Considering it's windy and chilly, and the group has already completed a warm-up, a running drill and exercises like squats -- all by about 5:45 a.m. -- a few words of encouragement are in order.
Welcome to Adventure Boot Camp. Participants sign up for one month of workouts and can opt to attend either three or five days a week. Every day incorporates different activities, such as lifting light weights to running through obstacle courses.
The camp has its roots in California, where personal trainer John Spencer Ellis started it about five years ago. Today, his licensed fitness program runs in more than 120 cities across North America, including Ottawa. (For details on the several Ottawa Adventure Boot Camps, see ottawabootcamp.
com) "The great thing about (the camp) is it works really quickly, it's fun and it's interactive," says Fine. "There's no harsh trainer yelling at you or degrading you." Yes, that is true.
Although, at one point Fine does fake-punch me in the stomach to make sure my abs are engaged. Fine is fun and energetic -- a feat for anyone at 5:30 a.m.
"After a couple of days, getting up so early isn't bad at all," he says. Joyce Pearson, a stay-at-home mom with two kids, feels the same way. "It's tough some days, but once I'm up, I don't feel more tired than I did before because I have more energy," says Pearson, 35.
For her, the camp is at a perfect time. "Having kids at home, I couldn't get into a routine. This time just really worked well for me because I can get home and my husband can then go to work.
" On this particular Monday morning, the group is starting its third week of camp. Pearson says she notices a difference since her pre-camp fitness evaluation, which includes detailed body composition testing, as well as taking measurements and "before" photos. "I've dropped a couple of pounds, but mostly I can feel muscles where there weren't before.
" Shantz, the owner of a furnace company, says he lost five pounds after the first three days. "I've lost a lot on my face, and I have lost inches. I'm enjoying it.
I let myself get out of shape and I needed something to jump-start me and get me going. This is working." Everyone in the camp will have a post-camp evaluation to assess physical results.
"The results I promise are that, in 30 days, you're going to lose three to five per cent body fat, between five and 10 pounds on the scale, have a minimum of 25-per-cent improvement in strength, a one- to- three-inch decrease in your midsection, a 25-per-cent increase in endurance, greatly improved posture, better relaxation and a higher self-confidence," says Fine. Considering it's windy and chilly, and the group has already completed a warm-up, a running drill and exercises like squats -- all by about 5:45 a.m.
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