I ran into a former Boot Camper today. I always love talking to the men and women that have left Boot Camp for whatever reason they had. Some met their goals and have learned to maintain their own health and fitness program. To them I say, “Way to go.” I give away everything I know so that they can take control of their own programs. Sure, I might not make as much money as some fitness people, but I always remember my primary goal…Make people healthier!
Some leave the program after they realize that Boot Camp isn’t the magic pill they are looking for. “What do you mean I have to exercise and get all sweaty and breath heavy?” Why they even start I’ll never know, but to them I say, “Thanks for leaving the program because I don’t want you as a walking advertisement for my program.”
Some leave the program because, well….just because. Not their cup of tea I guess. To them I say, “Thanks for coming out. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt to show for it.”
Finally, the last group of see ‘ya laters’. These are my favourite. The conversation sounds like this usually.
C – “Hey I haven’t seen you at Boot Camp in the last few months, when are you coming back?”
FBCer – “Oh, uhm, well. I, ah, I joined a gym. I get a real good workout there.”
C – “Great. How’s it working for you.” I actually don’t have to ask…sight is a pretty good indicator here. I just like to know.
FBCer – “It’s great. I do a few of these (motions to seated pushups) and a few of these (motions to indicate curls) oh and I do alot of these (sit-ups).”
C – “Wow, sounds like you are really working it. You must be so close to your original goal now. What was it?”
FBCer – “Oh, to lose 10 inches and forty pounds. No, I’m not as close as I would like to be, I’ve given myself more time to reach my goal”
C – “Good for you. Why though?”
FBCer – “Uhm, I found your class to be too hard. I just don’t want to work that hard. I can do it, I’ll just take a little longer.”
C – “Suck it up buttercup, Boot Camps not supposed to be easy. You want easy? Fat is easy. You want to lose 10 inches and forty pounds? Good luck. At your rate there is a better chance I’ll gain 40 before you lose it and we both know that’s not going to happen!!”
That’s what I want to say. I never do. I just smile and say, “Good luck with that.”
Boot Camp is hard. Sure is, and I will never make any apologies for that. I have studied health and fitness for years to ensure I can serve you better than anyone else. I didn’t just go for a weekend course, got a certificate and called myself a personal trainer. I’ve made a life out of helping others, examining what work and what doesn’t. I’m a fitness professional. You enrol in my program and I am going to ensure I don’t ever take your hard earned money for granted. I owe it to you to give you a program that is worth every penny, and I am sure I do just that.
Easy. You want easy? Here is a list of things that are easy:
Please, another, but make it diet.
Fat is easy. Sitting on your duff in front of a TV all evening is easy. Microwaved meals for your family is easy. Grabbing a bag of chips is easy. The drive thru at McHarKingChalet is easy. Phoning for your meal to be delivered is easy. Finding an excuse not to exercise is easy. Planning on putting off your fitness goals is easy. Packing on forty pounds is easy.
I have developed a program that is easy to follow. I have testimonials that will tell you that it became easy to change their lifestyle. I know people that will tell you going up stairs is easy now, playing with their children is easy now, choosing veggies over chippies is easy now. Jumping out of bed and having enough energy for the day is easy now.
Boot Camp? No, not easy. But it makes everything else easier.
Have I missed anything that you find easier now? Let me know. Offended by what I said here? Let me know. Have anything you want to say? Here is your chance. Let me know. It’s easy.
Who loves ‘ya?
carrieburrows13.wordpress.com 
WOOHOO!! I LOVE this Carrie!! You hit it on the nose! Every time I hear someone say they can’t do something at boot camp or boot camp is too hard I say, “If I can do this anyone can!” I never thought in a million years I would ever be able to handle participating in a boot camp or teach boot camp or even finish 13.1 miles in a half marathon, but with your program I have been able to do all of these things!
Yes, for me being fat, eating whatever I wanted and sitting on the couch each night in front of the TV was easier. However, looking at my 4 year old Son and knowing that being around for him and having a quality life was much more important. Yes, boot camp is tough, but it’s worth it when I look in the mirror or I see a ‘before’ picture or I think of how I used to feel about myself BEFORE boot camp.
Your program has made my life more pleasurable, rewarding and increased my self-esteem 10 fold! I am WORTH the hard work, sweat and pain I put myself through each and every boot camp.
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I’m sure a lot of people see me and think, she can do it because she’s fit. Or maybe they think like I use to – she’s so lucky to be thin. Well, it took me months of hard work to lose the weight I had been carrying around for years! It certainly wasn’t easy. I sweat off 75 lbs, with a lot of pain. Yes, I took it to the extreme – I could have held back a little and taken a little longer – but once I saw the pounds dropping, I knew it was worth a little sweat and pain. I still have to work hard at keeping fit but it isn’t nearly as hard as when I started.
I also had to change habits that had been ingrained in me since a child. I changed not only what I ate but when and how much. And I’m always on the go so I had to learn to prepare ahead and more. It was hard work of another kind – live and learn! Now I have new, good habits.
Boot Camp is not easy but it WORKS! I’m not sure why I kept going back some days – must have been the promise of feeling better or the people that were expecting me to be there. Now, I feel great and I think I look pretty good… at least I look better than I did! 🙂
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Thanks for the comment Amy. You are a walking testimonial to the effectiveness of setting goals, working hard and attaining what you want!
I am sure that many times it would have been easier to stay home, eat crap and watch TV, but because you chose to do what was right, not easy, you changed your life, your looks and your attitude!!
You are an inspiration, a mentor and great friend. Thanks for being you!
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Yes, it would have been easier to watch TV, drink beer, and eat crap… But then I wouldn’t be fit, feel good about myself, or be so energetic.
There were many days I asked myself… Why am I going to boot camp?… And the answer was never, to be in pain or to sweat myself to exhaustion… The answer was, to feel better about myself.
Thank YOU Carrie because the times I wanted to give up, you encouraged me to keep going. YOU are my inspiration, my mentor, and a great friend.
🙂
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Wow! What a perfect Monday morning motivator! I worked hard at bootcamp this weekend and over 2 weeks i have only lost 1 pound! WTH? Anyway – i’m not giving up and this email just reaffirms that!
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Hey Chrystal;
I am so glad that this post could motivate you. Remember what I have said so many times…”The scale is not your friend!!!” The only things a scale will tell you is how much the effect of gravity is on you at that specific time and at the place.
The true gauge of your progress is how you look, how you feel and how your clothes fit.
Remember also…muscle weighs more than fat so as you lose fat and gain muscle tone, you will not lose weight as fast as you may think you should, but your gains are far more beneficial than your losses.
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Hey Amy all this time I thought it was me you were coming to see? 🙂
All I can say is yes doing nothing is easy but you will go no where fast and more than likley gain more weight than you intended to loose.
If you want to improve your health and fitness you have to MOVE! Having lost over 50 pounds, countless inches and multiple dress sizes with Carries program I am a true beliver.
On those days when I was tired and thought I can’t do this tonight I knew my fellow boot campers were probably feeling the same but we perserveered together to achieve our goals.
Thanks Carrie for continually motivating and encouraging us all!
And Amy may be a little crazy but she’s still my bff.
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Chrystal don’t look at it as only loosing 1 pound in two weeks look at is as…HEY I’ve lost a pound!!! Celebrate every milestone. Think of those people still sitting on the couch who wish they could loose a pound. Your hard work is paying off and thats one less pound your carrying. Good for you!
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The lessons learned here today apply to every aspect of life…easy is for the weak! People choose easy because they are afraid to believe in their ability to do better. People choose easy because the feeling of comfort is better than hoping and planning for success. “Live the life you have imagined”…stay away from EASY!!!!!
As for boot camp, it has re-ignited my passion for ME. I don’t love the lunges or squats any more than I did when I started, but I love the feeling of accomplishment after I have put in 150% of what I have into each workout. Carrie, your program isn’t about weight loss…it’s about making a commitment to becoming the person you always wanted to be. It starts with a plan, continues with determination and perseverance, and ends with SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, that is true H – I do come to see you 😉
That’s it Chrystal – don’t give up. Its not just the pounds either – its about being healthier. When I first started out I would gain pounds but lose inches. Stick it out, drink your water and eat good food. Most importantly – listen to Carrie – she has YEARs of experience and knows what she’s talking about!
And I may be a little crazy H but I feel good!! Life is great now!
🙂
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I’m glad you don’t sugar coat it Carrie! Weight loss is hard work, but if you want to look good, feel good, and be healthier “Then Suck it Up Buttercup”. That was my line by the way!! LOL
I lost 25lb and have maintained it for 7 months, and I look great!! It took alot of work and I still have to work at it, but I’m worth it!!!
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Sofie,
You have done sooo well and are a great testimonial to sticking to a plan and being consistent with exercise!! You do look great and I am so super proud of you!!!!
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Thanks Carrie! I hope fellow bootcampers read this blog and are inspired by your knowledge and skills. I hope people who read this will spread the word to those who would benefit greatly from a strong, efficient, and effective weight loss program. So many people I talk to who tell me about such programs as WW, and tell me the stress they have with keeping track of points and going over points, I say to them, Wow that sucks, what stress when you’re trying to lose weight. I would say forget it! They ask me if I was on a similar program and I say no, I eat as much as I want, but I eat the good stuff, and I don’t have to worry about the stress of points!!
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