4 Ways Boot Camp Workouts Help You Lose Weight

While Boot Camp workouts can vary depending on the instructor, most sessions consist of high-intensity interval training and stretching. Expect to spend about an hour performing intense cardiovascular exercise with strength-training elements like body-weight resistance, exercise bands, and dumbbells. In other words, Boot Camp workouts are typically very tough.

But according to Sara Dean of Sync Fitness in Seattle, Boot Camp sessions are also fantastic for shedding pounds and reducing body fat. In as little time as four weeks, participants can trim up to 6% body fat and drop 10 pounds, on average. There are five major reasons that Boot Camp workouts are perfect for helping you lose unwanted body fat.

Boot Camp Workouts Promote Accountability and Competition

Working out with others has a profound impact on both the intensity of your personal workout, and the frequency of your weekly workouts. No motivation compares to cutting that monthly check for your Boot Camp membership, and seeing the same faces in your workouts every week.

It's no secret that many people drop out after only a few weeks, but the Boot Campers that stick around have many more opportunities to form friendships or simply encourage each other to meet their collective fitness goals.

Consistent Workouts Help You Eat Healthier

Once you get clued in to just how much work is required to burn 500 calories (about an hour-long session of Boot Camp for most people), it becomes much harder to justify that morning donut or the extra cheese you might want on your omelette. Healthier food choices give you the energy required to finish tough workouts, help you feel fuller, and give you a better appreciation for food as a whole.

Boot Camp Boosts Metabolism

Many of the same benefits touted for massage therapy also extend to Boot Camp workouts -- particularly the power of high-intensity interval training to boost metabolism and increase testosterone production. As your metabolism increases, it becomes much easier for your body to burn fat while building muscle. A higher metabolism also helps you burn more calories throughout the day, even when you're not working out.

Increased Energy Helps You Stay Active

As the perfect cross-training activity, Boot Camp builds core muscles vital to common activities like skiing, cycling, snowboarding, and most competitive sports. Since Boot Camp keeps your energy stores full, you may find yourself naturally craving more activity, like using the stairs rather than the elevator. As you slim down, normal daily activities like cleaning or carrying laundry will also gradually become easier and require less energy than before.

In a world where the majority of people you pass on the street are arguably more isolated than ever before with mobile devices, busy schedules, and computers, perhaps one of the most important benefits of Boot Camp workouts is the connection with other people. Not only can group exercise be emotionally fulfilling, but it can also help you meet your own fitness goals.

While it might initially seem intimidating to work out amongst fit and active people, Boot Camp exercises are generally non-intimidating, despite taking their name from military applications. As your confidence increases, you'll find yourself more willing to participate in social activities and make new, long-lasting friendships.

About the Author:

Michelle graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a B.A. in Media Relations and Communications and a Minor in Diversity. She enjoys exercising and staying healthy, as well as writing regularly for Sync Fitness.