Boot Camp - a great experience to kick your bootie into shape! Can everyone do Boot Camp?

I recently had the pleasure of participating in my first outdoor boot camp ever with The American Boot Camp Company, and it has been a wonderful experience! For four weeks, four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday), I participated in the 5:30 a.m. boot camp at Fullers Park and I loved it! It helped me jump-start my fitness regimen by pushing me further beyond my comfort zone. It was tough and it was intense, but I was able to do it and it was worth it! After finishing my first boot camp, I lost 6 pounds, and more importantly, I gained endurance, stamina, muscle tone, and renewed confidence. Also, with the fantastic eating plan they recommended, I am now eating a much healthier diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat and other healthy proteins, and I am drinking lots of water.

The instructors/leaders are awesome too! They enthusiastically push you and cheer you on to do more, go faster and go further to get better. Since you're going through the intense workout the other participants, the camaraderie that you get from your fellow boot campers is incredible too! Since the male/female ratio is split equally, and the age range for boot camp is very mixed, with some people in their late teens, and others in their early 50's and everyone else in between, you'll never feel like you're the only man or woman, or the youngest or oldest participant in the group.
I wholeheartedly recommend The American Boot Camp Company to anyone who is looking for a way to jump-start or boost their exercise routine, training, and health. I am looking very forward to doing it again soon!

A question or concern you might have about outdoor boot camp is, "Can everyone do it?” Mari Garner, the owner of The American Boot Camp Company, has the answer:

"The American Boot Camp Company has been running outdoor fitness programs since 2005 and one of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, 'Is boot camp right for me?'"

"We advertise that boot camp is great for all fitness levels, but is that really true? Before signing up for boot camp, consider these boot camp truths:
Boot camp is held outdoors and you will get dirty. If exercising in rain, mud or wet grass causes issues for you, then our indoor facility may be a better fit.

There is some form of running every day at boot camp, and because we are use parks, some of that running is on concrete. If you have severe knee issues or any injury that prohibits you from running, you may want to consider swimming as a fitness option, or contact one of our personal trainers.

However, if you just don't "think" you are a runner, boot camp is DEFINITELY FOR YOU. You do not need to be able to run very far when you start, you just need to have the ability to move without severe pain.
You do not need to be fit to join boot camp. You do not need to "get in shape" to come to boot camp, that is what boot camp is all about. But if you have not been moving at all in the past year and decide to join boot camp, give yourself two weeks to start walking and moving for at least 10 minutes a day before you begin. And make sure you attend the orientation the week prior to the start of camp to get acquainted with the program and to get the pre-boot camp homework assignments.

Boot camp is NOT just for weight loss. Our program is an athletic based program and many of our participants compete in triathlons and road races on a monthly basis.

"How do we challenge both out of shape and athletic participants? Well, that is the secret, isn't it? With a 5 to 1 camper to instructor ratio, we are able to break up our larger groups into smaller fitness level groups to provide appropriate workouts for each level of participant. We also have carefully designed larger group workouts and modifications to each exercise so that no matter where you are with your fitness regimen, we can challenge you."
The American Boot Camp Company's Chastain Park (Sandy Springs) and Fuller's Park (East Cobb location, where I had my boot camp experience) locations provide Atlanta runners with an alternative to the gym. The American Boot Camp Company's programs take the guesswork out of cross training and strength training by providing fun, co-ed group workouts in an outdoor setting that will help you become a better runner and stay injury free. For more information, check out The American Boot Camp Company's fantastic program at www.thebootcampcompany.com.
Ready to sign up? Follow the link above, and complete online registration. The American Boot Camp Company does limit the group size in each boot camp, and they are filling up fast for Spring, so don't wait too long!

Mention Fleet Feet Sports Atlanta and save $25 on your first 4-week boot camp at any Metro Atlanta Location. (code FLEET).

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