Health and Fitness

If you've never listened to Just Jenny, lawyer turned mom turned radio host Jenny Hutt's hilarious, candid, and self-deprecating show on Sirius XM, you're one, missing out, and two, in luck thanks to us (if we do say so ourselves).

We recently sat down with Jenny, the author of Whatever: Learning to Live Here: An Exuberant and Hilariously Irreverent Guide to Life, coauthored with Alexis Stewart (yep, Martha's daughter). While Jenny is a wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects, we took a lead from her popular "Sexy Fridays" series and decided to focus on pregnancy and postbaby sex. Not surprisingly, Jenny had a lot to say on why sex and parenting can be a tough combo, reconnecting with your partner sexually, and when and how to talk about sex with your kids.

LilSugar: Let's start with the basics: besides exhaustion, what are the hurdles that parents have to overcome when it comes to sex?
Jenny Hutt: Sometimes parents are having less sex because they don't even realize the time is passing by without sex! We are so busy as a society — shuffling kids from place to place, getting them to bed, bringing work home from the office and into the bedroom — that personal relationships can get lost. We aren't in the mood to have sex, so it doesn't happen. Time passes and awkwardness can set in; a rut turns into a bigger rut and so it goes. Plus our partners often receive the brunt of our not-so-friendly moods. Who wants to have sex when you're feeling moody?!

Keep reading for more sex talk with Jenny Hutt.

Finding time away from the kids to exercise can sometimes feel more daunting than the actual workout. With that crazy, superhuman schedule of yours, your fitness routine doesn't have to fall to the wayside. Check out our suggestions for squeezing in a workout and burning a few extra calories without hitting the gym. There's no reason your workout (aka "me time") has to be cut from your "to-do" list again.

• At sports practices: School is starting back up and so do afterschool sports. While your little players are breaking a sweat, you can too. Instead of hovering in the stands or running errands, take that hour to yourself. Go for a run around the field's perimeter or take a walk through the neighborhood. Let's get real: an hour isn't enough time to accomplish many errands, but it is enough time to get up and get going!
• Between errands: The next time you're on carpool duty or running to the store (no pun intended), take note of local gyms, studios, and parks on your usual path. Choosing a convenient option that easily fits into your routine will make your workout feel seamless. A quick run or workout in the park won't waste any extra travel time.
• During vacation: We know your vacations probably aren't spent leisurely lying on the beach. Take advantage of time off with your kids by planning active activities the whole family will enjoy. Wherever you are, explore hiking trails or spend the day playing in the pool together. Kids will love the adventure, and you will be happy to sweat without any scheduling or extra effort.
• During downtime: Use those rare moments of peace and tranquility for a cardio burst. While your kids are napping, pop in a workout DVD or cue up a 10-minute Class FitSugar video. Or during TV time, fit in a quick total body workout that can be done right beside the couch!
• Exercise with the kids: Spend time with your tykes by working out together. Go on walks together or, if you have littler ones, invest in a jogging stroller like this Phil & Teds Dot Buggy ($450). If your children are a bit older, take the bikes out and explore your town. You'll find their energy makes them the best workout partners a mom could ask for.

If your children have trouble winding down at bedtime, it's time to step back and evaluate their sleep patterns. Which parts of your kids' lifestyles make it tough for them to turn in at night? Do they need more of a routine? A bit more activity throughout their day? From nightly rituals to unhealthy eating habits, here are five simple tips to encourage a better sleeping schedule for your little ones:

1. Establish a daily routine. To make sure your child sinks into a regular rhythm, do what you can to stick to the same bedtime each night. Even better? Help them shift into sleep mode by maintaining the same habits, too. Try reading together at a certain time, singing the same lullaby, or turning on a music box each night to create a pattern.
2. Choose books — not screens — before bedtime. Keep your kids from staring at a bright, glowing screen before they try to fall asleep. Turn off the TV a bit earlier, encourage reading over video games, and, if possible, dim the lights after dinner to ease them into bedtime.
3. Steer clear of late-night snacking. Help their bodies relax and slow down by making the kitchen off-limits after dinner. Set the same rule for yourself, too, so that you're setting a positive example.
4. Tackle the nightmares. A fear of nightmares may make it difficult for your child to fall asleep. Try sharing helpful books about nightmares to ease their anxiety and make a peaceful night more likely.
5. Encourage plenty of exercise. If your kids aren't moving enough throughout the day, they won't be tired come bedtime. Make sure your children are active both during and after school, then create fitness habits as a family to inspire a healthy lifestyle.

Do you have any tips for helping kids to fall asleep? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Like all parents, we're constantly doing our best to nourish our little ones with a well-balanced diet. But when the nutrition labels on packaged food are targeted to the average adult's diet (2,000 calories/day), it's not always easy to tell just how much (or how little) of the good stuff our kids are actually getting. That's why we're so excited to share this new tool from Clif Kid with you!

Here's how it works:

1. Head over to Clif Kid.
2. Grab a food package and identify the nutrition label on the back.
3. Under "Adult Nutrition Label," pick a nutrient you want to convert for your child, and enter in the grams from the nutrition label on the package.
4. On the "Kid Nutrition Label" side, you'll see the grams converted into the daily percentage this nutrient takes up in their diet for the day. Notice the difference as compared to an adult's — it's as easy as that.

Put the Clif Tool to work today, and tell us the most surprising finds you discover!