At first glance, a high-energy, bootcamp-style gym might seem like a place designed for the already motivated. The early risers, the seasoned athletes, or the ones who thrive on competition. But at The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista, the story is far more inclusive. Whether you’re chasing peak performance or simply searching for a place to begin, The Camp Transformation Center meets you exactly where you are.
Originally opening as a place to help people stay consistent on their individual health and fitness journeys, The Camp (as it’s affectionately referred to) has transformed into something much deeper. While people are actively participating in fitness challenges and crushing their goals, they are also becoming part of a community. Members are referred to as part of the “Awesome Fit Family”–or AFF– and pride themselves on their commitment to encouraging greatness in one another, having fun, and celebrating wins both big and small.
Matt Reilly, owner of The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista, knows firsthand just how transformational The Camp can be. For him, the work he does there is personal.
Matt found the Camp Transformation Center during one of the lowest periods in his life.
After losing both of his parents in quick succession, enduring the breakdown of his marriage, and figuring out life as a single father, he found himself overwhelmed, disconnected, and deeply depressed. He would often get home from work and fall asleep for the entire evening, leaving school projects, nutritious dinners, and extracurriculars for his kids by the wayside. “It was killing me,” Matt remembers. “At that time in my life, I knew that wasn't who I wanted to be. I knew I wasn't who my parents wanted me to be, or the type of father I wanted to be, but I just couldn't snap out of it.”
Then one day, he came across an ad for The Camp Transformation Center. Like many, he had tried traditional large gyms before, hoping that discipline alone would spark change in his life. But it hadn’t. Nothing so far had seemed to really work.
This ad offered the original Camp Transformation signature challenge - lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks and get your money back. He signed up for the challenge, figuring he would work hard, get his money back, and move on with his life. Little did he know that this one decision would change everything about his life.
Matt’s experience at The Camp wasn’t instant magic. The workouts were tough and most mornings he would wake up sore and uncomfortable. In the first week he only lost one pound, and nearly all of his motivation with it. But his coaches encouraged him to keep at it, despite wanting to quit.
Though skeptical, he continued. At the end of each class, the two guys working out beside him would offer a fist bump and a single question: “You coming tomorrow?” The next morning when he woke up sore and unmotivated, it was this promise to his workout buddies that got him out of bed and into the gym, day after day. Soon, one week passed, then two, then three, and his momentum grew. His small wins began to stack and when he rounded the 6 week mark, Matt had met his goal. He was hooked. He asked his coach if he could join another challenge, and he met that goal, too.
During that time, Matt noticed something bigger than his weight changing. Rather than getting home and collapsing into bed, he found himself with an abundance of energy in the evenings. Now he was the one calling his kids downstairs to spend time together, going to the store, and cooking dinner, rather than the other way around. He almost didn’t recognize his old self anymore. His zest for life was back.
“This is the only gym I've ever gone to that I've actually enjoyed going to. The only one that worked. I was getting results, meeting new people, feeling better. That's when everything shifted.”
The Camp Transformation Center helped Matt grow in every area of his life—physically, mentally, emotional, spiritually. It helped him realize that it’s not only about fitness, but about decisions that affect your whole life. He used to feel comfortable with the idea of living for just 20 more years. These days, he has grandchildren and a renewed sense of purpose. His goals for his life have completely changed.
After years of being a member, Matt took it to the next level. Today, he owns the Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista and El Cajon and infuses these philosophies into every class. Workouts are led by experienced trainers and challenges are designed to support people at all fitness levels. Whether you can’t do a single pushup or you prefer to go “beast mode,” everything is structured so that people can simply show up and do the work. There is no guesswork, shaming, or intimidation, just a clear path forward to help people work on their their fitness and reclaim their life. Most importantly, they do it with a community of support behind them. For people like Matt, that’s the thing that makes all the difference.
The Camp Transformation Center in Chula Vista offers group challenges to improve lives through fitness and community support. Every weekday there are classes most hours, on the hour - 6am, 7am, 8am, 9am, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm, and Saturday mornings at 7am, 8am, and 9am.
The 6-Week Transformation Program helps people begin their journey into fitness and weightloss.
Elite Strength training offers semi-private customized training focused specifically on building strength.
The Peak Physique Program is for those ready to put in the toughest work.
And a Membership offers you access to the entire community.
If community support, group classes, no-nonsense discipline, and high levels of support and accountability are what you’re looking for, your next transformation awaits you at The Camp.