FitMama Bootcamp opening La Fox studio
Ladies, was one of your New Year’s resolutions “lose the baby weight” — and the baby is now in third grade?
Erin Schaefer of Elburn can help you with that.
Her business, FitMama Bootcamp, cuts the ribbon Saturday on a permanent home at 1N254 La Fox Road, La Fox.
She started the business in May 2011, leading women through workouts in a park in her neighborhood and in her house.
The certified personal trainer knows about the obstacles people face: She used to be 100 pounds overweight, and has to balance exercising and running a business with tending to the needs of her family, including a kindergartner.
Her “aha” moment came in October 2007, after a day out with friends and their children to Blackberry Farm in Aurora. A friend snapped pictures and sent them to all the participants.
“I was mortified,” Schaefer said.
Deciding to use it as her “before” picture, Schaefer joined Weight Watchers, learning portion control. Then in the spring of 2008, she signed up for a breast cancer fundraising walk. She figured the accountability to her donors would keep her on track. And after that event, Schaefer decided she wanted to do a triathlon. But at 260 pounds, she figured she needed dedicated help and hired a trainer.
She lost 80 pounds after that, and at his suggestion became a personal trainer, too. Eventually, Schaefer started offering boot camps at her house.
“There are so many moms just like me that are so overwhelmed by those big-box gyms,” she said.
The sessions are hard work for the women. But fun.
“To them it is their social hour,” she said.
Her clients were so excited about having the new space that they helped her clean and paint it.
Besides boot camp, there will be yoga and Pilates classes, personal training, and tabata, a focused cardiovascular exercise practice. Child care is available for an additional fee.
Saturday’s opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. There will be refreshments and raffles.
The studio focuses on women, but it also has couples’ exercise nights.
For more information about the business, visit iamafitmama.com.