Mike SciaccaTen moms got a “time-out” from...

Mike Sciacca

Ten moms got a “time-out” from their busy schedules Wednesday

morning to treat themselves to the gift of exercise.

They gathered at the bi-weekly Beach Baby Walk and Roll class at

Pier Plaza to raise their heart rates and shed some pounds -- without

shedding the responsibilities of motherhood.

Dressed in sweats and shorts, the 10 mothers came armed with two

things essential to what would be a successful workout session for

them: a fun attitude and a baby in tow.

“No baby or toddler is required, but the classes generally are

filled with a family type of atmosphere,” said Pam Skinner, the

Huntington Beach resident who is the creator and instructor of Beach

Baby Walk and Roll. “It’s a great workout for moms and presents not

only a chance to get in some exercise but to have fun, share some

camaraderie as well as share tips about motherhood.”

Beach Baby Walk and Roller presents participants the chance to

stretch and do light exercises, such as squats and lunges, in a

20-minute time frame before taking off to walk or in-line skate,

usually heading north along the beach bike path.

Skinner, 45, is a certified personal trainer and has been teaching

fitness programs for the past 25 years. She has developed programs

for organizations such as the Los Angeles Times, IBM and America

Honda Corp.

She also developed the concept of Balance Bands which she calls a

“personal weight loss coach on your wrist.”

A portion of each band sold goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast

Cancer Research Foundation.

“My goal, in life, is to teach and inspire women to be strong --

inside and out,” she said.

Skinner, herself a mother of two, previously ran a fitness

get-together called, Stroller Skate, at the Fountain Valley Skate

Center. From that endeavor was borne the Beach Baby Walk and Roll

which debuted in mid-March.

“I met with a couple of my girlfriends here at the beach to walk

or roller blade,” she explained. “I suggested we do a few minutes of

strength training, beforehand. Before we knew it, everyone started

telling their friends and this grew just by word of mouth.

“We now have a regular group that meets every Monday and Wednesday

morning. We have a great time and everyone is welcome.”

Skinner’s most recent Monday class drew 19 participants.

But on this particular Wednesday, the nine baby strollers brought

to class indicated that several participants had young babies. Some

were first-time moms.

Not only were these mothers armed with bottles of water to

replenish their bodies, but bottles of formula for their babies, as

well.

Some, Skinner said, even take the time to stop along the walking

path to nurse their child, catching up with their classmates on their

return route.

Christie Elam is one of those first-time mothers -- and an

inspiring success story.

Elam, a part-time business professor at Cerritos College in

Norwalk, first took Skinner’s Stroller Skate class six months ago,

six weeks following the birth of her son, Matthew. Wanting to return

to her original weight -- she said she gained 60 pounds during her

pregnancy -- the 36-year-old, also of Huntington Beach, put forth a

determined effort.

Six months to the day since she began classes, Elam had dropped 55

pounds.

She lost 10 of those pounds since Beach Baby Walk and Roll classes

began in mid-March.

That announcement drew a round of applause from her Wednesday

classmates.

Now her goal, she said, is to drop five or 10 additional pounds.

“I have always been thin and was really determined to take off

those added pounds,” said Elam, who altered her diet but gives most

of the weight-loss credit to exercise, including inline skating up to

six times per week. “This class is great motivation because the other

mom’s tend to be in the same situation, wanting to lose some weight.

“Exercise helps you stay both physically and mentally in shape,

and this class is a great way to meet other moms,” she said. “I’d

encourage other moms to give a class like this a try.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.