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My First Boot Camp
By Joel | August 20, 2011
A few weeks ago there was a Groupon deal for a Rock Body Fitness camp. I was skeptical about it like I am about all fitness items, but I recognized that it is time to start working out. I haven’t really been big on physical activity since I see it mostly as a deprivation for all the good things in life, chocolate, pastry, sugar, etc. However, with my metabolism slowing down noticeably, I have decided to take up the gauntlet and do what most of my peers do, exercise.
I attended my very first boot camp class on Tuesday night, after delaying it for two weeks. I brought a mat, a set of weights and almost a gallon of water. There were eight people in the class, seven of them were women from late 20’s to mid 40’s. I was the only guy. I guess some things just don’t change. Anyway, the instructor started us off with an easy lap around the parking lot. The camp was behind a high school. It was easy and I started to like the class. We were on a good start.
A few more minutes into it, we started to do lunges, mountain bikes, runs, planks, and ab workouts. We lasted for the full hour. It was difficult! I may have been the youngest in the group but you bet that I was the slowest of them all. I didn’t even do all the routines. I drank water like a camel and even had to embarrassingly ask the instructor for more. Luckily, she had an extra one so she gave that to me. One of the ladies in the class encouraged me to pace myself, which I took advantage of. I was the clown in the class that day because of the facial expressions I made, which were mostly out of exhaustion. It was funny but strangely enough, I liked it.
I woke up the next day with sore muscles, but it felt good. Granted that I wasn’t able to lift my arms above my shoulders, but it was okay. So this is what working out feels like. I have to fight the temptation of quitting and not going back to class but with a great and friendly instructor like that and an encouraging class to work out with, I am encouraged to keep on coming back. Being healthy is not an easy thing and I have really learned to respect those who put effort into it. So even though my butt was kicked on that first class at boot camp, I think that this is the beginning of a new healthier Joel. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my chocolates and sweets, but like everything else, now I’m going to try to enjoy them in moderation.
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