who lights up a room with her smile, is bubbling over with enthusiasm, and keeps me awestruck with her ability to be both kick-ass mom and business super power. She refinishes antique furniture, gardens, and loves to sail, too, by the way.

In December we celebrated our birthdays over lunch and she asked me if she could be a “test case” on Mama Sweat. She struggles to “find time for fitness in the chaos of motherhood” and needed some help.

Huh.

That’s what Mama Sweat is all about, really. Sure, I can be a little self-indulgent every now and then, droning on about my own personal fitness escapades (and fitness model escapades), but all of these posts, at their core, is to inspire, motivate, encourage, and... help.

So readers? You up for helping?

If I must say, I’m a good cheerleader and I know Mama Sweat readers are, too. Could we do this? Could we help Mamacat become a Hot (Sweaty) Mama?

In order to get her going I’ve set her up with a few goodies:

For Inspiration: An advance copy of “Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom.” Mamacat will give it a read and we’ll hear what tidbits from the book get her up and moving.

For Motivation: Entry into the Iron Girl Duathlon in Bloomington on September 24, plus access to Iron Girl’s training program. There is nothing--and I mean nothing--like a goal to get you motivated to move.

Encouragement: The Polar Activity Monitor, of course, The Hot (Sweaty) Mama escort service is always there to tell you how you’re doing.

Help: A local program called “Moms on the Run,” which offers training runs and bootcamp classes throughout the Twin Cities, has generously offered to take Mamacat into their program (Mamacat and I live about an hour away from each other so I needed to put her in good hands!)

We’ll check in with Mamacat every few weeks or so to hear about how these goods and services are working for her and, of course, how she’s progressing. But first, let me introduce you to our Hot (Sweaty) Mama in-the-making, and tell you a little about what she wants, and what her obstacles are. (Some of this might sound familiar.)

Name: MamaCat (Not her real name of course, that’s what she signs in as for comments)

Age: Really? Can I just say "about 40"?

Children: 8-year-old boy/girl twins and a 5-year-old diva.

Occupation: Advertising Operations Consultant. (Kara’s note:The job title on her business card is “Director of Radical Efficiency,” which sound like the person I want to hire to run my life.)

I want to be more active because: I like to be active. I FEEL better when I'm active. My mind works better, my stress level is much more manageable and for Pete's sake an endorphin rush is better than a caffeine crash any day! I also want my kids to grow up with fitness as a part of their everyday life. And I'm envious of all those couples who have couple workouts. My husband hates the gym, dusts me on a bike ride and takes one stride for every eight of my own. Be that as it may, he needs to build a strong and healthy heart now that he's had heart surgery. I hope to get old and fit together!

My biggest obstacle for finding time for fitness: I love my children, I love my husband and I love my job. But they all come first. I also work hard on my recovery program, which is a priority in my life. (Did she just say “recovery”? Yes, she did and we’ll get into more details about that in later posts, too.) So by the time it comes around for 'me' time and the gym, it can be hard to find time. I go through phases where I get to the gym at least five times per week and then something will break the cycle (an injury, a business trip, a heart surgery, a deadline) and it can throw me off my rocker for weeks.

Kara’s Note: Mamacat was literally thrown off her rocker two weeks ago when she fell off a ladder trying to remove an ice dam from her roof. Girlfriend has three broken vertebrae and a concussion so bad her docs told her not to think. She is healing and ready, albeit gingerly, to move again.

My vision of me as a fit mom is: Being comfortable in my own skin (and skirt) and having ease of mind. I'd also love to feel fit enough to try a mini tri.

To test her seriousness about becoming a Hot (Sweaty) Mama, I went right for her weakness: Diet Coke. I knew she drank a lot of Diet Coke, which I considered a slight impediment to a healthy lifestyle. Check this out if you don’t believe me:

Via: Term Life Insurance

But then diet soda has it's own problems (don't let the word "diet" lead you to believe it's better for you), some even think the caramel coloring might be cancerous (I know mamacat, it's the fizz and the caramel color you adore...)

I wasn’t out to take what she calls her "last vice" away altogether, but suggested she seriously cut down. Since we met for lunch almost two months ago she is down from about eight (8!) a day to two or less and drinking more water instead.

Mamacat already has her first victory! And as you all know, that is how it’s done. One little victory leads to another little victory, which leads to another little victory. Momentum!

Please say hello to Mamacat and let her know she can do this!