What criteria can you use to decide which boot camp program is best for you.

What criteria can you use to decide which boot camp program is best for you.

There are many fitness Boot Camp programs in Canada.
What criteria can you use to decide which program is best for you.

1. Do they have a pre and post evaluation where they measure your body fat, inches and do before and after pictures. Many do not unfortunately, how can you assess if you have lost fat or muscle during your program. If your goal is to lose fat, lose weight and inches then if they don't measure those things how will you know?

2. Do they play music during your camp. Try this, sit there in silence for 1 minute only. Now imagine working out. Now imagine working out for 1-1/2 hours with dead silence except for the sound of others sweating and groaning.

Now imagine working out to great motivating high energy music. Which would you rather do?

3. Are they for beginners or only for advanced clients. I see many camps using sand bags or military style training using heavy wooden polls or dragging tires. This is VERY dangerous to the beginner. You will see injuries and you can hurt yourself very badly in these camps unless your already very fit. If your goal is to get in shape and lose weight and inches and you hurt yourself the very first week then how is that serving you.

4. Using body weight only. I have seen many camps using only clients body weight. This does NOT work for weight loss and only produces mild toning.

Your body has a inherent knowledge of whether or not your using extra resistance or your body weight only. If body weight training was truly effective why have so many people who are very over weight who do pushups and sit ups and walk all the time not lose tons of weight.

If 2 people ran a mile and one was 160 lbs and had a 60 lb knapsack and the other was 220 lbs who would work harder and burn more calories.

The person who was 160 lbs and had a 60 lb knapsack.

5. What kind of nutrition program do they offer. Some farm it out and it costs you another $100. Most have none or very poor nutritional advice. Check it out before.

6. What kind of ongoing coaching or support do they offer. Most have none. If your program isn't working for you because you are eating poorly still they have no support systems in place for that. Some do though. Check them out!!