As a full time, somewhat single mom to 2 girls and a business owner, people ask me all the time.... how do you do it all. What I have learned is that 'doers' know how to just do it and get it done. But not everyone is a doer or has the tools they need to be a doer.
I decided that outside of caring for our families, there are things we need, as women, to feel good. We need to put the right foods into our bodies because when we don't, we end up feeling bloated and then we aren't nice to our significant others, our kids or anyone that gets in our way. We need to exercise so that we feel rejuvinated and invigorated. When we sit at our desks all day and crank away for hours at a time, our butts tend to feel like the are taking the shape of the seat. We also need to put on clothes that make us feel fabulous.
I know so many amazing, smart and talented women and had the perfect people in mind to bring to my next event to share some of their knowledge with the group. The event - Food, Fitness, Fashion and Fostering - was a panel discussion on food and fitness followed by a fashion show of women wearing amazing outfits ranging from 'dynamic daytime get-ups' to 'beauty in the boardroom' and 'sexy in the city'. We also has a number of fantastic vendors in the food, fitness and fashion categories.
Here's some of the great tips our speakers shared during the course of the evening:
Sara Siskind - Culinary Nutritionist - Hands on Healthy 1. Start your day with 2 glasses of water with fresh lemon. Lemon water has many positive effects on your body, especially detoxification and hydration. Loaded with vitamin C, it also helps to boost your immune system. 2. Think of different ways to get in your vegetables by drinking them in a smoothie or green juice or even tossing them into your morning eggs. 3. Eat seasonally! Now is the time to indulge your body with local leafy greens and colorful, sweet fruits. Eating more raw veggies and fresh fruit helps to cool your body in the warmer weather. They are full of water that naturally hydrates you and contain essential vitamins and nutrients that are body craves.
Shannon Healy - Owner and Level 1 Coach - CrossFit Port Washington
1-Throw away your scale! It is an ineffective measurement of fitness. 2-Set small goals that you know you can meet and celebrate your accomplishments. 3-Start strength training! The weight can AND should be light in the beginning.
Leslie Cohen - Sylist and Owner, Transitions
1) Accentuate your best body part. If it's your arms, make sure you wear sleeveless. If you have thighs that are a little bigger than you'd like, wear a jean that flairs to give your leg a more balanced look.
2) Before you shorten a pair of jeans, make sure you wash them before bringing them to the tailor. Always bring the shoes you think you're going to wear most with them and alter them to that shoe. All you want is to show a little toe. This will make your leg look longer and leaner.
3) Most important, wear what YOU feel best in. Your confidence will shine through.
Hayley Foster - Foster Inc.
1) Small Steps - Pick something each day that you can do to make a small change and then add to that every few days. You are more likely to succeed if you don't put too much on your plate at one time. Research shows that it takes 21 days to form a new habit.... be patient.
2) Schedule ME Time - Just like you would schedule a meeting, a conference call or a playdate, schedule time for yourself. Even if it's just 10 minutes. Instead of running to the Supermarket when you have some alone time, do something for yourself and drag the kids with you to the market instead. It might be more difficult to bring them, but at least you'll feel better about yourself and be in a better mood because you were able to do something for yourself that day.
3) Find a Support System. Whether you're looking to start a new workout routine, begin new eating habits or looking for support for your business; surround yourself with like-minded women. You don't have to do it alone. Sara's detox programs and cooking classes are group participation, Shannon offers beginner classes and her new Bootcamp is for Ladies Only. And Foster Inc brings together like minded, passionate and driven women looking to take their businesses to the next level. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together" - African Proverb.
To see pohotos from this event, you can view them here.