Local Entrepreneur Takes Fitness to a New Level

What started as a few clients in his one-bedroom apartment, with minimal equipment and a broken treadmill has turned into a money-making business that is helping people across Lake County get in the best shape of their lives.

Dustin Martorano is the owner of Lake County Boot Camps, a business entity that combines personal training, motivation and accountability. Martorano's theory is that 30-35 minutes of strength training and cardiovascular workout three to four times a week could get you in great shape. 

And, he said, you don't need anything fancy to do that. "Look around this place," he said of the LCBC location at 1077 South Corporate Circle, Unit D in Grayslake. "We use free weights, exercise balls, jump ropes. It's nothing special."

"Gyms are a mirage," he said. "You see all the equipment and machines, the trainers, the spas and the saunas, but you don't need that."

The LCBC classes vary greatly and are continuously working different muscle groups. One class may be a demanding obstacle course of squats, sprints, rope pulling and pushups to another day of weight-lifting for arms, back and shoulders. Sprinkled in between most exercises are dozens of pushups, situps, and the standby 'burpees'.

The classes are intense, but not unmanageable. Martorano and his staff take the time to get to know their clients, and know how to push each one to their fullest potential, not necessarily to the class extreme.

"We know some people may be shy or that it's a big step for them just to be here, and we really make sure we motivate them," he said of catering each workout to each person's needs.

"This is a relationship business and we really care about our clients."

Getting the Results

Many of those clients have seen great results through Lake County Boot Camps.

Joel Chacon, 19, of Waukegan signed on with LCBC in November hoping to get back into football shape. After high school Chacon said he let himself go.

In the 8 months of working out with Martorano, Chacon has lost 80 pounds and hopes to walk onto the football team at the University of Southern California next month.

"I like the challenge that Dustin gives me every single day. It's always different and that keeps me motivated," Chacon said. "It's the people, the workouts and the push to get me to perform better, both physically and mentally."

Jamie Busman of Lindenhurst just passed her one year anniversary with LCBC. In that time she has shed 29 pounds and said she is in the best shape of her life.

"These are the hardest workouts I've ever done, and it's still a challenge even after a year. I love the family feeling here and the workouts," Busman said. "It works. Everything they tell you to do really works, and that's why I keep coming back."

A Challenging Start

Dustin Martorano said he has always liked to work out, but never thought he would end up here, owning two boot camp businesses in the Chicago area.

After dropping out from college and looking for a new direction, in 2005 Martorano signed on for a six month course at the National Personal Training Institute in Miami, Florida.

He worked there before returning back to the area in 2009. He began a career at a local health club but quickly realized the gym atmosphere wasn't for him.

That's when he started a small in-home training business. "I had four clients, a medicine ball, Bowflex machine and an old treadmill." Martorano said he worked other jobs to pay the bills, but never gave up.

Then came the big break he needed. A friend offered space at a warehouse in exchange for personal training. In the summer of 2007 Martorano opened his first personal training studio, Evolutionary Health and Fitness.

When the economy took a downturn Martorano said he knew he couldn't sustain the business as it was. He switched to small-group personal training, rather than one-on-one and in July of 2010 he opened his first boot camp location.

To date LCBC has locations in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Lakemoor.

Martorano also co-owns CHI Town Boot Camps which has four locations in Illinois; in Evanston, Lakeview, Schaumburg and Woodstock.

With big plans for the future, Martorano is using online deal sites to help build his business. You'll see deals for discounted boot camp classes on Groupon and Living Social.

He is also working on an app to check clients in and out of class, and to hold them accountable for when they don't show up.

"Everyone wants to look and feel their best. If you stay motivated and are held accountable then you'll be successful," he said. "We're here to help you do that."

It's hard not to get energized with Martorano's weekly boot camp newsletters that give inspiration, recipes, even at-home workouts for clients. He offers email and phone coaching and spends the boot camp classes talking with clients and finding ways to help them reach their goals.

"We keep it simple, fun and tough," Martorano said.