"You Can Make It If You Try..."

I’ll admit it. Fitness boot camp classes scare me. For me, watching the workouts brings back bad memories of my lack of prowess in high school gym class. I'm amazed at how Jillian and Bob get the "Biggest Loser" contestants to jump through hoops in their intense boot camp workouts and end up hugging and crying with them. It seems that the staccato commands of boot camp instructors are very motivating to most people, and the fitness challenges usually lead to great results. Up to 600 calories can be burned during a boot camp session, which is obviously going to facilitate weight loss. The fitness boot camp typically mixes traditional body weight exercises with interval and strength training. It can be outdoors, indoors, in a park, at a gym, or even on the beach, but most classes are designed to push participants harder than they would normally push themselves; hence the resemblance to a military boot camp.

The classes are also very efficient; providing a whole body strength and cardio workout in each session. Because the boot camps usually use a combination of physical activities like band training, ball exercises, dumbbells, calisthenics, plyometrics, and resistance training, you can burn more calories than a traditional run on a treadmill, giving you quicker results. Workouts that provide multiple benefits are very appealing because of both the time and economic limitations many of us face these days.
Also, the camaraderie of working with a group provides a common goal and built-in motivation. According to Tom Rayhill, a boot camp instructor in Florida, the idea beind the boot camp philosophy is that our nature is to challenge ourselves against others. "Not everybody is as athletically inclined,” he says, “but by hanging out with those more driven people, you're naturally going to want to do better".
Many gyms, such as Lifetime Fitness, offer the boot camps as one of their team training components. Because the classes are progressive, participants are able to build on each level of work in the class. I've watched the participants run up and down stairs, crawl across the gym floor, skate on towels and squat against walls. Laura, Lifetime's West County Group Fitness director, puts the class through some tough stuff, but they all seem to love it! The team atmosphere and convenience of having the boot camp at your gym is very appealing.If you're a member of Lifetime, check with the Team Training desk for the next session. The YMCA and other gyms also offer variety of boot camp classes for most levels. But even if you don’t belong to a gym, there are many specialty boot camps offered by individual instructors.
Because I live in St. Louis, the programs listed are local, but you can check online for fitness boot camps in your area. Locally,some of the programs, like Best Body Boot Camp, meet at different parks and other outdoor facilities in St. Louis’s West County area: www.bestbodycpt.com/bootcamp.html
If you want an extremely challenging workout, try Crossfit St. Louis in the Hanley industrial area: www.CrossFitstlouis.com
The staff at lululemon athletica (see "Feelin' Groovy" post) in the Central West End (St. Louis) highly recommended the following instructors and their boot camps. Check their listings: www.lululemon.com/stlouis/stlouis/community.
Paige Dustmann offers Sleek Boot Camp with early morning workouts in Forest Park in St. Louis and Long Acre Park in Fairview Heights, Illinois: www.sleekbootcamp.com
Tisha Schurk, a personal trainer from Sante Fitness at the Chase Park Plaza, is offering two new “camps”. The “Beach Booty Bootcamp”; an eight week outdoor program that meets on Wednesday evenings and a men’s “No Pain, No Gain” six week boot camp. You can register at the Santé Fitness desk (314-633-3020) or email tschurk@chaseparkplaza.com.
Also, both Monica Koche, monica.koche@sbcglobal.net and Jaque Albus, jalbus@gmail.com are lululemon “ambassadors” along with Tischa.
Another option is Adventure Boot Camps with locations nationally and worldwide. Click on http://www.bootcampfinder.com/graduates.html for locations and schedules in your area.
Even for us gym class flunkies, a fitness boot camp might be just what we need to take our workout up a couple notches!

Feelin' Groovy...

In all the years I’ve been working out, I’ve gone through an evolution in workout wear. From baggy t-shirts and leggings to leotards and tights to Lycra tops and pants, I like working out in clothes that feel good. I also reasoned, “I’m just sweating, so why do I need to buy ‘good’ outfits?” So, for years I have scoured the active wear aisles of many a TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Macy’s (with my 15% off coupon, of course), in search of comfy, cute and long-lasting gear. Never mind that I spend a good portion of my day in these togs, from the gym to grocery, or that I regularly throw out pieces that have too quickly lost their luster. But I was in denial. I refused to admit that I deserved better.
I’d heard about lululemon from friends in other parts of the country. My son’s girlfriend in Chicago told me how much she loved the clothes; how well they fit and how long they lasted, but I still didn’t get it. Then, during a family visit to Chicago, they took me into the store. It was like an intervention! I saw the clothes, tried them on, loved the feel, loved the fit and loved the concept. “You deserve this,” they said, and I agreed. I got my first pair of Groove pants (one of their best pieces) and never looked back. But it’s not just the great clothing that got me; it’s the company’s philosophy that’s equally cool.
lululemon athletica stores have been open since 2000. At the time, cotton was the fabric for most yoga clothing and company founder Chip Wilson, whose passion was technical athletic fabrics, started a design studio. To pay rent, they had yoga classes at night. They sold Chip’s clothing and rated the fabric performance based on feedback from yoga instructors. They now use fabrics that are all moisture wicking. They keep you cooler during your workout and warmer afterwards.
According to their web site, “The idea was to have the store be a community hub where people could learn and discuss the physical aspects of healthy living from yoga and diet to running and cycling as well as the mental aspects of living a powerful life of possibilities.” This philosophy continues in all of their stores with locations worldwide. The company manifesto (which is also printed on their awesome bags) encourages actions like:

“A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself, and offsets stress.”

“Do one thing a day that scares you.”

“SWEAT once a day to regenerate your skin.”

The stores combine the retail sales of their clothing with community run clubs, hip hop, boot camp and aerobic classes and free yoga classes on Saturday mornings.
My daughter was hooked too. After the educator (they are not called salespeople) brought her the signature “Ta Ta Tamer” (so named because it really does “tame” them), and then had her jump rope in the dressing room to see the benefits, she was a believer. Other stores let you jump on mini-trampolines, but both let you see first-hand how well it works.
When we returned to St. Louis, we found the lululemon store in the Central West End and my daughter started going to the Saturday yoga classes. Now we are all Facebook friends with the store and I’ve gone to the yoga classes, too. A relaxing class and shopping at the same time? It’s heaven! They even have great stuff for guys. (I want to steal the Pacific Beach Hoodie from my son) My husband knows exactly what to buy me for birthdays and special occasions. (I love my Valentine's Day gift!) And, you can call me shallow if you want, but what I really love is the fact that my butt actually looks good in their pants!!!
www.lululemon.com