Boot Camp Blogger is a look into the life of Boot Camp participant Tara. Follow along each week as she experiences the challenges and successes of Boot Camp the Extreme Fit way!

 I’ve decided that having time off in between Boot Camp sessions is not a good thing for me, and this was clear last night during my first night of Month 3 with Extreme Fit Training’s Boot Camp. Now, in my defense, I was sick the entire off week and in bed much of it, even with a two-year-old at my heels. But I’m not really sure what I would’ve done with my time had I been in perfect health (though I do know what some others did, or, shall I say, did not do). For me, being in a class setting and being held accountable is a huge deal and something that has kept me going in this endeavor for the past two months, and I know missing that routine for even one week could set me back.

All day before my first Month 3 class, I had a sort of knot in my stomach. No doubt my life in most areas right now is not even close to the way I’d like it to be, but I knew it was more than that. It was Boot Camp that was causing my stomach to turn. I. DID. NOT. WANT. TO. GO. I hate to say those words, though they were true at the time, because I love the class, my coach, and my fellow classmates. But Boot Camp is hard work, and after being off for a week sick with absolutely no exercise other than climbing the stairs to the kitchen or chasing my kid who thought it was funny to run from Mommy when asked to do something that she deemed inane, I had a feeling things were gonna be rough.

If memory serves, I don’t believe my very first Boot Camp class ever (a couple of months ago) was this hard. Admittedly, I was in terrible shape, but Valerie has really stepped up her game, and last night she proved to us why we’re where we are and she’s where she is when it comes to fitness. We started with hundreds of jumping jacks to warm up, followed by quite a bit of upper-body work (my shoulders are definitely tight today), squat curtsies, football feet, the praying-position-bounce-to-squat-with-your-arms-out-like-you’re-about-to-attack move. Valerie pulled out some of her best moves for our first night, and some new ones, as well. (I have to say the new ab move where you’re lying flat on your mat, lift your legs straight up, raise your hips and then let your partner shove your feet back to the ground kind of took my breath away. 50. TIMES.) I definitely think she opened some eyes with this initial workout, and I’m afraid, yet excited, to see what else she has in store for us this month.

One of my favorite things to do now that I’m a Boot Camp “veteran” is to focus on the faces of the new Boot Camp participants. You know that commercial: “Boot Camp Admission: $200; Ripped Boot Camp Instructor: Bonus; New Boot Camp Participants’ Expressions: Priceless!” That’s what I had going through my head while watching the “newbies” try to figure out how to do a plank-hip-touchdown or air jack for the first time, or huffing and puffing just trying to pull up their bodies while attacking surrenders. They had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into, and they were now second-guessing that decision every time Valerie mentioned getting our heart rates up a little higher when they were already gasping for breath or when she shouted, “Come on! You can do anything for two minutes!” I was there once: I remember!

For me, the first night of Month 3 was definitely hard, but surprisingly, I was OK with it. Yes, the cardio was a bit harder than it should have been at my stage, but then, I’m still getting over a sinus infection. And yes, the shoulder and ab work burned a bit more than I remember, but then, Valerie’s changed things up this month, and the moves are getting more refined and tougher. After class, I felt as I always do, relieved yet excited and ready to tackle another uncertain day. Who’s to say whether it was my week off in bed or Valerie becoming a bit tougher in her regime, but one thing I know for sure: I won’t be slacking the next time we have a week off!