Valerie Waters – Fitness Trainer of Celebrity Moms

I’ve been working with California Raisins for about four years now on a variety of projects, all of which have to do with helping women, especially moms, make wise choices and lead healthier lives. I believe it doesn’t matter if you’re a super star or a super mom – we all have to make the same commitments and choices to stay fit and healthy.  

Because nutrition and fitness go hand-in-hand, working with California Raisins has been a natural for me.  Not only are they a wise choice when it comes to on-the-go snacks but also as a healthy recipe ingredient. 

• They are a natural way to add flavor and nutrition to your diet
• Raisins are fat and cholesterol free, and are loaded with antioxidants and fiber
• Just ¼ cup of raisins provides one fruit serving – helping you fulfill your recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies 

Any time of year is a good time to get Red Carpet Ready so  I thought I would start off with some fitness and nutrition tips to help you get Read Carpet Ready!  Because as we all know, from school reunions and weddings to anniversaries and special date nights, life is full of occasions when we want to look and feel our best.   Then I want to show you some of my favorite exercises that you can do right in your own home.

See exercise videos here!

Tips

Make the commitment. Every health and fitness journey starts with making daily changes—not just when you can fit them in your schedule or when you have time. The first step toward achieving your health and fitness goals is simply making the decision to set them. 

 Don’t leave nutrition to chance. One of the best things you can do for your waistline is to pack your lunch and snacks. Fast food is notoriously unhealthy but even the deli sandwich can do you in. They are generally loaded with hidden sodium and fat, and throw in chips and a soda and you’ve just added a bunch of empty calories. If you pack your lunch the night before you can not only get out of the house quickly in the morning, but you will eat better all day. Don’t forget to pack your snacks too! A lot of moms reach for their kids’ snacks when hunger hits, and that’s fine. Just make sure that those snacks are healthy for them and you, too. Dried fruit is one of your best bets, especially California Raisins. They are a naturally sweet, portable snack, and that’s a big plus when you are looking for healthy eating on the go.

Consistency is key. A short workout is better than no workout at all.  So even if you only have ten minutes to spare, move your coffee table to the side and make some space to do an at-home workout. And when our time is limited, avoid working out only your problem areas like your stomach.  Instead of doing crunches, which burns very little calories, a more important objective is to work out as many muscle groups as you can in the time you have available. 

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Wise Choices

Make time for yourself.

We all need to set aside some time to catch our breath, whether it is rising and shining a few minutes earlier, stepping out for some fresh air over the noon hour, or taking a quick stroll around the block before the kids get home. These are all examples of times of the day that you can claim as your own and feel better for it.
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Exercise.

Exercising is a great fat-buster, muscle-toner, and stress-reducer — good news for all of us multitaskers out there! But it doesn’t have to take hours and hours at the gym; my philosophy is get in, get out, get a life! Even simple steps like taking the stairs at work, going for a walk with the kids, or some active playtime with them at the park can all make a real difference.
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Eat right!

Finally, you can’t forget about eating right — not only at meals but while snacking, too. A lot of moms reach for their kids’ snacks when hunger hits, and that’s fine. Just make sure that those snacks are healthy for them and you, too. Dried fruit is one of your best bets, especially California Raisins. They are a naturally sweet, fat-free, portable snack, and that’s a big plus when you are looking for healthy eating on the go. And more good news: for adults, ¼ cup of raisins equals one of your daily fruit servings.
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