Austin Adventure Boot Camp

FREE 3-Day Boot Camp Sampler: January 4-6!

2010-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

A special message to those who want to start/change/improve their fitness program in 2010:

Five years ago, Austin Adventure Boot Camp helped to pioneer and set the standard for the boot camp industry in Austin, TX. We are thankful to see that industry continue to grow and recognize that you have many choices when selecting an Austin area boot camp.

In a continued effort to pioneer, set new standards, and bring you that which will help achieve your fitness goals faster and easier, we offer: • unlimited boot camp • classes 6 days per week • free custom nutrition plans • free Saturday boot camp • 8+ locations • morning, mid-morning and evening classes • women’s only classes • co-ed classes • pre and post camp body composition assessments • pre and post camp fitness assessments… with more to come in 2010.

So that you can achieve your goals, we are proud to offer you more fitness tools than any other boot camp in the Austin area, not to mention our award winning classes and proven expertise. If you want to lose weight, gain lean muscle, improve energy levels, increase endurance, look better, feel better, and have fun, then please join us for three free days and discover what Austin Adventure Boot Camp has to offer you. (All ages, sizes, and fitness levels welcome!)

Registration is easy, Sign up today!

NOTE: If you cannot make the sampler but would still like to try a class for free, you may pick another day during the session to attend.

Announcing Unlimited Boot Camp for 2010

2009-12-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

Announcing Unlimited Boot Camp for 2010

Come on; bring us your best excuses… Think you don’t have time to work out? Can’t fit boot camp into your schedule? Want more than 12 classes but think you can’t afford it? Too busy during the week and wish there was a Saturday class? Crazy work schedule won’t let you commit to a boot camp class location and time? Is that all you got…? We have your solution -- unlimited boot camp!

We’re proud to announce our one low price unlimited 4 week boot camp. For the same cost as our 12 day package, you have the freedom to attend any class at any location at any time, as often as you like! That’s over 56 boot camp classes available to you with every 4 week session. Whether it’s Bee Caves/Lakeway at 5:30 am, Southwest at 8:00 am, Central at 9:00 am, or Northwest at 6:30 pm… The choice is YOURS! We offer the most times and locations, so that you can do boot camp when YOU want. Plus, we’re now offering free Saturday classes at 9:00 AM in northwest, southwest, and central Austin. Check out our newly-posted 2010 class schedule!

Once again, you now have 56+ classes available to you for the same price as our old 12-day package…

And Austin Adventure Boot Camp still brings you all the extras you’ve come to expect from Austin’s longest running and most awarded boot camp program: safe, proven, effective workouts; a friendly, motivating environment; individual customized nutrition plans & tracking journals with nutritional guidance; pre & post camp body composition and fitness assessments; guaranteed results; and… fitness, friendship and fun!

Be one of the first 10 women to register for January's unlimited boot camp
and receive an Austin Adventure Boot Camp sports pack:
limited-edition long sleeve t-shirt, sport flyer, and water bottle.
Register Now!!!

9 Tips To Help You Survive Holiday Party Overeating

2009-12-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

Parties are opportunities to be social and have fun! Just be careful not to let the food at the party distract you from talking with friends and family. Even if the tables are laden with your favorites, with a little forethought and preparation, you can make healthy food choices that won’t derail your good eating habits.

Don’t arrive hungry. Hunger can make it difficult to make good food choices -- everything looks delicious when you’re starving. Eat a small meal and drink some water to take the edge off your hunger before arriving at the party
Take a walk around to see what food is available -- before you pick up a plate. Take note of the healthy selections.
Fill 3/4 of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Then choose a few other items to round out your meal, like lean protein options.
Limit yourself to one trip to the serving table. If you're still hungry, go for the healthy produce options.
Cut down on portion sizes to allow yourself a bite or two of your favorites. Use a smaller plate and serve your food with a teaspoon instead of a large serving spoon.
Reduce your alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making you more likely to make poor food choices. Enjoy a drink, but alternate with a glass of mineral water or a iced tea.
Watch out for appetizers. A handful of cheese and crackers can set you back hundreds of calories while a single chicken wing contains about 200 calories but hardly puts a dent in your hunger. Select one or two pieces of cheese to savor and save your calories for a full piece of baked chicken instead.
If you want to have an appetizer, select something nutrient-rich, like bruschetta with fresh tomatoes or shrimp in cocktail sauce.
Enjoy desserts in small portions. It’s the first three or four bites that taste the best, so take a small portion of your favorite and savor each bite.

Where else can you find Austin Adventure Boot Camp?

2008-12-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

Online all the time, want to keep up with special offers and events!

Become a Fan of us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

Operation Turkey!!!

2008-11-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

Come out on Thanksgiving morning to help cook, package and deliver food to the homeless with us. Some of us will be volunteering at the south Austin location (Soup Peddler at the corner of South 1st and Mary St).

You get to select what you want to do. Some people love to cook, but not deliver. Some want to deliver only. That is AOK. Your help is greatly appreciated. We ask that you show up between 9:00 and 9:30 AM. Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes just to be safe. For more info, visit:
http://www.operationturkey.com/stories/default.asp?ArticleID=2725&CategoryID=3594

We hope to see you there!!!

We're running the Race for the Cure!

2008-10-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Race for the Cure has a soft spot in my heart as last year it was my first 5K. I used it not only as a way to raise money for a great and worthy cause but a celebration of losing weight and getting healthy.
Join us for Komen Race for the Cure to be held on November 2nd, 2008. One in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime join our team to start raising funds to support the search for a cure!
PLUS when you show up in your Austin Adventure Boot Camp Tee you have a chance to win!!
Everyone that wears their Austin Adventure Boot Camp t-shirt to the race, will be registered to win a Columbia Pink Digital Sports Watch!!!

A 5K is a great way to show how far you've come! Sure we do the mile during camp but how about 3.2 miles? It is doable come run with me!!

Austin Adventure Boot Camp Win's Chronicle's Best Fitness Classes!

2008-10-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

Austin Adventure Boot Camp has been named Exercise TV’s Best Boot Camp, Austin Citysearch’s Best Alternative Workout, AND this week we were named The Austin Chronicle’s Best Fitness Classes!!!

To celebrate we are offering $30 off our regular camp prices!

FOR $30 OFF* ALL REMAINING 2008 CAMP SESSIONS:
1. Register online: http://www.atxbootcamp.com/register.htm
2. Make payment: http://www.atxbootcamp.com/pymtSpecial.htm
*See website for rules and restrictions. Offer ends November 15th!

Come join our current campers and find the success that they have discovered with our effective and fun work outs! Each class is packed with energizing activities designed to help you reduce body fat, lose inches, increase your strength and improve your stamina. ALL fitness levels welcome!

Fitness camps available in Southwest, Central, and Northwest Austin; Bee Caves; Round Rock; and Pflugerville. Late morning and evening classes available at some locations.

New sessions start October 27th at most locations! REGISTER TODAY OR TRY CAMP FOR FREE! Visit http://www.atxbootcamp.com for details.

MEN’s camps: Visit http://www.austinbootcampformen.com for more info.

Thank You For Another Great Year!

2008-09-15T22:26:00.000-07:00

We at Austin Adventure Boot Camp would like to extend a big thank you to all that came to the Camper Appreciation Anniversary Party and Capital Area Food Bank Drive last Friday at The Marq.
Fun was had by all and tons of prizes were raffled away!

We raised over 2000 meals for the Capital Area Food Bank which, with the amount of evacuees, was much appreciated. The Food Bank as well as the Red Cross are still in need of supplies and volunteers. If you missed our drive and you want to donate food, supplies or your time. Please visit these websites to learn how you can help.

http://www.austinfoodbank.org
http://www.centex.redcross.org

We have come so far over the last three years and we would not be where we are without you! Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with us as we move through year four. Have a story to share? A comment or suggestion? Let's get stronger together!!

Today is the day I ____

2008-09-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

We talk a lot about goal planning and and setting milestones for yourself and again I want to stress the importance of planning-- but there also comes a time to shake things up.

I was reminded of a quote (they say the origin is Old Texan) this morning that really encompasses something that I truly believe.

"If all you ever do is all you've ever done,
then all you'll ever get is all you ever got."

I can keep putting things off, keep getting distracted, keep making excuses for why I can't seem to get my mile time down, or my booty back in my back of the closet jeans. But I've been doing that. I can keep telling myself that my music is most important to me but then completely ignore opportunities to avoid failure. These things are going to get me the same results, which is still not being at my goal weight and at the cusp of something musically stunning. I figure if I'm doing it, somewhere out there is doing it too.
So, I'm quitting putting things off, quitting distractions, quitting excuses.
I'm sure it will not be easy, because old habits die hard. BUT I'm going to take it one day at a time.
So let me encourage you to pick something that you want to work on and do it today. Get something done, then pick something for tomorrow and get it done. No need for long impossible lists. Just one thing.

Today is the day I ______________.

For me: Today is the day I compete with confidence against other songwriters to win prizes.
(the confidence is the big part, I always go in all sheepish and I really think it has an impact on my performance) So I'm going in big. Performing big tonight and selling CDs at the South Austin Idle Singer/Songwriter Finals.

I would love to hear what you are doing today. Please leave your "Today is the day I ______" comments below!

Vote For Us! Chronicle's Best Fitness Classes!

2008-08-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to your votes, Austin Adventure Boot Camp has been selected Citysearch Austin's "Best Boot Alternative Workout 2008"!!! Now we need you help to secure the number one spot as the Austin Chronicle's "Best Fitness Classes"! Hurry, voting ends September 2nd! VOTE NOW!!!

And to thank you for voting for us, we would like to offer you
$30 off your registration fees for all September 12-day and 16-day boot camp packages! Our 12 day camp is only $169 and our 16 day camp is $219. These rates are good for NEW and REPEAT campers! So sign up and bring your friends!!!

Sign Up and SAVE:

1. Register online for one of our September camps (12 or 16 days).
New campers: http://www.atxbootcamp.com/register.htm
Repeat campers: http://www.atxbootcamp.com/reEnlist.htm
2. Pay online USING THE SPECIAL SEPTEMBER RATE: (use this link ONLY!) http://www.atxbootcamp.com/pymtSpecial.htm
3. Don't forget to VOTE for Austin's "Best Fitness Classes":
http://www.austinchronicle.com/feedback/bestof/08/

And Be Sure To Celebrate 3 Years Of Austin Adventure Boot Camp With Us!

September 12th At The Marq 6 - 9 pm!

We will be hosting a special Boot Camper Appreciation Party for all current and past campers, friends, family, and supporters. There will be DRINK SPECIALS, food, and tons of GIVEAWAYS! You won't want to miss this! Specifically, we will be giving away one 12 day boot camp (valued at $199) every hour (3 total)! GET THERE EARLY!!! But don't worry... Even if you don't win, you'll still receive a gift card worth $20 off your next boot camp session! RSVP NOW!

Last year's party was a blast, and we gave away over $5,000 worth of prizes!!! Check out the
anniversary page on our website for updated details and prizes!

And remember, as part of our celebration, we will be holding a Food & Fund Drive to support the Capital Area Food Bank and are asking all guests to either make a financial donation or bring 2 or more non-perishable food items. Last year we raised over 4,000 meals. -- Let's double that this year!!!

If you're a business owner who would like to promote your business by donating a prize, please fill out our online donations form.Thank you!

RSVP NOW!!!

Pushing It Over The Plateau

2008-07-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's annoying when you work, work, work and suddenly your body decides to hang out at a certain weight for a while. You know you're not skipping work outs and you're eating right but you just can't seem to edge the scale down. What to do?

A news report I saw recently held up data from a study about sleep deprivation. The study showed that adults who regularly received 5 hours or less sleep a night were more likely to suffer from obesity. And for kids the study found that if they had less than 10 hours a night they were more prone to being overweight as well. Apparently being chronically tired also makes you feel hungrier, leading to overeating.

The same report also emphasized the need for adequate fiber and water each day. Eating oatmeal, whole grains, beans, fruits and veggies will supply the fiber that lowers cholesterol and helps to control eating by making us feel full and satisfied. Of course, you all know about the need for water...anyone who exercises outdoors in Texas is way into hydration!

If you're holding steady on the scale instead of continuing to drop, try tweaking your sleep habits a bit. Only get 6 hours on average per night? Bump it up to 7.5 or 8 if you can. A well rested body will respond much better to your exercise regime.

And evaluate your eating habits. Are you sneaking in junky food that tastes good but doesn't help you meet your goals? Swap that morning bagel for some fresh fruit. Austin's Farmer's Market has some delicious peaches, figs and other fruits right now. They also have organically grown salmonella free avocados, jalapeños and serrano peppers. Jazz up your eating with summer fruits and vegetables and see if you can push past your plateau.

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."

~William Faulkner~

Enjoy Summer Treats Without Derailing Your Diet

2008-07-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Driving home from work in a car so hot I think I'm in the ninth circle of hell is one thing. Driving past exactly 5 snow cone stands is another. Really, people?? I can only resist so much temptation. So what summertime treats can I enjoy without derailing my diet plan?

"A half cup of ice cream is like a glass of milk and three pads of butter," says Lisa Dorfman, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Okay, that leaves out ice cream. But frozen yummy goodness is what I long for during the hot Texas summer (that means April to October). So I grab the grapes. And freeze them. I adore frozen green grapes. Red seedless grapes are good too, but something about tart green grapes changes when you freeze them, bringing out the natural sugars. Try 'em. They're excellent.

You can also slice bananas into little chips and freeze them, too. Not only are you getting helpful potassium but the banana flavor pops out crazy good when frozen. If you really want to get creative, freeze a few tablespoons of chocolate chips. Have a handful of banana chips with five or six chips. C'mon...five or six little chips won't hurt. And the tiny taste is enough to satisfy without wrecking your healthy eating for the day.

Watermelon! Do I really need to say any more? And cantaloupe, peaches and strawberries. Not a fresh fruit person? Sugar free Jello has saved me from more than one attack of the munchies. Want a savory snack instead of a sweet one? Go for a celery stalk with a teaspoon or two of all natural peanut butter. Have a few almonds, cashews and peanuts. Throw in some raisins if you like.

I'd much rather get my kicks trolling the Austin Farmer's Market for fresh summer finds that are good for me and taste great than test my running ability trying to chase down the ice cream truck. You know the one, it plays "Turkey in the Straw" off key over and over and over while driving sloooooowly through your neighborhood. Hey, now there's an idea for a new twist on my work out: pace runner for the ice cream truck.

"Every diet needs a little wiggle room."

~Jello~

Reaching Milestones

2008-07-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all get too caught up in the process of attaining goals to realize how far we've come. Sometimes we are looking so hard for the finish line that we miss that we've gotten over the biggest of the hills.
I am sitting at my house, filing my paperwork for my album. I went and opened a business account today and the banker looked at me and said "Aren't you excited?" and I had been running around so much that I didn't know for a moment and then it all came flooding over me. Oh my goodness I am SOOOO excited!!! And now that I am putting the papers into the envelopes I realize where I've gotten.
If you didn't know, I'm a singer/songwriter. That's my passion, music. That's what moves me.

When I was heavier, it got in the way of my dreams. I let it get in the way. I put years of training on hold because I was too afraid to get in front of an audience. I started hiding. I stopped writing songs, I stopped going out. I just stopped.
Losing the weight has opened up my life again. I'm back onstage. I'm writing. I'm going out--granted not so much in the ridiculous heat but-- more than I was.
About a month from now I will be releasing my first EP and I am so very excited to realize this plan and celebrate this return to music!

If you are reading this at the start of your journey, I hope that you see what you have gotten away from and fight like mad to get back to it. If you are already well on your way, don't stop fighting until you're where you want to be. You can do it!

Summer Challenges

2008-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've battled respiratory issues all my life. I blame it on being born a preemie. As an early, low birth weight twin baby, I incubated for a month before the hospital set me free. My mother was already a sleep deprived new mom caring for my sister and she can't remember why I had to stay in the hospital so long. She also can't remember what I wore home from the hospital but she's pretty sure it was "clothes and a diaper". After years of breathing problems and asthma I'm pretty darn sure my month in the NICU was due to underdeveloped lungs along with trying to gain weight. Hah. That's the last time in my life I've ever actively pursued weight gain instead of weight loss.

Outdoor workouts have historically been difficult for me since I've always lived in a climate prone to humidity. I love Austin too much to move to Phoenix, so I'm stuck with learning to live with muggy air. Plenty of Central Texas asthmatics walk, run and go to boot camp outdoors, though. We just learn to deal with it. And carry our inhalers. My respiratory problems worsen with heat, too.

Even if you don't have asthma chances are good that at some point in time during a grueling workout you've felt as if you did. Ever have such a hard time catching your breath that you felt like you were sucking in oxygen out of a cocktail straw? Yup, that's what an asthma attack feels like to me. Well, if I was breathing through that tiny red straw while laying flat on my back with a loaded suitcase on my chest. Anyway, you get the idea. And why are those straws almost always red or red & white? I once saw a blue & white striped one and spent an hour begging the bartender to let me take a box home. (Of course I was not a boot camper at that time).

With hotter weather we face all kinds of challenges that normally wouldn't be an issue. You will be sweating more and feeling a greater intensity in your routine even without kicking it up a notch. Your recovery may be slower and you might just find that you need a different plan for nutrition. With this heat, water is wonderful and hopefully you are drinking at least 4 liters a day during this sweltering heat. Did you know that once we register thirst we are already at 7% diminished performance due to dehydration?

Since we're all perspiring more (and thank you for continuing to wear your deoderant to camp) we may also need electrolyte replacements. Because many sports drinks also contain nausea-inducing sugars, you may want to look at other options for electrolyte replacement. Switch out your salt shaker from regular table salt to Morton's Lite Salt. The sodium chloride in it contains potassium. Eat bananas and oranges for snacks, too. They're loaded with potassium and Vitamin C. If you do opt for good ole Gatorade or similar drink, dilute it by 50% until you determine if the sugar will settle easily in your tummy.

So take care of yourselves. Pay close attention to how you feel during these blazing hot days. Make changes where you need to, tweaking it to keep your body healthy and happy.

"The pain of disipline is far less than the pain of regret"

~Sarah Bombell, synchronized swimmer~

Baby Steps in Healthy Living

2008-06-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

Like most years, the advent of summer brings with it a glut of "get fit" information in the media. While this is great for parts of the country where it was snowing just a few weeks ago (yes, every day during my vacation, not to rub it in, but yeah, I'm rubbing it in) it is a little harder to suddenly adopt a workout routine in the heat of a Texas summer.

One article I read by Run Tex's Paul Carroza reminded me that working out during the summer is quite different than during the cooler months. The heat will increase your efforts during your work out, automatically adding intensity. It's a good time to concentrate on building endurance rather than working on speed. And because your heart rate climbs along with temps and humidity, Carroza suggest wearing a heart rate monitor.

It isn't the easiest to stick to a work out schedule when the hot weather has you longing for Barton Springs but it's all about taking baby steps in healthy living. Some weeks we are gung ho about our diet and exercise and some weeks we can barely manage to finish a load of laundry, much less make it to the gym or boot camp. The key is to challenge yourself when you need it and lighten up on yourself when life overwhelms you. Don't push yourself to a burn out but keep your zest for working out alive.

When we choose to eat healthfully and to exercise it's like putting a little money into the 401K of our life. Over time, that little bit adds up to a nice amount. Any amount of living healthfully has an improvement on our fitness. And just like a retirement account, the more we put in, the more we'll benefit later. If one day you aren't banking as much, don't beat yourself up but also don't close the account, ya know?

And it's not just about what we as adults do for our selves. It's also in how we care for our families. I've been sneaking healthy food in slowly so my fiance doesn't catch on until after he's tried something new and loved it. The whole "hey honey, taste this" works well with him.

You can do simple things like deciding against cake and ice cream at your child's birthday party in favor of a low sugar fruit pizza or a fruit cup topped with a bit of colored shredded coconut. Think the other parents will look down their nose at you? Who cares when it's your child's health you're protecting?

In the end, even if all you take are baby steps, you're still coming out ahead.

"Use the long days and warm temperatures to change your habits and reach new levels of activity. Move. Walk. Sweat. Bike. Garden. Hike. Have fun."

~Paul Carroza~

Motivate!!

2008-06-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, motivation. Where have you gone? I went on vacation and left it somewhere. I did a lot of physical activity on my all too brief escape from every day reality. We hiked everywhere in our campground. But now I'm back and well, my motivation is gone. Nonexistent. And I'm not sure how to get it back.

I've been poring over testimonials and Stephanie's story. I've been searching the net looking for other people's stories of overcoming poor health and ending up fit and happy. I've found a few, including this one, that have helped redirect me. I really liked this post and this one, too. Basically everything I've read says you have to find inspiration within yourself. You are the one who can block the way or the one who can clear the path.

I look at my relatives and their poor health and know I don't want to be in the same boat in 20 years. That's motivation. I think about my friends who are much more in shape than I am and feel a fierce desire to have their energy and stamina. Now I just have to channel that emotion into a giant bungee cord and snap myself out of my home and into my car, driving to boot camp. A friend suggested sleeping in my work out clothes so that when the alarm goes off I jump up and walk right out the door. I may have to try that.

What do you find motivating, when you need it?

"Some reward can come from others. Mostly it must come from you."

Subway Kimberly

Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big?

2008-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from frantically packing for vacation. By the time y'all read this blog I will be (fingers crossed) relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. And a long, long way from home. The one thing I won't be is wearing my old swimsuit. It's too big. Thank you, boot camp!

I tried on what felt like a couple of dozen suits recently and none of them worked for me. Cut too high, cut too low, cut in an odd zig zag that made me think of Madonna's The Girlie Show tour costumes. There were suits that made my stomach look larger, my hips wider and my bottom, well, definitely not worth a second glance. The rest of them sagged and bagged and drooped off my shoulders. I am, it seems, a victim of that dreaded "in between" sizes phase.

That's okay. I'm fine with it. I can deal. I'd rather be wearing an ill-fitting cheapie one piece plain jane bathing suit from Wal-Mart than an expensive yet cute suit in a size I wouldn't reveal to my closest friend. And since I'm still transitioning, I don't want to shell out major bucks for a nice swimsuit just yet. Give me a little bit more time and I'll kick that "in between" phase to the curb.

"I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it".

~Michael Phelps, Six-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer~

Yummy Enzymes!!!!!

2008-06-05T18:52:00.000-07:00

OK so as you all probably know I am 6 months pregnant and this heat is unbearable. I also found out that I am not the only one suffering. When we eat dead (cooked) food day in and day out it raises our body temperature. This also kills our digestive enzymes. We are born with over 5000 enzymes and by the time we are 40 years old, most of us won't have over 1000 of them left. Digestion starts in our mouth as we chew our food. The enzymes that are added via saliva aids us in the assimilation of our food. So what can we do to survive this heat and slow down our aging process?

ENZYME THERAPY: Pick two hot days and shower your body with enzymes. Your skin will thank you, your digestion system will take a much needed brake and you may even drop a few pounds. Yes, it's easy enough that even a pregnant person can do it. All you need is a blender or a juicer, ice and some fruit. For two days make yourself some fruit slushes or juices. Who needs to eat when it's so hot out?
Here are some recipes you can try:

Drink the following as much as you want.

Breakfast:

Blend some fat free yogurt with some fruit and ice. Try to have more ice than fruit. Pineapples and kiwi, or apple and strawberries. (for better skin add two tsp flax seed oil to the mix)

Lunch:

Fresh juice of carrots, celery, and apples .
Blended lemons, any berries you like a banana with ice.

Dinner:

Blended pineapples (2 rings), 2 peaches and a hand full of strawberries.

You can try to juice any combination of fruits or veggies that you like. I have been on this for 3 days now and I am loving it. I feel cooler and better and surprisingly not very hungry at all. I had to 'cheat' and eat a few walnuts to make the baby happy. Try this on days that you are not supper active. Please let me know if you tried this and give others some input.

Hot, Hot, Hot

2008-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ole ole - ole ole / Ole ole - ole oleOle ole - ole ole / Ole ole - ole ole

C'mon...sing it with me. Feeling hot, hot, hot, hot. Welcome to summer. We had a few weeks of some actual Spring-like weather and then Mother Nature decided to flip the switch and send the temps a'rising.

Hydration is especially important when the mercury hits the 99º mark. Make sure you're giving your body the fluids it needs. Drink up! But summer weather also means I'm thinking about water in a different way: a reward. Oh yeeeaaah, what could be nicer than jumping into a pool full of cool water after a long, hot day?

Swimming is a great summer cross training idea. You can brave the chill to swim laps at Barton Springs or use on of the many city pools. Just hold on to the edge and do flutter kicks to your heart's content. Why not dangle the carrot of going tubing with friends in front of you as a reward for sticking to your fitness program?

Summer's here! Let's enjoy it. You're working hard at camp. You're busting it at work to pay the bills that just keep showing up in the mailbox. Take some time out for fun in the sun and water. Don't forget the sunscreen!

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

"Citysearch's Best Alternative Workout 2008"!

2008-06-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

We've always said that Austin Adventure Boot Camp is the best and now the results are in...Citysearch has named us the Audience and Editorial winner of "Best Alternative Workout 2008". Thank you for your help in voting us number one in Austin!

You can still voice an opinion even though the voting is over. Please take a moment to leave a short review telling Austin why you believe our boot camp is the best. We know that you have fabulous stories of meeting personal goals and if you think boot camp helped you to to achieve it, then please share that with our city. Your words may inspire someone else to start their fitness journey.

"Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people. "

~Lee Iacocca~

The Photographic Evidence

2008-05-29T20:36:00.001-07:00

Every so often it's really easy to get down in the dumps about your fitness program. Like me, this week. I've been felled by the astronomically high mold levels and haven't worked out in a solid week. And I'm starting to feel guilty, pudgey, guilty, plump, guilty, chubby...yeah, you see where i'm going with this.

To cheer myself up I decided to check the photographic evidence. I found pictures from before my first bootcamp and compared them to more recent ones. WHEW!! I may be feeling guilty and squishy but thankfully I'm not looking like I'm either.

Do you do that? Take before, during and after pics? It's a fabulous way to tell you are making headway, especially because so often we are the last ones to realize it. We look in the mirror but our head tells us what we think is true instead of believing what our eyes are seeing.

I mean, really...how many times have you thought "ugh, I'm so fat!" when in reality you are average? Or disparaged your body because everyone else in the group was complaining that they hate their thighs or their booty or their flabby upper arms? We've learned that it's more normal to dislike what we see than to like or even love it.

But stop for a moment. Take a few minutes and really look at yourself. Don't be harsh. Just...look. And see the changes you're making by all your work, your dedication. Isn't it time to believe what you're seeing?

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or find it not."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Vote for Stephanie for "Fittest in Austin"!

2008-05-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Stephanie McDonald, the founder of Austin Adventure Boot Camp, has been nominated for the 2008 3rd Annual Fittest Issue of Austin Fit Magazine. You can vote for her online. As an added bonus, when you do, you'll be entered to win either a pair of running shoes, a massage, a month of unlimited yoga or a $50 gift certificate to Chuy's.

It's quick, it's easy and you could win a nifty prize. How cool is that? So take a moment and vote. And if you win the gift certificate to Chuy's, you can always work off the chips and queso at camp.

Getting back on the nutrition wagon.

2008-05-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

I've been with Austin Adventure Boot Camp since October '06. I've lost weight and now I have officially plateaued. I'm about 25-30lb shy of my 'ideal' weight. I say 'ideal' because I've gotten incredibly comfortable in the size I am right now. Which is great! But when I think about the goal I set out to reach I wonder if my saying I'm comfortable here is just a way for me to avoid the stress of achieving my weight loss goal. Probably. So I must move forward.

But why the plateau!? Well, I have to say my attendance over the last few months has been less than stellar. But also I've stopped paying attention to what I am putting into my stomach.
Yup, that's me. Mindlessly eating.
And it has to stop.

But what do I eat? Ever since I found out that I was allergic to everything and revamped my eating I've been on a carb overload, not because of any reason except that I love carbs. Plus, now that I have lost the majority of the weight I don't even know how many calories I should be eating. I had done an online calculator and it said somewhere in the 1700-1800 calorie range. *shrug*
So I contacted Nanaz and set up an appointment for a RMR test.
During this test you lay still (without napping) and just breathe while you wear a little mask. This mask is connected to a tube and the tube is attached to a machine and based on your breathing and I'm sure some other science that includes a calculation of my height and weight and how active you are, it spits out (with some help from Nanez) the number of calories you need to survive and the number you need to maintain your current weight.

So how did the online calculator do? VERY POORLY. AT 1700 calories I was eating 300 calories less than my body needs to just run. Not moving. Just laying there. SO in essence I've plateaued because I'm not eating enough calories. My body thinks I've abandon it!!
So with this knowledge, the plan is more lean proteins! More leafy greens! And don't trust internet calculators!
Next week I am going in to have my Vo2 Max test to find my prime workout heart rate and I'm excited. I've been wearing my heart rate monitor during class but I've not been paying attention nor, do I know how to read into the percentage of fat burned. Knowledge is power!
I'm really looking forward to the new meal plan too. Nanaz is going to set me up with different choices so I can pick and choose what I want out of what I need.

All very scientific and very interesting. I am looking forward to getting off this plateau!
If you are like me and have no idea what to eat, contact Nanaz, She's got some specials just for Boot camper so let her know what you need!

Smiling, Satisfied and Feeling Sassy!

2008-05-21T12:54:00.001-07:00

Every now and then a rare day comes along where I feel great during boot camp. Sure, those lying leg raises still aren't fun but I'm doing them faster and with correct form. Today was one of those magical days, an everything-feels-good-day, with my recovery coming quickly and even the mountain climbers failed to get me down.

Disclaimer: Indian run still kicks it for me. But that was at the beginning of camp and I'd mostly forgotten it by the time we were halfway through our session of Fit Deck. Fit Deck is always fun, since you never know what's coming next. And I kept surprising myself by plowing through the exercises. I was sweaty and often breathing hard but had good endurance, for a change.

I think I've turned a corner in my fitness quest. I even held side plank balanced on the palm of my hand instead of my forearm. I didn't think I could but with quiet encouragement from another repeater (you rock, Peggy!) I did it. Everything felt just a little different today. Most certainly it felt easier, which is not, I repeat not, an attempt to goad my instructor into coming down harder on us tomorrow. I'd like to enjoy a day or two of "easier" at least.

I left camp in high spirits, which is a marvelous start to any day. I feel clear headed and strong and so very alive. It's a good day and I'm smiling, satisfied and feeling sassy. I feel like I look good, like the work I've done is paying off big time. I'm certain that it shows.

"This I do know beyond any reasonable doubt. Regardless of what you are doing, if you pump long enough, hard enough and enthusiastically enough, sooner or later the effort will bring forth the reward."

~Zig Ziglar~

The President's Challenge

2008-05-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

I remember back in elementary school a certain time of year would roll around and our class would be given a national physical fitness test, the President's Challenge. I remember doing sit ups and push ups and some weird stretching exercise where they measured how far we could stretch. I hated it.

I was always the kid picked last for team sports. I was a nerdy bookworm, not an athlete. I sat on top of the monkey bars instead of swinging from them. So testing my "ability" and measuring me against everyone else was All American Grade A misery.

Now I can seek my revenge. The President's Challenge Program has been expanded to include adults. You can go on the website and download the test instructions and a form to fill in how you did. And when you go back and enter your information you'll receive an evaluation. You can even get the certificate! I never got the certificate. Yes, I may be a total geek for doing this when I know I'm healthier than I've been in a while, but I am soooo getting the certificate.

Vote for Us on Citysearch! "Best Alternative Workout"

2008-05-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, the boot camp you love even when you're so sore you have to use the handicap stall in the office restroom has been nominated for the Best of Citysearch as Austin's best alternative workout.

Please help out by voting on the Citysearch site. You can vote once per day. All you have to do is click here and then click on the Vote button for Austin Adventure Boot Camp. Easy peasy! And you get to tell the city that your boot camp is awesome.

If you are a registered user of Citysearch, or take the time to sign up, you can leave your personal review of camp on the site. So not only do you get to vote but you can share why you believe we're the best!

I Have to Do What???

2008-05-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

I'm not afraid to admit that I haven't been very diligent in my food choices in the last few weeks. It's difficult to walk away from the queso, you know? But queso, one of my favorite things, is not waistline friendly. Did you know that a serving of queso is supposed to be 3 ounces? Do you know how much 3 ounces is? It's two shot glasses of queso. I don't know about you but the bowl of queso that I usually dive into, umm, let's just say far exceeds one serving. And since I found out that I have to walk for 51 minutes or jog for 21 minutes just to burn off one serving of queso (not counting the chips) it is easier to not order it.

When I think about food in terms of how much activity it takes to burn that "fuel" I find that I'm less apt to cheat and eat unhealthy items. I have to eat better if I'm going to keep melting off my pudge and get down to that skinny chick that I just know lives inside me.

I'm not even going to get started on all my comfort foods. All I needed to know was that a Kentucky Fried Chicken's Original Recipe breast means an hour and 40 minutes of walking and 41 minutes of jogging. O.M.G. And mashed potatoes and gravy! ::::sigh::::

So how do you eat right but avoid bland food? I'm making out a menu for the next two weeks and on it are things like a grilled chicken breast salad with baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, red onion and a light drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. I have spaghetti made with lean ground turkey and whole wheat pasta on for lunch tomorrow. And you know I'm going to enjoy my seafood, too. I'll broil a filet of steelhead trout that's been seasoned with garlic, freshly ground pepper, a dusting of smoked paprika and a kiss of salt. I'll be eating well and enjoying every bite. What are some of your favorite great tasting and good-for-you meals?

"Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."

~English proverb~

Exciting Times!

2008-05-11T08:32:00.001-07:00

The end of a camp session and the weekend preceeding the start of a new one are always exciting times. You've seen how you can impact your fitness level in a small amount of time. Evaluations and measurements have been made and you're either satisfied or already planning to push yourself more come Monday.

I think it's amazing how devoting an hour a day even for as little as three days a week can change my body, slowly alter it. Slimming down, tightening up and showing off toned muscle is such a great reward for time spent sweating and pushing yourself to your limit. Or finding out that your limit has been raised and you can do much more than before, hey now that's rewarding!

So go try on those "skinny jeans" every woman has shoved in the back of her closet. Or that clingy dress or the mini skirt that shows off your legs. We all do that, set a goal for a piece of clothing we own. "I'm going to go to camp until I can wear the blue dress I bought for April's wedding last year but never got to show off." I moved recently, so you know I was trying on a ton of clothes and tossing them into piles. One pile was the giveaway mountain and the other was the save-it-until-you-can-fit-in-it hill. So back to camp I go.

A big congratulations to those who met their goals for camp. And for those of us still working toward our's I offer a heartfelt You Can Do It! I've had some setbacks in the past month and know what it means to feel like I've been treading water instead of moving forward. Come Monday morning I'll be at camp pretending that I'm a newbie and that's why I'm out of breath. :-) It's gonna be a wonderful boot camp!

“I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning...”

~Joseph Priestly~

Gearin' Up

2008-05-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

Before I ever started out on my journey to fitness, I had athletic friends. Lean & tan cyclists, hardcore marathoners and triathletes have one thing in common: get them in a room and unless they're talking about their favorite post workout alcoholic beverage then they're discussing gear. Specifically, talk will turn to technical fabric clothing and proper foot attire.

You may not think that an hour of bootcamp necesitates a trip to REI, Academy or another sporting goods store but my fit and fab friends would say otherwise. Wearing the right clothes and shoes to camp will benefit you more than you realize.

Cotton tee shirts are fine to get dirty in but don't wick moisture away from your skin. Technical fabrics used in running, cycling and other sport clothing are manufactured to pull dampness away from your skin and to the outer fabric so that it can better evaporate. Your skin feels cooler and your clothes feel looser. Sweaty cotton tees have a tendency to grip your skin and leave you feeling as if you're wearing a wet blanket. Trust me, once you start wearing active wear made with technical material you'll never work out in a cotton tee shirt again.

Wicking socks are great, too. Drier toes mean less chance of blisters. It also means less stinky pinkies...if you suffer from odorous feet. There are different thicknesses of socks to choose from, some that are thicker and more well padded and others that are thinner. I like the thicker and more warmer socks in the winter and the thin ones for summer.

Running shoes are expensive. It's true. It's difficult to find a good fitting shoe for an inexpensive price. If you run often, keep track of your mileage. Running shoes should be replaced about every 300-500 miles, depending on a few factors. Serious runners will replace their shoes once every six months. But running shoes are essential for boot camp. The support and tread is exactly what you need to get you through the drills and runs.

Equipping ourselves correctly may seem like a small factor in the whole grand scheme of things but think of it this way: we're out there bustin' it, working toward our goals. Why not invest in the little things that will help us out, make us more comfortable and keep us at our best?

"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action."

~Napolean Hill~

I Sit, You Sit, Wall Sit

2008-04-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

Wall sit. Why oh why do I have such a hard time doing the wall sit? This morning I was the only one in my camp having difficulty. Everyone else makes it looks easy but my body rebels completely during wall sit. I try my best but it all comes down to one thing: I slide.

I hold wall sit for mere seconds before my thighs start screamin' at me. If I'm really fatigued I get the leg shakes before I slide down the wall. It's like I suddenly lose all control of my leg muscles. My thighs are probably the most well developed muscles on my body but they just refuse to cooperate when we wall sit. {Side note: that does not bode well for the state of the rest of my muscles}.

So what's the trick to this exercise? I press my lower back into the wall. Heck, I press my entire back into the wall. If my feet were any more firmly planted I'd be a tree. Or at least a shrub. I even palm the wall hoping that I'll mysteriously develop Spidermanesque powers and be able to squirt super-strength adhesive from my wrists. Unfortunately I still end up in a heap at the bottom of the wall. I have wall sit impotence. I need Wallagra.

I know it's a good thing that I have an exercise that challenges me. It used to be pop squats. After that it was squat thrusts. Who am I kidding? Squat thrusts are still difficult. And if you were in my very first boot camp you'd know that I couldn't jump rope. At all. At least not without wrapping it around my ponytail. In time wall sit will become easier although I doubt that it will ever be easy.

"Nobody's a natural. You work hard to get good and then work to get better. It's hard to stay on top."

~Paul Coffey~

Why are you not losing weight?

2008-04-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

You are working out and eating right so why are you not dropping the weight? I always see overweight people running their hearts out on hike and bike trail. I used to wonder why that is. If they are working out so hard shouldn't they be way thinner. Did you know that you could pass your fat burning heart rate in the first five minutes of your workout? Or how do you know exactly how many calories your body burns every day? Sure you can use charts and come up with a guess, but I would not trust charts that were made in a research group over 30 years ago. We simply do not eat or live the way we did 30 years ago and I have seen the guesstimates be wrong by 800 calories a day.
So what's the answer? Come do a RMR test and a VO2 max test. These tests are specific to you and pretty much guarantee results. Find out more about these tests on my website: nanazahmadi.com. I am offering these tests at a discounted price to all of you. Once you know which heart rate your body burns the most body fat, you can simply wear a heart rate monitor and make sure that every minute of your workout counts. Dinner planning will become much simpler when you know how many calories you can eat with out gaining weight.

Good Luck,
Nanaz

Knocking The Demon Down

2008-04-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

I've always had a weight problem. No, wait, check that. I was skinny in junior high, high school and my early adult years but I didn't know it. That's because I was already brainwashed. I'd been a very skinny baby, but that doesn't count. However, when parents are faced with a 3lb, 13oz infant you do your best to fatten them up. Unfortunately, once I got rolling, I got rolling and didn't stop.

I was a chubby toddler, chunky kiddo then momentarily a normal weight teenager. The sad thing is that most of my classmates were underweight so I thought I was a heifer. They wore size 2's when I was a 6 and later in high school, they were size 6 when I was a 9...oh lawd what I'd give to be in a single digit now. (Side note: I am giving up sleeping late and ignoring that I sweat copiously to try to get down to a single digit size but I'd be Disney channel happy to be a size 10).

By the time I was an adult and actually a normal, healthy weight my self image was so poor when I looked in the mirror all I saw was chub. The demons in society had spun the lie that women aren't beautiful unless they are supermodels or celebrities and I bought it hook, line and Snickers®. Lots of Snickers®.

Fast forward to the present. I'm working hard to reclaim a healthy physique. I'm not asking to look like Stephanie McDonald. I simply want to take the stairs in my building and not be out of breath. I want to wear clothes I feel attractive in, not clothes that cover up what I want to hide. I want to break a sweat while continually whining that my skull may actually be crushed by my weights since my arms are too tired to hold them up anymore. I want to knock down the demon that poisoned my mind and made me believe that I am unattractive and unappealing.

And so in camp this week I pushed myself. I may not have done as well as others but I did my best. I have achy arm "puffs" (thanks, Michelle, for giving a name to the flesh near your armpits that pops up over your tank tops when you need to trim down). My legs are feeling every inch of the Ring of Fire, too. We had a fairly brutal Thursday workout and today's wasn't a cake walk either (because of course we aren't eating cake, are we?). And now the weekend is here and I can sleep late tomorrow, satisfied in the knowledge that I'm secure in my quest for fitness. I hope you feel the same.

"Now I know, a refuge never grows

from a chin in the hand and a thoughtful pose

Gotta tend the earth if you want a rose."

~Indigo Girls~

One Hundred Push Ups!

2008-04-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

A hundred push ups. One hundred. One oh oh, as in Oh My God I did one hundred push ups. Awesome!! Can you believe it? New campers, did you think it was possible? I've reached the point where I stop second guessing myself in camp. I hear what we're supposed to do and just go for it. I do my best. And that's what I did on Monday.

I think I spent most of the rest of the day flashing back to camp and thinking "Holy smokes! I did 100 push ups before breakfast!". I still feel like She-Ra Princess of Power. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I was capable of such a feat. But my camp instructor did. Just another example of how someone who doesn't inhabit this body can look at me and say to herself, "Yes, she can."

More and more often I find that as I rise to the challenge of camp I not only meet expectation but exceed it. It's an amazing feeling. I'm sure you can relate. As you've gone through the last week of camp you've been racking up accomplishments, too. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing that we've had champion moments on ordinary days.

"Do or do not. There is no try."

~Yoda~

Yeah!! You Made It Through Week 1

2008-04-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

The first week of camp is always the hardest. You're using muscles you either haven't used in a long time or, as in my case, hadn't used at all. You've been very sore but you've accomplished a lot. I had a friend tell me that she has never signed up for boot camp because she doesn't think she can do what is asked. Y'all know you can, because you did. And you'll do more in the weeks to come.

Congratulations on making it through the first week! You'll be less sore next week and you'll find yourself doing more and more and more. Woohoo!!

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."

~The Little Engine That Could~

N is for Nutrition!

2008-04-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

And for Nanaz!

Nanaz Ahmadi graduated with a bachelor’s degree and is currently studying to become a master herbalist specializing in nutrition for cancer prevention. She is a mother and an athlete’s wife and we are confident that she has the tools to help you make better nutritional decisions. She will be working with us to expand the nutrition side of things here because as I am sure all of your coaches have mentioned, fitness is only one part of it, you must pay attention to your nutrition as food fuels the body!

Take a look at her website! She has some great offerings and a wealth of information for you! Let her know you found her through Austin Adventure as we’ve worked out some discounted services for campers!

Thank you Nanaz for that great tip and welcome to the Austin Adventure Boot Camp Team!

Weight loss tip of the week

2008-04-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

An apple a day does a lot more than keep the doctor away. I always recommend eating an apple first thing in the morning. Apples are the best source of pectin, fiber and bulk that aid digestion and line your stomach with fantastic enzymes that will help you digest the rest of your breakfast more efficiently. Oh did I forget to mention that Apples also reduce cholesterol levels. This little addition to your breakfast is filling but not fattening and boosts your digestion up to 15%.

Happy chewing,
Nanaz

Fitness Evals Frenzy

2008-04-16T10:08:00.001-07:00

Today was fitness evaluations. Repeat campers are comparing their stats to previous ones and setting goals, planning for more, more, more results. If you're a new camper, you're indulging in one of two different patterns of thinking. The first is "Wowsa!! I never believed I could do so well!" and the other is "Umm...do ya think anyone else did less than me?". For those of you in the "wowsa" category just hold on to the excitement. You'll be even more thrilled next time.

And those who may be disappointed in their performance or worried that you just don't have what it takes to be a boot camper, don't despair. Just by showing up to boot camp you've done more than most of Austin.

It's easy to go rough on ourselves. We are our own worst critics, after all. And even repeat campers can fall into a hole we dig for ourselves when we set a goal but don't meet it. Yeah, it happens. Don't let missing your mark set you back or bring you down. Think about why you may have done less than you expected, but do so in realistic terms. If you identify the problem (missed camp days, less than stellar amounts of sleep, poor hydration) you can work on it. If you can't figure out why you didn't achieve your goal then look at the goal itself. Is it unrealistic at this point? We want to challenge and be challenged but we don't want to set ourselves up for failure. Self-sabotage gets you nowhere.

Fitness evals are designed to get a baseline of where you are right now so that at the end of camp you can see how far you've come. Along with the pre-camp weight and measurements, the evals give you concrete evidence of a higher level of fitness. It's a simple statement but if you are giving it your best at camp and eating healthfully you will see improvement no matter if you're a workout goddess adding oomph to your normal routine or a recovering couch potato starting on her first exercise regime in decades.

So tack those numbers from today up on your bulletin board or tape them to the fridge. Own 'em. And work to move forward, to add more to what you can do. You have what it takes. You have the drive and the ambition or you wouldn't have shown up at all. Harness that and your positive thinking. Find a mantra and use it. Or use mine: "Tina Turner legs". I also like "derrière to derri-RARR!". Do your best and you won't be disappointed.

"Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture...Do not build up obstacles in your imagination."

~Norman Vincent Peale~

Snack Attack!

2008-04-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

We've all had one of those days when you've had a great work out, been true to your healthy eathing and are feeling awesome up until the moment you see your co-workers chomping down a handful of potato chips or devouring fresh cookies. Tiff's Treats you are still my Waterloo. What to do when the snack attack hits?

I discovered this week that a bit of drained tuna in water on a rice cake isn't so bad when it's topped with salsa verde. And I've eaten sugar free Jello with a sploosh of fat free whipped topping, too. It's sweet enough to satisfy me when the candy machine has been calling my name. Peanut M&M's used to be my afternoon treat until I compared the nutrtional value and realized I was eating almost the exact equivalent of a McDonald's hamburger. It's true. P'nut M&M's and a Mickey D's burger each have the same calorie content. The M&M's have 4 grams more fat, a gram less of carbs and far less protein but far higher sugar.

These days I'll go for a high protein, low fat & low cal option and make a small bowlful of edamame. I like mine unshelled, so it takes longer to eat. I do use a bit of soy sauce as a condiment but I have to be cautious with sodium so it's more of a dash than a soaking.

It's a bit tricky working out what snack item is best for your needs. Sticking to a healthful eating plan doesn't mean giving up all good tasting foods, though. It's more of a challenge to find something that will satiate my taste buds but it isn't an impossibility. What works for you? Leave me a comment with your fav guilt-free snack.

I'm Hot! I'm Hot??

2008-04-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend left me a comment on my social networking site. I had posted a new picture of me and he left me a compliment, saying I am "hot". I've never been the hot girl. For that matter, I've never been the skinny girl, either. But one of his friends also left me a comment. Since it would be poor form for him to tell me I'm hot, he wrote "smoochie smoochie". Ummm...I'm translating that to "I'm hot!". LOL

Going through bootcamp has changed more than the number of lying leg raises I can do. It's starting to transform me inside as well. I've always been the girl who ended up holding purses or standing guard over cocktails while my skinnier, cuter friends were dancing with attractive guys. I was always that girl, the one who has gorgeous friends and ends up talking to the man who's left behind when his handsome friends have escorted my chicas to the dance floor, the bar for another drink or aside to exchange numbers. I've never been bitter; this phenomenon is a fact of my life. I don't mind having sexy, beautiful friends.

What I never noticed was how much I discount myself. How often I think of myself as the "plain one" or the "girl next door" or worse, the "chubby one". After much sweating and effort I've seen the physical results of my boot camp workouts. And weeks later, I'm starting to see the emotional results. My boyfriend is right. I am hot. I am alluring, bewitching and delightful. It's not just the exterior that makes me this way, it's who I am inside. I'm enchanting! I push myself to excel, not just in boot camp but in the world. I believe life is about living, not merely existing. My desire is to enjoy each day as a fragrant taste, not as another 24 hours to get through.

My boot camp experience has helped me through a bland, oatmeal-colored vision of who I thought I was: a flabby, not young anymore female desperately holding onto any vestige of youth possible. Now I know that using slang and dressing in cute and hip fashions doesn't mean I'm trying to be younger than my age. Texting my friends "Meet 4 dnnr @ 6" and maintaining a myspace or Facebook page doesn't mean I'm attempting to reclaim my twenties. I'm 4 decades old physically and I am stronger than ever. I'm all upbeat energy in a package that may still be less than what I'd like but others are telling me loud and clear is definitely alright with them. And that is exactly what keeps me motivated to get up before dawn and go to boot camp. My BF and his friends think I am "hawt".

Stronger, Leaner & Harder

2008-04-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Stronger, leaner & harder. That should definitely be how you're feeling this weekend. And after Friday's workout some of you (me) are feeling the need to do some stretching. It was a great week at camp!

It's great to see muscle definition and inches loss. It's gratifiying and thrilling to know you can do more than you originally thought you could. Holding plank longer than ever, doubling the amount of leg raises and pushups you can do in a minute...these are all the end results of the hard work you've done in boot camp.

Take some time to pat yourself on the back this weekend. Spend a few moments thinking about how far you've come in a short while and envision what you'd like to accomplish in the weeks and months ahead. Some people use boot camp as a jumping off point, a kickstart to their training. Others come to camp to add to their normal work out routine, give it some sass and pizzazz. Whatever the reason, the results are what matter.

So celebrate! We spend so much time being a cheerleader for our family and friends that it's easy to overlook cheering for ourselves. Reward yourself, you deserve it!

"Some men dream of worthy accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them."

You Know You've Had a Tough Boot Camp Work Out When...

2008-04-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

You drive home from camp but have trouble heaving yourself out of the car once there. Briefly consider staying in the car or calling for help.
You buy Advil in bulk.
Your muscles are so sore that you walk slower than your elderly aunt and you're considering borrowing her walker--it has wheels.
Your co-workers think your new perfume is menthol based.
There's no worries over cheating on your diet. Eating would require getting up and the refrigerator is just too far away from the couch.
Your friends discuss their favorite wine at happy hour and all you want to know is if Gatorade that's been diluted by 50% will still re-balance your electrolytes after a particulary sweaty hour of lunge-a-palooza.
You wait for the restroom stall that has handicapped rails in it just in case you sit down and can't get back up unassisted.
Your family asks you to wash your workout clothes immediately.
You believe that after making it through the drills that day your body should automatically drop a dress size.
You fall into bed at 8:30pm to watch the news but pass out before the anchor gets through the lead story.
You are a member of Austin Adventure Boot Camp. We have a tough workout before most of Central Texas has their first cup of coffee.

Tightening, Toning and Talking About It

2008-03-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

Are you starting to feel a little different than on your first day of camp? Have you had a moment when you're doing lying leg raises and you're staring at your legs and suddenly think "hey, wait a minute, those thighs look firmer"? If it hasn't happened yet, it will soon.

Or, you may be one of those people who have lost weight but not yet experienced any toning. You may be looking in the mirror wondering why you look saggier now than before you started bootcamp. Never fear! You'll be tightening up the sag quickly.

And you may also be talking about your bootcamp experience to anyone who'll listen. It's amazing to think what all you've accomplished so far and it's only natural to want to share that with friends, family, co-workers, the corner convenience store clerk, your dry cleaner.... LOL Tell them. Talk about how long you can hold plank or how many pushups you can do in 30 seconds. These are the many small triumphs that add up to meeting your fitness goal. Be proud! And don't be afraid to say "I couldn't jump rope for 30 seconds without tangling the jump rope in my ponytail but now I can!" (True story, I really couldn't). Give yourself a pat on the back for what you've done in the past two weeks.

"Strong reasons make strong actions."

~William Shakespeare~

Inspiration...Where do You Find It?

2008-03-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

How do you push yourself to keep going when the going gets tough? There will always be moments when you need some "oomph" to get you through a mile run or you need a metaphorical kick in the pants to get you out of bed or out of the office on time and to bootcamp. Where do you find inspiration to stick it out?

I look to other people for inspiration and motivation. I find myself reading Stephanie's story over and over and the other camper testimonials. I devour any and all first person accounts of overweight and out of shape women who not only conquered their goals but exceeded them. You can find personal stories on just about any fitness magazine website out there.

As you may have noticed, I also indulge in literary quotes that will encourage and support me in my battle of the belly bulge. I'm not ashamed to print out quotes that speak to me and tape them to my computer monitor at my office. Every day I read something that tells me that I can do this and will do this and will eventually win my quest to become fit. Even if I'm in a low point and don't actually believe I'm going to fit into my skinny jeans the words stick in my head and eventually work their way to my heart. And I start believing.

For others, music is an important part of your workout. Fitness Magazine recently posted a list of the top 100 workout songs on their website. From C+C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat" to "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira people are energizing their workout with just the right tunes. I know I find it easier to hold plank when I'm singing along (in my head, no breath for actual singing) to "Pump Up the Jam" by Technotronic.

The point is, when you need motivation, look for it. Ask for it. Search for inspiration, do whatever you need to do to keep moving ahead and staying true to your goals. We all need a boost every now and then. And you never know who may be looking to you for inspiration even on the days when you feel like you're simply plodding along.

"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."

~Helen Keller~

Getting there...

2008-03-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Campers!
I just wanted to pop in and share some revelations with you. First off, now that you've gotten a week into camp I'm sure you are feeling some things you have not felt in a long time, maybe never.
Some underused muscles perhaps? Maybe some interesting emotions being stirred up? As I round third (I'm working on the last 20lbs to my goal weight) I would like to impress upon you all to take some time to really examine how they got to where you are now. I became unfit as an emotional eater and it takes quite a lot to keep that reigned in. But its more important to me to get to my goal than to have that extra Cadbury egg.
This has been a very long journey for me, I started losing the weight in 2006 and now I realize how far away from myself I got. If you don't know, I'm a singer/songwriter. I went to music school. I made a record. But life happened and it didn't get released. I gained weight and stopped performing. I was too uncomfortable in my skin to put myself out there. I was embarrassed to share my music as this bigger version of myself. So, I spent the years before 2006 hiding inside this larger version of me.
When I started losing the weight I started to find myself again. I became re-involved in theatre. I started writing songs again. In fact, my producer is bringing me out to California for a week to record. So, it's years later but I am getting to what I feel I should have been doing about six years ago.
Why am I sharing this? Well, I just want to encourage you all that are just getting started or those of you that are mid-stream to forge ahead because even though I don't know what will happen after this record is made, I have to say it feels amazing just getting to make it. I'll see you all in about a week!

Has Anyone Seen My BENGAY®?

2008-03-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

I know it’s been a good week at bootcamp when I fidget at my desk. My job keeps me in front of a computer for most of my work day but today I’ve been up and down like a jack in the box. Why? Revenge of the Walking Lunges. Or maybe it’s the Attack of the Squat Thrusts. And very possibly a little Achey Breaky Abs. Either way I’ve been restless, getting up to stretch often and trying to work through the ache from my umm…posterior area. What can I say? I have butt burn.

So, fellow bootcampers, how was your week? First time campers, are you sore? You should be, if you're giving it all you've got. At the end of my first week of camp I was so sore that I had to use the handicapped stall in the ladies restroom at work. I needed the rails to hang onto and help lower me down and lift me up because my legs were not cooperating!

It feels good, though. I like getting up and knowing from the way my body feels that I had a great workout this morning. I feel like I’m accomplishing something even though results will take a while to show up. Sure there are days when I really, really want to sleep in and have to drag myself out of bed. And those are the days when I leave camp feeling proud to be pushing myself, challenging my body and transforming it.

Take care of yourselves over the weekend. Rest, relax and be refreshed because on Monday we’re back out there getting fit & firm!

"Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow."

~Norman Vincent Peale~

Ready, Set...Boot Camp!

2008-03-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Wow! Monday was a terrific start to boot camp. I was happy to see so many returning campers along with all those newbies. And new campers, you're probably feeling sore and achy even though it's only day 2 of this session. Don't despair, it does get easier. However, the instructors love to step it up for us repeaters. It may be easier but it is still a challenge!

What are three most important things that will help you through this first week of camp? You have to hydrate, stretch and sleep. Hydration is a keystone in being fit. Drinking water not only gives your body what you need for your daily requirement but also helps your muscles recover. If you're asthmatic like me, please note that a new study shows dehydration can trigger bronchospasm, making it more likely to need your inhaler during a workout. As much as I love to freak out my fellow campers by not breathing, I'd much rather just get through the session without scrambling like an addict for my inhaler.

The average sedentary person needs about 8 servings of water a day. A serving being 8 ounces, so a total of 64 ounces (just under 2 liters) of water every day if you are a couch potato. But we aren't sedentary, we are boot campers! A general rule of thumb for maintaining good hydration is to drink 3 liters of water a day. And drink 1 cup about 10 minutes before exercise and 1 cup every 15-20 minutes of exercise. Cool water is absorbed faster than warm water.

Does 3 liters sound like it's way too much? Buy a liter water bottle. Fill it. See how fast you actually do drink water. You'll be surprised at how easily you drink that amount even if you're one of those people who say "I don't like water" or "I can't drink if I don't feel thirsty". Did you know that as Americans we are so perpetually dehydrated that we often mistake the body's thirst signal as hunger?

With well hydrated muscles, you'll feel less achy after camp. Don't ignore stretching, though. If you spend 30 minutes doing easy stretching each day your muscles will become more flexible. Better flexibility means less energy output with more efficiency. Who doesn't want that??

Sleep! Make the effort to get to bed. I know, I know, this isn't so easy when you have a husband or wife or kids or pets or friends who love to stay up late socializing. Think back to childhood. Remember when Mom sent you to bed because "it's a school night"? Well, it's a boot camp night. Go to bed. On time. You'll have more energy and your brain will be sharper. I know my brain needs sharpening so I'm setting the alarm clock right now...to remind me an hour before bedtime to start turning off the computer, the tv or stereo and lowering the lights. That sets the mood and tells your body and mind that it's time to relax before it's actually bedtime.

Drink, stretch, snooze...how easy is that? Super easy! Have a fabulous week at camp and I'll see ya'll out there. For some of you it's been a tough couple of days. Hang in there! Seize your chance to make a difference in your health and fitness.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

~Thomas Alva Edison~

Pushing It.

2008-03-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

First off I would just like to give an early congratulations to all of the participants in the accelerated program this week. I hope that you are all feeling stronger and more empowered about living a healthy lifestyle. I know I am.
I am also quite sore.
Right now, as I type this I am attempting to sit upright (good posture promotes good health!) but it seems that I can only muster a slumped semi tilt on the couch where I am working today because my glutes have decided my office chair is too hard. My forearms are resting on my laptop and only my fingers are moving. I think they are the only part of me this morning that is not sore.
It's a good soreness. I will admit that until a couple weeks ago I was not giving my all at camp. I had grown contented with my routine and don't get me wrong, the workouts were challenging but there is something to be said for giving 100%!
For those of you that don't know my story, over the last 15 months I had lost sixty pounds. That being said, even though I had not hit my goal weight, I had convinced myself that I was fine, I had lost a lot of weight and I could live happily on my little plateau. But inside I still longed to wear those skinny jeans in the closet, still wanted to reach the goal I had set out for myself. But I didn't want to work harder and I backslid. I put on eight pounds before I realized what I was doing. I had yet to tackle the problems that led me to gaining the weight in the first place.
I can say first hand that losing the weight has been a very emotional journey. I didn't realize how much I was hiding under the pounds until they were gone. But I'm taking control. I am recommitted to my goal weight and headed in the right direction. I am officially in the home stretch! I have 19.4 lbs to go to reach the high range of my weight loss goal. I would like to invite all of you (SW am class we talked about this today) to step it up a notch or two. Over my 15 month career as a boot camper I have gone from 5 pound weights to 12 pound weights. The twelves are definitely a challenge and I usually take a lighter set (10lbs) along but for the accelerated week I decided to suck it up and use just the Twelves (truth be told I was tired of carrying both). Now I am not expecting you all to toss your Fivers into the wind and haul around 25 pounders. But the next time you pick up your weights (especially you multiple camp repeaters) think about upping the weight. Push yourself to get more reps in during the timed segments. Kick up your pace on the running drills. I've been forcing myself to try and keep up with Kim and Carl all week. Take the leap, get out of your comfort zone and push yourself. Your coach and your camp will support you but only you can find your true 100%.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

Hard Work Pays Off!

2008-02-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

My bootcamp location is SW, at Mills Elementary School. This week the sidewalks were decorated with chalk pictures, crooked hopscotch diagrams and some angst-ridden elementary age graffiti. My favorite was “SCHOOL were (sic) all students are tortured.” I had to laugh at it. After all, I saw it as I was hobbling to my car after a grueling, some might say torturous, work out.

Whether or not it was a brutal week of camp, the last week is awesome for one main reason: evaluations. You gotta love the day when you find out that there are inches gone and pounds lost all through the power of moving your body. I love the fact that my thighs and calves are showing definition and have gone from firm to downright hard when I flex the muscles.

There’s no better feeling in the world than the satisfaction of a job well done and the rewards that go along with it. I want to tell everyone that I’ve lost inches here and inches there and oh, several inches right here. I want the world to know that while they were sleeping I was out under a starry early morning sky doing The Ring of Fire and hey, won’t you look at me now!

I’m thrilled with my results. And I feel empowered knowing the harder I work, the more I benefit. Let the saga of The Incredible Shrinking Woman continue! My dream of becoming lean, toned and fit is well underway.

"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them---a desire, a dream, a vision."

~Muhammad Ali~

Gonna Fly Now

2008-02-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

The song stuck in my head this week is the theme from Rocky. I was singing it all week long except for the hour we’re working out, but only because then I’m too out of breath to muster up anything more than a wheezing conversation. And while I’m on the subject of the hour work out can someone answer the riddle of “why does an hour of bootcamp feel like 120 minutes”? My conspiracy theory is that bootcamp instructors have some sort of magical control over time that actually stretches it into a suspended state so that we sweat and strain for hours before it snaps back to real time. But I digress.

“Trying hard now, it’s so hard now, trying hard now…” goes the song, totally summing up the early part of my week. I felt weak and was dealing with major muscle cramping thanks to dehydration. I know and I know and I know that we need to hydrate each and every day but I cannot remember drinking a single glass of water on Sunday. Please learn from my example and drink your water. It took days to recover and become well-hydrated again. And the only thing worse than running drills is calf cramps and running drills.

“Getting strong now, won’t be long now, getting strong now…”. During our training stations day I was happily shocked to discover that the easiest exercise for me, aside from regular crunches, was holding plank. What?? I’ve gone from barely able to hold plank for 15 seconds in my first bootcamp to an easy 45 seconds. I’m excited and can’t wait to see how I do next week! Add to it a midweek mirror check that showed me my stomach is looking smaller. It’s not anywhere close to flat, mind you, but smaller is wonderful! These little victories are what keep my motivation level high. It feeds my confidence and shows me that I can do more than I ever thought my body was capable of accomplishing.

“Gonna fly now, flying high now, gonna fly, fly, fly…” We’re two-thirds of the way through camp and I am feeling stronger, more energetic and my endurance is rising. My first bootcamp was the same way, by the end of the second week I felt great. I’m proud of working hard toward my goal of living healthfully. Sometimes results are hard to see, but my body feels different. Even something as simple as walking from my car to work is different; my stride is longer, my steps are faster and I move forward with a sense of purpose. Yeah, sure, I have more pounds to lose and a long road ahead but right now, this minute, today I'm happy. I’m happy with my commitment to exercise, happy with bootcamp and happy with my work-in-progress body. I dragged a bunch of my cute "skinny clothes" out of the closet and tried them on last night. No, they didn’t fit yet but I know they will and probably sooner than I imagine.

"There's no easy way out. If there were, I would have bought it. And belive me, it would be one of my favorite things!"

~Oprah Winfrey, on exercise

Moving Forward Toward The Goal

2008-02-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, Friday! The day I sleep late, even if “late” means 6:30am. First time bootcampers are probably more excited with a few extra hours snuggled up in bed than those of us repeat campers. Getting up early does get easier. It’s kind of like squat thrusts. The first few times you’re thinking “Really?? No way!” but after a few weeks it becomes “Alright, let’s do this”. It’s still a struggle but not an impossibility. Impossible to me would be the evening bootcamp, so hat’s off to ya’ll. My energy level is highest in the morning so I have great respect for the workout-after-work crowd.

To say this week of camp has been a challenge would be a tremendous understatement. Coaxing my weak and flabby muscles into giving a power performance isn’t an easy task. But baby step by baby step I’m growing stronger and seeing the results. I find motivation in the oddest places. This week it was the Grammy Awards. Running a lap, I gasped out my mantra “Tina Turner legs, Tina Turner legs”. Hey, whatever it takes, right?

Knowing that my body is firming up, getting leaner and trimming down is what keeps me moving forward. Aching muscles and stiffness eventually get better and go away. Even when I wobble out of my car after camp and toddle up the driveway toward my front door I feel good. So what if I drop my keys then try as I might can’t seem to squat down to get them? The people waiting at a nearby bus stop watched me hunker down like an arthritic senior citizen, reach for my keys and fail, reach for them again, groaning into a deeper squat and then finally tumble over into the lawn. Who knew my bootcamp experience would provide such great entertainment for the world at large?

But I’m pressing on. I’m rubbing liniment on my aches and diligently stretching several times a day. I won’t let anyone, including myself, stop me from my goal of becoming a healthier person. I’ve never been a skinny chick. I’ve never been athletic. I’ve lived my entire life fighting the battle of the bulge. Most of the time it won but I’ve had enough. I’ve put my foot down. I’ve drawn the line in the sand. I’m determined to transform myself into a physically fit woman. Every morning I look into the mirror and tell myself that I can do this. I can and I will.

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES."

-Nike ad

Monday's Motivation: Blanca and Rochelle

2008-02-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

Everyone can tell you the challenges of working out or dieting alone. Many times you may feel pressure from your friends and family to just let your nutrition slide or just skip one work out.
Training with a group is a great way to get the support that you are looking for. I have seen this first hand at Austin Adventure Boot Camp. The support of my coach and my fellow campers is what keeps me going on the days when I’m am less than excited about getting out of bed.
At the Southwest 5:30 camp I have had the pleasure to work with Blanca G. and Rochelle G.

Blanca and Rochelle have been friends since the 8th grade and do just about everything together. Rochelle signed up for boot camp with a friend from work in October ‘07 to prepare for her friends wedding. She’d been walking for fitness but not consistently and she wasn’t seeing a difference. She was looking for boot camp to push her and it did just that. At then end of her first camp she was happy to find herself losing weight and feeling stronger. The next session she signed up for solo and she admits it was a little harder without someone she knew but she was still seeing results and she stuck to achieving her goals.
She decided to ask Blanca to come to camp with her, just to see if she would, and Blanca started attending in November ’07. Both women have great attitudes and great attendance. They make a point to keep each other working hard smiling even when the workouts are tough.
Together they have started to get out of their bad habits, no more Late night IHOP runs, eating out of boredom.
“We’ve stopped eating out so much. No fast food, a LOT less junk food and chips.” says Blanca, who is also battling a family history of diabetes and congestive heart failure. After taking her parents to their doctor’s appointments she saw the path that she was on and didn’t like it. She’d tried dieting and working out before and had trouble sticking with it. When asked her strategy to keep coming to camp Blanca responded “I can see that I am making a change, and with Rochelle there, it makes it easier.”

These women not only get support from each other and Austin Adventure Boot Camp, their families have noticed the big changes they are making and make a point to say how proud they are of them.

When you meet Rochelle and Blanca its easy to see that these are two strong, happy women. As they lose the weight and become more athletic they are excited at what is in store for them. Says Rochelle, “We look forward to being healthier, being happier. Making these changes make us feel more powerful—“and the clothes”, Blanca adds, “We love to shop!”

To people considering starting boot camp with Austin Adventure Boot Camp they offer the following advice. “Don’t be scared, the first day is hard—but you do what you can. Take the first step and you’ll see results.”

Since starting at Austin Adventure Boot Camp Rochelle has consistently lost weight at each camp and has taken 4.5 inches off her waist! Blanca has lost over 30lbs and this past camp she took over a minute off of her mile time.
Congratulations to Rochelle and Blanca for all of their hard work!

Are you a camper that wants to share their Austin Adventure Boot Camp success story? Contact Stephanie Delk at stephaniedelk@atxbootcamp.com.

Show Us Your Goods - VALENTINES Day!

2008-02-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hey, Guys, Show Us Your Goods for Valentine's Day!

Are you still scratching your head, trying to figure out what to buy your girlfriend or wife for Valentine's Day? Did you give any thought yet to making dinner reservations? No?? Never fear! The ladies from 3 Dames Productions have teamed up with Ringers Sports Lounge to make your V-Day shopping easy and painless.

Enjoy happy hour drink specials and the Spurs game (against the Knicks) or poker tournament while shopping with vendors offering jewelry, lingerie and pajamas, bath & body lotions and shower gels, boutique clothing and more.

Amy's Ice Creams will be on hand to take orders for their decadent chocolate covered strawberries. Leighelena, will sell her imaginative and colorful enamel jewelry. Nothing says love like an enameled longhorn pendant, now does it? Sparks Cards & Gifts will showcase their novelty items, Valentine's cards and other gifts as well as manning a gift wrap booth.
Know your sweetheart loves to workout with Austin Adventure Boot Camp!? We'll have a booth there so you can buy her a gift certificate! While you're at it register to win 50% off one of our Men's Only boot camp classes!

If you've really screwed up and not made dinner reservations for the Day of Love you have a chance to win one. SUYG is hosting a raffle of wonderful gifts and reservations at some of Austin's top dining spots. Read that right, you're not scoring a paid dinner, but you'll have a coveted reservation at a restaurant that'll have your significant other smiling like there's no tomorrow. The raffle proceeds go to Breakthrough Austin, an organization that mentors students from sixth grade through college as they become the first generation of their family to graduate.

So c'mon guys...grab a beer and Show Us Your Goods.

IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO CHANGE

2008-01-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

I got this from Daily Guru (just when I was culling my email subscriptions) and it seemed like it fit in with what a lot of people are headed to boot camp tomorrow to accomplish, certainly with what I want to do so I thought I would share it with y'all.

___

The first step toward getting somewhere
is to decide that you're not going to stay
where you are.

You're a product of your environment.
So choose an environment
that will best develop you toward your goals.

Analyze your life in terms of your environment.
Are the things around you helping you toward
your success or are they holding you back?

Your world today is a living expression of how
you are using and have used your mind.
It's something that you can change at any time.

You don't have to remain a captive of your environment.
Don't say "If I could change, I would change,"
say "I can change, and I will change."

Bundle up everybody and lets move forward toward success!

Back to Boot Camp

2008-01-14T06:19:00.000-08:00

Oh Boot Camp. We had over 180 new campers take advantage of the Free Sampler Camp offer and a bunch of repeaters stepped up to get back to boot camp a week early.
Of course the first day back the cold snap brought us some sub 40 degree weather, but it was dead still, no wind. Upper body day warmed us up pretty quickly. Mean Rachel was noticeably absent. To be fair she didn't sign up to start a week early, but still SOMEONE said they were training for the Capital 10K and SOMEONE is not at camp. ahem.

Today, leg day. I conveniently forget to do lunges while I was on break from boot camp. Apparently, this makes for jelly legs at camp. I will say that writing this at 4:30pm a good ten hours later and my butt hurts. Just sitting here. It's all right though. I feel, well, glad to be moving. I will work out on my own without camp but I don't push myself like I do at camp.

All in all, glad to be back at camp, oddly glad to feel sore.

GLADIATORS! Live Blog!

2008-01-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

So not only are competitors fighting for 100,000 and the chance to be the next new gladiator.
Lots of drums and smoke to reveal the gladiators and then Hulk and Laila.
Contestant one- (toilet paper) TP saleslady Jesse vs Contestant two- Life Coach/Fitness Trainer Coya.

Ladies First round- Powerball! For those that don't remember this is the one where you take the balls and put them in the baskets for points. Easy right? Put the balls in the basket. Yeah no. Venom, Siren and Stealth are there to stop you.
Koya gets tackled right away and is down for 15 secs. Jesse get beaten down hard by Stealth and on her way back to the ball bowl is in obvious pain. Jesse is injured in the first 30 second of competition-- seriously?
We leave for commercial with the medic checking out the leg.
Koya is leading 6-2 Jessie is okayed to continue!
Chad the skater dad -who's hair is WAY too dark. vs Firefighter Anthony who loves his momma.

Men's First round -Titan, Wolf and Toa (In my opinion, Toa is the tv version of The Rock) are ready to stop the guys at powerball.
Seriously I remember the gladiators being tough but they are out for blood right now.
Anthony leads 12-2 and Chad said he's not sweating it even though he is dripping with sweat.

MEDIC CHECK with Laila, Jessie is on crutches and headed home.

Venus is her replacement, coincidentally, a rehab physician. Venus is tiny but ready for the joust vs Crush.
Now Crush is a former cage fighter turned gladiator and Venus is easily knocked into the water. "Another one bites the dust" by Queen plays while Crush shakes her booty. I don't know, it's just odd to see a girl dancing with a big ol' face mask on. *shrug*
I contemplate turning Amazing Race back on.
Koya beats Crush to her knees and is wails on her staying on the podium for 5 points.

Men's Round Two: Hang Tough- not just a NKOTB tune.
Tons of upper body work on this one. Moving from ring to ring to the platform avoiding the gladiator.Malitia apparently hurt his arm and let Anthony win easily.
Wolf replaces him to face Chad. Trash talking yadda yadda. Chad gets tackled in the air by Wolf. I commend Chad for hanging on with one hand while holding the weight of Wolf. Camera pans to Chad's adorable son pleading for Wolf to let his dad go.

Women's Round Three:
Wrestling on a rotating/Shaking ring equals a new event "EARTHQUAKE"
Venus vs. Fury Now this ring is not only shaking but it is plexiglass and slippery. Venus stays on the platform for 5 points.
Koya vs. Fury
Koya has about 4 inches on Fury but Koya is FLUNG off the platform but still leads 11-7

Men's Round Three:
Hit and Run
Anthony has 22 points as he heads across the bridges while giant 'demolition balls' are hurled at him by the gladiators. Anthony is by far the most impressive of the competitors.
Chad does some more trash talking and starts running. Anthony made it across 5 times and Chad hits the buzzer... once.
32-4 going to the next round.

Ladies Round Four:
Pyramid
Koya is seriously positive going into the pyramid. I think she can win this she is stronger than Venus.
Crush and Venom are fighting them off. I am guessing that Hellga is being saved until the elimination round.
Crush tackles Koya and rolls her down the pyramid. Venus scores 5 points, Koya does not recover.
12-11 Venus in the lead!!

Men's Round Four:
Pyramid
Toa does a spectacular show of heritage for 20 seconds which does not impress Anthony and we head to commercial break. I remember a lot more reverence and less trash talking when I watched this as a kid. I also don't remember the Gladiators trying to kill the contestants.
Chad and Anthony and running back and forth trying to out run the gladiators. Chad needs to get some points but he's nowhere near the top. Anthony struggles to the top but misses the buzzer by 1 sec!
37-4 Anthony.

THE ELIMINATOR:
Venus is touting her never die attitude. Koya is prepared for the Eliminator.
Venus gets a 1/2 second headstart.

They climb the 8ft wall, no problem. 20 foot underwater swim (under fire because otherwise you would be tempted to surface?), 30 ft cargo net climb, then the barrel roll. This is the point where I remember how hard the eliminator is. The Barrel Roll is a giant spool that you wrap your body around and hang on to for dear life until it gets to the bottom.
Now that you are exhausted there's the hand bike. (Koya falls) Are you tired? Well then balance on this balance beam. Can't breath? Take a break on the zip line, and then run up the travelator. Think escalator wall ramp (no stairs) there is a rope but you still have to run up it to get to the finish. Koya gets there first but falls. Again, and again.
This is a punishing course and Koya stumbles and Venus regains her footing and heads to the finish!
Hulk Hogan is praising Venus and she looks like she's going to die. She heads to the final round.

MEN'S ELIMINATOR:
Chad is more humble. Anthony gets a 16.5 sec headstart and loses steam underwater. Chad makes up ground with the swim and they both finish the cargo net at about the same time.
Chad is FINALLY showing some competitive spirit! Anthony and Chad both stumble at the Travelator but Anthony pulls it out to win.

I'm a little upset that Militia was injured because he was a seriously fierce Gladiator.

Men's Contenders.
Molivan is ready to Gauntlet. This guy is 157 lbs which is basically how much Titan's left thigh weighs. He has 30 seconds to get through the gauntlet gaining 2 pt for each gladiator he passes. He passes all except Justice who kept pounding him in the face with the blocks.

This next contender Jeff, auditioned in 1994 but missed his time slot and so he's back to get through. He's got about 43 pounds on Molivan. Wolf howls. Jeff jumps the whistle and pulls off a gladiators mask and the ref stops the round to have him start over!

Women's Contenders:
Shanay is a youth counselor who started weight training to build curves.
I totally respect that. I am a little worried for her because they put Hellga at the end of the gauntlet. I think out of all the gladiator women I would fear her the most. BUT there's an upset. Shanay slips RIGHT BY HER!!

Bonnie is bringing it as a retired marine. She was a sergeant so I expect a lot. Something about 'marines' that makes me think about one armed bionic womanesque pull ups. With her helmet on Bonnie looks like Natalie Maines. She runs up on the wall to get past the gladiators and tries to take down Hellga. Seriously?!
10pt to 10pt they tie the round. Bonnie does not disappoint.

Men's round 2:
Joust
Moli vs Mayhem
Mayhem is almost 100 pounds heavier than l'il Moli but Mayhem DISQUALIFIES himself by stepping on Moli's platform!
Jeff vs Mayhem
Mayhem DOES IT AGAIN and steps on the challenger platform. Ticked off he pushes Jeff into the water.
18-16 Jeff who almost ticks off Laila by splashing her.

Ladies round 2:
The wall.
Rock wall from hell. 40 feet of wall. Venom is pulling Shanay's feet and Stealth cannot catch Bonnie. Bonnie 10pts and Shanay 5pts for finishing.

Men's Round 3:
Assault. Obstacle course while dodging 100 mph 'bullets' (tennis balls) shot by Justice.
Jeff also has to fire shots from 5 different stations to hit the target. Jeff gets 2 pts before being hit. Bet that leaves a mark.

Moli's turn. Moli sucks at the slingshot and then starts to freak out in the sand box. He doesn't find the arrow and time runs out
20-18 Jeff

Ladies Round 3:
Hang tough.
Bonnie vs Fury Fury gets Bonnie in an upside down Leg hold called the "suicide squeeze". Fury gives up the hold to try to pull her down but Bonnie HANGS ON and Fury falls into the water.
Shanay vs Fury. Shanay crunches her legs up to avoid the suicide and makes it to the platform for 10pt!

Men's round 4
Pyramid
Moli calls himself a 'spidermonkey'. Commercial..
Ok so Moli is a spidermonkey. he's fast but his tiny size makes him easy to throw off the pyramid. Neither Jeff or Moli scores. I have to say that Titan is very impressive. In the absence of Militia I think that Titan and his HeMan blond hair are my fav.

Women's Round 4
Hit and Run.
Shanay is in the lead with 25pt only makes one pass and Bonnie doesn't hit the buzzer once before getting slammed.
27-25 Shanay.

MEN's ELIMINATOR
Jeff has waited 14 years for this. Moli calls himself a Spidermonkey again. I would have to say that Moli has an advantage because he doesn't have a lot of weight to carry, he's only 150 lbs. Jeff falls off the barrel roll and the hand bike.
Jeff is in great shape for his age but Moli is so small he just zips across and wins it.
Its really kinda sad that while they talk to the winner they keep panning to the contender in second place as they struggle up the Travelator.

Ladies Eliminator
There is a one second differential in start times, will it make a difference?
Bonnie hit her head on a steel bar in the pool but doesn't quit. Shanay is in the lead but Bonnie is picking up speed on the hand bike. Her forehead is BLEEDING.
Shanay slips on the Travelator and Bonnie picks up some distance. Shanay wins it but Bonnie is right behind her bleeding from the face.
They need to bring Bonnie back, cause seriously- girl might have a concussion and she finished like 5 seconds behind Shanay.

So apparently there is another gladiator show tomorrow because there is a writer's strike going on but I won't be blogging it. I will just be watching and thinking about how many push ups I'll have to do to conquer the hand bike.

Free Four Day Sampler!

2008-01-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Starting January 14th Austin Adventure Boot Camp is holding a Free 4 day sampler camp at ALL LOCATIONS! New Campers will have the opportunity to try out the program for more than just one day--we are giving you four days absolutely free!

Click the link below to sign up!

But you're a repeating camper you say? Why can't you start earlier than the 21st? Well you can!
Repeat Campers that purchase the January 21st camp by January 11th are welcome to register for the Four Day Sampler Camp. Get started early --sign up now!

Break Over. Back To The Plan.

2007-12-27T07:27:00.000-08:00

Okay. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you have not been getting up at 5:30am for the last week to work out.
That's fine. It is always nice to have a little break. But the holiday is done and it is time to get back on track (if you got off track) and get back to working out (if you stopped). I for one have been daunted by the 20 degree weather at 5:30 am the last two days so I've busted out my old school workout videos. They are good, but I have to say I'm a little disappointed with how easy they have gotten. Tomorrow, the plan is to bundle it up and head out for a good run/walk. You know, run one mile, walk one mile. Second mile I'll bring my weights and do 50 bicep curls, 50 tricep dips and 50 shoulder presses. But that's me. If you think you may want to put the weights down at some point during the walk (which I don't recommend because you'll have to go fetch them or buy more weights) then skip the weight work until after the 2nd mile.
I really hope that y'all are watching what's going into your mouths as well. I personally have decided to eat dessert first (so that the carbohydrates are eaten earlier in the day) so I have more time to burn it off! AND PLEASE make sure that you are drinking enough water. Just because you aren't up at 5 sweating it out with us, your body still needs that water!

What's Your Gladiator Name?

2007-12-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

This morning at accelerated camp SW somewhere after the delirium that sets in after doing running drills, super sets and "Ring of Fire" I mentioned that American Gladiators is returning to TV. Why is this significant? Well besides being part of my childhood, many of the gladiators are figure competitors like Amy O. and Stephanie McD. Not only is the show hosted by my friend Murph's favorite, Hulk Hogan, co-hosting is Laila Ali, who is one of my personal heroes.
As far as the show goes, they say that they are currently casting weekend warriors but what does it really take to be a gladiator? Well, in my case it will take a lot more upper body strength I think that I could do some damage in the joust but the wall. It scares me. Which means I'm going to have to find some sort of climbing wall/obstacle to tackle to get over it.
Speaking of television.
I've been watching The Biggest Loser as I type this article. It is just amazing to me the incredible weight loss they have accomplished. They did however mention a staggering statistic that 90% of people that lose weight regain it. I know this first hand because the first time I lost the weight (back in the day when I was living in Boston) I gained it back because I hadn't figured out the reason behind my overeating in the first place and I had no maintenance plan, I didn't have a plan beyond "Lose the Weight".
As we move forward to new goals and resolutions I suggest that you plan your strategy not only for getting through the holidays but beyond. Figure out a way to get regular exercise and continue to eat healthily.

Celebrate The Season of Giving, Help the Adoption Coalition of Texas!

2007-12-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

This time of year is there is always a constant reminder to give and if you are like me you want to help but are not sure where to donate. Here is a really great option for you.

Long time Southwest boot camper Tracy Eilers works with The Adoption Coalition of Texas. They are collecting donations of warm winter clothes and money to purchase small gifts and necessities for a group of 25 teenage girls. Currently they are still in need of additional funds to make the winter season warmer for these girls.

These are girls in foster care who have been pretty severely abused. They are living in what is called a Residential Treatment Center, similar to a shelter environment. It is designed like a campus so it has a cafeteria, "cottages" where the girls live, an on-site Charter school, a petting zoo where the girls take care of the animals and a pottery place. It is actually a lovely facility.

The girls share rooms and have very little space for stuff. They have their bedding, clothes and a few small items. These girls come into foster care with the clothes on their back -none of which was warm clothing! Now that we are into the winter months they are in need of warm clothes. This is what they've all put on their lists along with 1 extra item each. So, we are asking folks to shop for them but purchase some of the following ~ hats, gloves, slippers, fuzzy socks, coats, jackets, sweatshirts and/or sweaters. They really need sweat shirts, coats and/or a jacket.

If you would like to donate money to help the Adoption Coalition provide warmth for these teenage girls please follow this link (no firefox browsers sorry!) to donate online.

Donate to the Adoption Coalition of Texas Fund Now!

Select “ADOPTION COALITION OF TEXAS FUND” (it is, I believe the 5th one down in the menu. and follow the prompts.)
In the comments section enter Secret Santa Donation.

If you would like to buy clothing items for the girls please contact me for the list of items needed and sizes.

Piano Run

2007-12-11T22:02:00.001-08:00

Some of you know that I take piano lessons, which I feel is good exercise for my fingers. I have chubby fingers. Well, the exercise for my fingers part is not true but I do have chubby fingers.

On Friday night when I was having dinner at Waterloo Ice House, I couldn't help but notice that there was some sort of video footage running on CNN showing a young girl with a piano and they were giving out awards for the CNN "Heroes" of 2007. I made a mental note to look up the show later because I was curious as to who was getting an award for being a hero with a piano.

Since I have been on a 12 month news purge, I apparently have missed some actually interesting news bits like this one. An 18 year old girl named Kayla Cornale from Ontario developed a science fair project a few years ago linking piano keys with letters of the alphabet in hopes of helping teach autistic people. Her cousin was autistic and Cornale noticed how the girl was talented at memorizing lyrics of songs and connected with the piano. So she put a letter on each of the main 26 keys of the keyboard and started working with her on how to "spell" words by using the sounds of each key. She also designated some of the lower keys on the keyboard to make chords of emotion, so her cousin could express her various emotions.

Long story short, it worked and her cousin started to actually learn how to spell and could figure out the alphabet. It's really pretty incredible how it seems like such a simple idea, but one that is so very innovative.

Who knew a science fair could be so worthwhile. My foam-ball solar systems certainly never made any difference.

What I Learned This Week

2007-12-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

I feel like this was a really big week for me.

I feel stronger. Hm. Well, that might have something to do with the 3,542 push ups I did. Or perhaps the 2,173 lunges. Whatevs. I feel strong and empowered this week.

I feel like 2008 I am really going to take by the horns. I think I committed to doing the Master Cleanse for 10 days in January last night. Which I feel like I could pull off, if so inclined and my social calendar allowed.

I feel good about myself. There is nothing like sculpted arms to make a girl feel good about her body, am I right?

Make a Plan: Dealing with Holiday Eating

2007-12-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

First off I'd like to thank all that offered support and praise during my 10 day master cleanse. I'm here to report that I feel great, lost weight and inches and am happily moving back to solid foods.
I decided to do the cleanse pre-holiday break as a way to keep myself in check. I am notorious for letting the holidays take over, long days inside watching movies wearing sweatpants, and coming out on the other side unable to fasten my suit pants. No Longer. Now that I have spent 10 days cleansing, I am paying a lot more attention to what I am putting into the system from here forward.

My holiday goal: Enjoy the holidays and come out smaller on the other side.

Now, I know that holidays are tough on people trying to keep fit and healthy. There are temptations everywhere, stress levels are high (which is no good for those of us trying to lose weight) you've decided to find out which coffee shop has the best Egg Nog Latte--but listen you can get through it. Here are some tips to make healthy eating during the holidays a little easier.

Situation 1: The Office Party - Eat before you go. Make sure you have lots of healthy snacks, maybe even a couple to tuck into your pocket in case they don't have a health conscious treat. This way you won't be the only one not eating. While at the party choose wisely, pick 1 treat and eat it slooooooowly. Skip sodas and opt for water. If people offer, just say 'no thank you' you have no reason to explain what you are doing if you don't want to. No need to get on your high horse about calorie counting either. Take care of yourself and make sure that you are working towards your goals.

Situation 2: The Family Gathering- This is a tough one. Many times relatives do not understand why you aren't having a double serving of marshmallow topped brown sugared yams. Balance your plate, get your proteins and veggies (if they are all covered in butter or creamy sauce take a small portion or pass) take it easy on the carbs. Loading your plate with rice, potatoes and biscuits will not help you any in your battle of the bulge. If you know your family will not be making food that is healthy enough, volunteer to bring a big salad or platter of healthy fruit snacks that you can munch on for dessert. Most importantly go in with a plan so you don't have to stress about it. Decide how much you will eat and what you will indulge on. My mom makes these delicious rolls, I'll pass on stuffing if it means I can have two rolls. Also be strong with your decision, you can decide to mention you are watching what you are eating or not. If someone asks why you aren't packing it in like you did last year you can always say "Its all so good I want to really take my time and enjoy it." After dinner, take a walk around the neighborhood to burn off some of dinner and take a peek at all of the festive lights.

Situation 3: Out with Friends- Friends can be great supporters or even better saboteurs. Remember its not what you are drinking, it is who you are drinking with. It should not matter if you are sipping club soda instead of champagne. If you want to have a drink try this rule which I stole from Unibroue: "Drink Less. Drink Better."
Don't be bullied, if they want dessert and you don't need it don't order it. Or there is always ordering one dessert and splitting it four ways option. Just remember that restaurant portions are often double or triple servings (ask for a take home box when you get your meal if it is tremendous).

Remember, just because it is there doesn't mean you have to eat it. Make a plan and stick to it.

Also you should make a plan to stop by The Marq Thursday night for Show Us Your Goods, a shopstravaganza to benefit Dress for Success.

Once, Twice, Three Times as Sore

2007-12-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

This weekend, as I explained on my own blog, I made the terrible decision to double up my work outs. I obviously didn't think that one through. But the choice was made and I'm a bit of a strange bird when it comes to certain things, so on Monday morning I dragged myself out of bed for 100's Part Un.
Fortunately McD revised the 100's to "I Love the 80's" which is kind of weird because no one actually loved the 80's and no one actually loves the I Love the 80's workout.

(If that last sentence made no sense, I can explain: I have zero brainpower left in me currently)

I made it through I Tolerate the 80's and then went to "work" and tried to use my arms. My coworkers always know when I go to boot camp because I hobble around like Nostradamus. By 5:30 (that's PM, not AM), it was time to change and go to Part Deux. I changed at the office and then came to the terrifying realization that in my half-asleep stupor when I was packing my bag, I'd forgotten...socks.

I have one coworker who is...well, for lack of a better word, he's a push over. And he knows it, so I can say it on here. So I went over to him - "Maaaaattt..." Matt turned around from his computer and looked at me, knowing I wanted something. "Can I have your socks?"

I think he was just glad I wasn't making him fix the copy machine or get down something heavy from storage, because he said "You really want my socks?" and started untying his shoes.
So we turned them inside out, I asked him a few questions regarding foot hygiene, and then put them on. Putting on damp socks is like putting on a wet bathing suit - just. plain. disgusting.

Some people might have seen not having socks as an opportunity to skip out on the evening class. But I knew no one would believe me if I said I forgot my socks and I couldn't wuss out on my first day of two-a-days.

Tomorrow I have another round of two-a-days and will be bringing a bag to work with me again. When I was in 4th grade I forgot my homework at home one day. When I called my mom at work to see if she'd bring it to me, she told me no and said "I bet you won't forget it again."

Tomorrow I will not be forgetting to pack socks.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2007-11-28T23:16:00.000-08:00

First off I'd like to thank Michelle and the Ladies at the Central Camp for putting up with me for most of this week. You other camps better watch out cause the the Central Ladies are running fast!
I got to talking with Jan G. who has a 13- year old and a 5 year old and has been working her way through Deceptively Delicious, that tricky book from Jessica Seinfeld. She says so far so good. The premise is that you take vegetable puree and you put it in regular foods, thus hiding the healthy stuff from your kids. Honestly I think this is right up my alley. Of course that is if I was eating. Which I am not.
Crazy? A little bit. Let me clarify. I am not eating solid foods and I haven't for 5 days.
I am actually doing the Master Cleanser. I drink a "lemonade" made from lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. It is actually pretty tasty. The hard part is the salt water flush every morning. Its like swallowing 32 ozs. of the ocean.
Five days and no solid foods.
How do I feel?
Well, I have a surprising amount of energy. My congestion has decreased significantly and my allergies are still there (I have a million) but much more mild. Oh and as of today I have lost 6 pounds so I'm feeling lighter, which is great for my plan to look like Tina Turner.
Please do not step into the Master Cleanser lightly. I did a lot of research before I started and talked to my nurse practioner and a nutritionist. So please read up and then consult your doctor before starting a fast.
Am I hungry?
Surprisingly no. I've had cravings, which they say is normal. Mostly for things I've seen on tv or for something to chew.
Would I dare go past 10 days?
Maybe. It had been oddly calming not having to prepare meals or wonder what to cook. Oh and not doing a bunch of dishes has been more than a little nice. Some people do this fast for 40 days. But I'm pretty sure that ten will do it for me.

Prison Break

2007-11-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

On Monday I went to the evening boot camp, since I was more awake (thank you sugar free Red Bull, my hero) and also since it wasn't as cold. Also I had accustomed myself to sleeping until 11:30 AM every day over the Thanksgiving holiday.

We started with a challenging post-Thanksgiving push up/plank/squat thrust/mountain climbers circuit (made even more difficult with half a pumpkin pie in your stomach) and then had "interval" runs in between. I was just glad we weren't doing the Ring of Fire again because I still maintain it gave me a cold last time.
For our second interval run, McD announced we were going to be doing a prison run which is one of the few boot camp exercises that actually sounds as difficult as it is. Which is testament to how tough it is.

A prison run is basically where you put your hands behind your head and then you take off running as if you just busted out of Pelican Bay Maximum Security Prison. Which may not sound hard, but running without your arms is kind of like swimming without your legs or playing the piano without your hands. Rather difficult and, in this case, aerobically challenging. From now on I am going to refer to the Indian Run as the Chain Gang Run, in an effort to create more truth in advertising.

When we got done with the run, we started up some more circuits, most of which I've quickly forgotten in a sort of Stockholm-syndrome cycle that I go through post-workout. I do remember McD saying "You guys were all so talkative before the prison run!" No one responded, just various gasps and Hail Marys from the crowd. "What happened?" McD continued. "What happened to chatty?"

Had I not been utilizing every ventricle of my heart to pump blood to my shoulders at that moment in time, I would have responded "I think Chatty got shot escaping from prison."

Just Beachy

2007-11-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

My family heads down to the Texas coast for Thanksgiving (and pretty much any other four-day weekend we can get, as we are all displaced second-generation New Zealanders and feel a call from the ocean daily). This year the weather hasn't been the greatest -- cloudy, cold and blustery. But we still have managed to pack several hours worth of walking on the beach, which is way more interesting than strolling around Circle C on the weekends. There are seagulls to observe, the sound and energy of the waves propelling you forward and also people-watching with the rest of the tourists making their way up and down the beach. Yesterday we actually saw someone swimming in the ocean (the water temperature is about 66 degrees but it's 41 degrees outside and WINDY! You do the math!).
All of this beach walking got me wondering about whether it is better for your health to walk on a beach -- it seems more difficult to walk in the sand, bracing yourself against the wind. I found this entry on DiscoverWalking.com about the benefits of walking on the beach:

Aside from the beautiful view of the ocean and the great people watching there are many benefits of walking on the beach. Walking in sand requires a greater effort than walking on a hard surface. Your muscles and tendons will work harder as your foot moves around.
Walking at a slower pace requires more effort than walking fast or even jogging. Walking in sand requires 2.1 to 2.7 times more energy than walking on hard surfaces. Jogging in sand uses1.6 times more energy than jogging on hard surfaces.

For most of us burning calories is one of the benefits of any exercise. One the primary benefits of walking on a beach is that you will use 20 to 50 percent more calories than you would walking at the same pace on a hard surface.

So this is good news for me, especially after all of that pumpkin pie I ate yesterday and the mimosas I have (and continued to) downed.
Although I don't know that anything will save me when the alarm goes off at 5:09 AM on Monday and it's time (yet again) to do the mile run.

Just Add Water

2007-11-20T11:38:00.001-08:00

I know that you all thought I was going to wax on about The Bachelor today, but I am not that shallow of a person. I have ambitions and goals and higher purposes in life other than just blogging about the Bachelor. No, really, I do. But boy is Brad Womack a tall drink of water. Speaking of water, has anyone reminded you lately that you need to drink plenty of water? Here are some reasons why:

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half the world population.)

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied (in a University of Washington study).

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8 to 10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math (Ed. Note: This explains EVERYTHING), and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

COKE

In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. (Ed. Note: I have actually done this with a golf cart battery several times and it works really well. Kind of fun, like pouring soy sauce on a snail.)

To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. (Ed. Note: I don't think McD would endorse this on the nutrition plan.)

To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.

Coke will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.

To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the "Hazardous Material" place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would YOU like a glass of water or Coke?

Actually, I'd just like a Brad Womack please.

Gooooooaaaal!

2007-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:00

So I've figured it out. After much searching and pros and cons lists I have decided on my next fitness goal.
For those of you joining us late, I had accomplished all of my fitness goals. Mile under 9 minutes, run my first 5k, lost 60 pounds, yadda yadda I got kinda stuck. But no longer.
My new goal: To look and feel more like a rockstar. More specifically this rockstar.

I'm setting up a show with my hoot night band and the Hooting and hollering is going to be all Tina Turner. So I am going to have to de-flab my legs (lunge-a-palooza here I come) to get ready for the short and shredded look. So we are going for the Lean Mean Tina look and if we in fact get down to the smallest size of jeans I have in my closet then so be it.

To prepare for that I'm researching a kick off Master Cleanse doing some reading about it (I'll report back if I decide to do it or not). Following that up with a revised nutrition plan, admittedly I've gone astray, and back to adding my ever other afternoon extra cardio bonanza.

So, that's my goal. Did you guys figure out yours? Have you done the master cleanse and have tips for me?

And You Thought I Was Mean

2007-11-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to the Xtreme Fight Championship (XFC) in San Antonio, Texas at the AT&T Center. It's kind of ironic that when I was a kid, you couldn't say the word "blood" around me without me bursting into tears, and now I find myself sitting cageside within inches of giant men (and women) punching each other. Either way, I never turn down the opportunity to get a free media pass and possibly bump into Tony Parker.

If you thought boot camp made you sore, just try to imagine this for a second: Climbing into a chain link cage and staring down someone who probably would be better suited for breaking a coconut open with his bare hands. That coconut will soon be replaced with your skull.

All in all, if you like action or just enjoy being at an event where it's completely appropriate to shout out "Go for the groin!" then you'd enjoy mixed martial arts fighting. I took a short video of one of the fights, between Kenny "The Italian Hit" Trevino and Kyo Gregoire. Trevino ends up knocking out Gregoire in the 2nd round and winning. If you're interested, you can read my (entirely too long) recap on the XFC Fight Blog.

Don't Sweat the Skirt Stuff

2007-11-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

If you were at Race for the Cure, you might have noticed McD sporting what is known as the Skirt Sports. Evidently the newest exercise gear phenom is something as simple as a few extra inches of spandex (since when isn't that a good thing). To the right is an example of one of the Skirt Sports styles -- the Gym Girl Zebra, found here. This would be great if you occasionally go running down the strip in Las Vegas.

I've always avoided skirts not because I don't like them but because I find them rather awkward to get around in -- and when it comes to exercising in a skirt, no one's interested in pulling a Britney while doing bicycle crunches. But a rather inventive triathlete by the name of Nicole DeBoom came up with the idea to take your typical running shorts and turn them into a skirt, keeping the inside lining the same. The result is a more feminine style when running and working out. So if you're trying to pick someone up at the co-ed class, this is your golden ticket!

Since Race for the Cure, I saw a News 8 report on the Skirt Sport product line and also heard about the Skirt Chasers 5K which was held last weekend in Austin. Basically it's a 5K where women get a head start on the men and see who wins. For now, skirts are the new shorts.

While you won't see me in a skirt unless I'm knocking back a vodka soda at The Marq while simultaneously making eyes at The Bachelor and motioning for him to call me, I think it' a great sign of the times that the female demographic is being targeted as a powerful influence on the work out apparel market.

I Just Want A Runner's High

2007-11-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

I came across this news story today, about a recent study that found that a "runner's high" can be good for your heart. I'm sure everyone's heard of the infamous runner's high: the heady, king-of-the-world feeling you get sometimes during or after finishing a run. According to studies, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that make you feel happier and euphoric.
I guess I have no choice but to believe in the legend of the runner's high -- I sure as heck feel euphoric when I stop running. But that usually has more to do with being able to collapse on the ground and breathe again and less to do with endorphins and my brain synapses. I know that during a run I never feel euphoric. In fact, my mind thinks of the opposite when I run like "If that car hit me, I at least wouldn’t have to run the rest of this mile," or "Why on earth am I doing this?" I certainly have not experienced a runner's high while actually running, and if I ever did, I would immediately assume that I had gone unconscious. The only true runner's high I get these days is from watching a Nike commercial while eating a bag of Doritos.
So knowing that, I have to find other ways to entertain myself while running. A lot of people like to listen to music while they run and sometimes I do too. But I also get kind of frustrated with carrying the albatross of an MP3 player, especially if a song I'm less-than-thrilled with comes on or if I want to skip to another song. It seems like such a huge effort while running to press the fast-forward button on an iPod -- as if that's going to knock off seconds from my world record-breaking mile time. Instead while I'm running I often try to meditate to the point where I no longer feel like I'm running and am curled up in my bed under the blankets. I haven't fully achieved this yet, but don't worry, I'll let you know when I do.

I am a goalless drifter.

2007-11-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday. The middle of the week, and right now my only serious goal is to get to 5pm Friday unscathed.
Having run the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5K I have completed my goals for 2007:

Lose weight for the reunion
Get medical insurance
Get my mile time under 9 minutes
Find out what I'm allergic to
Run a 5K without having a heart attack mid sprint
Make a significant dent in the writing/planning of my recording project.

Missions Accomplished. Now what?! I need more goals, new plans. Unfortunately it is not like I can put up a craigslist ad looking for goals.

"Motivated achiever seeks goals of the personal and attainable variety. Previous goals were wonderfully fulfilling but alas, have been, fulfilled. Please make yourself known ASAP so I can beat the New Year's rush."

Seriously though, setting goals is very important to your success. For me, having goals to push towards keep me in line. Stops me from zipping into the drive through and eating an entire loaf of bread's worth of toast.

Tips for setting goals.

Pick something you care about. Something that means something to you directly.
Make sure its attainable in a reasonable amount of time. Its cool to plan things that will take a year or more, just be sure there are milestone markers along the way to keep you from getting discouraged.
Make it VISIBLE. Write it down. Put it in a journal. Put it on a card in your wallet, put it in a frame by your bed or on your desk. Hang the skinny jeans outside of the closet so you have to look at them every day.
Visualize yourself achieving your goal. Keep the feeling of how wonderful it is in your mind at all times.
Tell someone. Tell a lot of people. Blog about it. After all, you are going to need people to celebrate with when you cross it off the list!

I'm off to find some new goals, drop me a line and let me know what your goals are.

How To Kill a Camper in 100 Reps or Less

2007-11-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

I woke up the Monday morning after the Race for the Cure feeling like someone had punched me in both eyes. I think this was mainly allergies, but allergies were definitely not to blame for my hamstrings feeling like they had reduced in length by half. So I decided that I was going to sleep in the extra heavenly two hours and try to make the evening boot camp class instead.

Last night we did an Indian run, which is when everyone runs in a single-file line. The person at the front carries a baton and the last person in line attempts to sprint/crawl their way to the front and take the baton. This process repeats for the duration of a mile, or until the group falls apart and everyone just shuffles along in a mass of bodies.

After the Indian run, we started doing what Stephanie calls "The 100's," which I think stands for how many sets of each upper-body exercise you do, but also represents the number of times I wanted to throw up during the work out. It's kind of humorous that anyone would look at me with the expectation that I could do 100 push ups and then assume I would ever be able to move again, let alone work out.

The ten sets of ten push ups were definitely the most miserable part, where you would squeeze out about six and then the last four would simply be an out of body experience. In between each set, I curled up into a ball and pretended I was on a reality show where I would win a million dollars after all this. But the truth of the matter was that I was really just not going to be able to wash my hair that night or lift a beer up to my mouth since my arms ceased to function somewhere between the 17th and 20th push up I did.

I suggested we take our exercise down a notch, maybe the "I love the 90's" or the "Roaring 20s" work out but Stephanie didn't seem to think that was such a good idea. Instead we continued on with 100s. At one point, she asked us all how we were feeling but no one managed to say anything. I personally think that was because of one of two reasons: 1) We were all too busy counting, hoping we were almost to 100 or 2) We couldn't come up with any words that wouldn't break the "no four letter words" class rule.

Race For the Cure

2007-11-05T20:16:00.000-08:00

This Sunday the Austin Adventure Boot Camp participated in Austin's ninth Susan G Komen Race for Cure 5k. Thanks to the wonderful members of our team we were able to surpass our original goal as well as our secondary goal and raise $1,010.00 for the cause. Many thanks to the Campers and Coaches that participated!

Pop a top and give me twenty!

2007-11-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

So this is my kind of news! A recent study has shown that drinking beer after a work out is better than water. I knew I was on to something!

Check out the article here. An excerpt from it:

The study was conducted on 25 students of Granada University by Professor Manuel Garzon.

They were asked to run on a treadmill under stifling temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius / [104 degrees Farenheit] until they were close to exhaustion.

Their hydration levels, concentrationability and motor skills were later measured by the researchers.

While half were given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, the rest were provided water. Both groups were then allowed to drink as much water as they wanted.

Professor Garzon said the rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was slightly better than those given water.

The article goes on to say that the carbon dioxide in beer helps quench thirst more quickly, while the carbohydrates replaced the calories lost during exertion.

Perhaps Gatorade will be coming out with a new GatorBeer?
We can only hope.

Step By Step

2007-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

I stayed up way too late last night watching the World Series (go Sox!) so I had a hard time dragging myself out of bed this morning. So I thought that I would come up with a "How To Make Yourself Wake Up and Go To Boot Camp" ten-step program, for days when you just don't think you can make it through class (let alone get out of bed). I know, this is sort of like the blind leading the blind, but we're going to go with it:

Step 1.
When the alarm goes off, it is imperative that you immediately sit up in bed and think about work. Or something that causes you a great deal of stomach-gnawing stress, because that will help you to not feel sleepy anymore. Think about your list of things to do that day, or a big meeting or even your grocery shopping. The prospect of boot camp won't seem as bad when compared to the thought of responding to the deluge of emails you have at work.

Step 2.
People always say you should put out your clothes the night before. Not me. I stumble into my closet and, during the winter, proceed to put on every article of clothing I own. I hate being cold, and frankly I don't believe anyone who says that they actually like the cold weather. Remember, it's all about layers. You can always take off that pantsuit, sequined halter top and kimono once you get to camp and start getting warmed up.

Step 3.
If you own any pets, DO NOT LOOK AT THEM. They will look so cozy, curled up in a warm ball, nose to tail, their paws tucked underneath them. They'll probably hear you wake up, crack open an eyelid and survey you with one stress-free, smug eyeball, then stretch, yawn, and fold themselves back up into a furry pretzel. Sometimes I seriously want to drag my cat, Chubby Charles (that's really her name), with me to boot camp. Instead I say to her "Why don't you make something of yourself? All you do is sleep. Go climb a tree."

Step 4.
Think about Thanksgiving. There's no real reason behind this step, I just like Thanksgiving and it encourages me to get out of bed.

Step 5.
While driving to boot camp, I listen to assorted morning radio shows and think about how glad I am I'm not a DJ on a morning show. Can you imagine if your job relied on you waking up at 3:30 AM every day? Talk about pressure.

Step 6.
You are going to want to do a donut in the parking lot as soon as you get to boot camp. I stop myself from turning around, driving away in a haze of smoke and not slowing down until I get to Mexico by reminding myself that in an hour, this will all be over. That's sort of the same thing as the dentist saying "This will only hurt for a second" when they give you a shot of Novocaine in the mouth, but denial is a technique that has worked for centuries so who am I to argue against it.

Step 7.
The Tread of Dread. This is what I call the few steps you take as you walk from your car to boot camp, dragging your water bottle, exercise mat, barbells, 25 extra pounds and badonkadonk. There's still enough time to back out, but you are too weighed down by all of your accessories that you don't think you can even move fast enough. Just keep walking. Those 25 pounds aren't going to lose themselves.

Step 8.
During roll call, it is key that you actually stay awake. I have felt myself drifting off to sleep during roll call so many times while lying on my mat and closing my eyes. I always know when I'm really tired because I start thinking as I fall asleep, "Sleeping outside isn't so bad. We should do it more often. Who needs houses? I like boot camp," and other various fallacies.

Step 9.
The first warm up run you do is only a small teaser of how much you have left to do. I have found that the faster you run, the faster it is over. I don't like it, but that's an undeniable fact, so I suggest you run as fast as you can. The same cannot be applied to everything though, because no matter how much you want it to be over, one minute holding the plank is one minute holding the plank no matter how you slice it. So don't be fooled by the sneaky plank.

Step 10.
The Walk of Pain. As you limp back to your car at 6:30 AM, just remember this: You get to do it all again tomorrow! Ow.

Candy Rage : The Fight Against Chocolate Covered Whoosits.

2007-10-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time. Well technically, it has been that time. Halloween candy has been in the grocery stores for the last two months. Starbucks and every other coffee place in town has rolled out their 'Pumpkin Spice' flavored beverages. But what do you do when you are supposed to watch your calories, sugar intake, blah blah blah, cut back on sweets?

Seems like everywhere you go is littered with snack size, chocolate covered whatnots. How do you keep your hands from finding their way into the candy bowls and stay on track?

Reasons to say no to sweets:
You will live longer.
You will feel better.
Cutting back on sweets will help you reach your weight loss goals faster.

Take a look at how much you can lose if you just cut out soda!

1 bottle of Cola (20oz, regular, not diet) has 239 calories.

Let's say you have just one bottle of cola a day, every day.

7 x 239 calories = 1673

Since there are 3500 calories in a pound, without doing anything else you could lose about a half a pound a week JUST by leaving out the soda.

Here's are some tips to get you through Halloween:

Halloween
This used to be the most difficult holiday for me. Tiny little candies everywhere!

In a full size Snickers Bar there are 280 calories-- approximately 6 Snickers miniatures. Keep in mind --just because they are small does not mean you can eat more of them!

If you do not have the willpower to leave the candy alone, do not buy it. Donate the candy money to charity.
If your house is in danger of being egged if you go candyless, buy the candy that you don't like so you won't be tempted.
Wait till the last possible moment to buy candy. This will leave you with as little time alone with the candy as possible.
Keep the candy bowl by the door, do not go near the door/bowl of candy unless your house is in fact being egged or trick-or-treaters come by.
Put the candy in an adult-proof box or "Boo for you" box. Take a small box and cut a hole in it that is small enough for a child's hand but not your own. Decorate the box with a Halloween-y theme. Pour the candy inside. If a trick-or-treater's hand doesn't fit, shake the box directly over their bag. "But wait", you ask, "Stephanie what will stop me from shaking the box to get the candy out?" Nothing really, but hopefully having to try to maneuver a 'fun size' candy snack out of the boo box will slow you down, maybe even to the point that you will realize how not worth it it is.
Put the candy bowl on the porch and let the Trick-or-Treaters have at it. Of course with this you lose the benefit of the "The doorbell is ringing I better get up" workout. Oh and greedy kids will take too much candy.

Remember your goals. Yes, you could eat the candy but does it lead you where you want to go? Is it a distraction? Is candy as important as reaching your goals? No. Be strong and enjoy the many other things the holiday has to offer.

This Is NOT A Test: The Fitness Assessment

2007-10-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

MeanRachel actually made it in to class this morning. I am very impressed. There was the threat of a personalized "you haven't been to boot camp in a while" circuit if she opted out of today's Fitness Assessment, so lo and behold she ran!

For those of you that don't know aka New Campers, please note: This is not a competition. Well, unless you compete with yourself which is completely fine. The fitness assessment is just a way for you to gauge your progress as you go through camp.

At the start of camp you will do an initial body composition assessment (aka: measurements) and a strength and stamina assessment (aka: The Fitness Assessment) which is a combo of different exercises. Yea, no one enjoys getting on the scale but its just a number. Seriously, you may not like it but you can look at it and then kiss it goodbye and we'll work on getting you as far away from that number as we can. As for the exercises you'll see them again after the Assessment and I'm certain that you will improve.

After that we have THE MILE. Not to make it scary or anything...just know that the most important thing is to keep moving! I bring my ipod on mile day and am currently listening to "What I Like About You" by The Romantics, "Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas, and "Beware the Boys" by Panjabi MC. As for pace, don’t make the mistake that I did when I started of trying to hang with the girls in the front. By all means push yourself but if you have never run a mile or like me last year had not run a mile since high school gym class, don’t try to pace yourself out with the girls in front. Find a pace where you can keep it steady, breathe and keep running until you get to the end. If you have to walk, walk. But catch your breath and run again, even if it’s just the last stretch. Then you can collapse in the parking lot. Just kidding. See you at camp!

Introducing... General Bloggery

2007-10-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Somehow I have managed to miss tonight's episode of The Biggest Loser which I was thinking about writing about tonight. I've managed to spend a considerable amount of time Google chatting with MeanRachel who swears that she will be in class tomorrow regardless of the fact that we are having the Fitness Assessment and she only 'tolerates' running. It's funny that she doesn't like running because, in fact, she runs faster than me. She says its because she wants to get it over with as quickly as possible, but I'm sure she's looking for the under 8 minute mile.

Why so much chatting about MeanRachel? Well, we have a deal. She comes back to camp and I let her shamelessly plug her website. Oh and she's going to run the Race For the Cure with us. (You should too... or at least give me ten dollars) Oh and she'll guest blog here! Ladies and Gentlemen, our general bloggery mistress, the purveyor of the "The Pencil" work out move: MeanRachel.

Deltoids: The Other White Meat

2007-10-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

As a contributor to this new fitness blog (which will rank up there with "windsurfing" and "calculus" on the list of "Things I Thought I'd Never Be Associated With"), I plan on representing the following boot camp demographic:

1. The person who values sleep even more than a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and believes that being awake at 5:30 AM is only for Diane Sawyer, the paper boy and creepy opossums.
2. The person who checks off the "I promise not to drink for 4 weeks" box when signing up for boot camp while simultaneously crossing your big toe with your pointer toe and thinking "Pshyeah-right."
3. The person who has a limited knowledge of cooking, let alone cooking healthy foods, and by "limited" I mean "nonexistent."

Welcome, MeanRachel Demographic. I will be your voice on this blog.

My history with Austin Adventure Boot Camp starts, as most sagas do, on a dark and stormy night...at 5:30 AM. I started boot camp in January 2007, exactly one week prior to The Ice Storm of 2007 (those of you in Austin at the time will remember what I am talking about). To this day I don't remember why I enlisted, but I think it was some sort of impulse buy, like purchasing a lip gloss at the check out counter at Sephora because it has nice packaging. I'd lived a relatively active lifestyle by default up until 2006, as I rode horses for a living. This meant I was always moving, lifting, sweating and walking.

In March of 2006 I hurt my back and to make a long story short, I went from a very active career to a desk job. My one form of exercise, riding horses, I could no longer do physically. I spent several months recovering and by the end of the year, just before I signed up for boot camp, I'd been feeling restless and frustrated with sitting inside all day.

My first three days at boot camp were almost comical. Not only was it twenty-four degrees outside, but I was also waking up, putting on four layers of clothes, and then rolling myself out my door to go attempt to exercise. I spent most of the first week thinking about how cold I felt which in hindsight probably took my mind off how exhausted and weak I was.

For whatever reason, I kept going back. Week after week, month after month. I never missed a single day (definitely the key to staying in the camp is not allowing yourself to skip a day) and managed to whittle my mile time down from 11:15 to 7:37, a feat I hadn't even accomplished in high school track.

I took a couple of months off this summer, when it felt like I was exercising in a sauna. But now that the weather has turned, I'm planning on heading back. I don't expect to do it cheerfully (my name is MeanRachel after all, what did you expect?) but I will "tolerate" it (no one will ever let me live that line down).

Keep an eye out for me. I'll be the one wearing the Red Sox hat doing "The Pencil."

Austin Adventures in Blogging?

2007-10-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Austin Adventure Boot Camp Blog. Let's get some of the formalities out of the way. My name is Stephanie Delk and I am the business operations manager of Austin Adventure Boot Camp and also a Southwest Boot Camper. This is a forum where we can informally introduce you to our trainers, as many of our campers as possible, and offer advice on nutrition, fitness and staying motivated! On alternating Mondays I will be interviewing some of our campers to give you more perspective on what can be achieved at camp. I am happy to count myself as one of the achievers, here is an excerpt of my story:

Name: Stephanie Delk
Age: 28
Occupation: Rock Star
Height: 5’ 11”
Starting Weight: 253
Lowest Weight: 153- a billion years ago
Current Weight 193 and still losing!
Boot Camper Since: Oct 2006

My first class was challenging but Stephanie and the other women were very supportive. I was tired--no—I was exhausted. (Keep in mind I had been leading a pretty sedentary lifestyle until about a week before my first ATX class, I was a champion couch surfer.) After that first class I was in all kinds of pain, but I felt empowered. I knew that if I kept going there was nothing that could stop me from losing the weight.

The first time I “ran” the mile was miserable. I got shin splints. I got cramps. I couldn’t breathe. I don’t know what I was thinking--I couldn’t even run the mile when I was in elementary school doing the President’s Challenge. I maybe ran about a tenth of a mile before I slowed to a jog. By the time I was three quarters of the way through, my legs were aching so badly I started to cry. I snuffled across the finish line, aching and crying and disappointed in myself for letting my weight get so out of control. Stephanie was there at the finish line, 16 minutes and 37 seconds later, assuring me that it would get better. The women in class were supportive and made sure that I knew that the first mile time is just a starting point. It would improve. I would feel better. I just had to keep moving. At the end of my first camp I had cut almost five minutes off my run time and I had lost 7 pounds. A month later…(click here for more)

This past year has led to some huge changes in my life and those changes are part of what made me begin working with Austin Adventure Boot Camp a little over three months ago.

As my story says, this past year I lost 60 pounds. Boot camp helped me get my ducks in a row, fitness and nutrition-wise and here I am nearly on the other side of it.

I will not lie. This has not been easy. But it definitely has been more empowering than I could’ve imagined and strangely enough some days I have more fun before 6:30am than I ever thought.

The culmination of my year of work is coming up. I promised McD that I would run a 5K and on November 4th I am going to participate in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. I’ve got an adorable Race for the Cure page y’all should check out and if you are interested in running with me you should sign up to be a part of our team. I believe that you can also ‘sleep in for the cure’ on our team as well.

We will be handing out Pink Prizes so please do join us and help us support the fight against breast cancer!

Now I’m headed off to the Central Camp tomorrow so I better get off to bed.