This past weekend, boot campers headed out to get their measurements. If they didn’t, they should have! I’ve gone before and left in tears because I didn’t like my results. When I got home, I had a brutal realization: I was going to 2 classes a week, walking 30 mins here and there and not changing what I was eating. See the problem? After hearing that one person lost 15 inches (say what?!) in one month, I decided to interview her and see what she did and what advice she could offer everybody. I mean 15 inches is truly amazing. Congratulations to Lynnsey Nowell!! I must say, I was Lynnsey’s partner in her class one Sunday and I can honestly say she worked hard and even caused me to push myself. Rock on Lynnsey! Anyway, here is the interview:

Congratulations on losing 15 inches in the month of February! How did you feel when you first heard the news?

Ashley called me and told me the results, I was still driving home on my way back from boot camp and tried keep both hands on the steering wheel after hearing the news. It was fantastic news but I just remember telling her those measurements weren’t what I was expecting, I was just happy knowing I had lost three inches in my hips!

When do you attend boot camp (time & location) and who is your instructor?

Heardmont 0830, Ashley Dawson is my trainer and SHE IS AWESOME!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what originally brought you to boot camp.

I participated in the Rumpshaker 5k last year and there was a flyer for Extreme Fit for a free week- I kept it and said to myself “I’ll try it sometime”…three months later the flyer was still on my fridge and not going to be used anytime soon. Then I realized that the date for one of my best friends’ wedding in which I was going to be a bridesmaid was quickly approaching. Lo and behold! Groupon put up the Extreme Fit deal soon after and I thought “it’s now or never” and signed up and I’ve been coming ever since.

What is your favorite thing about boot camp? Any exercises you hate or love? (*Editor’s note: I am not held responsible if you’re forced to do the exercises you hate.)

My favorite thing about boot camp is the comradery with the other participants- we’re all suffering and encouraging each other through the same workout. There’s a lot of good, friendly competition, too. At first it started out just as me going for my daily workout and that was it- now it’s become something more, I look forward to going on a daily basis because I have developed so many friendships and gotten to know some wonderful people who I otherwise would have never crossed paths with. I love that my team cracks me up on a daily basis- we all joke around but when it’s time for the workout, we’re all focused on getting the best workout we can and keeping each other motivated.

Can I say there is really any exercise I LOVE to do? I can’t say that when I get home at night after a long day at work that I’m just dying to start doing jumping jacks, bicycles, lunges or anything else for that matter. However, there are some exercises that I don’t mind quite as much as others- I can now say I “almost” enjoy doing fast football feet then jumping up the bleachers now that I can actually do it. I always enjoy ending the workout with a good ab routine.

Now for the long list of those exercises where I start saying things that make sailors blush: Indian runs- UGH! I don’t even think there are enough words to describe my loathe for those things! Burpees- tough, tough, tough! But they work! Surrenders- I’m not coordinated enough to alternate going down with my left leg leading- it’s been 8 months! HA! The jump rope and I aren’t exactly on good terms, either but again, that goes back to my lack of coordination rather than not being able to do it.
In all seriousness, I may groan & complain sometime (ok, it’s a lot) and I rarely- if ever- finish first but I grit my teeth and keep doing it and FINISH! That’s really what it’s all about. When I get in my car, I leave knowing that I’ve done more in one hour than what most people do in a day.

Aside from your regular boot camp classes, did you do any extra workouts? If so, what were they?

I wish I could say I had the motivation & determination to do workouts on my own but that’s exactly the reason why I HAVE to get up every morning and drive to Heardmont. Treating my workouts like another job has been one of the reasons I’ve been more successful at sticking with this than anything else I’ve ever done. I’m still working on the independent workouts- my lack of solo motivation is something I need to work on.

In order to be so successful, eating had to have played an important part. What were you eating habits? Did you completely stop or start eating anything specific?

I love to eat! That’s what got me into the position I was in before boot camp. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to eat but I’ve changed what I eat and the way I eat it. Before boot camp, it wasn’t unusual for me to order from Domino’s at least once a week, the people at Wendy’s knew me when I drove up- they would have my order ready for my after-work snack which usually consisted of a Frosty plus other unhealthy goodies and the staff at Chipotle knew me and what I liked on my burritos. I work in the healthcare field and we are by far the worst eaters out there- nutrition is sometimes put on the backburner on a busy night- it’s convenience over calories most of the time.

Now, my diet consists of lots and LOTS of protein- I usually eat Greek yogurt at least 2-3 times a day- that has been the biggest change in my diet. I eat more chicken & salmon and nuts than ever. Fruits are eaten instead of candy & chocolate. My water intake has not really changed much simply because drinking copious amounts of water was one of the only healthy habits I had before boot camp. I have always had a sweet tooth, candy- any candy- is my weakness and I do cheat but I try to limit myself- easier said than done most days.

Do you have any advice for boot campers that may be struggling?

Stick with it! Make it a habit, better yet- treat it like another job. If you get into the habit of going to boot camp your body starts to crave the workout. I have had a few months where my results were lack luster but then there have been some months- like this month- when I get amazing & unexpected results.

Did you have any type of support system?

Absolutely! I don’t think I could’ve ever gotten where I am without the encouragement of Ashley Dawson and my teammates from Heardmont- they are all AMAZING & INSPIRING! Having someone like Ashley who holds you accountable and pushes you to do more than what you think you can do is invaluable! Having boot camp is a good stress-relief for me and I look forward to going every morning. I love the fact that I’ve met some wonderful people and formed some great friendships out of this.
Of course, my family and close friends have seen the changes (big and small) I’ve made in my everyday life and seen the results in my physical appearance and personal attitude since July and have been a wonderful support system.

Did this victory come naturally or did you have any “road blocks”?

Oh, there’s nothing “natural” about this! It’s hard work and worth every single second!

Any final words?

When I started this little adventure, I didn’t think that eight months into it I would call myself “addicted to boot camp”, but that’s exactly what I’ve become. I started this mostly out of desperation to get into a bridesmaid dress in a short amount of time and overall curiosity about what boot camp was. Then it became “I’ll stick with it for another month or so” then it was “I guess I’ll stick around till my big 3-0”, now it’s “I’m in this for the long run!”

Before boot camp, my only exercise (besides running around like a crazy woman at work) was seeing how many times I could walk to the refrigerator and back on any given day. I was probably one of the “healthiest” overweight people around. My highest weight was 212 pounds (size 18 for those who are curious), I yo-yo dieted and did exercise fads, wasted money not going to gyms I had joined & lost some weight but it always crept right back. When I started boot camp, I was 29 and had somehow gotten down to 184 pounds after training for a 5k. I had inexplicably dodged the inevitable diagnoses of high blood pressure and diabetes but I knew it was coming and time for a change.
I have to keep telling myself that the weight didn’t get there in a day and it’s certainly not coming off quickly either. You can try the “fad” diets but you may find that that weight creeps back up on you quicker than you ever imagined. Working out, eating right and a good support system are the only ways to definitely keep the weight off.
It sounds so very cliché’ but if I can do this, anyone can!
Your body will thank you- once it gets over the initial shock of the workout and with ample amounts of Ibuprofen & Tylenol to help with the inevitable aches & pains- nobody said this was easy.