Behind The Boot Camp

Health is wealth and it goes without saying that you are what you eat.

But just how conscious and aware are you of your health? Everyone wants a summer body and perhaps because of this, Namibia has seen an increase in the number of ‘boot camps’. Many people have opted out of the traditional setting of the gym that has seemingly less interaction between the trainer and trainee, with many having to fork out more to pay for a personal instructor. Hence people have chosen to go through training via a boot camp. Lasting from a week to even a few months, a boot camp is a type of training session that involves a lot of physical work, but the end results speak for themselves. The Weekender explored this type of training.

The Boot Camp Experience

There are a number of boot camps in Windhoek, with some being personalised according to the participant’s needs. The benefits have proven to improve muscular fitness and the workouts address most parts of your body. From push-ups to doing yoga in the wild, these boot camps not only build you up physically, but they have been proven to be mentally stimulating too.

For boot camp enthusiast Shareen van Wyk, this became a reality. She shared her experience of boot camp and the results spoke volumes. Van Wyk, who has been training with the Sweat It Out boot camp, said it’s definitinely worth it. “I started with boot camp for the first time and lost a lot of weight in only three months. With the kilogrammes I lost, my body transformed into a nicer shape too. I fell off and got back on track again and so on but I’m back at it and it’s going well.”

But that wasn’t all. “I have been losing weight again and that is all because my mindset is in the right place and because I know what boot camp can do for my body. I did it before and I will do it again. I really believe in boot camp training, especially when you need to lose the extra baggage. With losing weight, you also transform into a better you,” Van Wyk said.

She further added that many ‘big’ women or men always see a difference and feel a change when training at boot camp because it involves more body weight exercises and the whole team keeps you motivated. “I also believe that it’s 20% training and 80% from you. I have experienced many training sessions but with no motivation yourself, you can be at the best boot camp or with the best instructor and will see or feel no change,” she stated.

She further advised women who want to lose weight to work hard on themselves and join a boot camp. “The whole boot camp team will make sure you stay motivatated and what’s amazing is that we all train the same.

So you get to push yourself with others. Boot camp ensures that you work for the body you want. And you get to love it more when you see the progress. As for gymming, you always waste time. You upload more selfies. Gym is more of a comfort workout. Boot camp does not require you to work out with a phone and you keep training for 60 minutes straight.”

Vicky Amakali, who recently started with Tura Boot Camp after a spat of feeling overweight and unfit, said she particularly enjoys it because boot camps have someone who constantly motivates you.

“I have so far lost six kilogrammes in the month that I have been with my boot camp, something I would not have achieved at the gym,” she shared. Amakali said she will be with the boot camp for a year and will remain focused until then.

Twamanguluka Nangolo attends Mike’s Boot Camp at the Independence Arena in Katutura. She said that in the beginning, she used to slack, but is now more devoted and committed.

“I prefer boot camp as opposed to the gym. There are so many contractual obligations with the gym and they also do not all have personal instructors.

Or you have to pay extra for a personal instructor while with a boot camp, all you pay for is for the instructor and they guide and motivate with diet, workouts and the supplements which are in needed with the boot camp which helps because you get set results.”

Boot Camps In Namibia

If you are not sure where to go, there are a number of boot camps in the country to satisfy your needs.

Mox Namwandi of Fusion Wellnesss Club says that boot camps are more ‘goal orientated’. ”People have the wrong concept when it comes to boot camps. A boot camp like Fusion is one that offers food coaching and evaluation. A workout is 80% of what you eat and 20% of what you do. You need to eat the right way for you to get the right results,” he said.

Fusion Wellness Club offers workouts from Monday to Thursday at the Independence Stadium in Windheok from 18h00 to 19h00. Namwandi adds that their fees differ because they usually have challenges in place and vary according to that. For more information on Fusion Wellness Club, contact them at 0812288764 or find them on Facebook.

If that’s not for you, there is also Namaseb Boot Camp. Charles Namaseb, who owns the boot camp, says that boot camps in general are intense. “Boot camps set out the results and as a trainee, you are directly involved with the fitness/personal instructor. Many people have the perception that boot camps are only meant for women and this is not the case”, he said. “Boot camps cater for all people and not only for one gender.”

For more information, contact Namaseb at 0816508662.

Ready to get fit? Maybe boot camp could be the solution for you and that summer body.

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