Guest blog by bootcamper: Frank Johnson
My daughter was home from college looking to get in better shape for her upcoming softball season. She was was going into her sophomore year and was looking to transfer to a four-year school. As a pitcher, she knew she had to be bigger stronger but most importantly she needed that explosion off the mound.
I did like anybody would do and went down to the local gym and signed her up for a three month membership while home from college. She could do weight training as well the aerobics classes they offered.
My job was done or at least I thought it was (boy was I wrong). The weights were fine, but the aerobic classes?
Well let’s just say there was no one pushing you or motivating you to not quit, push through the pain, while you’re running out of breath…. reassuring you that it will subside!
I knew this had to change and change fast because we only had about 2 1/2 months. I was told by everyone
CrossFit is what she needed and this was the explosion and the best way to get her ready.
I started calling the locations and made a deal with my daughter that I would go if she went…. Boy do i keep putting my foot in my mouth!!
But you will do whatever it takes yo help your children succeed. I myself was going to the gym and lifting weights and feeling good about myself as just about anyone does when they lift… I think it’s a gym rat mentality or basically its our testosterone taking over… lol
I went to Hardbody Sports Nutrition ( a place where they sell supplements) to pick up some protein. Jason (the owner) and I started talking a out anything and everything and I mentioned my daughter was home and I was gonna sign her up for cross fit.
He immediately told me about New Port Richey Bootcamps and Derek Kuryliw (the person who owned it and did all the training). Derek also had some flyers sitting on the counter that said “Try boot camp for two weeks for only $1”
Hell…. how can you pass that deal up!
I made the call and Derek and I spoke for about an hour. I explained to him what the goal was with my daughter and that I would be attending as well to get her going and to push her.
He answered every questions, gave me his bio and asked some questions himself so right from the start I felt a connection. He explained how bootcamp worked, workout times and to bring a towel and water. But he finished with saying “most importantly bring a good attitude.”
Let the fun begin!
I did my 5 am morning workout, like normal, and waited til 5:30pm to do boot camp. My daughter and I arrived and we met Derek and the other people for the 530 workout. From the start of our first day, you would have thought we were all long time friends because everyone went out of there way to make us feel welcomed.
The Testosterone took over and I looked at everybody in the class and said if they can do it I can do this… cause after all I AM a gym rat and can lift pretty heavy(boy was i wrong again).
5:35pm and (hell) I mean workout begins.
4 minutes and 30 seconds of non stop torture and then we get a water break. I am feeling the pain but I am not gonna show it I am going to keep pushing or fall out trying.
Round 2 now begins and the pain is kicking up a notch…. All I am thinking is water break!!!
Round 3 and its just not gonna stop but I am not going to quit. My daughter won’t quit(dammit), I can’t quit.
Last round and everything I have ever eaten is rumbling in my belly. The short journey to expel and fertilize the grass. I clinch my teeth hold my jaw shut and walk around back in case I lose the battle, but for some reason I am able to hold off fertilizing the grass…. that night.
The ride home with my daughter was fun, for her but not me, due to the fact she was amusing herself by the pain and misery I was in!
She talked about how great it was and she loved it every minute of it and couldn’t wait until tomorrow… Great what have I gotten myself into?
My dinner that night was icy hot, aspirin, a hot shower and more water than a camel can drink or store.
As the days passed, the workouts became easier and before you knew it, the 2 weeks were up. This was my chance to bail and quit. But, I had made a commitment to my daughter, AND… I was actually starting to be able to handle the workouts and not be on death bed after each one!
One of the key benefits we received in the beginning was when Derek went over our nutrition. He explained what to eat, when to eat and how our bodies actually function when we eat correctly.
We were on the road to losing weight, eating correctly and enjoying our workouts and pushing ourselves harder and harder each workout and made the decision to start going to extra workout sessions in the mornings.
My daughter was also playing travel softball during this time and all of her tournaments were on the weekend.
Tournament #2 a girl slid into 3rd base and sliced open her leg right above the knee which required 13 stitches and 6 weeks with no activity… this meant she was done with bootcamp and I could be as well.
This was FINALLY my excuse to quit. After all I was just doing it to help her….wrong!
She only missed a few days and started back the following week with her leg wrapped, stitched up and did what ever exercises Derek arranged specifically for her.
This makes you think “if someone is that dedicated then what the heck is wrong with me??”
I get hot, sweaty, sore, dirty, out of breath and this kid is hobbling around on one leg doing and giving everything she has and then some! This set the wheels in motion for me but yet I was not 100% all in. My daughter finished the summer of bootcamp and off to college she went..
My commitment is fulfilled and I have my lazy unfulfilled nights back!
My eating slipped, I started drinking beer at night and just went on cruise control. I was in better shape and knew I can eat and drink what I wanted all weekend and them bust my ass at bootcamp and drop it all off and be back down in weight again!
At the time Derek,Rich, Robin and Melanie were all training for a fitness competition.
I asked Derek what he thought about me entering too and said “you workout incredibly hard but it comes down to diet” ( remember that word DIET)
That means no fried food, no junk food clean healthy eating and no alcohol!!
Well I started dieting and did well the first week and thought “l can still eat what I want. I will just workout harder and a couple of weeks before the competition I will eat clean.” ( kind of like doing your term paper the night before it’s due)
Wrong again!
It doesn’t work that way. This is at least a 4 month, very strict, commitment. No cheating! You are either are gonna do it or you’re not… there’s no in between.
I watched all 4 of my trainers transform themselves into super hero bodies…. I thought “It’s unbelievable what you can do to your body with diet and exercise!”
I went to their competition to support them. But, the only thing I felt was remorse. I could’ve been up there too. I didn’t take it seriously enough. I let myself down. I left that night with one goal in mind… Not only am I going to compete, I want to win!
My diet was fish,chicken (grilled or baked), nothing fried ( thank god for hot sauce ), rice cakes, peanut butter, jasmine rice,
protein shakes and lots of water… almost 2 gallons everyday! No alcohol, no junk food, no nothing!
I ended up losing over 30 pounds in 6 weeks and competed in my first physique competition and came in 2nd place!
I can’t help but wonder where I would be if I started when they had first started!
Sometimes you need to be humbled so you know what you could have had.
But I am from the School of Hard Knocks and unfortunately or fortunately this is how I learn.
I love this journey and would not change a thing.
Once you start, you will not want to quit but… you can’t start unless you put one foot in front of the other.
I will also show up and be YOUR workout buddy!
What Derek is doing is so vital to our health and everyday life! This is for our health because without good health, you will not have a good quality life…. which means you will not enjoy what life has to offer!
I am up to working out 6 days per week (gym AND bootcamp), with an additional hour of cardio every morning.
I wear a t-shirt, a hooded sweat shirt and a sauna suit top to sweat and burn calories and fat.
I am in for the long haul….
No short cuts here!
Enjoy the journey,
Frank
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Keep it up Frank, your bootcamp family is always there to support and push you!
Continue to lead and motivate. Make new goals, make a plan and work relentlessly to get there.
You can do this!
Committed to your fitness success and the next phase of your journey,
Derek Kuryliw, Certified Sports Nutritionist & Personal Trainer Slim Fit Diet & Fitness, CEO/Founder …for questions or comments [email protected] or 727.851.SLIM
Try the ultimate fitness experience of my fitness bootcamps. Every night is a new challenge of athletic and explosive training for all ages, previous injuries and ability levels, http://newportricheybootcamps.com/
