Post: #1

I wonder what some of you guys think of these bootcamps that are starting to gain some popularity. I've been going to one for two years and got into the best shape of my life, both aesthetically, strength-wise, body-fat wise, and endurance-wise. This was a more military style bootcamp I'd say. About an hour in mornings 3-4x a week. Would consist of something different every day, some cardio, weights, own body weight type exercises, etc. So just to give you an example, in a day we'd run 2 miles, do lunges, pushups, blurpees, and various forms of things like that until 60 minutes was up.

Had to move away from my trainer guy doing the bootcamps, and have gone to a few bootcamp classes in my new town by a pretty famous bootcamp company. It's a lot of cardio, mixed in with lighter weights. I sweat BUCKETS everytime I've gone. Also, 90% of the people there have amazing bodies - girls have nearly perfect bodies and guys are both muscular and ripped. I don't see how they can get this muscular doing this bootcamp, so I'm guessing they lift on their own too? Also, this is an expensive bootcamp, so it may be that these people also have the money/time to afford an expensive lifestyle and eat healthier food, go to the gym more often, and so on. But it's amazing to see how great these people's bodies are and the initial first common denominator is that they are all in this bootcamp.

I know myself, after years and years of different types of training, I'm never going to be the guy that consistently goes to the gym alone to work out. I need that class/instructional guy to get me motivated. As I mentioned I was in the best shape of my life after this bootcamp. The only other time I was in the best-looking shape (not necessarily strength/endurance) was after backpacking in Europe for 5 weeks and walking everywhere and not lifting a single weight, go figure. But anyway, so given that I won't consistently hit the gym on my own, is there a better type of bootcamp I should look into like crossfit or something along those lines? Thoughts on these bootcamps in general?

One side note - this new bootcamp I've gone to has an absurdly high proportion of 8+ girls. I actually see more of these girls in one class than I'll see in a few nights of going out. Could be a factor of the location I'm in though and the cost/rep of the class.

Post: #2

CrossFit has its problem, but CrossFit LA is a good affiliate.

Post: #3

(08-26-2012 09:14 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  CrossFit has its problem, but CrossFit LA is a good affiliate.

Thanks Mike. Thoughts on Barry's? Also, would CrossFit be a suitable full replacement for going to the gym?

Post: #4

No opinion on Barry's.

They work hard in CrossFit LA. It is a sufficient workout for most men.

Post: #5

Agree on the fact that bootcamps make me give everything I got. Working out alone, that never happens.

I have concerns about strictly doing bootcamps alone, worrying it is too focused on cardio and would thin me out.

Post: #6

Went to one year boot camp, the Army they called it.

Post: #7

Crossfit's good, check out sealfit if your into that. There's a book you can get with 80 some odd workouts geared towards the training of navy seals (it's Crossfit's style). Super intense and gets you in very functional shape.

Post: #8

(08-26-2012 09:44 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  No opinion on Barry's.

They work hard in CrossFit LA. It is a sufficient workout for most men.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

(08-26-2012 10:00 PM)bigxxx Wrote:  Agree on the fact that bootcamps make me give everything I got. Working out alone, that never happens.

I have concerns about strictly doing bootcamps alone, worrying it is too focused on cardio and would thin me out.

I thought about that too, but I don't mind being on the leaner side, and also could maybe mitigate it a bit by grabbing heavier weights and doing lower reps.

(08-27-2012 07:29 AM)RenewalMan Wrote:  Crossfit's good, check out sealfit if your into that. There's a book you can get with 80 some odd workouts geared towards the training of navy seals (it's Crossfit's style). Super intense and gets you in very functional shape.

Looked it up briefly, it seems to be something you'd do on your own as opposed to a class. Knowing myself, this wouldn't last.