Boot camps the newest fitness programs on Treasure Coast, around country

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""Drop and give me 20!"

If you're familiar with the phrase, you likely survived military basic training or got on the wrong side of your high school gym teacher.

Or, you've joined the latest fitness craze: boot camps.

The military-style exercises featured in boot camp workouts are becoming popular with those who seek camaraderie and quick results. Offered by fitness centers across the Treasure Coast — and the country — boot camp workouts take their name from exercises used to get new military recruits in shape for the rigors of combat.

They are not for the faint of heart.

The workouts are intense, typically lasting between 20 and 40 minutes, and can burn hundreds of calories per hour,.

"Most of the people are burning between 500 and 700 calories," Bonnie Pfiester, co-owner of Longevity Fitness in Vero Beach said. "It depends on how much the person weighs, their heart rate and fitness level."

These workouts are a far cry from the days of Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda. They often still incorporate music, but that's where the similarities end.

"Training has gotten a lot more purposeful and intense because today's consumer not only wants to feel in shape, they also want to see that they are in shape and know the work is paying off," Pfiester said.

Today's boot campers grunt and groan their way through regimens that can include jumping jacks, running, push-ups, squats and sit-ups. Each program establishes its own routine.

Vero Beach resident Robb Falana, 39, said he joined a boot camp class at Longevity Fitness because, along with the cardiovascular and muscle-toning benefits, he enjoys the camaraderie of being in a class setting and having the encouragement of others.

"I'm one of those people who just cannot work out by myself," Falana said. "I get bored easily, but in boot camp you're focused and there's somebody telling you that you need to do something in a certain amount of time."

There is no one age group or "type" of participant. Pfiester said people as young as 16 and as old as 74 have been through Longevity's boot camps.

Boot camp training first made the list of top national fitness trends in 2009, according to a study by the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that provides fitness certification, education and training to fitness professionals and consumers. The number of gyms and other facilities on the Treasure Coast offering the workouts has increased and even includes one local government."

Article reprinted from TCPalm.com.

5 lbs of muscle versus 5 lbs of bodyfat!

Resistance training is an excellent method for adding additional muscle mass. Whether your goal is weight loss, increasing strength, or just improving your overall fitness, AZ Fitness Concepts (www.getfitaz.com) offers personal training in Scottsdale and Phoenix and will help you achieve those goals in the shortest amount of time possible! We are currently offering New Years specials on all personal training packages and bootcamp classes. You can reach us via email at train@getfitaz.com or phone at 480-788-8118.


Facts about muscle:

- 1 pound of muscle burns an additional 30-100 calories a day. to put things into perspective, eliminating 3500 calories (through diet, exercise, increased metabolic rate, etc.) in a week will typically result in a 1 pound weight loss of bodyfat.

- muscle aids in contributing to your overall calorie expenditure when exercising (in other words, you burn even more calories when you exercise!).

- helps strengthen connective tissue and improves balance and coordination.

- muscle tissue/cells are smaller than fat cells (adipose tissue). if your fitness goals are to lose weight or you're looking to have lean arms or smaller thighs, a couple added pounds of muscle will result in your having less bodyfat, and you'll be that much closer to achieving your fitness goals!

Fitness trends to watch for 2011

Article reprinted from the TriCities.com

By Linda Stollings

"There was high impact aerobics, then came step aerobics, next the slide, after that came body pump, yoga, Pilates, boot camp, Zumba and on and on. Not to mention all the props, tubes, balls and other fitness gadgets. Personal training came on strong about 12 years ago and has stayed strong ever since. One thing is certain about the fitness industry, it is an industry that is always changing, always diversifying and challenging us to be the best we can possibly be.

So what do we have to look forward to in 2011?

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has surveyed fitness trends for the last four years. The survey, now in its fifth year, was distributed to ACSM-certified professionals worldwide and was designed to reveal trends in the field of fitness.

More than 2,200 surveys were returned and the data was complied to give us an idea of the top 10 fitness trends for 2011. The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.

The top 10 trends predicted by ACSM for 2011 are:

1. Educated and experienced fitness professionals.Due to increases in the number of organizations offering certifications, it’s important that consumers choose professionals certified through programs that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, such as those offered by ACSM.

2. Fitness programs for older adults. As the baby boom generation ages into retirement, some of these people have more discretionary money than their younger counterparts. Therefore, many health and fitness professionals are taking the time to create age-appropriate programs to keep older adults healthy and active.

3. Strength training. Strength training remains a central emphasis for many clubs. Incorporating strength training is an essential part of a complete physical activity program for all physical activity levels and genders.

4. Children and obesity. With childhood obesity growing at an alarming rate, health and fitness professionals see the epidemic as an opportunity to create programs tailored to overweight and obese children. Solving the problem of childhood obesity will have an impact on the health care industry today and for years to come.

5. Personal training. More and more students are majoring in kinesiology, which indicates that students are preparing themselves for careers in allied fields such as personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for personal trainers have become increasingly important to the facilities that employ them.

6. Core training. Distinct from strength training, core training specifically emphasizes conditioning of the middle-body muscles, including the pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen – all of which provide needed support for the spine.

7. Exercise and weight loss. In addition to nutrition, exercise is a key component of a proper weight loss program. Health and fitness professionals who provide weight loss programs are increasingly incorporating regular exercise and caloric restriction for better weight control in their clients.

8. Boot camp. Boot camp is a high-intensity structured activity program modeled after military style training and led by an instructor. Boot camp incorporates cardiovascular, strength, endurance and flexibility drills in both indoor and outdoor settings.

9. Functional fitness. This is a trend toward using strength training to improve balance and ease of daily living. Functional fitness and special fitness programs for older adults are closely related.

10. Physician referrals. Physician referrals, a key component of the Exercise is Medicine initiative, partner medical professionals with health and fitness professionals to seamlessly integrate exercise into their patients’ lives.

See you in the gym in 2011.

NOTE: ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal is an official publication of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at (800) 638-6423."