Ask the Doper Who Just Started Boot Camp

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

No, not military boot camp. The gym kind.

My gym has offered it before, but I’ve always balked at the cost ($128 for two days a week for eight weeks, above and beyond the gym membership.) That plus getting up at 4:30 IN THE MORNING for two days a week for eight weeks was yucky.

This time it was $64 for two days a week over four weeks, and I figured, what the hell. I already work out four days a week, let’s mix things up. They had a “free trial” last Wednesday.

I made my normal protein shake (I do that on Saturdays, when I have back to back classes) and headed to the gym. I’ve done early AM classes before, so I knew how to pack my gym bag for work. I get into the fitness room and see people setting up weights, like for Body Pump. So I did my normal warm up weight and grabbed some other weights to add on later.

The instructor, Travis (not his real name), also teaches my spin class. He’s married to another instructor at the gym and is an all around great guy. He told me I wouldn’t have time to switch out weights, so I loaded up.

What followed was an hour of fast weights, cardio, and Tabata. The protein shake started to feel like not such a good idea. I was shaking and nauseated when I left.

This morning, I ate a banana and a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter before class. Again, more fast weights, sprinting, jumping on and off the step, which I have a phobia of, because sometimes my ankle laughs at me and folds under. This morning I did the jumps. I didn’t fly on and off the step, but I managed to lift myself a few inches in the air. Travis was very encouraging and everyone works at their own level.

After class I wasn’t sick to my stomach, but my face was as red as a tomato that just got a sext from Anthony Weiner. It’s been a while since I had such a God I Want to Die workout, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the session.

Anyone else done a gym boot camp?

2

I haven’t yet. They are building a cross fit gym next to my office (it was such a lovely day when the foundation work was done.) I’ve considered signing up just because it’s so conveniently located. My husband has wanted to try cross fit for years. I’m a middle aged, overweight lady who absolutely hates working out to the point of nausea, so I probably won’t follow through. It would be lovely to feel strong again though. I’ve been a weakling for way too long.

3

You just have to take the first step. We’ve all been weaklings when we started. The benefits are enormous.

Today I am sore in new and exciting places. The very bottom of my butt and below my shoulderblades. I wonder if that has to do with the mountain climbers we did across the room, then backwards? That was very not fun.

What I like about this class is how everyone encourages each other. Travis goes around the room, helping people with their form and to bust it out.

4

When you say that everyone works at their own level, how broad a range are we talking about? My sole form of exercise is tennis, and even though I’m doing that three or four times a week, I’d like to do something active on the non-tennis days. I have a treadmill at home, but I just get bored with it so quickly that I often don’t follow through with it.

I’ve dropped 35 pounds in the last year, but I still have a long way to go, and I worry that Boot Camp might be more than I’m ready to handle. What can you tell me about folks joining who aren’t already at a decent level of fitness?

5

We do have an overweight lady there. I talked to her a bit after. She’s not able to do the high knees at a run (hell, I can’t maintain that for long either) but Travis is encouraging her to the point where she at least get her knees up past waist level.

I think it depends on the gym. Certainly I wouldn’t be a member of one where people are sneered or demeaned. I pretty much do the fitness classes exclusively, and we’re always welcoming to the newbies. We were all one at one point. The fact that they’re there and at least trying to get in shape is great. At my gym, no one will make fun of you.

I would definitely talk to the instructor. I was worried when I started Body Pump, but I started out at baby weights and now I’ve progressed. They shouldn’t push you to the point of medical collapse, although Travis did say he’s working us to the point of failure, because that’s when the change starts.

This type of nonsense should never be tolerated.

6

So what is the plan after 4 weeks? Will your fitness level have changed by then? Or do you keep going for another 4 week session?

7

I did boot camp a few years ago and got good at burpees.

8

I’m not sure when they’ll offer another session. I think my fitness will improve, but not as much as if it had been an eight week course (although Travis is saying he’s trying to cram in eight weeks worth of boot camp into four, so who knows.)

My shoulders are sore this morning, and apparently my stance is a bit too wide for how I’ve been doing squats. I definitely felt it when he fixed my form.