New fitness boot camp opens in Tubac

There’s no denying it. Americans love fast-food and the scale isn’t the only one groaning under our increasing backsides. Doctors across the U.S. are also groaning, moaning and encouraging patients to lose weight, eat healthier and get more exercise.

Easier said than done for some. Motivation to diet and get active is a struggle for many people, and that’s where it helps to get a little help from the professionals.

Santa Cruz Valley fitness pros Kristina Valdiviezo and Patty Nigbur have teamed their talents and started Stock Fitness, an exercise program focusing on providing high-quality fitness training.

Their motto: “Stock Fitness — take stock of your life!”

Both women have the background to do the job and are certified by the American Council on Exercise.

Nigbur is an ACE certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor and Valdiviezo, too, is an ACE certified group fitness instructor as well as an ACE nutrition consultant.

“We take continuing classes to keep up with the latest ACE certifications,” Valdiviezo said. “It’s like ongoing education for fitness trainers.”

The ACE personal trainer certification is continually evaluated and updated to ensure that it includes the most current research in exercise science and keep fitness professionals in tune with current exercise and nutrition practices. Certified trainers demonstrate a knowledge of risk factor screening, fitness assessment, nutrition, exercise science, exercise programming and appropriate progressions, instructional and spotting techniques and lifestyle modification. Stock Fitness specializes in a Fitness Boot Camp program that certainly isn’t for sissies. Men and women can take advantage of the outdoor training workouts which include running, obstacle courses, strength training, core training, stretching and plyometrics.

Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports.

All sessions are personally instructed by Nigbur and Valdiviezo, who describe the workouts as “motivational and fun.”

“We are aware that different people have different fitness needs,” Nigbur explained. “We are also very aware that some clients can’t always keep up, but we do encourage people to keep moving and keep the heart rate up. In fact, we encourage them to get heart rate monitors.”

Nigbur and Valdiviezo said they work hard at keeping the workouts new and fresh.

“I recently returned from California where I attended a boot camp on the beach and came back with a few ideas for our program,” Nigbur said. “Kristina is online where ideas are shared over the Internet, so we are always researching fitness ideas and how to be creative, but effective in our workouts.”

Valdiviezo also teaches portion control at meals, calorie intake and offers general nutritional guidelines.

Stock Fitness sessions are held outdoors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. through September at the Ron Morris Park off Bridge Road and Calle Iglesia in Tubac. Friday’s boot camp is held every week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tubac Golf resort and Spa near the Otero House, across from the chapel.

Stock Fitness offers a free starter class to see what the program is all about. Nigbur and Valdiviezo provide a body fat test, measurements and nutritional guidance. Participants are asked to bring a mat, towel, water and a set of three- to eight-pound weights, depending on your fitness level.

Information and fees: stockfitnesstubac.com or 520-860-0541.