Mom, celebrity trainer, author and spokesperson Kathy Kaehler recently chatted with the Pinks & Blues Girls!
Kathy, a mother of 11-year-old twins and a 7 year-old (all boys!), has devoted her life to helping people live happy, productive and healthy lives.
For 13 years, she appeared on “The Today Show” as the fitness correspondent while training such mom celebrities as Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cindy Crawford, Denise Richards, Claudia Schiffer and Kim Basinger.
Kathy shares with us her tips for getting kids to stay active, how new moms should ease back into working out, her new projects and more.
Read on for our chat with this fit and fabulous mom!
Pinks & Blues: Happy New Year! What new projects do you have on the horizon for 2008?
Kathy Kaehler: I’m starting the year off with an article on hanes.com/kids that gives moms some easy and fun tips on how to get their kids off the couch and onto their feet in 2008! It’s all about creating a healthy lifestyle that‘s approachable and realistic for our kids to follow and will last throughout the whole year. In addition, I have some new projects on my website (KathyKaehlerFitness.com). I am selling my workout videos and am still teaching classes everyday and training celeb moms like Julia Roberts, Lisa Marie Presley and Kim Basinger.
P&B: Many of our readers are expectant moms or new moms. What do you recommend for exercise during pregnancy? And, of course, afterward to tone up those pile-on-the pounds places, such as abs, hips and things?
Kathy: The best program is the one that I did with Cindy Crawford. It is a video called A New Dimension. I compiled a variety of programs to do as you reach certain weeks in your pregnancy. The best exercise to do while you’re pregnant is swimming. I felt amazing in the water and my joints never bothered me.
And for new moms, my advice is to always start off slowly. Don’t think your body will bounce back within days. It took you 9 months to create this beautiful life so now your body needs time to come back. New moms need to follow programs that make them work towards mini goals, such as walking 3 miles a week or increasing the number of free weight repetitions. Once these goals have been achieved, mom gets a boost of confidence and is able to stay positive when working towards the next set of goals. Do not put too much pressure on yourself or your body!
P&B: We see that you’re very interested in getting kids to get off the couch and get moving, which is so great and so important for creating a life-long interest in exercise. What is your advice to get a reluctant child up and moving?
Kathy: Make it fun and challenging. Kids love to be able to count how many jumps or kicks they can do or how fast did they can do them. Create races or challenges in and around your house. Your kids will surprise you at how competitive they really are. The fun factor is also key – kids don’t mind fitness as long as it is fun. In addition, fitness isn’t always what we think of in the traditional sense. It can be bowling, putt putt golf, tag, frisbee, trampoline-activities like these get different parts of your kids’ bodies moving and their heart rates up, and most of the time they don’t realize it! Finally, make sure your kids are comfortable, not only with the activity, but also while doing it! My boys love wearing Hanes tagless tees and underwear because they don’t itch and are super soft, which means they can run, jump and bend any way they please.
P&B: Do you have any particular fitness programs that you recommend for kids?
Kathy: I have a new program called the “Schoolhouse Workout” that is about to launch on my site for FREE! Each month, a new workout video will be released online as part of the program. The routines are for kids of all ages and can be done both at home and at school. Most of the routines are like mini fitness breaks that involve 5-10 exercises, all designed to improve strength, coordination and energy. One that I love is doing five jumping jacks and running in place for 10 seconds. It’s easy and quick and I’ve found that these routines are particularly successful with kids when they’re done in a relaxed environment (no whistles!), and with their friends, classmates or siblings. For most kids, doing exercises with a group is more fun and motivational. Keeping them short and quick also holds their attention and trust me, 2 or 3 fitness breaks throughout the day really add up in the end! I am also really excited about some of the people that I am working with – each month there is a new, surprise host.
P&B: Sharon is 55 years old and is beginning training for her first sprint distance triathalon! What is your advice in encouraging women in their 40′s and 50′s to begin exercise routines?
Kathy: First and foremost, that’s wonderful – congratulations and good luck! Being active at this point in your life is incredibly important, as so many things are changing in our bodies; babies, child rearing, menopause, peri menopause, aging, slowing metabolism, bone loss… You name it, it is happening. So that is why I wrote my most recent book, Fit and Sexy for Life. In the book I have a program that hits all these topics, but most importantly, I talk about how exercise and nutrition play such a critical role at this stage in a woman’s life.
My advice is to sit down and figure out what excites and motivates you and then break it down so it’s realistic and approachable. Also, tell someone about it; your mom, your friend, your boss. You never know, one of them might join you. You can cheer each other on and motivate each other! If there is one thing to remember as we get older, it’s that we need to make fitness a part of our everyday life in some shape or form. This doesn’t mean you need to be at the gym 7 days a week. Go 2 days a week and participate in a class. Walk your dog another day or with your friends around your community or your kids in the park. Take another couple days for my “Take Five” workout, both in the morning and at night-it’s only 10 minutes a day! These are 5-minute blasts that get your heart rate up and offer a quick fix of energy. If you move your body in some way everyday you’ll sleep better, lessen the severity of hot flashes, get a boost in your libido and of course, have more energy for things like triathalons!
P&B: We love your “Kaehler Calendar” idea, which you mentioned in your Hanes article. What was the impetus behind that idea, and how has it helped you family stay organized?
Kathy: I once did a “The Today Show” segment on tips on how to keep workouts a part of everyday life. One of my tips was spacing them out and inputting them into a calendar or blackberry. This way, workouts are not only a part of your schedule, but it also allows you to gradually increase the length or number of your workouts. I started the program and my kids got so into it that they came onto “The Today Show” with me to talk about it and we had the best time. I was absolutely thrilled to help hanes.com/kids with this tool because I’ve found it to be so beneficial in my own life in keeping my family in organized chaos.
For most women and kids, fitness is a part of life, but it doesn’t alone define them. We have so many other things going on. For my boys, it’s school, auditions and sports. Our Kaehler Calendar from Hanes helps us keep on track and it also reminds us to have a well-rounded day and life. Most important, my kids love seeing a full week and all they’ve accomplished!
Click Here to create your own Family Activity calendar from Hanes!
* Five (yes, 5!) Pinks & Blues readers will win a $50 gift certificate to Hanes.com! CLICK HERE for all the details!*
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