However, after a few months of being here at the Venice studio, watching the clients and their routines, seeing the slow but steady changes in their mind and bodies, I had decided that it was time. There would be no announcements, no promises or resolutions. I was simply going to join the MWF group of Bud’s F.I.T. Camp and see what happened.

From what I’d seen, it looked tough, too. And I felt weak…like I couldn’t even do one push-up. Well, I did. Eight, actually. Everyone interested in joining the four-week F.I.T. Camp goes through an initial evaluation with STUDIO 1-ON-1 Owner and Certified Personal Trainer, Bud Fallon, and the evaluation consists of a timed run, pull-ups, push-ups and a timed plank. My run time left a lot to be desired.  In fact, all of the exercises proved pretty difficult. I started to worry a bit about how difficult the class would be! But I just figured I couldn’t go anywhere else but up since I was, literally, in the worst shape of my life.

God, the first day of camp was horrid. I’d forgotten where I’d stashed my workout clothes (as I hadn’t used them in so long), so I got  there a few minutes late. Just as I was arriving, Farley Jackson, the F.I.T.  Camp Coach, was leading everyone on a run. Oh God, running!? I hate running, I thought. But I fell in line with the rest. It was a pretty short one (which was great because I was the lagger) so I was pleased with that. Upon our return, we continued on our ‘pods’ (exercise mats) with a few body weight exercises like push-ups, squat kicks, squat jumps, and planks. After a few of the squat jumps, my legs were killing me! I mean, bah-urn! For the last few, though, I left out the jump and just did the squat, which made it more bearable.

Once we were finished with our sets, Jill Link, the other F.I.T. Camp Coach, introduced us to (4) stations in which we would rotate after one minute. The first included resistance bands which were attached to hooks on one of the outside walls. Tricep pull downs…ok, I could deal with that. There were a few different colors of bands to choose from so I could pick my own resistance. The next station included weighted medicine balls. We were to sit on the ground with our feet slightly elevated and touch the ball to the ground on our right side and then our left. The balls also have a color system which helps you to quickly see what weight you’re grabbing. The next station was more cardio, I thought. They put this piece of equipment that looked like a ladder on the ground and we were to hop inside the first square and then outside the next into a squat, and continue until we were through the ladder. Then circle back. The final station was a step-up exercise which used a bench.  We were to step up on our right foot, step down, and then step up with our left.

With three people to a station, I looked around to figure out which one to start with. As everyone scurried to different places, I ended up at the step-ups. After a minute, my quads were so hot that I had to do a quick jog/whine in place, which I thought cooled them off a bit. I went to the triceps next, which was nice…I started with the lowest resistance. Piece a cake…until Farley realized how easy it was for me and made me get the next color up. Boo.

I liked the ball exercise because we hadn’t worked our core yet, so it felt a little like relief. Lastly, the ladder, which looked the easiest, was really brutal because we had done so much leg work. I yelped in pain as my legs burned! I finally had to slow my pace, so I wouldn’t overdo it. I also had to physicallly work to keep down my complaints. So there. Exercise I hadn’t planned on!

Three rounds of the stations and then thirty-second water break. I’ve never thought water could taste so delicious! I wanted to lie down and go to sleep right there on my little pod, but I knew I couldn’t. It was time for another run! Geez, I desperately wanted to hide in the bathroom.

When we returned from the run, we continued on our pods with the core, which actually felt so good after all of the other exercises. Especially ‘bridges.’ It gave me a chance to stretch a bit. But soon, after a few minutes of crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches  and planks, that part of my body was shot, too! Luckily, after core and a few stretches, we were done! But, instead of getting up and chatting like the rest of the group, I took that time to face-down on my pod. I was seriously pooped.

Yes, the first week of camp was hellish. Frankly, every class is tough because the coaches increase the difficulty and change up the exercises with each one…I know!… rats! But after I fell into the groove of getting up, getting my tennis shoes on, hair in a ponytail, it wasn’t as difficult going through the process as it once was. Plus, the people are the best part! You’re all in it together and with that, you form bonds that you look forward to building three times a week. And after two months, I was able to lose 3% of my body fat! I was totally shocked at those results. I mean, my clothes did feel bigger and I felt certain muscles start to become more pronounced, but I had no idea I’d made such progress. That gave me what I’d needed all along. The belief, confidence, and momentum to keep going.

As to where I’ll be in two more months? Hopefully, not hiding in the bathroom.

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A friend of mine, who’s also a Personal Trainer at Studio 1-ON-1 in Venice, was explaining to me how important general activity is with regard to overall health and wellness. (I mean, of course, that’s how our bodies are designed to work.  Initially, we burned energy looking for and working for food and when we hunted or harvested, we replenished ourselves with the energy gained from that food. Now, we sit in front of the computer or TV until we get hungry and then we have food delivered.)

He went on to say that many who choose to supplement the little activity they get during the day by doing cardio on a machine aren’t doing as much for their metabolism as people who stay consistently moving during the day. And it doesn’t have to be out-of-breath moving, either.

 The interesting thing is that our metabolism works like a furnace…the more you feed it, the hotter (and faster) it gets. But that’s not just with food. If you stay moving continuously throughout the day, your body will continuously burn calories. Those taking the stairs, standing rather than sitting, walking or riding a bike as transport, walking across the office rather than using an intercom, completing household chores, etc. ) typically have a higher metabolism (and burn more calories) than those who religiously do an hour of cardio on a machine, but are sedentary the rest of the day. Granted, some with jobs that require hour after hour of sitting in the same spot, have a more difficult time adding basic activity to their schedule than say, someone who’s up and about all day running errands and whatnot.  But there are little things, like the above, that we can all do to improve our level of activity and avoid becoming sedentary.

For instance, for me, doing a bit of cleaning has a double purpose: A. cleanliness  B. activity.  You’d be surprised how many calories you burn making the bed, mopping the floor, scrubbing the shower, or doing the dishes.  If you feel as if what you’re doing is benefitting your life in multiple ways, you can do it with a sense of peace and see the joy in that time, rather than thinking of it as a burden. Building up a sweat with actual labor feels good, too!

Also, walking the dog is a great opportunity for you to add a little activity to your day. No, you don’t have to speed-walk, but a brisk pace (or even on Rollerblades with high energy dogs) will get your metabolism going.  Before you know it, 30-45min. will go by and you’ve really done something beneficial for both you and your pet. I also like to take this time to get some local errands run. If I have a DVD to return, I take the dog and we walk. If I have a little something to get at the grocery store, I take the dog and we walk. The bank…same thing. This way, taking the dog for a walk becomes less of hassle if you’re getting a few things done, as well. It can become a nice routine!

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Venice Beach, I believe, will always be famous for its artistic inhabitants, some permanent, some not, however even the boardwalk has evolved over the years. What once was a free-for-all with regard to booths and tents for local craftpersons and nomads, selling everything from Venice-inspired photographs, to handmade jewelry, to palm readings, others (namely those re-selling wares purchased from the garment district in downtown LA) saw the foot-traffic significance and marketability of the strip of sidewalk, that until now had been reserved for the aforementioned.  Regular fights began to break out between the new merchants and those considered ‘local artisans’ for prime patches of cement so much that authorities had to step in. A daily ‘lottery’ was implemented and numbers were painted on each ‘booth space,’ which makes the famed strip resemble something more like an expo than what it’s been known for in the past: a spontaneous display of local (and most of the time downright odd) creativity.  Now, you’ll often encounter signs reading “Support Venice Beach Local Artists!” which is, I guess, their attempt to retrieve Venice from the recent exploitation. Either way, the transformation is fascinating.

Abbot Kinney has experienced considerable change, as well, going from a “cute neighborhood street” to “the Beverly Hills of the Westside.” I know…really?  The influx of poshness, from its expensive boutiques to its up-scale restaurants, a walk down Abbot Kinney these days will easily produce a star-sighting.  Just having coffee at the entertainment-industry-saturated Intelligentsia alone (after the 45 min wait in line) will have you wanting to pitch a screenplay by the time you depart. It’s definitely turned into the ‘it’ place to coffee chat for producers and directors alike.

And with the addition of First Fridays, the word has spread to all parts of LA county for people to pile the little street one night a month for art-ogling, shopping, bar-hopping, and gourmet food truck sampling (which I have to say, has been the craziest, most unexpected change.  In fact, there have been so many of these trucks, marketing everything from sushi to grilled cheese to Indian cuisine, that the local businesses have posted “No food truck parking” to deter the monsters from blocking their storefront and detracting from their curb appeal.) But these events have triggered peoples’ interest to buy in Venice. As a result, the old neighborhoods of quaint, modest two bedroom houses have turned into an array of architectural experiments.  Mazdas mixing with Mercedes.

The recent interest inVenice, however, has raised property values drastically. A large multi-unit building going for $3mil in 2002 is now going for $6-7 mil today.  All because it’s on or near Abbot Kinney.  Studio 1-ON-1 hasn’t escaped the spoils, either. With more locals having the need, time and money to train, we’ve literally become a daily refuge for  the new Venetians, which we obviously welcome. Of course, we offer services to fit a range of budgets, such as group fitness, but more and more clients are seeking in-home training despite the recession. The way I look at it, whether you have the ability to purchase a training package or just interested in taking one Indo-Row class per week, you’re getting in here. You’re making the commitment necessary to better your health.  I’m interested to see what happens in the next few years to our Venice.

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I walked from the studio in Venice down to Abbot Kinney with a couple of friends. Not only was the noon sky a cloudless Adriatic blue, but it was one of the hottest days on Los Angeles record. My black Studio 1-ON-1 tee was definitely soaking up the rays. Apparently after reaching 114 degrees, the downtown thermometer simply stopped working. At the beach, it was a borderline uncomfortable 96, which for the beach, is pretty stinkin’ hot. The day was also a bit humid, so the hipsters in their intentional flannels must’ve been roasting. But, hey, what else will go with a pair of neon yellow Ray Bans and a fixie? Not much, I guess.

When we reached the corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice Blvd., we immediately were wrapped up in the common ogling of the booths. An assortment of ironic T-shirts, apothecary chic furniture, revived vintage jewelry, and dog accessories lined both sides of the blocked-off street and we strolled down the middle. But the best entertainment, with all of the gentrification happening in Venice, were the crowds which are getting continuously more fascinating by the day. You’ve got your power-lunchers mingling with the panhandlers…your RV dwellers weaving in and out of those who have just built a neighborhood architectural gem. The cashless and the cashful. An eyegasm of culture-stirring.

I checked out the competition which included a local circuit training club, as well as a few new exercise trends. Hoopnotica had their reps hooping it up on the street and inviting passer-bys to give it a shot.  So far, we’re the 0nly facility of our kind on the Westside offering affordable personal training. I was able to speak with a few potential clients looking to get fit and I let them know about the two types of training we offer: 1-ON-1 personal training, as well as group fitness. With the addition of Bud’s F.I.T. Camp, the studio’s own version of a ‘boot camp,’ we’ve really been able to bring in clients from all income levels, which is fantastic. Everyone deserves to have a fun, reasonable option for working out. How can you beat $179 for 12 intense 1-hour sessions?

A lot of people recognized the studio’s black, red and white logo on my t-shirt and asked about it. They’d say “I see that on Lincoln Blvd.all the time but don’t know what it is!” I’d let them know that it’s an intimate environment for getting in shape; and that seemed to be really attractive.  And it is! We’re not a gym. We don’t offer memberships (that we know you won’t use).  We offer training packages that are aimed at getting results and when you’re here, you’re working…not chatting up the girl on the treadmill with the full face of makeup.  I love the concept here because I’ve never seen or worked any place like it. All of the personal trainers are like family and really know their stuff.

So this year, the Abbot Kinney Festival was a success for Studio 1-ON-1. I invited everyone I spoke with to come and join us for a complimentary Indo-Row class.  I look forward to seeing them when they take me up on it!

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Located in Venice, CA, and serving the surrounding Westside areas of Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica, Culver City, Palms, Mar Vista, El Segundo, and Pacific Palisades, Bud’s F.I.T. Camp doesn’t follow the typical ‘boot camp’ culture which focuses on intimidation, but has successfully delivered its namesake: Fun Intense Training! By incorporating a mix of plyometrics, aerobics, body weight exercise, and resistance training, this dynamic curriculum aims at combining constant motion with a refreshing, outdoor setting. Along with Bud’s F.I.T. Camp, kicking off at the beginning of every month in both bi-weekly and tri-weekly schedules, each camper will also receive a full body composition evaluation.

Burning up to 1000 calories per session, Bud’s F.I.T. Camp will definitely have you marching back in for more! Sign-up times commence on the 21^st of each month and continue until capacity is reached.  Hurry, space is limited to 12 people per camp! Both camps include daily towel service, F.I.T Camp T-shirt, and a complimentary Indo-Row class. 

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T/TH:

Camp Times:  6am, 7am, 8:30am

Length: 1 Hour

Cost: $199

M/W/F:

Camp Times: 6am, 7am, 8:30am

Length: 1 Hour

Cost: $249

We are also excited about some of our new group classes as B2TW (Balls to the Wall), Indo-Rowing, and Outdoor Yoga.

Take a look at the video below to learn more about how Studio 1-on-1 can get you started with your personal fitness goals.