Queens Courier - Women's boot camp stresses realistic goals

Adventure Boot Camp for Women is a success because the group pushes and encourages each other through the many rigorous aerobic and anaerobic exercise routines, says founder Donna Wenner, kneeling in the front row.

The moon's still a slit in the sky, but 20 women - of all ages and fitness levels - are already sprinting, squatting, stretching and bicep curling by the light of the Throgs Neck Bridge.

It's an hour before sunrise and everything about fitness instructor Becky Wenner, from her relentless energy and take-no-prisoners tone ("Push harder" is a common mantra), right up to the buttercup hair and six-in-the-morning patience suggest she's about to provide a productive, but benevolent workout experience.

The group, many of whom have been part of Wenner's exercise team for years, meets for one hour each weekday morning for four weeks as part of the instructor's successful Adventure Boot Camp for Women. During warmer months, their rigorous sessions take place in Little Bay Park in Bayside, and once the season shifts, they can be found jogging and pushing though five grueling minutes of bicycle and abdominal crunches at Samuel Field Y in Little Neck.

"I try to meet each person before camp and make sure they're realistic in their goals," Wenner, 33, said. "I base my fitness camp on honesty. I'm not going to sell you anything. I'm not a witch doctor. I'm not going to promise you'll lose 10 pounds in 10 days."

When one of her boot camp clients revealed her ultimate goal was to attain six-pack abs, Wenner didn't beat around the bush. "I said 'You're not going to have one.' I could help her do it in 12 months, but there's no quick fix."

Instead, the fitness enthusiast, who graduated with honors from Hofstra School of Law and has practiced law for seven years, is a firm believer in balance. She advises clients not to diet, but to make small life changes. In other words, trade fat-free microwave dinners for fresh food, quit smoking or simply give up soda. And for goodness sake, eat.

"The biggest mistakes women make are obsessing and not eating enough," she said. "If you starve yourself, your body's going nowhere."

Wenner asks all campers to maintain and turn in a daily food journal. She also organizes field trips so the women can try out their newfound strength and muscle mass on a rock-climbing wall or flying trapeze.

"The group enjoys being together and pushing each other," Wenner said. "There's competitiveness and a sense of obligation - if someone misses a class, everyone wants to know where they are."

Campers' ages vary from 30 to 50, and Wenner has even trained a 75-year-old woman, who completed three camp sessions. Many of her campers are new mothers, whom Wenner advises to be patient and kind to themselves while losing the baby weight.

The instructor is expanding her fitness empire to include cyberspace by releasing a series of downloadable MP3's that provide audio personal training workouts, tailored to your specific needs and physical goals. MP3's can be purchased at beckysfitnesscompany.com.

To learn more about Adventure Boot Camp for Women, call (718) 640-5179 or visit queensbootcamp.com.