Baby Boot Camp-Lee and Collier County

Moroccan-Style Lamb and Chickpeas

2012-01-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

I thought this was an excellent dish from my Dec 2011 Cooking Light magazine. You will need

1 pd lean ground lamb
2 tsps olive oil
2 cups sliced onion
1/2 cup sliced carrots
3/4 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tbsp grated lemon rind
1/4 tsp salt
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb to pan; heat till cooked through. Add onion and carrot to pan; saute for 4 min. Add cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and pepper; saute 30 sec stirring constantly. Add broth, and next 5 ingredients (through chickpeas), bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro and lemon juice.

Paige

2011-09-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

I began attending Bootcamp when Jack was 8 weeks old in August of 2010, in order to both stay fit and meet new moms. Fitness has always been a very important part of my life and upbringing (I guess I'm a second generation fitness instructor - making my Mom proud) and meeting the other Mom's has been a true life saver once I made the decision to be a full time stay at home mom. The friendships, support, motivation and advice exhanged and promoted through Baby Boot Camp made me feel part of a community. Jack loves the friends that he has met through Baby Boot Camp as well! Aside from the physical and emotional benifits of classes for myself, I also want to set a healthy example for Jack to have exercise a part of his daily life.

I was born and mostly raised in Bucks County, PA but led a slightly nomadic life for several years living in Monroe, LA; Fort Worth, TX; Charlotte & Ashevlle; NC before landing in Chicago for several years and finally ending up here after meeting my husband. I have a BBA in sales and marketing from TCU and pursued a career in special event management, working for the Hyatt Coconut Point most recently. My interests outside of Baby Boot Camp include reading, cooking, entertaining, running (okay, walking the dog most of the time now - one day it will be running again) skiing and sailing.

Paige's classes are hard-core; she wants to make sure people are getting the type of workout that she wants for herself. Although, if you are new, she will make sure to provide you with great modifications. I am excited to have her join our expanding Team! She will be teaching a couple times a week at Miromar and you will occassionally see her at our other locations.

Yummy dessert style snack

2011-08-03T18:39:00.001-07:00

This is one of my favorite snacks when I'm craving something sweet.

I take a Voskos Greek Yogurt (I really like the Vanilla Honey Bean flavor) and mix some flax seed in with it. Then add some almonds, Publix nutty nuggets cereal, sliced strawberries, and a little bit of honey on top.

It is delicious!

Weekly workout

2011-07-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Unable to make it to a Baby Boot Camp class? Here is a workout for you to do if you are vacationing, working, or just unable to make it to class.

Warm up with stretching

Cardio moves

Bicep curls with band
Tricep dips
Cardio moves (moves on the video)
Push ups
Shoulder raises
Cardio moves (video)
Back rows

Cool down-and some abs!

Let me know your thoughts.

Quick workout

2011-07-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a workout for you to do on your own:

Make sure to do at least a 5 min warm up along with 10-20 minutes of some form of cardio. You will want to do the workout 2 times or even 3x through and then make sure to stretch out.

Video

Chicken, Blackberrry & Barley Toss

2011-07-13T13:44:00.001-07:00

I thought this was a pretty good meal out of my Clean Eating Magazine-June 2011

1 cup pearled barley
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/8 tsp sea salt
1 tsp raw honey
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
6 oz blackberries

In a medium pot, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add barley, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10-12 min. Drain barley well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Meanwhile, prepare Yogurt-Thyme Dressing: combine yogurt, salt, honey, thyme, 1 tbsp water and 1 1/2 tsp oil. Whisk with fork and set aside.

In a large nonstick pan, heat remaining 1 1/2 tsp oil on medium. Add chicken and cook for 5-6 min, occasionally flipping pieces over to ensure they cook evenly. When cooked through and lightly browned, use a slotted spoon to remove chicken and transfer it to the barley bowl.

Add blackberries and yogurt-thyme dressing to the barley chicken mixture and toss well.

Serve with a salad.
(Calories-373, Total Fat-6g, protein-32g, sugar-3g, fiber-10g, sodium-112mg)

Outstanding Mom

2011-03-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Our first month results are in from the Mother Love Fitness Challenge and Cathie won our local strength challenge due to her increased percentage. She did an amazing job of pushing herself to increase her score in all areas with a significant increase in push ups. Her overall percentage increase was 376%! She started out with 28 jump squats and went up to 75, she also increased her plank from 41 seconds to 1 minute and 11 seconds, but her most amazing accomplishment was that at the beginning of the challenge she was barely able to do 1 push up and told me she would never be able to do more; but pushed herself and by the end of the month she pushed out 10 push ups. See how she ranked compared to the rest of the nations mom's.

Local Runs in April

2011-03-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

April 2nd-Rotary Run 5k at Riverside Park in Bonita at 7:30AM (a few of our mom's are running this, so let me know if you are running so that you can all meet up before or after)
there is also the African Aid 5k at Hope Presbytarian in Ft Myers at 7:30

9th-Valor 5k Trail and/or Road Run at FGCU. The road run is at 7:15AM and trail run is at 8:15AM

10th-Philharmonic 10K at Naples Philharmonic starting at 7:30AM

23rd-Do the Right Thing 5k in Gateway at 7:30AM; they serve a pancake breakfast after this race at Gateway Elementary School

30th-Fight for Air Climb at High Point in Downtown Ft Myers at 8AM- (Baby Boot Camp mom's will be attending this fun race up stairs-join our team!

also the Turtle Trot at Lover's Key at 8AM

If you are a Baby Boot Camp mom and plan on attending any of these runs, please leave your name and which run you are doing in the comment section so that other mom's can meet up.

Jamie Shane

2011-03-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Jamie Shane is the owner- operator of Bija Yoga, certified Yoga Instructor, certified Group Fitness Instructor, and is a 2010 Lululemon Ambassador.
She found her own calling to teach in 2002 when she went to learn from
Guruji Yogi Hari at his ashram in Miramar, Florida. Since then
she has studied various styles and disciplines, developing a
large vocabulary of poses, incorporating them into her
teaching as she goes. She recently added Thai Yoga to her lexicon and
has found it to be an invaluable tool in helping others.

Her Yoga style is smooth, deep and varied which she applies also to her Baby Boot Camp classes along with a lot of intensity. Her students have said, "You never know what you are going to get, but rest assured you will get a lot of core work throughout the class!"

I am excited to have her join our Baby Boot Camp Team as she has a wealth of knowledge in regards to movement, stretching, and core integration. She will require you to push hard in class, but will always make sure you are doing so in a safe manner.

Eat your Banana's

2011-02-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips... Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady..

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Nervous Energy

2011-02-10T14:29:00.001-08:00

Someone commented the other day on how I seem to have a lot of nervous energy. I realized that I have always been one to move A LOT! When I'm in the car, my knee is bouncing up and down, when I was in school I was constantly tapping my fingers or a pencil, and when I'm at the computer or standing around my foot is tapping on a regular basis, even as I'm sitting on top of my foot, it is still moving.

I have always known that by my having this nervous energy, I was burning extra calories but never knew how much. So, it all seemed kind of funny to me today as I was reading an old Women's Running Magazine that it discusses the NEAT factor (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)and how to improve it. And guess what, one study found that people who fidget expend 352 additional calories per day (that's about the same as a 3-4 mile run). So want to learn ways to increase your NEAT factor?

-Set a timer every 45 minutes at work to get up and move or do a set of squats
-Park farther away from the entrance and take the stairs
-sit on a balance ball instead of a chair to activate your core muscles
-stand up and walk around every time you're on the phone.

It's time to get moving!

Eat your Fruits

2011-02-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

Beginning this week you are required to eat at least 3 servings a fruit a day for the nutrition portion of the challenge-and this will continue throughout the challenge. Please note that this is NOT the daily recommended amount of fruits you should be eating-but it is a start. So, after this first week you may be looking for fun and different ways to incorporate fruit into your daily diet.

Here are a few:
-Add fruit/dried fruit to cereal or oatmeal in the morning
-make a homemade smoothie for breakfast or as a snack-usually you can get your 3 serving in, in this one smoothie
-for all of you dessert lovers, try chocolate covered strawberries or banana or place some berries over a teacup of icecream
-Add apples, pears, strawberries, or raspberries to a salad for a fun and tasty change
-Cut up fruit straight from the grocery store and mix into a bowl for fast and easy serving; bring with you for an after class snack. It will help motivate some of the other mom's to do the same!

If you have your own fun way to add fruit to your daily food intake, please leave in the comment section so other mom's will have more ideas.

Healthy Recipe using Kale

2011-02-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a great healthy recipe Jen made the other night. She tweaked it a little to make it better.

Research shows kale turns on your body's natural detoxifying enzymes, sooooo here it is:

Kale or Spinach, Potato and Onion Frittata

cooking spray
1 yellow or white onion
1 lb Kale or Spinach, trimmed, blanched 3 minutes in boiling water, drained, squeezed and coarsly chopped (i used frozen spinach and just squeezed out the liquid)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups boiled diced potatoes
2 whole eggs
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 salt and pepper
handfull of feta cheese

Heat oven to 400. In a medium cast-iron skillet coated with cooking spray, cook onion over medium heat, stir 5 minutes. Add greens and garlic; stir 5 minutes. Add potatoes. Whisk eggs, egg whites, 2 tbsp water, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl; stir into green-potato mixture. Cook over medium-low heat 1 minute. Transfer skillet to oven; bake until eggs are set and center is slightly runny, 6-8 min. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and put under broiler until browned.

"Have a Clear Vision and Know you are Worthy"

2011-01-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share an article that a fellow Franchise Owner-Christie Bruner in St Pete wrote on her blog. I thought it rang true for many of us and wanted to share...

Now, I can't claim the glory for the title of this blog entry...it's from an episode of Oprah which aired a few days ago featuring her fitness guru, Bob Greene. He had some amazing insight about what causes 80% of people who loose weight to gain it back. It really resonated with me regarding the moms I meet every day - not only in Baby Boot Camp class, but at my kids' schools, in line at Publix, and casual acquaintances. Oprah did a poll of her audience and found that like 78% of her audience that day said they were "very motivated" to loose weight. Bob said yeah right - there is no way...there is a difference between saying you are motivated and doing something about it. It's so true.

Many moms that I meet tell me they want to loose weight, be healthier, be a good role model. It's easy to say. But, you have to go into the process knowing that there are going to be barriers and keep your vision clear. One of Bob's points that resonates the most with me is: "Convince yourself that you are deserving". MOMS! HELLO! There is no way you can be a happy, healthy mom and role model if you don't think you deserve it. You think your kids deserve gymnastics and soccer...right? You deserve a healthy body that will ensure you will be around to see them compete in the Olympics thanks to the lessons you gave them when they were young.

Another big one: "Identify the biggest barriers holding you back". Bob says there are differences between barriers and excuses. Barriers are big issues: toxic relationships, unfulfilling jobs, money issues. These things weigh heavily on us an affect our mental state and there is no way to focus on health until these problems are resolved. However, us moms have small barriers everyday that don't seem like excuses at the time...but maybe they really are??
"I was awake all night with my infant and couldn't get up to workout" ...then...
"My toddler only wanted chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, so I had to eat them too" ...turns into...
"I'm running from preschool drop off to doctor appointment to field trips, I don't have time for myself"

Best line, "What parent would [tell her child], 'Don't take care of yourself?' That's the message your kids are learning," This is a serious epidemic in our society and our country, please know you are worth it - and with a supportive group full of like minded moms YOU can do it!

Bob Greene's 5 Ways to Keep Weight Off

Mother Love Fitness Challenge

2011-01-14T12:10:00.001-08:00

The Mother Love Fitness Challenge is a 3 month challenge which begins January 31st and goes until the end of April. It is an opportunity for all mom's to challenge themselves in strength, flexibility/balance, and cardio; while working together as a TEAM to be the best in the Nation. Our Local Baby Boot Camp mom's will also be receiving weekly nutrition tips to stick to and earn extra points while becoming healthier and living a cleaner lifestyle. All throughout the challenge there will be opportunities to win local and national prizes while losing inches and gaining strength and friendships. Please contact me at courtney.williams@babybootcamp.com to join the challenge!

Awesome Trainers at Bell Tower

2011-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pass along some positive comments that I have received from clients that attend classes at Bell Tower. It is always nice to hear people speak positively about my business and I know I couldn't be successful without the people on my TEAM!

Just had a wonderful workout with your "new" rock star trainer- Barb!!! She's doing AWESOME! She had us moving the entire class and has such a great, upbeat, positive approach & really makes everyone feel great.

Can you clone Suzanne? I forgot how amazing she is-now I see why she is the Instructor of the Year. You have a great team-good job!

I can't say this enough, I am very happy to have such wonderful and enthusiastic women working for me-they all care about each and everyone's success and I wouldn't be were I am today without them. We are all looking forward to working with each and everyone of you to reach your goals for the Mother Love Fitness Challenge and hope you will join us!

Clean Eating

2010-12-29T14:56:00.000-08:00

Many of you who know me, know that my diet is something I struggle with. I don't want to say that I don't eat healthy, but when it comes to sweets...I don't eat healthy. Right before I found out I was pregnant I was gifted a new magazine from a dear friend, called Clean Eating. It was great, until the morning sickness set in; and wanted nothing more than the most comforting home foods-filled with cheese and butter (and lots of love).

Now that I'm 6 months in and the Holidays are almost over; I am going to go back to my Clean Eating ways (or at least for dinner-since I do still have some chocolates in my house). So I found this great recipe in the Nov/Dec issue that I wanted to share:

Unbelievably Delicious Low-Fat Enchilada

-5 whole wheat tortillas
-1 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese
-Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Chicken Mixture
-3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I got a Rotisserie chicken)
-4 oz green chiles
-1 tsp each of hot sauce, garlic powder, ground cumin, and chile powder
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1/4 tsp sea salt

Sauce
-15 oz tomato sauce
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1 1/2 tsp chile powder
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all chicken mixture ingredients in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat and cook until heated through. Combine all sauce ingredients in another pan, set over medium heat and cook until warm. Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of a small casserole dish. Divide chicken evenly among tortillas, roll tortillas up, and place seam side down in dish. Top enchiladas with sauce and sprinkle the cheese over top. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

I made some homemade guacomole (avocado, tomato, red onion, garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro) and served it on top of some lettuce with a little bit of sour cream.

This was an excellent dinner!

Kari

2010-12-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

In January, 2010, Kari had her first baby. Brody is now two, and an extremely active little boy! While pregnant with him, Kari was looking for things she would be able to do while being a stay at home mom. She remembered a stroller fitness class she once took with a friend of hers a few years back, and how much fun it had been (even without a baby!). As her pregnancy progressed, Kari maintained a regular fitness schedule with her husband doing crossfit at their home gym. But, once Brody was born, everything changed. For the first 2 months, she was recovering from a tough labor and delivery and had a hard time finding the energy to workout. One day, Kari came across an ad for Baby Boot Camp and got very excited at the possibility of being an instructor. The immediate desire to not only take part in the classes, but to be on the instructor end stemmed from many years of teaching fitness and dance throughout her college years and beyond. It had been a few years since she had taught, but now that Brody was around Baby Boot Camp seemed like the perfect place to get started again and to meet other moms like her! Kari got her personal trainer certificate from AFAA and began teaching classes at Miromar, Belltower and Mercato in Nov. 2010. She and Brody absolutely love it. Brody has met lots of little friends along the way, and Kari has made some lasting friendships as a result of being a part of the Baby Boot Camp community!

Kari and her husband have been together for almost 4 years, married since June of 2009, and 6 months ago welcomed their new little boy, Ryder. Kari has a BFA in theater and dance and an MS in child psychology. She enjoys singing professionally (when possible, which is not very often these days!), dance, camping, hiking, biking, snowboarding, reading, and especially being with family and friends.

Another singer to join the group will provide a lot of fun for the children. We are happy to have Kari join us as she brings years of dance experience with her-for some fun and challenging exercises.

Muffins and Such

2010-12-22T10:02:00.000-08:00

My boys love to eat bread and muffins, so I am always looking for something new and tasty to try. Unfortunately it seems that most of the recipies I find for muffins are filled with sugars and are not all that healthy, which is something we are working on in this house. So I was excited to receive an email from Jen (one of our Trainers) who said that she had two great recipies that she made that turned out really good. I am sharing them with you in hopes that you will love them too. I am hoping to make mine after the holidays, when we go back to healthier eating. If you have some healthy recipies you'd like to share, please send them my way. We would all love to try them out.

Easy Wheaty Sweet Potato Biscuits

Easy Blueberry Muffins

Barb

2010-12-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

2007 was truly an unforgettable year for Barb. She became engaged, married, had her first daughter, Samantha (Dec., 2007) and started attending Baby Boot Camp. She continued to enjoy an active role in Baby Boot Camp classes through the birth of her second daughter Savannah (June, 2009).
Since graduating from Bryant College (RI) with a BS in Marketing, Barb had pursued a career in special events and sales and has continued to take an active role in fitness. In 2000 she received her Step Certification with AFAA and enjoyed teaching step aerobics classes in CT (her home state), prior to moving to FL in 2006.
Barb has always wanted to get back into fitness training and thought Baby Boot Camp would be the perfect fit. “Baby Boot Camp has become my home away from home. Not only have I gained an amazing group of mommy friends but my daughters have also developed very strong bonds with other children in the classes.” So, Barb obtained her AFAA Personal Fitness Trainer Certification in September, 2010 and is thrilled to be a part of the Baby Boot Camp Team. “I hope to instill a love of fitness and exercise not only to my daughters but to every new and existing client”. Barb’s outgoing and contagious personality is sure to have a positive impact and watch out; you may catch her singing a tune during a class routine. After all, once upon a time, she was known to receive free Madonna concert tickets, just for singing a song!

We are very excited to have Barb on our Team! She is extremely enthusiastic and always has a smile on her face :) I know she will provide a fun and entertaining class for all!

Holiday Challenge

2010-11-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

Our 6 week challenge will begin on Sunday November 21st and go through until January 2nd. This is a time when we normally naturally gain weight, so we will be working on staying active, eating healthy, and doing fun things with our children to keep the weight off while hopefully losing a couple of inches. This week you will need to be measured at one of your classes so that we can have a starting point and for the next 6 weeks you will need to check our Facebook page on a daily basis for ways to earn points. The person with the most points at the end of the challenge will be our winner; but you can also win if you have lost the most % of inches. One way to earn points is to attend classes-you will receive 5 points for each class you attend and then earn additional points for the activities each day. Once I have closed a post, you can no longer earn points for that day-but I can't guarantee when it will be closed so make sure to post your points early. If you have any questions, please speak with your Trainer or contact me through email. Good luck to everyone! We will have 2 lucky winners and EVERYONE is able to participate.

Restore the Core

2010-11-09T13:42:00.000-08:00

I am in my second week of teaching Restore the Core and I absolutely love it! It is nice to teach something different then my Strollfit class that I have pretty much taught for the last 4 years-6 days a week. Restore the Core is an opportunity for my clients to relax without their children, while lying on the mat and working their core for a full 45 minutes. They sweat, grunt, and shake just like they do during our Strollfit classes but they are never leaving their mats. Talk about a great workout! This class is great for all levels and works for pre and postnatal moms, or any woman who wants to tighten her mid-section. I currently offer classes at Bija Yoga in Naples but will be expanding into Ft Myers and offering more classes in Naples beginning in January. You must come and try a class to see what it is like, please let me know if you are interested in attending.

"BOO"ty Challenge Winner & my chosen MOM of the Month!

2010-11-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Max joined our group in late July and she has been non-stop ever since. She was the winner of our October Challenge where we worked our glutes to the max. She took it upon herself to do 250 jump squats one day, because she feared that she had missed a week of classes and didn't want it to put her behind. This woman is non-stop. She had 452 points at the end of the challenge, while the closest person still was about 50 points behind. Lauren comes to class 4-5 days a week every week and always makes sure to put everything she's got into each and every class. If I say do 10 push ups, I see her sneaking in 5 more; I never hear her complaining about the exercises and she always has a smile on her face. I haven't done a Mom of the Month in awhile, but wanted to share one this month because I truly feel she is worthy of this title. Please take a moment to congratulate her when you see her because she has been putting her heart and soul into class and she deserves to be recognized.

2010 Instructor of the Year

2010-10-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that one of our local instructors won the Nation's Instructor of the Year-this year. For those of you who have taken her classes, you understand what she is willing to do to provide a safe, fun and effective workout, while making sure to challenge everyone to their highest potential. If you haven't come out to take one of her classes, now is the time to do so.
Click on Suzanne under Our TEAM (right side, below) to learn more about her.

Marketing Mom

2010-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Allison has been a Baby Boot Camp member since August 2009. With the help and support of great instructors she has lost over 18 inches and gained strength and confidence over the past year. It has been a great fit for her lifestyle of being a stay at home mom to her two girls Samantha (4), and Abigail (2). Allison has lived in Florida for the past 4 years, she is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She is a proud graduate from The Ohio State University- Go Buckeyes! She is looking forward to joining the Baby Boot Camp family and we are excited to have her on our Marketing Team to help spread the word about Baby Boot Camp.

Tricia

2010-09-09T14:25:00.001-07:00

Patricia received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Orlando Florida’s University of Central Florida in 1998. She worked in a Rehabilitation Center in her hometown of Daytona Beach for three years before venturing to Salem State University in Massachusetts to further her education.

After returning to her home state of Florida a true role model for living fit, her passion of personal fitness and nutrition took hold. She has become a top trainer certified by the National Federation of Personal Training, NFPT, and from International Sports Conditioning Association, ISCA. She is also a member of IDEA, Health and Fitness Association.

She has extensive background in body-core training and functional agility exercise with an emphasis in cardiovascular conditioning. She also has experience in circuit routines and group exercise. Her goal is to help work with clients to achieve their fitness goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

She has joined the Baby Boot Camp Team as she is expecting her own little one and will be helping to cover classes throughout the Naples and Estero area. I am excited to have her on our Team as she has a wealth of information and experience in the fitness industry and will provide a great core workout for all.

Macaroni Kids

2010-07-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for fun activities to do as a family in our local area then you need to head to http://naples.macaronikid.com/ for great ideas of things to do on a weekly basis. They have ideas for all ages and send out a weekly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest events.

Turkey and Black Bean Burgers

2010-06-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

We are a burger family! Every Sunday we grill burgers by the pool, so my husband wasn't enthused when I started making these burgers-and I have to say that although this healthier version sounded good the week before, by the time Sunday came I wasn't looking forward to it. We were all happily surprised by this one and have decided to make it a keeper in our household.

Turkey and Black Bean Burgers with Corny Salsa
(From the Deen Brothers-take it easy Cookbook)

1 1/4 pds ground turkey
One 15oz can black beans, rinsed, drained, and lightly mashed
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
2 tsp The Ladys House Seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin

1 cup prepared salsa
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 avocado

1. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, beans, tortilla chips, house seasoning, chili powder, and cumin. Use your hands to form the mixture into patties.

2. (Here is where I made it a little healthier-they have you pan fry them) I just stuck them on the grill and cooked them until they were cooked through.

3. In a small bowl, mix together the salsa, corn, and avocado. Place the burger on buns along with the salsa mixture and add a little bit of sour cream.

Enjoy!

Surviving the Summer Heat

2010-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

There is no denying that summer is HOT down here, but this doesn't mean you should lock yourself in your house and no longer workout. There are safe ways to continue to workout in the heat and enjoy yourself while doing so. Two things you need to do to have a safe and effective workout.
Hydrate and Acclimatize
When you wake in the morning you should drink an 8-16oz cup of water to hydrate (about 2 hours before exercising). You should be fully hydrated before beginning your workout. Also bring two bottles of water with you to class to drink throughout the workout and have enough for after class. Since our classes are only 55 minutes you do not need to have drinks which replace electrolytes, but if you choose to do so I recommend Smart Water over the more caloric drinks.
If you have been working out at least 2-3 days a week with us for the past few weeks your body has already acclimated to the heat. It usually takes 2 weeks for the body (heart rate, plasma volume, and electolyte concentration) to acclimatize; so start slowly and listen to your body-if you don't feel well, don't push it. With enough hydration and time your body will begin to acclimate to the hotter weather and you will soon begin to enjoy exercising in this type of weather.

Hope to see everyone join us this summer!

(Information obtained from IDEA Magazine. "Exercising in the Heat" by Jason Karp, PHD.)

Somersault Snacks

2010-06-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

Participants of the Mother Love Challenge recently received a goodie bag filled with goodies from different sponsors. One of our sponsors was Somersault Snacks which are a yummy alternative to chips and are peanut-free. Read my product review of them at www.allergysense.com/blog/2010/06/09/product-review-somersault-nut-free-snacks/ Let me know what you think of the snack?

Summer Runs

2010-06-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

June 26th-Sugden Stride 5K
7:30AM Sugden Park
July 3rd-4 Miler on the 3rd of July
7:30AM at Veterans Memorial Park in Lehigh
July 4th-Moe's Firecracker Run
7:00AM at Old Pippins Resteraunt
July 31st-Eagle Lakes Extreme 5K
7:30AM Eagle Lakes Park
August 28th-North Collier Regional Rampage 5K
7:30AM at North Collier Regional Park
Sept 5th-John Clay 5k
7:30AM at Lowdermilk Park

Water-Why Is It Important...How Much is Enough?

2010-06-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

This information came from our Baby Boot Camp Fit Focus and was written by Jackie Vega, owner of Baby Boot Camp Orlando

Water helps to maintain body temperature, to eliminate waste, and to give our skin a younger, more supple appearance. So just how much is enough? The old adage of eight 8 oz glasses of water a day is a good rule of thumb, but when you include pregnancy or lactation, the rigors of parenthood, and recovery after childbirth, those eight glasses may not be enough to ward off dehydration and keep the body running as efficiently as it could.
During pregnancy-water may ease morning sickness, dehydration can trigger uterine contractions which could lead to preterm labor, and feeling fatigued during pregnancy is normal, but at times it could be a lack of proper hydration.

How do you know if you are heading into a state of dehydration?
Feelings of thirst
Decreased urine output
Yellow urine (instead of clear)
Dry mouth
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Heart palpitations
Lightheadedness
**more severe dehydration leads to confusion and weakness

Be alert and listen to your internal signals and upon any sign of the above, stop what you are doing and begin to replenish your fluids. Remember to hydrate before, during, and after your workout to stay healthy.

MoLo Award Ceremony

2010-06-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

Our 3 month Mother Love Fitness Challenge ended with a bang at Stonewood Grill. We had 29 mom's participate and lost a recorded total of 66 pounds and 85.75 inches. Thank you to all the businesses which provided prizes for our moms:
Stonewood Grill
Cozy Beans
Arbonne
Naples Zoo
Bell Tower Shops
My Dinner Factory
Comedey Cafe
Miromar Outlets
Isabellaboo.com
Lululemon
YMCA
Health and Harmony
Bala Vinyasa Yoga
and thank you to Somersault Snacks, Lux Boutique, Planet Smoothie, Polo at Miromar Outlets, and Stonewood Grill again for the coupons in our goodie bags.

Michelle S won overall in strenth with 110 squat jumps, 60 push ups on her toes, and held plank for 5:15.

Jen took away the award for most inches lost during the challenge. She lost a total of 11.25 inches and 16 pounds.

Diane received the award for attendance with committing herself to 57 classes over the 3 months-an average over 4 times a week.

Samantha, Anne, and Marlene each received an award for catching their Trainers eye. They all came to class consistently, never complained about the exercises, pushed themselves to the max, and showed improvements in all areas.

Our overall winners were Allison and Jessica! They lost a ton of inches, attended class as often as they could, had major improvements in strength, stretched every day, and kept moving through cardio month.

Why Resistance bands?

2010-05-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Sparkpeople.com had a great article on-line regarding why we should use resistance bands. Thought this was great information especially since we use them all the time in our classes.

Everyone from beginners to conditioned athletes can benefit by adding resistance tubes/bands to their strength-training programs. Resistance bands can add challenge and variety to any workout program, and they come in a convenient (and affordable) little package.

The training possibilities of resistance bands are endless. They allow you to move more freely and achieve a greater range of motion (as opposed to a machine which controls where you start and stop). This allows you to create resistance from all directions--the side, overhead, below, etc. You can also adjust your angle of movement (by moving the fixed point higher or lower), and combine several exercises seamlessly. Bands also allow you to mimic movements that you do in real life. If you want to improve your golf or tennis swing, you can perform that exact motion against resistance--no machine can do that.

Bands can also be used alone (standing on a tube and doing a bicep curl, for example), or in combination with other elements that add even more challenge to your workout: stability balls, steps, BOSU balls, and wall mounts.

Resistance bands also differ in their degree of difficulty (signaled by various colors). The most stretchable bands have lighter resistance than the harder-to-stretch ones that offer heavier resistance. This, along with body position, allows you to customize the level of resistance to fit your strength level. You control the tension by shortening or lengthening the band. For example, when standing on a band to perform a bicep curl, add resistance by stepping closer to the handle, or make it lighter by stepping away from it.

When lifting weights, gravity plays a big part. You get more resistance during one part of the movement (lifting against gravity), but then gravity makes lowering the weight easier. When using bands, however, the resistance is constant, so you have to work harder.

Exercise Extra: For such a versatile, long-lasting piece of equipment, resistance bands are a bargain! Most come with an illustrated guide of exercises, and they average $10-25 each.

Thinking nutrition

2010-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

I recently became a certified L.E.A.N. Coach for "the" Dr. Sears www.drsearslean.com and since coming back from the weekend of training I have decided to make a family transformation so that we all eat healthier as a family. Prior to attending this training I had already started to make small changes, but have now really started thinking about everything we put in our mouth and have decided for myself and my family to begin purchasing more organic foods. So I was excited to receive an email regarding how to shop for organic products and wanted to share this information with you. Head to strollertraffic.com to learn more.

Jennifer-Our Newest Trainer

2010-05-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

Jen moved to Florida in 2004 from Michigan with her husband, Chris. They had their daughter, Ally, in March of 2009. In college she played and coached volleyball while studying Health Sciences and Nutrition. She loves exercising and the way it can change your mental and physical outlook on life. She first attended Baby Boot Camp when she was pregnant with Ally and knew it was going to be a great fit. Before getting pregnant she was a personal trainer and worked with clients in their homes. Additionally, her work experience includes managing a local natural foods store as well as employment with Whole Foods Market. When she's not working out she loves to be out on the boat with her family or cruising around town on their bikes.

I am excited to have Jen helping teach our Naples classes with all of her knowledge in regards to Exercise and Nutrition. She has a very bubbly personality and is a great motivator!

5k Training Program

2010-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

We are now offering a 5k training program which will help you to walk/run a 5k injury free. This is an 8 week program which meets once a week and incorporates intervals of power walking and jogging, a method that is proven to prevent injury. We begin with walking intervals and will move slowly into a walk:jog interval to ensure that all fitness levels can partake in this program. I have already begun a program in Naples and am looking forward to posting information in regards to how each of these women do and how their times increase. We will be running the 5K on May 29th. If you are interested in learning more information on our upcoming training programs, please contact me at courtney.williams@babybootcamp.com

A Local Mom takes the Nation by storm!

2010-04-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Michelle S for leading the Nation of Baby Boot Camp mom's in her strength. She had the highest number of push ups (which she did on her toes) and also held plank the longest.

Michelle had an average of 50 push ups and was able to do 60 at one time and also held plank for over 4 minutes!

Here she is at the Baby Boot Camp book signing showing Kristen Horler her strength.

You ROCK, Michelle!

Our Storytime at Miromar

2010-03-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

The other day in honor of Dr Seuss' birthday, I decided to read a Dr Seuss book and do a fun craft for the little ones. We headed over to Starbucks and the mom's got their coffee's to enjoy before we settled in. I read Fox in Socks which is a very difficult story to read because of the tongue twisters, but a story which my boys love and giggle through. I realize that not so much the story itself, but rather enjoying watching their mom struggle her way through it.

After the story the children made their own little Cat Hat's to enjoy. The concept was really cute and I have to say that when I practiced this the night before they turned out much cuter.

I believe that the crafts tend to be more for the mom's at this point; because it was something we all had to do while the children watched us. Although I think they enjoyed it-what child wouldn't be mesmerized by icing squirting out of a can onto a Nilla wafer and then placing a shiny red life-saver onto the cloud of icing over and over again.

If nothing more, I know they enjoyed the final result...eating their mom's crafty creation.

March runs

2010-02-25T13:35:00.001-08:00

Lots of runs in March:
We will be taking part in the Komen Race for the Cure. You can join our Team by going to Race For The Cure. This run/walk is on the 13th of March 8AM at Coconut Pointe

Some other runs you might enjoy!

6th-Hope, Love, Faith MS 5k at Naples Philharmonic Register Now!

Dr Piper Legacy 5k off of Evans Ave (Ft Myers) Register Now!

7th-Hooters to Hooters Half Marathon at Hooters in Ft Myers Register Now!

20th-Strive Run for Greatness 5K Lakes Park Register Now!

27th-Beach Bum 5k on the beach at Lowdermilk Park Register Now!

**Also feel free to join Lululemon every Monday from 6-7PM for an evening run. They will run anywhere from a 4-8K
Lululemon on Facebook

Dr Seuss Celebration

2010-02-24T10:28:00.000-08:00

This Saturday head to Bell Tower Shops for their fun Dr Seuss celebration from 2-8. Their will be crafts, games, cupcake decorating, music, Seuss readings and the Grinch will be walking around. At 6PM Horton Hears a Who will be playing while the children nibble on Smores and popcorn. Make sure to stop by the Baby Boot Camp table to make a Dr Seuss mask and Dr Seuss edible hat.

Great Venetian Duck Race

2010-02-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

Head down to the Village on Venetian Bay this Saturday from 9-3 for a great time with the family while benefiting C'MON (Children's Museum of Naples). They will have a best dressed duckling contest at 10 and Curious George will be making an appearance around 10:30. There will also be music and entertainment for the family to enjoy. At 1PM the Duck Race begins-10,000 rubber ducks will be released into the Venetian Bay and the cheering will begin. Make sure to check out to see a list of all the fabulous prizes you could win. Purchase a duck for $10 to be entered to win.

January Mom's Night Out with a Twist

2010-02-02T17:39:00.001-08:00

This month our Mom's Night Out had a twist....a belly dancing twist!! We wanted to send Shawn and Jeannie off with a great time and a great workout. We had so much fun dancing and topped the evening off with drinks at Cantina Laredo. Good luck to Shawn and Jeannie......we will miss you!

Going Organic

2010-01-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

I recently made the switch to organic fruits and vegetables for the mere reason of (I admit) convenience. I found this great company who delivers a box of 100% organic produce to my door each week. 100% organic meaning they are completely free of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or spray insecticides and are USDA certified. By going organic these farmers are reducing erosion, decreasing pesticides in the ground & possibly drinking water, and are using 50% less energy.

I'm not here to preach about going organic because of the risks of pesticides to you and your family-I will leave that up to you to research (3 articles of interest below) but I do recommend taking an active role in your health while supporting those in your local community.

For me I decided to purchase my produce from SWFL Organics because they deliver a box of fruits and vegetables to my door each Tuesday (now if I could only get them to pick up the rest of my groceries) and since doing this my family and I have begun eating the 4-6 recommended daily intake of fruits and veggies and we have tried many new things like kale, collards, escarole, and acorn squash and now know what a fresh green bean should taste like.

If you decide you would like to switch to organic or would like to support your local community go to www.localharvest.org for a listing of local farms and farmers markets or let www.swflorganics.com know that you read about them from my blog.

*This is not an advertisement and I wasn't paid to write this. It's just a great company that is offering an invaluable service that I feel like supporting*

Feel free to comment on local businesses or events which provide the same type of service and also check out these other sites
www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-foodNU002255
www.redbookmag.com/recipes-home/truth-about-organic-foods
www.foodnews.org

February races

2010-01-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

6th-Osprey 5k at Lakes Park at 8AM go to www.3dracinglink.com for more information

13th-Piper Buckley 5k in Gateway at 9AM for runners and 9:30 for walkers and strollers. Go to www.fortmyersfitness.com for more information

Cupids Chase 5K at FGCU 7:30AM go to www.3dracinglink.com for more information

20th-Edison Festival of Light 5K in downtown Ft Myers at 5:45PM go to www.ftmyerstrackclub.com for more information-we will be enjoying the parade along with picnic again this year.

January Birthdays

2010-01-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Georgina and Sophia!

Welcome To Our Family!

2010-01-07T09:40:00.001-08:00

I am happy to announce that Elena had a baby boy on January 5th. His name is Ian and he was born 7lb 4oz and was 20in long. Welcome Ian!

Races/Walks in January

2010-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

9th-(7:30-12)Move for the Health of It in downtown Centennial Park. Choose the route you want to walk from 3/4 mile to 2 miles and enjoy yoga, pilates, and martial arts demonstrations after.

16th-(10AM)Naples Daily News Family fun Run off of Immokalee Rd

17th-(7AM)Naples Daily News Half Marathon off of 5th Ave

23rd-Hunger Walk at Miromar Outlets
Calusa Bug Chase 5K at 7:30 at Calusa Nature Center

30th-Run for the Paws 5K at 8AM-Naples Municipal Airport
Race the Roof at 7:30AM in the Verandah Community

Join the Challenge!

2010-01-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

Registration is now open to join the Mother Love Fitness Challenge and will be open until Jan 16th. The cost is $26 and will include a MoLo fitness pack (t-shirt, folder w/ tracking sheet, and assesments), pre & post measurements, weekly assessments, and the opportunity to win local and national prizes.

Each month we will concentrate on a specific area of fitness. February will be strength, March is stretching, and April is cardio endurance. At the end of the challenge we will help our community with a beach clean up while having our own little challenge on the beach, we will run a 5K as a team, and will have a night out that will not be forgotten to celebrate at the end.

The next three months will be filled with prizes, surprises, and fun. Make sure you join today!

Class at Lululemon

2009-12-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

Join us on January 2nd for a special class at Lululemon-Village on Venetian Bay. Erin will be instructing an energetic Baby Boot Camp class designed for all mom's at all levels. Bring your children or leave them at home, it won't matter today-just make sure you are ready to get an awesome work out in for your first workout of the New Year!

November and December Birthdays

2009-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Riley, Samantha, Coen, Cooper, Maddox, Stella, Rebecca, Andrew, Alex and Mason!

Fun in December

2009-11-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

Join us every Monday at Barnes and Noble after class for coffee, storytime, and fun for the kids.
Join us every Friday at Miromar Outlets for storytime and coffee.

1st-Bell Tower Christmas Tree Lighting event

2nd-Make a handprint reindeer at Miromar Outlets from 10-12

4th-Chocolate & Spirits at Bell Tower shops

7th-Mercato classes will begin

9th-Make ornaments at Miromar Outlets from 10-12

12th-Stroll-ga and Shop at Bell Tower. Join us from 9-10 for a fun Saturday STROLLGA class and then we will head out for shopping and pictures with Santa.
Everyone who attends will receive a goodie bag filled with coupons and goodies to make your shopping experience a lot more fun-and money saving.

14th-Yoga Night at Lululemon. We will de-stress before the holidays with a Yoga class at Lululemon at 7PM then have the opportunity for after hour shopping. We will then head out to a restaurant for drinks and appetizers. Should be an evening of fun!

16th-Join us at Miromar Outlets for sticker crafts

19th-Mercato will have a holiday stroll from 5-8 down mainstreet. There will be holiday entertainment, carolers, face painting, and Santa will be there.

23rd-Join us at Miromar Outlets to make a Handprint Santa from 10-12

24-26th-NO CLASSES at any of our locations

30th-Make a Peppermint Keepsake at Miromar Outlets from 10-12

Healthy Holidays-6 week challenge

2009-11-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

We have reached the time of year when life becomes hectic...family members come into town, children are out of school, shopping has to be done, and numerous meals & parties are being planned. Every where you look you see goodies galore and with each day we find one more reason to postpone our fitness & health goals.

For the next 6 weeks I am challenging YOU to take time for yourself so that you can start the New Year with Resolutions already underway.

Challenge will begin on Sunday Nov 22nd and will go to January 3rd and will require you to practice healthy habits each day for points. Healthy habits will be announced each morning on FACEBOOK (which can be viewed from the blog-see below on right side) & mentioned again in class. Email me or post your points to FACEBOOK by the next day to receive credit.

Earn an automatic 10 points each day that you attend a Baby Boot Camp class.

The person who earns the most points will receive a goodie bag filled with Baby Boot Camp and partnership products.

Good luck and have FUN!

November Playdates

2009-11-11T10:18:00.001-08:00

Join us:

12th-Coffee after class at Villagio at Village on Venetian Bay

13th-Fresh Market at North Collier Regional Park from 3-7

16th-Bell Tower will head to Barnes and Noble for a playdate/storytime along with some coffee from Starbucks

23rd-Lights on 3rd downtown Naples from 6-9

25th-Make a paper plate Turkey after class at Miromar Outlets and stay for a Thanksgiving story.

News Press comes to Bell Tower

2009-11-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Click here for a great write up about us in the News Press.

September and October Birthdays

2009-10-28T17:53:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Aiden, Logan, Brennan, Mia, Claire, Lucas, Grady, Parker and Mikey!!

Erin Rydzinski

2009-10-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

Erin started off as a Baby Boot Camp student 8 weeks after her son, Graham (February 24th, 2009) was born. She enjoyed the workouts, time with her kids (Graham has a big sister Quinnlyn, February 24th 2007), and the other mothers so much she decided to become a Baby Boot Camp instructor. She received her Personal Trainer Certification from AFAA in August of 2009 and hopes to continue with a certification in Yoga Instruction. She has been a Makeup Artist at Saks Fifth Avenue, and is currently a Key Leader at Lululemon and is going to school to become a Lactation Consultant. She is happy to have found something to do in her spare time that incorporates her kids, fitness, and hanging out with other mothers. When she's not working, Erin likes to spend time with her family, go for a run, or if everyone is quiet, read a book (that doesn't happen that often). She is really looking forward to teaching classes at Mercato.

Erin is always attending different fitness classes in the area which provides her with a broad spectrum of exercises to bring to her classes. She has a contagious positive attitude which will keep you moving and excited to work out each day.

Lululemons Grand Opening

2009-10-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who came out today for the Grand Opening of Lululemon. The store is cozy and filled with energy and has some of the best athletic wear out there. They have to be some of the most flattering clothes I have tried on and very comfortable and slimming. If you haven't seen their clothes, you need to make sure and make a special trip down to Village on Venetian Bay to try them on. Their website is great but the model does not do these clothes justice-they fit so much better when they are on YOU!

Welcome to our Family

2009-09-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Holly had her little boy Gavin on September 13 and Mason is happy to be a big brother. She is ready to get back to classes and can't wait to see everyone!

October is the month for Running

2009-09-20T04:53:00.001-07:00

There are a ton of runs coming up in October & I welcome you to attend any or all of them. There will be a couple of runs that we will support as Baby Boot Camp they are Pilot Club 5K (Naples), Bridge the Road to Hunger (Estero), and the Cops & Joggers Run (Ft Myers).

3rd Saturday-Pilot Club 5K This race starts at 7:30 at King's Lake
Click here to register.

10th Saturday-Big Brothers 5K Run at Estero Park-need to register through Estero Park & Lexington 5K to benefit Breast Cancer at Lexington Country Club starting at 7:30. Click here to register.

13th Tuesday-Bridge the Road to Hunger 5K in Estero starting at 7PM. Click here to register.

17th Saturday-Sanibel Island 10K starting at the Sanibel Community House at 7:30AM. Click here to register.

24th Saturday-Cops & Joggers 5K at Centennial Park starting at 7:30AM. I will be collecting registration forms for this run or you can sign up online Cops & Joggers & Run for Reading run at South Seas Resort. Run for Reading

25th Sunday-Halloween Crazy 8k or 2 mile walk at Vineyards starting at 7:30AM. Click here to register.

31st Saturday-Knights of Fright 5K at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Ft Myers starting at 7:30AM. Click here to register.

Run for the Ages 5K

2009-09-19T06:32:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Run for the Ages 5K at Lakes Park. We had a great run and are looking forward to the next race!

John Clay 5K

2009-09-11T16:55:00.001-07:00

Everyone had a great run at the John Clay 5K in Naples. We had 3 people who were in the top 3 in their age group. After the race we went to Skillets for breakfast to re-fuel and relax.

Village on Venetian Bay

2009-09-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked out one of our newest locations, shame on you. This location is absolutely beautiful and I am amazed at what I see at each class. Don't worry about your children becoming restless here... there are many different elements for them to enjoy, from the Banyan trees, to the jumping fountains, the boats in the water, kayakers, jellyfish, and the other day we even saw a dolphin. The breeze off the water has been absoulutely amazing and the Strollga class is very relaxing in this setting. Classes are every Tues & Thurs from 9-10 and Mon & Wed evening from 5:30-6:30.

Also very excited about lululemon coming to Village, they will be here Oct 1st. More information to come!

September Runs

2009-09-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

5th-NAPLES John Clay 5K starting at Lowdermilk Park

12th-NAPLES Bull Dog 5k at Indigo Lakes starts at 7:30; go to www.bulldogdash.com to sign up. $20

19th-FT MYERS Run for the Ages at Lakes Park 7:30AM; go to www.3drunners.org to sign up online.

27th-NAPLES On the Run 20K

I would love to get a team together to run the Lakes Park run (unfortunately I won't be able to attend this). Let me know if you are interested and if you would like to host a Pasta Dinner the night before.

August Mom's Night Out at BrickTops

2009-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

We had a great time this month at BrickTops! Stay tuned for details about this month's night out.....

August Birthdays

2009-08-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Ashlynn, Alivia, Sofia and Liam!

And the Winner IS....

2009-08-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

(Jill with my son-Mason)

JILL (MO) took the Overall Win-will receive $50 in Baby Boot Camp products or classes

2nd place-goes to Angelique (MO)-will receive $25 in Baby Boot Camp products or classes

3rd place-goes to Nicki (MO)-will receive $10 towards Baby Boot Camp products or classes

Miromar pulled the win out in the end!

and Erin R had the best overall average and will win a Baby Boot Camp visor.

Congratulations to everyone, you did an excellent job!

Week 7 Summer Challenge-Push ups

2009-08-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Jenn did the most push ups at once this week with 35.

Here are the current leaders

1-Jill(MO)-2919
2-Angelique(MO)-2429
3-Shawn(MO)-1916
4-Nicki (MO)-1848
5-Christina(LP)-1801
6-Jenn (LP)-1551
7-Lexi (MO)-1413
8-Erin (VB)-1386
9-Honey (LP)-1171
10-Elena (LP) & Jeannie (MO)-1059

Miromar is only 3 points behind Lakes Park!!!!!

July Mom's Night Out at Bistro 41

2009-08-02T18:14:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to Bistro 41! Another good time was had by all and we cannot wait until next month.....check back soon for details.

Summer Challenge Results-Week 6

2009-07-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Angelique won the step ups challenge with 142 total in one day

Challenge results-

1-Jill (MO)-2824
2-Angelique (MO)-2373
3-Shawn (MO)-1916
4-Nicki (MO)-1848
5-Christina (LP)-1801
6-Jenn (LP)-1451
7-Erin (VB)-1381
8-Lexi (LP)-1378
9-Honey (LP)-1171
10-Jeannie (MO)-1059

Lakes Park is still in the lead for bragging rights.

Challenge Results-5th week

2009-07-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

Nicki won the tricep dip challenge -100 dips!

Here are your top 10:

1-Jill (MO)-2394
2-Angelique (MO)-2106
3-Nicki (MO)-1848
4-Christina (LP)-1801
5-Shawn (MO)-1567
6-Jenn (LP)-1451
7-Erin (VB)-1381
8-Honey (LP)-1171
9-Jeannie (MO)-1059
10-Lexi (MO)1040

Lakes Park is still in the lead. This week is step ups, next week push ups, and the last week some type of ABS.

Get Ready for the upcoming 5K Season

2009-07-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

September starts the 5K Season and Baby Boot Camp-Lee & Collier County will have a running TEAM. The preparation for the 5K runs begin on Monday July 27th to prepare everyone for the John Clay 5K in Naples and all others thereafter in Lee & Collier County. I am asking for 1-2 Captains per location (Lakes Park, Miromar Outlets, Gateway, Bonita Y, and Venetian Bay (Gymboree is under VB).

I need 1 beginner captain & 1 intermediate/advanced captain for each location (if possible).

Captains will receive a weekly plan and are asked to be there to support the members on their TEAM-if it is possible you can meet after/before class to do the run or set up a scheduled time & location for people to meet to run. If neither of these are possible then you will email your team members the weekly plan and contact them (by email or in person) at least once a week to check in.

Captains will also make sure to get all copies of race applications and checks to Instructors by the assigned due date so that we can turn these in as a group. Suzanne and I will be getting the race bags and #'s for everyone and either bringing them with us or turning them over to a Captain for everyone to get the morning of the race.

We will have Baby Boot Camp team tank tops (you can purchase at cost) which I encourage everyone to wear and I will need at least one captain (amongst our whole team) to be there to support all TEAM members. If you would like to be a part of the Running TEAM I will need to know your tank top size and that you will be involved.

Lastly if you know anyone who would like to be involved in this program on behalf of Baby Boot Camp please let them know about it and have them contact me directly at courtney.williams@babybootcamp.com

I am looking forward to this 5K season and excited to see everyone meet and surpass their goals!

4th week results-Summer Challenge

2009-07-15T13:06:00.001-07:00

Shawn D (MO) and Jen H (MO)picture to come, have the most minutes holding plank with 2:39 seconds.

The results are now:

1-Jill (MO)-2330
2-Angelique (MO)-1884
3-Christina (LP)-1801
4-Nicki (MO)-1664
5-Shawn (MO)-1400
6-Jenn (LP)-1321
7-Erin (VB)-1307
8-Honey (LP)-1171
9-Lexi (MO)-980
10-Jeannie (MO)-942

Remember to keep working; you never know what will be next and how the numbers will change.

Lakes Park still has bragging rights! (Bonita you are close)

Playdate at Miromar

2009-07-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

Please join us on July 15th after class at Miromar Outlets for a playdate! Miromar Outlets will be having a coloring contest for children up to age 12 to win 4 tickets to Thomas the Train at Germain Arena. The older children can color while the toddlers play in the playground, and we grab some coffee and a snack at the new French Restaurant right next to the Play area. Hope to see you all there.

Week 3 Challenge-Upright rows

2009-07-10T12:36:00.001-07:00

Jill won this week with 120 upright rows!

Here is the standing from last week

1-Jill (MO)-2061
2- Angelique (MO)-1804
3-Christina (LP)-1801
4-Nicki (MO)-1664
5-Erin (VB)-1175
6-Honey (LP)-1171
7-Shawn (MO)-1099
8-Jenn (LP)-1051
9-Jeannie (MO)-890
10-Lexi (MO)-875

Lakes Park is still in the lead for bragging rights!

July Birthdays

2009-07-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Margot (not pictured), Mason, Adrianna, Chloe and Carter!

June Mom's Night Out

2009-07-06T14:38:00.001-07:00

We had a great time at EVOO. Make sure to save the date for July 30th!!

Lakes Park goes yearly

2009-07-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

We will continue to offer the 12 class card for $120 with a 60 day expiration for those that are not ready to commit for a year or just want to workout 1-2 days a week, but now we will also offer a 12 month commit package. Sign a year long contract and pay only $120 every other month ($60 a month) and come as often as you like.

Did you just recently (within the past month) purchase a card? We will make this retro-active for you. Please speak with Suzanne directly if you have other questions regarding this contract or email me.

Summer Challenge Results-Week 2

2009-07-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm a little late with the numbers but I needed to get Naples caught up-and its good I did because Erin decided she was going to sit for 18 minutes and 40 seconds; WOW! My legs hurt just from watching her.

Here are the overall results from Week 2-wall sit.

1- Christina (LP)-1801
2- Angelique (MO)-1747
3- Jill (MO)-1731
4- Nicki (MO)-1584
5- Honey (LP)-1171
6- Erin (VB)-1144
7- Shawn (MO)-994
8- Jeannie (MO)-815
9- Lexi (MO)-742
10- Jenn (LP)-721

LAKES PARK IS IN THE LEAD FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS!

Remember things can change very quickly so keep up the great work these numbers are impressive. Now if we can just have a nationwide challenge.

Summer Challenge Results-Week 1

2009-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

The results from last week are in and:

Jill (Miromar) did an awesome job of doing 110 bicep curls in a row in one day. WOW!!!

1st-Jill(MO)-332
2nd-Shawn (MO)-259
3rd-Shenna (MO)-226
4th-Lexi (MO)-174
5th-Laurie (LP)-160

Miromar won the first week with 30 (although Lakes Park you aren't even a full point behind). This week we are doing wall sits and the numbers have already changed a great deal; so make sure to check back often to see how you are doing.

June Birthdays

2009-06-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sean (not pictured), Riley, Gavin, Patricio and Nathan!

Bonita YMCA classes now running

2009-06-16T13:25:00.001-07:00

Today we had our Grand Opening of the Bonita YMCA and Suzanne put us through a great workout. Just want to let everyone know that this class is designed as a Level 1/Level 2 mix and we do "prefer" for you to have a jogging (or all-terrain) stroller to attend, since we use the shelled path in the back and grassy areas. Join them every Tuesday and Thursday from 9-10; and every Tuesday take time after class to relax in the toddler swim area.

Father's Day Fun-June 20th

2009-06-16T12:34:00.001-07:00

Join us this Saturday for a fun day at North Collier Regional Park. We will begin the day with a Baby Boot Camp class starting at 9:00 in front of the U-Can-Dig Playground. Father's are asked to attend this class also! We will then go to the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon to let our children play in the children's lagoon area. This will be our 2nd Annual event, and I'm looking forward to meeting your husbands!

May Mom's Night Out

2009-06-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Another great Mom's Night Out at The Keg in Naples! Save the date......June 25th is our next night out at EVOO in Naples.

Welcome To Our Family

2009-06-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that Barb had a baby girl on June 5th. Her name is Savannah and she was born 7 pds 4 oz and 20 inches long. Welcome Savannah!

May Birthdays

2009-06-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Casen, Charlie and Emy!

Grand Opening of Bonita YMCA

2009-06-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

We have changed the days and times around and now it is official. We will have our Grand Opening at the Bonita YMCA on Tuesday the 16th from 9:00-10:00. This class will be designed for Prenatal, Level 1, and Level 2 combined. Our opening we will have local shops prizes, Baby Boot Camp prizes, along with one month free going to one lucky winner. Goodie bags will be given to all who attend. If you are a member of the YMCA then you can receive 50% off your 6 or 12 class card, but this card will only be able to be used at the Bonita YMCA classes. All other pricing can be found directly at our local website. To sign up for our Grand Opening please go to to request your first class free.

April Birthdays

2009-05-11T18:23:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday! Nicholas, Weston (not shown), Sophia, and Oliver

Bonita YMCA Event and special pricing

2009-04-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

Join us April 18th from 10-1 at the Bonita YMCA for their Healthy Kids Fair and help us celebrate our new location coming the first week in May.

All new sign ups will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, and snack trap and the option to purchase one of 2 great packages.

Buy 16 classes for $120 (normally sells 12 classes at this price)
or
Pay $66 a month-you choose how many months you would like to commit too

**Already a member of the Bonita Y? You will receive your 16 class card for $60-1/2 the price of our Special Pricing.

Miromar Outlets & Naples pricing

2009-04-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

Come join us on April 27th-May 1st for special pricing celebrating our 2nd Anniversary along with exciting prizes being given out.

Our other locations save $66 when they join, you pay $66 a month when you join-you choose how many months you would like to attend and your pricing will stay at $66 even if prices go up. Monthly pricing usually is $100 a month so savings are anywhere from $68-$374.

Lakes Park event and special pricing

2009-04-14T18:01:00.000-07:00

Join us on April 18th from 10-2 for Lakes Park 25th Anniversary. Their will be food, games, music, and a scavenger hunt on the Bermuda Field and take in all the new improvements they have made.

All new sign ups will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, and snack trap when they join today along with 16 Baby Boot Camp classes all for $120 and receive the rest of April FREE. That's over $66 savings!

Unable to attend that day, come out April 27th-May 1st and receive the special pricing of 16 classes for $120 (normally sell 12 classes at this price).

Nutrition Program

2009-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Baby Boot Camp is now offering a Weight Loss and Nutrition Class which is specifically designed for Moms. This is an 8 week course (meeting bi-monthly) that will teach strategies to help you finally lose the extra weight. This program was designed by a Registered Dietitian (Carrie Zisman, MS, RD) exclusively for Baby Boot Camp. Classes will begin May 7th in Ft. Myers and end June 18th. Please contact me at courtney.williams@babybootcamp.com for more information. Space is limited.

Positive Influence

2009-04-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here at Baby Boot Camp it is not only about the mother's becoming healthy but also about passing on the positive traits to our children. Here is a couple of pictures of the positive influence to our children.

April Walks & 5K's

2009-03-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

April 11th- "Do the Right Thing" Gateway 5K. Join us at Gateway for the "Do the Right Thing" 5K starting at Westlinks Dr right across from DSI. There will be an all you can eat Pancake breakfast after the race at Gateway Elementary School. Register prior to April 6th and pay $20, race day $25. There will also be a 1 mile fun run for children 11 and younger. For more information or to sign up go to http://www.abooma.com/EventManager/GetEventDetail.do?eventId=4422

April 18th- Valor 5K Road Race & Trail Run
Join the Baby Boot Camp running team at Florida Gulf Coast University for this fun 5k run. The road race starts at 7 and the trail run starts at 8:00. Pre-register by April 17th and price is $18, race day $20. Run both races prices are $32 or $35. Go to http://www.abooma.com/EventManager/GetEventDetail.do?eventId=4425 for more information or to register.

April 25th- March of Dimes Walk-Lee County
Join us at 7:00pm down at Centennial Park to "March for Babies" It is a 3mile walk which can be walked with strollers, so make a nice evening of it and walk with your family and Team Baby Boot Camp. To register for the walk sign up at http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page_edit.asp?si=3AFA328F-2016-491F-80F5-BA2110E5A0DB&prefill=&SeID=662027

March birthdays

2009-03-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sam (on the right)

Happy Birthday Callie (picture to come)

Wishing Joey a happy birthday

Mother Love Fitness Challenge-First Month

2009-03-10T12:21:00.001-07:00

With 5 people in the challenge at Lakes Park they logged a total of 358 miles with an average of 71 miles per person.

Miromar has 10 participants in the challenge and they logged 598 miles with an average of about 60 miles per person.

Congrats to everyone who worked hard this month and logged those miles. I feel we did a great job. We all logged 956 miles total which was an average of 64 miles per person this month.

Edison Festival of Light 5K

2009-03-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Crystal, Courtney, and Suzanne ran the 5K race prior to the parade.

Valentines Day

2009-02-15T18:26:00.001-08:00

Go Red for Women-Feb 6th

2009-02-07T16:52:00.001-08:00

Miromar goes Red

Lakes Park goes Red

Thank you to all who supported Go Red For Women and the winner of the "Eat This, Not That" was Shawn at Miromar.

Girls Night Out

2009-02-07T16:30:00.001-08:00