Since April 2009 I’ve had the privilege of working with AFM on the KMB feature. My vision for it has been multi-layered: network within the Austin fitness community, have the chance to meet and learn from other fitness professionals, try new exercises/techniques and hopefully provide exposure to trainers/studios while supporting AFM in its efforts to bring top fitness ideas and locations to a varied readership.

For more than two years it appears I’ve managed to accomplish a lot of what I set out to do. And in the process, I’ve made some amazing friends. One of these is Cody Butler, who happened to do our very first KMB back in April 2009 with his H.E.A.T Bootcamp. Since then, Cody and I have become very good friends and business partners, too. We started a coed fitness camp called Body Alive Fitness Weekend (which this year is slated for June 24th through 26th) here in Austin.

For about a year, Cody’s new indoor/outdoor H.E.A.T. Bootcamp and Personal Training Studio has been open, just off Riverside Drive, next to Auditorium Shores. And I’ve had the opportunity to go through some pretty tough workouts there. His studio has a ton of character and lots of space to do all kinds of workouts. It fits a large amount of clients with plenty of room to spare. And Cody likes to keep the energy and music up, so it often feels like a dance club with the low lights and “get you moving” music!

For this month’s KMB, we decided to head back to H.E.A.T., but this time to a one-on-one personal training session, rather than a group workout. What a treat it was to have Cody all to myself!

We went outside for the first half of the workout to do some really unique movements involving giant tractor tires, small bags of sand, PVC pipes and a sledgehammer. Each exercise was challenging and fun, targeting all of my muscle groups. After a few rounds outside we went into the studio for some TRX bands and other body work.

Cody truly is a fantastic trainer — he really knows how to get the most out of you while constantly watching for signs that your body might be over-stressed. Many of the movements he incorporates are functional and involve full-body control, which by the end of the workout has you feeling absolutely exhausted.

Nearing the end of this KMB workout I was definitely spent. And then of course, Cody says we had one final exercise back outside — pushing his Jeep! What? Really? I figured he wouldn’t put me through something unsafe, so I went along with it to find out.

Sure enough, I was able to get the Jeep going for about 35 to 40 yards. Cody even said he had to break a bit because I had it going too fast!

Once I got home from the workout, I found myself crawling into bed for a 45-minute power nap (and I’m not much of a napper). I definitely got my butt kicked yet again!

As I’m writing this, it’s the morning after and I’m feeling my body in a million different places — shoulders, chest, arms, glutes and back. What a killer workout it turned out to be!

Without a doubt, I’ll be going back to get more great tips from Cody. And I’ll be visting his new studio to enjoy the beautiful downtown locaton that provides so much on so many levels.

THE WORKOUT
with Cody Butler
www.heatbootcamp.com

OUTDOOR (3 rounds; 1 min each station)
Tire drag
Parallel push-up dips
Tire jumps
Sledgehammer

INDOOR (3 rounds; 1 min each station)
TRX Tricep butt bounce
TRX Y-ups
Bosu burpee
Bosu squat crunch ball throw

COOL-DOWN (3 rounds)
Upside-down crunches

FINISH (2 ROUNDS)
50-yard Jeep push

Interested in the co-ed Body Alive Fitness Weekend taking place this month? Email Monica directly at monica (at) monicabrant.com

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HOW IT WORKS
In an endless search to find the best workouts in town, Monica Brant-Peckham has agreed to be our “guinea pig” and take them on full force. Every month we’ll feature a new trainer and a different set of workouts for our readers, in the process trying to Kick Mo’s Butt!

Check out Monica Online @ monicabrant.com & femcamp.net