Why yes, we all ARE making duck-face! It’s a sickness I tell you…
Not to get all Gender Wars up in here but let’s face it ladies, when it comes to exercise the men usually win. They’re generally faster, stronger and more cut-throat. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have some tricks up our technical running tee sleeves! Thanks to our natural agility, better balance, flexibility and coordination and our willingness to play nice with the other kids, there are some exercises where Girls Rule the Workout!
Check out my article on Shape.com today “19 Moves Women Do Better Than Men“!
Other articles I’ve got out this week for Redbook Magazine, Yahoo!Shine, BlogHer and the Huffington Post (busy, busy!):
Lollipops for Drunks and Other Unconventional Uses For Kiddie Stuff (yes I invoke the phrase “adult onesie”)
Should Childhood Obesity Be Considered Parental Neglect? (nobody wins in this one.)
When Do You Let Your Children Use Public Restrooms Alone? (independence vs. mom anxiety, round 204!)
11 Children’s Books That Are Way Funnier When Narrated by Celebrities (if you read just one, read this! I made myself giggle until I shook the table.)
Does Complimenting Your Daughter’s Looks Send the Wrong Message? (I call Jelly Bean pretty. I can’t help it!)
The Milk Truck and Other Mommy-Rescue Vehicles We’d Like to See (The milk truck is literally a big van with a gigantic breast on top.)
My book review of Sarah Dessen’s latest YA novel (I’m a sucker for Sarah Dessen!)
So: Do you ever feel secretly proud when you beat a dude at something at the gym (even if he doesn’t know you’re “competing”)?? What moves are your personal bests?
Now for the fun! Here are some of the bloopers of our Shape Girls Rule the Workout Photo Shoot!
We all wore skirts/dresses since it was the Girly workout. Unintended consequence: There were a LOT of wardrobe malfunctions. Which led to a lot of crotch pointing. “And this is called your lady flower!”
Hard to demo a proper handstand when somebody keeps playing London Bridge…
This looks like we’re trying to give Megan first aid or something. What I’m actually doing? Picking her skirt wedgie for her. We’re that tight.
This is definitely not first aid.
All we need is our own theme music, people.
Give me your lunch money you little rat or I’ll… I’ll… make you smell my sweaty gym socks! Again!
One of these things is not like the other… Which sucks since this was the best shot of the rest of us. AHEM.
“Other articles I’ve got out this week for Redbook Magazine, Yahoo!Shine, BlogHer and the Huffington Post (busy, busy!)”
WOW CONGRATS!!! I hope you’re making a million bucks in the process, too! 🙂
Exercises women do better? Yes, give birth. It’s the best workout out there. You arent supposed to eat or drink once you get to the hospital, you’re in pain, you have to push, you’ve been up for day(s), and then you are up for a few more days nursing nonstop. Men could NEVER pull that off. No sleep, no food/water for lots of it, in pain…and yet those are our fondest memories as women, the day our babies were born!
Not telling you anything though as the mother of many! 🙂
Hahah true!!! I did include “the birthing squat” in the slideshow;)
The childhood obesity dilemna makes me feel like SUCH a bad eating disorder activist, but to be completely honest the whole issue makes me upset, because of how some organizational groups are reacting towards it… or rather against it
I feel like the children are being lost in the debates that are surfacing regarding whether or not it’s a weightism thing. It isn’t though since it is a matter of child endangerment. In the case where it is a lack of nutritional education I fully believe they should try to educate via a state paid nutritionist or social worker first. But bottom line? Some basic need of that child is not being met — much in the same way that a basic need of an average weight or underweight child is not being met if they’re malnourished. If you look at statistics the habits formed in childhood tend to stick around in your adult life. Meaning that the quality of life of these children may not just be suffering to some degree now, but also in their futures.
I hate that with these sorts of things the children often get lost in the process 🙁
NO, I’m not saying that’s the case with your article… at all btw – just venting. I was that child (well, not an overweight child, but one who got lost in the process of political correctness) and it’s a terrible place to be.
Yes, I totally agree – as a teacher and as a volunteer at a battered women’s shelter (there are sadly more children than women there usually), I’ve seen many kids “fall through the cracks” because people are too busy arguing policy to notice the need right in front of them. I’m also convinced that childhood obesity is almost entirely a matter of socioeconomic status. Heck, obesity for all groups rises as income falls. One more way we disadvantage the poor.
Woweeee! You’ve been busy busy busy!!! Can you please write post on self-discipline and getting things done??? You amaze met that you find time to write these articles, raise kids, workout, and get a blog post up everyday. Are you a fast writer?
Um, I’m glad I make it look good on the outside. My life, most days, is a chaotic mess and I’m truly the LAST person that should ever write a post on time management.
PS. But yes, I am actually a pretty fast writer. Thankfully.
Do you sleep?!?!
I have so many things I want to say, but this post has made my crush on you even bigger. I feel like I’m in 8th grade again.
I can’t wait to read your review because I am a serious YA novel addict! Have you read any of the Uglies or Hunger Games? You’d really like the Uglies, I bet. I also LOVED Matched and am just starting Delirium. I was loking at Sarah Desson too, so I’m intrigued.
Oh, and I’m not so secret about my joy when I beat a guy in something at the gym. I’m kind of competitive. 😀
Holla Hunger Games!!! Loved those books! And I’ve had the Uglies on my list since you last recommended them (but haven’t got to them yet – sorry!). I’m competitive too;)
PS. Wore your skirt to a big ol’ party and got TONS of compliments on it. All my friends want one now too!
do you sleep???
go on without me sister in the project we’ve been emailing about…
“He chases you until you catch him!” What more needs to be said on the gender wars?
I love your outfit!
Thanks! Got it at a thrift store – you’d be amazed how much new or nearly new workout gear ends up in those!
Favourite gym moment(s) ever:
I finish my leg press routine and hop off the machine, wipe it down (yes, I have good gym manners, and only wish everyone else did too…).
A guy (regular guy, no wimp) gets on the machine after me, looks at the weight I was pressing, does a Warner-Brothers-cartoon-style double take, looks at me, looks back at the weight, and hurriedly pulls out the pin and lowers the resistance way down.
Hah. I quietly revel in my kick-ass-ingness – see, there’s a benefit to having a Beyonce-dimensioned booty. Rrrrrrrrrawwww!!!
LOVE THIS: “Warner-Brothers-cartoon-style double take” I can totally see it!!
Haha! Love all the pictures, Ma’am!
BTW, I’m almost done with your book and I’m still loving it!
Yayayay! Thank you SO much for reading my book – you have no idea how much that means to me!
I beat my boyfriend at Warrior Dash!
I’m always competing with someone at a race, whether they know it or not, so I’m always happy when I pass someone; especially when it’s a) the overly girly, super thin girl (think full makeup, curled hair and matching workout clothes) or b) the guy who LOOKS like he’s in shape or just plain arrogant.
My flexibility can beat almost any guy I know at any time and I take pride in that. Then again, my boyfriend likes to brag about my flexibility, too…
Yay for flexibility!! And nicely done in the warrior dash too! I too have been known to be super competitive with the princess gym girls;)
This is the cutest post ever. I think women generally kick dude’s butts at anything that involves lunging or really amazing leg power…hahaha…the guys in my bootcamps never seem to be able to keep up with the ladies when it comes to lunging and squatting….that and anything that requires an ounce of flexibility. I really need to get your book – I’d love to review it for the site! 😉
So true – we’ve got proportionally more strength in our lower bodies, I believe! And I’d love to have you review my book for your site!! Drop me an e-mail with your info and I’ll get it to my publicist!
Planking rocks! Good form, girls!
Planking is so fun!!
NOOOOO, not the duckface!!
This isn’t about the above post, but let me just say, Charlotte: You’re the best. And you know why.
No, you and your mom are the best. Seriously. I love you guys!
I first saw that planking thing on TMZ – yes, my dirty pleasure – the guy that does the background voices is too funny. The people in the room – could leave a lot of them! 😉
I LOVE your pics both here & on Shape! Too funny!!!
Hey, I am 54 in Nov. & can still do the splits & what you are doing in that last pic – yes, it takes me a lot longer to get there than when I was your age but I can still do it! In my “youth” I could just split without any warm-up (not the best idea but I could). Now, takes me at least 15 minutes of warm up! 😉
You go with your splits!!! Nicely done!
Okay… I am so in love with your… errr… your GRASS!! It’s soooooo green and lush!! Here in Oklahoma?? well, you’ve heard of the dust bowl, right?? HORRIBLE… so lusting after your cool, green lush grass!
Hahahah! Yes our grass is awesome!
You are all just too cute!!!!
OMG! Love this post! You ladies PLANK like CHAMPS! Plus you make a gorgeous duck face…..haha. This post make me want to work out with you all! Does all the laughing you did count as an ab workout?
xo
Sarah
Get Up & Go
It absolutely does!
I definitely *don’t* agree that men are generally better than women in fitness. Can your husband do all the awesome gymnastic skills you do? I’m betting not. I’m bench pressing more than 150 pounds right now, using 40 pound dumbbells for bicep curls–and– I can do “crow” for over a minute, headstands, splits, and all sorts of other yoga poses. How many men can do my combo of weightlifting and yoga as well as I do? Currently, I don’t personally know a single guy in my gym who can.
Women in fitness are outstanding! We need to recognize that in ourselves and in other women.
🙂 Marion
I’m working hard on getting a split down but I do rock me some hick kicks! HEEEE YAAAAAHHHHHH!
Hierin