Diary of a Fit Mommy’s Sia Cooper on Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle No Matter What

The Florida-based personal trainer discusses how to stay motivated through motherhood.

 
Calling all super moms and super moms-to-be! Sia Cooper—a certified personal trainer who specializes in nutrition and women’s fitness, and the face of Diary of a Fit Mommy—dishes on why it’s important to embrace a healthy lifestyle and how to regain gym motivation.

We get it, mom-life is tiring, but Sia, a mom of two, knows exactly how to fight the fatigue and make healthy happen. After eating poorly, gaining weight and constantly being sick in college, she knew it was time for a change. She turned to clean eating and started a blog to keep herself accountable and share with others what worked in her new lifestyle. She dropped the extra weight and continued blogging throughout her first and second pregnancy. Today, Sia continues to inspire others daily with her workout tips and guides. But she isn’t doing it alone—she has two adorable workout buddies to kickstart her routine!

DynaPro Direct: Why should new moms prioritize fitness and working out? Why is it so important to you?

Sia Cooper: New moms should make fitness a habit for their own sanity. Before they can take care of their kids, they have got to remember to take care of themselves. This is the only way that I can function since a happy mommy equals a happy family!

DD: How do you make time for your fitness routines?

SC: The main time that I workout daily is when my daughter naps. As soon as she falls asleep, I get my workouts done. You’ve got to learn to use your free time wisely.

DD: How do you involve your kids in your workouts?

SC: Lots of ways! I like wearing my daughter in her baby carrier, and my son will copy what I do or I’ll have him hang onto my back.

DynaProWhat do you think is the biggest reason new moms lose their motivation to work out? How can they overcome that?

SC: The biggest reason for losing motivation is the obstacles that come with having a new baby, but they can overcome these obstacles by nixing the excuses and making their babies the reason to workout and stay healthy.

DD: Exercise balls, jump ropes and resistance bands are all portable pieces of exercise equipment that new moms can use right at home. Do you use any of these products and have any favorites?

SC: I use exercise balls and resistance bands on a regular basis. I love the bands especially since they are easy to take with me wherever I go!

DD:How important is nutrition to you? What kind of nutrition rules do you stick to?

SC: Nutrition is more than half of the battle so it is super important to me. I like to eat an 80/20 diet—80 percent clean and 20 percent indulgent—because I feel it is important to spoil yourself even just a little sometimes.

DD:How can someone who's new to the world of exercise and clean eating jump in? What’s the best way to start a new daily routine that includes this healthy lifestyle?

SC: The best way is to find a guide that best works for you. This is why I created my Strong Body Guide to help walk you through daily workout plans and meal planning. It is always best to remind yourself that it is not a race—it’s a lifestyle. You do not have to rush to get back into fitness or to get your body back. You should take your time and start slow.

Source: https://www.dynaprodirect.com/sia-cooper-fitness-tips-for-busy-moms/

5 Killer Keys to Shedding Weight in 2017

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh start to get your head in the game and change your life.

Do you feel burnt out and uninspired to keep working toward your fitness goals? You’re not alone! Leave your unhealthy habits and negative mentality in 2016 and turn it around in the new year. Live by these keys to shed weight, feel more energized, and gain a positive mindset in 2017. Plus, read on to learn tips from DynaPro Direct experts!

1. Amp Up Your Cardio:

   In the new year, you’ll want to get your blood flowing and increase your metabolism. Grab a DynaPro jump rope so you can focus on cardio when you’re not at the gym or in the mood for a long run. Plus, build up your coordination skills and endurance by practicing new tricks and increasing your speed.

2. Have a Strong Mentality:

   If your mind is on your side, it’s all yours. Take a cue from DynaPro Direct fitness and anti-aging expert, Darnell Cox: "On a good day, when my head is in the right place, I can talk my laziest version of my physical self into hitting the gym hard, and talk my junk food-craving self out of devouring the bag of whatever cookies are in the cupboard. But there are those days, when those are flipped. When my head is not where it needs to be and my body will follow suit."

3. Balance Your Muscles:

   Instead of bulking up with free weights, incorporate resistance bands into your workout routine to help stabilize and balance your muscles as you build them. Try experimenting with regular resistance bands, mini precision loop bands, or power resistance bands.

4. Make Your Workout Routine Fun:

   Follow a fun and effective plan, like the Katie Austin Workout Package, to stay on track and add energy to your routine! Austin is a millennial fitness leader who inspires and teaches thousands on social media to strive for and reach healthy goals. Now, there’s a box that brings our DynaPro products and her inspiration right to your doorstep.

5. Plan Your Meals:

   Prevent caving in and reaching for the stuff that’s not so good for you by planning your meals. Check out these tips from DynaPro Direct nutrition expert, Danielle Pashko: "Planning your food will save you from making bad choices when your blood sugar gets low and you're feeling hungry and impatient. Have your fridge or freezer stocked with some lean protein options like organic chicken, tuna, turkey, and eggs. Then you can always easily pair it with some mixed greens or tomato and cucumber salad. This type of meal only takes five minutes - when you have more time, then it’s easier to get more creative with side dishes or salad stuffings!"

Source: https://www.dynaprodirect.com/2017-weight-loss-tips/

Instagram Star Uses Her Platform to Tell Everyone to ‘Screw the Scale!’

Kelsey Wells encourages her social media following not to give up if the scale doesn’t reflect your hard work in the gym. Take notes!

 Kelsey Wells urges her Instagram followers — all (almost) half a million of them — to “SCREW THE SCALE!” That’s right. Screw it! At DynaPro Direct, we love the message she’s sending out. Muscle weighs more than fat, so if your scale is staying the same—or gasp—showing an increase in weight, don’t lose your motivation to accomplish personal goals.

Your body is always responding to the healthy choices you make, whether those changes are with an increase physical activity or practicing better nutrition. Trust us, if you’re taking care of your body, it is transforming for YOU in a positive way. Just hang in there and wait for your results!

The Instagram fitness star posted a side-by-side collage of her body at different weights. There’s one image of her looking really fit and healthy, and that image is showing her at 18 pounds heavier than another image of her where she looks similar, but with less definition.

Wells had even more advice for her fitness clan — in all CAPS. Because, #important.

“STOP GETTING HUNG UP ON THE NUMBER ON THE STUPID SCALE! PLEASE STOP THINKING YOUR WEIGHT EQUALS YOUR PROGRESS AND FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING PLEASE STOP LETTING YOUR WEIGHT HAVE ANY AFFECT WHATSOEVER ON YOUR SELF-ESTEEM.”

Yes, yes, and yes. Preach girl! We’re so glad when she stepped on the scale and saw an increase in weight, she had the self-esteem and power to shout #SCREWTHESCALE—and you should, too!

Source: https://www.dynaprodirect.com/kelsey-wells-proves-weight-just-a-number/