Mother Love Fitness Challenge - Special Prize Revealed

Special Prize: True Fit Car Seats by The First Years
One of these car seats will be given away at the end of each month of the Challenge. Only registered Challenge participants will be eligible for this drawing. These seats retail for $200 and are getting rave reviews, even by parents who swear by the Britax Marathon. They unique because they can be used from 5 lbs to 65 lbs and can be used rear-facing. Use this as a carrot to moms to sign up at the beginning to increase their chances of winning! More special prizes and sponsors to be announced soon.

Plus prizes from our local sponsors: Kait Emerson Designs, The OC Spa, etc. ...

Register for challenge by January 21st (in the class or email Jana at jana.jacobs@babybootcamp.com)
Registration Fee: $26

January Classes

Our first few weeks in January have been great. The weather has been wonderful and we started the New Year with great workouts, nutrition discussion and Attune bars while the babies take their nap and then have fun playing together after the class.

Today, I would love to share with you the recipe Danae brought to our discussion about nutrition:

Chicken Parmesan Light

Danae La Trobe
(Serves 2)

2 6-8 oz chicken breasts
1 can of Italian seasoned diced tomatoes (low sodium if possible)
Shaved Parmesan for chicken topping

- Preheat oven to 375
- Clean chicken, trimming off any fat and pat dry
- Season chicken to taste (Italian seasonings, pepper, Garlic salt or seasoning salt for example)
- Place chicken in an oven safe rimmed baking dish and cover chicken with can of diced tomatoes
- Top diced tomatoes with shaved Parmesan
- Bake for 20-30 min. or until juices from chicken run clear

ENJOY!

PS: Visit our blog this week again for new exercises you can do at home.

Mother Love Fitness Challenge

Mother of All Fitness Challenges Gets Moms Moving
Baby Boot Camp's 2009 "Mother Love Fitness Challenge: Starts Feb 2

New moms in Huntington Beach and across the nation aren't letting their New Year's resolutions fizzle. Instead they're signing up for Baby Boot Camp's 2009 "Mother Love Fitness Challenge" where they'll spend the next three months focusing on strengthening their hearts, bodies and communities.

"It's a popular misconception that once the new year begins everyone becomes magically committed to improving their health and fitness. But finding the time and establishing a routine is a common obstacle. Mothers of infants and preschoolers may find if especially hard to hit the gym. Babysitters are expensive and many moms worry their kids will catch (or share) the latest flu or cold bug at a gym's childcare center.

Fortunately there's Baby Boot Camp. Moms bring their children in strollers and get a boot camp style workout while their children enjoy the ride. Delivered by nationally certified fitness professional, classes consist of cardiovascular drills and strength training exercises all geared to get moms fit. The "Bring your baby. Get fit." program is throwing down a fitness challenge to moms across the nation. Baby Boot Camp is calling all moms (dads and caregiver may participate too!) to commit to three months of "Mother Love" - meaning regular exercise in a supportive environment with some elements of competition and philanthropy thrown in to make it the mother of all fitness challenges.

The Mother Love Fitness Challenge begins Feb 2 ends Apr. 30, 2009. Each month has a focus:

February: Cardio Love! - Baby Boot Camp classes will be geared toward increasing cardiovascular endurance after holiday inactivity. Classes will emphasize power walking, jogging and interval drills.

March: Strong Bodies! - The goal is to increase strength and physical confidence. Classes will incorporate 3 specific exercises that students will do to fatigue: push-ups, plank and jump squats.

April: Give Back! - This month's focus is more about improving the health of Mother Earth. Students will earn Planet Points for doing things that benefit the planet and their communities, such as bringing reusable bags to the grocery store or donating used clothes. In addition they will raise funds to benefit Healthy Child: Healthy World (http://www.healthychild.org/), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures.

"I'm excited to start the Baby Boot Camp Fitness Challenge," says Danae LaTrobe. "I've been anxious to lose the extra baby weight and get super fit. This event gives me the extra motivation I need to come to class regularly so I won't let my team down, plus I'll be modeling heatlhy behavior for my child. I can't lose in a challenge like this!"

If you would like to participate in this challenge please contact Jana at 714.369.2852 or jana.jacobs@babybootcamp.com

Visit our website http://www.babybootcamp.com/

Saturday Workout, January 10, 2009

PUSH UPS

Targets: chest, triceps, shoulders, abdominals and back

Lie facedown on the floor with your hands flat, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, fingers poinintg forward. Push your bodyweight off the floor by squeezing your chest and straightening your elbows, keeping your abs tight and body in a straight line, supported on your hands and toes (or knees). Bend your elbows and lower your body until your elbows form 90-degree angles and point out to the sides. Don't allow your chest to touch the floor or your baby. Pause, then contract your chest and push back up. Cindi is doing the harder version on her toes, you can start on your knees if you are beginner.

QUADRAPED
Targets: core muscles, abdominals and back stabilizers

Begin on hands and knees. Hands are placed directly under shoulders and knees directly under hips. Slowly extend right arm and left leg. Hold for 3 seconds then switch to the opposite side.

PLANK
Targets: abdominals and back

Place hands directly under shoulders, extend legs straight and lift body up into a straight plank position. Hold for 30 seconds while keeping the abdominals in tight (drawing the belly button in towards your spine). If this is too difficult start on your knees, remember to keep your body in a straight line.

AIRPLANE
Targets: lower abdominals and back


Lie on your back with legs in a table top position. Slowly extend legs out 4-6" while drawing the belly button in towards your spine. Bring legs back to starting position and repeat. Focus on keeping core abdominals engaged and ensuring the transverse muscle does not "pooch out".

Modification shown: Moms who have been attending Baby Boot Camp Level 1 for a minimum of 8 weeks and have reduced any Diastasis to two fingers or less can perform this exercise with the child on their shins for an additional degree of difficulty.

Avory loved performing exercises with her mommy. Cindy started Baby Boot Camp as soon as she was cleared by her physician after having her daughter Avory (now 5 m), she also has a son Bradford (20 m). We have started slowly with just a few exercises and walking. Now Cindy runs and does push ups on her toes. I am very proud of her and impressed with her achievements in every class.

Here is what Cindy says about Baby Boot Camp:

"My Dr. ordered me to lose my pregnancy weight for my health and I knew it would be hard especially since I've never been athletic. I have had a great fun with Baby Boot Camp and meeting other moms, I have lost 15 lbs and counting. My pre-pregnancy clothes fit again just after 3.5 months and I am strongest I've ever been in my life making hauling my 2 kids around a cinch! My hubby says it's worth every penny! And I feel good about myself which is priceless to me. "

New Year, New You!

I am sure you have heard that many times. Do you set a New Years Resolution every year? I do....and I have a few this year too :-). One of them is to lose weight and get stronger again. I have been extremely busy in the past 6 months since I started running my Baby Boot Camp that I didn't have time to exercise regularly as I used to and with my recent knee injury I don't feel comfortable with my body either. I have also noticed decrease in my strength. I used to be able to do 50 push-ups and lots and lots of squats and lunges and now I am happy if I manage to do 20 and I don't like that... Anyway, I am very excited about the upcoming Mothers Love Fitness Challenge in which we are all going to improve our cardio and strength and it will be a great motivation for all of us to work extra hard. All Baby Boot Campers can win some great prizes and we can also win as a team! How exciting is that? I started this blog with the intention to post exercises and videos to help you get in shape when you are not able to make it to class. We all know how challenging it is on some days when your baby doesn't sleep all night or decides to sleep in. I encourage you to find 10-15 minutes on those days and do a few of the exercises featured on this blog . Consult your physician before starting an exercise program.