Hula hooping is becoming more and more popular as a weight-loss and toning workout. It's less like exercise, more like play—and you can do it with the kids!

Even Michele Obama is hula-hooping!

I'm always admiring the buff star bodies in my celebrity mags—scultped arms, toned abs, great legs, etc. But how they actually get those bodies is a complete mystery to me! I try to add some toning exercises to my cardio, but often I find myself standing there with a hand weight, wondering what the heck to do with it.

Moms are usually stressed out, that's a given. And it's hard to fit in time to exercise BUT if you are able to do so, try doing an excercise that kills two birds with one stone: burn calories and reduce stress.   

Your household broom does double duty in this great workout from Self that doesn't require a gym membership or expensive weights. These moves target the muscles and forces you to work your abs to stabilize.

If your life is as miserable as mine when Aunt Flo comes to visit, these 12 yoga moves can help ease monthly bloating and cramping.

Stretching. Who skips it before a workout? Raise your hand! *raising mine slightly in embarrassment*.

I just came back from a trip to my hometown in Tennessee. Meaning, lots of my mama's (fattening) Southern cooking. It was delicious but it practically negated my entire summer workout (though I have to say, soooo worth it! Hehe!). 

I'm needing to do some major damage control and this workout from trainer Cindy Whitmarsh will give me results in a week. Yes, please!

This move is always done at the end of my workout classes when they do a quick 15-minute ab workout. And I dread it. It guarantees soreness the next day, but hey, that just shows you how well it works.

Photo by CMHmommy

I'm not flexible. At all. In fact, I'm pretty sure a wooden 2x4 is more flexible than I am.

That's why I have yet to try yoga, even though nearly every single one of my friends raves about it.