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MomsLA MakeBetter; A Mom Makeover for Better Health

Sometimes you get to a point in your life where you really want to make a change. MomsLA co-Founders Sarah Auerswald and Yvonne Condes decided to look for weight loss solutions that would work for their lives as busy Moms. In August 2012, they embarked on an eight-month journey to better health they called The MomsLA MakeBetter, ending in May 2013. They tracked their progress through blog posts, weekly vlogs, and video updates.

Sarah and Yvonne worked with registered dietician and author, Ashley Koff, and fitness expert and trainer, Holly Perkins. Together they showed MomsLA – and our readers – how to be more conscious of what we put into our bodies and how to make them work better for us through strength training and exercise.

“We weren’t making ourselves over; we were making ourselves better,” said Yvonne.

Moms often put our kids’ health before our own. In fact, it’s hard for some moms to name three things they do themselves on a regular basis. But deep down, we know the truth: we can’t take care of others if we aren’t well ourselves.

Weight Loss Diet for Working Moms

The weight loss solutions MomsLA used were simple, and they weren’t based on diet fads, so they could still appropriate today.

Of course, everyone’s body is different and everyone is at a different stage of life, so it’s important to check with your medical professional, dietitian, nutritionist, and trainer, before embarking on any weight loss or fitness program.

Ashley Koff, RD, had Sarah and Yvonne begin by tracking what they ate, so they could start with awareness. Sarah used the LoseIt app and Yvonne simply used pen and paper.

The advantage Sarah had by using the app was that, as the weight loss plan progressed, she could keep track of the nutrients she was taking in. Koff’s plan for Sarah was to eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates per meal. She also often asks her clients to be sure to “eat the rainbow,” which refers to eating foods of many colors.

Yvonne Condes, Ashley Koff and Sarah Auerswald talk about the weight loss program

Fitness Made Easy

Holly Perkins knew that if she asked two busy Moms to schedule in two hours of exercise classes per day, they would have laughed and then never done anything. So she had MomsLA start slowly and totally within reason. 20 Minutes per day of cardio, alternating with 20 Minutes per day of strength training. It was easy to add into their routines, and when they could add more time, they did.

For these Moms, who were looking for a new basic level of fitness, and were not in training for any sport, this was the perfect amount. By starting small, fitness became part of their daily routine; it became a habit they repeated.

At the end of their 8-month MakeBetter journey, both Sarah Auerswald and Yvonne Condes had made incredible changes to their bodies – and to their overall health.

Weight loss Results were Dramatic

Sarah Auerswald lost a total of 25 pounds on the program, and in terms of inches: 7 inches off her waist, 5 inches off her hips, and 3 inches off her bust.

Sarah’s reaction to the final results: “When I look at the photos, I can hardly believe I’m looking at the same person. The changes to my body are so dramatic, and although I struggled at points, I really feel like it was pretty easy to have made the changes I did. I feel fantastic, like I have a whole new body, and I would recommend this way of life to anyone who wants to feel better about themselves. If I can do it, you can do it!”

Yvonne Condes lost a total of 10 pounds, and inches: 3 1/4 inches off her waist, 2 inches off her hips, and 1/2 inch off her bust.

Yvonne’s reaction: “At first I was feeling a little down on myself for not losing more weight during the Make Better Challenge. I didn’t have a number in mind, but I wanted to end the challenge with abs of steel. Then I saw the pictures and was shocked by how my body has changed over these months. I knew I felt better and my health had improved – I could run faster and my allergies were not as debilitating this Spring – but hadn’t really noticed how much more toned my stomach, arms, butt, and legs are. I don’t have abs of steel, but I’ve come a long way.”

{This article is not a sponsored post. Our partnership with Ashley Koff, RD, and Holly Perkins meant we were given some products from New Balance, PureBar, Promax and SmartyPants vitamins.}

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Lori C.

Saturday 15th of September 2012

Good going, girls! What a fun opportunity to focus on your health and make your body run like it's supposed to.

Tania luviano

Friday 14th of September 2012

Awesome! I'll be following your journey, great idea

Jasmine Forte

Friday 14th of September 2012

I love this! The fact that you said it's NOT a MAKE OVER it's a MAKE BETTER is AWESOME! I will be following your progress and wish you both the best during your journey! xoxo

Shannon Colleary

Friday 14th of September 2012

Yvonne and Sarah this is fantastic. I genuinely want to watch you do this -- not because I'm in the MomsLa community, but because this sounds exactly like what I want for myself. I'm going to subscribe so I can keep up with you and I will spread the word! xo S

Donna

Thursday 13th of September 2012

I'm thrilled for you guys. And jealous. Looking forward to hearing how it is going.

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