Kathy Smith is the quintessential working mom, and some would say she is the ultimate "working out" mom. She's just climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and next up is the release of her The Matrix workout on DVD. I had the opportunity to speak with Kathy about how she manages to lead a balanced life as a celebrity fitness guru and single mother of two, while staying in shape at the same time!

Samantha: How do you balance your fitness empire and your family?

Kathy: Family comes first. Through my career, the business/family juggling act has always been there, but it's changed. Now that my daughters are in their teens, I'm no longer needed for Mommy and Me classes or to be the chauffeur. Now more time is spent listening to emotional dramas, from the ups and downs of dating to finding a dress for the prom, or hearing the horrors of too much homework. Whatever the stage, hanging out with my family gives me the most satisfaction, so I've always factored that into my work week, which sometimes means taking off for a school performance and making up for it by working on the weekend. Perhaps the biggest lesson of all is learning how to delegate, as well as partnering with people on projects. Even though you make less profit, you have a smaller time commitment. My saving grace is having an ex-husband who is a committed father and is willing to chip in in any way he can to make things run smoothly.

S: What is a typical morning like for you?

K: During the school year, a typical day starts at 5:45 AM: I'm a big believer in breakfast for myself and the kids, so I'll start some steel-cut oatmeal with hard-boiled eggs, cut up some fruit, and throw on some tea. After a quick browse of the front page, I get the girls up at 6:15 and start the hectic process of getting them off to school by 7. During that time I get their lunches prepared. At 7:00, I take a deep breath and get a rush because I know I have two hours to myself - and this is where I fit in my workout. Workouts range from a hike/walk with friends to a strength-training workout with weights to a yoga class down the block.

S: And the rest of the day?

K: There's never a typical workday. I try to break my work week up so that two days are devoted to "clean-up" - answering letters, finalizing production details, approving pictures, as well as keeping the household running smoothly. The other three days I block out chunks of time for writing chapters for my book, working on new fitness routines, brainstorming about new ways of delivering information to customers with new technology. By 4pm, my kids get home from school, and since I work from home, there's time to get them a snack and catch up on the day. I do finishing touches on office stuff by about 5:30 and start on dinner.

S: Do you have any tricks for avoiding the feelings of guilt that plague so many moms?

K: Communication is key - I can be candid with the kids about my feelings, and, at times, apologize when I'm too busy to give them the attention they deserve. Also, I set apart days to spend together doing one of our favorite activities. I love to surprise them by picking up a special dessert or other treat to let them know I'm thinking of them. Some of my closest moments are when we simply hang out together in the house, where nothing is planned and they have me to themselves, without interruption.

S: If you won the lottery, would you continue to work?

K: Yes, but the scope of my projects would change. I would place less emphasis on being "successful" and put more focus on being significant - meaning, how can I make a contribution to America, specifically combating our obesity epidemic. I feel like I'm already moving in that direction - without winning the lottery!

S: How much time do you spend on your own fitness regimen each week?

K: One hour to an hour and a half every day, combining cardio with strength training and yoga/pilates, always with one day off to rest.

S: If you had an extra hour each day how would you spend it?

K: I'd like to have a hammock between two palm trees where I could catch up on some reading and take a quick nap in the afternoon.

S: Are there any women that you admire for how they balance their lives?

K: Maria Shriver. I've watched her through the years raise her family and balance her own business with her husband's and her family's needs, while supporting her community - and she does it all with grace and charm.

K: I use my workout to catch up with friends throughout the week, especially when I'm doing cardio. Walking for an hour allows you to share a lot of quality time and exchange a lot of secrets. I always pick up the phone to schedule movies and dinners with friends. Otherwise it becomes pretty easy to let the weeks fly by without connecting.

S: Kelly Ripa says that she stays in shape simply by toting her kids around. Is this really possible?

K: Kelly looks great, so she's obviously doing something right. But to stay fit, it takes a bit more than that - when you're talking about heart health, bone health, and maintaining lean muscle mass, balance/agility, and strength, it takes a more structured program.

Samantha Ettus is a new mother and the creator of The Experts' Guide series. Her third book, The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years, a collection of chapters from the 100 leading parenting experts, will be published by Crown Books in October, 2006. You can learn more at www.expertsmedia.com Comments? Email Samantha at

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