Boot Camp Evaluations

I sent out evaluations forms to all my recent boot camp members to get some feed back about what they liked, what they didn't like and how they felt over all about the camp experience. I had to post this one because this is from a camper named Kenn Kington. He is a comedian and if you ever have an opportunity to go see him preform--DO NOT MISS OUT. Here is a link to some more information on him... http://www.kennkington.com/

I answered honestly and in reality. Use which ever helps you most… I answered twice…

1. Did this bootcamp meet your expectations? Yes, and I had pretty high hopes…
2. Did you feel like the bootcamp was planned out well and organized? So much so that it was exciting to see what was next. That aspect was huge in keeping motivated and anticipating what was next. Very well done!
3. Do you feel as though the bootcamp was good for any fitness level? Yes, we had a huge variety of skill levels and I did not once feel it was slow or too easy.
4. Did you feel as though the bootcamp was unique from other bootcamps? YES, From others I have talked with and compared it s far better planned, better balance, and big KEY: Variety. A different part of my body felt the burn each time.
5. Would you recommend this bootcamp to anyone? I already have and will bring some with me next time we do it.
6. Will you incorporate any of the bootcamp exercises in your weekly routine? Definitely!
   Would you consider this bootcamp to be extremely difficult? It pushed me to my limits and beyond. I would have NEVER pushed myself that hard and that is THE aspect I wanted most. I am not sure I would use the word extreme. That gives me a mental picture of “Unrealistic,” Noel did an amazing job of discerning where we each are and custom fitting the workout to push us past our limits but not so far as to give up and lose touch.
7. How well were the instructions communicated? Very clear and simple. We always knew what to do. In the cases we did not fully grasp it there was someone there to clarify.
8. What was your favorite part about the bootcamp? Results. Getting past my limits and seeing the difference in a short time was exactly what I hoped for…
9. What was your least favorite part about the bootcamp? Missing one session due to a conflict.

Now for the INSIDE Story

1. Did this bootcamp meet your expectations? I never dreamed I could do that much, hurt that bad, and come back for more and like it…
2. Did you feel like the bootcamp was planned out well and organized? I really did LOVE the variety and was excited to know we were doing something different. Clear, very well thought out and energizing.
3. Do you feel as though the bootcamp was good for any fitness level? The first week I felt I was by far the worst shape person there and slowest and fattest… While I remain all those I feel like I have made great progress and never felt like the anchor I am sure I was. I should be picked FIRST for kickball this week!
4. Did you feel as though the bootcamp was unique from other bootcamps? This was light years from what I have heard others talk about. Everyone I discussed it with that had been to other camps were envious of what we do. Most run, push-ups, run, sit-ups, run, jumping jacks, run, blah, blah, blah. With Noel we never knew what was next. My heart rate has never been peaked that quick and that long without long cardio running. It was amazing.
5. Would you recommend this bootcamp to anyone? I already have and look forward to bringing them and watching them go through the initial pain we all enjoyed..
6. Will you incorporate any of the bootcamp exercises in your weekly routine? Yes, but I have to say voluntary burpies and spiderman, and any exercise that includes a foreign country in the name is impossible without a partner to urge you on.
7. Would you consider this bootcamp to be extremely difficult? Is there a word more intense than extreme? It was easy to understand each exercise. It was even OK to do 2-4 reps. The extreme was when my legs quit working After rep 43 and I would have slapped the trainer if I could lift my arms…
8. How well were the instructions communicated? Very clear. Too clear. Left no room for cheating and relaxing at any point of the workout… If we tried to cut a corner for a bit of reprieve there was Noel ready to correct the FORM! Thanks a lot!
9. What was your favorite part about the bootcamp? Week 3 when I could stand with help from anyone. Walk without looking like a new born deer and wash my hair without using a wall for assistance.
10. What was your least favorite part about the bootcamp? The physical adjustment. That and trying to communicate how badly I really did hurt after the first week. “No, really I cannot walk! Standing hurts too. Just sitting here is KILLING me!” My family just smiled and laughed. I would have hit them if I could lift my arms…
11. My other least favorite part was giving up solid foods for 4 weeks. I was glad to do it. It made throwing up after the workouts much easier. I have now grown an acquired taste for strained carrots and squash. Gerber’s makes some great smashed bananas also.
    Wearing diapers takes a bit of getting used to as well. It is not that I have lost control of my bodily functions. My legs are just too sore to get up and walk to the bathroom. And, if I do get there my arms are too sore to do anything once there… TMI I know, but you asked!
    When is the next session! I want to be the first to sign up!

Boot Camp Seminar

That is what I spent my weekend doing. I went to three two - hour seminars Sat/sun on boot camp drills, games for adults and obstacle courses. What I did realize is that the things that I am doing are way more advanced then what is being taught. My boot campers are official tough as nails!!!! It was a good place to network with a few other people running some camps. Overall I found that most are running them in gyms, inside aerobics rooms. It made me really like what I have going on...outside group training. We have so much more variability by doing it outside. You won't see this in the gym:

Stay tuned -- we are in the works of planning the summer bootcamps. We are coming to neighborhoods! If you are intrested in setting one up for your neighborhood, I would love to hear from you.

Pictures of the Final Night

I have been getting back some of the camper's questionnaires and they are all really positive. I will have to post up one that is just hilarious though! Here are a few photos of our Atlanta crew finishing off their four-week camp. They really pushed themselves and i had a blast with them!

End of a Great Camp

Hopefully I will be getting some more pictures up tomorrow on last nights four-week ending camp. It was a good one! I will say, this group of Atlanta boot campers were really tough. I enjoyed the fact that they came every week ready to work above what they thought they could do and succeeded every time! I will hopefully have some testimonials of what they thought about the camp in coming days. I know we definitely had some nice weight loss this past month and I am excited to say that many want to come back for another round. Stay tuned for more!

Boot Camp Workout Atlanta Seminar

I am planning on attending this seminar-or pieces of it- next weekend. They seem to have a great schedule of events and I hope to take home some new ideas for upcoming camps in my area. It is kind of a pic and choose style of what you want attend. I haven't decided for sure but I do know that i will be going to the Obstacle Course and Kettlebell Workout. There are a few more that I am interested in. As I get more details I will be posting about them.

http://exerciseetc.com/bootcamp.html#schedule

Boot Camper's Perspective

Here is what one of my campers thinks of this past four week camp!



Well, here I am sitting at the threshold of finishing one of Maximum Fitness Boot Camps. I just finished session 7 of 8 last night. It was predominately a core focused hour of training which was exactly what I needed. One of the great things about going through a boot camp is you find out where your strengths are and for sure your most glaring weaknesses. After last night it doesn't take long to figure out that my core strength is pretty weak. Trying to get out of bed this morning it doesn't take long to figure out I have virtually no core strength. As I go into each session of the boot camp I am excited and a little nervous as to what we might do. Maximum Fitness does an incredible job of mixing up each session so that things do not get redundant and before each one you are left wondering "oh boy, what are we going to do today?". Most of the time it is best that you do know not what your drill Sergeant has in store for you. Trust me. It is just better that way. I have to admit that my expectations of this boot camp were pretty high. I knew who was leading it. I had an idea of who I would be doing it with. And I even knew that it would be a great challenge each time we hit the field. I also have to admit that it has far exceeding my expectations.

I have lost 10lbs through the first 3weeks with guidance from Noel about nutrition. I have burned more calories than I ever have in any workout at the gym. It has been so much fun to do this with a group of people that I could at this point call family because of what we have been through together. I have had to meet each challenge with determination and a survival mentality that I wasn't sure I still had in me. But the best part is that next Monday at around 7pm I will be able to say with 12 other people "I DID IT!". There is just a huge sense of accomplishment in making it through to the end and challenging your body the way we did.

John Harris


Stay tuned for some photos of John. He has made some incredible changes since working with Maximum Fitness Consulting!

Atlanta Boot Camp: Doing it with Tires

There are so many ways to workout. Here is a great way to incorporate tires into your training!