A new kind of exercise has strolled into the Indianapolis area that will help moms and caretakers get a workout while keeping their children right in front of them. 

Stroller Strides is the nation’s fastest-growing fitness program for new moms and just opened up in Carmel last month.  It is a total exercise program that moms can do while their babies are in their strollers–and moms actually get a chance to use the strollers in their workouts.  The classes are 60 minutes long and include power walking, body toning, and cardio intervals.  The class incorporates fun activities like singing nursery rhymes to the children, so they are actively engaged as well.  Tiffany Sabens, the owner of Stroller Strides in Carmel, also promotes this as a valuable experience to show your children that exercise is important and fun!

Stroller Strides extends its services beyond exercise, which is drawing new mothers to this kind of community experience.  In addition to exercise classes, Stroller Strides offers playdates and mom’s night out opportunities to help them meet other people with the same age children. 

“We provide the outlet that moms need to enjoy time with other moms, while also focusing on the much needed exercise to fuel their demanding lives,” Sabens said. “You can make new friends, get into shape and enjoy time with your baby.”

Classes are held Mondays–Wednesdays–Fridays at 9:30am.  The class location is Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, Indiana.  For more information about Stroller Strides, please contact:

Tiffany Sabens
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Cell: 317.919.7258
phone | fax | vm: 888.704.3501
866.FIT.4.MOM / 866.348.4666
tiffanysabens@strollerstrides.net
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Helping Moms Make Strides In Fitness, Motherhood, and Life™

http://www.strollerstrides.com

If there were a little-to-no cost medication that would cause weight loss, prevent diseases, boost confidence, and improve all bodily functions … would you take it?

Well this is one prescription that you can ask from your doctor that won’t have you heading straight to the pharmacy. Many people don’t realize that exercise (yes, exercise!) is another form of medicine that does more than just shape your body—it cures and prevents illnesses better than any drug on the market.

So you may be wondering why you haven’t ever been prescribed this miracle drug … and there really isn’t one single answer to that question. But two well-known health organizations know the miraculous effects that regular exercise has on a person’s overall health, and they are urging doctors and patients to make exercise and physical activity discussions a part of a regular check-up.

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association have teamed up to launch an initiative called Exercise is Medicine™ that brings attention to the fact that exercise is the most powerful, preventative and disease-fighting medicine that can be prescribed. They created this program because there has been an overall lack of this discussion in the past and because they believe people should be educated about the importance of staying physically active. Whether it is because the doctor is too busy or the patient doesn’t know what to ask, they realize this opportunity hasn’t been available to everyone. As a result, the Exercise is Medicine™ program is providing resources that promote and guide this conversation, so everyone can have a chance to discuss this topic with a physician.

Your doctor’s office is one of the safest places to receive advice about how to start and maintain an exercise program, because your primary care physician knows about your health and history. It is also a great place to receive referrals for fitness professionals and trainers and learn about how to keep your body healthy. The next time you visit your doctor, try taking a moment to mention the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative and ask for your personal exercise prescription, so you can start taking the healthiest medicine around.

Exercise is the kind of medicine that works to keep our bodies healthy all the time—and not just when we are sick. But in order for it to work, you will have to stay motivated and keep up with your program. It isn’t like a pharmaceutical medication—you can’t just take it when you feel bad. It is a preventative and curing medicine that requires you to treat yourself to any activity … like a long walk in the evening or an exciting game of tennis with your friends … almost every day. Once you begin to exercise, you will feel the results both physically and mentally—and you won’t have any crazy side effects to worry about!

Find out more about how make physical activity a topic of discussion at your next visit by logging on to www.exerciseismedicine.org.

Other helpful resources:

American College of Sports Medicine www.acsm.org

American Medical Association www.ama-assn.org

May-kit Happen www.may-kithappen.org

Cindy Mendez ran her first Indianapolis Mini-Marathon in 1988 with her good friend Betty Priest.  It was at that race that Cindy first started having symptoms of multiple sclerosis … which has since kept her from doing the sport she loved so much.  

This past year Betty Priest realized how much she missed sharing the racing experience with Cindy and knew there had to be a way to get Cindy back on the track.  They considered pushing Cindy in a wheelchair throughout the race, but after almost tipping it over during training, they realized that it wouldn’t be very safe. 

They learned about a safer, easier alternative that would be perfect for this experience.  The makers of BabyJogger strollers has also made a jogger for adult-sizes … but such a big piece of equipment would cost a big amount of money.

 After reaching out to their contacts, Cindy and Betty got in touch with The Running Company stores owned by Bob Kennedy and Ashley Johnson.  They heard Cindy’s story and knew immediately that they wanted to help.  The Running Company purchased the adult-sized jogger for Cindy and her team to use for the race, and they are now able to compete with everyone else! 

The Running Company owns the jogger and is willing to lend it out to people in similar situations.  You can find out more information by going to www.erunningcompany.com or by calling (317) 202-0202.  If you would like to stop by and check it out, it will be on display at The Running Company store on Broad Ripple Avenue.  

There are many foods in the grocery store that you may typically pass by, because they seem a little foreign to you or you wouldn’t know how to cook with them.  However, you may be passing up foods that are worth trying because of their extreme health benefits.  Many people call these foods ‘superfoods’ because they are packed with nutrients that make you healthier with every bite.

The ‘superfoods’ we highlighted this week were:

1. Walnuts because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are good fats that help your heart and brain.  They also contain melatonin which aids in a good night’s sleep! 
2. Quinoa is a whole grain that holds the highest protein of any of them.  It often referred to “the mother of all grains” and is packed with Vitamin B which boosts your energy levels. 
3. Ginger looks like an old root–and it dates back to some pretty old times!  Ginger was as popular as salt and pepper back in the 1800’s because of its natural stomach-ache curing abilities.
4. Salmon travel between fresh and saltwater throughout their lives which make them bright orange and in the ‘superfoods’ category.  They eat tiny plants that soak up a lot of sunshine and produce antioxidants that help you!
5. Blueberries were once believed to have magical powers-and as it turns out-they are very special!  Their dark blue color and outer skin naturally protects the blueberry just as it does for you!

Nutritionists Ruthanne Hilbrich and Annessa Chumbley shared their knowledge about these ‘superfoods’ with me this week and helped all of us get a jump start incorporating these foods into our meals with some great recipes.

Unfried Rice

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup quinoa

2 eggs, beaten with 1 tbsp of milk

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 cup diced carrots

1/4 cup baby peas

1/2 cup Chinese bean sprouts

2 tsp. soy sauce

1/4 tsp. sesame oil (optional)

In a medium saucepan, heat chicken broth on high until boiling.  Add quinoa, cover, and reduce to simmer.  Simmer on low for 16 minutes.  Meanwhile, spray a medium skillet with cooking spray.  Add beaten eggs, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan.  Cook eggs on medium heat until they reach a dry consistency.  Remove eggs and chop into small pieces; set aside.  Add diced onion, carrots, baby peas, and bean sprouts to pan that eggs were in.  Saute until veggies are tender.  Drain quinoa.  Add soy sauce, sesame oil, eggs, and onion/carrot/pean/bean sprout mixture to quinoa, tossing to coat.  Serve with warm Sweet n’ Sour Sauce, if desired.

Crunchy Walnut Granola

By Flourish

2 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

1 cup walnut pieces

½ cup wheat germ

½ cup non-fat dry milk

¼ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup slivered almonds

3 Tbsp ground flaxseed

½ cup sugar-free maple syrup (log cabin)

2 Tbsp milk

½ cup Splenda®

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp almond extract

pinch of salt

Heat oven to 275˚.

In medium-sized bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In small bowl, pour maple syrup and whisk in milk, Splenda, cinnamon, vanilla, almond extract and salt.  Pour wet mixture over oat mixture, stirring well to coat granola evenly.  Spread onto a large sheet-pan.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  (If you like more crispy granola, bake for longer, but for more chewy, bake a shorter time).    Enjoy as is, or toss into yogurt for a healthy breakfast!

Raspberry Vinaigrette Baked Salmon with Blueberry Salsa

By: Flourish

1 - 2 cups raspberry vinaigrette (Light Done Right Kraft brand works best

zest from ½ orange

4 salmon filets (3 - 4 oz each)

1 cup fresh spinach

½ red onion, sliced

kosher salt

ground black pepper

4 orange slices

Preheat oven to 400˚.  In a small bowl, (you could also use a hefty ziplock bag), place salmon filets and cover with raspberry vinaigrette.  Let marinate 30 minutes.  On a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray, place beds of spinach for the salmon.  Top each bed of spinach with 3 - 4 slices onion, and a sprinkle of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.  Remove salmon filets from marinade and lay on beds of spinach (skin side down).  Top each salmon with salt, pepper, three onion slices and an orange slice.  Bake until salmon flakes easily with a fork, about 15 - 20 minutes.

*General rule:  10 minutes of baking time for every inch of the thickest part of the fish! 

Serves: 4

Blueberry Salsa

1 cup fresh blueberries

¼ cup crushed pineapple, drained

1 small kiwi, chopped

2 Tbsp finely chopped red onion

1 tsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp orange zest

1 Tbsp juice from orange

1 tsp Splenda®  

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients in order.  Spoon over baked salmon and serve!  

Ruthanne Hilbrich and Annessa Chumbley are registered dieticians with Clarian Bariatrics and Flourish! Nutrition Inspiration.  Flourish is a new, one-of-a-kind project for Ruthanne and Annessa that is worth checking out.  Their DVD series includes original recipes, cooking lessons, nutrition information, fitness education, and more!   These dedicated dieticians can help you learn more about superfoods and a healthy diet by teaching you the basics of healthy eating and how to make nutritious foods a part of your life.    Check out their website at http://www.flourishyourlife.com/ for more information!

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking a walk on the Downtown Canal with Mrs. Cheri Daniels, and we didn’t talk politics…we talked fitness!  

Mrs. Daniels has launched a fitness walking program called Ready, Set, Walk! through the Governor’s INShape Indiana project this Spring.  It is a free program designed for all fitness abilities that turns a simple activity like walking into a simple exercise routine.  You can sign up online at www.inshape.in.gov or call 1-800-433-0746 to receive a tracking log, a coupon for a free pedometer (while supplies last!), and newsletters and video support from Mrs. Cheri Daniels. 

Both the Governor and Mrs. Daniels are working to make Indiana a healthier state by offering programs that can help you live a healthier lifestyle.  Mrs. Daniels expressed to me how important exercise is in her own life and how she has personally experienced the benefits of sticking with a regular program.  Her fitness accomplishments, which include lowered blood pressure, weight loss, and stress-relief, have all come from her daily walking routine.  But you probably won’t see her turning the block with Governor Daniels—he follows his own running program to stay in shape.  Instead, Mrs. Daniels has found that her solo walks are therapeutic, and she looks forward to using that time to think or just sing to herself. 

Join the First Lady and experience the feeling of better health through a regular fitness program like Ready, Set, Walk!  It begins April 14^th –and provides 12 weeks of support that can help you walk your way to better health.