Fall in for Boot Camp drills

In his many years as a fitness trainer, Scott Andrews has come to realize that not all workout enthusiasts enjoy the confines of a gym.

Alex Botvinik, 21, of Temple Terrace is one of those.

"I'm not really a gym person because I don't like having to stare at the wall while I work out," she said.

For years Tony Pesavento, 31, bench pressed and lifted in the gym at the Temple Terrace Recreation Complex to stay in shape.

"The problem is that it gets boring," said Pesavento, who admitted the only reason he stuck with the routine was to be able to play basketball, a sport about which he is passionate.

But, both Botvinik and Pesavento have found what they say is an enjoyable and rewarding alternative to conventional exercise-room workouts.

It is the Fitness Boot Camp, an offshoot of the Fit Club that is owned and operated by Andrews, the fitness coordinator for the city of Temple Terrace.

He is certified by the International Sports Science Association and the International Fitness Professional Association.

The program offers a host of exercises within a group setting meant to provide full-body workouts and cardiovascular benefits for people of all ages and abilities. Many activities are modeled after kids' games, such as jump rope, sack and relay races, jumping jacks and tug-of-war, and no two sessions are alike.

The one-hour workout generally takes place on the soccer field adjacent to the recreation center. In the event of thunderstorms or heavy rain, it is moved inside to the gym.

"I like it a lot," said Botvinik, who attends every Wednesday with her mother, Pascale, a triathlete. "I also bring my girlfriends, and they really enjoy it."

Pesavento prefers the boot camp workout to his former exercise regimen.

"It's fun because every time you go out there you're doing something different," Pesavento said.

He has lost 22 pounds and dropped 6 percent of his body fat since the program began in February. Because he can now keep pace with players half his age, he hits the recreation center's basketball courts following his workout sessions.

"I have a lot of respect for Scott. He's just a great guy and he makes it fun," he said. "In the fitness boot camp he has you doing activities that build strong, lean muscles without bulking up. That's what I prefer."

The fee is $5 for a one-hour session for recreation center members and $7.50 for nonmembers.

"The boot camp work is a big craze now, and mine seem to be a big hit in the midst of a recession," said Andrews, whose Fit Club Web site, www.fitclubinc .com, contains details about his program that has mainly drawn participants through word of mouth.

Cheri Donohue, 58, the executive director of the Temple Terrace chamber, has been attending for almost a month.

"I've been working out at the gym for many years and running throughout Temple Terrace, but I just needed someone to push me a little harder," she said. "The mental satisfaction of a completed workout is almost as fulfilling as the 4 pounds I've already lost."

Temple Terrace Elementary teacher Stacey Nieves appreciates Andrews' encouraging training style and the workout sessions' diversity.

"Scott doesn't yell at you if you're not doing it right," Nieves said. "But he has us doing things I never thought I could do - like pushing and pulling his truck and carrying tractor tires."

Michelle Whitmire of Temple Terrace said workouts have become her primary source of exercise. She enjoys Andrews' positive approach and the camaraderie she has developed with her workout buddies.

"Everybody here is really welcoming," she said.

Dan Rosenthal, 58, was one of the first people to sign up for the boot camp.

"It's a super program, and it gives me a lot of energy," said the Temple Terrace retiree, who rides his bike to the recreation center to participate.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Fitness Boot Camp

WHERE: Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex, 6610 Whiteway Drive

WHEN: Mixed-gender boot camps are 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Fridays, and 6 p.m. Wednesdays; a bikini-ready women's boot camp is at 6 p.m., and a mixed-gender program at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; and mixed-gender sessions are also at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sundays.

INFORMATION: (813) 943-3405