Mason Mill Park Boot Camp: Making a Runner out of me

Hey Sonja –

I wanted to let you know how awesome Cyndi was today on our long run. I can run. It has always been something that I can do….but, I am a lazy runner. I have mental issues which you have had to endure over the past 5 months which include but are not limited to:

I have to run with a walkman
You can’t run in front of me ( I will get all tense and drop back…literally, I stop breathing and panic)
I hate to run by myself (but god forbid if I run with someone who runs in front of me!)
I don’t like to run by the same thing twice

Today, my knee hurt and at every step, it hurt more. So, that gave me another great excuse to plod along and mentally ‘gripe’.

So, here comes Cyndi. Yes, I wanted her to go away, but she didn’t. I tried to complain about my knee and she said ‘so what’, you are out here, give it your best. I told her I didn’t have music and she told me a could pick a song and she would sing it (she didn’t like my choice though). So, through all my griping…she pushed me harder. She gave me running tips I never knew but always wanted to know! She encouraged me, got my mind off of the mental issues I deal with on a daily basis and overall, I think I had my best run in 5 months of the ‘long run’. My theory in the past was always to start slow and go slower. At boot camp, that just doesn’t fly. I am a ‘vet’ but I still have so much further to go. You think that at a point, it just becomes a plateau, but it doesn’t. The instructors will always find a spot to help you improve, to help you be your best. And that is why I come back to Boot Camp, day after day, month after month.

A big thank you to Cyndi this morning! Not only did I have a great run, but I learned some great things along the way about running and myself!

A.L.



(p.s. I am breaking a 9 minute mile on Friday J)

TABCC helps you to make exercise a part of your life - forever!

Thanks so much!

Even after doing boot camp 2 years ago, I never thought that would become a person who enjoyed working out. Now, I work out 5 times a week and love it.

Sharon Haggard

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Please, Boot Camp with Me!!

AT LEAST READ ON AND CONSIDER IT, Guys!
To my friends who I spoke with about my
"BootCamp Experience"
and those of you I know who are dedicated to their workouts:

You guys know how I LOVE to share things w/ my buds that I LOVE so that is why I wanted to share this with you!

In June, I decided to sign-up for this BootCamp workout I saw a flyer for in the St.Ives Newsletter! There was a 10am class they were offering so I thought... "why not?" I had been continuously missing my workouts because I was choosing not to go and getting a little bored with the routine of it. Once I made the decision to try it out, I went online and noticed the 10am class was no longer offered. The only one was at 5:45 IN THE MORNING! I had already made the commitment I was going to do it... so despite the fact that I am NOT a morning person... (I'm sure most of you know this from all my late night emails I send out!) I decided to go for it anyway. All I needed to hear from my husband was, "Kelly, you will never do it!"... I was ready to prove him wrong! And I am SO glad I tried it because it was the best month of working out I have ever had! I never missed one workout! That has NEVER happened, EVER in a 30 day period!

Out of over 900 homes in St.Ives, only one other person signed up in June. Without me knowing, so did my buddy, Faith! It was really nice having Faith there with me. I enjoyed a little laugh to wake me up every morning and I didn't want to ever miss since she had made the commitment too! I really liked having her there with me! And if Faith can do it... anyone can! (I got permission to say that, by the way!) Faith did so good and she lost 16 lbs and feels so good about herself and empowered that she could accomplish what she did and has achieved more than I think she thought she could! It IS Empowering!

I can only speak for myself but talking with Faith, even though we are on different fitness levels, we both have almost the same list of reasons why we LOVE BootCamp!
Guys... It was awesome and I really hope you'll consider reading on!!!
__________________________________
Here are my
Top Ten Reasons
I LOVED BootCamp:
10. YOU WILL ENJOY THE OUTCOME SO MUCH, YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS A WORKOUT!
By the 3rd week I was actually looking forward to getting up at 5am the next morning! And I never thought I'd say that!
9. BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTORS ARE PROFESSIONAL AND ENCOURAGING AND THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE NOT THEIRS.
It's not like "An Officer and a Gentelman", I asure you! The instructors are tough but don't yell at you! But they have a way they give you just that little bit of "umph" you need when you are about to let down to keep going! They help us find the edge of our comfort zone and help us take the opportunity to step out of it and stretch what we think is our limit!
8. BOOT CAMP INSTRUCTORS TEACH YOU HOW TO EAT HEALTHY FOR YOUR BODY TO WORK AND RECOVER QUICKLY FOR MAXIMUM RESULTS.
And they will hold you accountable and help you with what you may be struggling with. They take it very seriously and want to help you achieve the results you are looking for!
7. EVERY WORKOUT IS DIFFERENT.
You never get bored because it's never the same ol' thing.
6. WORKOUTS SEEM LIKE THEY ARE 15 MINUTES LONG..
Each workout is 45 minutes long from start to finish. You work continuously and productively thru out the workout. Maybe because you are always doing new things, the time flies by! I swear it feels like 15 minutes! I'm home before 7am!
5. YOU WILL FEEL A DIFFERENCE EVEN AFTER THE FIRST WEEK.
After the first week, I noticed an increase in my energy level and my legs, butt, and waist felt a little tighter and smaller.

4. IT AIDS IN CONQUERING PROCRASTINATION.
Working out is such a big "hurdle" to jump over and that's one of the reasons we feel good when we leave the gym! Getting such a great workout done before 7am not only feels good but you have already accomplished a HUGE hurdle for the day and it makes you that much more productive!

3. MORE ENERGY THROUGH OUT THE DAY.
When I signed up for the 5:45am session, I knew I was going to probably want a nap in the afternoon and be dragging by the time I get to dinner but the EXACT OPPOSITE happened! I have so much more energy now and getting thru my busy day is easier! Not to mention I have WAY MORE energy on the tennis court!
2. GET TO MEET NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE CONQUERING THE SAME GOALS YOU ARE.
You get to meet other people who are in the same boat you are every morning! We all make the commitment to be there for every session, and it makes you go and follow thru! I've met some really nice girls. Going with Faith in the morning has been a big help too! I'm going to feel like a "Loser" if I don't get my tired butt out of bed when Faith gets up to go every morning!!! =)!
1. MY BUTT, LEGS, ARMS AND WAIST ALL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!
Enough said here!!!
(My Number One Reason I DON'T like BootCamp...
The first 5 minutes I wake up... but after that it is a piece of cake!)
Please Consider Joining Me!!!
________________________________
After doing lots of traveling in July, I am ready to sign up again in August! It's a 30-day commitment and I truly believe, it is something you all should try at least once! How much fun will this be if we get a BIG group of us to do it in August! We can all go out and celebrate at the end of the month when it's over!
When I signed up, they were offering a special of $50 off. They don't have that promo anymore but they have a Group Rate for First Timers like you!
If we can get at least 5 people to join, you will ALL get to join for $299 instead of $349!
They also have some sort of contest for whoever brings in the most new campers. I think it is a Spa thing... if by chance I should win it, we will put all YOUR names in a hat and draw for it! I really just want you guys to try it with me! Not to win anything! You will LOVE it I promise!
Here is the Link to check it out.
It is the 4-week Fitness BootCamp at Pickneyville Park.
www.TheBootCampCompany.com

Thank you Midtown

Hi Mari
I am a veteran boot camper at the West Midtown location. I am writing to you to share some feedback with you regarding the boot camp program at West Midtown. I know that within my company feedback is usually comes in the form of a complaint but not this letter. I am writing to share positive feedback on Collette and her team.
In the past I did the Operation Boot Camp program at Piedmont Park. I did not feel 100% comfortable in that program due to the size of the camp, and basically feeling like a number. I was hesitant to sign up for boot camp again due to that experience. I took a chance and signed up with your company due to other friends that had participated in your programs also due to the West Midtown location which is very close to my home. I was so pleasantly surprised with my experience with Collette and her team! They made me feel like a team member and seemed to take a personal interest in me as a friend and as a customer.
I have just signed up for my forth month of boot camp with your company. The primary reason for my continued participation is due to your staff at West Midtown. While the workout is intense and motivating, the people are what drive me! They are what give me the motivation to keep going and to continue to sign up! I have not attended any other of your locations but based on feedback from friends it sounds like each location is the same – everyone loves your staff, which is awesome!
I just wanted to give you some feedback on my experience with your company and with Collette and her team! Every one of the West Midtown staff is great and I am so happy that I have the opportunity to workout with them!
Sincerely K. Buehlman

The Price of Boot Camp

Boot Camp....$349
Food I threw away after 1st day of boot camp....$100
Food to replace empty fridge for 1 month...$600
New smaller size clothes as existing clothes do not fit.....$300

Buying said clothes while sales person is checking out my ass ........ priceless

The instructors really make boot camp special at Mason Mill

I wanted to take a moment to tell someone how wonderful it is to have ‘The American Boot Camp Company’ at Mason Mill Park. The Boot Camp brings great energy to the area. It is a wonderful way for people to interact with one another of all ages, races and backgrounds. It is perfect for a county that believes a park is not only important to quality of life, but it promotes a healthier lifestyle for residents and it does make ‘Dekalb a great place to live, work and play’! It is refreshing to live in a county that allows this activity to take place and lives by the words they promote.

The park is adjacent to my neighborhood, where I can walk to ‘Boot Camp’ in the morning (so keeping the air clean by no car on the road…a double win!). I never knew the Boot Camp existed before I saw one of their signs, but once I enrolled, I found the instructors to be so wonderful and motivating it makes it hard to miss a work out. I am also impressed how respectful they are to others who are visiting the park understanding this is a place for everyone to enjoy. I think some of the on-lookers are very intrigued with what we are doing in the morning. Maybe the next ‘Boot Camp will be for seniors! They seem to want to get involved too. I hope they do!!

Thank you for bringing this great concept to Mason Mill Park. I wanted to make sure the good things you all do for our county don’t go unnoticed.

Kind regards,

Amy L.

The American Boot Camp Company Changed My Life!

My friend asked me last weekend during our annual beach trip…….”Why did you finally do it this time? What was different? I have seen you go through multiple trainers and weight loss programs and you never succeeded. You are so much more confident and happier this year. The last beach trip you were out of breath carrying your suit case up the stairs and this year you were running up the stairs with a case of water and your suitcase. Also, the previous years you slept the whole vacation and this year you were up at 7AM running down the beach. What a difference a year makes.

I thought about my previous failed attempts at weight loss and I finally realized what made the difference. I finally found someone believed that I could do it and pushed me to believe the same. You taught me to believe in myself and that is what made the difference.

When previous Personal Trainers asked me to do something that was difficult I would say “ I am too fat to do that” and they would typically they would move on to an easier exercise. I remember the first time you asked me to do an AB Bridge, I told you “I am way too fat and there is no way that a 240 pound woman can do an AB Bridge. I thought you would say OK and move on to something easier but your response was different. You said that is absolutely not true and you are going to try it. I only managed to do an AB Bridge for about 10 seconds and now I can do it over 60 seconds. I also remember the first time you asked me to run. I told you that I haven’t ran in over 5 years and wasn’t plan on starting now but you convinced me that I could run and 5 months later I completed a 5K.

This has been one of the toughest journeys in my life and it is still not complete. I have lost 55 pounds and I have done more that I thought I was capable of during the last 7 months and the next 45 pounds will be the toughest.
I have had a lot of ups and down and you were always there beyond your duties as a personal trainer. You always replied to my emails when I was frustrated or discouraged and you never gave me the option of quitting.

I could never repay for all that you have done. My life has completely changed and you one of the biggest reasons.

The American Boot Camp Company has completely changed by life…….from my initial emails with Tara, personal training with Whitney and now Boot Camp. Tara was always positive and told me “Don’t worry, we will get you where you need to be”. Whitney has been simply amazing. She has encouraged me to do things that I never thought I would accomplish. Boot Camp is giving me the extra push that I need during the 2nd half of my journey. I still can’t believe that last October I couldn’t walk ½ mile and now I am attending Boot Camp.

I still have 45 pounds to lose but I have no doubt that I will succeed because of everything that you have taught me.

Thanks for teaching me to believe in myself.

Sherri

It's All About the Numbers

What makes me leave a warm bed at the unholy hour of 5:00 a.m. to roll around in dew soaked grass, do weird things called “butt kickers”, “hell raisers” or “super stars”. I do it because of my numbers; 9, 147, 267, and 3.

9- Every night before going to bed I dump 9 different prescription medications in my hand and chase them with water. Out of these 6 are to help control my diabetes, and three are for high cholesterol. I hate pills, they are easy for the Dr. to prescribe but harder to get off of than crack cocaine. This number has been on a steady increase over the last 5 years, I am closing in on my 70 year old mothers daily intake of 16 pills. It is time to change.

147- My pre boot camp fasting blood glucose readings. The Dr. keeps telling me he wants me below 110 but I have NEVER averaged that low, and I have never seen a single reading below 100. There are 2 things that scare the hell out of me. First is I feel like I am following in my Mother’s footsteps, I was diagnosed about the same age that she was, and I have patterned the same worsening glucose levels, but the rest of the story is that she suffered a crippling stroke in her early 50’s and soon after became insulin dependent. The second thing is how my doctor keeps telling me I am at the same risk for a heart attack as someone in their early 40’s that has already had one. It is time to change..

267- My weight. Recently reviewing my weight the doctor’s office pointed out I have gained a pound a month over the last three years. It is time to change…

3- My wife and 2 children. The obvious reason is to be around to see them mature and grow. The less obvious but equally important is to show them they do not have to go down the same path I have with my health.

In 5 weeks my numbers have changed. 9 is now 8 not a big difference, but less is an accomplishment.
147 is now 115 I have seen several readings under 110 and even one under 100. That’s just 5 weeks!
267 is now 255 not bad considering how much muscle I have gained!
3 is now multiplied to include a group of people who get out of bed at 5:00 a.m. and stumble down to boot camp with The American Boot Camp Company at Mason Mill park to be healthier. It has also multiplied to include Sonja, Cyndi, Natalie, Joe, Dale, Beth, Jen, and Regina the friends (i.e. instructors) who never miss a chance to encourage, struggle, and laugh with me.
I have paid the gym memberships and never gone. I have bought the exercise equipment that rusted away. Know I have found friends who will work with me to reach my numbers.

If I can so can you! HooAhh!
Scott

I am not a runner

I finished the ING half marathon today!! I did not really have a time goal (only to finish!!) but I felt great the entire race and actually had a good time. Other than slowiing down for water I was able to run the entire course. Without you and boot camp this would never had been possible. A year ago I could barely run 2 minutes at a time and I would just give up. I remember my first month of boot camp with race against yourself you encouraging me and commenting on running with group and what a difference it makes! And the "I am not a runner" email spoke directly to me! Not to sound to corny I just wanted to thank you for pushing me and encouraging me to where I am now....mentally and physically!!
Tiffany B

How I view myself

"The American Boot Camp Company boot camp program has changed my perspective on myself. I was always an athlete in high school, but pretty much gave up fitness in college. I always figured that, as you grow up, you lose that part of yourself...the ability to push yourself that hard and accomplish so much physically. I have always belonged to a gym and have regularly exercised. I was introduced to The American Boot Camp Company Studio in the Fall of last year. I took a core class and came home feeling weak, out of shape and a bit discouraged.

I went back and joined the Studio the next day and soon inquired about Boot Camp. I figured it would be hard, but the only thing I really worried about was getting up at 5:30am. It is now 5 months of Boot Camp later and I feel like a different person! I haven't been that strict with my diet, but I have stuck with the work outs and I am so much stronger. My mile time has dropped almost 2 full minutes and I can feel the strength in my legs as I run!

Today, I feel like a strong woman and I am officially addicted to Boot Camp! The one workout that I always talk to my friends about is the long run. I had never run that far in my life the first time we did it I was so proud! Now I enter into the local 5K races (I did one last year and walked the entire thing because I thought there was no way I could run that far!) and I am even doing a 10K this year! I still never run that far unless I am at Boot Camp.

Almost all of the instructors have made an impact on my experience. However, during my first month (when I was exhausted and intimidated) I was running behind Debbie during the long run. I told myself to just keep up with her and try not to think about how difficult it was for me. Afterwards, I told her that she was my goal during the entire run. I could tell what I had said made her feel really good about herself. At that moment, I realized that the instructors weren't just crazy people that enjoyed being up at 6:00am running backwards up hills. After that, I lightened up and really started to enjoy Boot Camp and the instructors. I have loved getting to know Debbie better and all of the instructors at camp!"

- Angie, Blackburn Park Boot Camp

What I couldn't see

"I wanted to say thank you to both of you this morning. Thanks for seeing something in me that I didn't even see in myself. But this morning I finally saw "it" and got a clear view of what "it" is.

To go from not running in more than ten years to leading one of the harder workouts we do in Boot Camp is a tremendous step forward for me. It is also a tremendous source of pride for me. Thanks for making me a part of the team. I love this stuff."
-Regina

Dr. Steve and his magic

"I wanted to tell you my story about Dr Steve LaScala's Soft Tissue & Chiropractic Clinic and my recent successes with Pulse Activiation Therapy.

As an active participant of Boot Camp in 2007, I developed plantar fasciitis in late 2007. I ignored it until I couldn't any more. I had continual sore feet and painful heels. I quit running. I finally went to see a great sports podiatrist, but even his recommendations of arch supports and exercises weren't enough. Thanks to your recommendation, Mari, I had seen Dr LaScala in the Spring 2007 for a fussy right ankle. I figured that I better see him again; to see if ART would help me again.
This turned out to be one of my better ideas! Not only was the ART very helpful, Dr LaScala had acquired a new therapy since I'd seen him last. Called Pulse Activation Therapy, this new therapy has greatly improved my plantar fasciitis. The internet, friends and even the podiatrist said that this is a long lasting injury - 6 to 9 months - and I'm already back at Boot Camp - after only two sessions with Pulse Activation! I'm still playing catch up, but I will be running the Soldier Field 10 miler in Chicago Memorial Day weekend! I couldn't have done it without Dr Steve and this wondrous therapy.

I would highly recommend Dr Steve, the Soft Tissue & Chiropractic Clinic and Pulse Activation Therapy for anyone with similar issues as mine. Dr Steve will also tell you it has other applications and resulting successes. Thanks so much for letting me know about this!

I wanted to get back in shape and needed to be motivated

"I wanted something that I knew was going to get me back in shape. I just needed something that would make me motivated and knew that if I paid 350.00, that I would do it. The first day that I got there and ran the mile, my time was 12:45 and I thought that I was going to die. This made me realize what TERRIBLE shape that I was in because I used to run a lot, but just hadn't in a long time. The second time that I ran it, my time was 10:45, the third was 10:02 and the fourth was 9:20. When I crossed that finish line at 9:20, I screamed woo-hoo!!!! I could not believe what an improvement I had made.

This has been a life changing experience for me. I thought that I would do Boot Camp for that one month and be done with it, but now I continue to do it because it is so wonderful. I was thinking the other day, that not only do I love this, but I feel like we are somewhat of a little family....we are all there same time everyday with the same instructors, pulling for one another to push ourselves harder and harder! It has been an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. Now, my next goal is a 9:00 minute mile!!! Hoooay!!!"

I would say one of the workouts that stood out the most in my mind was the one where we were on the lower field (baseball) and we ran circles. Mari would blow the whistle once and we would jog, then when she blew it twice we would sprint, then when she blew it again we would do either push ups, sit ups, or an ab bridge. I thought that I was going to die at the end, but loved it after-wards!"
- Kim, Blackburn Park Boot Camp

Chastain Chase 5K

Go boot camp! We had several people place including 2 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 bronze.

www.DoYouBootcamp.com

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