Drop and Give Me 20! - An Inside Look at Boot Camp

Whenever someone hears the word boot camp they automatically think "military." There is no question that the word boot camp was and is used frequently by the military, but that shouldn't scare people away. Boot camp is a word that holds a strong reputation in both civilian and military lifestyles. This word has become an activity to those who choose to develop themselves mentally and physically. This last statement will be clarified in detail and will let you decide if you're ready to challenge yourself.

A real boot camp is a place where men and women go because they don't feel disciplined enough to succeed at something. This is a place to prepare you to go ahead in life and give you that extra push. Years ago I decided I needed that extra motivation to make myself successful and follow my dreams. I enlisted in a military boot camp at Fort Brenning, Georgia. To my pleasant surprise, I was eagerly greeted by drill instructors - each of which weighed about 200 lbs of rock solid muscle. I spent the next four months working hard to adapt to my new environment, trying to get myself in the best shape of my life. The experience I went through was extremely difficult, but I made it! Looking back on the whole experience, it was well worth the sacrifice. The vigorous training I received gave me the confidence and self esteem to take on any challenge I could possibly encounter in life. We ran and ran, and when we finished, we ran some more! We did pushup after pushup, until are arms were so tired we could hardly brush our teeth. We gained "abs of steel" from hundreds of sit-ups. We did everything the old fashioned way, with no conventional weights or treadmills. It was just straight bodyweight exercises and running that got each of us incredible shape. So for those of you who think you need weights to get in shape, think again!

I currently work as a strength coach, personal trainer, and boot camp instructor with Elite Athlete Training Systems, Inc. (E.A.T.S.). One of my main responsibilities to oversee several boot camp classes that I teach at area health clubs. I took what I learned as a Master Fitness Instructor in the Army and used that knowledge to work with everyday mom and dads in a "civilian" atmosphere. These classes are designed to take the participants through vigorous workouts to help them achieve a higher level of fitness. Some people are rather intimidated by my hardcore approach. But bottom line is, if you want to get in shape, you need someone like me in your face making you do things you wouldn't do on your own. They respect me from my years of real life boot camp experience, and in the end, they are very thankful that I am so "mean!" I am proud to teach a class that uses the same philosophy that I went through in the Army. It seems as though everyone is a so-called "boot camp" instructor now a days - but I am the real deal! You can tell an experienced and genuine boot camp instructor by the way they conduct their class. When selecting a boot camp class, look for the following in the instructor: discipline, enthusiasm, uses an appropriate format/ structure to the class. Most of the exercises should consist of the following: push-ups in all variations, sit ups, calisthenics, flexibility, and endurance with the main focus of the class centering on strict discipline and teamwork. Anything less will probably be a waste of your time and energy. Take it from me, someone who has had an inside look at a real boot camp.

If you have any questions/comments or are interested in taking part in a real boot camp style fitness class, please contact Sgt. Kenneth Andrade at: Kenny@EliteAthleteTraining.com or 301.972.0558. Thank you for your time and interest in this matter.