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Local classes let moms stay active with their kids
Having a baby is no small feat. Pregnancy, labor, delivery and recovery are incredibly taxing, not to mention the steep learning curve that comes with being a new mom. Add to that the pressure to return to one’s pre-pregnancy shape quickly, and you’ve got a volatile cocktail many women think is impossible to swallow.
But the actual weight loss isn’t as hard as convincing women — and those around them — to take the time and focus needed for their physical and emotional well-being, said certified personal trainer Stacey Saritelli of Hilton Head Island.
“People say it’s hard to lose the baby weight and hard to get yourself motivated, but it’s more mentally hard than physically hard,” said Saritelli, a mother of two who teaches fitness classes at Breakthrough Fitness Center on Hilton Head. “The thing that happens with moms is they don’t make time for themselves. You kind of have to teach women that it’s OK to take time for yourself.”
New mom Jennifer Sikes bought into that mind-set from the get-go, and she’s reaping the rewards. Her first baby, a son named Orion, was born May 31, and Sikes already has lost most of the 32 pounds she gained while pregnant.
What helped her, the Port Royal resident said, is the fact that she exercised about five days a week during her pregnancy, and was back out walking and jogging by four weeks postpartum.
“I told (my husband) ... that I needed an hour a day to exercise. So he’s kind of known that that’s the way it’s going to be. He’ll take Orion for an hour every morning so I can have that time,” Sikes said.
However, not every new mom has the support of someone who will take her babies off her hands every day so they can pursue their fitness goals solo. Many area gyms have day care facilities but they don’t take babies under 6 months old.
So what’s a gym enthusiast-turned-new mom to do? Jill Neste was faced with this dilemma when she had her first child, Richard, now 3 1/2. She’d remained active throughout her pregnancy but without being able to take Richard to the gym, the task of losing the 45 pounds she’d gained was daunting.
“It’s really hard, because it’s the biggest you’ve ever been in your life, your eating habits have changed, and you’ve had nine months of putting (the weight) on,” Neste said.
Luckily, she heard about the local Once Upon a Workout fitness class for moms and babies, and it was a perfect fit for her. Once Upon a Workout is a stroller fitness class for moms of all ages and babies up to 4 years old. After a warm-up and play time with the little ones, the moms do about 30 minutes of cardio and strength training while pushing the kids in their strollers.
Now part-owner of Once Upon a Workout, Neste has since given birth to a daughter, Abigail, 1 1/2, and had little trouble dropping the baby weight the second time — a challenge many women say is harder than the first time. “When you’re a new mom, it’s really important to get out of the house and meet other new moms,” Neste said.
The group has an organized Moms Night Out every month and an organized playgroup every Thursday.
StrollerFit is a similar class, designed for moms who want to move with their babies in tow. Classes include exercises that target what StrollerFit’s Web site calls “mommy muscles: the muscles used and abused during labor, delivery and the postpartum, day to day care of your baby.”
If you want to get moving with your baby but don’t feel ready for a full-on workout, try Water Babies at Island Recreation Center. The class, for parents and babies ages 3 months to 2 years, is geared toward getting the little ones used to the water, learning water safety and playing in the water with your baby. The sheer act of putting on a swimsuit might motivate you to step up your fitness routine.
WHERE TO GO
Once Upon a Workout
When/where:
9-10 a.m. Mondays and Fridays at The Mall at Shelter Cove, Hilton Head Island;
9-10 a.m. Wednesdays at Island Recreation Center, Hilton Head Island
Cost:
$39 one-time registration fee; three-month
session costs $50 a month
For more information:
Jill Neste at 843-422-6149, www.onceuponaworkout.com.
StrollerFit
When/where:
Classes held Monday, Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday at Tanger Outlets Center II, Bluffton
Cost:
$40 one-time registration fee; Monthly Pass is $50; Single Class Pass is $12
For more information:
Ashley Williams at 843-384-0856 or visit www.strollerfit.com for the next class session details.
Water Babies
When/where:
Three-week sessions are held Saturdays at Island Recreation Center.
Cost:
$35 per session.
For more information:
Island Recreation Center at 843-681-7273 for next session dates.
