Date of Boot Camp Attended: South Wales – 05/09
Occupation: Director
Age: 28
Where you live: Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire

Your Story: 

I am a 28 yr old career girl who woke up one morning and realised (with a very big thud) I hate my life!. I hated my job, how I looked, who I was and basically the life I was leading – although this time was different. Usually I would blame my boss, the clothes store (for making the sizes smaller than usual), my friends – basically anyone I could – but this time I knew it was me and I knew I had to change.

I worked in a very highly pressurised industry, working on average 12 hr days sometimes over 7 days a week and I think looking back I was so determined to succeed in my career than I sacrificed my happiness and turned to food to the point I was massively lonely, using food for comfort and for the majority of the time I know not very pleasant to be around. Working away from home meant I felt constantly isolated from family and friends to the point where I dreaded waking up on a morning and hated the thought of having to function during the day.

I had never been skinny – even as a child but over the years I had ballooned massively and in December 2008 I found myself at a very low point at a size 24 and well over 23 stone I was literally everything in life I didnt want to be. I would often look at the magazines and see the models in there and think they had it all – the perfect size 10! It was during Xmas in 2008 that I decided enough was enough and it was because of an article in a magazine with Jade Goody in it that I thought how fab she looked and how it seemed a perfect fit – yes it was extreme but after trying diet after diet and constantly dieting I needed something extreme which is why in January 2009 I decided to book.

I remember at the time of booking feeling a kind of overwhelming excitement. People I told looked at me like I was crazy but I didn’t care – for some reason – this time I knew it was right…this was the step to losing the weight.

Your Experience at Boot Camp:

Bootcamp was nothing like I expected. I arrived my car keys were taken and bags searched for any “naughty goodies” and then from that moment on – it was 7 days of pure hard work. I hadn’t run/exercised since my teens and all week I found myself running, climbing, crawling, hiking, abseiling, jumping and doing every type of activity under the sun between the hours of 5.30am and 9pm – My poor body felt absolutely broken and I don’t think my muscles have been that sore – ever!

The days flew and the activities were always different. Whether it was sunny or rained we were usually outside and strangely I felt like a kid again. The PTI’s were amazing and gave you the kick you needed when you were about to give up and the encouragement you needed when it was “too tough”

Within the same week I laughed, cried, swore (lots), hurt, listened and learned.

Every day I was exhausted to the point I wished the day was over before it had started and then the final day came…..it was strange – it was like a week from hell but the best and most fulfilling week of my life. I had lost 10lbs in one week and I had met some of the most amazing women from all different types of backgrounds – some of which I am still in contact with today and some which even though they dont know it have helped change my life forever. From bootcamp I learned that to hit my goal I needed to put myself first.. and not feel guilty

Oh and I learned there were more teas in life than PG Tips – redbush, lemon, green, fruit….the list goes on!

How has it changed your life?:

Boot camp affected me in such a different way than I expected. I went there believing it would be physically demanding and that is how it would change me – ie that I would help me lose weight for that week and then that would be it. What I didn’t prepare myself for was how it would be mentally challenging – to the point I questioned everything, who I was, why I was what I was, why had I allowed myself to get to the point that I was. I changed everything; my outlook on life, putting others before myself, looking at what made me unhappy, my lifestyle, literally everything.

I am not longer the workaholic, morbidly obese, massively unhappy/depressed person with a terrible outlook on life. I go to the gym very often, have a great social life and social circle but more importantly am beginning to believe that I deserve my time just as much as everyone else and that my happiness is also important – and that there is nothing selfish about that

What would you say to anyone thinking of booking on?:

Just do it! Especially to all those that have done every diet under the sun and who think they are “too big” to do it. And to those who say its expensive I would argue its much cheaper than a week in the sun and by doing bootcamp I’ve probably given myself many more years to be able to keep jet setting – not a bad price in comparison – a week’s boot camp for a new (and extended) life!

How much weight and inches did you lose at boot camp?

I know it was 10lb and think it was 10inch.

Have you gone on to lose any further weight or set any goals for your fitness: eg 10k, Marathons etc?

Since leaving bootcamp and since Jan 2009 I have lost 9st 1lb, with about 4st of that post bootcamp. I have lots of goal – many of them ridiculously extreme but love the fact I can look back and think I would collapse at the thought of walking to the shops. In the last year I have completed 3 half marathons and in 2011 intend to do a further 4 half marathons, a 70.3 Ironman and also the New York Marathon.*