When my son, Vinny, was about two-months old, I started feeling a bit of the postpartum blues. It had been two months, and I had been breastfeeding the whole time, but I was still fat. People were telling me I looked great, but I had only lost about 2 pounds since the baby was 2 weeks old, and I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror.
On top of that, I was used to having a very social and active life, but my weeks of maternity leave were making me feel lonely. Even when I did spend time with my friends, it seemed like we had nothing in common anymore. Then, I found StrollerFit.
I had started thinking about joining a mommy-and-me class. On a random internet search for mommy-and-me classes, I found StrollerFit. Having experimented with a traditional mommy-and-me class at MyGym, I found that StrollerFit is so much more than a mommy-and-me class. It is an intense workout, a fun stroller ride and playtime for my baby, and a place for me to meet other moms. As a mom in my class in Woodland Hills commented, “I love StrollerFit because I don’t have to feel guilty that I am leaving my baby to go exercise.’
Seriously, the workout is one of the best exercise programs I have even seen. When I showed up for my first class (free, as a trial) I thought “Stroller exercise… I suppose we’ll walk with our babies. This should be fun.” It was SO much more than walking, but it was SO much fun! We skip, hop, jog, and occasionally power walk with the strollers, stopping every so often for strength and muscle toning exercises with the resistance band and exercise tube. The babies all love when we yell alphabet letters instead of counting reps, and when we sing songs like “Old McDonald,” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” Vinny’s favorite is “Hickory Dickory Dock.”
At the end, there is a great core workout. We bring the babies out of their strollers and let them join us. Younger babies like Vinny sit on the mat with Mommy, while older babies all play with each other. It’s fun to watch them play; I imagine how my son will be joining them soon.
Plus, the group is not too big, so the instructor gives each person a little bit of personal attention and motivation. The moms from the Woodland Hills StrollerFit class all agree that instructor Melissa Thomas is just the best! She’ll watch your form and help you out if you are doing something wrong, and she’ll yell encouraging words right when you think you are going to die. I must admit that sometimes I don’t want to “Embrace the burn!” but she always gets me through to the end!
So far, the only downside of StrollerFit is that it is a bit expensive for my budget. As a fellow StrollerFit mom described it, “It’s addictive!” However, my schedule isn’t one that allows me to go every day, so the monthly pass isn’t really worth the money for me. Paying per class is getting a bit pricey, but it has been worth it.
If you are sick of what you see in the mirror, or sick of the mirror being the only other mommy you get to see, then consider trying a StrollerFit class. The first class is free, so you can see if you like it before making a commitment. Different cities have different schedules, but most groups meet several days a week. My group in Woodland Hills meets six days a week! Melissa always encourages us to bring Dads along for free, too. For more information, check out the StrollerFit website, www.strollerfit.com. If you live near Woodland Hills, tell Melissa that I sent you!
