FitCeleb was able to catch up with busy fitness guru, LaReine Chabut whose been in the fitness industry for about 15 years and has a lot under her belt. She is a best selling author whose multiple best selling titles include; Exercise Balls For Dummies (May 25, 2005), Lose That Baby Fat! (M. Evans, April, 2006), Stretching For Dummies (February, 2007), and Core Strength For Dummies (January, 2009). LaReine was recently voted “Top Ten Most Fit Moms Online” and in addition is the leading fitness expert for Fit Pregnancy magazine. She is most recognized as the lead instructor of The Firm, a series of popular workout videos that have sold over three million copies worldwide.

Having just finished “Core Strength For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness)),” what is the busy fitness expert up to now and days.

“Having a lot of fun not being tied to my desk.”

That fun includes hosting a web series for MSN called Focus on Feeling Better, where she is seen daily taking on America one person at a time.

About the web series:

“It’s really great. It’s just small things that you could do throughout the day to make you feel better. It deals with sleep deprivation and lots of inspirational stories like an 80-year-old couple who ballroom dances. It’s kind of like taking on America one person at a time. It’s a lot of fun!”

Her quick tips for sleep deprievation:

“Black out shades is important because you want to limit the light. That helps set your clock, your biological clock. Having a routine, having a set bedtime every night at the same time. We also do some yoga stretches, and breathing, trying to get the body in a relaxed state...child's pose. There’s just so many wonderful little things that you could do because the breathing goes along with it to start to relax your body. It signals the body that it’s time to go to sleep and yoga is just a great way to do that.”

(Watch the web episode dealing with sleep deprivation)

She adds,

“Having some kind of an herbal tea with chamomile that relaxes you, that really helps.”

And don’t be fooled, yoga isn’t just for relaxing at night. La Reine says,

“It can be very energizing depending on the moves, like when you do Sun Salutation which consists of I think 12 or 16 moves, it’s more of an energizing series to get you going in the day. But at night you would concentrate on the Cross Leg and do your Ohms and breathing. Then there’s Corpse Pose as they call it, where you're just laying straight down, arms at your side, closing your eyes and using some visualization.”

Out of the web series, what's her favorite MSN clip? Aqua Mom.

“That was my favorite. Water is so great for pregnant women because you don’t feel that gravity of your belly but it helps you get the circulation and oxygen to the baby, so it’s a great workout. And then it’s also good to get in the pool right after too, because it helps you regain your body and your shape.”

What's some other forms of exercise for pregnant women who may never have worked out before, but would like to start:

“That’s my specialty. I’m really called the “Mommy Coach” now. So I work with pregnant post-natal women and I’m passionate about that, and walking is the best thing you could do really at any stage in your life, but especially for pregnant women they should keep moving. Women who haven’t been in an exercise program before, walking is just a great way to get your exercise."

She adds,

“Some women will choose pregnancy as a time to start an exercise program, which is kind of funny. I always say if you’re active before your pregnancy you can keep up with most of the things that you’ve been doing, you know with modifications, but if you haven’t done any form of exercise before, walking is the safest and best way to just keep the muscles, joints and ligaments loose and keep you active and feeling good.”

If you are a new mom and want to get into shape, here's a funny clip of LaReine trying to demonstrate some exercises with funny lady Chelsea Handler (watch below).

On a more serious note, LaReine says:

“There are a lot of great ways you can increase bonding time with your baby and do simple things at home that will help build your stamina until you get strong enough to go to the gym.”

For nutrition, key superfoods that will help you lose that post-baby weight?

“Anything that’s high in calcium is really good for new moms. Yogurt because a lot of breast feeding moms don’t realize how they get depleted of calcium and vitamin D. I never recommend dieting for breast feeding moms, but just eating more of the right things which would be smaller portions, eating five small meals throughout the day and have them be cheese, yogurt so they’re getting the nutrients they need for the breast feeding, and they’re also eating healthier foods.”

She laughingly adds,

“The most important thing to remember is that you’re not eating for two anymore. Which you’ll want to. But just eating more of the right things and eating five times a day.”

“It’s interesting because when women are pregnant they always say you’re eating for two but when they say you’re eating for two they don’t mean the portion, they really mean that you should be eating better because you’re eating for two.“

LaReine definitely knows what she's talking about having two young daughters of her own, ages 3 and 7.

“Pregnancy is a great time to keep moving and eat the foods you don’t usually eat, and then start working after you have the baby so you could still enjoy it. Moderation is the key to everything.“

Her advice to those moms who are stressed with balancing a family, a healthy lifestyle, and a career:

“My motto is 'happy mommy, happy baby'. You have to take care of yourself first so you can be there to take care of the rest of the family. It’s really making time for you, whether that is enlisting the help of others - a neighbor or a family member"

“For instance, I did a baby exchange with my neighbor. We both had new kids so I watched them one week, and she watched mine the next week, so then we could go to the gym and alternate. It’s just finding ways to take care of yourself and delegate the little things that add up like the house work…(laughing) and taking care of your third child, your husband."

“It’s really coming up with the structure of your day.” “It’s really just managing your day by having a schedule and a routine so they know what to expect, and you know what to expect.”

LaReine's tips can go on and on, so be sure to check out Focus on Feeling Better that tackles many different ways of living a healthy lifestyle.  

LaReine's latest projects include Pod fitness, her book Lose That Baby Fat!: Bouncing Back the First Year after Having a Baby--A Mom Friendly Fitness Program and a new mom tv series, which is set in Nashville.  So keep an eye out!  

For more information about LaReine, visit www.lareinechabut.com.