The Camp Transformation Center

Let me start out by saying that I was inspired to join The Camp's 6-week challenge because I was impressed the results of some of my friends on Facebook who successfully completed the challenge. Although I am pleased with my weight lost and fitness goals after doing the challenge, I was not successful according the terms of their contract. I decided to post this review to explain how that happened and why I attribute my failing the challenge to unethical and unprofessional business practices. This post is not intended to spew any hate or negativity, but only to give an honest report from my personal experience. Hopefully, it will benefit anyone considering joining so that a decision can be made with both eyes opened.

The old adage goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." I totally expected that as with anything that is free, there would be a catch. So, when first I inquired about the 6-week challenge, I knew that there would be more required than just losing 20 or more lbs. As stated in prior reviews, there are several terms you must follow in order for the program to be free...You must put down a $497 deposit, lose 20 or more lbs by the end of the 6-week challenge, check-in a minimum of 30 times on Facebook (their free advertisement), work out 30 or more times in 42 days, change your Facebook profile pic to their logo for the entire duration of the challenge (again, free advertisement), abide by all the terms of the contract indicating you will "follow the *** instructions" (FTDI) meal plan with an EMPHASIS on remaining positive (negativity will not be tolerated and would cause you to forfeit your deposit). ADDITIONALLY, it was not simply losing at least 20+ pounds to be refunded your $497 deposit, you have to reach or be below your ideal weight which is determined by your gender and height. (For me being female and 5'7", my ideal weight 165.) Not reaching your ideal weight forfeits your deposit and ONLY makes you eligible to "rollover" into another 6-week challenge (with each challenge having the same success marker of losing at least 20 lbs). Some people completed 5+ challenges in order to reach their ideal weight. Common sense tells you that the closer you are to reaching your ideal weight, the rate of your weight loss per week slows making it that much more difficult to successfully lose 20 lbs in a 6-week period. Hence, you likely will lose a challenge and forfeit your deposit. The only alternative to this would be to apply your otherwise forfeited deposit into a gym membership at the "discounted" rate of $127 per month. (The non-discounted rate is $10 more per month which is hardly a discount, nor does it account for the amount of money applied by the forfeited deposit of nearly $500.) I think most people can read between the lines and see how the advertisement of "free" is clearly misleading. It's no wonder The Camp is such a lucrative business and how they can seemingly "give away" such a valuable service for "free". It's because it is NOT FREE!

What else makes it not "free"? From the time of sign up and every work out you attend thereafter, you will be bombarded with advertisements for protein shakes and supplements by ISO FX. There are announcements at the end of each workout where they also push a supplement of the week. I've even heard staff members claim that the reason some have been more successful than others in losing weight is because they have taken the supplements. It's clear that The Camp gets some sorta kickback from the company from pushing it's products.

What makes the program unethical? The false advertisement that the program is "free" and only requires you lose 20 lbs to be successful. The other piece that I believe makes it unethical is the false claim that they have a 97% success rate. I followed the program to the tee and did not succeed. I was not alone and know this is an inaccurate statistic. The other unethical issue is that the trainers consistently encourage gym members to use heavy weights during circuit training. This builds muscle that will reflect heavy on the scale. Any skilled trainer knows that encouraging high reps with low weight, coupled with cardio, would be better suited for successfully passing the challenge. (I only found two trainers at my gym that followed this training style.) It's hard to believe that this approach to training is not encouraged by the owners who have a vested financial interest in people not successfully completing the challenge.

What makes The Camp unprofessional? I was unfortunate enough to have experienced being kicked out of The Camp's support group on Facebook which connects you with other challengers and offers a wide range of support from recipes, to forums, to anecdotal memes, and success stories and pictures. I was not alone in being kicked out. Apparently Sam, part owner of The Camp, has a reputation (as confirmed by several staff members) of being rude, quick and sharp with his tongue, and impulsive in his reactions towards others. He did not like a comment I made on a thread and kicked me out of the group 2 weeks before the end of my challenge. My comment was in response to him making a comment in all caps, starting with the statement "LOOK PEOPLE", where he goes on to belittle and humiliate someone who in his view asked a *** question about what was allowed to eat. In my response, I mimicked another member (who was also kicked out of the group) stating that this forum should be a place to feel safe to ask dumb questions and to seek support. He shot back a response to the effect that if I didn't like it, I could get out. I didn't even have a chance because he kicked me and the other member out of the group. When I brought this issue to the attention to the director of my camp, I was told that this is how he is and that it was unlikely they would be able to get me back in the group because Sam was the sole administrator. I was told that Sam is fully aware of his rudeness towards customers to the point that he advises the managers and directors not speak to customers the way he does because of the negative impact it has on business. Needless to say, this left a very sour taste in my mouth and upset me that I had even given his company my money.

I just completed my 6-week challenge a week ago and lost a total of 17.4 lbs. I worked out 36 times in 42 days, faithfully followed the meal plan (including the carb-cycling and "Talapigus" plan structured to speed up weight loss toward the end of the challenge) and I still failed to lose 20 lbs. Sure, most of the other challengers in my challenge cycle met their goal, however, most that did had much more weight to lose than I did. I initially weighed in at 187 and needed to weigh 167 or less to met the challenge. At the end of 6 weeks, I weighed in at 170. All and all I am happy that I lost weight, that I am more fit to continue towards my fitness goals, and that I made a lot of great connections with people that I plan to keep in contact with. But, for me, I cannot continue to support a business that I have experienced to be unethical, misleading, and unprofessional. My money will be better spent elsewhere.

NO NO NO! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! Stay far away from this place! There's a reason they are not part of the BBB! They do not run an ethical place of business and they discriminate! All of these reviews are mandatory to receive $497 back as part of the 6 week completion. It's a scare tactic so everyone, of course, writes a so-called "good" review in fear that they will not receive their money back! 90% of the "campers" are on an emergency diet their final week which consists of tilapia and asparagus for breakfast, lunch dinner and snack. Also zero water the final two days. Who wouldn't lose weight starving yourself! But that's just it, you don't really lose weight in the process...your gaining muscle. A sure promise that you will NOT meet your goal and lose 20lb to get your money back. At the end of course you're going to lose the most weight (most lose anywhere from 5-15 lbs this final week). Also, with the mandatory 5 times a week workout with heavy weights (as encouraged by the trainers), you are almost certain to gain muscle...not lose weight! Also you are pressured into buying their supplements and protein powder for a mere $220. Also a recipe for gaining weight. Working out 5 days a week does not allow your muscles enough time to recover. The business structure is a sham. Perhaps good if you're looking at body building. At the end, the ultimate goal is to get you to join the gym for $127/month. Yep! This place can not even be considered a gym. There is not a pool, spa, tennis courts, equipment or personal trainers, changing area, showers, etc... Wow! Spectrum Club prices, but not even comparable. It's more or less set up as a garage with a few weights around. It's a circuit training for 45 min, lifting tires and other unconventional techniques. Nothing like real boot camp, I know, I was in the military. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! I didn't find the trainers motivating. There were two decent guy trainers, I found the rest some what annoying, not really knowledgeable or motivating.

I came it at 19.6 lbs. There were others that came in just short and given a chance to sweat it out. I was in the room and witnessed it! One lady just as I, at point 4 ounces, and another in at .8 over and was allowed to leave go to the gym and come back and the other on the bike. When I left the house I had my running shoes and my husband asked why and I said just in case I come in short I can sweat it out. I thought it was a no brainer as that is what I saw. Knew I would come in close, but thought close under...not over. Either way I just thought that I would be given the same opportunity as the others. I asked the owner If I could jump on the treadmill she said no! (incidentally, they finally have two treadmills- other than that they have 3 old bikes). Anyway, she hemmed and hawed and would consider it if I had agreed to join the gym. Wow... No Thanks I had no intention of joining! Oh by the way, the owner is a member of 24 Hr Fitness!

ONLY WORK OUT TIMES: 5AM, 6AM, 9AM and 5,6 and 7 PM.

There is Zero consistency! I've heard multiple stories from others, but of course after the fact. By the way, had I known she was going to not give me the opportunity, like the others, I would have told her I would be a few hours late and go to LA Fitness, where I belong, and sweat out the .4 in the sauna. Duh! Just expected that I would be able to do as the others were!

So as per the commitment to get my money back I would have left a "good" review and once I got my money back, I was going to write the real true review...my genuine version. Again the pressure to write a "good" review for the others waiting for their money. Geesh....great marketing there...not! Very dishonest

Words from the owner herself "90% of weight loss is from the diet". Adding the weights and workouts 5 days a week, consistently sore muscles, with no down time is just not that healthy if your over 35, in my opinion. For all of you curious of the meal plan, don't waste your money! Here it is:

Breakfast: Egg whites (about 4), Spinach (unlimited) and 1/3 cup dry oatmeal (plain). May add a little cinnamon and protein to oatmeal. Plus "camp" supplements

Snack: " Camp" protein powder + supplements

Lunch: 4-6 oz of White Fish, Chicken Breast or 99% lean turkey, broccoli, spinach or asparagus (unlimited), 2-3 oz of brown rice or quinoa + "camp" supplements

Snack: Same as above

Dinner: Same as lunch

Snack: 6oz of fat free cottage cheese or yogurt

*No sauces, may use spices or little of mustard and salsa. Eat every 21/2 to 3 hours. Drink a gallon of water a day!

That's it folks! SAVE YOUR MONEY! Do your work outs on your own, but STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!!

I started the 5% body fat challenge six weeks ago. I weighed in at 37% body fat.The first seven days I lost over 5% body fat at 31%.

I question my weigh in at this time. By the third week after losing about 3 pounds I weigh in again. The monitor now say that I am 35% body fat. Up almost 4% body fat.

I ask to be weigh in Asian seconds later and now its 32%. I jump on it again and now its 33%. Within seconds there was a 3 1/2% difference in my weigh in. At this point I contacted the director her name was Mio.

I express my concern And she told me that I should have not gone on the scale that many time. I told her it does not matter how many times I get on the scale if it is accurate it will still be the same number. She disagreed. I continue to email her expressing my concerns since she had told me that she didnt know my current body fat situation but no reply.

One would think that by this time they will reassess your weight but they didnt she actually ghost me. Today was my way in and its evident that she fix her machine. Or should I say tweaked her machine. Im not surprised I lost the challenge.

Total scam. When I confront her with all the facts and weigh ins she started to raise her voice at me and blaming me for not going to other places and checking out other monitors when she clearly states that my final weigh in has to be on her machine only.

My daughter too was in challenge But was doing the 20 lbs. six week challenge. After four weeks she only dropped 9 pounds.

I started watching what she was doing. I realize that the Boot Camp was working on mainly muscle building and we all know muscle weighs more than fat. You can follow this program to the T but it is meant for you to lose the challenge and keep you as a member for a year adding $900 to your already in 500$ challenge buy in. because there is no way that you can beat the challenge with just cross training and no cardio.

At that point I change up her routine even though it is required of her to go to the camp five days a week. I had told her to do less weights and add cardio to her routin. Only then . In just two weeks she dropped almost 9 pounds.

In the booklet they give you it does not say anything about you doing extra cardio on the side. My conclusion is the challenge will slim you down but youll never reach the goal that they have set out for you. at the end the day it is still a business. The reason why I am upset is that the 5% body monitor is not accurate therefore its unethical for them to take your money.

There are many factors to why your weigh in is inaccurate .

It all depends on what you ate the day before what you drank that morning and if you had exercise. So many factors to why this 5% body should be taken out.

5% body fat monitor is a scam. I weighed three times back to back seconds apart on the same machine and there was a difference of 3% body fat.

When I addressed this to the director of the camp in Clovis she told me that this is never happened before. She did nothing to help me I had emailed her several occasions about my concerns and worry about my way in. She never responded I had asked her what is my current audit that situation she told me she did it now. That was at my three week weekend.

I didnt ask her how can I trust your monitor if you cant tell me what my way and is currently. No response from the manager. Today I went and weigh in and I lost The challenge apparently she had twenk the Monitor. Does not matter what the outcome is it at the beginning of the way in the monitor had a glitch.

What she shouldve done was give me back my money to be fair but instead she yelled at me and said that she did everything she possibly could for me. I said you did nothing for me. I would think that at that moment when I reached out to her that she would have reassess me but she didnt. Took my money with no shame.

Even though I had emails and weigh in records she Still disses those facts. My daughter at the same time also join the 20 lbs. six week challenge. Being that there is two different challenges there should be two different kind of classes.

After four weeks my daughter only lost 9 pounds at that point I realize she was bulking up and not losing weight because we all know muscle weighs more than that. I didnt changed her routine and asked that she does lighter weight and do more cardio on the side within two weeks she lost 8 pounds but still lost the challenge. Wish I had notice it sooner and not trust the count too much and did my own due diligence. The challenge is made for you to lose weight but yet still fail the challenge so they can keep your money and keep you as a member for a year.

So now here you are you have to pay an additional $900 on top of the 500 you already paid.

So fyi. Its a scam

The manager left out lot of info about the plan i was doing and filled in the rest of the info when i was not there. In other words someone plagiarized my initials and made it seem like I signed up for a "bundle" to reoccur charges on my account.

I know exactly how I initial and it was definitely privatized! worked out a total of 3 times and wanted to delay the challenge due to my knee being injured. She approved to delay my work out but left out info that she wasnt delaying payment. After a month I was ready to work out and questioned about payment and she said she charged me for iver 500 already and that i sugned up for a bundke???

They charged me $137 for 4 months and when I explained that is not what I signed up for and should not be charged for future months The manager blamed me for my lack of my commitment and ended up charging me over 500.00 for 3 days of service. They plagiarized my initials to use my card repeatedly. It was blank and they filled it in, not me!!

Please be careful and get a copy of your contract in advance! immediately and ask questions ahead of time!!!

So I put my account on hold cause I was going through financial hardship . And when I went back to work I injured my self so I emailed them to freeze my account which they did for about month or so then I started getting overdraft fees from a place I haven't taken classes for 4 month and I had let go of a old job .

I barelystarted get back on my feet and started new job I went to thecampsj San I talk to guy told him my concern he look at me like I making it up told me he will not charge me further if I emailed my concern and and cancel but2 days later I get 149 charge and overdraft fees again .. I again someone called say I was pay payments .. which I know it should been already canceled or frozen.. now I got pay my fees with no money in my account again .

Then I hear this 299 cancel fee ..

ok well I emailed headquarters about this . If they keep billing me and takening money out of my account with out me knowing then I might have take legal action .

Do nI started my 5% body fat challenged six weeks ago. First week I lost 1 pound and the monitor said that I lost almost 6% that.

I questioned that and the girl said she wasnt sure. By the third week Ive lost about I pounds and have game 3% body fat. I questioned the The girl that was wearing me in and she said she wasnt sure. So I had her weigh me three times seconds apart.

The first weigh in 35%. Second way in seconds apart 32% Third Is 33%. Theres a 3% difference within seconds. I then question the machine.

The Director of the camp said that it was accurate but yet refuse to look at all my weigh ins and yet to tell me what my accurate body fat currently. my question to her was if the monitor was accurate then why do I weigh in so differently every time. At 3% difference. At the end I lost the challenge.

The manager yelled at me and said she did everything in her power to help me and I told her emails dont lie and facts on the weigh ins dont lie. Im only stating the facts. She did nothing to help. Just took my money.

That is when I knew they scammed me. My daughter was in the 20 pounds six week challenge and throughout the Challenge I realize that she wasnt losing the weight as fast. They did not customize different work out for different challenges. They were having the 20 pound challengers doing cross training with heavy weights.

We all know muscle weighs more than fat so technically those people on that challenge will never meet their 20 pounds in six weeks unless they did lots of cardio on the side. When I realized after four weeks of my daughter only dropped 9 pounds I change her work out. I told her to do last weeks and do more cardio on the side wish they dont tell you in their brochures She is required to be in class five days a week. In just two weeks she dropped 9 pounds.

Remember these challenge are always in the favor of the camp. You will lose weight and you will see result but you will never beat the challenge because it is set up for you to fail. On the surface of things they believe that they are changing peoples lives and taking their money because of it. It is unethical to charge people for a challenge that a monitor is inaccurate.

The only time percentage of fat is accurate this if you dump somebodys body in water.

They make you believe that the machine is accurate.scammers. Do not fall for it.

This is for current and future customers of The Camp TC. Don't go here.

They are scammers. They scammed me, and they will scam you too. I'm in the middle of contemplating whether I should create a lawsuit. But I'm definitely going to report this company and business to the City Hall and the BBB.

I'm 100% sure there will no longer be a camp at this location, perhaps even in Manteca and Lodi as well. I have tried discussing these manners in a friendly and calm way, but the owners or managers (Gia and Faby) always had a way to bring this upon me and try to make me break. Calling my son uneducated, keep in mind he is 13 and goes to a GATE school. They also had the nerve to call me racist when they're the ones wearing masks with controversial and political topics written on them while inside a gym.

I have nothing against that, but all of our family is literally color-blind. We don't see color.

This is supposed to be a business, not a political junction. Get a personal trainer, don't go here.

Due to covid the gym was shut down for 3 months. In those 3 months I was charged their discount rate for April.

Again. They charged me this discounted rate every single month for April and no one in the office could understand why I was emailing every single month.

The gyms were still closed but they found a loophole and classes were being held outside. Because of this they found it to be ok to resume regular charges.

Mind you, this is in AZ and they expect you to work out in 114 degree weather outside in the parking lot.

This is not what I signed up for. On top of being ok that staff and clients catch covid they are also ok with you risking a heatstroke so that they can feel ok about taking your $.

Month 5 one of the incompetent workers emailed saying I could cancel but have to pay $200 and they could only place an account on hold for 2 months.

(The gym was closed for 3 due to covid. 2 months they found their loophole and expect you to workout outside in 114 weather).

I asked for the # to the corporate office 5 times and all 5 times I was ignored.

Finally some director said she would call me. Mind you they have my file and no call ever came.

So I email to request to cancel my acct and now theyre saying I need a 30 day notice to cancel.

This place is an absolute joke!

During a time like this you would think they would be more open to working with those that do care If they get sick and care if they bring the virus home from the gym and not only get sick themselves, but pass it on to their family.

They will pretend to care for you when you are going to their gym and feeding into their lies. Their motto is AFF which indicates that you are all family.

But no thank you. Family doesnt steal and cheat each other. Family doesnt lie to you and ignore you.

Family doesnt expect you to put your life at risk.

This place and the ppl that work there are monsters! Crooks and liars!

Beware of this place and the fake staff that is so incompetent that they dont realize they have charged fees for April for 3 months in a row and dont know their own corporate office #.

I would put my money, time and efforts somewhere else! They only care about their challenges and their supplements bc that is how they make their money! They aren't teaching you how to properly eat or providing accurate support and accountability during and especially afterwards. The last week of their 15 or 20lb challenge is all shenanigans of Tilapia &; asparagus only, dehydration, dieters tea, and fasting. The nutritionist at the Alexandria,Va location, isn't even on site during the week and hardly ever answers your questions. They also don't inform you that their FTDI challenges are 3 shakes a day for like 41 days but it is only a 30 day supply so you either do without or people freak out and have to buy more! (Fyi, you can do without or find stuff cheaper online[blacksheep]). At this location in Va, the owner has been late for Monday weigh-ins more than once. These weigh ins are required/mandatory on Mondays. They bully you into doing their challenges or buying their supplements to the point you are just uncomfortable and give in, so they just stop! This location never had enough equipment, so whoever you workout with, cannot do the same weight as you, so one of you has to go lighter or heavier etc... The owner is just shady and creeps in the back of the classes but both owners claim it is for safety reasons (one owner,the nutritionist, isn't there but on the weekends so they can just keep telling themselves that it's a safety thing, even when 5 people are in the class he does it).They are not a friendly environment and will stab you in the back every chance they get. The male owner made inappropriate comments to me. When I turned in my 30 day notice to leave he said there wasn't a 30 day notice and so we (him, another member, and I) agreed to end in 2 weeks at the end of the already paid month. The other member and I got a call a day later from him, He told me he was just terminating my contract on the spot. The other member missed his call and waited for him to call back and when she called him 2 days later he pretended all was fine and she is still allowed there, (fyi: she talked me into leaving). Then the Female owner called me and accused me of all kinds of things as reasons why they terminated the rest of my 2 week membership. One was dancing in class and another was having an attitude of not wanting to be there bc I didn't complete the exercises properly. She may not remember because she isn't there, but he knows I have to modify certain exercises. I hadn't missed a single 5am class in 7.5 months and only missed 3 Saturday classes bc I have kids. Now he's going around telling everyone I've been banned and not allowed back...I gave my notice and don't ever plan on going back. He's mad I gave a terrible google and yelp review and called him out like I am here, for not doing or knowing how to do his own program that he's selling. *smh*

So please just avoid their drama and save your money and look into macros (which is now their new 16 week program and app you have to pay for! Go figure, yet another challenge.) They really don't know what they are doing, it is just a mess.

So this black sheep just warned you and will tell you to find cheaper better products and services else where, you will be thankful you did! #Blacksheep

Just class times to workout, No showers, no extra cardio, no childcare, just 2 bathrooms near where the owner likes to *** at the class in progress "for safety reasons".