By CYNTHIA BELLOMY
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Wherever you live in Katy, you’re only minutes from a fitness boot camp. That may be good or bad news depending on your need for an extreme 60-minute cardio and strength building workout up to five times a week.

"People say ‘boot camp’ and they immediately think that we’re yelling and screaming like crazy," said Casey Castro, owner of FitnessBootCamp4U which conducts camps in six Katy area locations. "But we’re yelling with love."

That love means a different workout every day for 12 days a month and no quitting.

"The point of a boot camp is to meet your fitness goals outside of the gym," said Castro.

"In a gym you have no one to hold you accountable and no support. But in a boot camp you are accountable to the instructor and to your fellow campers."

Castro said that this motivation to "be part of the team, part of the family" is a major reason that so few people quit the arduous workouts.

"It’s not easy. It’s definitely a challenge. We move you to an uncomfortable zone. But it’s very rare for someone to call it quits."

Angela Jones, 40, calls herself a Castro boot camp "lifer" although it didn’t start that way.

"After my first class, I could hardly steer my car. My arms were weak and shaking. By lunch I could hardly move. I thought rigor mortis had set in. And, the second day was even worse."

But Jones not only persevered but she also thrived.

"I couldn’t lose the weight after my second baby," said Jones. "My goal was to lose that last 10 or 15 pounds. At the end of two weeks I had lost 10 pounds."

Now, a year and 20 pounds lighter, Jones loves the three times a week workout at the Falcon Point Community Center. The five a.m. start time is perfect for the mother of two toddlers because her husband is still home while she’s working out.

Jones has also embraced Castro’s diet and nutrition plans and said that following the diet as well as the exercise routine was essential to losing and keeping the weight off.

Castro said that he is "strong on diet." He offers customized diet and nutrition guidelines and takes before and after body mass measurements.

"The diet is also very challenging," explained Jones. "For some people the diet might be harder than the exercise."

Houston Area Adventure Boot Camp conducts camps throughout the Greater Houston area, including a women only class at LaCenterra. So, at 5 a.m. you’ll find a crowd of women "camping" at the outdoor shopping mall across from Cinco Ranch High School.

"LaCenterra is the best location," said Linda Ryall, certified personal trainer and LaCenterra camp leader for more than four years. "We can go window shopping but we can’t spend money because the stores aren’t open. Also, we rarely have rainouts because we can work out in the garage."

By window shopping Ryall means sprinting to a shop, stopping for calisthenics, and sprinting to another store. LaCenterra also offers the garage ramps and the garage stairs — not the typical outdoor workout sites.

Larisa Ferguson, 51, has attended the LaCenterra Adventure Boot Camp for more than 2½ years.

"It’s the best ever. I’ve dropped two sizes. I run half marathons and I’ve improved my time by 25 minutes. I just love the program. "

Ferguson said that Ryall makes the workout challenging with something different every class. Additionally, Ryall is open to input from the class.

"We might say that we need to work on our arms and Linda will add that to the routine," said Ferguson.

Indeed Ryall said that attendance rises in the spring when women are trying to lose some weight and get toned for weddings or class reunions.

The latest entrant in the Katy boot camping business is the city of Katy Parks and Recreation Department. Led by John Handrick, 37, a certified personal trainer, his campers meet twice at week at 5 a.m. at Katy City Park.

Handrick said that his style is not "yelling with the jumping jacks" but a more gentle approach, though no less rigorous.

"There’s plenty to accomplish without yelling," said Handrick. "We start with fast-paced walking and light jogging to get the heart rate up and we keep it up."

Handrick likes dumbbells and fitness bands. Regardless of the workout style, Handrick said it’s about getting motivated and staying motivated.

Handrick’s style suits Jennifer Archer who is not only Katy’s director of parks and recreation and the brains behind the camp but she’s also a regular attendee.

"We’re the only boot camp in old town Katy," said Archer. "I was hearing more and more that residents wanted a boot camp right here in town."

"I just love it," continued Archer. "I’m also the youngest at 29. But, we have women in their 60s. John is so encouraging yet he doesn’t let you slack off. He’ll even call someone if they’ve had a tough day to keep them motivated. "

"Once they see some results, they’re all over it." said Handrick. "They become focused and I feed off that."

Karen Mones, owner of Adventure Boot Camp, echoes comments by Archer, Handrick, and Castro.

"Boot camps are for everyone — for every fitness level. Every age. Men and women. It’s motivating and it’s fun."

Ryall also pointed out another common theme among the camps.

"Friendships form. There’s camaraderie among participants. Plus, it’s perfect for anyone who loves to be outside as opposed to in the gym."

All the participants mentioned the benefits of starting a workout at 5 a.m., calling it energizing and motivating. Archer said that originally the Katy Park camp started at 7 a.m. and was moved to 6 a.m. but campers asked to start at 5 a.m. in order to have time to freshen up and get to work by eight.

Most boot camps average about 15 to 20 participants, mostly women, although Jones said that there are two regular men at her Falcon Point session and each has lost weight and they never miss a class.

Mones said that the exercise boot camp is not a fad.

"That’s just a term because the workout can be regimented," explained Mones. "Some people need the yelling; some don’t. My camp is called ‘adventure’ to focus on the variety of outside workouts and the fun."

POE:

BOOT CAMPS

Call or go online for more information. Prices, locations and times vary.

Houston Area Adventure Boot Camp: http://www.houstonareabootcamp.com, 713-858-4397

FitnessBootCamp4U: www.FITNESSBOOTCAMP4U.COM, 832-212-9061

City of Katy Fitness Boot Camp: http://ci.katy.tx.us/, 281-391-4840