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Top 10 Questions You Need Answered About Your Fitness Boot Camp
Top 10 BOOT CAMP SAFETY CHECKLIST: Calgary personal trainer and boot camp instructor shows you How to pick the right fitness boot camp.
Fitness Boot Camps are popping up everywhere. Wander down to your local park and you are bound to find at least one fitness boot camp and with good reason. Not only are fitness boot camps typically more affordable then one on one personal training, they offer more; You have the fun and excitement of training in a group, the camaraderie and social support to keep you going when you are tired and want to give up, more convenient times slots and there is still the expert supervision that is provided.
Unfortunately fitness boot camps do have a downside. Fitness instructors are quick to jump on the lucrative boot camp bus before they have the skills or experience to develop custom workouts for a wide variety of fitness levels that you will typically find in a large group. To ensure you get the best results and you keep safe at the same time here are 10 tips on how to select a fitness boot camp:
The Top 10 Boot Camp Safety Checklist -
1.A Qualified Instructor is a Must. Instructors should be certified with a Nationally Recognized Institution such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association or the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. There are many certifications that don’t measure up. If you can simply order a book and right a test to obtain a certificate your trainer will be lacking in knowledge of proper training methods. This is one of the main reasons people get hurt and fitness camps get a bad name.
2.) Your Instructor Must Walk the Talk. Trainers should be up to date with new training methodologies, be fit and look the part. Who wants advice from someone who needs more work then you do.
3.) Your Instructor Must Be an Expert With Exercise Progressions. Every exercise has an appropriate regression and progression. If you are overweight and out of shape your trainer needs to know how to adapt to your needs. It may be as simple as the pace you perform the exercise. It is important to your health and safety.
4.) Your Instructor Should Be Available 10-15 minutes before and after Every Session. The extras, not just the work out determine the quality of your trainer. Being available before and after adds a personal touch to address any personal issues that affect your training and results like nutrition or injuries.
5.It is essential that Body weight training is emphasized before loading with weights. Before you add weight to a movement you need to have mastered it. Your foundational exercises; squats, push -ups, lunges, ect; need a full range of motion performed with proper technique before you add weight. You must master an exercise before progressing, otherwise and injury is inevitable!
6.) The Training System Should Focus on Body Weight Circuit Training and Cardio Interval Training. 99% of fitness enthusiasts are looking for the lean athletic look of models that grace the cover of mens and women’s health and fitness magazines. There main goal is fat loss. High-intensity interval training is scientifically proven to burn 9x more fat than the aerobic training alternative. To get the best results the program should incorporate interval training for both resistance and cardio programs. This can easily be accomplished by performing 2-5+ different body weight exercises in a circuit fashion with the appropriate work and rest periods for each. Your skilled trainer should be a master of increasing the intensity of the program without adding extra weight.
7.) The Program Must Provide Nutritional Information. You cannot out train a bad diet. Nutrition is not only half the battle it is 80% of the fat loss battle. Without it, you program is incomplete and you will not get the results you are looking for as exercise cannot make up for poor eating habits. Nutrition is difficult because it is something people have to deal with 24 hours a day, therefore the nutrition program needs to outlined in a clear manner and easy to follow. It should provide a kick start guide for your first 2-4 weeks to teach you how to eat to support your fat loss goals and options that can be made in 5 minutes or less. Plus, expect to be provided with an ongoing supply of done-for you recipes to keep you on track.
8.A Website and a Forum are a Must for your Fitness Boot Camp.0 Social Network. Group fitness and personal training is not just about the “training”. It is about accountability, support and coaching which extends far past the boot camp workout time. There are several sites out there that offer private interactive social networks where trainers and clients can interact with each other And the are FREE. There is no excuse for your boot camp not to include a website and forum.
9.) The Program Must Have Social Proof And Raving Fans. If the program works, there should be proof in the form of client testimonials. Past clients should have results and rave about what they have achieved through the program. Check the website for before and after photos, written, or video testimonials and remember it is not just about weight loss. Decreased body fat, increased energy levels, a drop in dress/pant sizes, increased strength, flexibility and less joint pain, improved health profiles are all results a program should offer.
10.) The Program Must Offer A FREE Trial or Satisfaction Guarantee. Only the most confident programs will offer you a money back guarantee and/or a free trial. Programs that are results based know that once a potential member has had an opportunity to experience the program and start to see results they will become a full paying member.