BOOT CAMP FOR MOMMIES

By: Stacia D. Kelly, PhD
Corry Matthews is dedicated to helping other women be more than just ‘Mom.’

THERE IS A NEW generation of moms out there. If you look around you’ll start seeing them everywhere. Gone are the days of being so focused on the kids and the spouse that they lose touch with themselves. Usher in an era of the fit, healthy, active and engaged mother. These moms carve out time to go for a walk or hit the gym. They’re carrying water bottles, fresh wholesome snacks, and can be found skirting the outer edges of the grocery store. Corry Matthews, fit mom and Max Muscle franchisee, is passionate about helping moms get in shape. She runs several businesses, trains clients, has the distinct honor of being the Prenatal/Postnatal Specialist for Gold’s Gym International and has crafted a unique program to help those moms get fit called “The Mommy Boot Camp.”

As mothers, we act as maid, chef, chief advising officer, accountant, hostess, teacher and more. Those are just the titles we have for running the house. Add in the day job and you now have the potential to have a completely overwhelmed mom who’s cruising through the drive-thru to get dinner because she can’t fathom having to race home and cook plus start the evening household rituals. Even the First Lady, Michelle Obama, admitted during a recent speech, “There were nights when everybody in my house was tired and hungry, and we just went to the nearest drive-thru.” Yes, even our active and fit First Lady can admit to feeling overwhelmed. Yet, she makes time to get her workouts in.

Many moms feel guilty doing something just for themselves, but in reality, their “me” time is one of the healthiest activities possible for the household. Studies show that fit mothers have more active and fitness-minded children. While exercise may be the last thing a mom wants to add to her daily to do list, it should be at the top of the list since it helps with weight loss, increases energy levels and helps to decrease your stress levels. Let’s face it: as moms, we can all use help in those areas.

The stigma seems to be passing away: now, once women have babies they don’t have to be “just” mom. They can have hot sexy bodies and feel pretty amazing. “From my experience with working with new moms for the past 10 years I have learned that baby weight can be some of the hardest, most stubborn weight to lose,” Matthews said. Thus the reason she’s worked so hard to craft the ultimate Mommy Boot Camp. “You can still find time to work out being a full-time mom and a career woman. It’s get in, get moving, get out and get back to the hectic pace of life.”

Moms in Matthews’ program range from parole officers, nurses, teachers, criminal investigators, lawyers and owners of small businesses. One mom said, “Just six weeks after having my first child I was ready to hit the gym and Mommy Boot Camp seemed perfect for me. The program helped me transition back into a regular exercise routine by teaching me the correct and safe way to work out postpartum. Certain exercises were modified for me so that I was able to do each work out safely and also effectively. It’s also encouraging to have other moms who are, or have been, in similar circumstances there to motivate you to reach your fitness goals.”

Another mom, Megan McCourt, said, “I joined the camp for two reasons. First, Caitlin is 14 months old, and it’s time to for me to get in shape. Second, and possibly more importantly, I moved up here a few years ago and have plenty of friends elsewhere, but I haven’t met many local women, so I thought it would be a great way to network with other moms close to home.”

Mommy Boot Camp participants range from the new mom of six months, to moms with several children and fit moms just looking to get their focus back. Matthews modifies the exercises as needed based on how recently a mother has given birth. She pairs up participants based on strength and ability, and modifies when she knows of injuries or limitations. Her knowledge and passion shine brightly as she darts about the gym keeping everyone on task and moving. The moms appreciate her dedication and knowledge and willingly throw themselves into the workout knowing they’re going to come out of the session stronger, more energetic, and better able to focus on all they need to get done.

We all know sometimes it just takes a mom to get things done. For more updates on workouts, nutrition and on being a fit mom, check out Matthews’ Web Site at www.strengthandgrace.com and her blog at http://acsstransitions.com/main/. MS&F

The Ultimate Mommy Boot Camp Workout
Walking Lunges 3 x 30 – superset* with 3 x 10 Regular Pushups
Diagonal Walking Lunges 3 x 30 – superset with 3 x 15 Tricep Pushups
Walking “Pump” Lunges 3 x 30 – superset with 3 x 20 Pop Squats
Plank with One Arm Rows 4 x 10 (pushup/balance variation for the back) – superset with 3 x 50 Crunches

*Superset means there is no rest between the first exercise and the second exercise.

THE LUNGE: For this exercise, you will be doing a walking lunge. Start with feet together and take a big step forward, bending both knees to right angles. Then step the back leg in and through without touching the floor so you are into the next lunge. Each rep coincides with one leg, so 3 x 30 is 3 sets of 30 lunges. Variations to the walking lunge really make you feel the burn and hit what most women call their “trouble spots,” regardless if they have had a baby or not.

The diagonal lunge takes a lateral or step to the right side to target the inner/outer thigh, just as you are bending into the lunge turn the back or left leg to line both toes facing forward. On coming up, turn to the left, stepping left (about a 45 degree angle) and then twist body in and continue.

The pumping lunge is the same as the regular walking lunge except you step into the lunge, pump up to almost straight legs, then down and step forward.

THE PUSHUP: For a regular pushup, make sure hands are wider than the shoulders and body is in a plank (hips are in a straight line with heels, shoulders and head). Slowly lower the body to the ground, elbows stay directly above the wrists, exhale and push the body back up to the plank. If using the knee option, place both the knees and the feet on the ground and keep the hips level with the rest of the body.

For the tricep pushup, use the plank motion but put your hands directly in line with the shoulders. Bend the elbows backward keeping them touching the sides of the body, exhale and push back up. Knee option is the same here.

For the pushup with one arm rows, start in the plank position used for either exercise above, lift one hand up without rotating the spine and then place back down. Lift the other hand and repeat for total reps.

THE POP SQUAT: Start in a standing position with legs together, then jump legs out into a squat (knees in line with toes, buttocks back, abs in) then jump back in, squeezing inner thighs together into a standing upright position. Repeat. This is a plyometric move that strengthens the ligaments and tendons.
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