EXTREME BOOT CAMP
GETTING YOU FIT FROM SILVER LAKE TO WEST HOLLYWOOD

Are you looking to get fit this summer but you need some extra motivation? Look no further than Extreme Boot Camp to get you there. Wanting to try something new and take my workouts to a new level I decided to take the challenge and give their 6-week boot camp a try.

Billed as “the toughest workout you'll ever love,” don’t think of some obnoxious drill sergeant in your ear ala Platoon or G.I. Jane, I found my instructors to be enthusiastic and great motivators.

The Wall Street Journal rated Extreme Boot Camp as the most realistic and experienced workout boot camp on the entire West Coast. Determined to motivate and yet not intimidate, they will definitely push you beyond your comfort zone but then again, that’s the point, right?

According to Aaron Mitchell, founder of the Silver Lake Extreme Boot Camp (also serving West Hollywood), “This is my passion,” he notes when speaking about training clients. “I’m in the best shape of my life right now,” he continues. “I’m 44-years-old and it’s because of the program that we’ve developed.”

A six year Navy veteran with an E4 rating, Mitchell has been training to the extreme for four years now. Believing that in order to attain a little, you have to sweat a little, Mitchell and his crew of instructors know no bounds and even got results out of me that I didn’t think were possible.

Their outdoor workouts require minimal equipment and take advantage of the local environment which includes running around the Silver Lake reservoir, and running up several of the challenging neighborhood hills and stairs. It seems a hellacious workout is never too far away. Do note, you’ll need to bring 5-10lb dumbbells, an exercise mat (not a yoga mat), a good pair of running shoes, a jump rope and water.

From Mitchell to Cervera’s intense boot camp workouts, to those of fellow instructors Fernando Gaviria and Rachel Bocchino, I felt I was constantly being challenged to exceed any limitations I had placed on myself. Sure, sometimes I was sore for days but I knew I was getting the most out of my boot camp experience and pushing myself to new limits.

Extreme boot camp involves running, sprinting, and high-impact exercises, and Drill Instructor Ken Cervera, 29, the son of a Navy man, explains what makes them different from other trainers in town. “There are a lot of trainers who train for the sake of fueling something else in their life. This is L.A. and some people train while they’re acting, but when you talk about fitness, and the program we’ve developed at what we call AK Fit 360, we discovered the difference between cosmetic fitness and real fitness.”

A certified NASM (National Academy Sports Medicine) trainer with 10 years experience, Cervera notes discipline was instilled in him at a young age and it notes during his challenging workouts.

Combining elements of CrossFit, whose motto is forging elite fitness, with an intense focus on form and function, the instructors believe in muscle confusion to achieve maximum results.

While the workouts are intense, they’re designed to get the best out of you. There’s no competition with the other boot campers, if anything, I found the camaraderie, and the accountability of knowing there are other people waiting to workout with me, a great motivating factor.

“If you put 100% in, you’re going to get 100% out,” Mitchell declares.

“There are so many excuses not to workout,” Cervera adds. “Fitness doesn’t just encompass getting in shape; it’s understanding how to live a healthy lifestyle. If you stick to the program that we’ve developed, and realize 80% of your goals depend on what you’re eating, you’ll find that hidden strength that erases all doubt. Once you find it, you will stay fit for life. That’s a promise.”

At a time when so many people are opting for training via DVD, with intense workout packages like P90X, and Insanity, the Extreme instructors don’t doubt the benefits those programs offer, but they don’t think they’re necessarily right for all beginners.

“It’s hard to learn good form from a DVD,” Mitchell explains. “I recommend DVDs for people who have already learned the form and know what they’re doing. Not to be an egotist, but if you want the best, that’s why you should come to Aaron “A-Game” Mitchell and Ken “The Wild One” Cervera. We’re here because we love it! We love helping people get in the best shape of their lives. If you’re looking for a good workout, this is it.”

For more information on Extreme Boot Camp Silver Lake email silverlake@extremebootcamp.com or call 310-490-0450.

 

Aaron Mitchell above founder of the Silver Lake Extreme Boot Camp

Drill Instructor Ken Cervera above

 

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All photos courtesy of Extreme Boot Camp