- The difference between boot-camp-style workouts and civilian workouts is the mental workout involved. Boot-camp workouts require a high degree of motivation since your entire body will be challenged in a variety of ways. If you decide to do boot-camp training, do it in groups with people who will keep you going. You may also need to prepare to be mentally motivated by an instructor who will get personal. Many of these instructors are ex-military and have a great deal of experience with this tactic. He might try to motivate you with anger. Remember that he's there to help and push you beyond your limits. Once you complete a routine, enjoy the fact that you completed it, but prepare to improve during the next session.
- Circuit training is a lot like military obstacle-course training in that your major muscle groups will alternately be targeted for a short period of time. A benefit of a good circuit-training routine is that it builds all-over muscular endurance and cardio fitness within 30 minutes. For example, a routine may start with jumping jacks, followed with bicep curls, then mountain climbers. All these exercises are done for as many repetitions as possible within one minute before moving onto the next. A total of 12 different exercises can make up a 20-minute routine, finished with a one-mile slow jog.
- If you aren't ready to go public with military boot-camp style training, consider using DVDs like Billy's Boot Camp by Billy Blanks. Billy Blanks is the creator of Tae Bo, a fast-paced aerobics routine that combines resistance training, military cadence and martial-arts moves. His "Boot Camp" series starts off with a basic boot-camp DVD that resembles circuit training. Other DVDs utilize military-type exercises and power drills that target areas like your core muscles. There are also additional routines that focus on cardio fitness. By using "Boot Camp," you can work at your own home pace.
