Mini-Me
Posted: February 10, 2011 at 1:29 pmLast night I challenged myself to my next full body strength training session. Iโm focusing on at home weight workouts for this week and next, so I popped in another Cathe DVD. This time I went for the Supersets workout from the same DVD I used earlier in the week.
Yowza! Ouch! My biceps! My legs! I forgot about some of the moves she does in this workout, which certainly present more of a challenge than the Push Pull workout. Although it was harder than I remembered, it still felt very manageable to me. I actually enjoyed feeling my muscles that way again. And it gave me two great biceps moves I want to share with you all in the FFF Features this week. ๐
Using weights again gets me pumped up (ha!) for making some new weight training plans for in the gym. I love using DVD options for cardio, but generally much prefer doing weights in the gym. Although I have to say I will miss my little workout buddy when I go back to the gym for weights.
When I exercise at home Makenzie always wants to keep me company. We even had to buy her a special mini dumbbell so she would stop trying to lift up my 5 pounders. And she loves the resistance bands.
She is such a little mini-me. I just hope Iโm not creating a monster! ๐ I always make sure to tell her we workout to get strong and to stay healthy. Itโs amazing how much having a kid has changed how I discuss and approach exercise. I still view exercise as a very necessary component of my success in getting back in shape post-pregnancy, but donโt focus on it for the calorie burn. She catches on to every little nuance of things I say or do. If I said even once that I needed to workout to make my butt smaller (for example), she would undoubtedly end up saying โmommy makes her butt smallerโ every time I workout for the foreseeable future. It certainly motivates me to keep a focus on health. I donโt want her viewing exercise or choosing healthy food as anything more than something we enjoy and that helps us feel good, strong, and healthy.
Question of the Evening โ Has anything stuck with you from your own parentsโ approach to fitness or food during your childhood?
Tags: makenzie, motherhood, strength training, workout DVDs
That is the cutest thing ever, I LOVE that M joins you! And how interesting that it’s changed how you even talk about working out, and also how you approach it. It’s so smart and something we should all try to do more (focus less on calorie burn and the numbers). Also -LOVE those Cathe workouts! I can’t begin to imagine how good it must feel to work those muscles again!
Agree with my sis on this comment! I can just imagine how awesome it must feel to be back at it.
Great that you’re showing her that exercise is a GOOD thing! I think too many people say horrible things, like, “Oh, you’re getting a bit bigger lately… you need to exercise more.” No kidding! So then exercise becomes this thing that’s associated with appearances, which is NOT what it is! Luckily, there’s always school sports that encourage activity as something that makes you stronger and builds your character. Cute mini-dumbbells!
That is too sweet!! Apparently I used to do the same thing with my mom all the time. ๐
OMG, what a cutie! My parents didn’t work out much when I was a kid – but now they’re very active.
Btw, my son likes to do push ups and sit ups with me at night, too….. ๐
What an adorable pic of Mackenzie!!!
I think it’s wonderful (and very smart) that you’re making sure to be a healthy role model for her (and baby B) but in a way that still incorporate fitness and healthy eating.
While my Mom is an amazing role model in so many ways, and growing up she always supported me, encouraged me, and told me how beautiful I was – I find that the comments she said about herself I have picked up and find myself saying. My Mom constantly made comments about her own weight and I picked up on them without her even noticing. I remember (secretly) trying to do a snackwells diet in sixth grade because I thought I had fat thighs since she was saying she did.
So I think incorporating healthy living into a child at a young age is fantastic, and even more important is what you’re doing by being careful about talking about your own health and fitness. ๐
She is so cute! I hope if I have a girl she is a mini-me! hehehe
I heard those Cathe DVD’s are really good!
I think it’s easier for me to workout because I always saw my parents running and playing golf…they made it fun so it made it more fun for me!
That’s what I’m hoping. I want to make it fun for her. And of course her to choose how she wants to be active. Right now, its all about copying mommy.
I LOVE working out with my kids. They do random stuff with me since I work out early in the morning they are still in bed. Jay loves the insanity workouts (he looks like a spaz when he does them and we crack up the whole time) and Max will do anything with me. I was always the healthy one growing up. My mom and dad didn’t focus on that stuff like I always have.
How cute is Makenzie?!?! She’s just like her Momma. ๐ I think you’re approach to health is a great one for your children to see. I’m very aware of that (even though I don’t have children yet) and don’t want my future children to ever see or experience the issues I’ve dealt with. My parents were fairly healthy, but they harped on me about my weight, which contributed to my going down the path I went down. My boyfriend and I have actually discussed this multiple times (he had weight issues growing up and a mother who nagged him about them…I think because of her own food issues). We want our children (like most parents) to be healthy and happy. We’re going to try to create the best environment for that and not base self worth on appearance.
That picture is the cutest thing I have ever seen!! She is so adorable pumping iron!!
My parents were both pretty active while I was growing up. I still remember getting up super early to go downstairs and watch my mom when I would hear her trying to squeeze in a workout before all of us kids got up for the day. My dad ran races just for fun and would often let us tag along on our bikes while he ran beside us. I wonder what my future kids will remember about me and my workout habits someday ๐
I got into fitness because of my dad — he started asking me to run with him and eventually train for a 1/2 marathon. When was I younger, he would always suggest we all go to the park to play tennis, or basketball, or just take a walk.
I have a friend who has a 12 year old daughter, and I can see how talking badly about your body (or wanting to make your butt smaller with exercise) can negatively impact a child. I hear what my friend says and I see how her daughter is impacted — sorry this sounds so vague, but it definitely makes me think twice before I bash my body (or someone else’s) in front of anyone — not just a child.
I love seeing M lift those weights! Woohoo!
Precious pic of lil M!
My husband and I talk about this all the time – how we want to set a positive tone for exercising, eating healthily, and talking about ourselves in a positive way. I think the key is to simply lead by example! I’m a teacher and I think about it all the time – my 4th graders watch my every move and listen to (almost) every word I say.
My parents were very sporadic with exercise and healthy eating. My mom was always skinny – but didn’t eat much. What she did eat wasn’t necessarily healthy. My dad always struggled with his weight and handled it in very negative ways.
Heather? Haha. That’s my sister’s name…but the way you described your parents kind of reminds me of my own.
So cute! Both of my sons have imitated me during exercise. I bought 1-pound weights for that exact reason. And my 3-year-old has his own yoga mat. ๐
I definitely think that Mackenzie is the cutest thing ever. ๐
My dad’s view on exercise is so he can “eat the way he does and to look good because he’s vain” (his exact words). I don’t think that had a good effect on me as a teenager and probably is why I had a distorted view of exercise for so long.
Now, I do it for the RIGHT reasons!
That is a distorted view but I had to laugh…because at least he’s honest and blunt. LOL
How cute is she?! I love that you got her her own little dumbbell so she can work out with you. My mom (single mother) wasn’t very active when we were kids – that came when I was in college and she started running after she met my step father who has been running all his life. so I didn’t pick that up from her until I was in my early 20s. BUT, I picked up some great lessons from Mom while I was growing up – like how important budgeting is, how important education is and how important it is to believe in yourself! She went from a mail room clerk making minimum wage when we were in grade school to becoming a senior executive with the same company – all by setting a goal for herself & not letting anything derail her! (Can you tell I’m super proud of her?!)
Definitely can. And she sounds like an amazing woman. I hope I can teach half of those things to my little M.
that is soo cute that she does that, i actually vividly remember my mom waking up early and working out to shows on tv and when i came downstairs i would join in and do it with her. this was when i was probably 4 years old and i can remember that! so funny ๐ she wore those one piece body suits and spandex hahaha! it is so great you are in tune with how to say things and the way you approach exercise.. all of these habits will stick in her mind and yes you have to be soo careful because they’ll pick up on it! keep doing what your doing! M is so cute i love when you post pics of your kiddies ๐ if im ever in georgia i’m making a pit stop to the FFF household for workouts and snack time with you and little M! hahah
We’d love to have ya! ๐
Mackenzie is so cute! I love that she imitates you. Meghan imitates my dancing which is not a good thing! ๐
I love the approach you are taking with her and exercise. For the longest time, I thought of exercise as a chore and a way to “un-do” a day of bad eating. Now I focus on how it makes me feel and achieving new goals! ๐
mini me is too stinkin cute! What a great role model you are! My dad was a runner and I always ran with him. I love that! It became a passion that way.
M is SO CUTE! My fitness regime is quite different from that of my parents, but one thing my mum did that I definitely do is workout in the early mornings. Both of us are TOTAL morning people! ๐
That is just so cute! I’m sure she’s learning great habits from you, and good for you for not being that mom who is all about weight loss and saying things that will influence your daughter in the future. I wonder if baby B will want to workout with Mommy, too?
I think Peter hopes he will be outside working on the car with him. We’ll see…
I wish I had a momma like you to teach me about health and fitness growing up! Unfortunitly both of my parents are (and were) overweight and out of shape. They have done every fad diet, exercise scam out tehre and honestly i think that’s one of the biggest reasons why I now know that the magic pills dont work!
I DO credit them for my love of being active and sports though, they fully beleived in keeping us busy and active to keep us out of trouble. I’ve played every sport under the sun!
Mackenzie is so so adorable! Sometimes it’s scary to think of having a little mini-me, knowing that what I portray to my future daughter will shape her thoughts and views of herself. I am determined to offer a healthy balanced approach with her, and allow her to view herself as the perfect creature in God’s sight that she is!
My mom was very very careful not to EVER criticize anything about me, my body, or my weight. I can’t remember a single time she ever did it.
But she always was so hard on herself (and engaged in a lot of bad eating habits like binging and food guilt) that I picked up some of the same attitudes and behaviors unfortunately.
I have to remember that when I have kids I have to keep positive in front of them about them AND me no matter what.
M is soooo cute!!!!!!! One thing that always stuck with me (that my parents practice to this day) was having salad with dinner every night, even if we had other veggies. I eat salad about 4x per week with dinner, still good!
She is so cute! And such a great motivator to keep your mind in the right place:)
Seriously, can M become any more cuter? She’s adorable! And I love how you are teaching her to love working out for all the right reasons. I really hope my parents’ approach to food didn’t stick with me. I love my mother to no ends, but her relationship with food is really bad.
She is too cute!!!! I bet having M around makes working out more enjoyable ๐
It does. ๐ As long as she stays in her special workout area. I always worry when she gets too close. i don’t want to bonk her head with a dumbbell.
“Mommy makes her but smaller” — I love it! ๐
I absolutely love the picture of M with the dumbbells :). I think you’re being a great role model by exercising, though.
A lot of things from my parents have stuck with me… a lot of habits I have, some good and some bad. Definitely my neat-freakness and my budgeting, I got those from my dad. Growing up my mom often complained about her weight and told me how thin she was. It’s definitely contributed to my current self-image, too. But really, she was a great mom and did a good job :).
A.L.
haahah that little picture of Mackenzie is TOO cute!
The eating healthy part is pretty easy for me since I was brought up with relatively healthy meals. However, the working out part is a little tougher since it was never a priority to my parents. I hope to have a different affect on my kiddos!
She is so lucky to have such a wonderful mom!!! My mom did make comments about her weight while I was growing up, and it definitely stuck with me. Of course she didn’t mean any harm by it, but I still remember it to this day.
I don’t think women mean harm by it usually either. It’s just sad that it is such the norm for us and it seems to be a never ending cycle. I know M will have her own body insecurities as she gets older because we ALL do…but I hope to fight it as much as I can.
aww you really do have the cutest little mini-me! ๐ my parents definitely instilled a love for fresh, wholesome foods since i was little. my sister and i got to go out to the garden and break off stalks of asparagus as a treat! haha. and i still love asparagus to this day!
as far as exercise, my parents were always very active and i think my sister and i could throw and catch a softball better than we could feed ourselves for a while, but “exercise” wasn’t really something we did. it was just an active lifestyle!
Way to go Mommy and Miss M. She looks adorable! We tell the kiddos the same thing…health and fitness is what’s important. Getting skinny is not the issue! (where did you find the mini dumbells?)
Target! ๐
M with her little dumbbell is making my day!! So awesome that you have a conscious awareness of your little eyes and ears and your impact!! ๐
I LOOOOOOVE the pic of Makenzie working out!! Oh my goodness. My heart just melted.
LOVE little M! What a great picture! ๐
My parents never talked negatively about their bodies and so I never felt any kind of pressure at home (thank goodness!). I am thankful they were such positive role models.
I have some friends whose parents still make harsh comments about themselves and their daughters bodies..it’s just awful.
I never have understood the mothers who make harsh comments about their daughters’ bodies. I can only imagine the effects!
I love that M is emulating your healthy choices. Tina, I think that if I ever have a daughter of my own, I’m going to request a gchat with you so I can gather all of your healthing parenting tips at once :-).
It is so cute that M is so influenced by and in awe of what you do: it’s a great gift to you as a reminder not to be obsessive, and also a great gift to her to be shown that it’s about loving the body. Of course, when she’s a teenager, she may rebel against the whole thing…
My folks–my dad had a very aversive attitude toward food (animal body, beneath the ethereal mind, etc) that I’m still trying to get over, also didn’t think that girls were athletic…
love
Ela
That picture made me smile ๐ I love it!
My parents didn’t really have an approach to fitness, but we always ate homecooked meals at the dinner table as a family and I cherish that value.
my mom was such a fabulous roll model- ate everything, but in moderation. So there was broccoli and beans, but also chocolate chip cookies and family walks ๐
M is so cute!
That picture is pretty adorable! My mom started running with me when I was 13, and we ran our first half-marathon together. All the training was a great motivator and bonding time.
What a cutey pie!! Obviously she wants to be just like mommy ๐
I totally know what you mean about being careful what you say about exercise – kids are like sponges! I was a nanny for my cousins (4 and 6 yrs old) for a few months and I had to explain that I got up early to run every morning because it made me feel strong and gave me energy. Any little thing I would do to link exercise to looking good or being skinny was definitely noted by them.
Awww, so cute! My parents were both big runners– my mom especially. Every afternoon, without fail, she’d strap on her running shoes and head out on her same four mile loop. I realize now how much that installed within me the importance of daily exercise– I feel off if I don’t workout for a few days in a row!
You are an amazing mother! I want to be just like you when I have kids one day!! M is very lucky to have such positive values instilled at such a young age – you are so right when you say kids are smart and pick up on nuances!! I love the way you are approaching exercise and the way you explain it to her!
Exercise in my family was always encouraged to stay healthy and for “feeling good”. To this day, when people tell me I don’t “need to exercise” because I’m already “skinny” (hate that), I tell them I exercise because it makes me feel amazing, melts my stress and because I want to be healthy! Wish more people understood that working out is not strictly for calorie burning or to lose weight…
Thanks for this post!
Too cute! I have VIVID memories of doing Jazzercise videos with my mom when I was a kid. To this day, when I hear the cheesy 80s song that were on the video, I am taken back to those days. It was awesome and I’m sure my mom appreciated that I would pay attention so she could get her workout done. ๐
Awhhh that picture of your daughter is too cute! She’s lovely. My mother has always exercised a lot and ate healthily but she never mentioned that it was to keep her figure, she would just say it was to stay fit and healthy. She is 64 now and still takes care of her figure. She always encouraged me to join her for a long walk and never mentioned my weight gain in college. I hope I’ll be the same kind of mum!
That is awesome!