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KEEP FIT Getting down and dirty in a boot camp will not just help you physically, but will keep you on a mental high as well. AJIT SHETTY

If you thought a Boot Camp was something of a dress code for a summer camp you could not be more wrong. Actually, the Boot Camp was something soldiers went through (and still practice) to get their bodies in shape and their instincts on high alert. What they show in the movies does happen in real life too — only it is less glamorous and the wounds take a while to heal.Soldiers are put through rigorous physical training so their muscles are rock solid and their bodies have strength, tone, flexibility, agility and of course, it improves the mood and does away with stress. Explains why they have such a rollicking time when there’s no war.

For the urban soldier

Boot Camps are gaining popularity among non-soldiers living a normal life, too. In fact, for some time now, they have helped people like you and me leap off to a great start in an exercise programme. Yes, the conventional boot camps are hard physical labour. They are the most strenuous form of functional training, including exercises like push-ups, various forms of functional training, cardio and of course strength building. In this sort of exercise regime you don’t get to rest between workouts. You move swiftly from one exercise to the next and at the end of it all, you are ready to drop. Somewhat like shopping till you are dropping. Only instead of carrying bags around you are sweating buckets and you find your body extending itself beyond your limiting imagination. It’s like you are pushing your body to determine your limits.A great time to start boot camping is during a long vacation — like the one that is round the corner right now. Before going back to school or college or starting out on that new job. Because your body will be whipped into shape and will be on high energy levels without any accompanying mood swings. Exhilarating. Once you are done, the daily 30 to 45-minute helping of exercise will keep you on a maintenance schedule.

Real-time experience

Let me tell you what to expect. You can either do it within the controlled environment of a fitness studio or a trainer could take you into the wilderness where you will get to feel like a real soldier — crawling through shrubs, muck and maybe get your clothing ripped. A few nicks and bruises may happen, too. But some antiseptic and cold packs can take care of it. The entire camp will take you through ten high intensity cardio and strength training workouts. Be sure to challenge yourself, unmindful of the sweat pouring, but remember to sip water in between without stopping your exercise. If you are in a gym environment, you will go through it with a trainer. Each burst of exercise will begin with a ten minute warm-up.

A 30 to 40-minute session of strenuous exercise will end with a cool-down, followed by a nice full body stretch. In fact, we had organized one such camp a while ago. Those who participated came out of it exhilarated, begging for more. Reaching into yourself and finding the energy to do more is a wonderful feeling.Before you actually run off to the gym and try to enlist yourself into a boot camp, I suggest you get yourself examined by a doctor. We don’t want you overdoing things and getting your mind off exercise for the rest of your life.Get ready to burn some serious calories and shed oodles of weight. Boot out the old you as a new, freshly toned, flat ab-bed looker emerges. All set to take on any new challenge, on any platform.

Ajit is Fitness Director, FitnessOne India Ltd.

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