The Benefits of Boot Camp

New workouts and fad fitness classes seem to pop up overnight. Every week there seems to be a new trendy workout, but sometimes sticking to the basics is the best way to go. When in doubt, take a cue from our local servicemen with good old-fashioned boot camp. What is boot camp? Well for starters, it’s intervals between running and weight training. It’s an intense workout that leaves you breathless, but with toned abs and chiseled legs.

Boot camp challenges every muscle in your body and with little rest in between each set; you’re bound to feel the burn and intensity. By constantly moving for an hour, your body has no time to rest, therefore your burning hundreds of calories, even when you stop. It’s a way to challenge your body and mind into doing a workout, which leaves no prisoners.

It’s for the strong, the weak, the fit, and the not so fit. There is no discrimination, as long as you have the will to finish what you started.

Torch Calories

Boot camp classes are a great way to torch calories. Most places, such as Barry’s Boot camp, shut the doors and cut the air conditioning, which leaves you feeling like you’re working out in the desert. At first it’s challenging, but once the sweat starts to pour down your face, you realize the combination of the heavy heat and constant repetitions is doing your body a favor.

You’re moving constantly, at a rapid motion, which burns major calories and you can usually expect to burn between 500 to 600 calories during one-hour long session. By doing high intensity intervals of strength training, mixed with bursts of cardio, gives you a total body workout and torches fat.

Cardio and Weights

Most classes involve using treadmills and hand weights. In an hour, you’re getting your cardio fix as well as toning your muscles with strength training. That’s a plus for those who dread doing cardio because even though the cardio session in the class might be shorter than what you’re used to doing on your own, the intensity is at a higher level.

You’re still burning just as many calories, if not more. Mixing it up between cardio and strength training is essential for weight loss because you need the fat burning cardio paired with the muscle building training to get the results you want.

Build Confidence

Once you finish your first boot camp class, clothes drenched in sweat, heard pounding and muscles fatigued, you’ll get that burst of energy and confidence when you realize what you just endured and completed. Getting through a challenging workout builds confidence and self-esteem. Look into yourself and realize that you just did something so good for your body and mind.

Article By: Alanna Brager at Active

The Arena District Athletic Club is more than just a gym, it’s a premier fitness facility located in the heart of the Arena District in downtown Columbus. We provide convenience and quality, featuring top-of-the-line equipment, top-notch personal trainers, spa-like locker rooms and a wide variety of free group fitness classes daily including Cardio, Spinning, Barre Fusion, Yoga, Boot Camp and more. We offer free 2-hour parking and convenient contract-free memberships, to fit your healthy lifestyle needs. Don’t just join, belong.