Innovative Core Strengthening for Women
Marie Forleo is my entrepreneurial icon. She has personality plus and amazing insight and advice for entrepreneurs who do most — if not all — of their business online.
Marie created an online business school for female entrepreneurs called B-School, and below is my video entry to win a FREE seat in this year’s B-School program.
Interested in my vision for the future of FemFusion Fitness? Take a peek at my quick video below.
If you missed the previous posts in this weekly Perinatal Fitness Series, click here for the Pre-Pregnancy Fitness post, click here for the Pre-Pregnancy Fitness Video, click here for the First Trimester Fitness post, and click here for the First Trimester Fitness Video.
I pulled it together this week, and got a video done IN TIME for today’s post!
As I note in the vid below, many women in their second trimester feel BETTER than they did in their first. Usually they have a bit more energy, a bit less nausea… Things feel good.
Put that energy to good use by continuing to focus on strength and endurance of the core, gluteal (butt), and leg muscles. The video shows some great squat exercises, a back pain reliever, trunk twists and circles to help with digestion, and — of course — kegels.
Simple, fresh, and so easy… Just keep in mind that your kitchen WILL smell like vinegar!
Sprinkle salmon with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika if desired. Use your favorite method to cook the salmon; for example, broiled, baked, grilled, or in the crock-pot (line the bottom with foil, place salmon on the foil, and cook for 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low).
For the sauce: Place frozen blackberries and balsamic vinegar in heavy-bottomed saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 20-25 min, then remove from heat and let sit for 5-10 minutes to allow juices to become more syrupy.
Serve each piece of salmon with a heaping portion of blackberry-balsamic reduction. Sprinkle with additional kosher flake salt and/or freshly ground black pepper if desired. Delish.
I’m proud of my booty (I work hard for it!). That being said, sometimes I want extra coverage when I teach my FemFusion group exercise classes, and especially after class, when I’m still in my workout clothes and have to run errands, pick up my son, etc. I don’t aways want to flaunt my assets… Especially on days when I’m feeling a little… FLUFFY, shall we say?
MeSheeky carries “progressive apparel for women” — yoga wear and lounge wear. But what is the name all about? Well, as stated on their FAQ page: “It comes from how we feel everyday: fun, fresh, totally confident + maybe a little cheeky. That’s what we wanted our name to embody, but the word for it didn’t exist — so we invented our own! We’re proud to have a name as unique as our line + the sheekynistas who wear it. It’s a spirit you feel when you put on our clothes. I’m sheeky, you’re sheeky, we’re all sheeky!”
I splurged and ordered 4 items from mesheeky: the Odette capri, the Odette skirt, the Trixie halter, and the Trixie skirt. The Odette skirt was on sale due to a discontinued color… BONUS!!!
Mesheeky.com is a light and bright website that’s — overall — very easy to navigate. Initially, it may seem like the product images aren’t ideal, but don’t fret! There’s plenty of info and multiple images for each product. For example, the page that describes the Trixie halter shows a woman mid-jump — it’s a great picture, but it doesn’t really show the top. However, click on the color you’re interested in and BOOM! You get three thumbnail images that show the top in detail.
About the ordering process: Customer service was fantastic. They were responsive to my questions, shipped to my APO address, and I received my items in a timely manner. Love that!
First, the Odette capri. I ordered kind of a wild — for me — color… It’s called “punch,” and it’s FABULOUS. Even better in person than I thought it would be! The best word to describe the color is “juicy.” I’m so happy I went against my better judgment (which told me to order basic black) and stepped outside of the box.
About the seams: The flatlock seams on the Odette capri are great — I love the placement. The curve of the seams is flattering and ultra-feminine. But… I hate to say this… After wearing my capris twice, I noticed that the stitching at the crotch is starting to come undone. It has not created a hole (yet), but the serged top-stitching has frayed and come undone in one area and I think I’ll need to reinforce it to prevent it from splitting.
About the leg openings: The length of the capri is PERFECT for me, and I love the gathered detail on the sides. Fair warning: The leg openings are a bit tight. I do not consider my calves to be large by any means, but the leg openings are quite snug around my calves. It’s not a bad thing: It keeps them from riding up. But I just want to put it out there for any readers who might have large, muscular calves… It’s something to be aware of.
Overall, I’m really glad I ordered the Odette capri. They are flattering and have some serious sass.
Next, the Odette skirt. I ordered this skirt on sale in a lovely color called “wink,” which looks great with my “punch” colored pants (the Odette capri). I like the skirt a lot: like the Odette capri, it has some serious sass with the foldover waistband with the adjustable drawstring. The only drawback about the skirt is that the foldover waistband tends to ride up just a bit. I kept having to re-fold it over when I wore it during my FemFusion class. (Granted, I do a LOT of moving around in my classes… Lots of ups and downs, circles, squats, and bends. I really put the Odette skirt to the test!)
The verdict: Glad I ordered it, but glad it was on sale!!!
Next, the Trixie halter. I ordered it in “wink,” to match my Odette skirt. I’ve never had a completely coordinating workout outfit before… It’s so much fun! The quality of the fabric and design of the Trixie is great, and I love that the knot is on the side (rather than right behind the neck). The halter is adorable, but when I wore it during my FemFusion class I had to adjust the top regularly. I think it would be best for strolling on the beach in the summer, for less active fitness classes, or for smaller busts.
Overall, I wouldn’t order the Trixie halter again… But (in general) I don’t think halter tops are for me.
Now for the Trixie skirt… I saved the best for last!!! I love this skirt! I almost didn’t purchase but I’m so glad I did! I ordered it in “slate,” which is a great dark grey that matches almost everything. I’ve worn it over black capris, light grey capris, and black yoga pants and it’s looked and felt great every time. The cut is flattering: Just long enough to provide coverage, but short enough that it doesn’t take over your outfit. The side slits allow freedom of movement and a bit of sass. The ruching on the butt is subtle and sexy. I get compliments when I wear my Trixie skirt… And I feel super sexy and — dare I say it — “sheeky!!!”
Bottom line: I would definitely order the Trixie skirt again. And I would love to try out the Trixie pants…. I know my son needs some “back-to-school” clothes… I think that — in a couple of months — mom will need some back to school clothes as well!
I have been seeing it more and more… Check out my beautiful friend Teresa in her skort from Athleta.com… (BTW — Teresa is a newly minted FemFusion instructor!)
This crisp is delicious: Spring-time comfort food at its grain-free finest. The lemon zest contributes to a warm but slightly tart, light and bright filling… Like a cozy kitchen with sunshine streaming through the window!
The filling of this crisp is inspired by the adorable Baker Bettie and her recipe for Grain Free Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Note: this is my entry for Ricki’s “Wellness Weekend” over at dietdessertndogs.com!
For the Filling
Coconut Milk Whipped Cream (note: this is directly from Baker Bettie’s recipe… I didn’t make any changes, because it worked perfectly for me!)
