Mom Works It Out by Angela Gillis

On the TODAY Show & come a marathon with me

Good morning and Happy Monday! It’s the first week of the New Year which means we turn those plans into actions. This is your time to shine. Don’t just talk about doing something; make it happen.

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Willie and I spent yesterday walking around NYC and enjoying the sights. It’s been a great way to start off the year and it has really made us think about things. This morning Willie and I are on the NBC Today Show in the 4th hour. Please take the time to watch and hear about our weight loss journey which has now turned into my running story.

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It’s a new year which means it’s time to make plans. Are you ready to run your first marathon this year? Or are you just looking to find some motivation to get fit in the new year? Come run the Chicago Marathon or New York City Marathon with me! I’ll be representing Team Healthy Kids and spreading the word about creating a stronger and healthier America through our schools.

This is a great organization to work with because the cause is so great and the people behind the scenes are passionate about what they do. A healthy America can take us so much further in the future and here is your chance to really make a difference.

Action for Healthy Kids educates children and adults on making the healthier choices in life. Money raised goes to ensuring a child has a healthy meal at school or that a gym class has the equipment needed to promote physical activity.

For 2016, Willie has committed to running another marathon which will be the Chicago Marathon. I plan on running both the Chicago Marathon and New York Marathon with Team Healthy kids. If I were to form a team to run the NYC Marathon with Action for Healthy Kids, would you want to run with us? They have guaranteed spots in the marathon with a fundraising commitment. If you’re interested in learning more, email TeamHealthyKids@ActionforHealthyKids.org. Or, check out this page to learn more: www.TeamHealthyKids.org

Don’t forget to check us out on the NBC Today Show this morning and think about improving your health and helping out a great cause by committing to run a marathon with us this year.

We’ll be on the TODAY Show Monday …

We’ll be on the TODAY Show Monday and ending the year

I’m really excited to tell share with everyone that Willie and I will be on the NBC Today Show on Monday morning. I do believe we will be on the 4th hour of the show talking about our weight loss and running. We are really excited to be able to share our story with more people. This will be a great way to start off the new year. Today is the last day of 2015 and it’s been a learning experience. Ending the year is a time for self reflection and to see how far we’ve come or didn’t. The…

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Recipes: Stay healthy and indulge over the holidays

Recipes: Stay healthy and indulge over the holidays

It’s coming on Christmas and there are tons of treats and foods in your face.  It’s impossible to escape.  You know I’m a big fan of moderation and deprivation.  If you deprive yourself of the things you want, you’ll probably end up binging on those foods later.  Enjoy them now with moderation and portion control. There still is a way to stay healthy and indulge over the holidays. I will indulge during the holidays but I’m ok with it because I am keeping active. I try to keep my activities holiday themed too because it’s just so much more fun.…

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Get active during Thanksgiving holiday

Get active during Thanksgiving holiday

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we’re all going to be eating to enjoy the holiday.  I hope everyone does enjoy the holiday without feeling guilty.  But this is also good time to be with family and friends and you can get active.  Everything is better with a group anyway. My mom had knee replacement surgery yesterday so I had to forgo any active recovery I was planning on doing yesterday.  This morning was a different story.  I felt like I needed to get out to work in for many reasons but I just miss breaking a sweat.  I hit the treadmill…

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We are in Runner’s World talking weight …

We are in Runner’s World talking weight loss!

I am so happy to finally share with everyone that we are in the December 2015 issue of Runner’s World.  I guess we could have spoke about it before but honestly, we didn’t know much information about it.  When running the Pensacola Marathon on Sunday someone at an aid station stopped to ask me if I was the girl in the magazine.  That is really when I found out it had hit the shelf.  On my way home yesterday, I stopped in Baton Rouge and purchased them all. Haha! The forces at Action for Healthy Kids are making my dreams…

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Three tips for FALLing back into fitness and …

Three tips for FALLing back into fitness and nutrious food

Fall is a beautiful time. The leaves are changing colors and the weather gets a little bit cooler. This is the time when the clothes get a little baggier and some people may fall into comfort food. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it shouldn’t be a daily regime. Fall is the perfect time to get outside and really enjoy some nice weather and get fit at the same time. I live for the fall weather. It’s the perfect time for me to get outside and do my runs after struggling through the hot summer temps. All that hard word…

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Don’t skip your exercise warm up.

Don’t skip your exercise warm up.

I do realize a lot of my readers are on their own journeys and don’t know where to begin.  Healthy eating and exercise is something new to you and you don’t know where to begin.  That is why I’m talking to you about the exercise warm up.  I see people go straight hard core into their workouts without any batting an eye on the warm up. The exercise warm-up and cool down are crucial parts of the workout and sadly parts that people don’t really focus on.  Today, I’m only talking about the warm up but don’t worry, I’ll talk…

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Can I workout from home?

Can I workout from home?

Workout out at home is a great and convenient. There are perks to having a gym membership like equipment and the possibilities of group fitness, but sometimes the budget just won’t allow for a gym membership. Or maybe you’re just uncomfortable being around a lot of people when you workout? That doesn’t mean you can’t be active. If you do decide to work out at home there are some things you need to take into consideration like equipment. You might need to invest in some weights/dumbbells/kettle bells, a exercise mat and maybe a treadmill (if that’s what you like to…

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3 Reasons To Listen to Music During Your Workout

3 Reasons To Listen to Music During Your Workout

Listening to music during your workout can work wonders.  If you’re having a bad day, turn on some tunes and get it rolling.  There is nothing wrong with turning up the tunes during your workout and in fact it helps out a bunch. For some reason today, I’ve been in a musical mood. Singing and shaking has been my thing so I just had to share with your some reasons to listen to music during your workout: When you’re listening to music, you’re more inclined to get with the beat.  If the beat is pumping, you’re going to kick in the…

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Five Things Friday: Reasons you’ll enjoy indoor …

Five Things Friday: Reasons you’ll enjoy indoor cycle

When I tell people I teach indoor cycle, most people tell me they aren’t ready for that class. “People come out of there really sweaty,” is the usual response. “It just seems so intense.” I hate the break it to you but yes it’s an intense exercise and all fitness activities make you sweat. I don’t think anyone should be intimidated by attending an indoor cycle/spinning class. It’s a great way to get the blood pumping and torch some calories as time literally flies by. It’s time for me to share the five reasons I think you’ll enjoy an indoor…

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Beginner Treadmill Workout for Willie’s Birthday

Beginner Treadmill Workout for Willie’s Birthday

I don’t know if any of you remember, but Willie and I started our weight loss journey on the treadmill.  We scheduled out the time to walk on the treadmill for roughly 35 minutes a day. Willie literally walked off 150 pounds. I know the treadmill gets a bad wrap, especially by me, because people claim it to be boring. But the truth is: you can get a great cardio workout on a treadmill.  Do I enjoy running 15 miles on a treadmill?  Nope, but I do like walking on the treadmill.  It’s easier to keep pace and to keep…

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