A new column. Every month I test out a different club and their bootcamp class. I’m doing it together with my fellow Amayziners Josselin and Liesbeth, and hopefully soon with you too. I have finally managed (it took months) to get the rest of the editors team into sport and to a place where they would rather snack on a carrot and hummus than reach for a bag of crisps or a Bounty. Liesbeth hates me sometimes. “Goddammit Jet, how have you let it get this far,” texting from the till as she pays for goji berries and soya yoghurt. Ah well, who am I? But I do always take the stairs instead of the escalator or lift, risk life and limb cycling all the way across Amsterdam and run one lap around the Vondelpark almost every morning. If I have a hangover day, I always feel it the least, because the more you train, the fitter you get and the less you feel the hangover.
Before I start:
What is bootcamp actually?
A training method that comes from the army, interchanging cardio and power training. Your heart-rate has to go up, which burns fat and builds muscle. You do it outside, using benches, your own weight, tree trunks, stairs, loose sand, skipping ropes, anything can be used. And believe me, you are taken to the edge. This all happens under the guidance of a trainer (let’s hope for a nice one) and in all weather conditions. The result is that you are totally wiped out after an hour.
We are starting today, with the Booty Club.
Who?
This club has not been around that long and is only for women. The focus is mainly on the BBT: Belly, butt, thighs. The usual problem zones for us.
Where?
In the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Close to the editorial office. Liesbeth, Josselin and I sat down at 6 am to eat a little leftover pasta, cottage cheese and avocado. The lesson started at 7 am.
Who is the trainer?
Jules, with a body that you look up to. Jules was in the army, and also gave sports classes. He calls them survival runs. Says it all.
What did we think?
We cycled there in the pouring rain and tropical heat. Fair is fair, after a little cold feet and a should-we-should-we-not moment, we ended up doing planks in the wet grass. Jules was kind, too kind actually. After the first “I can’t do anymore” groan, he made the exercises lighter. We did squats and lunges, push ups against benches, pretended to be wheelbarrows and of course planks.
How much did it cost?
10 euro per lesson. 75 euro for a 10 lesson stamp card.
The day after
Jet
“Muscle pain in my back. Not totally okay I think, must have done an exercise incorrectly. I felt a bit of glute on the bike. Which is a good sign. I’m always happy with muscle pain.”
Liesbeth
“The next day I had muscle pain for sure. To make matters worse, I wore 12 centimetre heels that made it near impossible to descend the stairs. The real pain started the day after. As so often happens, the day after is much worse and I had pain just walking around. Stumbling around the city like an old person, but let me tell you, it felt good. Bring on the toned legs and bum.”
Josselin
“I went waterskiing once and had such terrible muscle pain the day after, like I have never experienced before and hoped never to experience again. It happened. The morning after bootcamp, I jumped whistling out of bed, full of energy and looking forward to the day, but with each hour it got worse. Day two was the worst. The stairs seemed to have increased by 50 steps and I tried avoiding going down to open the door if the bell rang. It was really bad. But it also felt good, because it was the proof that I needed to start doing something. I’m looking forward to it.”
