The holidays are over and long since gone. Eggnog, ham and luscious desserts are just a memory now. But the results have lingered on. You decide you need to do something. You need to kick the fitness routine into high gear start getting ready for summer. Your choice? Boot Camp! Yes! Everyone is doing it, it must be fun. You think you'll give it a shot. Heck, the mom next door is doing it, how tough can it be?

Let me warn you. Any fitness boot camp worth the entry fee is going to be tough. Like the training from which it borrows its name, boot camps are not for the faint-hearted. If you haven’t exercised in awhile, or never exercised, you may want to go through a short preparatory program before entertaining the idea of subjecting yourself to the rigorous routines that are usually found in boot camps.

That said, let me also say that if you are ready, there is nothing quite like a fitness boot camp to jump-start your motivation to get into shape. If you are fully prepared, the boot camp may be just what the doctor ordered.

And you can survive. Here’s how.

1. Join with a friend. Misery loves company. But more so, if you have someone to go with, you are more likely not to miss a session and you will be able to motivate each other.

2. Stay hydrated. Keep a bottle (or two) of water with you at all times and use it. You are going to need it, and if you get dehydrated, your performance and your health may suffer.

3. Push yourself. When the instructor demonstrates an exercise with differing levels, push yourself to the one just a little more difficult than the level at which you would feel comfortable. Of course, if it’s too tough, or you feel dizzy, lightheaded or short of breath, back off or stop.

4. Change the way you eat. You will be burning a lot more calories than your body is used to, and this is good for weight loss, but you must also fuel your body to be able to endure the rigors of the boot camp. Ask your trainer how you should be eating for the duration of the program.

5. Continue training. After you have completed the boot camp and gotten your little certificate or whatever, it’s not over. You will need to continue training at or near this level in order to maintain your condition. In addition to your regularly scheduled workouts, you may want to give yourself two or three days a week of intensive boot camp style exercise. And the good thing is that most of the exercises you learned in boot camp can be done on your own almost anywhere, so you probably won’t need to sign up for another boot camp just to accomplish this.

There you have it. You are now ready to join the ranks of the elite boot campers. Prepare well, train smart and you will survive. See you on the other side.