• Home
  • About Me
    • Press & Media
    • TV & Local Appearances
  • Blog
    • Baby
    • Beauty
    • Fit Family
    • Fit Travel
    • Free Sample Workouts
    • Lifestyle
    • Nutrition
    • Postpartum Workouts
    • Pregnancy
    • Running
    • Yoga
  • Shop My Looks
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Press & Media
    • TV & Local Appearances
  • Blog
    • Baby
    • Beauty
    • Fit Family
    • Fit Travel
    • Free Sample Workouts
    • Lifestyle
    • Nutrition
    • Postpartum Workouts
    • Pregnancy
    • Running
    • Yoga
  • Shop My Looks
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Cari Fit

Cari Fit

Fitness Advice, Workout Tips, and Inspiration

fit family

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For the Fit Mom + Fit Baby

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all the fit Moms out there! If you are looking for a gift for a fit Mom in your life (girlfriend, sister, daughter or your own Mom) check out my favorites below. Or – if you need to send your partner or kids ideas…you may want to share this post on Facebook : )

Fitness Clothes & Gear

Every fit mom likes new workout clothes and workout gear.

For clothes I really like all of Target’s new spring and summer colors. Also, I’ve been getting a lot of my stuff from Nordstrom like these Zella crops (they are also very comfortable). I almost always wear a hat when I workout to keep my hair out of my face. I like this cute “Momlife” hat from Etsy.

I always take my phone with me on runs in case the baby needs me. The phone itself is bulky enough without a bulky arm strap and dangling wires on headphones. So, I use a neoprene armband  (lightweight & flexible) similar to this and love my Apple Wireless Airpods (headphones).

Let’s face it – as moms…we have to squeeze in a workout when we can and sometimes that means at home. I recommend getting a set of Adjustable weights for home workouts so you can keep just the one set in your workout area without taking up too much space. I love Apple TV so I can stream youtube workouts and Instagram live workouts (like the one I’ll be doing on my @Bombshell_Bootcamp Insta soon!).

Spa/Beauty

All moms want to look and feel pretty. If she likes spa days…I recommend Milk + Honey spa in Houston. If she’s been super busy and doesn’t have much time to fix her hair – get her a  giftcard to the Drybar for a blowout or braid that she can show off at her next yoga class. But, if you think she’d like a completely new look or just really awesome highlights – send her to my colorist Sarah at Ceron salon. I’ll be doing a post about her soon because she has a great transformation story! I also love these new hair bands I found at Sephora (another great idea for a gift card!) because they don’t break or damage my hair.

Items For the Fit Baby & Kid

Fit moms are setting a great example for their little ones (and big ones). Most babies and kids try to copy their parents’ behaviors – so if you are a fit parent, they want to workout just like you! Next time you do a home workout or take your kid with you on a run or bike ride – try one of these cute products:

The baby dumbbell rattle is so cute and babies love rattles! I also love this cute Under Armour baby workout outfit (shown in my picture below) for babies. Have a bigger toddler? Check out this toddler weight set with barbell! If you have bigger kids, get them excited about yoga with their own Kids yoga mat and yoga deck cards!

 

Fitness Classes

Fitness classes or gift cards also make great gifts. I personally love the Bombshell Bootcamp Giftcard ; ) but yoga or spin classes make great gifts, or just help her make time for early morning runs by watching the baby or swap carpooling the kids with another fit mom friend! Most cities also have “Mommy and Me” classes for babies and moms under 2 or ask around for baby bootcamps or just see if your favorite bootcamp will allow you to bring a baby in a stroller (mine will).

Healthy Lunch or Dinner Out

Fit moms like to celebrate and go out – but sometimes it can be stressful picking a healthy spot that the rest of the family will enjoy. My new favorite for lunch in Houston is Bebidas. For dinner I always love True Food Kitchen (you HAVE to order the crudites!) and it’s a chain – so if you don’t live in Houston check out their other locations. A few of my other local favorites for healthy (and vegetarian friendly) options are Ruggles Green and Molina’s (grilled chicken or fish platter with veggies) and Escalante’s (grilled fish tacos and their baked tortilla chips).

*All opinions on the products and companies are my own.

How to Stay Fit And Healthy On A Cruise

Cruising has come a long way from endless buffets of fried fatty foods and deserts, crowded staterooms and non-existent gyms. Now days you can take a cruise and actually come back a healthier person! A couple of months ago I went on a Carnival cruise with my family and we had an amazing time. One of the best parts was that I was able to stay fit and healthy and returned feeling refreshed instead of regretful. Now, I know that most people aren’t too concerned with weight gain when cruising – but I’m here to tell you it IS possible to keep the big LB’s off and maybe even tone up a little. The best part is that Carnival actually makes it easy if you just put in a little effort and get creative. Below are some tips on how you can make your next cruise a healthy one for you and your family.

We decided on the Carnival Breeze ship because it’s a newer ship and visits a couple of places we haven’t been before. If you haven’t taken a cruise in awhile you definitely need to check out Carnival’s fleet. Most are new or have been completely renovated and there is literally something for everyone. Most people look forward to the food and the drinks on vacation and Carnival doesn’t disappoint in this area. However, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the healthy food and drink options, the fitness facilities (who knew they offered spin classes on the water?!) and creative outdoor workout spots (you do crunches while watching dolphins swim by!).

Take advantage of the fitness facilities.

Most ships have great gyms and fitness centers with a variety of equipment. Carnival not only had a great gym but they had a spin studio, yoga studio and even a fun outdoor gym that the whole family can use. The gym was super nice with a lot of cardio equipment, weight machines and a free weights area. They also had a ropes course, mini golf and other fun things to get your family involved. Just make it a goal to explore a new fitness area (or class) each day.

Be active as much as you can.

Even if you are not a gym person you can still find ways to burn calories and stay physically fit. The ship has a walking path that you can use to take a walk around the boat (try a sunset or sunrise walk for a nice view) or go for a jog. If you are a runner – you can even get in your own mini 5k. Also, you can make the pools a place to get fit. The pools are small – so it may be hard to swim laps unless you go during a less busy time like early in the morning – but you can still use it to burn some calories. You can do things like tread water, do tricep dips on the edge (in the water), do leg raises (for core) and lateral shoulder raises (pressing up against the water is great resistance). If nothing else – just go exploring the ship. If your family is with you, you could even do a fun scavenger hunt or see what fun things you can find.

Make the buffet your BFF.

The words Buffet and Healthy usually don’t go hand in hand. However, I was really surprised by all of the heathly things I could find on Carnival’s Breeze. They also mixed things up daily and had a variety of new healthy choices throughout the week – so I never got bored. Just be sure to watch portions and unlimited items. This is one of the hardest to do while cruising. The buffet areas are packed with tasty treats almost all day long – so temptation is always there. What I did was make sure I filled up on heathy items like veggies, fruits, plain baked chicken or fish (no sauce) first and then if I wanted a small treat I would get one. Not into buffets? They have a variety of specialty restaurants (some like the Steakhouse have an extra charge) that offer a la carte items and you can request that your chicken be cooked without butter or ask for a vegetarian option. They were more than happy to accommodate my requests and one of our waiters even pointed out the healthier items for us one night. A fun fact – the cruise ship staff are all very fit and health conscience. Some are working on the ship for 6-9 months at a time and their health is their priority. They even have a gym for the crew members to use.

Make your room a fit haven.

I was surprised how roomy the staterooms are. Yes – they are very small but for a cruise ship they aren’t too bad. Plus, Carnival does a great job making it a very usable space and there are plenty of storage areas and spaces for your things. You can organize your workout clothes by the day of week have itall ready to go each day. You could even squeeze in a workout in your room if you wanted. I loved being outside – so some mornings I would do a quick set of squats, shoulder presses and bicep curls out on my balcony. I also recommend stocking your room with healthy snacks such as fruit (you can bring some back from the buffet), carrot sticks, protein shakes (bring your own shaker bottle) and nuts.

Chose a more active excursion.

Carnival has lot of fun excursions to choose from. They are also categorized by activity level – so if you are fit and healthy you can choose one that’s a little more active. Some require more walking (wear comfortable shoes) and some activities are just more challenging like horseback riding, zip lining or scuba and snorkel.

Change your mindset.

Make it more of a healthy spa trip vs. an indulgent trip. I like to start my trips with a healthy mindset and treat my trips and cruises like a healthy spa trip vs. an indulgent vacation. If I start off thinking about staying fit, enjoying new fruits and veggies, trying a new fitness class and then rewarding myself with a spa treatment – I’m less likely to return home feeling bloated and out of shape.

I hope these tips will help you enjoy your next cruise even more and help you return felling fit and healthy! Comment below and share some of your tips for cruising!

 

This post was sponsored by Carnival but all opinions are my own. 

 

Lighter Thanksgiving Recipes

Usually for Thanksgiving, most of us like to make traditional family recipes – but those usually end up being not so healthy and are considered “comfort foods” – aka fatty. There is nothing wrong with having these in moderation (yes that’s me above making stuffing a few years ago…before I left for the Turkey Trot!) but if you can….swap a few items out for healthier versions. You can find a few recipes and ideas on how to make your T-Day healthier in my other post HERE and below you’ll find some of my favorite lighter recipes that you may want to try this year. Happy Thanksgiving!

herbturkey

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

kalesalad

Easy Kale Salad

harvest-roasted-butternut-squash-quinoa-salad_1

Harvest Quinoa Salad

cornsalad

Corn and Feta Salad

green-bean-casserole-ck-x

Green Bean Casserole With Madeira Mushrooms

gh0105_poached-pears-jpg-rend-sni12col-landscape

Poached Pears

My Healthy Morning Routine With My Dog Smudge

Starting a healthy morning routine is important  – not just for yourself but your family and your dog! If you have kids – this is a great time of year to get into a healthy routine so it sets the tone for the school year. But, don’t just think about your “back to school” routine for your 2-legged family members! It’s important to include your dog in your morning routine as well! Did you know according to the “Milk-Bone Human-Canine Health Study” — a survey of 3,000 U.S. dog parents conducted by Milk-Bone brand dog treats — pet parents who include their dogs in family health routines lead healthier lives themselves.

I take my basset hound Smudge with me almost every morning for a walk and that way if I’m too busy the rest of the day – at least he’s fit in his workout in the morning! Did you know he also has his own workout video?!

My healthy morning routine:

  • I usually go for a run in the mornings, but my baby still isn’t sleeping through the night (sigh)…so if I don’t get much sleep I will just go for a walk or do some yoga. But, before I leave I have a quick snack like a piece of toast or half of a plain english muffin.
  • Then, after my run I come home and have a light breakfast with protein (I like eggs and toast or a whey protein shake with spinach and banana) and some coffee. Then I feed the kids and give Smudge his breakfast and it’s time to head to the park!  I put the kids in my double jogging stroller and leash up Smudge and we are ready to go. Once we are there – I sometimes do walking lunges around the park while Smudge sniffs around or I squeeze in some pushups on the playground while my kids play.
  • Once we are home I give Smudge a couple of Milk-Bone Good Morning Daily Vitamin Treats (which provide beneficial nutrients not found in most dog foods). He loves having treats after his workout and I like to give him a little healthy reward!

More healthy morning tips:

  1. Always eat breakfast. If you aren’t hungry – try just a half of a banana, some green juice or a few almonds. You never want to exercise on an empty stomach or you won’t be able to last long.
  2. Try to hold off on emails or social media until after your workout or breakfast. Take some time in the morning just for you and unplug!
  3. Try to fit in some activity in the morning – even if it’s just going for a walk with your dog.
  4. Take some time to breathe and relax before you start your day. Doing a quick at-home yoga routine is a great way to de-stress before you head out the door.

 

This has been a sponsored post by MilkBone – although all opinions are my own.

Stay Fit When You’re On The Road

I know many of you travel for work. Some almost every week and others only occasionally. But, regardless of how often you travel – you should commit to staying fit while you’re away from home. One week of missed workouts here and there can add up and will prevent you from achieving your goals. The most common response I get when I tell my clients to workout when they have to travel for work is “I just don’t have time” followed by “I’ll be too tired” and “My hotel doesn’t have a good gym”. Excuses, Excuses! So, to make your next week out of town a healthy and fit one – I recommend doing this:

#1  Do Your Workout in The Morning.

In the evenings you are more likely to have meetings, dinners and extra work to get caught up on. Or, you may just be really tired at the end of the day. Even if you already have to be up for a 7am meeting – you can still go to bed 20 min earlier (close those laptops!) and get up 30 minutes earlier. Even a quick 30min workout each morning is way better than doing nothing.

Try to workout every day that you are out of town, so that you get into a routine. Any workout will do – as long as you get your heart rate up and break a sweat.

#2 Watch Your Diet.

Just because you are traveling (even if it is for vacation), doesn’t mean you need to pig out. Nothing is worse than coming home and realizing you gained 5lbs. Start your morning right with a light snack (pre-workout) like a piece of fruit or cereal and then eat every 2-3 hours. Most business travelers only have time for scheduled meals or their meals are also business meetings. When that is the case, most people end up eating 3 large meals a day, which is bad for your metabolism and waistline and will make you feel sluggish all day.Instead, take snacks with you to work. Stop by a drugstore or Target and get some nuts, trail mix, fruit, small boxes of cereal (low sugar) and other healthy treats and stash them in your breifcase or at your temporary desk at work. Then, eat a snack every 3 hours and eat lighter during the company lunches and dinners….

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Connect

Featured Posts

What Does My Trainer Eat?

Blog Subscribers!

What To Eat For A Healthy Dinner

Featured Posts

Old-School Bodybuilding Chest Workout – Featured in Oxygen Magazine

Family Travel Review – Margaritaville Lake Conroe

Weighted HIIT Workout Featured in Oxygen Magazine

Categories

  • Free Sample Workouts
  • Nutrition
  • Fit Travel
  • Yoga
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle

 

Loading Comments...