I have another blog post up at the Aspire Project today. (Those of you who are local can expect to see it in a print edition this week.) It's about self defense as a parenting paradigm. Check out In defense of oneself. In other news, one of my co-editors at Safety Net posted an interesting article on her own blog: Telling on Tattling. It's an important reminder about keeping the lines of communication open with our kids and why "telling someone you trust" is an essential self-protection skill.

Here are a couple of really interesting articles I've been meaning to share for a while:

To Tone Without Bulk: Lift Heavier Weights, Fewer Times
The New York Times confirms that folks who wish to build strength without bulk should lift more weight for fewer reps.  They conclude that: "For people who lift weights to tone up and slim down...a regimen that includes a combination of challenging weights and fewer repetitions can help significantly."

Something I've been telling clients for years!  You can read the article here.

Pelvic Floor Fix for the Post-Partum Mama More recently, my bloggy-friend Kara of mamasweat wrote a stunning expose on kegels as the enemy of pelvic floor health.  She interviewed "biomechanical scientist" Katy Bowman on the post-partum pee problem.  According to Katy, it's your weak, flat butt that's the problem and holding that million-dollar bill with your "kegel muscles" just exacerbates things.  With the tagline "You now have permission to pee in the shower," this is an article not to miss.  Find it here.

For all of you busy mamas and papas who struggle to find time for your workouts, I want to share this link with you. Kara at Mama Sweat is raising four--count 'em, four!--kids under six while remaining committed to her own wellness. Her path isn't easy and she's honest about the pitfalls and obstacles. But her determination to prioritize her own health and to think creatively about how she can fit in fitness inspires me all the time. I especially like today's post about what she learned from her very active vacation.

If you're a new or expectant mama, be sure to check out Kara's posts on fit pregnancy and postpartum fitness too. She's right on the money.