Fit in the City: Bootcamp

With summer here, there’s a lot more motivation to hit the gym. After all, we want to look good in those swimsuits and mini-skirts! Well, that’s all well and good but what happens a few months down the road once you’ve hit your goal weight? Or once you’ve come back from that vacation in the Bahamas for which you were trying to get bikini-ready? Let’s face it, the gym can be your best friend or it can be your worst enemy. However complicated your relationship, you know you have to learn to get along. The key to a long-lasting relationship with fitness? I believe it’s by keeping it fun yet challenging. While I certainly don’t claim to be a fitness guru, I do enjoy different types of workouts. Exercise fads, just like diets, come and go, but I have found a few activities that keep me motivated and coming back for more. Today’s topic will be the first among a series of posts where I share my ways of staying fit in the city! 

One of my favorite ways to stay in shape is through my bootcamp. Over a year ago, I felt stuck in a rut with my workout routine at the gym. It was the same old running on the treadmill, doing a few weights, and maybe working on the elliptical. I wasn’t challenging myself and my muscles were bored. It was time for a change. That’s when I joined Warrior Fitness Bootcamp (WFBC). 

What it is: WFBC is basically a military-style indoor bootcamp run by two former Marines, Alex and Ruben. You get a full body workout based on circuit training, cardio, free weights, calisthenics, obstacle courses, and other rigorous military-based exercises. WFBC has been featured in several magazines and shows. You can check them out here on Dr. Oz! 

What I love:I’ve run up as much as 36 flights of stairs in a class, scaled walls, learned to climb a rope up to the ceiling, held a plank pose for 2 minutes, and other crazy things I never thought I could do…all while the WFBC trainers were yelling at me to go harder and encouraging me at the same time. Alex and Ruben see your capabilities even when you don't and know how to push you to your limits. I’ve probably never been in better shape! What’s more, the class is structured so that people work out as part of a team, encouraging and supporting each other. My favorite part? When we all end class by lining up in a plank pose, count down from 20, and shout out “Warrior!” in unison. By the end of the hour-long madness, my body is tired and trembling…but damn, do I feel like a Warrior.

What I don’t love:While the bootcamp offers a significant level of personal attention and is more affordable than a personal trainer, it can still weigh a little on the wallet if you plan to continue long-term. So consider the different class packages offered and see which is right for you.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s do those 100 crunches with a 10-pound medicine ball, Warrior!