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SIERRA VISTA — The babies actually have it pretty easy in Baby Boot Camp.
On a recent Wednesday morning at the Mall at Sierra Vista, 8-month-old Hana Bartine slept in her stroller while her mother, Amanda, and father, Justin, participated in a 60-minute workout.
The couple power walked, did lunges, jumping jacks and strength-training exercises, among other things, in the class led by franchise owner and instructor Victoria McCullough.
Amanda said the stroller-based fitness program for prenatal and postnatal women — and the dads if they want to come along — has been great at helping her get back to her pre-baby physique.
  
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“It’s gotten me a lot more toned,” Amanda said. “I never had to work out before I got pregnant … now I have more ideas of what a woman should do (to get in shape).”
The program uses interval training to get the moms, or moms-to-be, in shape, mixing power walking with various strength and aerobic exercises. There are several levels in the program to accommodate mothers at different fitness levels.
To participate, mothers must provide medical clearance from their physician at 11-14 weeks pregnant, at 24-28 weeks pregnant and expressed clearance six weeks post partum. Women must be at least six weeks post partum to participate in any Baby Boot Camp Class, eight weeks if C-section.
McCullough, a mother of four, decided to start a local franchise of the national fitness program in April. Having always been a fan of exercising, McCullough said she was looking for a way to exercise where she could bring her kids along.
Since starting the program, McCullough said she’s even caught her children mimicking some of the strength-training moves done in the four-day-a-week classes.
“It teaches kids healthy habits,” she said.
Not to mention, it’s a great way for moms to connect with other moms.
“It was nice to meet other moms in similar situations,” Amanda said. “You get to make friends, you get in shape.”
“It’s kind of like a mommy’s group,” McCullough added. “But dads are always welcome.”
Janice Nash was attending her first Baby Boot Camp during that Wednesday session, and said she loved the opportunity to spend time with her 17-month-old daughter, Roan, while exercising.
“I just think it’s really neat she can come with me,” Nash said, adding that she loves the workout she gets as well.
“The part that’s really getting me going is the strength training,” she said as she pushed her daughter in her jogging stroller while power walking to the next stop in the mall. “This is more in the belly-burning zone, so I like that, too.”
HERALD/REVIEW reporter Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.
CAMP INFO
Baby Boot Camp meets at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the Mall at Sierra Vista.
For information, log onto http://www.babybootcamp.com and click on “Find Classes” to get information specific to Sierra Vista. Victoria McCullough, owner and instructor of the Sierra Vista program, also can be contacted by phone at (702) 419-4778.
whatever wrote on Jun 7, 2008 7:36 AM: