Northwest Influence

Everybody Dance Now

2009-08-29T23:36:00.000-07:00

Get your kids moving with a dance party. My husband and I hosted a dance party for his daughter's birthday and the kids didn't stop moving for 3 hours! They loved the following dance games...

- Hokey Pokey

- Musical Chairs
- Freeze Dance

- YMCA

We held the party at the Laurelhurst Community Center in Seattle, WA and hired a DJ from Great Rate DJs. Great Rate DJs did an excellent job and I highly recommend them for kids' parties. If you want to tire out your kids and throw a great party, this is the way to go.

Fun Exercise for You and the Kids in Seattle

2009-08-29T23:28:00.000-07:00

We recently took my stepkids to Greenlake to ride the paddle boats. You can ride the paddle boats for one hour around the lake. I wasn't expecting to get a work out, but my legs were burning about 10 minutes into the ride. The kids had a blast and it was a fun family activity. Here are some more reviews on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/greenlake-boat-rentals-seattle

2009-08-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

I have currently stopped running due to my pregnancy. I am 6.5 months and cannot wait to get back out there and start running again. I miss running and found some great runs coming up in the area. I also highlighted some of my favorite runs that I participated in during previous years. My goal is to get back in the swing of things in December and hope to see you at the New Balance Girls on the Run Pudget Sound 5K!

Upcoming runs in the Seattle area:

Lake Union 10K- Sunday, August 23, 2009
Aflac Iron Girl Seattle Women’s 10K & 5K Run/Walk- Saturday, September 12, 2009
2009 Seattle Half Marathon- Sunday, November 29, 2009
New Balance Girls on the Run Pudget Sound 5K!- Saturday, December 12, 2009
Jingle Bell Run and Walk- Sunday, December 13, 2009

For details about these events or other athletic events in the area check out www.active.com

Get Fit Moms to Be!

2009-07-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't been able to find a lot of exercise groups in the area for pregnant women so I decided to start my own. I am going to start the group out slow and then see where it takes us. Right now the group is very informal and is for pregnant moms that want to get some extra activity. It is also a nice way to meet other pregnant moms in the area. We will meet at Greenlake at 5:30pm on Monday nights. I will get more creative with the meetings as we move forward.
Check it out and join the group at http://www.meetup.com/Fit-Pregnancy-Northwest-Influence.

If all goes well, I will organize the opportunity for us to meet post baby and I will run exercise classes and/or 1:1 trainings with new moms!

Exercise Mom Groups

2009-07-05T17:38:00.001-07:00

I have been getting prepared for life with a baby and found a great group in the area called Stroller Strides. It looks like an excellent way to stay or get back in shape with your baby. It also looks like a great way to meet moms in the area. Group exercise classes are held at Greenlake every weekday at 9:30am. Stroller Strides is associated with Luna Moms Club which is a group that meets regularly for play dates and other mom focused activities.

I am looking forward to getting involved and letting you all know more about it when I have my little one.

Pregnancy Running Belt

2009-07-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

I am 5 months pregnant and haven't been running as much as I did before I found out I was pregnant. For those of you who are not aware, pregnancy is NOT comfortable making running more difficult and unenjoyable. I started to miss running and decided to do something about it.

First, I purchased a maternity support belt http://www.maternitysupport.com/maternty.htm. I found this one at Village Maternity at University Village. I also decided to wear an additional support tank top over my sports bra and under my workout shirt. I loaded my ipod up with my favorite songs and hit the Burke Gilman trail. I couldn't believe it. I felt great and comfortable! My tummy felt secure, my chest didn't hurt and I felt like I had been running regularly for the last few months. I ran for about 20 minutes which is not as long as I used to run, but it felt great and safe! I feel it is best to go for a walk/jog during pregnancy. My favorite is to do 10 minutes of running, 10 minutes of walking and then repeat.

Get Ready for the Rock 'N' Roll Seattle Inaugural Marathon and 1/2 Marathon

2009-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

The famous Rock 'N' Roll running event is coming to Seattle on June 27, 2009. I will be doing the 1/2 marathon with my husband. The course is very scenic and runs along the shores of Lake Washington (my favorite place to run). There is live music every mile, cheer squads, finish line festival and a post-race concert!

A 1/2 marathon is a wonderful accomplishment and a great way to get motivated to get in shape! You should start training about 12 weeks out from race day. Here is an excellent training program for beginners:

http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

Hope to see you out there!

Registration info: http://www.rnrseattle.com/registration.html

Top 10 Things Parents can do to Raise Healthy Kids

2008-05-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

1.) Play together as a family. Kids like to chase their parents and also win in sprint contests!
2.) Make exercise fun by listening to music. Kids love to dance!
3.) Reward effort, not with food "treats". Try rewarding them with a book from Barnes & Noble instead.
4.) Give them water as a drink option. Kids love it and are just used to juice being offered.
5.) Eat meals as a family. Plan out meals and include a variety of foods.
6.) Sign your child up to participate in a variety of activities.
7.) Incorporate activity into daily routines. For example, walk to local stores, ride your bike to the park, take the stairs (try the stairs at Gap in U-Village for a burner!)
8.) Be a positive role model and live a healthier lifestyle yourself.
9.) Kids should be physically active for at least one hour per day; create an activity schedule and tracker poster together as a family.
10.) You are the boss. You decide what, when, where and serving size and the child decides whether to eat and how much to eat.

Calling all Seattle Kids

2008-05-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

This Saturday Nike is putting on a 5k for kids in Seattle. I will be volunteering at the race so I hope to see you there!

Here are all of the details...

Date: Saturday, May 10th , 2008

Start Time: 5K: 8:00 am; Let Me Play 1 Mile: 9:00 am

Location: NIKETOWN Seattle (located at at 1500 6th Avenue (at Pike))

Average Weather Conditions: Avg. High: 64; Avg. Low: 47.

Distance: All entrants may choose between a certified 5K (3.1 miles) or Let Me Play 1 Mile distance. The 5K is timed using ChampionChip timing chips distributed on race day. The Let Me Play 1 Mile is not timed and is encouraged for kids 12 and under and their parents, however both events are open to runners and walkers of all ability levels. Parents are encouraged to participate in the same event as their children.

Fees & Deadlines:

Entry is $20 total until April 30th (postmarked), or May 2nd online at active.com. Regular Entry includes $15 Entry Fee and $5 T-shirt Fee.
You may register in person at NIKETOWN, at Sixth and Pike, if space is available, until May 9th .

Cause: 100% of the Entry Fee will be donated to local school Physical Education, play and athletic programs. Each runner may designate which school receives their $15 (Regular) Entry Fee. All Greater Seattle Area Schools that are 501 (c)(3) are eligible to receive donations.

Girls on the Run

2008-05-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Girls on the Run is an amazing nationally run program. The mission of Girls on the Run is to strengthen girls (ages 8-11) physically, emotionally and socially in preparation for adolescence. I am excited that there is a chapter in Seattle, Girls on the Run Puget Sound.

Girls on the Run is a 12 week program that uses the physical activity of running to empower girls and increase their confidence levels at an early age. The programs include running training to build up to run a 5k and other self-esteem boosting lessons.

You can check out the curriculum and a typical day here.

I am a big fan of this program and would highly recommend that you check it out if you have girls ages 8-11.

Northwest Influence

2008-05-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

Northwest Influence focuses on the health and well-being of women and girls. With Northwest Influence, customized and interactive eating and fitness plans are developed for you. Nutritional information is not just put in front of you, Northwest Influence guides you every step of the way to a new, happier and healthier lifestyle.

How Northwest Influence makes a difference:

• Designs customized eating plans incorporating foods you like

• Designs customized fitness plans
• Guides individual grocery shopping trips
• Plans and attends physical activity days
• Provides tips for successful weight loss
• Breaks through unhealthy habits

www.northwestinfluence.com

Make Exercise Fun for Your Kids and Join Them!

2008-04-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Kids love to move around especially when you do it with them. The other day I was playing with my fiancé’s daughter outside. She wanted to ride her bike in our back alley. What started off as a stroll up and down the alley turned in to a fun sprinting contest between her and me. I was running, she was biking and the first one to the end of the road won. She was having a blast and was working much harder than before to try and beat me. Sprint contests and tag are excellent games to keeps kids moving outdoors and working hard!

Another great thing to do is give your family a team name. Our name is “Team Hulett”, but you can get more creative than that. Then you can create a mile tracking poster and try to get to 100 miles together as a family via walking, running, swimming and/or biking. Kids get excited about crossing off each mile and it motivates them to be more active.

Seattle Weight Loss Bootcamp

2008-04-06T17:41:00.001-07:00

I just finished the Seattle Weight Loss Boot camp. The Monday through Thursday, a 4 week bootcamp takes place at Green Lake rain or shine! I chose the 6am session, I didn't expect it to be so dark and cold!, but I survived. The program is awesome! I got a great workout every morning and felt really energized after. The instructor, Kimae, is a firecracker. She is full of passion and energy. I found her to be very motivating and humorous. Not only does she lead a killer workout, you will be sore after, she requires you to fill out a food diary, reviews it and gives helpful tips. She also provides valuable health and fitness information.

If you want to get in shape fast, I highly recommend www.seattleweightlossbootcamp.com. I have already signed up for another 4 week session and I convinced 2 of my friends to do it with me!

Hunger Satisfaction Guaranteed

2008-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

I found the most delicious, sugar free, high protein dream for dieters! This nutrition bar is so tasty and satisfying. Best of all, it tastes like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Think Thin Chunky Peanut Butter will stomp on and throw away your cravings for sweets. You can find these nutrition bars at Whole Foods, PCC, QFC and the Metropolitan Market. They are great for breakfast or for anyone that doesn't have time to make a healthy meal during the day.

Think Thin website: https://www.thinkproducts.com/indexset.htm

Skinny Bitch (I am not referring to you)

2008-01-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a very fun and entertaining book, Skinny Bitch, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. This book is a light read full of interesting nutrition facts and thoughts that will not put you to sleep. The book is a reality check on how we eat and it highlights that at times we kid ourselves by eating fat free, low-carb or sugar free and think "Oh, I am being healthy, this full of fat ice cream bar says low carb!" Then the next day you eat a high sugar, fat free product and then top it off with a sugar free product loaded with carbs. Your mind is racing with confusion and this mix of food is actually sabotaging your diet. You tell your friends you have been dieting, but you need to know that all of these foods you have been consuming are not healthy for you! Skinny Bitch is the perfect way to wake-up! It will also make you think twice about eating dairy products, meat, poultry, basically any animal product or non-organic product. I still will eat chicken, salmon, eggs, etc., but I think twice when I want an omelet or a glass of milk now!

Check out the Skinny Bitch website, http://www.skinnybitch.net/index.html, and get a hold of this book today for an informational and amusing read.