Hooah!

Ok. Let me state the obvious: I am a weekly manicure/bi-monthly pedicure kind of girl. I use my family’s fishing trips as a ruse to lay out on a boat and I wouldn’t even consider baiting my own hook. Camping is out of the question. (Please see L+L’s political agenda for more details.) I’ve been known to slick on tinted Kiehl’s lip gloss and a single coat of mascara to go work out at La Fit and until last December or so, the only real running I did was the occasional frantic airport terminal sprint.

However, I have been gleefully waking at 5:00AM daily to go roll around in Piedmont Park and LOVING IT. Yes, friends. I am officially a member of the converted: Boot Camp.

Atlanta is a BIG Boot Camp city. I’ve heard this comment from several Atlanta newcomers and I think that is a fair assessment. I’d venture to say there are more people in the park at 5:45AM than 5:45PM.

Now, there are many camps that meet in the park, but I’m here to tell you about mine. I do Operation Boot Camp – and there are several different OBC camps that meet at the same time, all named for the location in which they meet in the park. I’m a “Charles Allen” person and probably always will be. (Although, my friend Raph is an instructor at the “Grady” camp and sometimes I consider switching as they run by singing songs. In the March camp, I swear to you I heard him leading the pack in his own version of Amy Winehouse: “They tried to make me go to Boot Camp, I said no, no, no…” Hilarious.)

Mer and the Twinks got hooked on CA because of their cult following of the leader, Joy, who is a.m.a.z.i.n.g. I can’t describe it. She’s so motivating and wonderful. (Note: I was devastated to learn that Joy was taking this month off, but Kevin, who is usually the co-leader, has stepped in for her and been absolutely phenomenal as well. I honestly don’t know who I like better. He’s a riot. He’ll bark an order and then giggle. It’s adorable.) All the instructors are fabulous, actually. They are all of slightly various ages/levels of fitness as well. Today, I just learned one of my favorites is also a personal chef! Check it out: http://www.fightsfeast.com/

Here’s the Q+DD on Operation Boot Camp:

• It’s a 4-week program, 5 days a week (every other Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday you have off, but you must do “homework” workouts on your own)
• We meet at 5:45 and work out till 6:45 (unless you stay for “Encouragement.” Note: To me,”Encouragement” reads “Punishment.” Really, it’s just an extra 5 minutes at the end of the workout if you were bad.
• There are a variety of different workouts that are used, but they definitely get harder as the weeks go on. My favorites are Centipede, 20/20/20, Guts and Guns and Scavenger Hunt. Use your imagination. As far as I can tell, there are two types of workouts: field workouts (which feel like old school gym class) and running around the park workouts. I have no preference, they’re both awesome.
• The workouts are dove-tailed with a nutritional plan. You write down your food intake in a book they give you and one of the instructors checks it every morning and makes helpful little suggestions! They will also send you daily motivational emails and recipe ideas.
• You aren’t supposed to drink any alcohol. This is my third boot camp, and the first time I have actually gone 4 weeks with out consuming a single unit of alcohol and I’m telling you, it makes a huge difference. But if 0 units sounds absolutely unbearable (and I can understand that!) I’m also telling you there have been plenty of mornings in the past where I have been out there sweating vodka and survived. It’s just more comfortable the other way.
• There are a LOT of OBC times and locations. It’s a nationwide company with a LOT of scheduling options. There are new camps starting almost every week! See their website for more details.
• If you’re not a “runner,” no sweat. (Pun intended.) While there are plenty of people training for various events: 10Ks, triathlons, marathons, etc, there are also people at all levels of fitness and at the end of 1 boot camp you WILL be able to run a 5K with ease. Fact.
• Yes, we still work out in the rain, and yes, you will work out in the mud. Yes, I have found grass in my ear at 3PM.

Try OBC for FREE:
There are 2 options. You can go to a FREE workout each and every Saturday in Piedmont Park. They meet at 8:15AM right by the Willy’s/Quattro entrance off Piedmont. OR, you can go to “Bring a Friend” day which is typically the 3rd Thursday of each camp. This one is trickier, you need to have a friend in the camp so that they can alert you of this.

You guys, I LOVE it. I mean, I really do. I feel amazing, I can tell I am improving athletically, and I know I am working harder because the group mentality is very encouraging. I am getting used to the early mornings (although, I’ll tell you, I have been going to sleep in the PM which is different for me. Oh, and my new favorite question is, “What time do you go to bed?” That’s a little weird.) but honestly, I feel more balanced and centered in general.

I recommend OBC 200%. Despite the havoc it’s wreaking on my manicure.

Hooah!

xx, L

www.operationbootcamp.com