Fighting Fit2 BootCamp

Our Fitness BootCamp program is based around the nationally acclaimed Fighting Fit2 curriculum designed by personal trainer and Black Belt instructor Mike Massie. We've trained with Mike several times in the last 12 months, learning new exercises as well as new nutritional ideas.

BootCamp, run by Mrs. Schulenburg (herself a Black Belt instructor as well as a Registered Nurse!) has always kept on top of the latest developments in both Sports Medicine and Nutritional Health. It's a self-paced program designed to meet the needs of those just starting out in fitness (c'mon, step away from that TV!) to those that have been working towards marathons or matches.

This is NOT a health club where you casually stare at bizarre machines, waiting your turn. This is dynamic exercise, practical movements that enhance your life by building the strength and endurance that make each and everyday a lot more fun! While YOU control the intensity, "drill sergeant" Carolyn is there to push you to do your best.

Whether it's the functional power gained through kettle bells or the core strength developed by the gentle instability of sand bags, you will build lean muscle and lose flab with our BootCamp program. We've just added those giant balance balls to our arsenal which also includes dumb bells, resistance bands, jump ropes, medicine balls and all sorts of floor exercises and stretches.

The other aspect of BootCamp is the nutritional end of things. While certainly not a proscribed diet, you will know how many calories to consume each day, how much water to drink and how often to eat. You'll learn how to really decipher nutrition labels and learn what ratios of Carbs, Fats and Protein are best for getting in shape. You'll learn which foods to eat more of... and which to eat less of. And maybe even some to avoid entirely!

Give us a call at 815-334-9662 to schedule a Free Trial workout and to find out more about our Fitness Programs!

Building Values

Here's an article I stumbled across in the last couple of weeks (lots of people surf the Internet... I stumble!). It's about a year old, but the sentiment is good and sums up the way a lot of our parents feel.

Safety IS our number one priority - and learning the confidence that comes with mastering your own body is a close second.

John McCain calls it "human cockfighting." It's violent, controversial ...

And yet every day, parents are encouraging their kids to try it. It's Mixed Martial Arts -- MMA to us fans -- and it's becoming a worldwide phenomenon. To the untrained eye, it looks like two people are beating each other to a pulp without regard or remorse. But that's just not true. Yes, a professional bout can get a little bloody, but MMA fighters generally have the utmost respect for themselves and each other. That's part of the reason parents shouldn't be afraid to let their kids kick, punch and grapple.

Nobody seems to have a problem with Karate or Tae Kwon Do classes for youths, but throw in some actual bodily contact and folks get nervous. (Even though football and hockey players routinely get smashed around.) I'm not saying I want my little girl fighting, but if you talk to any MMA fighter, he (or she) will tell you that it's a way for them to challenge and discover themselves physically and mentally. It's also an incredible confidence-booster, especially for smaller kids: The ground fighting technique called Jiu-Jitsu is all about using leverage against an opponent, not brute muscular strength -- so quite often, the little guys win. How refreshing!

Before having a son, my friend thought she was against letting kids fight. Now with a four-year-old ball of energy who instinctively wants to wrestle and punch, she figures, "why not let him learn the proper way?" I add to that what I've witnessed first-hand: the self-awareness that comes with knowing how to fight tends to make people turn the other cheek when provoked outside of the gym. I don't know if that's true for chickens Mr. McCain, but it is for humans.

Karyn Bryant is a television personality who's hosted shows on networks such as CNN, TNT, VH1, and MTV. She's currently a reporter for Showtime Championship Boxing and CBS' Saturday Night Fights, and the EVP/Director of MMAheat.com, an online destination for fans of MMA and pop culture. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.