Friday, April 24, 2009

Run for the Cheetah details!

Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!!! It's supposed to be a beautiful day and the race is ON!

Place: meet in front of the zoo at the mail box (just to the north of the main entrance)

Time: 8am (although, let me know if you have any kiddos in the kid run/walk and we can wait for you)

What to wear: Orange hats (if you own one) and (neon) green Mother Love Fitness Challenge t-shirts (if you have not picked yours up yet, BE SURE to tell Erin Shirey and she can bring it to the Friday class, OR you can get it from her house Saturday at the last challenge meeting). They are going to see us coming from a mile away!!!

Game plan: we are going to take some pictures and do a little warm up so you can get moving before the race (mostly through giggling)

If you have not yet RSVP'd to me, please do so. That way I can be on the lookout for YOU.

Also, you don't have to be part of the Challenge or be a current Baby Boot Camp member to participate. ALL BABY BOOT CAMP FAMILIES are welcome to join us! You can run or walk the 5k or 8k and as little Erin said, these are the positive memories full of fitness that your children will always remember.

Register at: http://www.runforthecheetah.org/portland/#register

LET'S SAVE THAT CHEETAH!!!
Erin B (for big)
questions, comments, concerns? Send them to erinbarnes.fitness@gmail.com THANKS!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

5th Annual Mother's Day Class- Celebrating Melinda Cottam

















Join us for the 5th Annual
Baby Boot Camp

Mother’s Day Celebration Class

Friday May 8th, 2009

9:00 am- Washington Park

Celebrate your successes in Health, Fitness, Friendship and Motherhood Join this FREE class that is sure to knock your socks off. Bring your friend, Mom, Sister to share what the buzz of Baby Boot Camp is all about.

We will be honoring and celebrating fellow Baby Boot Camp Mama- Melinda Cottam. She lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer December 30th, 2008 . She loved the Mother’s Day Class and we loved her.

Goody bags for the 1st 100 Food, snacks and coffee for all.

BIG Raffle benefiting Children’s Cancer Association- CCA.

Reserve your space by May 7th erin.shirey@babybootcamp.com www.babybootcampportland.blogspot.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Apologies- CLASS IS CANCELLED FOR SATURDAY- April 18th

Due to unexpected logistics, the Lloyd Center Mall Saturday, April 18th, class is CANCELLED.

I apologize for this inconvenience. PLEASE do a workout in the park with your fellow Baby Boot Campers and know that Jack and I will double up on you next Saturday, April 25th, at 9:00 am for the first outside Laurelhurst Park class of Springtime.

Please pass this information along and contact me with any questions.

Erin Shirey
503.703.1269

Come check out Portland's premiere Mom Owned Business Expo!

The Mom Shop 2 is a special event and Baby Boot Camp is a sponsor. Please come support some of our Baby Boot Camp Mamas- Ellie, Sheri and Suzy, who will be doing the Mom Shop Fashion Show with their kiddos! Stop by the Baby Boot Camp booth and toast new Franchise Owners Suzy and Ellie, in addition to saying "Hi" to instructor Erin B.

Mom Shop 2
Saturday April 18th from 9am - 2pm
Oaks Park Pavilion, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, Oregon 97209.
Click http://www.mamapreneursinc.com/momshop to learn more about this family-friendly event and support local mom-owned businesses while enjoying a fun family day!

Thanks for all that you do to help the Mamapreneurs of Portland!

Cheers-
Erin Shirey
erin.shirey@babybootcamp.com

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Challenge for the CHALLENGE!


One Lucky MOM will have her entrance fee to RUN FOR THE CHEETAH paid for by Baby Boot Camp Portland & Beaverton (me). Email me 5 Ways YOU HAVE made changes to your daily lives to help with the Earth. I will take a random drawing from the names on Friday, April 17th's, Baby Boot Camp Lloyd Center Mall class. Who wins will be contacted! If you have already paid for your entry fee, than you will get a Baby Boot Camp Active Fit hat!!

Email: Erin.shirey@babybootcamp.com

Mother LOVE Fitness Challenge Update!


YOU CAN MAKE THESE LAST TWO WEEKS COUNT!!!!

I can’t believe it is April 15th, and we have 2 weeks left of this month. Wowzers, time flies! How are you doing with your Earth LOVE Challenge Points? Have you been feeling “greener” each day? Are you thinking more effectively when turning off the lights, computer, water when brushing teeth? Are you trying to walk to class instead of drive, and are you registered for the Run Like the Cheetah? Are you reusable plastic containers for your kiddos snacks instead of plastic baggies? Are you keeping showers short (heck- we’re lucky if we can get them with our crazy lives ladies)?

I myself had some questions in regards to the calculating of points, and know some of you had too. I checked the forum for other Franchise Owners questions and ideas throughout the country. Below are some good Q&A in regards to Challenge Points:

Q. For example if you turn off the water while brushing your teeth: Do you count every time you do it?

A. Yes, 1 pt every time they do it -- this will encourage them to make it a habit if they do it every time over a month.

Q. For the points I noticed that some of them would be something that you would do once and keep it this way forever such as changing your freezer temp but some might be something you can do each day such as walking to Baby Boot Camp class. Some of the points state that it is 5 points each day but if they are drinking tap water each day (bringing Baby Boot Camp water bottle to class would this count each day?

A. Yes 1 pt each time)

Q. Or if they go to the Farmers Market each weekend would we only count that as 1 point or each time they go.

A. 1 pt each time they go

Q. I just want to be able to clarify to my students which can be done daily so they are getting all the points they can get. Also in regards to the 5K runs we have 4 events coming up this month. Should they be able to get 25 pts for each event or 25 points overall and pick one to come to. (Obviously I’m going to try to get them to come to all of them but didn’t know if I can count each thing we have planned or if it would be an overall 25 pts for them to attend one?)

A. Part of April and the points is to encourage participation and healthy actions -- like 5 K runs -- so they can count 25 pts for each race they participate in -- for potentially 100 pts it sounds like. Whoo-hooo! Way to bring it!

Q. I see that everyone can participate in this last month if they pay the $26 which would go straight to Healthy Child, correct? And if so would they be entered in the drawings also? I just want to make sure I am promoting this correctly to my new students.

A. It's really up to you how or if you want to charge for the last month of the Challenge. Our suggestion is how you understand it -- if they pay $26 as a donation to HealthyChild.org, then yes, they would be eligible for the national prizes (plus it's tax deductible for them!). If they don't pay any kind of registration fee, they can still participate and you can count their points for local prize giveaways, but they would not be eligible to win national prizes, nor would you be able to count them in your team's Planet Point totals.

Q. Do they get points for each time they do something. For example, do they get points for each day that they use a re-usable water bottle vs. grabing a plastic one from the store?

A. Yes.

Q. What if you participate in more than one 5k, can you keep getting the points? Also if my moms encouraged friends and family to do the 5k as well do they get points for those friends and family members? Also, if we carpool to an event can we receive a point for this?

A. Yes.

Q. If someone uses reusable grocery bags 4 times in April do they get 4 points? Or just one point for each action?

A. If they use reusable grocery bags 4 times in April they would get 4 points.

With these 2 weeks, I CHALLENGE YOU to two focus ideas in addition to your regular being “green” challenge.

Thursday, April 16th- Wednesday, April 22nd:
Walk/Run/Skip/Gallop/Hop to class every day. Trina S. and I were talking about options if you live far from class and came up with- Park 2 – 3 miles from class and it still is less gas and wear on the environment than if you drove the entire way. Your foot power of walking, running, hopping or skipping to class will keep you invigorated before you even start to do jumping jacks and push ups in class time. It also gives you time to just “be” in the environment for a bit and enjoy the flowers and Spring beauty around you. Wear your pedometer from Cardio Month and see how many steps you add to your day- challenge yourself to park further each day if driving partway. ie: When teaching at THPRD Monday and Wednesday, I will park at the Cedar Hills New Seasons and run to teach class. Need to go there after class, and why not combine it all and get a run in. Used www.mapmyrun.com and it is 2.7 miles from New Seasons to THPRD entrance.

Thursday, April 23rd- Wednesday, April 30th:
Gdiapers and Cloth Diapers week! You might have been doing this for a while, and you may have and stopped because of the additional time required. For the last week of the Challenge, challenge yourself to use a more environmental diaper option than disposable. I am picking up gDiapers coupons for everyone and if you are currently using disposable the inserts can be either flushed down the toilet or disposed in the garbage. They are actually based out of Portland, a fantastic company to Baby Boot Camp Portland and Beaverton and will host a Q&A with us on how to use g’s if need be. For Cloth Diapers, any Moms use them, and why not borrow a few from a friend to try them out this week and see if you can make the change for your lifestyle. Instructor Anne K. did a lot of research on cloth diapers and can answer any questions.

I personally used gDiapers at first and then switched to disposable. I have been eager to switch back to g’s or cloth and am using this week to do so with Emerson. It will be a challenge for my family too, but a challenge in the best way!

Please make sure to register for the Run for the Cheetah! It will be a fun race and make sure to wear your Mother LOVE Fitness Challenge Shirt! I have quite a few and your shopping bags at my place. If anyone wants to come by tomorrow, Thursday April 16th, between 4:00-6:00pm to pick them up please let me know. I can arrange to be here and have them for you to pick up.

Run for the Cheetah
http://www.runforthecheetah.org/portland/index.htm
Sunday, April 26, 2009, Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, Oregon
8:30 am 8K Run/Walk

We will have one LAST CHALLENGE MEETING- Saturday, April 25th, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm. Come ready to laugh, celebrate how far you have come and also do stairs. Please RSVP if you can attend.

I encourage you to practice the fitness and cardio work you focused on Month One and Month Two.

Thursday, April 16th- Wednesday, April 22nd- Do 20 minutes extra cardio each day, 70 push ups, 3x1 minute planks, and 2x2 minute wall sits

Thursday, April 23rd- Wednesday, April 30th- Do 30 minutes extra cardio each day, 100 push ups, 4x1 minute planks, 3x40 Jack Squats

We will be doing final measurements May 1st, 2nd, and 4th. The Challenge Winners will be announced Friday, May 8th, at the 5th Annual Mother’s Day Class Celebration.

YOU CAN DO THIS! WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THE LAST TWO WEEKS COUNT! REMEMBER, THE MORE YOU HELP ONE ANOTHER, THE MORE YOU GROW FROM EACH OTHER AND THE MORE YOU CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER!!! THE BABY BOOT CAMP TEAM AND I ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mom's Night Out- TOMORROW NIGHT!

Yahoo, it is time for some relaxing MNO style!
Join us at Deschutes Brewery , in the Pearl!!!
Thursday, March 26th, 7:30 pm
Come for a pint, stay for food and more. Bound to be fun and if anything a great opportunity to blow dry your hair and look snazzy in non workout attire.
RSVP so I know to expect you! erin.shirey@babybootcamp.com
Cheers!
Erin


4:00 pm Laurelhurst Park Cancelled Today

Hello-

Due to logistics the 4:00 pm Laurelhurst Park Class is canceled today. All regular attendees have been contacted, but I wanted to let everyone know in case you had a wild hair to workout in the rain this afternoon.

See many of you over the next three mornings in class.

Cheers-

Erin Shirey

Friday, March 20, 2009

Rockin the System...

Rockin The System ...
"I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system."
- Mary Robinson, Irish President (b. 1944)

I am Irish and growing up was told that St. Patrick's Day was MY holiday. As a kid, I took that to be true. My siblings didn't have flags saying "Tyler go Bragh" or "Robbie go Bragh". But I did. Everywhere on St. Patrick's Day I would tell anyone who would listen the holiday was MY special day and share the saying of "Erin Go Bragh". Of course I found out later, it was my Mom letting me feel I was special, but that my siblings were Irish just like me. Regardless, I identified with the Emerald Isle and the strong women who I am honored to call my ancestors. One such women is my Grandmother, Roberta S. Cole.

M and GigiGrandmother, Grammer and now Gigi as she is called by my girls, has been my inspiration growing up. She was an athletic female during a time when women weren't running. Grammer has a fire in her that matches her red (now white) hair. She raised my Mom and her siblings to be strong willed and independent. Thank goodness, they all passed those traits to my siblings, cousins and me. Grammer taught me to go after my goals, regardless of what anyone would think. She didn't just preach it, but practiced it. She traveled the world to New Guinea, Kenya, Holland and Dublin teaching others how to write and produce videos, information learned from her time as a tv producer in San Francisco. That occurred during her late 60's!

Grammer was also one of the first female marathoners. When she did the San Francisco Marathon, I remember being strapped into the bike trailer as my Dad pulled us around to cheer her on. SHE INSPIRED ME TO NEVER STOP AND JUST GO FOR IT!

When I did my first triathlon at 16, I made sure to talk with Grammer all about training. She let me use her Bob Jackson bike for the bike portion and I felt like I had some of her strength with me. I placed and excitedly called her. Later that summer, Grammer and I ran a 5K race together. She was 70 years old and a force to be reckoned with. We both won our age groups, and shared in a memory that forever holds a place dear to my heart. Mom captured a photo of Grammer and me with our medals around our neck, and I cherish it because for me it symbolizes to keep going and never give up.

That headstrong determination and athleticism is still G and Emaking waves with whatever Grammer does. Living in Seattle now, Grammer did a race two years ago using her walker. The police were trailing behind her, since she was one of the last participants. Grammer told them "Please get off my tail boys. I WILL FINISH THIS RACE". This past year, she has fallen a few times. Part of the reason, her stubborn pride. A few months ago Grammer was in a room doing Physical Therapy for a stroke and . There was a chair in front of her walker prohibiting her from moving where she wanted to go. Instead of asking for help, she stood up, picked up the walker and moved it to the other side of the chair. It may drive my Mom and her siblings mad, but it actually makes me a bit proud that she is so independent. And people are curious where I get my determination from...

While I think about the luck of the Irish and the joyful glee felt by many during this month, I have to thank my stars I am a granddaughter to a stubborn red headed Irish women. If her enthusiasm and determination has been passed to me, I feel lucky. The fact her short stature and speedy legs have traveled through the gene pool to me let's me know I am blessed. So, in the realm of Irish traditions I raise a pint and toast you strong incredible women, and your children who look up to you every day to great strength and pride.

"Slainte" - To your health
Erin and kiddos green
- Erin Shirey, Baby Boot Camp Portland Metro & Baby Boot Camp Leadership Coach

Mother LOVE Fitness Challenge Update!!

Moms have caught on and are smashing their goals!
Mother Love Fitness Challenge
Seriously, Baby Boot Camp Portland & Beaverton, you ARE ROCKSTARS! The Moms have already completed Month One- Cardio. AND...Portland logged the most miles WINING THE NATIONAL COMPETITION! Having logged 1319.04 miles between 14 people! Portland only beat Beaverton by just over 100 miles. To be part of a team of women who have not only been supporting one another, but inspiring each other to go further, faster and laugh along the way is incredible.

Month One Winners are:
Most Miles: Lisa Law with 159 MILES
1st Runner Up: Christa Lowe with 138.94 MILES
2nd Runner Up: Christa Van Arsden with 120 MILES

HUGE CONGRATS!!!

Month Two is underway and the weekly fitness testing is motivating the Mamas. There are some Moms who are DETERMINED to BE STRONG!!! The second week of strength month, the daily routine in addition to their workouts has Moms' completing 70 push ups, 3x:45 second planks, and 2 minutes of Jack Squats. The push ups in class DON'T count for their daily total. Now that is a CHALLENGE! Two Mamas, Amanda and Suzy, have been encouraging each other and surpassing their hefty accomplishments each week. From completing 63 push ups, completing 10 minutes of the wall sit, or 400 Jack Squats, they are inspiring everyone and truly supportive of helping one another. THAT IS TEAMWORK!

Month Three is to GIVE BACK. We will be participating in the 5K or 8K Run for the Cheetah at the Oregon Zoo. Please click to register by March 30th.

You can still participate and be part of this winning team. You can register anytime. It is bound to go down in history as the most determined and energized Moms yet!

Mother Love Fitness Challenge
Winner Announced at SPECIAL MOM'S NIGHT OUT- FOOT BAR BODY BAR PAMPERING IN SWEET STYLE!!!
MAY 7TH, 6:00-9:30 PM
RSVP TO ERIN B. - erinbarnes.fitness@gmail.com - ASAP