Boot camp. These two words scare many people. They bring back memories of military boot camp or basic training. Those grueling weeks that recruits must go through when they join the military. Hours upon hours of intense workouts, strict rules, sleep depravation. One rule fondly (sarcasm) remembered is there is no walking in boot camp. Everywhere anyone needed to go, needed to be at a run. The main goal, breakdown the person you were and make a new better, faster, stronger person (or have them go crazy and be institutionalized). Sounds like a great program to get the average couch potato in shape right?!? Welcome to the next fad of exercise. Boot Camp Las Vegas* (or enter any big city as they all have some form).
I decided that I really needed to dive into working out. The gym isn’t really for me. I have no one to push me so I tend to stick to just a few machines or a slower pace on the treadmill. And I get bored, no one to talk to or complain with. So boot camp sounded like a good idea (famous last words). My particular boot camp has locations all over Vegas at various times so there is no excuse of work getting in the way. The classes are small (less than 10 people) with one trainer so they can help push you and correct form when doing exercises. And everyone is suffering together so you can complain to someone else. But careful of the complaining part, if the trainer hears you its 20 pushups. Oh and that famous rule, there is no walking in boot camp. Still a rule.
But I think that I have gotten ahead of myself. I am sure a few people are scratching their heads about what is so hardcore. An example workout will help. First is the warm up run. Usually a mile or so. Then there is the circuit training. Basically different exercises set up to work your arms legs and core but all done at a very fast pace and running from station to station so that your heart rate stays in the “workout zone”. And some times just for the fun of it we run carrying 12 lb medicine balls or wearing 40 lb vests. If you don’t feel like you are dying about 30 seconds into the workout you are not doing it right.
Blood, sweat, tears, bruises, beyond sore muscles – all par for boot camp. And I hate running, my chest feels like it is going to explode. But the strange thing is. I am on week two. Day six for me is tomorrow. And I know I am going back next week. Because somewhere buried under all the torture is a good work out. And I have a goal of how much body fat that I need to lose and I am trying to make it. If not – the institution here is Vegas has some comfy beds…
PS – My new perfume of choice: Eau de IcyHot
Running total:
Boot Camp (1 month) $200.00
Icy Hot (1 tube) $6.99
Hot Pad $19.99
Pedometer $11.95
Total $238.93
Next time: new tough workout means new tough shoes!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My Pedometer is Cuter Than Your Pedometer
So there are those people out there who are skinny thin and they swear that walking is their only form of exercise. There is a school of thought out there that every step counts and that we should be walking towards a daily goal and walking away the pounds. I get that it is better to take the stairs over an elevator or park a little farther away from the front door of a store and walk, but could walking alone be the miracle key to weight loss??
I decided to give the “every step counts” theory a try and the only piece of equipment I needed for this was a pedometer. These things are everywhere. For two box tops from Special K and $5.95 shipping and handling you too can get one. Even for a while McDonald’s was giving them away. I wonder if they also gave you a little chart noting that you had to walk like a million steps to burn of that Big Mac and fries. Anyways, where was I?? Oh my pedometer purchase…
I headed off to my local REI to check out different makes and models and was hoping to find something of a better quality than the free box top kind. Who knew there were so many types available?? They ranged in price from the basic model (about $8) to one with all of this software that tracks various days a time and has a USB cable so you can plus it into your computer and graph various things such as calories burned or steps taken (math geeks are rejoicing now). The middle range models had various bells and whistles from an emergency cord that has a loud alarm if you are out walking and are attacked to one that talks to you and tells you at various times how far you have gone, how many calories you have burned. I can see it now “Hey, fat ass, walk faster. If you were going any slower pigeons would land on you.” Needless to say I choose not to get the talking kind.
The pedometer that I made it home with is a cute little thing. The Freestyle Micro Pedometer that is a little over an inch big for $11.95. It calculates steps, distance and calories burned. It also has a stop watch. And that is all. Except it is soooo tiny and cute. The small size does have an advantage. I can wear it anywhere without feeling like I am wearing an old-school beeper on my pants and having them fall down. I just clip it and go and forget that I am actually getting a workout while I run my errands. The downside, it’s soooo tiny that it could fall off during the day and I would never know prompting another $11.95 purchase. But for now I’ll take that risk.
So now I am trying the “every step counts” theory out in everyday life. But I did draw the line at wearing it around the house as I get ready in the morning. I may be missing hundreds of steps as I wander the house before work, but I refuse to clip the thing to my underwear…
Stay tuned to find out if I am “Bootcamp Tough”
Cost:
Pedometer $11.95
Total $11.95
I decided to give the “every step counts” theory a try and the only piece of equipment I needed for this was a pedometer. These things are everywhere. For two box tops from Special K and $5.95 shipping and handling you too can get one. Even for a while McDonald’s was giving them away. I wonder if they also gave you a little chart noting that you had to walk like a million steps to burn of that Big Mac and fries. Anyways, where was I?? Oh my pedometer purchase…
I headed off to my local REI to check out different makes and models and was hoping to find something of a better quality than the free box top kind. Who knew there were so many types available?? They ranged in price from the basic model (about $8) to one with all of this software that tracks various days a time and has a USB cable so you can plus it into your computer and graph various things such as calories burned or steps taken (math geeks are rejoicing now). The middle range models had various bells and whistles from an emergency cord that has a loud alarm if you are out walking and are attacked to one that talks to you and tells you at various times how far you have gone, how many calories you have burned. I can see it now “Hey, fat ass, walk faster. If you were going any slower pigeons would land on you.” Needless to say I choose not to get the talking kind.
The pedometer that I made it home with is a cute little thing. The Freestyle Micro Pedometer that is a little over an inch big for $11.95. It calculates steps, distance and calories burned. It also has a stop watch. And that is all. Except it is soooo tiny and cute. The small size does have an advantage. I can wear it anywhere without feeling like I am wearing an old-school beeper on my pants and having them fall down. I just clip it and go and forget that I am actually getting a workout while I run my errands. The downside, it’s soooo tiny that it could fall off during the day and I would never know prompting another $11.95 purchase. But for now I’ll take that risk.
So now I am trying the “every step counts” theory out in everyday life. But I did draw the line at wearing it around the house as I get ready in the morning. I may be missing hundreds of steps as I wander the house before work, but I refuse to clip the thing to my underwear…
Stay tuned to find out if I am “Bootcamp Tough”
Cost:
Pedometer $11.95
Total $11.95
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Why I Started Spending...
So, for those of you who know me, this next statement is going to be nothing new for you; for those of you who don’t know me, welcome to my world…I am not a huge fan of my body. I know, me and the other millions out there. Well last October I started a diet. And I lost some good healthy weight. But I still don’t like my body, so it is on to part two. Exercise.
I have never really been an exercise girl, you know the full-on person who owns more workout clothes than normal clothes and the guys at the gym know her by name, not me. Growing up I did kiddie dance and gymnastics and I was on the swim team a bit in high school but that was really it. There have been times that I have gotten motivated and joined a gym, but it never lasted. Now I am trying to make it work.
But things are way more expensive than I remember. There are a ton of gadgets in today’s technological world that people advise to make your workout easier and more efficient. That is what this blog is about. The Co$t of Exerci$e. Have fun with me ranting (or raving) about the products that I had to buy for my weight loss endeavor. Hopefully you’ll find something that you can relate to.
Stay tuned for installment one – the pedometer and the buying flood that it starts…
I have never really been an exercise girl, you know the full-on person who owns more workout clothes than normal clothes and the guys at the gym know her by name, not me. Growing up I did kiddie dance and gymnastics and I was on the swim team a bit in high school but that was really it. There have been times that I have gotten motivated and joined a gym, but it never lasted. Now I am trying to make it work.
But things are way more expensive than I remember. There are a ton of gadgets in today’s technological world that people advise to make your workout easier and more efficient. That is what this blog is about. The Co$t of Exerci$e. Have fun with me ranting (or raving) about the products that I had to buy for my weight loss endeavor. Hopefully you’ll find something that you can relate to.
Stay tuned for installment one – the pedometer and the buying flood that it starts…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)