Fit4Life Bootcamp in the News~ Articles and radio interviews

Fit4Life was featured in the Akron Beacon Journal

Bring on the drill sergeant Weight loss motivation at boot camp

Exercisers embrace grueling cardio workouts at Fit 4 Life in Akron's Romig Square Plaza

By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008

These recruits are marching to a different tune.

It's called Fit 4 Life Boot camp, in Romig Square Plaza, where men and women are getting their exercise.

An enthusiastic, motivated group moves rhythmically, some tirelessly, to the beat of nonstop funk and line music, like the Cupid Shuffle, in hopes of shedding holiday pounds. Some have been trimming their waistline for weeks.

It's an intense physical fitness program, one that's as demanding mentally as it is physically. For the owner, Felicia Short, it's all about accountability and discipline — the keys to successful weight loss.

The participants are put through a rigorous cardiovascular workout that would make even the most gung-ho Marine drill sergeant proud. They high step and side step almost without skipping a beat: 1-2-3, single-knees up, left side only to the count of 10, jack it out (jumping jacks), squats, heel and toe.

The group counts in unison to 10. Ultimately, even for the hard-core camper, this becomes a grueling way to trim fat and burn calories.

Not every workout is the same. There are football runs and tire drills, mostly designed to improve cardio and fine-tune the lower body. The workouts vary from day to day.

''I've never been to boot camp, but some of my clients say my class is worse,'' Short said. ''No one has to feel intimidated. Everyone in class can do something. If you have arthritis, knee surgery, a bad back, you may need a modification for an exercise.''

Don't let the relaxed atmosphere with the line dancing-style music suitable for a nightclub fool you.

''It's hard work. It's not like partying or dancing all night. I can dance all night,'' said Cynthia Toney, 39, of Akron. ''I think she's firm, but that's what I need. I'm a total slacker.''

Toney, who has a full-time job at Roadway Express, also has her own catering business.

''I know that doesn't help, either,'' Toney said of her business. ''I do all my own cooking. I feel like she's vested in us. This is only my second class and I am exhausted. I know I'm out of shape. But everyone here is so encouraging, I don't want to give up.''

Short gets the class going.

''Find a spot; it's business as usual,'' she unblinkingly warns the tardy recruits. ''If you don't know what number we're on, we start all over.''

That's hardly a timid threat. She means it — and everyone knows it. So, for the most part, everyone shows up on time.

She said the only attitude found in her classes is her own, and it pushes people hard to achieve their goals.

''There are no diets or quick fix-its to losing weight,'' Short said. ''I've done every diet known to man. I was a size 18, a tight 18. I weighed 200 pounds. I didn't like myself.''

She said she would avoid outings and make excuses to her husband to get out of going places.

''A friend told me about this doctor who could help me. I felt I needed something. I asked for a prescription to help me lose the weight. He gave me a prescription. I rushed to the pharmacy and pulled out the paper and all it said was, 'Diet and exercise.' ''

It wasn't until she developed mounting medical problems — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a mild heart attack — that she got her wake-up call.

''I started going to a weight-management program, working with a personal trainer, learned how to cook and eat healthier, and it was the best I felt for a long time,'' Short said. ''Most people can't afford a personal trainer several days a week, so I decided to start a program called Fit 4 Life.''

She gave up her lucrative career as a beautician. She had three salons, but gave it all up, in part, because ''I was getting fat behind the chair.''

''This is not Bally's or some other fitness center where you can do whatever you want with no one to answer to. Like boot camp, I expect them to do the best that they can. In my classes, you are competing with yourself,'' Short said.

There are consequences: $1 per pound for any weight gain and $5 per pound for a missed weigh-in. No weigh-ins without two workouts.

The camouflage boot camp decor has signs of encouragement posted around the room. ''Fit 4 Life or Fat 4 Life, you choose.'' ''Stop cheating, Don't be a Quitter.'' ''Do you want to stay Fat or Get Fit?''

There is other testimony.

''I was tired of being unhappy, not able to get out of a car. I had high blood pressure and very low self-esteem,'' Crystal Robinson of Akron said as she pointed to her before-and-after photos. The 42-year-old nurse at City Hospital weighed 211 pounds; she is down to 140.

''The boot camp has a family atmosphere. You may fall off the wagon, but everyone shares their struggles.''

Vanessa Shepherd, 44, of Akron, heard about a similar boot camp in Cleveland, where her good friend lost 100 pounds in a year. Shepherd was driving past the Romig Road plaza one day, saw the boot camp sign, grabbed a brochure and signed up.

''I got too far out of shape. It was long overdue. My major problem is that I ate a lot,'' Shepherd said.

Short has changed Shepherd's eating habits.

''I don't eat any fried foods, beef, pork or dairy products and I eat more fruits and vegetables,'' said Shepherd, whose goal is to trim down to 150 pounds. ''I started at 247 pounds and lost 13 pounds in one month.''

She said she has bad knees and a bad back but can keep up because Short modifies the exercises to suit individual needs.

''Short makes you accountable. I work in a prison, so I know all about accountability and being tough,'' Shepherd said.

Everybody in the class wants to accomplish the same thing, said 49-year-old Valerie Borders of Akron.

''I like the feel of the class. Everyone is supportive,'' she said. ''I started in October and I've lost 19 pounds. My first week, I sat back and was physically and mentally exhausted. I won't say its easy, but it's worth it.''

For information, go to http://www.fit4lifebootcamp.net or call 330-848-3488.

Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.