Top 10 Boot Camp Secrets to Success
Big & Tall Croft & Barrow® 4-pack Opticool Patterned Dress Socks
Look sharp at work while enjoying superior comfort with these Croft & Barrow dress socks.
Alright guys, we’ve decided that it’s time to give up all of our well-guarded secrets and let you in on our top 10 tricks to really make your boot camp training a success.
1. Get Started Early.
If you’re one of those people that has a tendency to come up with some really great “reasons” (read: excuses) to skip out on your boot camp sessions then your best bet is to get started early in the morning. A recent study showed that people who get their training in first thing in the day are 75% more likely to stick with it and make it part of their routine.
2. Set Realistic Goals.
How many times have you had such extreme expectations of yourself that feels like you’re always failing and falling short of your goals? Instead of telling yourself that you need to lose 20 lbs in the next 4 weeks, take a more “realistic approach”? that let’s you feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment every time you achieve one of your goals. Remember, even though boot camp training is intense and can burn over 800 calories (seriously) in a session, you still need to set out milestones that can be reasonably reached and even exceeded. Make your boot camp training goals S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.
3. Get Enough Sleep.
If you’re doing an early-morning boot camp session, it’s important that you get a decent night’s rest before you start training. Staying up late and then loading up on caffeine and other stimulants in order to boost your energy is a surefire recipe for a burn-out. Try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night and you’ll see a massive increase in your boot camp training results.
4. Find A Training Partner.
Sadly, we all know how easy it can be to break promises to ourselves, but it’s a lot harder to let someone else down. Joining a boot camp program with a friend means that you’ll have someone to kick your butt out of bed in the morning when you’re feeling lazy, and to enjoy all those chicken and steamed broccoli dinners. Which brings us to our next point…
5. Don’t Sabotage Your Results By Pigging Out!
We know, sometimes you just can’t turn down that piece of cake or that slice of pizza, and there’s nothing wrong with the occasional “cheat meal”?, but just think of that meal as it’s equivalent in burpees, pushups and crunches. Two slices of pepperoni pizza and a can of coke adds up to over 700 calories! One weekend of indulging in your cravings can wipe out an entire weeks worth of boot camp training.
6. Do Extra Cardio.
Living in a city like Victoria, we’re surrounded by endless opportunities to work up a sweat while enjoying the outdoors. Kayaking, hiking, cycling, jogging, mountain biking… there are so many ways you can burn extra calories every day that don’t involve staring at the wall while running on a treadmill. Boot camp will fire up your metabolism, but doing that little bit of extra cardio is like throwing gas on the fire.
7. Stay Off The Scale.
For anyone who’s ever had a few extra pounds, the scale can be as addictive as it is terrifying. And when you’re trying to lose weight, seeing that dreaded number creeping downwards can be a major source of motivation. However, what most people don’t realize is that your weight fluctuates by up to 5 lbs every day depending on how much water you’ve had, eating too much salt, hormonal changes or even going to the bathroom! Our advice is to only weigh yourself once every four weeks, and have faith that your boot camp training (combined with all these other tips!) is going to deliver.
8. Keep A Training Journal.
By tracking your efforts, you’ve automatically added a level of accountability to your boot camp training that’s guaranteed to improve your results. Use a medium-sized spiral bound notebook and keep track of your boot camp sessions, extra cardio training, and nutrition and water intake.
9. Drink More Water!
Get up right now and go drink a glass of water. Seriously. Chances are you’re probably not drinking enough, and it’s almost impossible to drink too much. Staying hydrated will keep your energy levels high, and will increase your strength and endurance by up to 20%. Don’t believe us? Try not watering your plants for a few days and see how happy and healthy they look.
10. Be Consistent.
Showing up only once or twice a week to boot camp is going to get you very minimal, if any, results. If you haven’ been active in a long time, it can take the body anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks (depending on age and other factors) to adjust to the new stresses your placing on it with your boot camp training. Make the effort to be there every day and we guarantee you’ll see the stomach-flattening, thigh-toning, butt-firming and body-sculpting results you’re looking for!
Alright guys and gals, there it is. Take these tips and combine it with any of our boot camp fitness programs here in Victoria and we guarantee you’ll see amazing results!