Back in September, I discovered my fall/winter wardrobe had gotten, well, slightly more than a little snug. It seemed strange, since I had been making regular appearances in my bathing suit all summer. Still, there was no denying the truth: an immense divide yawned between the button and button hole of my waistband.

In search of a remedy, I saw a link on Facebook to Memphis Adventure Boot Camp for Women (ABC). One look at the 5:30 a.m. start time, and I knew there was no way I could do it. After all, I work full-time, do freelance writing on the side, and try to keep up with the day-to-day care and feeding (not to mention entertainment) of my two wild boys, Satchel (7) and Jiro (5). I was already operating on less than seven hours of sleep each night; how could I give up two more?

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that 5:30 in the morning was about the only time I wasn’t scheduled to be somewhere — except in bed. If I was going to incorporate regular exercise into my routine, it would have to be then. So I signed up to attend a four-week boot camp that met Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. I dug out my tennis shoes, bought a set of 3-lb. weights and a yoga mat, and set my alarm clock for 5 a.m.

The journey begins

I don’t sleep a wink the night before, thanks to much worry and speculation, but somehow manage to make it to the Briarcrest Elementary parking lot by 5:25 a.m. There I find 15 women of all ages and sizes, and our fearless leader, Dexter Tenison. Thankfully, Dexter is not one of those super buff guys you see sneering at people in the gym. He’s an average Joe who overcame his own fitness struggles, and now earns a living helping others with theirs. I come to think of him as a supportive older brother whose goal for everyone is to “be better.”

On our first day, we each pick a flash card from Dexter’s deck, introduce ourselves, and lead the exercise on our card. Next, we do a walk/run/jog around the parking lot. We finally end the hour with weight-lifting, sit-ups, and stretches. Everyone in the class seems positive and supportive, so it doesn’t take long before I have a whole group of new friends. The exercises we do change daily, but are a good mix of cardio, strength, and resistance training. I find them challenging, but not impossible.

I love showing up every day and simply doing what I’m told. I even run a mile! (Dexter times us at the beginning and end of boot camp.) During Week 3, we take a field trip to the Germantown Greenline to run in a more scenic environment and get tips from his assistant, Anna, who is a marathoner. Dexter designs the exercises to be easily modified for all fitness levels, and even works around specific injuries. No one gets left out.

In addition to exercising, ABC incorporates nutrition and support. We are encouraged to keep a food log which Dexter monitors and we receive a daily newsletter with tips and praise. Dexter’s tip, to eat smaller, more frequent meals that include a lean protein four to six times a day, really helps me get my less-than-stellar eating habits in check.

Readjusting the body clock

I find the hardest part isn’t waking up, but going to sleep. I often write late into the night, but now I need to be in bed by 10 p.m. to function the next day. This proves nearly impossible and for the first three weeks, I’m practically a zombie. I don’t know which toothbrush is mine, I forget which exit to take on the expressway, I can’t even remember the pass code to my office door. My stomach is growling by 10:30 in the morning and by noon I have such a headache I often wonder if my contacts are in the wrong eyes.

However, by Week 4, things level off. My body clock adjusts, making my new schedule feel more normal. I also start to notice little things: my pants easily button, my shirts feel roomier, I even show off newly found muscles to my husband. I haven’t lost any weight, but I definitely look more toned. I even manage to shave off a minute and a half from my timed mile.

Now I’m stoked. I sign up for a second camp and encourage my friend, Ashley Harper, to join me. Ashley is also a mother of two who works full-time. She needs something radical to remind herself that a fitness routine can fit into her schedule. She likes having a group to be accountable to, and carpooling makes it easy for us both.

“Since it’s all women at all different levels, it’s okay to go exactly how one would look at 5:30 in the morning,” Ashley says with a smile. “There’s none of that gym competition.”

An exercise alternative

In sharing my experience with my mama friends, I’ve learned that several others have benefited from boot camps in the area. Courtney Santo’s running partner moved in 2008 and she found herself getting bored jogging around Rhodes College four or five times a week.

“A friend was showing off her biceps and mentioned she got them at this boot-camp-style workout program on the river run by an amazing woman named Stacy Chick,” says Courtney, who immediately signed up for a sample class. She says it is the hardest hour of exercise she’s ever experienced, but the scenery and Chick’s encouragement along with the results make it well worth the investment.

Kelli Smith, another friend, recently signed up for the Marine Corps-style boot camp at Christ United Methodist. “It has made me realize how much I love doing exercise outdoors,” says Kelli.

Boot camp isn’t just for women. Carlos Provencio, the father of two boys, did the Holly Would Fitness boot camp in Overton Park for several months. “It got me running again and I lost 17 pounds,” he says.

Boot camp can be a starting point or a long-term fitness solution. It’s definitely what you make of it. After achieving the “Most Improved Camper” in my second round, I decide to renew my gym membership and signed up for my first 5K. Ashley joined the YMCA with me and continues to be my workout partner. We take a 6 a.m. Y class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, and run in Central Gardens on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After more than three months of getting up before dawn to work out, we still can’t believe we’re doing it.

I have to admit, I do miss staying up late. But the upside? I love kick-starting my day with exercise. And I love feeling healthier and more energized than I have in years. Best of all, after 37 years of dreaming about it, I love that I’m finally running.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 1st, 2010 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.