The quarterback is one of the most important positions on a football team, not at all unlike the a mom in family. Like a quarterback she is tasked with running the offense and she calls plays (“pick up your toys!”), keeps the offense in line (assigned seats at the dinner table to avoid bickering), reads through the defense (those manipulative little smiles), and adjusts the plays accordingly (reverse psychology!). Because a QB’s job is never done, and neither is a mom’s with 3a.m. bedside visits, he has to be in tip-top shape to perform every play; as well, the mother needs to be in tip-top shape to keep up with the demands of her job.

Moms certainly deserve seven-figure salaries like professional football players, however, most 
accept payment via wilted flowers and hand-drawn family
 portraits.

Since healthy moms are happy moms, not to mention even 
stronger role models for their little ones, we want to help you stay fit like the QBs you resemble. Below is a sample fitness plan for a typical NFL quarterback. You already run around like one, now you can get fit like one.

Try the NFL Quarterback Training Program:




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My Colts may be out of the playoffs, but I will still be logging several hours in front of the television, watching other NFL athletes. (Go Bears!) The serious athletes who are finished for the season are probably already thinking about off-season workouts. Rest is important in growth (and to recover from injuries), but too much rest brings atrophy. A strong off season workout program can prepare a player to prevent unneeded stress and strain when other heavyweights are aiming to slam into you. The athleticism, strength, and endurance of professional football players is impressive to me, and I think we can learn from their training how to reach our own personal potential.

Dwight Freeney works out with tractor tires and chains. If you are living on a farm, you may be able to emulate his workout, although probably not his skill on the football field. Those of us in less rural areas may have difficulty finding the space to workout with tractor tires. Even those confined to a studio apartment have room to add chains to a home workout. While good resistance bands may be difficult to come by, especially in less urban areas, chains can be found easily in rural areas or any where with a Lowes, Home Depot, or Menards.

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Men are notorious for being able to lose weight faster and usually more easily than women, but in the gender weight-loss battle, women may have a new secret weapon: workouts!

According to new research in the December issues of the Journal of the American Medical Association, when people engage in moderate to vigorous activity nearly every day of the week as young adults, they gain significantly less weight by middle age. While this was true in both men and women, women seem to be more affected by the young-adult activity.

To be considered “high-activity,” men and women had to get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week. This included traditional exercise such as group exercise and walking, along with recreational and household activities like basketball, housework or construction work. It’s important to note that those who got less-intense exercise didn’t see any difference in their weight later in life.

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Many believe the pull-up to be a sign of true athletic ability. Adding pull-ups to your training regimen doesn’t involve any fancy equipment because they use your own body weight for resistance. Brothers Danny and Al Kavadlo take the traditional pull-up to a whole new level in this short video promoting non-gym exercise.

It’s clear that pull-ups work out the biceps and triceps, but did you know that they also condition the shoulder, back and abdominal muscles? Regular pull-ups (you know, the kind that don’t involve circus theatrics!) can be extremely difficult, but the physical benefits far outweigh the challenge. Benefits include:
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Use this handy check-list to make sure you’ve got all the gear you need to have a productive workout.

The right bag
Choose a gym bag that isn’t so big that it feels like a burden, but is roomy enough to stash all your gear. I like a bag that has lots of compartments, like the Live Well 360 Fitness bag. It has pockets for shoes, keys and cards.

Workout Clothes
You don’t want to be fussing with your clothes during your workout, so pick things that are comfortable and let you move freely. I like to work out in yoga pants and a tank top.

Extra Socks
It’s always nice to have a backup pair.

Shoes
Many gyms require the use of shoes that haven’t been worn on the street, to keep their equipment clean.

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