Events:

A big congratulations to all of our BOOTCAMP members for completing the course. Read below to see what they had to say about their experience.


“In Boot Camp, Virgil broke me out of my comfort zone. I discovered I had not been working out anywhere near the level I could be. He worked us harder in Boot Camp than I would have thought possible, both mentally and physically. As a result, I have more energy, am stronger, and have lost inches all over. Even more importantly, I have learned to push my boundaries when I work out, and how to exercise more effectively. I also feel that Virgil is there for all of us, if we need help or encouragement.
I am grateful to Virgil for pushing me harder than I would ever push myself. It is a rare individual that you can hate passionately for sixty minutes, but respect and appreciate at the same time. “
Elizabeth Lala

I wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to Virgil Givens-- two weeks ago I completed my 1st 8K race. Completing such a race may seem minuscule for many, but to an unconditioned runner the triumph was leaps & bounds. Two months prior my track record consisted of completing 5k races with a fast-walk pace each time. Fast forward 1 month into bootcamp I was ready to keep running after mile 5 of a race including multiple hills. Now more than ever I am physically & mentality ready to continue raising the bar onto bigger & better accomplishments. Virgil is not only passionate about his ‘boot campers’, but possesses a unique talent within to drive participants to their own personal goals. It is this passion that drives self-discipline to push forward day after day, week after week, and beyond the realm of ‘boot camp’.
I have never observed a trainer whom demonstrates a vested interest in all participants outside of the training sessions; including weekly inspirational quotes, accountability for completion of fitness tasks between weekly sessions, and crucial positive reinforcement during the journey. Only one person comes to mind with the ability to physically/mentally push anyone to their limits, permit to yell at you two hours a week with a smile, foster results you didn’t know were achievable, and most importantly create the self discipline & passion from within! Kudos to you Sgt. Givens!
Maureen Horn

I just completed the six week, 12 sessions Boot Camp with Virgil at Rapid Fitness. It was by far the hardest program in which I ever participated. Virgil challenged us each and every session. We ran on the tread mill, sprinted on the track, ran the stairs, did athletic drills, and lifted weights with Virgil motivating us every step (or should I say lap) of the way. I do not believe any of the participants knew each other at the beginning of the camp. But due to Virgil’s sense of team work, we became quite a close knit group by the end – with each one supporting and cheering on the other. Virgil is a born motivated. He strives to get the best out of each individual and he was more than successful in helping each of us reach our personal goals. I am not a night person, rather an early morning person. But I looked forward to each Tuesday and Thursday night session with Virgil. I also learned so much from the Thursday evening Nutrition talks by Dr. Josh. Were these sessions easy– NO WAY!!!! But would I do it again- in a NEW YORK minute! I thank Virgil and Rapid Fitness for helping me get closer to my fitness goal!
Diane McGrady

I highly recommend the Rapid Fitness Boot Camp. It’s been awesome even when it felt awful! For me I had no idea what I was getting into. I did not go to any of the demo classes. I just knew I needed a push in the workout department. On my own I barely broke a sweat. I figured it would be good to have someone pushing me along. But beyond that I was clueless. Here’s how I’d break it down:
1. The nutritional classes: I had been tracking my own calories for about 4 months. I’d lost about 13 pounds on my own, but knew that my diet was in need of some tweaking. The nutritional classes with Dr. Josh gave really simple, usable information. I now have a much better understanding of some of the reasons we all gain weight, why it’s difficult to lose, and simple changes we can make to help ourselves out. I didn’t expect the nutritional information to be so helpful, but I really think it’s going to help me with my dietary choices basically forever.
2. The workouts: I can truly say that I have never worked out so hard in my life. This is not just two aerobic classes a week. I’ve run a marathon, and the 16 or 18 mile training runs truly didn’t compare to the complete exhaustion felt during the boot camp workouts. That being said, I felt wonderful after each one ended. I felt wonderful mentally, emotionally, and physically. And after the first week, armed with some of the nutritional information, recovery time was much faster.
3. The group: We had an average of 8 people in our boot camp. It was great to be in a small class where you got to know everyone’s name quickly. We all rooted for each other and were supportive of each other. It was also a “team” atmosphere. We all knew we couldn’t quit during the workouts or the entire group felt the penalty. It was a really motivating atmosphere. And everyone struggled… even people that were in better shape than me were struggling with the workouts. In this way, I didn’t feel out of place. It was hard for everyone.
4. The community: I have sometimes found coming to the gym to be a lonely experience. But since the boot camp I find when I come in on the off days to do the “boot camp homework” I either run into other boot campers or I end up talking to the staff I’ve met. It’s made coming to the gym a much more fun experience.
5. Virgil: Virgil was an amazing instructor. He would yell and scream at us, but he did it with such joy that you couldn’t really hate him… not for long anyway! He pushed me far past the point of comfort, but he also recognized when he was pushing the group too hard and would ease off (though don’t expect that often… he knew we were capable of more than we did). He is a trustworthy instructor, and always had the group’s best interests in mind. I know I’ll never be able to push myself as hard as Virgil did in my workouts, but I feel like I will work out much harder than before. I now realize how little I was pushing myself, and that I am quite capable of doing a lot more.
6. What did I get out of the boot camp? For me, I had been suffering from insomnia for about 4 months prior to the boot camp. My sleep isn’t perfect, but since changing my diet following Dr. Josh’s advice and working out so hard, I am sleeping so much better. My energy level is also through the roof since I began. I no longer come home from work every day needing a nap. On the contrary, most of my days are busy through the evening. It’s been such a noticeable change. And the couple times I’ve slipped up and ate like I used to… boy can I tell! My energy hits the skids again, and I just feel like awful. I didn’t really lose weight, but honestly between my energy level soaring and my sleeping improving I feel like the boot camp was well worth my time. And the weight loss will continue for me using a lot of what I learned in camp.
Big Thanks to Virgil, Dr. Josh, the lovely folks at the smoothie bar, and all my fellow boot campers!
Tracy Rogers