Products Archives - Page 2 of 8

The MUTU System Program Review

March 5, 2018 by Tamara Leave a Comment

This is not a sponsored review. I purchased the MUTU System Program with my own money and have not been compensated for this post. I highly recommend this program and because I loved it so much I became an affiliate. This means that if you purchase this product from my links I will earn a small commission Thank you for helping to support this blog and our family.

Several weeks ago my kids asked me to come and jump on the trampoline with them in the backyard. This is something I do occasionally and actually enjoy doing. On this beautiful Arizona breezy afternoon I was showing my kids a few of my cool moves, in reality I was only jumping and attempting to do the splits in the air, when I landed I realized that my pants were slightly damp. Not really thinking anything of it I continued to bounce with childlike abandon and as I did my bladder continued to slowly release itself. I knew then it was time to call it quits when my son asked what had happened to my grey leggings and quickly climbed down the ladder of the trampoline to go inside and change my pants.

And that moment is when I realized that while I had been exercising since giving birth to baby #3 I had also slacked off in recent months on focusing on training my core and pelvic floor muscles. I knew it was time to log back into my MUTU account and refocus my training on these muscle groups. Since I have had success in the past with the MUTU System program I was confident that I could cure my weak and leaky bladder and be able to bounce confidently on the trampoline with my kids again.

When I had originally purchased the program I had bought the online version which gave me access to any future updates. To my surprise the MUTU team had been hard at work creating and updating their already great program. I will go into more detail about the new program below but just know it is awesome and an amazing resource for women wanting to heal their core and pelvic floor.

In case you aren’t familiar with MUTU System here is a a brief look at how I discovered this gem of program and why you should look into too.

CAN I HAVE A FLAT TUMMY AFTER HAVING A BABY? OR AFTER 3 KIDS?

When I was nearing the end of my second pregnancy I started to research how I wanted to strengthen and allow my body to heal after childbirth. I knew going into my second pregnancy that my core just wasn’t the same as at had been since the birth of my first child. Planks in particular really caused me to struggle. I couldn’t figure out why I had this annoying cone shaped bulge in the middle of my torso whenever I would engage my core in planks. It was annoying, especially being a personal trainer and teaching group exercise classes. I wanted answers as to why this was happening and what I could do to stop it.

You can read more about my first experience with MUTU System HERE. But what I learned via MUTU was that I could have a flat tummy again even after 3 kids but only if I retrained my muscles that correct way. Crunches, sit-ups, and various other abdominal exercises weren’t going to give me my flat tummy back because these exercises put increased internal pressure on the abdominal wall. They will never allow you to achieve the tummy you want. No mom wants to have low back pain, an unstable core, a tummy that sticks out, and a pelvic floor that doesn’t work properly. Instead you must focus on adjusting your body’s alignment and stretch and strengthen your muscles to get a strong functioning core and pelvic floor. Enter the MUTU System 12 Week Online Program.

THE PROGRAM

The program contains step-by-step instructions and 20 minute-or-less workouts over 12 easy-to-follow Modules. Plus it’s online so you can watch from home on your computer or TV as well as download to your tablet or smartphone.

MUTU is for women with Diastasis Recti, given birth (both vaginally and via c-section), who’s kids aren’t babies anymore, accidental leakage (like myself), wanting to have a flatter stomach, lose weight, and even for pregnant women.

Every day you perform the 10 minute core training and at least 3 times a week there is a 20 minute workout. Easy peasy. The newly updated version does not use weights like the pervious program did. To be honest I wasn’t sure I how felt about there being no weighted exercises but after doing each workout and core training I can tell you I love the new updated program!

The other great thing about the update is the MUTU Connect community hub in the online portal. There is a dedicated MUTU team member available to help you answer any question you have or direct you to a person who can. After doing the program for two weeks I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more spoken instruction on the workout videos. Being a personal trainer I felt I needed more guidance especially with breathing cues. I went to the hub to write a suggestion to the MUTU team when I saw this…

That message was from Wendy Powell the MUTU program creator. MUTU takes your suggestions seriously and wants to make the program better for you!

THE RESULTS (AFTER 4 WEEKS)

Drumroll please….

Well before I share my before and after let me tell you what I did. I have currently not completed the program in its entirety as designed. But I have done each individual core training and workout intensive. The first week I did CORE 1 everyday and Intensive 1 four days, the second week I did CORE 2 everyday and Intensive 2 four days, and preceded in the same fashion for weeks 3 and 4.

So after 4 weeks here are my before and after images.

My pants also fit better and my size 6 jeans are starting to slip to the point I need to think about investing in a new size. Plus I just feel better. I am taking care of myself and focusing on making sure my insides are healed.

Oh and about the trampoline…I hadn’t bounced for the four weeks I was MUTUing (can I make this a verb?) and wanted to recheck to see if there was any improvement with my bladder leakage. I can safely say that if you want to come over to my house and bounce on the trampoline with me I won’t pee on you now.

GET STARTED TODAY & 15% DISCOUNT CODE

Ready to purchase the online program? The 12 week online program cost is $147. Use use my 15% off discount code: tamara15 for extra savings! Click HERE to get started today!

Go and checkout the MUTU System and use the discount code tamara15 to save on your order.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided on The Workout Mama is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.

Filed Under: Fitness, Health, Nutrition, Postpartum, Pregnancy, Products Tagged With: Body After Baby, Diastasis Recti, Flat Tummy, Leaky Bladder, Mutu System

Your Friendly Reminder to Check Your Skin & COOLA Review

August 23, 2017 by Tamara 1 Comment

Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Several times a year I go to my dermatologist to have my skin checked. This has been happening since high school. I had my first moles removed when I was 15 years old and have no idea how many more have left my body since.

My last appointment happened in January. Shockingly I had nothing biopsied at that appointment but knew after leaving that I would for sure have several moles removed this summer. My body was still adjusting back from having a baby. Interesting piece of information, pregnancy can cause moles to change shape as well as color. So that is where I was when I walked into my appointment a little over a three weeks ago.

I had two moles removed on my lower back and the results came back that they were benign. After Maisie was born I had to go have surgery on my torso to remove extra pre-cancerous skin. I am super thankful that these moles were just that, regular, although somewhat slightly unusual looking moles.

Basically what I am trying to say is schedule an appointment to check your skin. As much as I dislike the anxious feelings these appointments cause me I know it is important. And remember to wear your sunscreen.

I have tried so many brands of sunscreen over the last 5 years it is ridiculous. Some are too greasy, others smell horrid, and basically I have just learned to settle on any brand that is made with GMO-free ingredients and has a high SPF. When the opportunity came around to review COOLA Suncare I jumped at the chance because this was a brand I had never used.

I was sent 4 different COOLA Suncare Products. The COOLA Sport SPF 50 Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray was the first product I tested. It smells like a vacation in a bottle. The Guava Mango smell is perfect, not overdone at all. I really appreciated that this did not spray on greasy and was also SPF 50. This spray sunscreen is water resistant for up to 80 minutes and then needs to be reapplied. at $36 a bottle it is a higher end sunscreen but worth the money. It is made with lots of bonus ingredients that actually helps improve your skins collagen like algae extract. COOLA Sport SPF 50 Guava Mango Sunscreen Spray is available for purchase at Sephora, Ulta and Nordstrom, as well as at coolasuncare.com.

In addition to the sunscreen I was also sent a makeup setting spray, sport tint with an SPF 50 (shown below), and lip balm.

This sunscreen also was perfect to use on our kids. It sprayed on effortlessly and covered their skin and mine really well. We had no sunburns after playing in the pool for an hour.

If you liked the products featured in this post you can connect with COOLA Suncare online! Check them out on Facebook//Twitter//Instagram

Use Buschel20 for 20% off on coolasuncare.com until September 30th! Thank you Moms Meet and COOLA for the opportunity to review this product and remember to schedule your skin check appointment if you haven’t had one this year.

Filed Under: Personal, Products Tagged With: COOLA, Moles, Moms Meet, Sunscreen

#MakeYourMove at Home with Kohl’s

January 17, 2017 by Tamara Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I was paid for this post and received the included fitness equipment as compensation.

A little over 8 months ago our family joined a gym after having not had a membership for 2 years. Josh and I loved being able exercise together again and it was great to have childcare for the kids when Josh was on shift so I could workout.

Fast forward to today and I am cleared to start exercising again after delivering our third baby in November. Adding a new member to our family has been amazing and exhausting.

Exercise is a great way to boost your energy, improve your outlook, and reduce stress, all things that are great for everyone and especially parents of a newborn.

The childcare at our gym starts for babies when they are 3 months old. The idea of taking three kids to the gym when Josh is on shift is a little overwhelming. There were some mornings when it was hard for me to manage Caden and Maisie on my own and getting them in and out of the car and into childcare was more of a workout than my actual workout.

I knew that going to the gym wasn’t going to be a reality for at least a few months. I also knew that for my sanity and health I would need to figure out a way to exercise, at a minimum, 3 days a week.

Thanks to Kohl’s, Josh and I have absolutely no excuse to not exercise. In addition to the awesome selection of products Kohl’s offers in store they also have a wide range of fitness products online. If you are looking to build your home gym Kohl’s has cardio equipment, strength training gear, fitness trackers, and much more.

Home gyms offer you the flexibility of being able to fit your workout in whenever it is convenient for you. If you enjoy group fitness classes there are so many options available now on DVD. Exercising at home allows you to roll out of bed and exercise in your pajamas if you so choose. Plus you no longer have to wait in line for certain machines or equipment and there is no 30 minute time limit.

Take a look at just a few of the great items Kohl’s has to build a home gym…

PROFORM DESK BIKE

I wasn’t super excited about this bike when I saw the photo and read the description online. It arrived in a large box and took Josh an hour to put together.

Once it was built Josh and I both took a spin and we were pleasantly surprised. Having taking numerous spin classes and after being certified to teach indoor cycle classes I am super picky when it comes to indoor bikes. This bike could best be described as a hybrid between a recumbent bike and spin bike. It exceeded the expectations I had based on the photos and description.

Like the name states the bike has a desk that can be attached to the handle bars to allow you to stay active while you work (or in our house blog, read, or catch up on your favorite tv show).

There is a built in heart rate monitor that can be used by placing your hands on the handles.

The bike can be folded up to save space when not in use. The only thing we would add to improve the design is wheels on the front of the bike to be able to move more easily.

PROFORM EASY STRIDER

Just like the bike this elliptical arrived on our doorstep in an even larger box. It took Josh two hours to build and to our surprise runs on 4 D batteries.

The ProFrom Easy Strider is a smaller version of an elliptical you would find in the gym but still comes with many features found in more expensive ellipticals. There are wheels on the front of the machine making it easier to move, has a built in workout fan, IPOD compatible, and features an on-board 8 week weight loss program designed by Jillian Michaels.

When I used the 8 week program that is built in to the machine for the first time I had no idea that Jillian Michaels was actually going to be talking out of the elliptical. It was so fun and had me laughing out loud several times when she told me she wanted to kick my butt. The 30 minute programs go by super fast and I really love this added feature.

We put all our workout equipment in our bedroom because we wanted to be able to keep the kids from playing on the machines. Also, in case you were wondering, that is a super huge canvas print of me. This was the photo canvas that was displayed when I an ambassador for a fitness clothing brand. After the store was done using the photo it was gifted to me. Josh and I tried to give it to my parents as a gift but they politely declined. And now, the photo sits in the alcove in our bedroom.

STAMINA MAGNETIC ROWING MACHINE

The rower took just under two hours to unbox and put together. The main portion of the machine arrived together and the remaining parts like the seat, footplates, and console needed to be installed.

The rowing machine is made of aluminum making it durable and lightweight to move around and features 8 levels of resistance. The workout monitor tracks total strokes, strokes per minute, workout time, distance and calories burned.

For the price of this machine it really has great features. It is quiet, stores upright and can be easily moved to a corner in the room or into a closet when not in use, and tracks all your stats during your workout.

BACKTRAC BACK MASSAGER

I think most of us deal with some sort of pain, knots, or tenderness in our back. It can be hard to reach those areas in your back on your own. The BackTrac Back Massager features 30 acupressure spheres that target the upper, mid, and lower back as well as two larger spheres for your neck.

I have been following the recommended guidelines and lay without moving on the massager for 5 minutes. The spheres can be adjusted for less intensity by moving them towards the center. After the 5 minutes are up I slowly roll a few inches up and down for several minutes.

I was surprised to find the next day I was sore in certain places in my back and shoulders that I generally have knots. Nursing and holding an infant can really take a toll on your spine and I find myself contorting my body into unnatural positions while I am carrying the baby at times.

The past few days I have been less sore and have played around with adjusting the spheres to hit certain spots, especially in my upper back. If you enjoy deep tissue massage, acupressure, or trigger point release this would be a great item for in home use.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A HOME GYM

It is so important to invest in yourself and have a few pieces of exercise equipment at home. I love having options with my workouts and I am super excited about having an elliptical, rowing machine, and bike.

When you are deciding what equipment to purchase for your home gym there are several things to keep in mind.

The first thing you need to consider is your space. Where will you be exercising? The equipment you purchase needs to fit your space.

Also keep in mind that building a home gym doesn’t have to be done at once. Start with a few essentials likes weights and resistance bands.

Next, set a budget, and stick to it. You don’t need to spend a ton of money to live a healthier lifestyle.

And lastly, you need to think about your goal. What is your fitness goal? Are you wanting to improve your cardiovascular health? Perfect, an elliptical would be a great choice for you. Have you just come off an injury and are looking for low impact options? An indoor stationary bike would work well for that. Or maybe you are looking to be able to have variety and would like to be able to perform CrossFit type workouts at home. Weights and a rowing machine for you.

In addition to the cardio equipment featured in this post Kohl’s also offers many other products that would be a great addition to a home gym.

one | two | three | four | five

Resistance bands, a stability ball, and ankle weights are great additions to a home gym.

Footwear is just as important at home as it in the gym. These Asics are my favorite and they come in really fun colors.

If you have little ones at home I highly suggest a video monitor to keep tabs on them during your early morning or evening workouts.

#MAKEYOURMOVE CARDIO TRIFECTA WORKOUT

With all this fun new equipment I was ready to get sweaty! Here is a workout I put together to use with the Elliptical, Bike, and Rowing Machine.

This was my first workout that I did after having my third baby and I was loving it and silently hating it at the same time. It felt great to sweat but also horrible. I was so out of breath when I finished and I was ready to be done after I got off the bike.

The workout will take a little over 30 minutes. Let me know if you try it out!

Kohl’s is your one spot shop for at home fitness needs. From workout clothes, shoes, fitness equipment, and a wide range of healthy living products you will find what you are looking for at Kohl’s.

You can follow Kohl’s on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. For added inspiration be sure to check out Kohl’s Make Your Move Pinterest Board.

These affiliate links are not associated with Kohl’s.

The Workout Mama may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Filed Under: Fitness, Products, Sponsored Post Tagged With: #MakeYourMove, BackTrac Back Massager, Kohl's, Proform Desk Bike, Proform Easy Strider, Stamina Magnetic Rowing Machine