From the set of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, to shaking his groove thing on Season 4 of Dancing With The Stars and baring it all on a Chippendales stage, it goes without saying that Ian Ziering has lived quite the exciting life. We recently chatted with Ian about his busy schedule, his role as a father and husband, and what it’s like being named ‘Daddy of the Year’ by one of his favorite brands, DaddyScrubs.

AKA Mom: With such a busy career as an actor, spokesperson and entertainer, how do you juggle that along with being a husband and father of 2 young children?

Ian: I never lose sight of the fact that my family, my wife and kids are my ‘why’ for everything. I never lose sight of “work to live” and not “live to work.” I work to be a provider, to ensure [my family] has everything they need in life to propel them through it successfully.

AKA Mom: You’ve become a spokesperson for a company called DaddyScrubs. What is it about that company that made you want to get involved?

Ian: The company started with scrubs that said ‘I’m Daddy’. I think it’s great to pull fathers into it. Usually dads sit on the sideline while nurses run around and while the wives go into delivery. When I wore them, it made me feel like I was a big part of the experience.  I don’t know, why but it did… maybe because everyone noticed them. I love the font and the way it’s written. It was a way to proclaim ‘Here I am!’ Everyone acknowledged it with a smile on their face. Everyone was able to relate to me. It was a way to announce ‘I’m proud and a part of this experience’. The brand has become a bit of a lifestyle brand. It’s not just about scrubs anymore. It’s about creating situations and connecting. It’s about getting back to the dinner table, for instance. My mom always had food on the table and we all came together as a family. I’ve got so many great memories of those dinners that we had together. As you grow older, it’s not about money; it’s not material things that grow wealth. It’s the depth of the love you have for your family and friends. For me, and so many others, the dinner table is a place where it all starts.  It’s a time to come together and share and further build the bond you have with your family. That’s what DaddyScrubs is all about. 

AKA Mom: DaddyScrubs has recognized you as ‘Daddy of the Year’. That’s quite an accomplishment!

Ian: Yes, I’m very proud of that! My hat goes off to my dad who was my role model growing up. Because of the values and morals he instilled in me and because of the way in which he taught me, I really am just paying it forward. My dad taught me to be as hardworking as I possibly can. He taught me that failure is not an option and to commit to your success. I also have an amazing wife, and none of this would have been possible without her. She matches my energy and enthusiasm; she is such a dynamic woman and role model. Being a dad is the best role I’ve ever had. Being named Daddy of the Year is like receiving a daddy Oscar!

AKA Mom: Your wife Erin is a nurse. Was she the one who recommended DaddyScrubs for you during her deliveries?

Ian: Yes! She was in her first trimester, and she brought a pair home with her after work and I chuckled. They said ‘I’m the daddy.’ When I wore them into the delivery room for the first time, I had such a positive reaction; from the doctors to the nurses to the people in the waiting room, everywhere I went! I was so full of pride that day that I could have yelled from the top of a mountain how proud I was to be a dad. Wearing the DaddyScrubs added another level of enthusiasm for me.

AKA Mom: What is it like having two daughters sharing the same birthday now? Will it make the party planning process easier?

Ian: I don’t know yet! We celebrated Mia’s birthday a week early because we weren’t sure when Penna was going to be born. It’s so serendipitous! As the girls get older, I’m sure they are going to embrace it. I think when they have birthdays on the same day it adds another special layer to their relationship as sisters. I think we will have joint birthday parties until Mia is about 6 years old. I’m thrilled about it!

AKA Mom: Your daughter Penna was born this past April. How did you do in the delivery room during Penna’s birth compared to Mia’s?

Ian: Mia’s birth was much more difficult for my wife. Erin wanted to do it naturally without drugs and epidurals. As a man you don’t have the final say about that [giggles]. Erin was born in 45 minutes in an elevator. She thought she might have a similar experience during her deliveries. When Erin was 4 hours into contractions, screaming and crying, the doctor had said she was only 4 centimeters dilated, and that’s when she relented and asked for the epidural. Every time the contractions came, it was like torture. As a husband, it’s hard to see that. My wife is a strong woman and wanted to tough it out but it was just too difficult and hard to see her in so much pain. It was smooth sailing after the epidural though. Penna’s birth was much simpler. Erin took the epidural first thing and my daughter was born in the morning. Penna’s birth was definitely much easier on all of us. 

AKA Mom: What advice would you give to expecting and new dads?

Ian: My advice for expecting and new dads is to speak to other fathers…starting with their own if possible. Take some classes on child rearing, go to the ‘Mommy and Me’ classes, learn baby CPR, and have a lot of patience and understanding. Be prepared! Your wife is going through so many changes; her hormones are so off-kilter and she might do some things that are unexpected. And if you find yourself stressed out, look at is as par for the course. Take pause and understand that weaker people than you have accomplished greater, so there is no reason why you can’t do this. Just immerse yourself in it. It’s so worth it!

AKA Mom: After watching you on Season 4 of Dancing with the Stars, everyone knows you’ve got the moves. And you can definitely light up the big screen. Will you be going for the triple threat and launch a singing career?

Ian: Oh, man! I sang on Broadway as a child. I still sing to my kids all the time, but I don’t know if I have the chops anymore. I did some cartoons in the 90’s that damaged my vocal chords. I can’t hit the high notes as flawlessly as I used to. I do love to sing though and can sing some things pretty well. But to embark on a singing career, that’s not me. To cut an album? No way. 

AKA Mom: What’s next for you, your career, and your family?

Ian: Well, career wise, with the success of Sharknado, there is a lot going on — the sequel to that is going to happen in the next few months. In terms of my family, my wife and I are on the gardening committee for my daughter’s preschool, so tomorrow we will be tending to planting beds. We will be replanting the gardens with fruits and vegetables for my daughter’s school. After that, one day at a time. I like to live in and enjoy the moment.

Want to keep up with Ian? Be sure to follow him on Twitter at @IanZiering. To learn more about DaddyScrubs and to get your own pair, visit www.daddyscrubs.com.  

Photo credit:  Courtesy Daddyscrubs

The post Daddy 101 with Ian Ziering appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Losing the baby weight is challenging for most women. But when you’re celebrity mom, Hollywood’s beauty standards can make the postpartum period downright miserable.

Let’s take a look at 5 high-profile mamas who have opened up about weight loss post-pregnancy. Read about Gisele Bündchen‘s “muscle memory,” to Hilary Duff not losing the baby weight “overnight,” to Gwen Stefani admitting it was “no miracle” that she’s regained her svelte figure.

◦   Alyson Hannigan:

American Pie star Alyson Hannigan and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof, welcomed their second daughter, Keeva Jane,  on May 23. The Buffy alums are also parents to 3-year-old daughter Satyana.

Since welcoming baby Keeva, Alyson has talked about not losing the baby weight quickly enough for Tinseltown.

“I think by Hollywood standards I’m supposed to be in bikini shape now that my baby is 4 weeks old,” she playfully tweeted. “My workout goal: Food drops in lap, not on belly.”

Despite her woes, fans of the How I Met Your Mother star showed their support for “setting a good example” and not rushing to lose the baby weight.

Alyson replied, “I still haven’t lost all the weight from my first daughter. Oh well.”

◦   Hilary Duff:

Lizzie McGuire actress Hilary Duff and husband, hockey star Mike Comrie, welcomed their first child, son Luca, on March 20. The Disney darling recently said that she enjoyed eating during her pregnancy.

“My whole life you know I worked out and exercised and been in the public eye and always watched what I ate. This was like a vacation,” Hilary said of enjoying eating during pregnancy. “I had a blast. I wouldn’t go back and change it. I had a lot of fun.”

The new mom has also opened up about her postpartum weight loss.

“I’m not perfect, but I feel fantastic,” she said. “This is how it goes for most women – the weight doesn’t fall off overnight.”

The actress-singer, 24, added that she’s been exercising “a few” times a week, mixing spin classes with private training sessions.

She added that her hubby “doesn’t care” about her extra pregnancy weight, and added, “Even during my pregnancy he thought I was beautiful.”

◦   Gisele Bündchen:

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her husband, football star Tom Brady, welcomed their first child together, son Benjamin, on December 8, 2009.

The Brazilian beauty talked about regaining her figure almost instantly after Benjamin’s birth.

“I think it’s muscle memory,” Gisele said. “I did kung fu up until two weeks before Benjamin was born, and yoga three days a week. I think a lot of people get pregnant and decide they can turn into garbage disposals. I was mindful about what I ate, and I gained only 30 pounds.”

◦   Molly Sims:

Actress Molly Sims and husband Scott Stuber welcomed their first child, son Brooks Alan, on June 19. The new mom recently opened up about her mission to lose the 50 pounds of baby weight that she gained during her first pregnancy.

“Eating during my pregnancy was easy, but losing the baby weight—that’s going to be a whole other story,” Molly wrote on MollySims.com. “As much as I tried to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine while I was pregnant, I ended up gaining 50 pounds—so let’s just say I have my work cut out for me! But no matter what it takes, being in the best shape possible has always been very important to me. I’m more than willing to put in the work to get my pre-baby body back.”

◦   Gwen Stefani:

Rockers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale are parents to two sons – Kingston, 6, and Zuma, nearly 4. Five months after welcoming Kingston, Gwen talked about her postpartum weight loss.

“That’s been really hard,” she said of losing the weight. “But it’s almost gone. I’ve just been eating healthy,” she said, adding, “I cheat every day at least once.”

The uber-svelte No Doubt frontwoman has admitted to struggling with her weight and body image after having two children. She said that her current figure is “no miracle” and that it took eight months to lose the baby weight after the arrival of Zuma.

And even Gavin chimed in about the pressures on his wife to lose the baby weight under the limelight.

“Yeah, she does [feel under pressure to lose the weight fast], Gavin said. “I mean, she’s just so dedicated and she’s just amazing with that stuff (weight loss). It’s very hard because everyone’s so judged the whole time.”

More top stories from CelebrityBabyScoop:

Kendra Wilkinson On Playboy Past, Motherhood, Baby No. 2

Mario Bello:  “I Have To Have A Sense Of Humor About Trying To Juggle It All”

A Look At 10 Hollywood Adoptions

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Celebrity Baby Scoop is one of the most popular blogs on the topic and the foremost provider of everything celebrity-baby, featuring baby fashion, baby names, baby trends and up-to-the-minute celebrity baby gossip and pics. Get all the latest news, updates, and photos about Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity moms, dads and their babies. Who’s the latest Tinseltown baby? Who’s due next and who just announced a pregnancy? It’s all on Celebrity Baby Scoop.

The post 5 Celebrity Moms On Losing The Baby Weight appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.