Trying to lose weight can be difficult particularly if one not motivated to achieve their goals. Sometimes it is best to join other people in their desire to lose unwanted pounds or get in shape. One of the best activities for fitness is through so-called “boot camps”. These exercise classes are rather intense and help burn away loads of calories while building muscle strength and developing cardiovascular stamina.

Most health clubs or gyms offer some kind of boot camp for their members. They may have 2 or 3 classes scheduled throughout the week. Times may vary during the day so you would have to check with the club to find out when you could attend. Other alternatives are though personal trainers that may provide them on an ad hoc basis. Whatever the schedule you should try to find a class that suits you as the benefits for your fitness are great.

Boot camps involve various exercises done for up to an hour at a time. Think back to your gym class back many years ago, when such things were offered of course, when you did jumping jacks, laps around the gym, pushups, situps and the like. The intent was to get your body moving and make it stronger and fit. Think of it in terms of a civilian boot camp not unlike an exercise regimen during military boot camp.

The idea is to combine enough physical activities to up your heart rate and also to build and tone muscle strength. You may begin with some body weight exercises to build strength like squats, pushups and core work, and then run four laps around the gym track only to return to jump rope for three minutes, and then begin more body weight work. All of this is done pretty much in one constant motion without stopping. Remember, the goal is to get work on your cardio and strength, which will necessarily burn calories helping you to lose weight.

Every boot camp class is different. No one should feel like they cannot join one as most are beginner friendly. Tell the instructor you are new. They should help and if they do not, find another class. If you are just starting out you may not be able to hang with the experienced and fit people. Over time this will change as you lose pounds and gain fitness. You may feel like you cannot keep up with the exercises and worse feel like you cannot even do many of them. The idea is to keep moving and stay motivated. Over a couple of classes you will get the hang of it and improve.