Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

ABC Pilates in Laguna Niguel is challenging you to make a healthy commitment this year and take the first step towards your new body with their “First Step” package. This package includes: 3 private one hour sessions + 5 group classes for only $255! *

If you are new to Pilates, starting with some private sessions is a great way to learn the proper technique through one-on-one instruction.   Then you can practice your new skills in their great group classes!

If you are in the market for some new workout gear, head on over to ABC Pilates this Thursday, Jan. 14th, 2010 from 6:45am – 11:30am for a trunk show of DISCOUNT lulu gear!

Hooray! It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

10 people will be chosen at random to receive ONE free private session!

To enter, email me at giveaways@tinyoranges.com and tell me the answer to this question:  Name one benefit of Pilates in pregnancy OR postpartum.  Click HERE for the answers!   You can email all week, just have them in before 12pm on Sunday, 1/17/10.

* First Step offer can’t be combined with any other promotions

{ABC Pilates is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor}

I am sure there are many moms out there like myself, who have made the resolution to get in shape this year!  I am also sure there are many moms (like me) who find it near impossible to get to the gym with a baby.

I have heard about Stroller Strides for a long time and always wanted to try it out.  For those of you that don’t know about it, Stroller Strides is an outdoor, all over body workout that you can do WITH your baby!

Join Stroller Strides founder, Lisa Druxman, as she hosts a special Grand Opening event – the return of Stroller Strides to Newport Beach!

Thursday, January 14th, 2010 @ 9:00am
lululemon at Fashion Island

Together with lululemon athletica at Fashion Island, Stroller Strides is hosting an extravaganza for mom and baby. The launch event will kick off with a FREE class taught by Lisa, followed by a postpartum sports bra fitting by lululemon experts and a fun filled reception at the Fashion Island store. Just bring your baby and a stroller.

Activities will include: Yoga tips for pre and postnatal women, free frozen yogurt offered by Red Mango and the opportunity to have ceramic impressions made of your little one’s hand or footprints. There will be product samples and gift bags as well as registration discounts and specials, including no registration fees for the first 10 moms who sign up and the chance to win 3 months of free unlimited classes.

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive one free month of classes which would include the one time $75 registration fee as well as the $55 monthly fee (a $130 value!) Classes are scheduled to meet 4 times per week at 9:00 AM (Monday/Wednesday at Newport Ridge Community Park and Tuesday/Thursday at Fashion Island).

In addition, the winner will receive the new member gift bag, which includes product samples from sponsors like California Baby, Happy Baby and Golden Path Alchemy Skincare, as well as 2 resistance bands to use during class and some other goodies.

To enter, simply leave a comment below!  You can comment as many times as you would like.  Entries must be in before 12pm on 1/12/10.  I will post the winner on Wednesday morning.  Good luck!   I am for sure going to this event – I hope to see some Tiny Oranges readers there!

Contact Tania Berger with any questions
323.595.0001 or tberger@strollerstrides.net
Click HERE to visit the Newport Beach Stroller Strides website for more information.

{Newport Beach Stroller Strides is a partner of Tiny Oranges}

I recently had an invigorating post-pregnancy wake up call at ABC Pilates for my muscles.  They had been sleeping for um, the past year, and Amy Cady, owner and instructor extraordinaire, poured them one strong pot of coffee.  Figuratively of course!    WOW.   I felt muscles I forgot I had! And although it made walking slightly painful the next day, I have to say it felt really good!  It had been one long year.

If you are a first-timer to Pilates or an old (and by old I mean “experienced”) pro, ABC Pilates has something for everyone.   Located conveniently right off the 5 freeway in Laguna Niguel, this serene, zen-like studio is the type of place you walk in and feel like you can exhale and leave your crazy day at the door.    I forgot what it was like to take one whole hour to focus on myself.   That in itself is priceless.

Specializing in pre and post natal fitness, they are accustomed to working with woman in all stages of pregnancy and postpartum.   Amy, a mommy of two herself, has worked for the past 4 years to develop a series of exercises specifically designed for the pre and post-natal woman.

She wanted to know about my pregnancy and delivery and was incredibly knowledgeable.   One thing I learned:  when we carry those precious little babies in our belly, it causes the muscles to completely split in our abdomen,  called “diastisis recti,” or separation of the abdominis muscle.    When she pointed this out, I could actually see the divide in my tummy.   They are there to help bridge the divide and bring those muscles back together, one exercise at a time.

During our workout she had great ways to explain how to properly do the exercise in a way I could visualize.  She also had great tips on things to do at home and important tips on posture.   I had been walking around with that post pregnancy slump.  You know the one? Shoulders hunched, hips sort of swayed forward, and the belly hanging out in a “not so pretty” sort of way.   Since working out with her, she has made me think about my posture  every day since.

We did some floor exercises and then moved on to the  ”exo chair” with me.  It was pretty amazing.  It combines upper and lower body exercises.  Talk about “feeling the burn!”  That little chair was one powerful piece of equipment!        

They offer a great schedule of private and group classes.   If you are in any stage of pregnancy or beyond, or just looking for a great way to get in shape, I can’t more highly recommend ABC Pilates!

Special Tiny Oranges Offers!

* Mention Tiny Oranges and receive 3 private sessions for only $125 (normally $210!)

* Sign up for a privates package or 5-or-10-class group packages and get 10% off the package price

Hooray! It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

Email me at giveaways@tinyoranges.com and tell me:   Where did Amy get her certified training?  Hint: CLICK HERE to find out!  10 lucky winners will receive a FREE private session with one of their fabulous instructors.    I learned so much from doing a one-on-one workout, I guarantee you will too!

You can email all week, just have them in by next Friday, 11/20/09 at 3pm PST.

Happy Friday everyone!  Have a fabulous weekend!

It’s now been over three months and I had been using the “I just had a baby, I’m exhausted” excuse to explain my lack of exercise.  It was a challenge to find time to eat and brush my teeth!    So, where on earth was I going to find 30 minutes to exercise??

But then I had an unfortunate encounter involving a dressing room with terrible lighting and decided it was time to FIND those 30 minutes!  Not only for that reason, but when I start exercising regularly I just feel so much better overall.    

I am NOT a runner.  Never have been.  I hate strongly dislike running.   However, I have decided I want to try to start jogging as there is no way I can get to the gym with two kids.   And, I always have access to my jogger and running shoes, so it leaves me with no excuses.

I am starting slow.  30 seconds jogging, then 30 seconds walking.  It’s actually going pretty good.  At the end of 30 minutes, I figure I ran (well ran is a generous word – it’s more like a glorified fast walk with a little bounce) for 15 minutes, which is 15 minutes more than I really have ever jogged in my life.

I find great music helps a lot.  Just getting a good, excuse the 90’s reference, “pump you up” song can really help motivate.    I have had the same songs on my iPod workout mix for way too long and I need some good new ones.  Will you help me?

Post a comment here with your favorite fun workout songs and one winner will receive a $10 iTunes card as my “thank you!”  Please comment all month…contest ends on Saturday, 10/31 at 8pm PST.    You can leave as many comments/songs as you would like!  

 To get you started, here is a funny and eclectic list of some of my favs!

I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) – Fuel
Just Dance – Lady GaGa
Glamorous – Fergie
What I Got – Sublime
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
Mercy – Duffy
Womanizer – Britney Spears
Fighter – Christina Aguilera
Machinehead – Bush
The Way I Are – Timbaland
You – Candlebox
Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5
Love is a Battlefield – Pat Benatar

As a new breastfeeding mom (for the second time), I have loved having Milkalicious as a shopping and nursing resource this time around.   For those of you that aren’t acquainted with Milkalicious, it is a darling breastfeeding boutique in Aliso Viejo.

The other night I was reading the book “Pinkalicious” to my daughter and accidentally said “Milkalicious” when reading it to her.  She doesn’t miss a beat these days, so  she looks at me as says “MILKALICIOUS??” and starts giggling.   I guess I had  Milkalicious on the brain! 

I have to share an AMAZING resource the boutique offers that I experienced firsthand -  FREE breastfeeding clinics  every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 10am – 11:30am. 

When we went to our 2 week doctor appointment  for Morgan, she had barely made it back to her birth weight because of her reflux.  The fact that she was not gaining enough weight early on really messed with my head. 

Even when she started gaining weight when we got her reflux under control, every time she was fussy, I was thinking “Is she hungry?? Is she getting enough??”

So, I went to a Milkalicious workshop to find out.    The first thing they do is take your baby’s pre-feeding weight on a scale.  Then, you nurse and weigh them afterwards so you can see approximately how much milk they are getting.   

In the meantime, a lactation consultant is there to walk around and answer any questions.  And it was fun to sit and chat with moms that all had babies roughly the same age.  

They had a sheet to tell you approximately how many ounces per feeding your baby should be getting for their weight.  Turns out that Morgan was getting exactly as much as she should be.  I left feeling so relieved.  It was just nice to have the reassurance.

They also offer private lactation consultations in-store or at your home for a fee, along with other classes.  Whether you are nursing your 1st baby or your 5th, when nursing issues arise, it is SO helpful to have an expert to turn to for help.  Us nursing moms need all the support we can get!

You can register for classes online or call 949.831.6455 (MILK).