When I was at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Albuquerqu, NM in early September, I had to stop and get tips for parents from Chatanooga, Tennessee’s best boot camp instructors, Dr. Kristen and Kevin Harvey.

Take a look at this video for some excellent ways to engage the family in exercise while making it fun. And let me know what you think.

When the grass is getting tall and your kids are chomping at the bit for some entertainment, why not invest in a hand mower and get to work?! For a $130, this is a great way to burn calories, have fun with your offspring and get a chore done all at once.

You don’t think it will get your heart a-pumping? Trust me, it does. What is more, you’ll be more green not having wasted the gasoline to power your engine. Use your body as the engine and go at the speed that pushes you safely in your fitness.

10-minute increments are great to rest and get a drink of water in between. Sure you can break it up into five-minute segments, too. Whatever you do, have fun with it. My little guy just invites himself into the picture and wants me to chase him with the mower. It’s a lot of fun and an excellent means to squeeze fitness into a busy schedule.

Have a tip that helps squeeze fitness into your routine, then be sure to post a comment below.

If you’re a busy Cleveland parent and you still haven’t checked out the best Cleveland fitness boot camp in town, then you’ll want to check out TrainingByLiz.com.

Trust me, when my four-year-old asked me for a cucumber smoothie the other day, I just about died and went to heaven! Really? I made sure one more time that he wasn’t yanking my chain, after all he can be a jokester.  Oh no, he really wanted one.

I already had out the Magic Bullet and whipped up this very simple, refreshing snack.  Brodie was hovering around the kitchen waiting for it.  He saw me making my own vegetable smoothie, which he had witnessed many times prior. This was the day he decided to ask for his favorite vegetable in smoothie form.

What a great way to model healthy eating habits in front of your kids. I encourage you to get out your chopped veggies and try some different combinations of raw fresh vegetable smoothies.  You can always add apple to the equation to help with sweetness or avocado if you like a creamier texture.  Encourage your children to taste your concoctions.  Sure, they might not approve at first, but if you continue, then I guarantee that they’ll eventually be open to trying your creations.  Let me know what kind of veggie shakes work for you.

For your information, cucumbers have a number of trace minerals from folate, vitamin C, vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B6 and healthy enzymes (when eaten raw) that will aid in digestion and the uptake of those minerals & vitamins.  Try it with a little mint for an extra zing and palette cleansing.

For optimal results with your improved nutrition, be sure to factor in an effective cardiovascular and weight-bearing exercise program.  For more details on the best Cleveland fitness bootcamp for busy parents, be sure to check out TrainingByLiz.com.

Now, check out this simple cucumber smoothie recipe and Brodie’s reaction to it below:

Begin with about eight slices of cucumber and 1/4 cup of water.

Begin the blending process.

The longer you blend, the smoother the consistency (it will have some little chunks).

You haven’t seen an update since last week because I was experiencing Rocco Castellano’s Fitness Celebrity Branding Summit in the beautiful Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Albuquerque.  It was an amazing time through and through! What is more, I made sure to get interviews from the cream of the crop of fitness trainers!

So let’s begin with the most famous fitness personality, Rocco himself.  I had to ask Rocco what he’d like to advise parents on as he has trained many parents from many walks of life.  Listen and share your comments below.

For more details on Cleveland women’s fitness or Cleveland fitness boot camps visit TrainingbyLiz.com.