FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Maintaining a regular workout schedule and changing to a healthier lifestyle are goals those taking part in the 2011 Boot Camp have set for themselves.
The five-days-a-week camp, hosted by Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Facility staff, runs for six weeks at various locations around Fort Rucker, according to Brian Bearman, Fortenberry-Colton personal trainer.
Two of the camp participants, military spouses Courtney Vigil and Rachel Tehvand, volunteered to have their progress tracked and documented by the Army Flier.
"I wanted to start this because, being a mom and my husband being active duty, I need to set the example," Tehvand said. "I've been the chunky kid all my life and know what it's like being made fun of in school. I don't want my children to go through that."
Vigil, a former Minnesota Vikings cheerleader, said she wanted to be part of the event for the challenge and to help her get back to a regular workout schedule.
"I wanted to see if I could last the whole six weeks and get more muscle tone," she said. "I have been working out about twice a week, doing mostly cardio at the gym. It's nice to try something different."
On the first day of training, the participants went through a series of seven exercises meant to push them physically and mentally.
The morning began with a two-lap run around the track behind the Fort Rucker Physical Fitness Center and continued with seven, two-person exercise stations, each with a different activity.
Participants tested their endurance with tire flips, lunges, 40-yard sprints, pushups, jump-ups and burpies (a series of three moves starting with up-stretched arms to touching toes to a pushup and then repeating).
Each lasted two minutes, giving campers a chance to experience each station multiple times during the one-hour session.
"This is one of the harder workouts I've done," Vigil said. "I cheered from 2004 to 2007 and it was a pretty tough workout, too. I'm definitely sticking with it to the end."
Tehvand said her first-day experience was tough, but it was exactly what she expected it to be.
"I have my husband's full support and lots of people checking on me to make sure I'm doing well," she said. "I'm definitely going to make sure we watch what we eat at home and try to be more active as a Family. We want our children to grow up enjoying activity, not dreading it."
Bearman coached the participants through the first day and said he thought everyone performed well for the first day out.
"It went pretty well," he said. "I try to do everything I can to help them stay motivated and to keep pushing themselves."
Bearman, who has 15 years experience as a personal trainer, said he plans to continue working with the campers throughout the next six weeks.
"It's 100 percent a lifestyle change," he said. "Hopefully, over the course of six weeks, they'll develop a workout habit and it'll last longer than just six weeks. You have to stick with this and commit to it. I think it's more mental than physical."
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