I attended the NYBC last week.

I’d had a few tough years. I had like most of us an enormous amount of stress at work, was fearful of failure, was on the work treadmill and had lost focus. Somebody I loved died, I was partying every weekend to avoid the pain, I found comfort in food and alcohol. I was missing the happy hormones given off by running and staying fit.

I gave up my job just as the credit crunch was beginning and just let it all go for a while. I planned and went off on the trip of a lifetime. I travelled around the world, relaxed, felt happy and lost weight naturally with no stress, no worries and I had a wonderful time.

I have maintained a reasonable level of fitness on and off for years. My underlying fitness is pretty good for “my age”. But, my flexibility has decreased and my bodie’s willingness to forgive the “gaps” in fitness training was deteriorating. The extra push to re-fire the muscle memory back to fitness has been getting harder and harder.

I booked on NYBC. I wanted to ensure that I had the motivation to keep at exercise consistently and to learn what I needed to, in order to be able to do so. I also know that the happy hormones, “endorphins” triggered by exercise, keep me mentally healthy – “happy”. I wanted to know what fit and healthy people do, that I wasn’t doing. What did they do differently? What could I learn that I didn’t already know that would make that difference?

Maybe I was doing the right things badly? Maybe I was eating the right things but maybe too much of them? NYBC was my way of finding out.

I expected NYBC to be hard work, painful and an experience to “get through”. What I experienced was hard work, some pain (we can push ourselves a lot further than we think we can), a lot of gain and an experience that I redefined as a “holiday”. I was at once sad and glad to be leaving. The reasons for this were:-

• Everybody on the NYBC remained constantly focussed on the reason for being there (some reasons were similar, some different) BUT we all kept focussed on those reasons when the going got tough.
• We all enjoyed ourselves and we all found time to laugh and enjoy each others company (we had a lot of Fun!)
• The professional instructors kept us focussed, were passionate about what they were doing, were enthusiastic, friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated. I learned a lot from them, they were inspirational, tough and kind. They were also great Fun!
• I learned that I was eating the right food, but just too much of it, too often! I learned portion control. Learned how to breath when exercising, I learned how to run properly.
• For me NYBC was the “last chance saloon” and a kick start to getting in shape and staying in shape.
• I lost 6lbs and 6 inches. 2 inches from my waist in one week was amazing. I was toned and healthy looking.

What happens after NYBC?

I slept for 3 hours! I was exhausted. The same day I then went shopping for some new clothes, did so and felt great. A size smaller than one week ago. JUST ONE WEEK!

I felt good and proud to show off my new shape (before I would hide behind baggy clothes).

I followed the 80/20 rule set at NYBC over the Bank holiday weekend. I avoided the usual fish and chips and ice cream (and didn’t have to fight it), but had a few drinks. I walked it off over the hills in Whitby.

I have kept to the portion control set at NYBC and I’m much more aware of what’s going in and now I crave healthy food instead of junk food.

I went to Argos and bought the basics needed for fitness at home, (boxing gloves, weights, stretch bands, punch bag). I dusted off the trampoline that I’d hidden in the shed.

I exercise every day, I work out my exercise plan for the whole body, then do it. I remember what I was taught about the muscles, vascular shunts, how to warm up and why, how to warm down and why.

I wear a head band when I exercise. I bought it at Boot Camp. It is in camouflage colours, this reminds me daily of the effort that I put in at NYBC. It reminds me to get up and get going, every day. It reminds me of how good it feels to be able to buy tight fitting clothes, one size smaller.

Would I do it all again?

There’s no way I’m going to let the weight go back on and repeat what I did last week. EVER! BUT, I would most certainly go back to increase my fitness levels and push / challenge myself to do better.*