Tone Up in the New Year: Get Fit With Boot Camp Workouts in Del Mar-Carmel Valley

Having the best of intentions has never been equated with having the best of bodies—or even less flabby ones. So many of us have unused or infrequently used gym memberships, and even for those of us who do make it to the gym, we often lose a mental struggle with ourselves to stay on the treadmill for a full workout or complete that last set of reps.

So what’s a person to do who wants to get in better shape but needs more motivation to do it? Well, that’s where boot camp comes in.

Originating on the West Coast around 15 years ago, boot camp workouts have recently made their way to the East Coast and around the globe. While they may have originally appealed to athletes and hard-core fitness enthusiasts, there are now boot camps for people of all fitness levels.

Part of their wider appeal is that they offer a perpetually fresh experience outside the gym. This is key for folks who bore easily, as well as those who just don’t feel comfortable in a traditional gym.

Lindsay Vastola, editor of Personal Fitness Professional Magazine and the owner of Body Project Boot Camp, a New Jersey-based boot camp company, describes boot camp as “personal training meets group fitness.” Boot camp instructors are usually more invested in each student's performance than instructors in a gym-based fitness class are.

Most boot camps are based on interval and circuit training and attendees can normally expect a challenging mix of cardiovascular exercise, resistance training using their own body weight, and stretching, Vastola says.

Boot camps are appealing for a number of reasons, including:

• Effectiveness: Plain and simple, boot camps work. Typically lasting an hour per session, they combine cardiovascular exercise with resistance training. Instructors tailor the exercises to individuals’ abilities, so that everyone is appropriately and safely challenged. Participants can burn an average of 600 calories per hour!

• Accountability: Because many boot camps run for a set number of sessions (e.g. two sessions a week for four weeks), trainers expect the same members to show up class after class. Depending on the boot camp, instructors may follow up with absent students to encourage them to return. There’s also a sense of owing it to the other participants to show up to class.

• Camaraderie: Students participating in multiple sessions together get to know each other and support each other through the grueling workouts. Peter Lavelle, co-owner of Ultimate Bootcamp (which has 14 locations throughout New England), says that participants in his camps often become friendly, in part thanks to partner exercises and a group survival mentality. They may go on ski trips together, meet up at bars, and sign up for additional boot camp sessions together.

• Cost: The cost of running a boot camp is typically fairly low, given that they require little in the way of equipment, and often make use of public spaces like parks or playgrounds (although an increasing number of camps are now available indoors and thus year-round). This means that the cost to students is relatively low as well, especially when compared to that of personal training sessions. Boot camp classes usually cost around $15 to $20 per class, but may cost anywhere from $5 to $30+ per class, depending on the location, length and frequency of the program.

Before joining a boot camp:

• Consider what kind of training you’re interested in. Does being yelled at by a pseudo-drill sergeant motivate you? Or do you prefer a more supportive and encouraging environment?
• Do your research. Look for a reputable program that will meet your individual needs, and confirm that the boot camp instructor has proper certification.
• Ask if it’s possible to check out a trial class. Many programs offer a free trial or an a la carte class to potential participants.

To find a boot camp nearby, check out GoRecess, an OpenTable-style fitness site that has more than 100,000 nationwide classes, including Zumba, boot camp, meditation and Pilates.

Boot Camps in the Del Mar-Carmel Valley Area

Gut Check Fitness is not a boot camp for the faint-hearted. It was named the winner of the A-List “Best Boot Camp in San Diego” for the last three years and Competitor Magazine’s “Hardest Workout”. These intense military-inspired classes are offered at multiple times throughout the day between 6 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, around the Del Mar and Carmel Valley area. Locations vary between Sage Canyon Park, Torrey Hills Neighborhood Park, Carmel Valley Rec Center and Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Give it a try, the first class is free and newcomers are welcome to drop in. You can drop in for single classes for $20 or purchase five sessions for $75 online by visiting gutcheckfitness.com/boot-camp or calling 858-342-2924.

JMP Personal Training offers an affordable alternative for those unwilling to pay the price for long-term memberships. JMP fitness classes are small group workouts, usually of 10 people or less, and can be purchased on a single session basis, allowing you to have freedom over when and how often you go. A free trial class is available to all those who are interested in joining the workouts. The classes are offered at multiple times, five days a week. You can purchase a single 30-minute class starting at $8, or a 60-minute class starting at $15 per class. Packages of five or 10 classes are also available, and starting January an unlimited monthly package for $49 will be available. Classes take place at FunctionSmart 10803 Vista Sorrento Pkwy, San Diego. For more information visit jmppersonaltraining.com or call 760-672-0317.

Wired Fitness Bootcamps offers early morning outdoor classes, 6-7 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3777 Townsgate Dr., San Diego, next to the Carmel Valley Recreation Center building. Wired Fitness provides many options for participation and pricing, ranging between $15 Saturday drop-in classes to $179 for a month of unlimited classes. They also offer a punch card system for $225 that gives you 10 drop-in classes of your choosing, or a $150 package that allows two weekday classes per week. They also offer individual training options if you feel you desire more individualized attention, $225 for one month. For more information and to register for your free trial session, go online and visit wiredfitness.com or call 619-843-5157. 

For DIY boot camp workout ideas, check out these links:

• Bootcamp Workout from Women’s Health magazine
• Bootcamp Workout from Self magazine
• Bridal Bootcamp Workout from Fitness magazine
• DIY Bootcamp Workout from Women’s Health magazine
• Backyard Bootcamp Workout from Fitness magazine
• Stacy’s Bootcamp all-video exercise app for iPhone ($1.99)

—Alyssa Zickenberg contributed to this article.