There’s more than one cycle at a fitness bootcamp; there’s the exercise cycle equipment that you can work up a good elevated heart rate on, and there’s the psychological cycle that almost all members of the camp will go through to some extent. The cycle that most fitness bootcamp members should be most wary of, is the psychological cycle that leads to inconsistent spurts of motivation broken up by periods of reduced activity and apathy.
A good three step plan for avoiding this dangerous cycle comprises a positive attitude check-list. If fitness bootcamp members can abide by the recommendations in the check-list they should manage to avoid periods of reduced activity and maintain their progress.
Step 1 – Maintain a healthy diet during fitness bootcamp
This is perhaps one of the most important aspects of maintaining good steady progress at bootcamp. Without the energy provided by appropriate nutrition bootcamp participants will struggle to reach their full potential. They will quickly tire and will fail to meet their own targets. To avoid this, the diet should include plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates such as pasta, green vegetables and fruits. It is a recognized fact that the body must have an adequate supply of carbohydrates before intense workouts like that experienced at fitness bootcamp.
Step 2 – Set realistic goals
Bootcamp members will often be supplied with charts showing the schedule of workouts, and also personal goals. The personal goal charts may include weight loss, Body Mass Index records, muscle and strength measurements, and recovery rates etc. By breaking the goals down into individual items like this, individuals can target the areas they wish to concentrate on and set realistic targets for improvement. Without realistic goals there is a risk of failure to recognize fitness gains, especially incremental gains. Failing to recognize and appreciate small, incremental achievements can result in slipping into the downward psychological cycle leading to apathy.
Step 3 – Remember why you are at a fitness bootcamp
After a few weeks it’s understandable that some people lose focus at bootcamp. They get caught up in a downward cycle and perhaps forget why they started bootcamp in the first place. The strongest motivation for joining bootcamp should be the one that motivates members to attain their goals. Whether it is to look better, feel better, have more energy, feel more energetic or increase confidence through a better physique, it is important to remember the primary reason for starting.
Attention to this three step plan to avoid a negative psychological cycle will reduce the potential for failure; increase the opportunity for success and meeting your fitness bootcamp goals!
I made the mistake of going on a “low-carb diet” during training. I thought that it will be better and will provide quicker results. I didn’t listen to the trainer when he said that we should eat carbs as well. Sure, he did say to eat good carbs only. He said that we should eat around 40% good carbs as a part of our diet. I thought that cutting it down to 20% will be better.
I almost fainted during the workout. I guess I set unrealistic goals so I was pushing myself double-time to reach those goals.
Step 3 sums it all up. You may need to motivate yourself regularly. This is a good post on Fitness Bootcamp Motivation. I’d also like to add a Step 4 – Stay Happy.
Good points about the carbs. I’m usually on a high-protein, low-carb diet, but I was completely incapacitated after my first good workout.
To counteract this, I started eating a ton of pasta with salad the night before my workouts, which helped immensely.
I only wish I had this advice when I started!
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