Bootcamp vs. The Underground Fit Club: Which is Better For You?
Have you been trying bootcamp training and wondered how it differs from other training programs?
Burpees or heavy squats?
Push ups or push press?
Running or sprinting?
To most people, these exercise choices don’t seem that different. Heck, doing anything more than you’re currently doing is probably a big upgrade for your health and fitness routine…until it’s not.
Every week multiple people contact The Underground Fit Club to ask one single question…
“What’s the difference between a Bootcamp and The Fit Club?”
This blog post will give you the fundamental information you need to know in order to make the best decision for your goals.
WHAT IS A BOOTCAMP?
Gathering in groups from beginner to advanced trainee, these intense workouts can be done anywhere, with little to no equipment, leaving you drenched in sweat and gasping for air. They continue to grow as one of the hottest trends in fitness.
PROS
Flexibility
It can be hosted anywhere from a park, to a school gym, or at the beach.
Motivational
Often led by enthusiastic instructors, clients get a healthy dose of leadership and that’s something we’re lacking culturally and in our own lives.
Intensity
Built on the philosophy of high intensity training, Bootcamps can yield good results for a period of time.
CONS
Lack of Customization
Bootcamp programming is built mostly on body weight exercises like burpees, pushups, and air squats. These exercises are great for a period of time and for some people but not for all and not as a core part of optimal programming.
Quality programming needs to be mapped out with specific measurable goals and it absolutely MUST be progressive – meaning either weight or repetitions or time frame is changing based on the clients improvement.
Large groups and blanket recommendations combined with high intensity training is a recipe for injury. Although the basic requirements for movement remain the same, scalability and customization are absolutely necessary for safe progression.
Overemphasis on Conditioning
Judging the success of a training program should never be based “how much you sweat”. Conditioning should be built into your program based on goals and needs, not as the primary component of a fitness system.
Depending on the goal, conditioning should last anywhere from 2 minutes to 15 minutes in it’s high intensity form. This volume of conditioning will transfer well into increased work capacity, which can be best used to further success during strength training periods. Anything beyond that (for most average adults) increases the risk of a client’s technique deteriorating and injury occurring.
Lack of Strength Training
One of the benefits of Bootcamp (flexibility) is also a significant detriment. Healthy mobility and progressive strength should form the core of any good training system. That becomes difficult in most Boot Camp facilities due to inadequate equipment and because it’s simply not a key piece of traditional Bootcamp programming.
If training for strength and using repetition ranges under 6-8 are not part of your fitness program, you are risking the one thing you’ve set out to accomplish – results.
WHAT IS THE UNDERGROUND FIT CLUB?
A better question would be… “What is The Move By Design Training System™?”
You see, The Fit Club is one of many facilities worldwide using strength training as its core programming philosophy and approach. Whether it is small groups, one-on-one training or team training, the fundamental strategy is uniform…
Move better + get stronger + be healthier = RESULTS.
PROS
Customization
One of the core components of Fit Club is our Tier Standards. This allows programming to be customized for each athlete’s abilities and accounts for a variety of performance levels in each training session.
Athletes can progress at their own rate and not be pushed well beyond their capacity while at the same time, it ensures those needing to train at a higher difficulty level aren’t held back.
It solves the problem of blanket recommendations and generalized training programs that lose steam and get tired fast.
Mobility First
Starting deconditioned, injured and out of shape adults on a high intensity training regiment without first correcting problems with their movement is a recipe for disaster.
The 2-week starter course called On Ramp is an introduction to proper mobility and technical form. What our athletes learn during this course will form the basic foundation for a safe transition into their strength-training program.
Strength Development
Working with adequate resistance is the central driver of strength development. It can be done with barbells, dumbbells, kettle bells or even body weight…as long as the movement meets the criteria for creating strength.
Where most traditional fitness programs miss the boat by placing too much emphasis on conditioning, The Fit Club continues to build success stories by helping people of all ages get stronger.
Fat loss, stronger bones, injury prevention and just plain old looking better all come from getting stronger. If there was a magic bullet that would lead to the results most are looking for…its strength.
Appropriate Conditioning
Properly applied conditioning is a hallmark of fat loss, but instead of running for hours or performing thousands of burpees, intelligently applying your conditioning is a key to success.
Shorter duration, higher intensity activity should be your secondary activity following a well planned strength-training session.
It’s great to sweat and feel like you’ve worked hard but don’t confuse that feeling with seeing optimal results in the future.
Progress Overload
If you’re not any stronger than you were last year…you’re not on the path to results.
Sure, you might be able to run further or skip longer, but without seeing a progressive improvement in your strength… you’ll soon to be wondering why you’re not getting real and significant results.
A properly planned strength training program guarantees you’re results only a matter a time and effort.
CONS
Time
Everyone wants a quick fix…to feel and look great with minimal effort and sub zero time investment. Unfortunately that’s not possible.
“Getting your sweat on” a couple times a week might be fun for a while but without results and starting to feel even more fatigued than you already were, most are just as quick to drop out as they were to jump in!
Want results? Expect to show up and work hard (doing the correct activities) for the next 12 months. Sorry, there are no shortcuts to the results your looking for.
Difficulty
Squats, deadlifts, pressing, basic Olympic lifts, corrective exercises, eating right and recovery strategies are more difficult and require a more detailed training system, instruction, mentorship and guidance than 60 minutes of box jumps, burpees and skipping.
The easiest path and the correct path are rarely the same.
Soreness
Truly changing the structure and composition of your body doesn’t always feel great. In fact, in the beginning, it rarely does.
Once you accept the nature of your body’s restoration towards better health, function and fitness, these negatives become…“just the way it is.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
When deciding which program is best for you, there are a handful of factors to consider…your goals, patience, commitment level, and more.
The good news is in Chatham-Kent, there are great Bootcamps to choose from, whether it’s Postma Fitness or Blair’s Boot Camp, both are lead by excellent coaches and positive communities.
If a high quality strength and conditioning program is what you’re looking for, The Underground Fit Club is your number one choice.
If you’re just not sure…grab a gift certificate below and try a training session for free.
Dr. Jamie Richards
I’m Jamie and I’m obsessed with health, passionate about maximizing performance and love being an expert in Bio-Structural Restoration™. As the CEO and founder of Life By Design Inc. I have the drive to lead our community toward extraordinary lives. I am in love with my wife, Dana, daughters Andie & Scottie, I’m fanatical about modern design, and I’m deeply committed to the pursuit of a happy life.
