Hot (Sweaty) Mamas Book Review & Giveaway

Over the past several months, when I've had a RARE free moment, I've been taking a peek at the sweet book, Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom (HERE), by Kara Douglass Thom and Laurie Lethert Kocanda. I'm not much of a reader -- though I've been trying to be -- and this book fits-the-bill. It was easy for me to take on the go and read in the line of minivans at school pick-up or at the doctor's office, or sneak away in bed for a few moments of reading before I suddenly crash before a long day of craziness and chaos. Just like my running, I have been able to sneak in some reading here-and-there ... and this book is perfect for those little bouts of free time ... you can pick it up and get some motivation right where you left off.

As a single mommy, I find it extremly important to find balance in every single day. As much as I'd like to fit in a long workout session with sweat-drenched running gear every single day, that just really isn't possible for me at this point. This book has reminded me that it's important to stay active, to teach your kids and active and healthy lifestyle, but that each day is about balance ... for you and your family. It's important to carve out me time, quiet time, active time, hobby time, rest time, down time, family time, time with each child individually, time for work, time for errands, time for friends and extended family. BALANCE, people!!

The advice that is given by Kara and Laurie is practical for all of us that try to work, home and family. I like the section that touches on communicating with your spouse about your training, your schedule, and his/her priorities. Communication is always important in a strong relationship. And exercise routines are apart of that. I've seen a lot of competitive endurance athletes struggle to fit everything into their schedule; when both of you are training balance becomes that much more difficult.

Whether you are a mother or not, you can learn a lot from their words, motivation, encouragement and advice. When you put the book down, you will immediately want to get you and your family active.

The book also includes lots of helpful tips, resources and website for additional motivation and support.

Conception of the book:

Laurie and Kara met shortly after Kara moved to the Twin Cities from Texas in the summer of 2003. They were both triathletes and writers who had read each other’s bylines on several occasions. At the time, Laurie’s daughter was a little over one, and Kara’s twins were newborns. They were triathletes, writers and, now, moms. A couple of summers later, after the birth of Kara’s third daughter and Laurie’s second daughter, they got together for lunch to hammer out a presentation for the Twin Cities Marathon Expo about managing fitness through pregnancy (They made a good team since Kara’s fitness program slowed to leg lifts in the pool while Laurie was the sort to go for a run after her water broke—true story).

As they chewed on their sandwiches and the outline for their talk, Laurie looked up and said, somewhat sarcastically, “Who cares whether or not you exercise during your pregnancy? The real challenge is finding a way to work out after the kids are born.”

Talk about an “Aha!” moment. She nailed it, and yet, at the time, there was nothing out there that spoke to women about balancing fitness and motherhood. Plenty was said about fitness during pregnancy and ad nauseam about getting your body back after baby. When they parted ways after having lunch that day they had the beginning of an outline for a presentation as well as for a book.

Because they were living the life of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas, they had their own experiences, victories and challenges to draw from for the book. With six kids between them, they are experts at balancing motherhood and fitness.

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One lucky winner will win a copy of
Hot (Sweaty) Mamas:
Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom

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