WE all know that exercise is good for us. Knowing that, however, is not a compelling enough reason to work out regularly. Some people need to be pushed, and some have found that they like to be pushed to keep fit.

The uninitiated and unenlightened may look at exercise regimes with stern instructors and punishing workouts as akin to torture, but their disciples are revelling in the challenges.

Nonetheless, practitioners thrive on the discipline of adhering to their fitness programme, whether it’s the military-styled bootcamp or the intense PushMore workout.

Getting the boot
In the one hour that Alex Nathan is at Padang Astaka in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, he does everything that he is instructed to do.

Even when he is all awashed in sweat and his muscles are cramping, the 24-year-old marketing executive keeps on going. Somehow, quitting is not an option at bootcamp. Alex didn’t actually know the details when he signed up for Original Bootcamp four months ago.

Not a walk in the park: Bootcamp recruits go through a variety of military-style training exercises, an instructor motivating them as they go along.

What he did know, was that the programme, called Corps Training, is a military-inspired, group personal training programme that utilises discipline-based motivational techniques.

Participants, or “recruits”, go through three one-hour sessions every week for a month, and can choose to enrol for the next month if they wish.

Actually, the term bootcamp says it all – instructors dressed in military fatigues watch and scrutinise as recruits go through the drill. They continuously “motivate” faltering recruits by shouting encouragements at them. If that fails, the instructors yell out forfeits which could range from additional laps to more push-ups.

It may seem pretty masochistic for one to pay to be yelled at, but bootcamp works for some people.

Ever since he started bootcamp, Alex has been getting up at 5am three times a week for his drills. He is motivated by different reasons; for one, he can’t go back to sleep knowing that his teammates will be punished for his absence.

More importantly, Alex has finally found an exercise regime that works for him.

“I’m not a fan of gyms, so I decided to try this out. The instructors are tough but they motivate you and make you know that it’s possible to get through the workouts.”

Every session is different – recruits go through a variety of exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, grunts, running, army-type crawls, tyre-carrying and much more.

Alex Nathan, 24, has taken up Bootcamp to keep fit.

“It’s good to focus on something other than your daily routine, and getting up early gives you a fresh feeling,” says Alex.

The most tangible proof that bootcamp works for him is that he has lost 17kg so far.

For Anjali Lakhiani, 22, enrolling in bootcamp was a way to break the monotony of mugging for her chartered accountancy examinations.

“I wanted an extra push. Sometimes, I get up late and I study and the day just passes by and I never get around to going to the gym.

“Working out at 5.45am gives you a great feeling once the session is over. You just feel good the whole day,” says Anjali, who has gotten somewhat used to the pain of bootcamp after five sessions.

She is also continuing bootcamp with certain goals in mind.

“No matter what age you are, you have a certain amount of stamina, and I wanted to increase mine. So I don’t feel tired so easily.

“It’s also about looking good in general, and losing that extra kg to fit into that special gown,” she says, laughing.

Push it
After her first PushMore session, Sandra Tan left the gym with a major headache (or a “blood rush”, as they call it) and “jelly” legs. She had been put through an intense routine of rigorous exercises that included squats, push-ups, stretches and sit-ups.

That was four months ago, and Sandra has been going for her PushMore sessions regularly since.

She goes through a combination of varied, functional movements that are designed to increase stamina, endurance, strength and also weight loss.

Her instructors come up with a different workout she has to finish every time, no matter how long it takes her – and this may involve a variety of kettlebell lifts and swings, push-ups, squats, and much more.

Her enthusiasm for PushMore is chronicled in her Twitter updates where her WOD (workout of the day, in PushMore lingo) sounds like a torture regime. Still, there is no mistaking the pride she takes in accomplishing the feats.

The secondary school student doesn’t appear to need to work so hard at exercising. She is not overweight and isn’t an athlete in training.

Sandra Tan is only 17 but doesn't want to wait until its too late before she starts taking care of herself.

“I just want to keep fit, build my stamina and strength, and challenge myself,” says Sandra. “My steps are lighter, I feel fresher and I’ve actually got some muscle!”

Then again, PushMore is built on the belief that everyone should train like an elite athlete. A relatively new fitness trend, PushMore is based on a strengthening and conditioning programme used to train the police, military, martial artists and athletes.

The concept seems to appeal to many. College student John-Son Oei started his PushMore workout when he felt that his fitness level was “fizzling out”.

“My brother was into working out, so I started to work out at PushMore. Now, I go about five to six days a week,” says the 22-year-old communications student.

Each full workout, including warm-ups, takes about an hour. In addition to that, John-Son also works out on his own when he has time.

“I have this mindset that when you reach 20, you’re already quite old. My prime was in my secondary school days,” he says.

“I thought I was quite fit but now I realise that I can do so much more.”

Since he started his intensive workout, John-Son has taken part in adventure races, and finds that his stamina has increased. That has encouraged him to take up new challenges.

John-Son Oei (right) says that taking up PushMore has prepared him for endurance races - like the Langkawi Wilderness Challenge.

“Being fit translates to every part of your life,” he says. “You feel better, you’re able to work faster and not feel tired so fast.”

Cassie Lee, a 21-year-old student, used to dance competitively in ballroom and Latin dance tournaments. After stopping for a few years, her body has lost some of its former agility and stamina.

Enrolling in an intensive training programme seemed like the thing to do, and after four months Cassie has had no regrets.

“Normal gyms didn’t do anything for me, because I had no motivation. Also, I didn’t like doing the same thing over and over again.

“I think for most people, it’s more a personal goal – to lose that certain amount of weight, to build muscles in certain areas, or just to keep fit and look good,” says Cassie.

Find out more about Original Bootcamp at www.bootcamp.com.my and PushMore at pushmore.com.my.

Related Stories:
The recruit