Entry FeedI just finished my first week of Best Body Bootcamp, and the good news is that I survived.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, I woke at 5:30 am, got dressed and went to the park with my yoga mat and resistance band to exercise. Monday I was keen, and almost threw-up from my enthusiasm. It was fit test day. First, I stepped on the scale to measure weight and body-fat; not good news, but at 6 am I was too tired to care. Then I was measured - arms, chest, waist, pantsize, hips, and thighs. The only measurements that weren't scary were arms and waist...
After measurements, the fitness test began. V-holds, push-ups, planks, sprints. It is the sprint that almost made me vomit, and that was my first real taste of the bootcamp experience, as the wonderful instructor yelled, "DON'T SIT DOWN! YOU WILL FEEL WORSE! GET UP TANIA! GET UP!" Wow - 6:30 am and she remembered my name...
Her remembering my name is actually the theme of the week - she gets to use it a lot. "TANIA! GET YOUR BUTT DOWN!" "TANIA - KEEP GOING!" "TANIA! GET THOSE KNEES UP! TANIA! FASTER! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!" I think I must have her favourite name or something. Either that, or I need the most pushing in the class.
Wednesday was a little early after Hockey on Tuesday night, but I made it with almost a smile. It was arms day, and my arms were jello before I left. The class starts with a warm up jog, followed by different series of exercises broken up by suicides. I realized that it has been about 20 years since I last ran suicides (we used to call them shuttle runs, I think). It has been more than 20 years since I did jumping jacks.
Every day at bootcamp takes me back to my fitness tests in high school, only without Mrs. Barrett and her whistle. Eroca, our wonderful instructor, pushes everyone to their individual limits, with the right balance of encouragement and kick-in-the-butt. We do abs with every class, and crazy push-ups for fun.
Really. It is hard work, but sort of fun in a weird way. There is also an amazing feeling of satisfaction when you are done.
Friday was really early. I woke and get dressed, and while tying my running shoes, I thought to myself, "Who will care if you skip it this morning and go back to bed?"
Then I answered myself, "COME ON YOU LAZY-BONES!" Was that Eroca's voice in my head? Then I called myself some not-so-nice names for actually thinking of quitting after just two sessions, grabbed my water bottle and headed out the door.
Greeted by mosquitoes, the moon and stars, and Eroca, I got there on time. My body is sore and tired, but it feels good to push myself. I need this. My body will thank me for this, I am sure of it.
Who can do Best Body Bootcamp? Anyone and everyone. The beauty of the program is that it is like having a personal trainer, but in a class of 10. You get pushed to your individual limits, and you get individual attention and correction.
Honestly, I am thankful for the two days off. But I am almost looking forward to Monday. Almost.