Remember a few weeks ago I was all, “make permanent life changes, no diets but exercise and lifestyle changes- blah, blah, blah”? Remember? Well, there was someone reading that day that kicked me right into some major life changes.
Lori Sawyer of Mommy Moves read that post and suggested I attend her ten week Boot Camp starting the very next Saturday. Thank goodness she sent me a message via Facebook so I had time to run through a list of excuses in my head before I replied. (I know, I know, I said lifestyle changes but c’mon people did it have to start with something called Boot Camp?!?!)
Guess what, I couldn’t come up with anything good enough to say no. My husband nearly bent over himself assuring me that he would do whatever it took to guarantee me the time. The start time wasn’t too early so I couldn’t claim tired as a reason. And it was only one hour a week so I couldn’t even argue that my schedule was too full to fit it in. Finally, I’d been lurking around Lori’s site imagining myself in her fitness and running groups for months, even going so far as to start the registration for this very boot camp before chickening out, so how could I ignore this opportunity?
I have talked for years about how all I want is a personal trainer who would use “old school” methods to get me in shape. I’ve thought the key to long term success for me was having someone guide and push me places I won’t go alone. Also, I’m a team sport girl. I don’t like solitary exercise and I’ve always performed better for coaches than for myself. The problem is I hate group fitness classes at gyms. They feel like performance art to me. I need less strategic lighting and more sweat to let go of my self-conscious long enough to make a difference. So the idea of a group of women in a gym with one or two people telling us what to do felt more like practice for a game than exercise for exercise sake and that appealed to me.
To say that I’m pleased with my Saturday workouts is putting it mildly. I was terrified the first week but I survived with only one race to the bathroom to throw up. The second week I was still mildly afraid the night before but I made it home unscathed. This past week was my third week. Not only was I not afraid Friday night, but I spent the entire week looking forward to it. I love that hour more than anything else I do during the week. Don’t get me wrong, it’s excruciating at times. I can’t move properly for at least 24 hours following and there are still moments where I fear I might throw up, but I think if you look up the word exhilarating that might be the definition.
Lori runs the boot camp with Mary and Jenn. Together these women are a fit lifestyle triple threat. Their combination of knowledge, enthusiasm, toughness and killer bodies(face it, it matters) make you want to work harder, stretch farther and grow to be a better person. For me, they serve as an example of everything good that comes with a fit and healthy lifestyle. I use them as motivation to push past pain and exhaustion every Saturday and it’s their voices in my head that I hear during the week when I force myself out the door to workout more. I know I can’t let them down on Saturdays so I make sure I get at least three more workouts in every week so that I ensure I can perform whatever killer tasks they send my way.It may not be pretty,but I get it done-a little better every week.
I love these women for the training they provide because it feels like when I was an athlete. For one hour we do old school drills like step slide and suicides coupled with good old fashioned bleacher dips and push ups. While some is traditional, it’s clear from the yoga stretching and body-weight resistance training that we do these women are also very knowledgeable about current fitness trends as well. Overall, it’s an effective and killer workout. For this girl who thought her “glory days” of varsity sports were behind her, it is also comfortably familiar in a way no Fusion or Rock Star Spin class ever could be.
The best part of the Mommy Moves team is that these women aren’t only around Saturday mornings. They leave us with menu options and nutrition tips each week. They send a mid-week email for checking in and motivation. I even heard someone say that she emailed Lori about work out ideas for the week and Lori sent back a message with ideas to try. These trainers are invested in our health and well being outside of class. That fact is more and more clear every week. They truly want to support us and everyone they work with in making over our lives. They know what moms need and they provide it on every front. Not only are they training us on Saturday, but they are mentors, guides and coaches Sunday through Friday as well.
I have had some amazing opportunities through this blog. Boot camp is near the top of that list. I know I’m making changes that will stick. I know I will look back six weeks from now and wonder who that girl was on week one. I know, that after week ten this will not end. I will sign up again. I will show up to get my butt-kicked every week for as long as they’ll have me. This mommy will continue to move-thanks to Lori and the women of Mommy Moves.
www.mommy-moves.com. Mommy Moves sponsored my admission to boot camp this session. All opinions are mine. All reviews are honest and you can bet I will continue with this program long after this session is complete. All art credit to Mommy-moves.
I actually took the plunge and signed up for a personal trainer. Here's hoping that helps me as much as your boot camp is helping you.