FITDAD

  • Course Details
  • Sign Up For FITDAD

Sundays @ 10.15am

What

Dads: I am throwing down the gauntlet! Are you ready to take up my offer of a super-energising outdoor cardiovascular and strength workout… with your babies safely strapped into their buggies? It’s a circular route in the great outdoors and along the way we stop off for CV and resistance circuits, interval training, pairs work, team games and body weight exercises. We use park benches, fences, outdoor workout mats (that’s grass, by the way!), medicine balls and even the occasional Kettlebell (a very long way-away from the babies). When your little ones get fed up, we simply move on. The classes last approximately 1 hour and you can retreat to the pub afterwards for a p- glass of sparkling mineral water…

And think of this: you’ll be giving your long-suffering partners a well-deserved break from motherhood! If you don’t watch out you might find yourself inadvertently signed up for FitDad and firmly pushed out of the house with baby in tow!

When

Courses start in January, April and September and run every other Sunday @ 10.15am during term time only for 5 weeks – you’ll be back just as the local pub opens, ready for you to have a drink and chat in the stylish, child-friendly bar area, which has ample space for buggies.

How much

FitDad runs during term time only and costs £25 for 5 sessions.

When booking FitDad you will be asked to fill in a confidential medical screening form so that I am aware of any medical restrictions (back trouble, joints, asthma etc.) that you might have, and so that I can safely progress the classes over time.

I do hope you like the sound of FitDad. If you do, please have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below, and then click on “Sign up for FitDad”. This will take you through a few simple steps for booking. If you still have any unanswered queries then please do feel free to contact me via email (Joanna@zest4lifeuk.com), text (07899938032) or telephone (01590210269).

6 Steps To Joining FitDad

  1. Go into Latest & Blog and check that there are spaces available on the FitDad courses.
  2. Download and Print out the medical screening and informed consent forms.
  3. Fill in these forms clearly and make sure that you have remembered to sign them where required. Please do not leave out the sections asking for mobile ‘phone number and email address as I will be sending you an information sheet via email and text messages are used if classes need to be rescheduled due to poor weather.
  4. A cheque for £25 made payable to Zest4lifeUK should be written – thank you!
  5. Please post the two forms along with the cheque to the following address:
    • The Studio
    • 5 Burnaston Way
    • Loughborough
    • Leics LE11 2HZ
  6. Once steps 1-5 have been completed, please send me an email with the words “FitDad application sent” in the subject box.

That’s it! Once I have received the forms and payment, your place is booked. Dates, times and venue will be confirmed in an information sheet which I will then email to you. I would strongly advise you to print out the information sheet and keep it somewhere accessible as a reminder of all the bits and bobs you need when the course starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.When is the next FitDad class?
A. If you go into the Latest & Blog section of the website you will find up-to-date information on dates and times of classes, as well as all sorts of other tips, advice, news, recent testimonials and free taster sessions.
Q.Will my buggy be OK for FitDad?
A. There are a number of points that you must bear in mind: - you need a stable buggy that is unlikely to topple over - you must be able to strap your baby into the buggy - FitDad takes place on paths that are not asphalted and so bigger wheels mean a less bumpy ride for your baby. Nevertheless, lots of people manage with a Maclaren-style buggy.
Q.Can I wear my normal, everyday clothes to FitDad?
A. You are best off wearing sports clothes which allow freedom of movement. The routes we take can get quite muddy, so old trainers are ideal footwear.
Q. Can I do FitDad with a double buggy?
Yes, all the routes we do are wide enough to allow access for a double buggy. Expect to work extra hard!
Q. I have an older pre-school child. May I bring him/her along to FitDad?
A. It depends on the age of your older child and how willing s/he is to sit in a buggy for an hour. For safety reasons and insurance purposes all babies and toddlers must be strapped into buggies whilst we are on the move and exercising. I find that as children reach the age of about 22 months, they no longer want to stay in a buggy.
Strategies for older children: • make sure they have a good run around beforehand • prepare some healthy snacks that they can nibble on during the hour • give your child a special sticker at the end of each class for sitting nicely.
Q. Can I come to FitDad without my child?
A. Yes but the FitDad plan is to let your partner have a long, relaxing, baby-free bath whilst you sweat it out in the hills…
Q. What happens if my baby cries during FitDad?
A. This is a very easy-going class and we stop and start as necessary so that dads can comfort, cuddle and hug their babies. I usually find that when we are power walking and jogging the babies are happy. When we stop to do resistance work I plan short bouts of exercise so that the little ones don’t get too grumpy before we move on again.
NB If your baby is breastfeeding remember to get your partner to feed him/her just before you come along to FitDad.
Q. Can I walk my dog whilst we do FitDad?
A. No, I think it is best not to bring dogs along just in case they do something unexpected like jump up onto a buggy, run into a road or chase off after other dogs that are being walked in the area!
Q. I suffer from back pain. Is it alright to do FitDad?
A. If you suffer from back pain you should ensure that the handles of your buggy are at the correct height so that you do not have to stoop over. You should also keep your abdominals lightly braced all the time whilst pushing the pram. Finally, if you have noticed that pushing your buggy round on a daily basis makes matters worse, then I would strongly encourage you not to do this course but to seek advise on how to strengthen and support postural mucles through appropriate exercises.