The Cost Effectiveness of Master Bootcamp (written by @suarsanubari)

Hi Masters!

Seriously it's been quite a roller coster, these past few weeks since we've won the #SealTheDeal show with 87.6 HardRock FM Jakarta. We have managed to get ourselves quite a league of interesting fitness tools that we have begun to incorporate into our Master Bootcamp sessions. Update on this is coming up soon!

Meanwhile, please enjoy a review by one of our regular participants, who's been with us since day one Master Bootcamp started, our fella' Suar Sanubari. His wife (Adinda) and him, are fitness afficionados, who have bought their own TRX sets so they can exercise anytime, anywhere. Pretty much the kind of mind set that Master Bootcamp is trying to grow in each participant.

Thank you so much, Suar Sanubari! And here you go guys, Suar Sanubari with his awesome review of Master Bootcamp (with several photos we added in between his paragraphs :D)!

The Cost Effectiveness of Master Boot Camp for Your Fitness Budget

Health is the most important asset you have at your disposal for both generating and enjoying wealth. Therefore, we have to invest a reasonable amount of time and money to take care of our health. I started to exercise regularly and properly in 2009, when I joined a gym operated under international franchise and employed the service of one of its personal trainer, Alvin Masli (who is one of the founders and trainers of MBC). . I thought if I have paid that much, I’ll be motivated—even forced—to exercise as I don’t want to squander my hard earned Rupiahs.

I was right, I even found that exercising is fun and I’ve always looking forward to the next session. At first I exercised to support my daily activities, I want to look good and feel good. But then it became an integral part of my daily activities, a priority. The monthly membership fees and the PT session fees were expensive investments for me, but I am sure such investments have given me a handsome return then and now: I always feel this overwhelming confidence and optimism after trainings. That keeps off low points of life and somehow addictive.

Suar Sanubari

After a year of regular exercise with proper instructions, I was already familiar with the names and correct movements. But I still took PT sessions, fearing I’d fall into laziness again without the motivation from Alvin. Then I was assigned to an exchange program by my firm. I was sent to Singapore for 3 months. Since I have international membership, I could access any gym operated under the same franchise in Singapore. Nevertheless, it was no way I could spend my Singaporean Dollars allowances for PT sessions there (which were much more expensive than in Jakarta). So I asked Alvin to make me a weekly training program. Surprisingly, I managed to have a discipline and motivation to exercise by myself. However, I don’t like cardiovascular trainings. I found them monotonous, boring and painful. So I only did them for warming up before workouts. Without PT no one is there to force me.  

  

One day Alvin offered me to try an MBC session held every Saturday 06:00 am. My first session was a torture. And I paid Rp. 100.000 for that! MBC’s total body work out was a painful reminder of how weak my endurance is. But that didn’t stop me from next sessions. I know I need that pain. I am an avid airsoft player and I want to have a military grade fitness level. There is no way I could train with military training regimens by myself. The instructors and the other participants are both motivational forces. Every session MBC offers variable and non-monotonous training menu. All that I need to keep going.

MBC employs portable patented and Do-It-Yourself fitness equipments. In the patented line, the stars are the state of the art TRX Suspension Trainer (my personal favorite! Virtually the functions of a gym in a bag), TRX RIP Trainer and ViPR.

And for the DIY line, there are battle ropes and simple skipping ropes. There are more of course, such as kettlebells, cones, cups, rollers, mats, etc. MBC instructors are certified trainers, so you will have proper instructions on proper use of such equipments.

I need to remind you that an MBC session will only serve as a session of your regular weekly exercises. You will need to have at least 3sessions of exercise in a week. Therefore, attending MBC session is not a substitute to your other sessions of weekly exercise schedule. You will still need to train by yourself (or with PT) on weekdays, either in the gym or at home or any place of your preference. The good news is: MBC’s certified instructors are happy to share health and fitness information for free. You can ask them about training programs, correct diets methods, myths and facts about weight loss or anything related to health and fitness.

ViPR Training

Additionally, what makes MBC sessions are enjoyable is the community spirit. The regular participants come from all sorts of profiles. We have students, homemakers, diving instructors, financial planners, managers, business owners, lawyers, marketers, broadcasters, journalists, auditors, activists, etc. Locals and expats. One thing in common they are all friendly, funny, motivated and inspirational. After exercise chat and photo sessions are wonderful weekend delights.

  

Now let’s appraise the quantifiable value of MBC sessions cost. MBC sessions’ monthly cost is almost equal to monthly membership fees of an international gym (if you attend every session in a month (four sessions in four weeks), MBC will cost you Rp. 400.000,-). Some say it’s better to spend the money on gym membership fee as gym is accessible for (almost) everyday. Now I have to disagree. As I wrote earlier, MBC session is not a substitute for your weekly regular exercises. And to compare the costs of MBC sessions with gym membership fees is not a durian to durian comparison (Carlo Tamba, one of the MBC instructors, said Jakartans are not New Yorkers therefore should not use the jargon “apple to apple comparison”, instead we should use that spiky fruit). 

Semi-outdoor Session at Hoops Arena, La Codefin, Kemang

What I pay for MBC is not just for the use of the fitness equipments, but also for trainings under instructions of certified trainers. It is only equal comparison if you compare an MBC session cost with single PT session cost (in an international gym, that could cost you Rp. 250.000,-, and MBC instructors were PTs of an international gym).

ViPR Training at Hoops Arena, La Codefin, Kemang

If I may conclude, my investments in MBC sessions are worth of PT sessions in an international gym, access to professional information on health and fitness, access to state of the art fitness equipments and certified instructions to properly use it and group motivation. As for the return, I got an increased fitness level (a significant one), networks of inspirational and motivated individuals and a fine way to start my weekends. All of which are simply priceless. 

Personal Tip: If you want to significantly cut your fitness budget, MBC can actually be an option. First, you’ll need to invest on TRX Suspension Trainer, which purchase will come with book and video training manuals. Learn how to use it by reading and watching the manuals and try it under certified instructor’s supervision in MBC sessions. When you’re confident enough to train with it by yourself, leave your gym and train anywhere! Or you can ask for weekly body weight programs to MBC instructors and do them at home. But this doesn’t work for me as I am the type that needs dedicated purpose places.

Disclaimer: This article is not written by a certified financial planner and shall be taken solely as a layman view of Master Boot Camp (MBC) cost effectiveness.

written by Suar Sanubari @suarsanubari