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GroupOn Registration Proceedures

2011-05-23T20:06:00.002-05:00

Thank you for purchasing your 3-week mini boot camp through GroupOn. We look forward to getting you into the best shape of your life!

How To Reserve Your Place:

Go to www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com
Click the registration tab and complete registration form. If the location drop down menu is empty, please manually enter www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com in your address bar and re-try
Click the "Buy Now" button and exit .
You will receive more information 5-7 days before the camp commences.
IMPORTANT: Bring your GroupOn to the first day of camp.

Please email me with any questions: info@fitnessbootcampchicago.com

GroupOn Registration Procedures

2011-05-20T15:22:00.000-05:00

Thank you for purchasing your 3-week mini boot camp through GroupOn. We look forward to getting you into the best shape of your life!

How To Reserve Your Place:

Go to www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com
Click the registration tab and complete registration form. If the location drop down menu is empty, please manually enter www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com in your address bar and re-try
Exit registration at "Buy Now" button (Do not proceed to checkout).
You will receive more information 5-7 days before the camp commences.
IMPORTANT: Bring your GroupOn to the first day of camp.

Please email me with any questions: info@fitnessbootcampchicago.com

Welcome GroupOn Campers!

2011-05-19T00:16:00.003-05:00

Our first GroupOn 3-week mini camps begin May 31-June 17 at our Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Bucktown, and Downtown at Lakeshore East locations. It is important to the success of our camps that we limit each mini camp to the first 25 participants. Should you get closed out of our May 31 mini-camp, don't worry. Our next three week camps begin July 5!

Five Star Fitness Boot Camps add Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square Locations

2011-03-05T11:49:00.000-06:00

Five Star Fitness Boot Camps adds two new location to its 2011 outdoor season kicking off on March 28. "We are exciting about adding Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square boot camps to our mix, states Scott McLain owner and founder of Five Star Fitness Boot Camps. Our Lincoln Square camp will be held at Welles Park, while our Lincoln Park camp will be held in the grove behind the Diversey Golf Range. Camps will continue at established locations at Churchill Park in Bucktown and Lakeshore East Downtown. The first of four six-week camps begin March 28 and meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 am. An evening camp meets Downtown on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays at 6 pm. Registration can be conducted at FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com

Chicago's #1 Fitness Boot Camp at Windy City Field House- Bucktown|Lakeview|Roscoe Village February 14

2011-01-31T22:31:00.000-06:00

Are you looking to get into the best shape of your life but don't want to wait until the Spring Thaw to join Five Star Fitness Boot Camps outdoor locations in Bucktown, Downtown, Lincoln Park or Lincoln Square? Then join our last indoor camp of the winter season at Windy City Fieldhouse on February 14 at 6 am. Our indoor camp is the same format you've grown to love outdoors in the warmer months but sheltered from the cold and snow Chicago weather. We know that Results Matter! That's why we guarantee them. Register on-line TODAY at www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com

Five Star Fitness Boot Camps Moves Indoors this Winter!

2010-12-17T22:34:00.002-06:00

Are you looking for a new and exciting fitness program to help you kick off your 2011? Well look no further than Five Star Fitness Boot Camps. We are excited to announce that we will be holding two indoor camps (January 3-February 11, February 14-March 25) this winter at Windy City Fieldhouse on 2367 W. Logan Blvd. Our camps meet Monday-Wednesday and Friday at 6 am and registration is now open.

Five Star Fitness Boot Camps has exclusive use on Windy City Fieldhouse during our camp times. Free parking, showers and lockers are available.

3 Great Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

2010-12-04T17:18:00.001-06:00

Did you know that the average American gains 4-7 lbs during the holiday season and that many never get back to their prior weight. It's no wonder weight loss is "tops" when it comes to New Years Resolutions. Use the following three strategies to maintain your weight this year:

Listen to Grandma- My sisters and I always rolled our eyes when our "nana Pat" extolled the virtues of eating oatmeal for breakfast. Every Saturday morning we rolled our eyes as she would push three piping hot bowls of the hot "gruel" under our pouting noses. But you know...Grandma was right-breakfast is really important; even more so when trying to control body weight over the holiday season. "The temptation may be to skip breakfast over the holiday's in an attempt to manage calories, but eating a quality breakfast will help curb overeating later in the day", states Michelle Tranter MS, RD a Chicago based nutritionist.
Pick Your Poison- The Holiday Season is meant to be enjoyed so go ahead a splurge a little, but pick your poison wisely. Here are a few suggestions: Since bread is plentiful year round- choose stuffing on Christmas Day and skip the bread basket. Planning on having a few drinks on New Years Eve? Choose to enjoy a couple cocktails or wine and forgo the leftover Christmas cookies. My favorite strategy is to make Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Eve my binge days and keep the other 33 days between Thanksgiving and New Years day clean.
Earn Your Meal!- A good friend and Chicago based personal trainer, Tom Hagler loves to eat....I mean really eat. I've seen Tom put down a loaded six egg omelet, double hash browns topped with a quarter bottle of ketchup, and four slices of toast. On most days, he behaves himself but he came up with a great strategy for occasional guilt free binges. He calls it Earn Your Meal Day. On Earn Your Meal Day, he will choose a crazy fitness challenge. Once that challenge is complete, he can have any meal of his choice-pizza, burgers, fried food, etc. Earn Your Meal Day's workout is typically 2-4 times his normal workout. For Tom, a 210 lbs. triathlete built like a running back, earning his "meal" may be include a 20 mile bike ride followed by a 5 mile run and 30 minute weight training workout. For mere mortals-double your normal cardio workout and throw in a 15 minute resistance training circuit. So earn your Holiday meals guilt free!

Add these three strategies to your normal workout plan and keep the Holiday pounds at bay. If you do put on a couple though don't be too hard on yourself just get "back in the saddle" the first of the year. Happy Holidays from Five Star Fitness Boot Camps!

Not All Fats are the Same-The Skinny About Fats

2010-11-12T13:13:00.002-06:00

What you should do if you want to lose weight? The most common response is, "Stay away from fatty foods!". Well it's true- fatty foods are over twice as calorically dense as carbohydrates and proteins, and when consumed in excess will contribute weight gain. But consuming dietary fat in moderation, especially Omega 3 fatty acids, is vital for optimal health. Now, I am not talking about saturated fats found in nacho's, chicken wings, and fries, but the essential fats found in a variety of nutritionally dense foods such as walnuts, flax seed, and cold water fish such as salmon, mackerel, and anchovies.

Due to the anti inflamatory properties of Omega 3's, adequate consumption of these fatty acids will decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. Omega 3's can also decrease the inflamation associated with arthritis. Other research is showing that Omega 3's may play an important role in decreasing the risk of obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and ADHD (WebMD).

The Skinny about Fats: Eating Omega 3 rich food is important no matter your weight loss goals. If you want to lose body fat, decrease your overall caloric intake and saturated fats, while including nutritionally rich foods "power packed" with Omega 3's. And of course, don't forget the importance of exercise in weight control.

If you'd like me to answer any fitness or nutrition related questions, please feel free to contact me.

Redeem Your Groupon Here!

2010-08-13T15:20:00.001-05:00

Hey Groupon Campers-
Our German Village and Short North Camps are finished for the season. If you'd like to join us at our Worthington Camp this fall or winter, please email me at info@fitnessbootcampcolumbus.com and let me know the date you would like to start. For those of you who love the great outdoors and want to wit until spring your Groupon is valid until July 2011! We look forward to hearing from you!

Five Star Fitness Welcomes GroupOn Campers!

2010-06-14T13:02:00.001-05:00

Hey Groupon Campers! You did it- You purchased a three day pass at the midwest's premier fitness boot camp! Are ready to get into the best shape of your life? Here's how you get started:

Email us at info@fitnessbootcampcolumbus.com or call 614-893-6167 with your name, phone number and email address.
In your email let us know which camp you'd like to attend: German Village, Worthington, Short North and the date you'd like to come to your first session.
Bring your Groupon to the class and give it to your instructor.

It's as easy as that! If you decide that you'd like to join the camp for the entire six week session just let us know and we'll get you started!

Beyond the Crunch

2009-05-08T10:43:00.013-05:00

After working in gyms for over a decade, I am still amazed at the number of people "crunching" away in search of the "holy six-pack". Well, I haven't seen my abs since Color Me Bad topped the charts, but it really doesn't have much to do with my core stability or strength. In fact, my core is stronger than ever at the ripe old age of 42. I ski the steeps of Alta with ease, can crank out 75 push ups in a perfect plank, and can do a double somersault with a one half twist landing in perfect form (OK, I'm BS'ing you on the last one).

Never- the- less, my six-pack is covered in a "nice' layer of padding and unless I take the advice I am about to dispense, I'll never see my six pack again- Is that so wrong?

For those in search of abs of steel, let clear up a few things:

Spot Reducing Does Not Work- I know that I sound like a "broken record" (for those of you under 30, that means repeating ones self). Fact: any strength training of the core builds the underlying musculature. It does not get rid of the overlying fat.
But....if you do want a six pack, strengthening is important so that the musculature is exposed and defined once the body fat is lost.
Core Training should include the entire core-obliques, rectus abdominus, multifidus, erector spinae, quadratus, etc. That means exercises like bridging, chops, rotations, extension and flexion of the spine.
DIET IS KEY- To see the "six pack" men need to be less than 10% body fat and women less that 19% give or take.

So there you have it- the skinny on ripped abs.
http://www.fivestarfitnessbootcamps.com/

Stretching Good or Bad?

2009-05-04T21:42:00.014-05:00

Did you know that the latest research demonstrates that static stretching may not be best performed before activity? Surprising, huh? But think about it; how many times have you seen a boxer sit down in the middle of the ring before a prize fight and perform a static hamstring stretch? Let me guess....never. Here is what they do: bounce from left to right on their toes, swing their arms and shadow boxing-all forms of dynamic stretching and warm up.

Here's what we have learned over the last several years. Dynamically stretching before activity is important-Five Star Fitness Boot Camp vets know what this means: Butt Kickers, High Knees, Side Shuffles, Jack Squats, med ball tosses etc. Static stretching is reserved for the end of the workout.

Remember this: Dynamic Warm prepares the muscle for activity. Static Stretching prepares the muscle for rest.

http://www.FiveStarFitnessBootCamps.com