September 2007 - Week #1: "I loved the first week of boot camp! I have actually found it fun. I like that I feel pushed and motivated by everyone. One of the main things I like about this boot camp is the variety. I have enrolled in other boot camps and found that we did the exact same thing over and over. I lost interest in the others quickly. I actually look forward to this one! I also really like that weekly tips and ideas to help keep us on track with our eating. They also help keep me on track. Last thing and I will quit rambling….I also really like that it is outside. It is a nice change to get outside and exercise. Nice change from the normal gym routine! Overall I love it and I plan on signing up again! Thanks,"- Carolyn Brearley "The first week of Operation RAC has taught me to push myself like I’ve never done before. It was a very emotional week; I realized how out of shape I am, how incredibly sore a body can get, and how much work I have ahead of me. But I’m ready to make a life change and take this challenge head-on! Chrissy and the trainers are awesome at pushing you and keeping you motivated…and the 5:30AM thing starts to grow on you after a while." - Julie "My experience with OperationRAC: I would have to say my first week has been exhilarating. Those first couple of days I thought I would not be able to walk another step during the day but by the end of the week I felt great. I really look forward to getting up each morning to see what they have in store for us next. This has really given me my energy back during the day and writing in the journal keeping track of what I eat has been wonderful for me I recommend it for anyone I know I will continue after this class is over. We need a phase II for class. I am truly enjoying the trainers as well they make each exercise fun, they are up beat and are right there to encourage you every step of the way." - Dawn "Most of my life I've spent in sedentary endeavors....The fact that I smoked like crazy for many years and have a fast metabolism kept the weight off. Mucles were never needed, used or acquired. That's why I have none to speak of. I enjoy the people & instructors at Boot Camp thoroughly...all of you are UP BEAT, friendly and encouraging! BTY, the Nutrition info is extremely excellent...I've made some super changes I'll use for the rest of my life. For that I'm extremely grateful. The little book is a jewel! It actually helps me remember to eat. The Boot Camp experience is all new to me and a step of faith in a totally new area. I appreciate the opportunity to go where I've never gone." -Rebecca (62 years old) "For me, it has been a pleasant change from my normal routine...I pride myself in thinking that I am in pretty good shape for a 44 year old, but it has challenged me...I have used muscles that I haven't in a while and have felt it...I am competitive by nature and love the group feeling and of being motivated...Love being outdoors instead of the gym especially at 5:30 AM...Hope to be a better runner because of it. Thanks for your support and encouragement." - Debbi "I really like boot camp. It has made me realize how much I've let myself go and how much energy and time I need to put in to get myself back into shape. I have enjoyed the exercises we have done (except for crabwalks and bearcrawls!) and I feel like I am really going to accomplish something this time instead of not staying on track. Also, all of the nutritional information really helps. I like that you look at what we've eaten and give advice. Thanks, April" - April "I love Boot Camp, I luckily am not sore. I am not allowed to do the push and lift anymore it resulted in Casey getting pregnant. I cannot afford to do that with people I hardly know. I am grateful not to have to wear an x-vest during regular workouts although I feel that coming due to my superior genetic advantage. I like the way you challenge each person, I need it. I love you Man." - Tommy Maden "Good Morning Chrissy, The first week went by great. Every day for the first week, I was sore the morning after. But, it was a good kind of sore. On Average, I work out 5 days a week and have not experienced this same soreness in a while. The rule of thumb that I remember, is that when you are sore, that the exercise is working. This is my third boot camp class that I have taken, however the first at RAC. Personally, I enjoy these, and the challenge that it presents. I really enjoy the group challenge, and how it pushes me each day to make the most of the class, and get the best results that I can. I like joking around during the class, but I really enjoy the activites and the challenge of each exercise, because in the end, I know that all my hard work will pay off. Thanks for all that you do." - Charlie Hight "Before starting the class, I was worried that I would be in the worst physical shape of everyone in the class and not able to keep up. You all have been great to encourage us to push harder but also letting everyone work at their own level. Everyone in the class is really nice and encourages each other. I was sore this first week, but the good kind of soreness that lets me know I am working my muscles. I like that the exercises change each day and I find myself looking forward to class. I would tell someone who has never tried boot camp to definitely give it a try. You get out of it what you put into it. I know I'm learning some things to do on my own when the class is over." - Susie Gass "I really enjoyed our first week at boot camp. I am pretty good about working out on a regular basis, but I need someone to push me further than I would push myself and I definitely get that at boot camp!!! I felt muscles that I haven't used since high school probably. I've felt like before boot camp I pretty much plateaued with my weight. I'm hoping that boot camp will help me take off those final pounds I've been wanting to lose for a while now. Keep pushing us when we act like we don't want to do it!!! I'm always feel great afterwards, but sometimes I just need that extra shove :)" - Ashley September 2007 - Week #2: "Week 2 for me was a blast I could definitely feel a difference in energy each morning I woke up. I truly enjoyed the workout in the rain it was an experience. I was very excited when I weighed myself last Thursday I had almost lost 4 lbs that makes it all worth it. I wish I would have done something else this weekend but again time gets away. I look forward to another exciting week. Thanks to all of you for your dedication to help us feel and look better". - Dawn "Chrissy, Thanks so much for your awesome feedback! You really help keep me motivated and really wanting to do this right. Overall, I'm feeling great! I'm really noticing a huge difference in my strength and endurance. I also noticed that I was actually able to do “real” push-ups this morning (not the ones on my knees). The dieting part is easy for me I guess since I've pretty much been eating healthy as long as I can remember. My mom's obesity really forced everyone in the family to eat right. I bought some of the Lowfat Organic chocolate milk and I'll try that in the mornings. I really enjoy Boot Camp…and I'm not just saying that to kiss up. While it's tough getting out of bed at 5AM, it's actually fun once I get there. I've talked my husband into the October session and he signed up today for the 5:30AM class. My parents came home yesterday after being gone a week and they said they can tell that I'm getting “tighter”. That was definitely good to hear…I needed that. I'm anxious to see the new measurements and body fat % after this is over. I'm sure that's where I'll see the big difference (and when my jeans fit again). : ) Thanks again to you and Jay for the incredible support and motivation through all of this; you both make it more bearable." - Julie "Chrissy, Week 2 was great...I really enjoy being outside...Friday was fun and I was sore from it...Ran 5.5 miles on Saturday." - Debbi "Week 2 I started noticing that my endurance is getting better! I am actually beginning to enjoy getting up early and exercising first thing in the morning. I really think you (and Jay and Martha) are very motivating and encouraging. You make me feel very optimistic about getting back into shape and caring about how well I eat. Thanks!" - April "Thanks for encouraging me to join in on Boot camp. I really have enjoyed it. Thanks for all your encouragement and help over the past months. I couldn't have done it without you!!!" - Melissa "WOW! what a difference between last Friday and this one. I'm actually happy today and not thoroughly drained like I was last Fri. Even after 5 large critical deadlines with my job this week. Have been eating bananas and haven't noticed any cramping...I think it was mostly stress in the large muscles in my legs. BTW, Boot Camp in the rain is kewl and so are all my BC trainers & campers. The day between helped enormously...Thursday I took Leigh 's power yoga class and enjoyed it a lot. I think my key to long, good quality of life is to keep moving at a steady pace...always challenging myself in all ways. With all the great classes offered at RAC that will be real easy. CYA *hugs* to you all = )" - Rebecca September 2007 - Week #3: "I have to say that I loved, loved, loved the scavenger hunt...evening team rocks! I can't believe boot camp is almost over. It has gone by so fast and I love how I was challenged. I have looked forward to class every day. I also like the motivation it gives me to eat healthier. I took two cheat days during camp and felt awful. It's amazing how much better my body feels and performs when I eat healthier foods. Thanks for a great week!" - Susie "I like the fact that the evening group domintated the scavenger hunt. If you're not first, you're last. I think Clara Peller might have said that. She could have also been the one that said "Where's the beef?". I am not really sure I could be getting my quotes confused. Seriously though, Operation RAC has been great so far. I like the variety in the workouts along with the support and motivation offered by the instructors. I can't wait to do it again in November. Anyway, I will see you Monday if I don't see you this weekend at the gym." - Jack "I can not believe we are almost finished with boot camp I have enjoyed everyone so much we have had a great group of people to exercise with and today showed how we all can work together that was a lot of fun and we were so close to winning. I appreciate all the information you have provided on keeping ourselves healthy with the food choices we make, that has been a big help to me. Thanks again, I look forward to our last week of camp." - Dawn October 2007 - (Sept Week #4) and Final Words: "Boot Camp was great! I can't wait to start the second month on Monday!!! You all (Chrissy, Jay, Martha) were the best! The group of people were great too. Everyone was so encouraging regardless of the levels of ability. I think what I enjoyed most was the variety of the workouts. Never doing the same thing twice kept us from getting bored - you never knew what was coming next. Would I recommend to a friend? Definitely!! I have tried talking several into coming along. This was/is exactly what I needed to get motivated to start working out again. Thanks for everything!" - Angie "I loved it! I didn't expect for it to be fun and a good workout. I loved the scavenger hunt and the mattress race, both were hard work but a lot of fun." - Chelsea "I really enjoyed boot camp. The Mattress Race was so much fun, especially since we won!!!! " - Melissa "I want you to know that I really enjoyed boot camp and am really happy with what I accomplished. Thanks for all your hard work!" - Susie "A Very Special Summary of Operation RAC from Ernie Studard! Words from Ernie.... The ABC’s of RAC. A. Anticipation. Probably the most interesting aspect of Boot Camp is how Chrissy and the other instructors keep changing the workout schedule from day to day. It really keeps things interesting. "I thoroughly enjoyed my Operation RAC experience. I got in much better shape and had much more energy than I have had in a while!! I can't wait to do it again in November!! My favorite days were probably the obstacle courses (if that's what you called it). Not only did we get a GREAT workout, but we had to work as a team and help each other out. I'm a competitive person so I like that aspect of it as well!! Keep up the variety in the workouts. It keeps me from getting bored with the same old routine that often comes with working out. I would DEFINITELY recommend this to friends and already have. Hopefully I can talk some into joining us in November. I can't stop talking about it to others so maybe they'll want to come check it out for themselves." - Ashley
"I have truly enjoyed my first week of Operation RAC, way more than I thought I would, I have to admit. I didn't realize exercise could be this much fun! I have pushed myself, with the help of you, Jay and Kelly, way beyond what I thought I was capable of doing. I feel great (besides the sore calves) and I'm looking forward to the weeks ahead. See you Monday! Thanks," - Jackie "This is what I have to say about my first week: I have loved this first week so much that on day four I realized that I have to sign up again - everyone is so friendly and encouraging!! Each day I find myself pushing harder than the day before, I have so much energy and I can’t wait to get to the park to see what new things we will be doing. **I only have one warning – it gets addictive!!!!** I tell my co-workers “It’s the best addiction to have”! Thanks for everything you do and I really appreciate the work you and everyone puts into organizing ‘Operation RAC’! See you Monday." - Alicia "Hey Chrissy, I have really enjoyed this week...I really did not know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. I have not had a workout routine in about five years so I knew that I would struggle through this but that it was something that I needed to do in order to establish a fitness routine again. The first couple of mornings were by far the hardest but by the end of the week, most of the soreness has gone away and I am pumped about getting back out there next week. My personal goal is to be able to run a mile and have my routine established by the end of the program and I feel as though I am off to a good start to meet those goals after my first week. Those may seem like very basic things for most folks but when you have been out of the swing of things like I have, you have to start small. I hope that my schedule will allow me to do the November session. Thanks to you and Jay for pushing me!!" - Alison "Another fun week of boot camp and it hasn't killed me yet!!!! The workouts were tons of fun and I feel like I am in much better shape than a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for your creativity and Jay's motivational antics. You both make it so much fun!!!" - Melissa (repeat boot camper)
"The first day of BootCamp? Many feelings were flowing through me. I was nervous, lonely, and feeling like I would never be able to complete one day much less four weeks. I thought to myself 'What am I doing here? What was I thinking?' The day of registeration I saw so many young people and I thought once again, 'I am nuts even thinking I can do this.' Monday morning arrived....I did not sleep all night because I was afraid I would be late for the first morning of Bootcamp. 4:45a.m. arrived. I jumped up, loaded on five layers of clothes and headed out the door. It was 27 degrees. Again, I thought 'Are you crazy?'....I arrived at Ridge Ferry Park to find car lights shining across the dark field. At 5:25a.m. you could see a stream of cars fileing into the park and it sort of reminded me of the Movie 'Field of Dreams'...It was sort of funny actually. I got out of my car and stood with approx. 37 other nuts awaiting our first day of torture.......I new no one. I felt alone. Honestly I thought I was going to cry. I felt like getting back into my car, going back home and crawling back under my electric blanket because I saw no one my age. BUT THEN.....as we began the morning, working really hard, and not taking long at all to work up a sweat I heard the leaders say GOOD JOB EVERYBODY....The time went by so very fast....The morning was already over and did not die. I was so overwhelmed with joy because I had actually survived the morning of my first day of Bootcamp. Then the second day arrived.....I began noticing people that I did not even notice the first day. Yes, it was people of my own age. Being so distant and nervous the first day I totally must have blocked everybody out and did not realize they were even there. I was just trying really hard to keep up with everybody. Once I met them, we bonded....and YES, all five of us survived yet another day of Bootcamp. Thursday, I did not dread going at all. I watched the clock all night long wondering if 4:45a.m. would ever arrive. I was so excited because no one knew what the morning would behold. Each day was so different and we never knew what challenges were ahead of us. Once I arrived I began looking for my new buddies, which by now had already began to be my 'friends'.....Once again, we worked very hard just to survive and make it through the morning but the most fun part of it was that we laughed and worked and sweated harder than we had ever worked out before and enjoyed every single second of it. Friday.....we had agreed on a name. It did not take long to figure out the morning group. We are totally surrounded by many young people basically in their teens and 20's. Yeah, well, we knew there was no way of competing with them BUT we also found out the first day that we are at BootCamp to compete much more against ourselves than anybody else. We are there to push ourselves to the furtherest limit that we ourselves are capable of and not others. The leaders know their bootcampers. They understand each of our limitations and they are so wonderful, nice and compassionate to everyone. They are not there to bash anybody....only to make us work our hardest and to reach our dreams and our goals. I have only survived one week of BootCamp so far but I can honestly say that this has been the hardest but most fun I have had in many, many years. I make a committment each day to myself that I will push as far as I can go each day so that when I leave each morning I can honestly say that I have done my best to make every second count. I love working out beside my new 'friends'. They are so joyful and we have so much fun even if we are simply trying to get up off the cold ground. Everything second is a joy. We noticed very quickly that we were not going to be able to totally keep up with the younger guys so we named ourselves 'The Mighty Turtles'.....BUT, then when we arrived Thursday morning and were met with the challenge of running or walking from Ridge Ferry Park to City Clock Hill and back then we had to change our name once again....We realized we were even slower than turtles and we had to go with the new title of 'The Super Snails' better known as the 'The Super Slugs'......GO MIGHTY SNAILS......We are kicking boody!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not wait for Monday to get here.....I miss my crew already.....Thank You so much Chrissy for offering Bootcamp. You have truly been a blessing to me as well as many others." - Marcia "I want to thank you for my boot camp experience so far. I have needed this for a very long time. I am having so much fun!!! Don't get me wrong. My body was in shock all week. It hurt to sit, (going to the bathroom was so funny) and to lay down. But at the end of each day, through the pain I am seeing a change. Not so much in my body yet...... but in my attitude. Thanks for cheering me on to my personal goal. It does take a lot to get up at 4:50 because my life is so full.... just like everyone else. My energy throughout the day is already doing better. Thank you so much for all your encouraging words to us. I am looking forward to great results." - Chrystial "This experinece has been great for me! I have so much energy at home now. I've cleaned out closets, cleaned the basement out, and just got organized. It's something I haven't had the energy to do in a long time. We even went to Berry and played football with our kids. We all enjoyed that very much. My eating habits are changing and I'm still trying to break some of the bad ones, like cappucino in the mornings. Thank you for making us look forward to working out everyday and helping us reach our goals to fitness!" - Lori "I have to say the 3rd boot camp is awesome I am enjoying everything about it and again able to push myself alittle more and see what I can accomplish. Thanks for adding some ab work that is my weak spot but my challenge is to be stronger in that area by the end of the month. Keep up the great work." - Dawn "As usual, I am enjoying taking part in boot camp again. After week one of this session, I can still feel a sense of soreness, but it is a feeling that I enjoy, as I know this feeling means the intense workout is helping. As you know I am a regular participant in the gym, but the boot camps give a higher sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. I continue to find muscles that are not being used on a regular basis, and boot camp encapsulates everything. I thoroughly enjoy the boot camps, and I will be participating in as many as I can. I would, and do, recommend boot camp to everybody that wants to change their lifestyle and get into the best shape of their lives. Thanks again for all you and your team do." - Charlie "After taking a month off from boot camp, I was a little nervous that this first week would be as painful as it was the first time through. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get back into things much quicker this time around. I'm so glad to have boot camp to look forward to once again in the evenings. Chrissy, you were definitely missed this week though!! " - Ashley < Back to most recent testimonials
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