MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay -- Magazines, billboards and television stations across the country advertise the importance of being healthy and looking trim and fit. Although overnight pills and remedies may sound like an easy answer, service and family members aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, are getting toned in a more traditional fashion: through pain, sweat and pure physical exertion.
The Semper Fit Center aboard K-Bay offers many fitness classes each week, some more intense than others. For those individuals looking for a quick way to increase their energy and decrease their waist size, the center's "Gut Cut" routine may be the answer.
"The focus in Gut Cut is to tone and strengthen the abdominals," said Kelly Montoya, anaerobic instructor at the Semper Fit Center. "A person may not get ripped from this workout, but they will receive a good cardio workout."
The program runs during the lunch hour from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Although the intensity may only last for a half hour, participants feel the results immediately.
"I get feedback from the individuals in the class," Montoya explained. "A lot of them are like wow, I can run ten miles easily or do thirty pull-ups, but this workout kills me."
Gut Cut is designed to help strengthen the participant's weaker areas, said Montoya. For example, the physical fitness test requires some service members to do a certain number of crunches.
The main exercise performed in the Gut Cut class is crunches, and [the] service members' ability to perform sit-ups benefits from the crunch workout.
"At times, depending on the instructor, weights and stability balls may be incorporated into a workout," said Montoya. "Adding those tools keeps the class interesting and increases the areas getting toned and strengthened."
There are three separate instructors throughout the week. They each have their own unique style of teaching the class, so the workouts do not get repetitive.
"This class is probably one of the most intense ones that the center has to offer," said Montoya. "It is my favorite one to teach, and participants seem to enjoy it as well."
Montoya, who has three stress fractures in her foot, explained that anyone interested who also may have injuries should know that the class can be easily modified to accommodate his or her unique situation.
Although individuals at any level of fitness are welcome to participate in Gut Cut, Montoya stressed that stamina is key in the class, and individuals should not get frustrated if they cannot finish the complete 30 minutes.
"Just like any other difficult obstacle, completion of the class should be a goal to work towards. It will leave you dead tired," she said, joking that people come in ready to workout and leave drenched in sweat, "but with a feeling of accomplishment.
"I encourage anyone looking for a challenge to come out and see what Gut Cut is all about."