LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Did you put on a few pounds during the pandemic? The quarantine 15 came in a lot of ways, and for a lot of different reasons. Stress was right at the top of the list for lots of folks. In the Rebound, 13 Action News anchor Tricia Kean speaks with a local expert, stressing the importance of self-care for moms. (Watch the full clip here: https://www.ktnv.com/rebound/coronavirus-stress/las-vegas-group-for-moms-providing-physical-and-mental-support)

REALLY TOUGH TIME

The pandemic has been a whirlwind for Leah Elliot. She lost her job, working for one of the local casinos.

"That was a really tough time for me personally," says Leah.

She also experienced the flip-side. One of the greatest moments of her life.

"We had our son during the pandemic. So there's great things and there's not so great things," says Leah.

HELPED ME STAY SANE

Leah says this group helped her navigate those ups and downs. "I was struggling with trying to be a stay-at-home mom and transitioning into that. So Fit4Mom honestly helped me stay sane and calm and patient," says Leah.

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Covid and the pandemic have impacted mothers mentally and physically and FIT4MOM is providing support with some new classes. WATCH THE SEGMENT HERE

Rounding a corner at Town Square, a group of moms pushing strollers begins to pick up speed.

They are all part of the Friday morning Stroller Strides class put on by Fit4Mom Las Vegas, a workout program that enables mothers to interact with their children while getting fit. The class features cardiovascular and strength-training workouts that women can take at their own pace.

In a group of about 15 women on this particular morning, many have different reasons for why they joined.

“Some moms want to get back in shape, while some moms just need the mental break,” says Jessica Peralta, owner of Fit4Mom Las Vegas. “Some moms do it for the social aspect.”

But as the morning heat begins to rise and they begin to drip sweat, all the mothers are determined to finish another workout.

Fit4Mom Las Vegas began three years ago after Peralta gave birth to her first daughter.

At the time, Peralta didn’t know she was going to start a business

“I was a registered nurse who was looking to get back in shape,” she says. “But I was realizing I couldn’t do some of the things I used to be able to do.”

She started looking around for alternatives when she stumbled across Fit4Mom. She decided to bring a franchise to Las Vegas.

By Jackie Valley

It was difficult to tell what captured the babies and toddlers’ attention the most: the animated storytelling or their Spandex-clad moms bouncing up and down performing high-knee jumps.

“I thought I could, I thought I could,” instructor Candace Wong chimed as she read a version of “The Little Engine That Could.” It seemed to speak as much to the sweaty mothers as to their children.

The moms panted and shouted, “Toot toot,” at appropriate intervals in the story, making sure to smile at their children sitting in strollers.

This was the second of five stations the mothers would tackle during Stroller Strides, a fitness program catered to mothers of young children. The hourlong class, offered through Fit4Mom Las Vegas, lets mothers work out alongside their little ones in an environment that boasts both “mommy music” and kid sing-alongs.

Dads aren’t excluded from Stroller Strides. The last class of each month is a “family day workout,” meaning fathers and other family members can join.

On a recent Friday morning at Town Square, the children ranged in age from 11 weeks to 3 years.

Name of business: Fit4Mom Las Vegas

Address: 6605 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89119

Phone: 882-1795

Email: lasvegas@fit4mom.com

Website: lasvegas.fit4mom.com

Owned by: Jessica Peralta

In business since: July 2012

Describe your business.

Fit4Mom is the nation’s premier fitness program offering classes for every stage of motherhood. We take pride in being the nation’s most recognized program of its kind that helps give mothers the “Strength for Motherhood.”

What kind of exercises do clients do?

We make use of our environment and find creative ways to incorporate strollers, park benches, curbing, stairs, railings and more to strengthen and tone muscles.

We also use resistance bands for added intensity during most of our exercises, and for our moms looking for that extra challenge, we integrate plyometric modifications as well. All of our classes have interspersed cardiovascular training drills in between all of our strengthening and toning stations.

How do the babies react?

LAS VEGAS - Oct. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- LAS VEGAS, OCTOBER 27, 2015 -- Jessica Peralta of Las Vegas has been awarded the top honor of “Franchise of the Year” for all FIT4MOM franchises nationwide. Announced at the national FIT4MOM conference in San Diego earlier this month, the award is given after a competitive nomination and application process. Peralta launched FIT4MOM Las Vegas in June of 2012 shortly after the birth of her first child. A former critical care RN and clinical professor, Jessica wanted a business that could blend her nursing background with that of her new life as a mom. Now a mother of three girls, aged 5, 4 and 2, her goal is to help create a strong community of women - a village that supports, empowers and encourages one another using a holistic approach to health and wellness. Jessica was nominated for her award by dedicated moms who are members of FIT4MOM Las Vegas.

FIT4MOM Las Vegas offers fitness classes for every stage of motherhood, free wellness and nutrition presentations, weekly free play groups, support and social networking for new mothers, and community service opportunities. There is an array of pre- and postnatal fitness programs including Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, Fit4Baby, Body Back and Run Club, and hosts weekly playgroups for children through Our Village, their free mom’s club. Jessica’s nomination described in particular one client who has been impacted through FIT4MOM Las Vegas’ fitness programs, which helped her to overcome her postpartum depression and shed more than 100 pounds in the process.

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — Today, we are talking about how to be a "mom boss." WATCH THE SEGMENT HERE

Jessica Peralta of Fit4Mom has some tips to help us get started.

Peralta opened a local franchise of Fit4Mom in 2012 at Town Square.

Since then, they have grown to 13 locations in Southern Nevada, including locations in Henderson, Summerlin, and North Las Vegas.

One of Fit4Mom's signature programs is Stoller Strides, using power-walking and jogging with intervals of strength and body toning exercises, using a stroller and the environment. There is also a Stroller Barre spinoff program.

The Fit4Baby program targets pregnant women, while the Body Back program targets new moms with high-intensity workouts to burn calories and increase strength.

For more information, visit the Fit4Mom website.

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — FIT4MOM Las Vegas celebrates being a mom through workouts for every stage of your journey. WATCH THE CLIP HERE.

Owner Jessica Peralta shared a video of an easy workout you can do with the kids. http://cwlasvegas.com/news/wake-up-with-the-cw/fit-friday-fit4mom-las-vegas-provides-strength-for-motherhood

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Some might be feeling the effects of all that delicious Super Bowl snacking. Some studies say the average American eats between 2,000 to 8,000 calories while watching the Super Bowl. (Watch the full clip here: https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/workouts-designed-for-moms-on-the-go/)

In addition, it’s been a challenging year with many people spending more time at home and — in some cases — eating more.

So, if you’re looking for some ways to burn those calories there’s Fit4Mom which is a workout program geared toward women. There are special workout routines for mothers who are on-the-go, women who are trying to lose weight after pregnancy, and events involving children.

Reporter Hector Mejia visited one of the workouts.