VITAL STATS

Nickname: Boot Camp Queen

Title: “Head of Butt-Kicking Operations”, Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp

Classes She Teaches: Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp, Central Park Boot Camp and Slim & Strong Indoor Boot Camp (a month-long fat loss program that includes a nutrition program, workouts and motivational support)

Cities Where She Teaches: New York, NY and Woodstock, NY

Hometown: Manhattan, originally from Germany

Background: Ariane Hundt holds the title of ‘Head of Butt-Kicking Operations’ for good reason. Whether performing wall squats right along with the boot campers on the bridge, sweating through her own intense workouts during Slim & Strong, or lunging her way through Central Park, she is a force to be reckoned with. Ariane’s love of New York City, combined with her passion for fitness and nutrition, are the inspirations behind the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp, which she built from the ground up. Today, it is often referred to as “New York City’s toughest workout".

Ariane is a certified personal trainer and holds a master’s degree in nutrition. Drawing from a diverse background in physical fitness, nutrition, preventative care, hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, she promotes wellness through her unique training techniques and takes a holistic approach to fitness, specializing in fat loss and health conditioning.  Ariane has been featured on NBC, Fox 5 News, ABC News, CW11, in The New York Times, and Women's Health. She also provides expert advice on fitness and nutrition to outlets such as MSN Health, Life & Style, the Hartford Courant, Martha Stewart Living, and the Chicago Tribune, among others.

ABOUT BROOKLYN BRIDGE BOOT CAMP:

What inspired you to create Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp and what makes the program unique? I created the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp about four years ago with the goal to offer New Yorkers a fun, yet highly effective workout that gets results fast. Since the Brooklyn Bridge is my favorite place in New York City, I combined my love for this landmark with a workout technique that had created fast results for my private clients for years.

Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp is unique because of the location. You get to work out in front of the most amazing skyline in the world. You can always gauge where you are in the workout since we run across the bridge and back. Working out outside mixes things up and keeps you engaged. Plus, the workout produces a lean physique quickly and we promise a changed body in 5 sessions: leaner thighs, toned arms, a flat stomach and a lifted butt. The combination of running and strength training is the most effective way to burn body fat and build lean muscle for a defined body.

What can someone expect in a typical boot camp class and what makes it such an effective workout? The workout is a high intensity-interval-training program, which consists of running with intermittent muscle-building exercises. Not only will you be burning fat, but intense cardio intervals with built-in strength training opportunities result in the unusually high calorie burn of at least 800 calories per class. 
Even better, in the 24 to 48 hours post-workout, the after-burn effect ensures that you continue to burn fat. Conventional cardio programs burn muscle, not fat, and thus don't provide the lasting results you're looking for. That is to say, your body is rewarding you for yesterday’s workout, even as you sit, debating on whether or not to pack that gym bag.

A first time boot camper can expect to feel quite sore after the first class, but the reward is in the effort that is put in. Within just a few workouts, the fatigue and soreness turns into strength and motivation to change your body even more.

Are your boot camps good for beginners as well as more advanced fitness enthusiasts? Yes, our classes challenge all levels. Exercise virgins will find that with each class they become stronger and more toned. Plus, increased endurance means they will be able to go for hours on end. And for the seasoned athletes, we step it up a notch and push them at their ability level, and their biceps, pecs, glutes as well :-) If you pride yourself on intensity, you’re guaranteed to meet your match here. The Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp has taken beginners to the Half Ironman in just a few months.

How quickly can you expect to see results? First, the good news. Ever notice how an intense sweat session seems to erase the day’s troubles? An improved state of well-being can happen after just one class. That said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. In about five sessions (ideally taken within two weeks), you’ll start to notice a physical transformation, in the form of increased strength, stamina, and muscle tone, as well as a smaller waist, hips, thighs, and arms. If you’re new to the workout scene, you will, indeed “feel the burn” the next day. Keep in mind, this means your muscles have gotten a good workout. And, don’t worry; no boot campers have drowned in their own sweat… yet. 
For best results, try to commit to eating a fat-burning diet. 80% of the changes you’ll see come from your food choices. In other words, super-sized workouts should not be followed by super-sized value meals. For more tips on becoming lean, clean, and mean, check out Ariane’s Fat Burning 101 Nutrition Workshop.

LUCKY Magazine named your Slim & Strong program "Best Bikini Boot Camp".  What makes this program so effective? We like to stand out in a few aspects:

1. We want our clients to succeed and eventually take the show on the road. Our goal is to teach you what you need to know to do it yourself. We want to motivate you to the point where you don’t need us to kick your butt anymore, but you do it yourself!


2. We utilize only the most effective moves and make the most of the hour. You won’t find yourself standing around, watching the instructor demonstrate to no end. You will find yourself in constant motion, while your kick-ass teacher shows you just how to get the most bang out of your push ups and squats.


3. We like to have fun! We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We work out hard and at the same time we want to have fun doing it. Otherwise- what’s the point? A lot of friendships have come out of Boot Camps and Slim & Strong classes and if you surround yourself with like-minded people, you’re more likely to stick to that new healthy way of living.

What is the biggest success story you’ve seen come out of the program? We’ve had a lot of success stories. We have had amazing clients lose close to 80 lbs, get ready for an Ironman with Slim & Strong and outdoor boot camp classes in just a few months. There has even been some matchmaking! We also have helped thousands of people change their attitude about exercise and food and helped them understand that this is not just a trend, but a lifestyle. You’ll not want to go back to your old ways after taking a few classes because you’ll feel too good. Check out more success stories here!

Nutrition plays a big role in your programs.  What advice do you have for healthy eating? Nutrition is 80% when it comes to weight loss. Most people think they eat ‘healthy’. However, eating healthy doesn’t mean that it’s also promoting fat loss.  As a Nutritionist my goal is to teach my clients all they need to know about how their body burns fat, and what foods get the body lean, slim and strong. My Slim & Strong blog dishes out tons of great fat loss nutrition advice and workout tips. Check out our blog post on why a healthy diet is not necessarily a fat loss diet.

Any favorite recipes to share? Check out my blog for my favorite clean eating recipes.  And just in time for Fall, try this one for an amazing pumpkin protein shake!

Ariane's Amazing Pumpkin Protein Shake:

Mix 2 scoops of Vanilla Whey Protein (I use Bluebonnet: Whey Protein Isolate French Vanilla) with ice and water and add 1/2 avocado (adds a creamy texture similar to a milk shake or ice cream!) and 1/2 can of organic pumpkin.The pumpkin adds about 10 grams of carbs, of which 4 grams are fiber and 4 grams are sugar (yep, pumpkin contains natural sugar). It's fat free and has virtually no protein but it adds additional creaminess and fills you up. It tastes like fall and is absolutely delicious.

ABOUT ARIANE

How would you describe your personal teaching style? I’m tough but encouraging and fun. I expect my clients to give their all and I keep them accountable. I’m keen on teaching effective workouts that get my clients the results they want fast.

Your proudest fitness accomplishment? I’m proud of the six marathons I’ve run, the Olympic triathlons I’ve completed and the Half-Ironman I did last year with four clients. I’ve climbed Mount Washington and other mountains a few times and believe that my proudest accomplishment is still ahead. I hope to one day have enough time and determination to do an Ironman. Teaching 13 classes a week and participating in them is also not too shabby J

What do you eat/not eat? Your guilty pleasure? Last year I became a meat eater again after being a vegetarian for 15 years, so that changed my eating quite a bit. I’m a big fan of grilled chicken and veggies. I love summer corn and kale salads. I love veggies in all forms with lean proteins.

I don’t eat dairy anymore and limit my sugar. I also skip white, processed foods and grains. I limit my alcohol to 2-3 glasses of wine or beer a week and indulge in dark chocolate, an occasional slice of pizza and sweets here and there. My body is not very forgiving though, so I can’t afford to cheat much, despite working out at least 12 hours a week. Goes to show you how powerful diet is!

Favorite post-workout snack? After my morning workout I always get a protein shake made with Whey protein and water and 3 strawberries.

Favorite workout brand? I can’t live without my lululemon pants. Nothing compares to them and I own them in all lengths and colors. MPG also has great sports bras and workout tops and jackets.

Your “go-to” workout song? Right now it’s definitely “Walking on a Dream" by Empire of the Sun. We start our indoor workouts with 100 jumping jacks and this just gets a smile on everyone’s face (and it’s not just from the exhaustion!)

If you could give GoRecess users one piece of fitness advice what would it be? Find a workout you love. That’s the one you’ll stick to and you’ll do even on days you don’t feel the motivation.

By the way, motivation comes as you DO IT, so don’t sit around and wait for it to magically appear, because it won’t. You’ll always feel so much better when you’re done with your workout, so think about that when you don’t feel like it.