Operation Bootcamp

Fitness ‘bootcamp’ is the new step class — they’re seriously popping up all over the city.
Unlike Beau B, I’m in the opposite camp — I don’t love hitting the gym all the time, and it takes a serious self-​pep talk to get myself to go. Which is the primary reason I thought I’d try Operation Bootcamp!
You sign up for a month at a time, and go to the bootcamp four days out of the week, and go to one of their studio classes on your day off.
I did the 6 a.m. Piedmont Park one — mind you it’s still dark, cold and often damp at this time of the morning. You will roll around in wet grass, get dirty, and have sweat dripping down your face.
It was great — really empowering —
«Yesss! i really can do 40 push-​ups?! I rock.» (insert high-​five to self)
«Did I totally just run five miles?! Go me, go me!»
And depending on how you workout, very nice to have all the other people working out with you.
As for meeting/​talking to other people, the 6 a.m. slot is not the best — you’re all still half asleep and can’t see each other in the pitch black darkness. But I’d imagine a different time slot, you’d get to know your fellow campers a bit better.
You also write down what you’ve eaten in a little red notebook — they have guidelines they want you to follow (eat six small meals a day, snack on almonds, etc.), and suggest limited sweets, caffeine, and alcohol. I *might* have cheated a little by not writing down a few beverages and candy that I had, but otherwise, it was helpful to see your meals written down in black and white!
Seriously think about if you have the time to make the commitment — it really shocked me that many of my fellow bootcampers rarely showed up. .. despite the fact that I know that they likewise threw down a couple hundred dollars for the experience, too! So make sure that you can fit it into your schedule and you’re willing to go first.
This is the only one that I have experience with, but I’d research around to find the company (especially now that there’s so many!) that best fits your schedule and workout style. If I could afford it (um, which i can’t!) I would sign up on a regular basis — but hopefully a month or two will be just the ticket to jump starting your personal fitness plan!