Fitness for longevity

“I did try everything else – aerobics, bush walking, which I actually like, but it takes a whole day and swimming synchronisation, Pilates and even skip boxing, but Boot Camp is the only one that kept me coming,’’ says Zina.

”No exercise morning is ever repeated, so there is great variety in Boot Camp.’’

Her many reasons for persevering have as much to do with psychological strength as physical fitness.

“I liked the idea that it’s not just gymnastics. I live opposite here on the Esplanade, so I love the beach,’’ she adds.

“I am the oldest one here, but I am proud of my perseverance. I can honestly say I can achieve anything.’’

She admits the set-up – open air, public place, the Sargeant Major style is “bizarre”, but draws the line on the suggestion it is “gimmicky’’.

“I was looking for someone who would boss you around; it’s like when you watch movies of new army recruits,’’ she says. “But the structures push you to achieve your best.

“Sarge is extremely well trained and brings all the equipment on to the beach himself.’’

The “equipment’ is another story – and forget that wonderful chrome machinery in gymnasiums.

Here in the open air Sarge (Shane Coad), has four stations set up with piles of spare tyres, ship ropes and sand-filled Hessian bags. These are used as weights to lug along the beach, or thrust into the air and then there are sit ups and push ups and thrusters and jack-knife routines and plain simple running.

“When I started I hadn’t run since 1974 but now I run 800 metres and I have run 1.2 kilometres at one of the fitness appraisals,’’ she recalls proudly.

“I definitely have more physical strength.’’

However, the autocratic behaviour, which some would describe as fitness style, does not suit everyone.

“After New Year’s Eve, at the beginning of the year, there are 35-40 people, but there is a fall-out each month,’’ she says.

No wonder. Surely anything would be better than flipping a huge tyre over four times running 20 metres and repeating the exercise ad nauseum for 20 minutes. The mere thought of this cruelty leads to an important question “Why put yourself through this?’’

“In the middle of winter when there is sleet and rain and hail and wind and it is two degrees at 5.30am when you get up and at 5.50am I am on the beach in those conditions, there are maybe six people and I am one of them,’’ she says.

“Sarge can be merciless and I cried once when I had only been coming for six weeks, but I pulled the T-shirt over my face.

“It isn’t because Sarge is mean, but because you have worked and worked to exhaustion. People do vomit, some are dizzy.’’

That only emphasises the curiosity and I repeat the question. “Why?’’

“I am doing exercises for longevity because I want to live to a very old age, to 118,’’ she says.

She believes the body’s physicality is an under-utilised asset in contemporary society and, if developed, is a secret to longevity. “All of the ethnic races who live to very old age do manual labour working in the fields most of their lives, walking up hills, carrying heavy loads and so on.’’

She also reckons longevity is achievable if one follows simple rules. “Of course, good genes are important, but it’s important not to become stressed and to eat well,’’ she explains.

The irony is after two years, Zina has firmed up and reckons she has heaps more strength, but she has not lost weight.

“I honestly don’t think exercise helps you. It’s calories in, calories out.

“You can exercise your heart out, but if you keep eating more than you exercise, you won’t lose weight.’’

She has just invested in a Pulsar watch which record calories utilised in exercise. “On Saturday I burnt 500 calories.’’

The Original Boot Camp provides Sarge and a Corporal each week 1300 795 850 or www.OriginalBootCamp.com.au.

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