When Michael Lightfoot embarked on a journey in 2005 to create a program for himself that would address his health concerns, little did he know that it would turn into one of the most successful health and fitness programs in the DMV.
“I had some serious health issues, and the doctor told me that if I did not do something about it, I would not be around,” Lightfoot recalled.
He took his health matters into his own hands, which started with him developing an individual workout plan at Turkey Thicket.
“I started to work out on my own. Soon another person asked if he could work out with me. Then a woman asked if she could join us. Following the informal workout, we decided to get together again on a regular basis,” he explained to The Informer.
Thus was the beginning of Boot Camp, a health and fitness program based out of Turkey Thicket Recreation in NE Washington.
“But then we had to make an adjustment. The weather dictated that we had to move inside. So I asked the then-supervisor at Turkey Thicket if we could get a workout room in the facility. The numbers grew and we finally had to move to the gym,” Lightfoot continued. “The director there said that if I was going to do something on a consistent basis then I needed to develop into an organized class.”
The growth did not stop there. The Boot Camp shared a space in the gym with an aerobics class that ultimately became so motivated by the Boot Camp that they joined them.
Now, Lightfoot’s Boot Camp meets every Monday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
It averages between 40 and 45 people per session, ranging from age 6 to 89.
The workouts include a number of exercises that allow Lightfoot’s students to work hard at their own pace.
The sessions are intense, but Lightfoot sets the tone with his energetic instructions.
“All you need is an exercise mat and water, although some occasionally use a jump rope,” he said, adding that for those interested in joining Boot Camp, there is a registration process under the Department of Parks and Recreation. However, he strongly advises people to come by Turkey Thicket and check out the class to see if it is a good fit for them before starting Boot Camp.
Angel Edwards is one of the veterans of Boot Camp, which she started in 2012.
“I joined because I wanted to assure health and wellness and to get fit,” says Edward, 52. “There is a myth that Blacks don’t participate in health and wellness. We are faced with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and kidney and liver diseases.”
The three day a week session can be challenging, but Edwards said that the workout is encouraging for more than just fitness.
“’Everyone here encourages each other. That’s why we are like a community, helping each other achieve our goals,” Edwards told The Informer. “There is an energy that goes beyond working for health and fitness. It is a real community that supports each other.”
Eric Hunt was attracted to Boot Camp following some changes he felt were needed in his lifestyle.
“When I started, I was overweight and was on high blood pressure medication,” said Hunt, 61, who has been participating in Boot Camp since 2009. “I was stagnant and needed to change my lifestyle. Once I got with Boot Camp, I began to see a difference. It motivated me to the point where they took me off my blood pressure meds. The experience itself helps remove stress levels and can make your daily life healthier.”
Interested in weight loss