Five Star Fitness Boot Camps

I impulsively signed up for TRX shortly after getting engaged and deciding it was finally time to get back in shape. I have never been able to just go to the gym and get a good workout in — I am much better with group fitness and the prices in Chicago for a gym membership are completely outrageous. Lucky for me, my building sent out a notice about the boot camps and I signed up for TRX as it looked more «my speed» for a first time thing. It was Tuesday/​Thursday at 6 AM for 6 weeks. Not only did I never skip a class (despite the ever-​present temptation to sleep in), I had a lot of fun doing it and have met some amazing people in the process.
Once TRX ended I signed up for the Signature Camp which is MWF at 6AM, also for 6 weeks. It’s such a blast and is an amazing workout. I will definitely keep signing up as long as it is offered in my neighborhood. I really appreciate the convenience factor, as well as the fact that it’s all at a great price for a 6 week program.
Scott is a very entertaining trainer — he has a great sense of humor and is also the right measure of motivating and tough. He’s also been very sociable and friendly throughout the last 8 weeks I’ve been attending his camps.
Needless to say — I would highly recommend Five Star Fitness Boot Camps to anyone in downtown Chicago who is looking to have fun, get fit and start your day on a high note!

I used to be that girl that would walk past boot camps and think «heh, suckers. I’m NEVER doing that». But then one day I saw a flyer for Five Star Fitness morning boot camps and impulsively signed up… and it became one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Walking in that first day, I was terrified. Terrified I’d embarrass myself, that my trainer would see me as someone that was an instant failure, that I wasn’t going to be able to succeed… thankfully, my experience was exactly the opposite. I was definitely one of the slower people in the camp and struggled with issues like being severely out of shape and the asthma I thought I had outgrown, but I kept at it and kept getting stronger.
Scott, my trainer, encouraged me to keep working and taught me how to strengthen my body without injury, and he did it without ever making me feel like I was being singled out or anything less than fully capable. I definitely saw results — over the course of the summer, I went from a 12-​minute mile and barely being able to run two-​tenths of a mile to running a 9-​minute mile without walking, and I went from 25 modified pushups to 30 military-​style pushups. My body changed like I had hoped it would — I lost both lbs and inches.
My favorite part of camp had to be how fun it actually was… I really got to know some really great people from the community and while we definitely worked hard, it was like getting to hang out with friends. It feels like you’re going outside to run around and PLAY — seriously awesome.
Scott began offering TRX and I’m so happy I had signed up. It’s really fun and it’s a great way to help both recover and strengthen from boot camp. Both TRX and boot camp are designed to allow you to work at your own fitness level and measure progress as time goes on.
I never thought I’d ever find myself saying this when I first started but I really loved this camp. I really can’t wait to start both camp and TRX again in the Spring.

This class will kick your butt into shape and you will have a little fun in the meantime. The coach/​trainer is amazing. I don’t recommend much, but I would definitely recommend this class!

I’m a 52-​year-​old guy who wasn’t in very good shape a year ago, and wanted to do something about it. After a lot of investigation, I signed-​up for the Five Star Fitness Boot Camp, offered outdoors in the Lake Shore East neighborhood. The camp meets for 1 hour, 3 days each week, for 6 weeks, with a choice of 6am-​7am or 6pm-​7pm.
My first camp began in June 2013. The results were so dramatic that I signed up for a few more until the outdoor camp shut down for winter. And now I’m on my third 6-​week camp so far in 2014. In one year’s time, my appearance and my physical condition have improved so dramatically that nearly everyone I interact with has noticed. And the difference for me is hard to over-​state. I am as strong and as fast as I have been in 20 years, and I am able to engage in a range of physical activities that I would not have dreamed of trying just a year ago.
What I think is especially worthwhile about this particular bootcamp is that it is truly suited for nearly anyone. The camps I’ve attended have included an age range of roughly 20 – 60, and people in all different kinds of physical shape. The trainer/​owner, Scott, is very adept at instructing and motivating each participant at his/​her own level of ability.
Although I have embarked on various exercise routines over my adult lifetime, I have never found any to be as effective as Five Star Fitness boot camps.

Went to my first camp this Monday. Kicked my butt. But great time. Boot camp is half the camp and half the people you meet. The group I met was fantastic. Fun and outgoing people. Sign up! You’ll be glad you did.

I had tried to get into fitness with mixed results in the past. I decided to try out this camp after a promotion I saw on Gilt City. After experiencing what this camp has to offer, I have been a loyal subscriber for each successive session.
Scott, the instructor for my camp, brings a positive attitude that elevates the workout and gets the group motivated to be fit. The process of a dynamic warmup, run, circuit, and cool down is challenging, but ultimately satisfying.
His focus on results has proven itself time and time again. I was able to bring my total push up count from 20 to 35 during these camps and have taken 1.5 minutes off my mile run time. I feel stronger and healthier as a result.
Due to my satisfaction with the results from camp, I availed myself of Scott’s personal training services. In only 5 weeks was I able to increase my bench press weight up 20 lbs to 130, and increase my VO2 max from 46 to 52.
If you are serious about getting into shape or looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, the approach Five Star Fitness has to offer works.

Before starting Five Star Fitness Boot Camps in April 2011, I had never really worked out consistently in my entire life. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do it, that I wouldn’t be able to keep up and that everyone would hate the slow girl. Well, I’ve never been the fastest in the group, but I did it, and I had a great time, met cool people and achieved results. And lost 15+ pounds! Anyone (well, mostly anyone can do it.) Don’t be afraid. You do not have to be an advanced athlete to join. If you want to change your body, this is the way to do it. Five Star Fitness boot camps are fun, always challenging and tailored to your individual ability.
I’ve done several of the 6-​week sessions and I learned that I never want to work out at a gym all by myself. Not only is it boring, but you can never push yourself the way a group can push you to go further.
Although I despise waking up before 6am, there is no greater feeling of accomplishment than finishing a boot camp by 7am drenched in sweat. It feels like you’ve conquered the world, while everyone else is probably still sleeping.

I’m so happy I joined Five Star Fitness boot camp!
When I started, I was a total beginner looking to get fit. I was nervous that it would be hard to keep up with others in the boot camp, but the camp really is designed for different fitness levels — everyone goes at their own pace. The added bonus is that even as I make progress (and I’ve seen results!), it continues to be challenging. I’ve just completed my second six-​week session and am signed up for the next one starting August 12.
Scott McClain, the trainer, definitely knows what he’s doing. He shows up at the park early and ready to get everyone moving on time. I can tell Scott has a lot of experience training groups and individuals because even though we’re in a group setting, he makes sure that each person is doing the exercise properly. Scott pushes hard when needed and keeps the boot camp interesting and stimulating by changing up the workouts often.
I signed up for the evening boot camp at Lake Shore East and the schedule and location are convenient for anyone working/​living in the downtown area.

Five Star Fitness is the Best!
I enrolled in the Bootcamp at Lakeshore East this summer to get myself in better shape and toned for my wedding this September. I was incredibly scared that I would get there on the first day and be screamed at and cry and never go back again (that doesn’t paint a great picture of me but I am sure the term bootcamp elicits a similar response for a lot of people). Instead, I found a Bootcamp that not only has formed me into a strong, fit, toned woman, but that is also supportive, informational and fun. Scott, our instructor, is wonderful. He is so knowledgeable and pushes each person to their max every day while making you feel like you can reach your goals. I love the people in the camp and the fun but intense atmosphere that keeps me coming back without hesitation every day.
This is a transformational six week program and I am absolutely amazed by the strength, agility and endurance I have achieved, not to mention a body I will be proud to show off at my wedding!
I just signed up for the next session so I hope to see you there!

I love this boot camp. I am now in my 2^nd session and signed up for the 3^rd that starts in August. Since my first sessions, I have dropped almost 2 minutes from my 1 mile time and doubled my push up count.
The workouts incorporate every aspect of physical fitness, i.e. cardio, core, agility, flexibility and strength. I attend the evening camp at Lakeshore East Park conducted by Scott McLain. He is motivating and encouraging and his workouts are never boring.
This is a good purchase if looking for a boot camp. Scott is currently looking in to finding indoor space to conduct boot camps during the colder months so hopefully I can continue to improve all year.

Five Star Fitness Boot Camp is a fantastic addition to my weekly schedule! I can not imagine cutting it out of my routine.
I attend the evening sessions Downtown in the Park at Lakeshore East.
I am midway through the fifth week of the six week session and am going to continue with the program for at least the next six!
Scott is awesome! The drills we do during class are challenging, yet manageable, and I really enjoy working out with the other people who are in the class.
When I first signed up for the camp, I was a bit scared to be joining a «Boot Camp». The last thing I wanted was some jerk in a Muscle Tee yelling at me to do more push-​ups. Scott is nothing like that! While Five Star is challenging, the experience is only positive. Scott is constantly encouraging and helpful. He is always the first one to be excited when people are able to push themselves, meet their personal goals, and see results.
I highly recommend this camp to anyone looking to add additional exercise to their weekly routine.

Working out three times a week at 6am… yikes.
Well at least that what I originally thought… The tough part is just getting yourself to class, but once you’re there, you’ll have fun!
Yes, I said fun. The class is different every time, so it doesn’t get repetitive and boring. There’s a great mix of cardio and strength during the hour that isn’t horribly exhausting… but you definitely feel it the next day!
I’m at the bucktown location, and our instructor Rebecca is laid back, but she also makes sure that you are doing the exercises (squats, high knees, bicycles, etc.) correctly. The environment is pretty supportive and not what I was expecting from a boot camp.
It’s also nice to be done with your workout before going to work! I use a heart rate monitor and burn over 500 calories+ in a workout.

Want to get into shape by working out three hours a week? Umm yes please, who doesn’t?!? Five Star boot camps make this possible, with challenging, yet rewarding workouts three times a week (for one hour). Of course getting in shape is much easier if you workout a few additional times and try to stick to a more nutritious diet. Which is what I did, and after two weeks I had already lost four pounds! I only participated in the 3-​week Groupon promotion, but I was already starting to lose weight and see my body become more toned.
I usually despise waking up at the crack of dawn and working out, but with Five Star Fitness I was held accountable and it made it a lot easier to get up knowing that 15 other people were doing the same thing. It also helped that my instructor, Bob, was friendly and much more awake than the rest of us campers at 6 AM!
My only complaint is the communication between the employees and us bootcampees was lacking. They prefer to communicate through facebook/​twitter and are not good at responding to emails.
Let me explain: At the end of the second week of camp it was thunder storming so bootcamp was canceled and it was easy enough for me to find this out from facebook. However, no makeup date was posted on the social media, it was expected that we would find out from our individual instructors. Which is fine, but the next day of boot camp I woke up feeling like death and decided it would be better if I stayed home. I didn’t have my instructor’s email so I emailed the owner Scott, explaining my situation and requesting he forward my email to my instructor so I could find out when the make-​up camps were going to be scheduled (They are usually Tues/​Thurs which are non-​bootcamp days). I received no response, which was frustrating since I had already paid for this boot camp, albeit a discounted Groupon rate, but still. The following Wednesday it was down pouring and storming a little, and no cancellations were posted on facebook. I decided against going since I was still sick, and later heard from another member that the instructor had not shown up, and apparently boot camp had been canceled on twitter but not facebook. I ended up not finishing the last week of boot camp because I was so frustrated with the whole situation.
ANYWAYS, my point being, although social media is a great way to communicate some things, it should not be a sole mean of communication for a company. Five Star Fitness definitely has great instructors and a great program, they just need to communicate a little better with their customers.

Five Star Fitness gets 5 stars, DUH!
6 weeks of waking up at the butt crack of dawn and I couldn’t be happier that I did. For those of you who think that bootcamp is an experience that you won’t like because you’ll get yelled at, or you’ll do things that you physically can’t do, you’re wrong! At Five Star, there is nothing but encouragement and reward (your body changing). You’ll be pushed to YOUR OWN limits here, nothing more than that.
My core is as strong as it’s ever been. I’m as toned as I’ve ever been. I feel better then I’ve ever felt. Do yourself and your body a favor and go to bootcamp!
~My instructor was Scott, he’s great~

Five Star Fitness Boot Camp is a challanging workout, yet fun! I’m on my second session and don’t want it to end! Scott has a great way of making you workout hard, but not being a pushy drill sergeant. I’ve seen awesome results since the first day; I’m stronger, leaner, have better endurance and I cut my mile time by 2 minutes after 6 weeks! The Nutrional Grocery Store visit is such an awesome bonus to the boot camp as well. Bravo to Scott for thinking of us in a more well-​rounded sense. I learned a lot from the dietian and of course had a lot of fun socializing with my class afterwards. I am so happy I found Five Star Fitness Boot Camp to help me towards my goals of being a healthier person. All in all, this class is hard working, fun and well worth every penny. Thanks Scott!

The boot camp at Lakeshore East was incredible!!! And I’m saying this even though the weather was beyond horrible!!! Scott made the camp challenging, yet fun. He promises results, as long as you come to camp, and he keeps his promises. I cut my mile by 2.5 MINUTES and I increased my push-​ups by over 50% and I wasn’t the only one with significant improvement. Plus the camp is a great way to meet people in the neighborhood! I’m doing this camp for the entire season!!! Thanks, Scott, for making working out (and working out HARD) very fun!!!