Boot camp vs Gym?

S

Spinner1964

0
There seems to be a growing trend towards boot camp style training where you do free form training (i.e. no gym but using sandbags, crawling, climbing etc.). They used it to train the actors in the film '300', another style is 'cross fit'.

My questions are:

- Has anyone tried this style of training? If so, was it better/worse? Are there more injuries?
- What are people's views of this type of training vs gym based training (free weights & cardio equipment)?
- Which style would promote greatest fitness or is it the same but a different method?

And, for anyone in the UK, do you know where I could try it out (& hopefully not kill myself!)?

Thanks! :action8:
 
I've tried these. Xfit and these freestyle workouts are pretty fun actually.

Also, they don't require a crap load of money and/or fancy equipment.

They are good at promoting adaption because of their various forms and uses. The many different exercises and uses you can have with a sand bag, for example, are basically limitless.

With a barbell, you don't have much control. You do a curl. A squat, whatever. But with a sandbag, you need a good grip, you need to fight to keep it in your hands. It gets slippery- more effort is needed. More stability is required. In the end, your sandbag will have knocked out more wind out of you than your bowflex.

Free weights and cardio get's long and boring. Seriously. Going to the gym over and over again, using the same machines, etc...

Buy a big ol' 12' tire and flip it a couple of times. Now that's fun. You actually get more than one body system going. You work the ATP/CP system, the cardio system and glycogen system.

Does a barbell do this? No. Is it this fun? No.

And, for anyone in the UK, do you know where I could try it out (& hopefully not kill myself!)?
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Go on Xfit's website. There is a crossfit journal. Within this journal you will find an article named "The Garage Gym". Look into it, and follow it- it is a great guide to making a gym with this style of fitness to it. It is cheap to make too. And by cheap I just mean non-expensive, they actually have many connections and offer make sources to buy what they suggest- they have done all the footwork. There are crossfit affiliates all over. I'm not sure if the're are some in the UK though, if not, I would inquire about MMA training as this is sometimes part of their training. If they do not offer this kind of training they sure as hell know where you can find some, they should at least.

Then, you could possibly investigate the different exercises that Xfit offers.

I will warn you though: Xfit is badass. Take it nice and slow. Work your way up at your own pace. But if you reach the elite level of fitness within this system. You will be an Olympic grade fitness buff.

Now that you've have inquired about this, I don't think I will be re-subscribing to my gym. Why would I? :yelrotflmao:

I'll start with the really big tire I have tonight :yelrotflmao:

I sure hope this helped you spinner, you've been helping me a good deal lately and I appreciate it.

If you have any other questions regarding this, I'll be glad to answer.
 
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Thank you Eric L. I shoulda guessed you'd be into this.

I will check out the websites. I am not sure if I can emulate the training in my environment. I think it might wreck the yard while providing my neighbours with hours of amusement! That said, tyre flipping does look like fun!

They do have professional boot camps here but it's largely for weight loss and I think being shouted at by a bunch of ex military types will just annoy rather than motivate.

Thanks for your advice. I don't know anyone else who's done it & I might follow up once I've looked at the sites.

S
 
I'm fully intending to try this out in the summer- I am a gym member and workout about 5 times a week (sometimes more) I get bored easily as you would do. I also think that gyms can confine people in so many ways- your moving in a set pattern that must be so easy for your body to get used to and thus muscles weaken whilst others become uneven and over worked.

I used to do circuit classes which I think touch on what the military fitness thing does. I have done some good circuit classes though: one where we'd have a room the size of an olympic swimming pool. 50KG tyre at one end attached to a long rope, end of the rope at the other end. We'd have 5 minutes to pull the tyre to the other end of the room via the rope, then run to the other end of the room with the end of the rope and restart pulling. Then after 5 mins move onto the next exercise.

Another circuit class had us run on the spot, knees chest high but on a large foam mattress- the type the kids used to jump from climbing frames in the kiddies gym, was hard work after 120 seconds trust me!

But I've watched some of the military fitness people at work as there is one quite near me, it really does seem to cover all shapes and sizes, I wanted to be fitter before I tried one though I am too self concious otherwise!! They look like a challenge, lots of running, losts of sand bags, rope (tug of war) and hollering numbers 1-20. You do need your weeterbix before a class thats for sure!
 
Thanks Summer123.

I find it difficult to get to a gym (or boot camp) so I train at home. I have spinner, treadmill, rower, weights, steppers, etc and I workout for 1.5 hours for 6 - 10 days straight with one day off. But like you I am frustrated by the controlled movements so I took up hiking as well (fun but again, time constraints, not to mention UK weather!).

Plus my husband (who despite being lean and muscular really needs to work his cardio harder - but bikers are a lazy bunch - it's all about the torque!) gets bored with gym.

So, I am wondering how to make it more interesting.

I have a double garage and I could create 4 training zones with weights, ropes, punchbag, floor work: train at each for 2 minutes and move to the next. And I could use the area outside the garage for tyre flips and sandbags.

I'll work on it!

As for power plates. I was kidding. I stood on one in a store for 30 seconds and decided it was not for me (plus it cost £8,000 which was ridiculous).

Cheers, S
 
I wouldn't mind doing the crossfit thing, it looks really interesting - maybe one day. I still live at home and I don't have the space or the money, so the gym for me for the time being :) I mix it up.
 
Fitness boot camps are a spin off of the military boot camps for teens. They are a popular alternative to a gym because they offer motivation in a group setting and quick results. These camps are enjoyable and effective. They can take place outside or inside and usually assemble early in the morning when the sun rises.
 
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