Cautions & Dangers Of Fitness Boot Camps

Since the advent of extreme weight-loss television shows, fitness boot camps have gained in popularity, as evidenced by the boot camp placing eighth on American College of Sport Medicine's Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2011 list. If you are considering taking part in a fitness boot camp, choose your instructor carefully and research the pros and cons of the boot camp experience.

Features

The fitness boot camp is a group experience lasting for several intense weeks. The camps are generally held in fitness centers, although some incorporate outdoor exercise. The military boot camp is the model used for fitness boot camps, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. The boot camp is instructor led, and as a participant, you and the other group members will work on improving your cardiovascular endurance, strength training abilities and increase your flexibility.

Rapid Weight Loss

Although on the surface, losing weight rapidly seems a benefit, not a caution, according to Dr. Marc L. Paulsen, author of "Dump Your Trainer," losing weight at an unhealthy rate may make it difficult to keep your weight off once the program is over and your return to your normal exercise and eating patterns. Due to the extreme workouts during a fitness boot camp, and attention to eating low-calorie foods, you may lose weight quickly. However, Paulsen explains that slow weight loss using reasonable exercise is better for long-term weight management.

Too Much, Too Soon

Amanda Vogel, writing for the IDEA Health and Fitness Association, indicates that although popular, extreme weight-loss television shows are responsible for promoting fitness style boot camps, there are inherent risks of fitness boot camps. A fitness boot camp instructor might be so focused on encouraging you to complete all the jumping jacks or run a certain distance, that he fails to take into account your current level of fitness. If you have not run in years, running long distances or performing sprints may be too difficult for you, and you may get discouraged and quit. Look for a fitness boot camp that tailors the workouts to your individual fitness level, rather than expecting a moderately sedentary person to perform exercises more suited to trained athletes.

Injury

It is possible to sustain injuries during any exercise program, but the possibility for physical injury may be heightened under the extreme training workouts in a fitness boot camp. You may experience sprains, low-back pain, fall and scrape your legs or hands, develop foot pain from jumping and running or become overheated or dehydrated during a workout. Take precautions to avoid injuries by asking the instructor to show you modified exercises such as half push-ups rather than whole, or lifting lighter weights than the other participants.

Warning

Before signing up for a fitness boot camp, visit your doctor for a thorough physical evaluation. Tell him your exercise goals, and explain in detail the types of exercises involved during a fitness boot camp. Before you join a boot camp, verify that the instructor is a certified physical trainer with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Once you join the camp, stop exercising immediately if you experience dizziness, extreme sweating, rapid pulse or feel ill.