Boot Camp - Be Prepared

The instructors of these classes are not there to coddle you while you give minimal effort. If you've ever watched the popular weight loss TV shows, you may already be somewhat familiar with the kind of atmosphere you're likely to face at one of these programs. The instructors want to see you succeed and they expect you to want that as well. While often tailored to beginners, they are not tailored to those who aren't ready to work out. Here's how you can be prepared for your first day.

Get and Stay Hydrated

While you don't want to drink so much water that you get a cramp or start to slow down because your belly is sloshing about, you don't want to run the risk of drinking too little. The effects (and dramatic induction of) dehydration has been largely overhyped for the average person. It can easily happen if you aren't used to doing vigorous physical activity. At a boot camp, you're likely to be exposed to an hour or more of nonstop exercise, which is something you may not be used to. Make sure you don't let your body down when it comes to replenishing lost fluids.

Change Your Attitude

If you're being "dragged" to boot camp by a friend or are going into the class with a, "Well, I don't have to do anything I don't want to do," kind of attitude, you need to adjust your way of thinking before entering the class. Remember that you're doing this for you. If you're doing it for any other reason, you may want to drop back and wait until you're properly motivated. The instructors are there to push you to your limits, but they are not there to make someone get healthy if they are determined to be lazy. Don't embarrass yourself, waste the instructor's time, or take away from your classmates by going in with the wrong attitude.

Focus on Your Breathing

There are lots of little things you can do to make vigorous exercise easier than it otherwise would be. One of the most important things is to breathe correctly. When you start doing things like holding your breath during exertion, you're not letting your body get the oxygen it needs to move forward. When that happens, your body will shut down fast. Concentrate on keeping your breathing steady and regular. It's going to be faster than you're used to, but that doesn't mean you can't get as much out of every breath as possible. Plus, if you concentrate on your breathing while at boot camp, you can distract yourself from the pain!