"Iron Camp...packs six months of cardio and weight training into a six-week program "
- San Diego CityBeat;
May 12, 2010

Fitness vs.Gluttony
SUMMER GUIDE 2010

By Peter Holslin
San Diego CityBeat Magazine
May 12, 2010

There’s nothing like an invitation to the beach to remind a person of their unsightly flab. To lose those love-handles or carve that bikini body in record time, join the most bruising workout course I know of: Iron Camp at Urban Body Gym & Juice Bar (3148 University Ave. in North Park), which packs six months of cardio and weight training into a six-week program. Attracting both hardened iron-pumpers and out-of-shape newbees like me, the camp includes two weekly workout sessions, a prescribed daily regimen of exercises—including barbell squats, dumbbell sumo squats, machine hack squats and every other squat imaginable—and workshops covering dietary issues. But while campers have reported incredible weight loss after completing a single camp, Urban Body owner Frank Kole says the program isn’t designed to shave pounds so much as reform someone’s very lifestyle. At a recent workshop, campers confessed to their various “evils”—micro-brewed beer, gourmet chocolate-chip cookies, meats all and sundry—and discussed how to control their temptations. Counseling that nobody’s perfect, Kole himself admitted to hoarding Juicy Fruit gum and Mike & Ike candies (“Hi, my name is Frank. Sugar is my evil”), giving the session the feel of a Gourmands Anonymous meeting.

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"Iron Camp" Style

By Martin Alonzo, Rage Monthly Magazine
August 2009

In the pursuit of health and fitness, people seek out many different roads to help them reach their personal goals. Whether it is to lower their handicap, become a more efficient runner, have bigger biceps or possess the ability to hold their own children without paralyzing back pains. In my private practice, I have seen many different clientèle with many different goals and needs.

Over the years and over the course of running my own business, I have studied traditional methods and non-traditional (holistic) methods. Both contain very valid information that I have successfully applied on my clients to better their lives. Educating on both sides, traditional and non-traditional, has enabled me to broaden my outlook on health and exercise which has allowed me to help a more diverse client. I have also learned that one-size-does-not-fit-all and that there is always an "exception to the rule".

What works for me may or may not work for anyone else and vice versa. So variety is the spice of life, so to speak, and is no exception to health and fitness. Some clients need a very specific dietary and exercise protocol while others do not.

I recently spoke to Frank Kole, owner of Urban Body Gym in San Diego. Frank has developed a unique group training program called "Iron Camp". Frank explained to me that his Iron Camp is not your typical "Boot Camp" style workout program. Iron Camp is a six-week intensive program that applies The Urban Body motto on fitness, nutrition and goal setting skills for their "campers" to reach their personal fitness goals. Frank explains that during the six-week intensive, the campers receive a highly motivational environment, personal counseling on goal-setting, nutritional support and high energy trainers to motivate their campers into success.

Frank also told me that Iron Camp is very group-oriented and the campers not only train together but also have weekly meetings to go over their program progress and future goals. He shared that many campers have seen great success from this style of workout and have developed a better quality of life through a better looking body.

After talking to Frank, it was easy to feel his passion for his gym and his Iron Campers. Iron Camp sounds like a great way for people who like group training to reach their fitness goals.

As I mentioned before one-size-does-not-fit-all and every person has different goals with different requirements. As a personal trainer/exercise coach and holistic lifestyle coach, I have learned that it is invaluable to consider all aspects of your clients' lifestyles in designing a program that will give each of them individual success. Frank has designed a program for the person who can benefit from group training, and he took it many steps further. If you are looking for a challenging workout and have tried other group training programs with no success, Iron Camp may be your salvation.

For more information on Frank and Iron Camp go to urbanbodygym.com. Frank has been in the business for over two decades and would love to give you the workout on fitness.

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