Is he trying to killl us????

Must be that sinister laugh....Or when he says, let me know if you don't feel it....then he tortures us some more.

The last two days have seemed brutal but I try and push myself through every exercise. Roy seems to keep us moving with lots of cardio and circuit work interspersed with weights and then the core balance thing. I guess one thing is for sure, when we finish this session we should be able to pass a sobriety test.

For all my followers out there, please pray for Pat's mom who is in the hospital. She (Pat, not her mom) didn't make it to boot camp this morning because she spent 5 hours waiting in emergency with her mom during the night before they admitted her. Pat will be trying to help her mom make some decisions on next steps when she gets discharged.

Check out the YouTube video to see the flexibility and strength we hope to someday get by going through these camps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejg0aBjBLvw

One more day this week and then I'm off to Utah for some skiing. I'll definitely get in cardio everyday and hopefully some flexibility work, but I don't want to loose any of my strength work.
My daughter Jessy will help me while she is there until Monday.

Some interesting notes: While I was traveling it was really hard to make right food choices. But on the mornings I do boot camp, it seems easy for me to consistently make good choices. Except when Pat is stressing an really wants the breaded chick-fil-a sandwich instead of the grilled one on the whole wheat bun. (Course, she didn't do boot camp this morning mmmm..) Oh well sometimes we need little treats.

Also, my husband I did our Saturday morning regular 15 mile ride this last weekend. With years of riding experience, I can always make the distance, but over the last couple of months with inconsistent riding it has been exhausting and I always am ready for it to be over and I want a nap afterwards. During this last weekend's ride, even though I haven't ridden in several months, it was actually easy. I had good speed throughout, the hills didn't kill me and I was upbeat and cheery afterwards. The additional fitness I've gained from Boot Camp has really paid off even though it's not the same exercise/muscle groups being used. Now if only the mirror, scale and clothes fitting thing would pay off. I forgot how much I love my bike!

2nd Session Week 1 Day 5

Ok for me it was really only day 3 of the week, since I was out of the office for two days. Barb said she couldn't believe week 1 was already over, only 3 more weeks of session 2. We can do this.

Our workouts remind me of the Friday night rides we use to do after work. Real fast sprints, all flat up and back the river trail. We had to pack riding stuff and load the bikes, don't forget a water bottle in the morning before work. Then sometimes after a tough day at work you just didn't feel like going. However we went ahead and met at the ride starting point, thinking maybe we would just take it easy and not push, but then in the excitement of the group ride and the pace line after a warm-up we would get up to speed and spend the hour working hard. Afterwards, we were always glad we had done the ride. We went to dinner with the group and always slept well.

Friday morning's work out was a lot like that. Ugg... early morning again? Roy really had us pushing (but he always warms us up). Lots of jump roping, jogging the basketball courts, weird straps from the push-up bars, up the mini-hill, kung fu hand weights. I was really sweating and breathing hard. But afterward, I felt so good and was glad I had showed up and really pushed.

I can't wait to see what Roy has planned for us next week.

Let's do 5 days per week.

Monday, March 23rd was the start of a new boot camp session. Pat, Barb and I were committed to do being there 5 days per week. Barb said it was easy as she was already doing it from the last camp session, but she didn't have to go directly to work after each morning work out. I prepared my work clothes the night before but I also had to pack a suitcase because I found out Friday I needed to travel for work. I purposefully scheduled my flights so I would miss as few boot camp days as possible which was Tuesday and Wednesday.

4:50 a.m. Monday sure seemed really early. Will I really be able to do it for 5 days? We had some new faces at camp. Roy said this session we would be working on strength, flexibility and balance so we did some tests which included what seemed like sobriety testing. You could hear the giggles around the court as we each concentrated on the moves Roy requested.

I did pack my workout clothes and resistance tubes for my trip and asked for 6 a.m. wake up calls. However with the late flights (1 a.m. Tuesday morning arrival) and all day meeting and I supposed not having my friends counting on me to show up I didn't work it in. I was concerned I wouldn't be able to get my clothes organized and make the Thursday morning boot camp. However 4:50 a.m. came and once I was up and on the road, it was easy. It felt great being with the group and doing our workout. We did have to jog the parking lot but we also did some circuits which included mat work, hand weights, resistance bands on the chain link fence, ladders, and funny little spiked colored rubber spots we had to balance on and do squats. Quite the challenge. Oh yeah we also had to do some boot camper tipping, you should have heard the giggling this morning.

We finished with some relaxation breathing. We might have all taken naps, but the HS football team was ready to take over the basketball courts. Hopefully we can remember the relaxation techniques when we aren't being kept awake at night with all the worries in our heads.

Happy Birthday Jessy!

I am blessed with an awesome daughter, Jessy who turned 22 years old today. She chose to spend her birthday morning with me. Even though she didn't have class until later in the day, she woke up early so we could work out together. She toasted me a whole-wheat-extra-fiber English muffin and then we walked to the Bella Terra 24-hour fitness. It's 3 miles round trip. We did the pull-up assist machine and a couple other machines near by while waiting to get on it. Then we walked back. We probably should have tried to jog it because she swears she cannot jog 2 miles, but then we wouldn't have been able to talk as much.

We did walk fairly quickly. It was definitely better to do our cardio outside instead of in a gym on a treadmill or elliptical. Plus we were able to see bunny rabbits on our walk.

We were sorry we had to leave our dog, Daytona at home as she would have enjoyed the walk as well, but we knew that we wouldn't have been able to bring her into the gym with us.

Boot Camp starts Monday! I'm sad because I just found out I need to travel for work and will miss two days of Boot camp in my first week of 5 days per week. Hopefully I will find time in Minnesota to get a physical work out in because I know it's going to be a mental one.

I wonder if Roy misses us?

Well, we miss him. Actually Pat, Barb and I have worked out twice this week together. We met early in the morning at 24-hour fitness on Tuesday and Thursday. We sure don't miss the getting up early. We encourage each other, but I'm not sure we are working as hard as we would if Roy were directing us.

This morning we were suppose to take the 5:30 a.m. group x Camp 24 class. I was in the group x room getting ready when Barb looked at me with wide eyes. The class was described as a circuit course and I thought with an instructor telling us what to do we might work out harder.
Later in our workout Barb and I peeked over the upper railing and decided the step ups and jump roping just would NOT be good for her knees. Plus this week's workouts were all about the social thing and we can talk while we are on the bikes and machines. I don't think Roy will put up with that next week.

For all of you interested in really knowing what a boot camp workout is like, OC Bootcamp is offering a FREE fitness boot camp workout to be held at the Irvine Spectrum on Saturday, April 18th. No, you don't have to be there at 5:30 a.m. They are going to start at 8:15 a.m. You do have to register, just go to this link: http://www.ocbootcamp.com/lululemon-adventure-fitness-boot-camp-class.html Try it, you will like it and then who knows, you may be able to get up at 5 a.m. and join us.

Results are In!

Today we had our post assessment appointment back at the Boot Camp Offices. At my original appointment Sam said I could expect to loose 2 to 3 percent body fat loss. I had been really discouraged, because I didn't see the scale budging even though I was carefully watching my food intake. Roy said that it takes 21 days for the body to notice a difference. Saturday was 21 days since I started boot camp and I finally saw a budge in the scale. Sam retook my measurements and did my body fat. I lost 4.4% body fat and almost 6 inches overall. Wow there really was a difference.

Pat and I have signed up for 5 days per week. It does mean a monetary investment, but I have been eating out for lunch (and dinners) a lot less, so I am saving some money. I have a 1 week vacation planned during the next 4-week camp -- Snowbird, Utah. I will be doing some cardio during that time and I bought a foam roller and some resistance bands to take with me. I'm looking forward to being in better shape for skiing. I always do OK, but I think the muscles are going to appreciate it a lot more.

Pat, Barb and I are going to meet at 24-hour fitness to workout tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. before work. Hopefully we will push ourselves as much as Roy encourages us. Speaking of Roy, I wonder how he is getting along without us to give him a hard time every morning. Maybe we should call his wife and give her some good pointers. They've been married long enough it's probably time.

Sad or Glad?

Friday was our final day of boot camp. It's still hard to get up so early, but once I'm on the road and at boot camp, the early morning doesn't seem so bad. The stars were especially beautiful this morning. Only 6 campers showed up. We started with some yoga, one trip jogging around the basketball courts and some mat work, including planks. Then it was the dreaded strength retests. Hey...they weren't so hard. Everyone improved and almost all scores were a significant improvement.

Pat was told she could work on her flexibility. While doing squats she needs to imagine a short person standing there and she should smack him on top of the head with her butt. Hmmm.. I wonder what short person she is imagining.

Then it was off to Starbucks and coffee was on Roy. It was a nice time chatting and learning a little bit about the other women in the class. Roy's collar bone is getting better and now he only had it taped up. I think he was using that Hello Kitty tape.

On Monday, Pat, my daughter and I have our post assessment appointment with Sam back at the boot camp offices. I definitely think we are fitter, but not sure all the improvement we will see. Still considering signing up for 5 days per week. But, I think I will enjoy sleeping in until 6:30 a.m. all next week.

Pat and I went Kayaking on Saturday to test the new strength in our cores. The morning in Laguna was cool but very pretty and the sea lions splashed around and played in the water next to our boats.

Home Stretch!

We've decided on a new marketing ploy, like they do with traffic school. We could have themes for boot camp. How about "rock music boot camp" or "comedy boot camp" or "chocolate boot camp"? Whoops I think we are going a bit too far.

Today was definitely a tough one as we worked through cardio and lower body. Finally we got to run (jog....walk...climb) the hill. I went all the way to the top although I didn't run all the way up. I attempted to jog down but it's a bit uneven path and there are some sand bag lines across the path intermittently. A little skittish trying to do it in the dark. I think walking down is a little safer anyway since we are in Mountain Lion country. I read somewhere that you shouldn't run or act like prey at any time.

Pat was back and only had two drinks over the weekend. I guess she must have done her push-ups before I arrived this morning, because I didn't see her do them. She said the push ups would be worth the trade out.

Friday we will do our strength tests again to see how much we have improved and next week we will do a post assessment with Sam. Then finally one week of rest. Getting up at 6:30 a.m. will seem like sleeping in. Here is a few photos of our morning.....

Dark...Dark...Dark

We are in the home stretch. It was soooo hard to get up this morning. I am really looking forward to a whole week off. However I know I don't want to miss working out. It is so hard working all week and then the weekend comes and there is so much stuff to do around the house and errands to catch up on. My husband and I attended a work friend of his 50th birthday party at Old World. It was a fun party with a live band with 70's/80's music. I didn't have anything to drink and I was very careful on my portions of the yummy pasta and no cake for me.

We didn't get a workout in on Saturday, but on Sunday even though I had the full family coming over for dinner, the dog and I went for a 2 1/2 mile hike on the Bolsas in the afternoon. Seems kind of low mileage for me, but at least we were outdoors and it beat sitting on the sofa.

This morning's was a tough workout though. I'm not sure if Roy is pushing us harder or if the earlier time makes me feel like I don't have enough sleep. I must have been burning calories however, because I was very hungry all day.

We did the whole parking lot and a full court Indian run. I really tried to sprint on the Indian run but I seemed to be out of breath at the end. We did some circuit stuff with the ladder, medicine balls, jump ropes and hand weights. He keeps having us do these dead bug positions and then a modified one with arms and legs stretched out. Boy can you really feel them. I do feel a bit stronger but today was just plain exhausting. Today I bought a set of heaver weights.

Sometime this week we should be redoing our strength testing which means a number of squats, crunches and push-ups timed. At least they aren't pull-ups. I'm guessing Wednesday, since a couple of us are 3 day a weekers and I think he wants to finish early on Friday.

I've been counting my points and really sticking to WW plan but the weight just doesn't seem to be coming off. I'm hoping that it's because that muscle weighs more. I wonder if that it just something they tell you to make you feel better. We shall see at our post assessment appointment if the numbers look better.

Two more days....almost there.

What? There is a mini hill?

I cannot believe we have completed 3 weeks and only have one week left to go. Monday will be the real test, the start of day light's saving time. Instead of waking up at 4:50 a.m. it will feel like 3:50 a.m.

It is hard to get out of the warm cozy bed, especially since my husband is still in it. But, once I get on the road, I really am awake and looking forward to the surprises that Roy has in store for us. Since Roy has an out of commission left wing, we realized he is really good at descriptions. He tells us how to do a specific exercise and then tells us what muscle or muscle group should be feeling it. Just be sure you don't tell him, "I don't feel anything," or he will come over and have you apply some torture moves.

The one thing I did learn was it helps to face the same direction as everyone else. When his command is to lift your knee toward him and it seems impossible, it's probably because you are trying to contort the opposite direction. Today Roy had us working with the gigantic rubber bands with the handles on the ends. He made up a fun little move which was sort of like target practice trying to shoot the bands toward the front. I think we only ended up with about 5 various hurts and bruises over different body parts. I'm not sure if we were really exercising our bodies or our minds as we were trying to figure out specifically, right foot - left arm, kick laying on your stomach, all the way out. Seems like you just get it down and then feel the muscle and we switch.

Then, some cardio, weights, mats, push ups, modified pull ups and out to the parking lot. Wait, we aren't jogging around the whole parking lot? What, where did the mini hill mysteriously appear from. Run to the top and back down. I wonder if he would have noticed if we exited out the gate at the top.

Next week will be the last week of this session of camp. Think I should sign up for 5 days a week?

What I love about bootcamp....

It was 10 degrees colder in Aliso Viejo than Huntington Beach when I left home this morning. I think I'll have to keep some extra clothes in the car just in case.

What can motivate someone to get up so early in the morning, drive 33 miles to work out? The following is what I love about boot camp:
1) I get to be outside.
2) If it's cold outside, when I work out I get warm.
3) I get to see the sun rise.
4) I get to do it with my friend, Pat. And if she doesn't show up, my new friends.
5) I'm inspired by my camp mates who all seem to be so fit.
6) None of the women are whiners. They happily attack each exercise because they know it's good for them.
7) I haven't craved a Starbucks hot chocolate in 2 1/2 weeks.
8) The instructors like it. I think we have a new convert with Jennifer.
9) The shower at 24 hour fitness feels so good after it's over.
10) I get to have breakfast with my in-laws on Monday mornings after boot camp.
11) We get to do pull ups. (whoops, that's from the wrong side of the pro/con list, not that I really have a con list)
12) I'm the dog's favorite because I let her out of her crate in the morning. (Although she gets to go snuggle in bed with my husband)
13) I get to use the nifty little ceramic/ionic travel blow dryer we bought for trips. My daughter says she needs to use it for this weekends winter camp trip because after all I don't want her to be out in the snow in wet hair do I?
14) The works outs are varied and I never get bored.
15) The time goes by so fast. No one seems to be clock watching or asking, is it 6:30 yet?
16) I'm using muscles I've never worked out before.
17) It reminds me of my younger days being at the pool for 6:00 a.m. swim work outs.
18) I get to practice my listening skills....wait how many reps did she say we should do?....where are we meeting tomorrow?.....How do you get to the hill?
19) I'm able to fit a work out in even with a very busy work schedule.
20) It reminds me of being up early and getting prepared for a century bike ride.
21) I get to be outside (did I already say that one?)

This morning Jennifer was there for us again. She did the whole workout with us. I think that is why Roy must have made up the story about fracturing his collarbone so he would have an excuse of why he won't be able to work out with us.

We did learn some new facts.....The exercise that burns the most fat is not sex but walking. I think the camper's suggestion of it being sex was because you are inspired to loose fat if you have to be naked with someone. Also, that a 10 minute jump rope work out is equivalent to an hour's run.

This morning's work out was almost like being in the military. We started with some calisthenics, then jogged practically the whole way around the school, to the volley ball nets where we practice power bursts. Then a great circuit program around the mats back by the hill. Lastly we did a suicide drill (http://www.expertvillage.com/video/161427_sports-training-suicide-drills.htm) sprinting up the hill. That was really a challenge even though I think we didn't do it as fast as the basketball teams train on them.

My daughter and I walked to the Mall last night. She is in Sam's HB camp. When ever I ask her how her work out was her answer is, "Mom, boot camp is always fun." We checked out the work out clothes but then realized we really don't need to look spiffy for boot camp, since it's so dark when you start, no one really sees you. Then we noticed how the work out clothes are situated next to the pajamas and lounge wear. Hey some of them kind of fit the same. Maybe we should just wear pajamas to work out in. Then you can wear it to bed with your jog bra and tank top and just pop up in the morning throw on a sweatshirt and shoes and be on the way to boot camp. Hey, maybe we can get a couple extra minutes of sleep that way?

We will miss Jennifer but are looking forward to seeing Roy back.

Reach to the ceiling...

Wow...amazing what two days of sleeping-in will do for you. Ok not real sleeping-in but at least not waking up at 4:50 a.m. I didn't take the full two days of the weekend off. On Saturday, I did jog with the dog around my neighborhood block. It's about 1 mile. I've not been able to jog the whole way before.

And... we rode over 140 miles on the motorcycle on Saturday. I could feel my glutes by the end of the ride. That's the frog on Pat's motorcycle.

Since we can't make it a full 5 day camp week, I really want to concentrate on at least getting in cardio on the non workout days. But, it just feels so good not getting up before 5:00 a.m. I'll keep trying.

Today we had a substitute trainer, Jennifer. She was cute and very flexible (body wise, no - we still had to do the whole work out). She actually did the full warm up with us. She kept a smile on her face even though it was so early. Her normal job includes doing group X classes and aerobic type ones. I think we almost got her talked into doing outdoor workouts instead of indoor ones. She kept saying to reach toward the ceiling. We had a gorgeous sunrise and the morning clouds were spectacular. Hopefully she won't start telling her indoor class to reach for the clouds. No rain for us yet.

We did some more partner things which resulted in some giggling as we ran around the court and back intermixed with different exercises at our meeting point. The football coach came out and told her that we were going to make his football team look bad with the amount of work we were doing.

Roy should be proud, Jennifer seemed surprised that we had good form through each of our exercises and movements. She seem to think we had a lot of experience. I think what he tells us must work because we try and concentrate on the muscle or muscle group that we should be feeling with the particular exercise.

We are going to miss the hill again tomorrow. Pat thinks maybe we should try to make a Tuesday or Thursday workout just to experience "the hill."