Why I became an instructor...

I became an instructor simply because obc, and the obc instructors, had such an impact on my life that I wanted to share that with others! I was so inspired by my fellow campers from my first (pre-baby) month (Karen, Anj, and Doris) and my friend, Lane, who, while I was pregnant and growing, were getting fit and fabulous and becoming instructors themselves. 

I struggled so much my first month back. I had a looooong way to go and lots of weight to shed, but Lane, Josh, Leo, Anj, Karen (the knee-saver!) Doris, all of you other crazy instructors, and my fellow campers helped me get through it. Getting through that first month may still be my biggest accomplishment. :)

By the time I finished my fourth post-baby month, I couldn't imagine obc not being part of my day. I still feel that I am very much on the journey myself. I still have goals to accomplish, and I hope that campers see me still striving and stretching myself, and that this will help them push themselves.

OBC has taught me that nothing is impossible, which sounds cheesy, but I mean it! No one (myself most of all!) would have ever believed that I could run a half marathon, but now I know I will cross that finish line and many more! 

Most importantly, I have seen changes in the health and lifestyles of the people that I love as well. OBC has helped me set an example of fitness that has impacted my husband, son, sister, and several friends. 

I could never do this without you guys!!! I look forward to seeing y'all each morning, and I HATE when I miss, because I miss y'all! 

Thank you for welcoming me into this crazy family!

Lisa N.

Why I became an instructor...

If you really knew me.........you would know that I started boot camp b/c one day when I was grocery shopping, a man came up to me and asked me if I was Paula Deen!!  Seriously, I started boot camp b/c Ben kept buggin me to do it and I needed it.  I have been overweight for a good portion of my life and I needed something.  I have done other exercise deals for about 2 wks at a time and then would quit (I hate gyms/meat markets).  I have done Weight Watchers and that worked until I stopped.  I have never done a program that helped me get in the best shape of my life and also offered the accountability of healthy eating.  I needed something I could do for life.  All that to say that I hated boot camp at the beginning, but loved it at the same time.  I can remember specific times that one of you called my name and made me feel that you really cared.  I became an instructor b/c I wanted to be able to help people who struggle like I did.  I really feel like if I can do it, anyone can!!  I love that even though we are all so different, we are still friends!!  I love that no matter how ugly I look in the mornings, or how much I sweat (which is a lot, even with my old spice deodorant), that no one cares or looks down on me!!!  I feel like we are all there working for the same general goals of being healthy and most of all having fun!!  I enjoy being a part of this group!! 

 Audge

Why I became an instructor...

I became an instructor because I was missing something out of my life. To put it simply - I was lonely. My husband said I needed friends - it’s been a struggle for almost all my life to trust in others - and so with OBC, I took a leap of faith and here I am. You guys are truly like a family to me and I love each and everyone of you. And for the first time in my adult life…I can finally be the best version of myself that I always wanted to be. The icing on the cake? I can continue improving my health and I can help others reach their ultimate potential. Whether that is fitness, confidence in themselves, or simply finding a lifelong friendship - that is why I am here. OBC is more than fitness and nutrition – it is a life altering experience and I am forever grateful. Anj

Why I became an instructor...

When I was in the Marine Corps, I loved the morning field PT, formation runs, and marches. All of these PT styles were large group, loud motivation, and for the most part...fun. After leaving the Corps, I was not exercising outside of work, loading trucks, etc. Got really heavy, and unhappy.

Mary Giusti would invite me to OBC when she saw me around the church campus. I knew inside that I had to change my eating and health habits, and was scared to death to try to workout. Especially with a group, given how out of shape I was. First training day was in October 2009, pouring rain. Monsour ran the mile encouraging me while I mostly walked it. I loved the workouts, and being back outside in a group setting doing PT. The instructor team kept pushing me that month, and every month since. I decided to set a goal of becoming an instructor during my 2nd or 3rd month of bootcamp last fall. Those of you that have been instructors for a while may have lost sight of how much influence you have...maybe not. Mary's invitation and this teams encouragement have literally saved me from an early grave. I preach that message relentlessly. So my motivation was to hopefully encourage someone else to move past their fear and just start. Start exercising, start believing, start living. I feel more alive now at 38 than I ever did in my 20's.

I'm not where I want to be yet, but I'm light years ahead of where I was last year.

Shout out to Dori, my team leader for my first month of camp. Kept me, Audge, Kenneth and Kacklin straight. For the rest of you, if you encourage me and bug the crap out of me, shout out to you too....you know who you are, and I still need it.

Greg

Why I became an instructor...

I became an OBC instructor truly by accident. I went to a workout with a friend at Piedmont Park just to see why anyone would get up at this ridiculous time in the morning to workout when there are some many other wonderfully lit hours of the day. One of her friends and this other guy were starting a camp in PTC and I was asked if I’d be interested in going to instructor training and helping them get this thing started. I thought sure. I’ll do this for a little while to help support her. A couple of months later, she stopped coming to boot camp, and I was stuck with David. I never came to boot camp for the workouts (though they were good). I kept coming back for the people that I got to know and to hopefully help them achieve their goals. I also came for David’s early morning music mix geared for the prime 11-17 teenage girl demographic. To this day, even though my schedule is a little more complicated. I do enjoy the times that I am able to be a part of the group and help out in whatever way I can. I tried to retire on multiple occasions but I keep finding that it pulls me back in (Sounds cult like to me Lisa).

Kevin

Why I became an instructor...

My story....when I started boot camp, my youngest of 3 boys was 13 months old and I was sleep deprived, living off of coffee and wine and eating the mac and cheese off of my kid's plates.  I was tired of going into my closet and not being able to fit into any of my clothes and depressed that I was the biggest I had ever been.  I had exercised regularly in the past and had just gotten out of the habit...I viewed boot camp as a way to get myself back into the habit. I started in August 2009, 6 days before my birthday and boot camp was my birthday gift to myself.  I signed up with a friend and was a nervous wreck about what I had gotten myself into.  I was one of those people that thought I would die during the warm up the first day and wanted to literally throw up when I was asked to run the mile.  I remember Dori, Joye, John, Leo and Rick (where is Rick?) being great encouragers for me.  I am not a big morning talker and I'm sure earned the title of "bitchy red-headed camper with a big ass".  I am so thankful that I din't know then what a TLC was and that I was, in fact, one of them.  I struggled with knee and ankle injuries the entire 1st month and almost didn't return the 2nd month.  Not only did I return, I bought the 3 month pass :)  During my 2nd month, I think, is when David finally learned or remembered my name.  He was relentless in calling me out and pushing me to push myself harder.  There were days when I wanted to punch him in the face but as I began to see changes in my ability and my body, I was grateful that he was the PIA that he is.

 

I did not want to become an instructor initially but I also didn't want to give up my now addiction.  I didn't feel like I had reached a level where I could do what was expected as an instructor as I was still not confident in my ability (plus I couldn't talk and run at the same time).  I am not loud (unless you yell mommy, mommy, mommy) and didn't know where I could make a contribution as an instructor.  I thought I would die during the 1st day of what was to be 6 weeks of instructor training....a "power" workout they called it (did I mention it was 20 degrees in January).  I remember telling Stephanie in the car on the way home (with a deer in headlights look on my face), I don't know if I can do this?!  Well, we "didn't die" during the training and I am better because of it.  I know that if I survived that training....I can survive anything!  I love watching the campers grow and develop that same confidence in themselves and their abilities.

 

There are lots of things that I love about Boot Camp and what it has done for me.  Its funny though because I originally set out to lose weight and that's not even the biggest advantage.  I love that I have made lifelong friendships with a bunch of crazy people that peer pressure me into signing up for things that I never thought I would do (i.e. Warrior Dash).  I love sharing a passion for exercise with people that text me in the mornings to check on me and see if  I am awake.  I love that you people still talk to me in the mornings even if I don't always talk back :)  I love feeling healthy even if the number on the scale isn't the lowest it has ever been.  I love being an example for my children of the hard work that it takes to stay healthy and I hope that they will do the same as a result.

 

Thank you guys for being my friends (that let me steal your hats and stuff) and my inspiration to always want to push myself to be better and try new things!  Thank you, David, for bringing OBC to Peachtree City and creating this cult of codependents :)

 

Thanks Doris for making us all cyber hug!  We really need to put some of this type thing on the OBC blog.  People are motivated to do things that have a story attached.

Lane

Why I became an instructor...

I joined up OBC because I needed to do something different.  Back in the Spring of 2005, I had a 6 month old baby and my wife and I were exhausted.  She was continuing to work out and run and I had let the baby blues slip in.  I had gained about 25 lbs since graduating from college 9 years before and was not doing any exercise or nutrition plan to do anything about it.  I didn’t want to be the lazy Dad who was awkwardly sluggish but still quite handsome.  That would have been weird, right?!  Seriously, I found a way to lose the weight and run 2 or 3 times a week but had no real regiment.

Fast forward to Spring 2009 and we were expecting our 3^rd child in the fall and mid-30’s were in my rearview mirror.  If I didn’t do something to kick my butt in gear I knew the weight would be back and the post infant sleep deprivation would carry me and the buckets of ice cream into 2010.  I was just going to do it for one month before a big family vacation.  I actually emailed David from vacation asking if I could get a deal in July to come back since I would miss half the month.  After that I decided to do Instructor Training with Rob and Melissa in August last year because OBC was trying  something new with the all day Saturday deal but still wasn’t sure I would like it better than being a camper.  I liked being pushed and was worried I would have to be TLC every day and would not get the real benefit of boot camp.  Obviously I was wrong. 

I didn’t really get to know many of the instructors well before becoming one.  You guys are complete NUTS but if any group can get me out of bed every morning even in 20 degree winter weather … it’s this group.  I agree with Shelton that the laughs are the best part.  The fitness is secondary at this point.  I love when friends say “you are still doing bootcamp?”  I often wonder how long they will keep asking me.  I have enjoyed staying fit over the past 15 months and really feel like it is now part of my routine.  It has been encouraging to see Audrey and so many others like her, experience true LIFE change because of OBC.  I really enjoy being a part of this group.

Ben

Why I became an instructor...

Now I feel like I should revise my answer, lol! Not really, that's really why I became an instructor. I went by what was represented as OBC leadership and thought I had something to offer.

When I started, I was really at the end of my rope regarding weight loss. I was the heaviest I had ever been in life, and worried that the number would continue to rise if I couldn't find something, anything, to get my weight to go down consistently. My cousin who attended OBC @ Piedmont Park invited me to one of the Saturday workouts. I enjoyed the Piedmont workout (which was why I was confused at the "fear" of PP) and went to another Saturday session before signing up for Newnan camp. Although we had a small group, the workouts were always great and the guys were really encouraging. After much encouragement from my cousin I asked to be an instructor (I'm probably the only person who asked, was not asked). Didn't really expect that Monsour would say yes, cause I wasn't in the best shape, but I believe in the power of asking for what you want. (If anybody's confused by that, yes, I did 4 months as a camper too.)

It's great to know a bit more about each of you. I know I don't have my best "morning face" on each morning, and I can't always go to coffee, but I would really like to call every person on our team, "friend". I'm not the type of person who can become BFFs with someone in the course of a week (or even a month for that matter), but I feel that a part of building a great team is building great relationships. Keep the stories coming, they've all been great!

Except David and the massage lotion. I could have done without that.


Doris

Why I became an instructor...

I became an Instructor, after a couple of months of being a camper and feeling like I was re-born again. Then David sent us "to-be-instructors" to Atlanta, and they said "ooooo yall are the Peachtree City group"....I was so nervous but some of the best memories ever!!!  I also agree with Josh, I wish it started at 5:00 so we could all stand around talk and laugh the first 30 min.

I've met some of the best people and friends ever! I've discovered that fitness is a way of life and I have to keep coming or I'll be as big as Alaska! My first mile time was 14 min., and I cried that day at the condition I let myself get into. Now....I know that if I go more than a few days without exercise, I'm a bitch!  Alot of the Instructors have come, gone, stayed...but wow at the friendships and fun we've had!

Dori is right, the most fabulous group of diverse, fun people who have helped me in so many ways! And I don't care that all of my friends, Wendy and my mom call it a Cult!

Lisa

Why I became an instructor...

When I came to boot camp I was already in my forties and gaining weight rapidly.  I have athsma and had never jogged but a very short distance.  The things that I accomplished in my 4 months as a camper amazed me!  The instructors made me believe that I could do anything I put my mind to!  I was so excited about this and wanted to spread the fever!!  I told everyone who would listen about camp.  They of course thought I had lost my mind even though they could see the results for themselves.  I have yet to convince any of my friends to sign up!  

More than all of that, when I saw this group of instructors, I saw a very diverse group of fun people who were inspiring and accepting.  They were going to allow me, this extremely shy and awkward person who hates to walk into anywhere by herself to be part of them.  How can this be??  How could I ever do what they do?  I have since learned that everyone of us is an inspiration to someone!  Every camper just wants a little help to get through this process and just by being there and saying good morning to them, we are making a difference in their lives.  Me, the girl who thought she would never amount to anything is making a difference to someone.  I do not have to be the smartest, the funniest, the fastest, or the strongest to make a difference.  I just have to say Hi and care!  

Love to all the inspirations in my life!!  You are an amazing group of people and I am proud to call you my friends!

Dori

P.S. Somebody get me a tissue!!

Why I became an instructor...

I attended OBC time to time in ATL.  I loved the comradery of the group.
The workouts were fun and different from the bootcamps I had joined at
the gym.  At the gym you can go for years and never really interact with
the other members.
When I heard that OBC was coming  to PTC, I knew I wanted to be a part
of it. I knew David, casually through Jo Jo.  I  signed up and was in
the first class.  The next thing I knew I was going to instructor
training with Lisa, Janie and Chris.
My initial impression of bootcamp hasn't change.  The workouts are
varied and fun.  But as most things in life it is the people you meet
along the way that make the difference.  I enjoy all of you so much.
You help keep me young!

Joye 

Why I became an instructor...

(I bet you thought there'd be drama w/that title! Sorry, no drama!)

Some of us know each other well, some of us don't. Please share why you decided to become an instructor. Can be mushy, selfish, whatever. 
I will start. I became an instructor because of the three instructors my first month of BC (Leo, Josh, Rob). They helped me believe in myself and I wanted to help others become better versions of themselves.
Ok, what's yours? 


Doris