Call To Duty

I'm officially scared. Boot camp hasn't even started yet, but I'm starting to question my enlistment. Orientation kicked off earlier--perfectly planned to either jump start your Sunday if you were like me and couldn't drag yourself out of bed when you saw the snow falling outside, or provide tons of time before any Super Bowl parties on the schedule for later--and that's where the fear started to set in. Promises to yourself, promises to your body, promises even to your coaches. I'm usually good with direction, or so I think, but now I'm starting to wonder if I can really keep up with class, especially now that I'm learning more about it than the keywords that ingrained themselves in my memory over the last few weeks.

It's not so much the workouts--I like getting my ass (excuse the language) handed to me and falling out of bed sore the following day, which I've done after a marathon or two--and their inscribed intensity, although I do wonder how I'll take six consecutive days of circuit work. I liked the circuits that alternated between a strength and cardio move, and could coach myself into their three rounds. But it's more the early mornings--yep, I'm still crabbing about having to be ready to move at 7:15 a.m. It's the contract I signed in my manual, telling myself I'd follow the program and suggestions to make me a stronger player. It's writing down my program goals and coming clean with my random snacking and midnight munchies (eating two to three hours before bedtime is a no-no). It's seeing the other boot campers who already look too fit to even be needing such a regimen.

But there is a bright side in my quest for a fit February even if I do have to sacrifice burning the midnight oil--a habit I should break anyway. Forget sitting on the couch after BootCamp to appease those sore muscles: We're encouraged to work out again whether it be on a yoga mat or elsewhere. And it should be for more than 20 minutes. I won't have to doubt my trips to the gym? I'm really in now, sacrifices and all. The grocery shopping--fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains--could pose a problem if the snack attacks return, but I'll still be telling the peanuts and their sinful salt to take a vacation. Hey, a girl can try, can't she?

Join me on my two-week journey through my first tour of duty at CorePower Yoga's BootCamp. How do you think I'll fare? You'll have to check back for updates over the course of the next two weeks. But for now, I'm resting up for tomorrow (I already felt the burn today with our post-talk workout complete with high knees, squats, bicep curls, jumping jacks, leg lifts and more), hoping that I hear my alarm and wake up.