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Boot camp diary: Week one

By Lesley Kennedy

How long do you get to attribute weight gain to having children? My friend Maria says at least 18 years. But, with my youngest turning three this fall, I’m thinking my excuse is wearing thin.

No, this isn't me.

I was a jock in high school — played three sports and spent summers at sports camps. But once college started, my exercise habits disappeared and Mom’s homemade meals were quickly replaced with fast food, pizza and beer.

Of course, when you’re in your 20s, it’s easy to take care of a little extra pooch. Just jog a couple days a week, cut out a few of those beers, eat a salad now and then. But something happens in your 30s — and after birthing two babies — and the pooch becomes a serious problem.

And, so, I’ve decide to go back to basics, and with the help of a “coach” I’m heading to boot camp. Specifically, Denver trainer Anne Parker’s Wash Park Mini Fitness Boot Camp. The month-long camp uses TRX suspension training, a system that works your entire body using your own body weight as resistance.

There’s also a diet plan, and workout routines for off-days. You have to e-mail Anne daily food journals — and she does pre- and post-plan body measurements and fat testing.

Horrified, I tried to put myself in another place as Anne weighed me, measured me, and pinched my flab with calipers. We decided that eight pounds was a good goal for the month — that’s a safe two pounds a week — and that I’d fit in four days of workouts and eat “clean” five days a week. (More on that later.) “What do you think your obstacles will be?” she asked. Hmm … besides my desire to eat an entire pint of Chubby Hubby in one sitting … Planning, a busy schedule, stress and loving food — bad food.

Anne told me to be sure to plan my meals, do my shopping and stick with the plans. I can’t decide if blogging about this makes me insane or will help with motivation, but I’m excited to see what happens. And if you think I’m going to share my actual measurements, you’re insane. But I will tell you the results at the end of this month.

The basics

Work out: Two boot camps a week for a month (with optional third boot camp available) and two alternate workouts each week, for a total of four.

Food: Eat clean five days a week, and easy on the other two. Think breakfasts of steel-cut oats with flax seed and berries; big salads for lunch with lean protein, nuts and a little cheese; fruit and almonds for a snack; lean protein, veggies and whole grains for dinner.

Prepping

Grocery shopping was an adventure. I had to find ground flax seed and steel-cut oats and quinoa. I had to learn how to pronounce quinoa (it’s keen-wa, by the way). I stocked up on cantaloupe, blueberries, apples, grapes and strawberries.

Anne was right, eating fresh takes a lot of planning. I made what I thought was a big batch of oatmeal Monday morning (to save portions for later — those steel cut oats take a long time to cook). Ditto the quinoa. But, I only made enough to last three days. I had leftover fish on my salad on day one, already screwed up dinner (had to settle for an Amy’s organic pre-packaged meal) and my kids devoured most of the fruit before I even got home from the first boot camp session on Monday. But I’m learning. I’ll get there. And, yes, the leftover pizza my husband just heated up for lunch is making me swoon. Chicken and grapes are delicious! I’ll keep telling myself that.

Boot camp begins

Things I learned from my first day of boot camp:

1. Shave your legs before attending boot camp. Apologies to my partner (who had to grab my leg at one point). I promise to come with smooth legs from now on.

2. Buy gym clothes from this decade. My gray men’s Hanes T-shirt not only looked shabby, but the new fabrics that claim to keep moisture away? They must really work. Because my shirt was covered in sweat, while pretty much everyone else in the group — in current workout clothes — looked fine. An excuse to go shopping.

3. Sometimes you need to be told what to do. So, Anne led us through interval training. We hit thighs, bis and tris. Core, hamstrings and glutes. Part cardio — think jumping jacks, squats, high knees and more. Part TRX training — from stretches to curls to planks. Having Anne lead the class seamlessly from one exercise to the next ensured our heart rates were up — and I mean WAY up — the entire hour.

4. No pain no gain. As I was walking to my car post-workout, my legs felt a bit wobbly. When I woke up the next morning, I thought I’d be really sore, but I felt OK. About 30 minutes into my hour-long walk, my triceps began to burn, my thighs and glutes, too. During a photo shoot later that day I was feeling it all over. By the third morning, I had trouble walking up and down my stairs. This stuff works.

The second day of boot camp

I was worried my soreness would come into play, but confident that I had shaved my legs and worn a new tank top.

Day two, we started the workout with cardio — skipping, grapevines, jogging and more. Heavy breathing, but fun. And I managed to not fall over or get hit by a passing bicyclist. Then, more interval training — TRX work coupled with cardio intervals. I did “real” push-ups (OK, I did go to my knees a few times), and felt better knowing everyone in the class was sore. My partner, who has been following this boot camp for a month, inspired me — she was strong in her exercises, not shaking like a leaf, like me.

I’m still sore, but it’s that good kind of sore — the kind that tells you your body is changing. I’ll take that.

The eating plan has been going well. I ate a plain peach as I watched my family drink peach milkshakes and eat peach cobbler. I rejected that pizza. I didn’t even look at the homemade sugar cookies on the kitchen counter. I can’t give up my Diet Coke, though. Some things are sacred.

Check back for more boot camp diaries. In the meantime, can you pass the heating pad?

Related posts:

1. Boot Camp diary, week two – staying on track
2. Boot camp week three – fighting the slump
3. Boot camp, week 13 – Halloween makes for a scary diet
4. Boot camp, week four – no rest for the wicked
5. Boot camp, week nine – pump you up!