Julie & Daniel's 30 Day Challenge
We love to see our Campers setting and crushing their goals, so we knew we had to share Julie and Daniel’s story on our blog! These two took our one month intro offer to the next level and started their own 30 day challenge.
Yes, you read that right: 30 CrushCamp workouts in 30 days. Crazy, right?!
We sat down with Daniel and Julie to get the scoop on their monthlong CrushCamp journey. These two are legends around Camp, and a couple of the nicest people you’re likely to meet. Next time you see them, give them a high five for inspiring us all with their grit and determination.
Disclaimer: While we’re totally proud of Julie and Daniel for taking on such a crazy challenge, we do not recommend that everyone do our classes for 30 straight days. Listening to your body and taking time between workouts to rest and recover is so important to ensure you stay motivated, healthy, and energized for each and every class. If you’re unsure what your recovery should look like, drop us a line and we’d be happy to set up a goal consult with you to make sure you’re getting the most out of your CrushCamp experience!
What is your fitness background?
Julie: I have always had a gym membership because I LOVE to lift weights - it makes me feel strong, powerful and confident. I’ve become passionate about nutrition and fitness, and I love to workout because I love to challenge myself, sweat, improve my body from the inside out, but most importantly, I love to workout because I love to eat!
Daniel: Since I was a kid, sports and fitness have always played an important role in my life, and I played soccer and tennis from a young age. When I moved to Canada in 2007, I unfortunately quit playing sports and for about a year I did not do much exercise. My body missed being active, so I started going to the gym. Now, I workout four days a week.
Why did you decide to challenge yourself to 30 straight days at CrushCamp?
J: I just got back from Ottawa where I was going to school, and I wanted to try something different that would be fun and challenging. I was scrolling through Instagram one day and saw an advertisement for CrushCamp - I was drawn by the description, which mentioned HIIT and weights in the same sentence (my two favourite things!).
D: It was actually 32 days, but I lost count after 15! The challenge was introduced to me by Julie. Once I found out about CrushCamp, it took me a few days to accept the challenge because I knew it was going to be REALLY tough. At the end I accepted it for a couple of reasons: First, I quit smoking over a year ago, but still have issues with breathing when I do cardio so I wanted to take this challenge to improve that and my endurance, and second, I am not going to lie…I wanted to spend more time with Julie by doing something we both love: exercising!
30 days in a row is A LOT. What did you do for recovery?
J: It was a lot - although it was fun and I'm glad we did it, I would not recommend doing 30 days in a row. It is important to let your body and muscles rest so that you can crush it every single time! In terms of recovery, we weren't really disciplined which was also not a good idea. It kept us from reaching our max in the last week or so. What we did do is sleep a lot, drink lots of water, and eat healthy.
D: I did a couple things for this. I made sure I had my 8 hours sleep (more on the weekends) every night and that my meals were big enough to keep that energy level high. After every class, you do stretch with your coach but at night at home I also stretched a bit more just so my muscles were relaxed before going to sleep.
What did you do to stay motivated?
J: I really like to work out so it doesn't take a lot for me to feel motivated. BUT, on those days that I'm feeling lazy or when I didn't get a good night sleep, I try to remind myself how good it will feel to sweat and how amazing I will feel after it's done. One thing I have learned is that you will never regret completing a workout, while you will always regret not doing it! Even if you have a 'bad workout', a bad workout is better than no workout.
D: I am the kind of person that if you set a goal or a challenge, I will reach that goal or finish that challenge no matter what. Every day I came out very satisfied of each workout so I just wanted to come back.
What results did you see?
J: I lost three cm in my waist and gained around five pounds of muscle. I also gained a lot of strength in my arms (now do 10 push-ups on my toes!). Finally, and most importantly, I gained a lot of confidence and a more positive self-image!
D: I can run for longer without being out of breath. My legs are stronger than they have ever been, the combination of exercises that you do in the studio are so challenging but so focused on your legs which it was perfect for me. I lost some of that extra fat on my belly and waist.
What do you like about CrushCamp?
J: I love the space - it's inviting and homey, and makes you feel positive and excited to work out. I also love the staff and instructors - they were always super friendly, knowledgeable, and always smiling! Everyone remembered our names from day one and made each visit feel like a personal one. Finally, I love the workouts. I love how no two classes are ever the same! I was never bored and my muscles were always sore. I was always challenged and I liked that I never knew what to expect from class. I also liked the mix of cardio and weights - even the body weight only exercises were challenging! I am one of those people that HATES to run and hates treadmills but the SkillMill is revolutionary - it forces you to push yourself and make your own challenge.
D: I LOVE that every class is different and most importantly, always challenging. From day one to day 32, my body was worked hard, and I always came out exhausted and sweaty but with that amazing feeling that you know you had a great workout. Everyone that works there is very friendly and makes you feel at home. Also, I think the location is great and having free parking just behind the studio is amazing too.
Which classes were your favourite?
J: I liked all of them but if I had to pick, my favourites would have to be leg day (booty gains of course!) and total body.
D: I liked the circuit and the lower body classes. Even though they were all great, I was mostly focusing on strengthening my legs and gaining endurance.
What advice would you give to someone starting out at CrushCamp?
D: I do not recommend you do a 30-day challenge, especially if you are just starting your exercise routine. Make sure you go to the studio a bit earlier than your class, so you can warm up your muscles and do some stretches beforehand. Don’t get discouraged if you get tired fast while in class, or can’t finish what you are instructed, because as days go by, your body will improve and it will become stronger and stronger. Drink lots of water all day every day, and most importantly don’t ask the instructor to turn on the fans.. keep that room hot and sweaty!