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Highlands Today

Fighting Flab Is War At Boot Camp

Bill Rettew Jr./Highlands Today

Early risers from Florida Hospital fitness center's "Boot Camp," Karen and Ron Grimming, seek the benefits of exercising with a group at a time when most sleep.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: October 29, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Don't worry if at 5 a.m. you notice 30 very active people dressed in camouflage at Scarborough Football Field.

Lake Placid isn't being attacked by soldiers. Those are just some serious workout enthusiasts taking part in a fitness "boot camp" organized by Florida Hospital's Shoemaker Fitness Center.

As part of the hour-long weekly sessions, Renee Kohl, fitness trainer and instructor, leads the troops during bear crawls, centipedes, alligator crawls, ups/downs, cherry pickers and more conventional exercises like sit-ups and push-ups.

Everybody runs, skips and jumps as part of exercises designed to burn calories, tone muscles and sculpt abdominal muscles.

"This is real tough; there are no smiles at 5 a.m.," said Boot Camp participant Ron Grimming.

Group members enjoy exercising together and feed off of each other.

"It's a support system," said Lissette Obregon. "Everybody is encouraging."

Members often team with a partner at about the same level of fitness, said Kohl.

"I don't usually rise at 5 a.m.," said the fitness instructor. "They ask for it, but sometimes complain. They're covered with sweat, but feel great when it's over."

Those who prefer to walk the quarter mile long track are urged to run the track corners and those who can run the track, sprint through the corners.

"We all have busy lives," said Jennifer Canevari about the dawn work-out schedule. "This gives discipline.

Kohl said the "real war" is at the dinner table, but exercise is key for total fitness.

Boot Camp has a 98 percent success rate and this session is the fourth time Florida Hospital has run the program. The fitness center expects to host another one session in February.

Breast cancer survivor Karen Grimming is getting healthier.

"I'm a survivor – I work out all the time – and I thought I was healthy and doing all of the right things before now," said Karen Grimming.

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