Jen Persson, 38, Storrington, West Sussex

“With Sussex Bootcamps, It Soon Became Clear You Don’t Get Bored, You Get Addicted. Each Week’s Session Was Different From The Last. It’s A Short, Sharp 45-Minute Session With A Variety Of Exercises”

“Where do you start to summarise what Sussex Bootcamps for the rest my life? The easy things to measure and compare are the physical statistics: in 35 days, I lost 10.5cm from my waist, 8cm from my chest, 4cm from my hips. Total weight loss measured 4.1 kilos and still going down. I dropped a jeans size. My kitchen cupboards and fridge are leaner too. After the week-one nutrition talk I went home and decided together with my husband, that we would transition to the Sussex Bootcamps recommended Paleo (-lithic) diet. The biggest difference from what I have done before? It’s diet with a small d – reviewing and changing the total picture of what you eat and drink on a daily basis. It’s not a Diet.

I’ve done all sorts of Diets over the last 20 years. From Diet clubs with points to ones where my fridge ran out of storage for light yoghurts. I’ve tried the food ready-packed in pouches, delivered to your door – where you feel like you should probably get them delivered through the cat flap, as they mostly resemble pet food. I’d tried low-fat, sugar-free everything and juice diets – and to a greater or lesser extent, they were all successful – I always lost weight. But I could never keep it off. Fed up of years of yo-yo dieting I have finally found the way that just seems to make the most sense. Plan your meals weekly and shop accordingly. Eat regular, good quality food and you can be a regular, healthy size. It’s finally easy to cook for the whole family and eat well with a good conscience too. The Paleo lifestyle encourages organic and ethically principled foodstuffs. By cutting down on the amount of processed food our family ate, we’ve significantly cut down on the amount of packaging we put in the bin each week too. Not only am I healthier, but I finally feel like I’m setting the best example on food I can for my children to follow for life.

And on the exercise side? Until I was 21 I was very sporty, and ever since I had tried periodically to get fit in the gym. Or joined a class. Even had a personal trainer from time to time. And I usually got bored and found excuses to give up after a few weeks. With Sussex Bootcamps, it soon became clear you don’t get bored, you get addicted. Each week’s session was different from the last. It’s a short, sharp 45-minute session with a variety of exercises. Often I didn’t feel that the muscles worked too hard in the workout, but noticed the difference a day or two later. Sussex Bootcamps trainers give you ways to improve and make the most of each exercise without making me feel like I was the dunce of the class getting it wrong. Everyone got a fair share of corrections and support, advice on how to adapt an exercise for a bad back or injury. I fitted in regular sessions and the results are clear. My blood pressure is down to 110/60 too. I make a point of getting more sleep and drinking more water.

My skin is better hydrated and my hair and nails noticeably stronger. All of this seems almost incredible after just six weeks, but it’s a real difference.”

Weight: 73.7kg / 69.6kg Waist: 98cm / 87.5cm Hips: 106cm / 102cm Chest: 102cm / 94cm

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Kate Miller,Horsham

“I’VE LOST 4.5 STONE, GONE DOWN 4 DRESS SIZES & RAN A HALF MARATHON – ALL IN 14 MONTHS!”

“I joined Sussex Bootcamps in May 2009 after sheer frustration that none of my clothes would fit, and after a sharp reprimand by the Doctor for being overweight!

At 15st 4lbs I was by no means at my biggest, but after losing three stones a few years previously (having topped out at around 16stones) the weight had slowly crept back on.

I’d pretty much always been an overweight adult, and endured the embarrassment of being the ‘fat friend’, or buying clothes to cover-up.

Like most of us, I’d been an active teenager enjoying and participating in sports to a fair level, but work, life, and all the other distractions that beckon you in your teens and twenties had taken over. I hadn’t been properly active apart from a few fruitless gym efforts for almost ten years.

The team at Sussex Bootcamps were immediately welcoming, and I was added as a member to their impressive and informative website, with the added bonus of a members’ forum!

Sessions were tough, but not unbearable and each member was continually encouraged to try their hardest through a series of varied exercises challenging the entire body. The use of interval training quickly reaped results and within weeks I was fitter and able to advance to the more challenging options.

Nutritional talks, monthly challenges, feedback, and the camaraderie shared with your fellow bootcampers made the whole process much more enjoyable than regular exercise!

Fourteen months later, and my journey is pretty much complete. I’m now weighing in at a respectable 10st 12lbs (a perfect weight for my 5’10 height). My measurements have gone from 42-36-44 to 34-27-35, and I’ve dropped from a size 16-18 to a size 10. More importantly, my body mass index has reduced from the ‘obese’ to ‘normal’ category, and my body fat is now 18.6% from around 40% – a figure that was wholly dangerous.

The whole process has been a complete epiphany for me. I’ve worked out that I can work hard at my job and still fit time in for exercise, and learnt the benefits of properly fuelling the body through nutrition. I have also transformed from someone who couldn’t run a mile just over 12months ago, to someone who ran a half-marathon for fun the other evening!

For those that are considering joining I would urge you to give it a go. I couldn’t have reached my goals without the incredible team at SBC. I promise you’ll love it!”

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Jackie Heather, Crawley

“It Proved To Me What We Are Told – If You Get The Nutrition And Exercise Right You Get Results”

“I joined Sussex Bootcamps in November 2010 to help me lose weight and get fit. I had been a member of a gym but found myself going less and less until I stopped altogether (but still paid the money every month!) So after much thinking, I thought I would try Bootcamp, something different. One year later I’m still going 3 times a week come rain or shine and even try to do my own mini bootcamps at home on the days off……. I’m addicted!

Over the year I’ve gone from a size 16 to size 12/14, I’ve lost 1 1/2 stone in weight, lost 2 inches from my chest, 1 inch from my waist, 3 inches from my hips and 2 1/2 inches from my thighs. I have achieved this with the help and encouragement of Jo my trainer and my fellow Bootcampers. Although the sessions can be hard and challenging they still seem to be fun.

I find myself pushing to try and do more of each exercise and to try and do the harder options. I took part in the Win Jeans Challenge and am proud to say I won. The main reason I took part was to keep a check on my eating habits. I did change things and it worked. I lost 5 1/2 cms from my waist and 5cms from my hips in a month. It proved to me what we are told – if you get the nutrition and exercise right you get results.

What I like about Bootcamp is every session is different; I never get bored. I’m always greeted with a friendly smile from Jo and always her words of encouragement spur me on. I’ve got to know some inspiring people that keep me positive. The benefits I’ve found are that I sleep better, I’m getting into clothes I haven’t been able to for a few years, and I feel more positive on life. To anyone thinking of joining Bootcamp I would say DON’T DELAY DO IT TODAY, YOU WON’T REGRET IT!”

 

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  Ian Passmore, Horsham 1915

“I Have Now Lost 23lbs & A Total Of 17 Inches”

“As I write this I am about to start my 10^th Sussex Boot camp; it only seems like yesterday that I started my first.  After finishing playing football in my early thirties I did what the majority of men my age tend to do and that is nothing.  I would come home from work sit on the sofa, watch TV and eat; it was the same every day. Gradually the weight went on; before I knew it I was at least a stone overweight, my fitness suffered too and although I cycle to work every day it didn’t seem to help. Over the years I had tried to diet, joined gyms and went out running, with some success, but I never managed to keep it going for any length of time. Then around last Christmas I decided that I had to do something about it; I had seen SBC advertised so I thought that I would go on the website and find out some more.  After reading some of the testimonials I took the plunge and signed up for the first  boot camp in January. I didn’t know quite what to expect so I was a bit nervous when I attended the first session but I needn’t have worried as I received a warm welcome from Katie and other members of the group.  As I started to work my way through the sessions I began to see improvements in my fitness and weight as well as my first experience of the now familiar boot camp ache. I found that I was beginning to enjoy myself and by the third week I had signed up for a further 3 months – I was hooked!!  By the end of that first month I had lost 7lbs in weight, an inch of my waist and 2 inches off my hips. The improvements didn’t stop there – by the time I had got to the April camp I had lost just over a stone in weight, 5 inches off my hips, 3 inches off my waist and 4 inches off my chest. It was about this time that I mentioned to Katie that I would like to do a 10k run at some time in the future, she said that the Horsham 10k was coming up soon and that I could do that no problem at all.  So I signed up for the race, yes I did complete it and to my surprise I found that (once I had recovered) I enjoyed the run.  With Katie’s encouragement I also completed the Cranleigh 10k and then entered the Barns Green Half Marathon.  I managed to complete the race in less than 2 hours (crossing the line looking very pale); although the race was tough it was nothing compared to the squats at boot camp the next day! I don’t think I could have achieved half the things that I have this year without Katie’s help and encouragement, I think she very quickly realised that I was quite competitive and that she could push me  quite hard for which I thank her. Katie always has a smile on her face, has a positive attitude at every session which transmits to the group as a whole and as a result everybody has a ‘can do’ attitude.  Being that I am a bit of a grumpy old man it is nice to be in a positive environment and this is one of the many things that I enjoy about SBC along with running, burpees (apologies to other boot campers), I also enjoy the banter that we have as a group. Every session we have is different and even though Katie makes us work hard we still have a laugh with each other. I have now lost 23lbs and a total of 17 inches since the start of this year, but it is the small things that I never even considered, such as learning to skip, and neon training gear that have surprised me.  So if you are thinking about signing up to SBC, go for it, as you will gain much more than you think.” __________________________________________________________________________________________

Pat Young, Crawley, Member Of The Year 2010

“I HAVE THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF A 21 YEAR OLD!”

“I joined Sussex Bootcamps in November 2009 initially to improve my health and fitness and to lose weight.  I had been diagnosed with elevated blood pressure and I wanted to lose weight in the hope of reducing my BP to safe levels.  I had allowed myself to become seriously unfit and I wanted to correct this. The results have exceeded my expectations on all counts.  First of all from a health perspective I have lost 16.6 Kilos in weight (36.5 lbs), 25.4 centimetres off my waist (10 inches) and 10.2 centimetres off my collar (4 inches).  On a recent visit to my doctors to have my blood pressure checked I was told that I “had eliminated my risk of stroke”! On my very first Bootcamp session we were given press ups to do and I could barely manage one.  I can now manage between forty five and fifty.  I have competed in three 10K races, the first one took me just over an hour and the next two I completed in just under one hour.  Last month (October 2011) I completed the Barnes Green Half Marathon in 2hrs 26mins and I have entered another half marathon in February where I am aiming for the two hour mark. My big goal for 2012 is to complete a marathon in four hours or less.Some of my family and friends are now calling me skinny!  Yes, this brings a smile to my face and an inner feeling of glee.  In addition to the weight loss and much increased fitness my body is becoming very toned and firm, this is very nice too.  I have more stamina and energy in all areas of my life which is priceless. To top all that, last year I won the ‘Sussex Bootcamper’ of the year competition.  I am just knocked out and proud of myself to be nominated again this year. I enjoy the group energy and find it very encouraging.  The atmosphere is supportive, warm and friendly.  We laugh a lot.  There is no pressure.  We do not compete with each other, only with ourselves, trying every time to go a little bit farther and work a little bit harder. I love working outdoors in all weathers.  I love feeling good about myself and the energy rush and satisfaction that comes from completing each and every Bootcamp.  I like the ability to join other Sussex Bootcamp sessions when I am unable to attend my own regular session; this fits in with my sometimes erratic work schedule, and what it means in practice is that I never miss a session. Over the last two years I have met and worked with most of the Sussex Bootcamp Instructors.  They are all highly qualified and knowledgeable professionals who share their skills readily and create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.  Even though Sussex Bootcamps is a group experience I feel I have received plenty of individual instruction and coaching input which has helped me greatly. To anyone thinking of joining Sussex Bootcamps I would say “just do it and change your life.” My life before Sussex Bootcamps was becoming more and more sedentary.  I was worried about my health and blood pressure and did not enjoy strenuous activity. Jo, who is my regular trainer, has played a big role in my development over the past year.  She is extremely knowledgeable, highly qualified and competent and is an extremely warm and friendly person.  She runs our sessions with the right mixture of warmth, humour and gentle chiding.” _________________________________________________________________________________________

 Jackie Kershaw, Haywards Heath

  “I Can Feel My Own Strength Has Greatly Improved, As Has My Flexibility.  After Every Class My Head Feels Clearer & More Positive”

“Wow, thanks Steve so much for nominating me; I was totally shocked but thrilled to be nominated, for something I do because I enjoy it! From memory, I first joined Sussex Boot Camp (SBC) in October 2009 at the 6.15 am class!  I have always enjoyed keeping fit but was finding it increasingly difficult to get booked into classes at my local leisure centre, plus commitments a work.  I reached the stage when enough was enough and knew I had to do something positive.

I had seen SBC advertised and recognised Steve from when he used to teach me Nia!! and knew what an excellent trainer he is.  I took the bold step of telling my boss one day that I was going to join SBC but he could decide which class I went to as it would mean me either getting in after 9.00 am or leaving at 5.00 pm.  He chose the former, so whilst pushing the thought of having to get up at 5.30 am to the back of my mind, I immediately went on line and booked myself up so I was committed to go!  I admit, the first day as I sat in my car in the dark at 6.00 am I did wonder what on earth I was doing! 

After the first session, I was hooked.  After a few months, I had a short break, changes at work etc but SBC was in my blood and so I booked up again in the September 2010 (luckily my then new boss was happy for me to go to the evening session) and that is where I have been since. For me, I love the variety that SBC offers, every class is well thought out, different, uses techniques to ensure all parts of your body are exercised, some core, cardio and after every session I feel physically and mentally challenged but invigorated and leave the class feeling great.

My aims have and continue to be to keep my body and mind in the best shape possible, to tone up as much as I can (still a long way to go on this)! and to enjoy myself at the same time.  I constantly compete against myself to go up a stage (I can now do full press ups, run faster and further to my train station than I used to! skip for longer etc.)  I can feel my own strength has greatly improved, as has my flexibility.  After every class my head feels clearer and more positive.  I try to follow a healthy diet, not perfect,  but yes, I occasionally have chocolate (dark of course)! and other goodies but try to take on board the principles SBC teach.

I now try to eat more protein and have taken up the daily dose of seaweed (once you get the knack of how to take it, it is ok)! Whatever kind of day I have had, I try to attend every class (if I do miss a class for leave or similar reasons I will do a double session) because I know I will, and always do, feel so much better for going.  Steve is (ok I am bias here) the best trainer you could ask for.  His enthusiasm is infectous, he encourages everyone to do the best they can and to push themselves that little bit more.  He always takes the time to listen, answer questions and to give support and advice.  He constantly comes up with new approaches for us to try – I recently went along to the session on foam rollers for mobility but noticed it also worked the core muscles too!

For me, keeping fit and healthy is part of my life.  On the one to one forms recently distributed, one of the questions was: “When do you think you will achieve your goals”?  I replied never.  To keep myself in the best condition possible, I feel I need to exercise on a regular basis, forever. For anyone wanting to feel better inside and out, in a class/fun environment, with one to one help, to make wonderful friends, to have variety at every session, then SBC is the place to be.”

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Tamsyn Curr, Haywards Heath

“I’VE DEVELOPED THE ENTHUSIASM & POSITIVITY TO KEEP GOING AND AIM FOR MORE!”

 

“In July 2009 I decided I desperately wanted to make a change to my lifestyle. I had had a tough year at work and in my personal life and as a consequence had been feeling very low and seeking comfort in food. This caused me to put on a lot of weight which wasn’t good as I was already on the large side as a result I hated what I saw in the mirror, which led to more unhappiness and more comfort eating. So, I took it upon myself to google ‘Personal Trainers in Haywards Heath’ as I knew I would need outside motivation to stick to any kind of exercise plan. I stumbled across Sussex Bootcamps and before I lost my nerve I had signed myself up for the August bootcamp.

I was very nervous at my first session but needn’t have worried, Steve was very welcoming and I soon found out that the rest of the group were open, supportive and social. I loved the bootcamp sessions from the start, especially boxing, and after every session felt that I had achieved something and been challenged to push myself to my limit. As well as the exercise I was pleased to discover that Sussex Bootcamps also gave advice about nutrition. After the nutritional talk I began to adjust my diet, I cut out alcohol completely and really tried to follow the idea of balancing my meals better. To my surprise the weight started to come off relatively easily and by the end of the first bootcamp I had lost 1/2 stone, found an enjoyment in exercise and found a whole new group of friends who I saw socially on a regular basis.

Sussex Bootcamps has now been an integral part of my life for 14 months and I have done 12 bootcamps. In that time I have lost 5 stone, dropped 4 dress sizes and lots of inches; each arm: -2 inches, bust: -6 inches, waist: – 7 inches, hips: – 10 inches, each thigh: -5 inches. In addition my general fitness has changed dramatically. I still enjoy doing a bootcamp session 3 times a week and now also swim once a week. My whole attitude to exercise has changed and I take great pleasure in noticing improvements in my fitness, like being able to increase the number of full press ups I can do.

Sussex Bootcamps has helped to revolutionise my life and I can’t thank them enough for the motivation and support that has helped me stay on track and achieve the goals I have set myself. I plan to continue doing bootcamps until I reach my new goals of losing 2 more stone and/or dropping another dress size and I will probably continue doing bootcamps forever more as it’s the only exercise I have ever stuck to and thoroughly enjoyed. I am a huge advocate for Sussex Bootcamps and all that they provide and urge anyone contemplating joining to definitely give it a go.”

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Christian Bates BSc(Hons) Osteopath And Naturopath

“I RECOMMEND SUSSEX BOOTCAMPS TO MY PATIENTS TO LOSE WEIGHT, INCREASE MOVEMENT & STRENGHTEN THEIR CORE!”

“What is the best thing I can say about Sussex Bootcamps? Well I’ve been told I’ve lost weight (I never weigh myself so I’ll take their word for it), that I look trimmer (always a nice comment to receive), I feel much fitter and I have no guilt about not going to the gym. It could be any of these but for me it is the fact I haven’t missed a single Bootcamp session for five months because “I couldn’t be bothered”. Who can say this about going to the gym? I certainly couldn’t. You know what it is like, you go home, sit down and getting up to go to the gym just isn’t happening. This has never happened to me for Sussex Bootcamps. I look forward to the workout, challenging but always in a feel good way. I also like that I know it is a set time, every week, it is an appointment in my diary that I don’t miss. And that is a great feeling too, knowing that my health from an exercise perspective is taken care of at the beginning of the week.

On a professional note I recommend many of my patients to Sussex Bootcamps to help them lose weight, increase their movement, strengthen their core and generally to get them out the office in the fresh air! I also know that Steve, Ben and the team at Sussex Bootcamps are right up to date on everything fitness and the exercises at Bootcamp are just the sort of full body, functional movements that I want my patients to perform.”

Christian Bates BSc(Hons) Ost. Med., DO, ND, CMTA Osteopath And Naturopath
http://www.theperrymount.com

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Chloe Collyer, Horsham Bootcamp, 7.15pm

“NEW FOUND BODY CONFDENCE!”

” I joined Sussex Bootcamps 18 months ago and have never looked back. What started as a one-month boost to lose some weight and improve my waning fitness levels won’t end anytime soon.

I saw a dramatic improvement in my fitness in the first month and the pounds fell off, and with the support and encouragement that comes from being a member you are inspired to set new goals.

After two months I had lost a stone and two inches from my waist, and now I have lost an extra half stone and in total four inches from my waist. I am now an easy size 8-10, and I’m actually wearing some clothes from when I was 16 – comfortably!

Sussex Bootcamps has had an immensely positive effect on my life. I sleep better, I have more energy and of course my clothes fit better. A surprise result is that it really minimizes my symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder which I can suffer badly from, and with the nutritional talks I know how to genuinely stay full, be healthy and lose weight. So many people have commented on how I look, and this is not just down to losing pounds, but from my new-found body confidence.

A huge part of Sussex Bootcamps are the people you meet. You create strong friendships, and you’re always there to support and encourage each other, especially with the members forum. Joining Sussex Bootcamps has far exceeded my expectations. I didn’t realize I would get such amazing results, and I didn’t realize that I would have so much fun – it has felt so easy! I know that Sussex Bootcamps far outways my old gym membership in terms of value for money as I actually go!

I now have long-term goals that I wouldn’t have dreamt of before, and surprisingly weight loss is at the back of my list of priorities. People in my group have been doing marathons and half marathons, which I have always wanted to do. I am now running in my spare time, and with the encouragement I get I know that it can actually happen.

If anyone is wondering whether to join up I would simply say DO IT! I was scared before signing up. One minute I thought it would be too tough, then too easy, or that signing up for 3 times a week would be too hard to fit into my already hectic schedule, but it’s amazing how the sessions fit into your diary. In each group there are all different fitness levels, but each exercise has difficulty options, so not only do you take it at your own pace, you know you’re improving when you find yourself working at a higher level.

Through me raving on about how much I love Sussex Bootcamps and from seeing my results, I have had four family members sign up, five friends join the summer 10 week challenge, and I’m working on a few more too. Thank you Sussex Bootcamps!”

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Alan Cambridge, Horsham Bootcamp, 7.15pm

“MOTIVATING AND ENCOURAGING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY”

 

“I joined Bootcamp back in June 2009 for a variety of reasons, some as you would expect and some you may not. Yes, weight loss and fitness were up there in the list of priorities (years of sitting behind a desk meant I was overweight and unfit), but for me this was as much about improving my mental wellbeing as well as the physical. Having suffered from stress and depression I needed to regain control of my life and Bootcamp became the catalyst for the changes I needed to make.

Now I would not miss it for the world. I am fitter, stronger,  slimmer and have remembered how to laugh.  My posture has improved greatly and I feel taller simply because of the way I now walk. My blood pressure has dropped and my energy levels have increased significantly.

The Horsham 7:15 group have turned from acquaintances into great friends and my bootcamp journey would not have been possible without them, motivating and encouraging every step of the way. When it’s cold and wet and you are already home, the Members Forum chit chat really works in getting you out of the armchair and down to the park. On the way home you feel great (hot and sweaty I accept, but happy none the less) and pleased that your friends gave you the “encouragement” needed to keep going.

Regular social events, complementary seminars and talks, the Members Forum and motivational e-mails make Bootcamp the complete package. Rather than being a membership number at a faceless gym you feel like part of a family where the Bootcamp team really do put everything they can into you achieving your objectives

Bootcamp is not all about the physical and I have found the nutritional talks a great benefit. To really get the most from the experience it really is about a lifestyle change not 135 minutes of keep fit every week. Lessons learnt about nutrition give you that added dimension to help you achieve your goals and make the changes you want. I never had breakfast, always ate junk on the run and pigged out in the evening. I would say that simply by listening to the Bootcamp teams’ nutritional talks and changing my eating habits, this single action has had asbigger impact on my weight as the fitness side of Bootcamp.

If you want to change and would benefit from the motivation of others there is no better way to start than join Sussex Bootcamps. Fresh air, great people, great fun and about as far away from a smelly, sweaty gym full of ego’s and muscles as you could get.

As I enter my second year of Bootcamp I have resigned from my job in a large blue chip organisation, set up my own company employing 12 people and would have to say that a big part of the motivation and confidenceto make this change came from my involvement in Sussex Bootcamp.”

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Gill Phipps, Horsham Bootcamp, 6.15pm

“I’VE GAINED MUCH MORE ENERGY, AM SLEEPING BETTER AND AM MENTALLY MORE BALANCED”

“This time last year I was wondering if I could commit to joining Sussex Bootcamps and spend 3 nights a week for 4 weeks trying to exercise in the dark and the cold in the middle of Horsham Park.

I didn’t realise how addictive it would be.  My niece and sister in law had both sung the praises of Katie, and the results of their workouts were obvious to see, so I thought I’d give it a go, my youngest daughter had just gone to university so I now had some time to devote to stopping my middle age spread spreading too far!

So did I make the right decision? Absolutely! The results have been multi- dimensional; I have lost 22lbs, dropped 2 dress sizes (stolen my daughter’s size 10 jeans,) but that’s just on the outside.  Inside I have more energy – I can now run up the stairs at work without needing resuscitation , I  sleep better and even my migraines are a little bit better.

I can’t say that I am totally obedient when it comes to nutrition but my diet is much improved.  I don’t miss lunch any more and it is usually healthy as is dinner, but I still have a glass of wine with it – surely that counts a grapes!  One of my original concerns was doing something on my own after 23 years of being either partner or mother of someone else and I felt very nervous to begin with, but I shouldn’t have. I’ve made some brilliant friends, laughing as much as exercising.  I’m sure that my improvements in running wouldn’t have happened if Sharon wasn’t pushing me.

Bootcamp is now part of my life - its the first thing that goes in the diary and if possible trips are planned in the “off week”.  So what about the next year seeing as I’ve signed up for it?  I would like to loose another half stone and Katie I’m going to set a goal that is just between you and me – I would like to run a 10k and I’m saying run, not jog or stroll, but I’m not giving a time, but that’s just between us.”

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 Annette Maguire, Horsham Bootcamper

“I HAVE LOST SOME WEIGHT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY INCHES AND MY KIDS ARE HONEST CRITICS”

“Wow!!!!!!!!! What can I say, I can’t believe it’s the end of Bootcamp as they have flown by.

The biggest difference to me has been my confidence. I also have achieved my goal of running the mile round Horsham park which seemed a impossible task at the start but what made it more special was the support from everyone.

I have lost some weight but more importantly inches and my kids are honest critics , who have noticed Mum’s double chin has gone , the turkey wings have disappeared [top of arms] and have a smaller belly.

For me I have noticed my legs are more toned, a walnut bum and lost some of the flab.

I knew when I signed up you could not perform miracles in 4 weeks so you are going to have to put up with me till I reach my goal size .The journey I have started has been a rollercoaster of emotions but it has been made great by everybody’s encouragement and support.

Another thing that has happened in the 4 weeks of camp has been my fitness which has improved greatly, Katie and Mark are the best trainers and all the way through have made you push yourself that little bit more.

I wish to thank you for helping me achieve my goals and as I said earlier you now have to put up with me till I reach my end goal which is to have a normal BMI and fat content in my body. What can I say but I love bootcamp!”

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Sue Parsons, Horsham Bootcamp, 7.15pm

“I’VE LOST WEIGHT, TONED UP AND LOVE EXERCISING OUT DOORS”

Here I am BootCamp member of the month – what an achievement. I joined in August 2009 feeling very sluggish, outgrowing my clothes and beginning to get a bit depressed about the whole thing. The first couple of sessions I thought I was going to expire! I came back for more not wanting to be beaten (plus I’d paid in advance ) and I was very pleased that I did. I love exercising outdoors and found that the Winter didn’t seem half so long, those sessions helped me enormously with Winter Blues (SAD)as it’s called . The guys in the group are great, they give encouragement and support – plus we have a lot of fun. I really miss Bootcamp when we get our week off. I’ve surprised myself at what I am now able to do and wobbling is in the past (just about). My fitness level has increased more than I expected for someone of my young years and I have achieved good results. I’ve lost weight and generally toned up with work still in progress for the upper arms, I also feel more positive about myself. So, “bring it on” as Katie says with new goals to set myself and looking forward to beating away those long Winter evenings again.

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Rebecca D’Arcy, Haywards Heath

“I’ve Lost Just Over A Stone & Dropped A Dress Size; I’m The Size I Was In My Early 20s So At 38 That Makes Me A Very Happy Girl!”

“My Sussex Bootcamp journey started about a year and a half ago when a friend told me how great it was and I managed to convince my partner that we should give it a try together. For the previous five or so years I’d been part of the rat-race, becoming a commuter and throwing myself wholeheartedly into an amazing but busy job. This gave me an excuse not to exercise and where I’d previously been active and motivated, I’d become lethargic and disengaged with my potential fitness options. Gym? Tried it and failed because working alone meant I didn’t push myself and see results. Classes? Tried that too – Step Aerobics, Body Pump, blah blah blah, – sadly the classes I wanted or enjoyed started before I got home from work. My real passion is horse riding and I used to be really fit looking after horses and just being outdoors meant that I was always moving around so it was no surprise that a busy working life (and a few corporate lunches!) saw things spiral and before I knew it I was out of shape and feeling at a loss about how to change it.Since joining Bootcamp I’ve lost just over a stone and dropped a dress size – I’m the size I was in my early 20’s so at 38 that makes me a very happy girl! I also sleep better because I’m physically tired and it’s amazing how not being exhausted all the time helps me be more productive, do my job better and manage stress in a more effective way.  I love everything about Sussex Bootcamps and it’s become an integral part of my routine – there’re no more excuses and I realised that if you really want something you’ll make the change and just do it. The variety of exercises keeps me interested and the camaraderie and social dynamics of the group keep me motivated to constantly push myself to see what I can achieve.  My trainer Steve gives great advice on nutrition and he makes the sessions fun. It’s important to enjoy exercise otherwise it’s easy to give up, so we always make sure we have some laughs too.  I’d recommend Sussex Bootcamps in a heartbeat – feel better, sleep better, lose weight, make great new friends…. What’s not to love?!      

Emily Orsbourne, Horsham

“I am so grateful to Sussex Bootcamps for showing me that exercise doesn’t have to be about being on a treadmill or cross trainer for hours on end, and that I can better results from getting outside for 45 minutes”

“I had seen Bootcamps in action in Horsham and Cuckfield. I felt inspired to do something, but at the same time had done absolutely nothing about it! I was eating fairly healthily most of the time, but probably had too much on my plate and was eating seconds. My partner started a diet, stuck to it and lost close to 3 stone in four months and looked fantastic. Rather than be inspired by him, I ate more and more! I was forever making excuses for not joining Bootcamp but then I thought that if I didn’t do it, I never would! It was time to take charge, as I am the only person that can make a difference to me. I want to be outside making the most of the Summer. So, buoyed up by a G&T (!), I got my card out, signed up and dusted off my trainers.” Fast forward 4 weeks: “I have really loved the past few weeks. I am so pleased that I signed up, and didn’t listen to the niggles and excuses that have stopped me in the past. I have made some really positive changes along the way to my diet and the way I think about food and exercise, without any sacrifice. I feel much better ad feel quite invincible, like anything is possible. I have lost weight and inches and my clothes fit better. I feel better and this has all been manageable in 4 weeks of eating sensibly, with the odd square of 70% dark chocolate here and there, and the occasional glass of something, without feeling deprived for one moment, or the need to have more than I should. I am so grateful to Sussex Bootcamps for showing me that exercise doesn’t have to be about being on a treadmill or cross trainer for hours on end, and that I can better results from getting outside for 45 minutes. I am still a little way off from where I would like to be overall, but hopefully, come my 40th birthday in November, I will pretty much be there. I have got a lot more out of this than I think I realised was possible. I think you may have a Bootcamp convert on your hands! Thank You!”

Sarah Razzell, Haywards Heath

“It Has Made Such A Difference To My Life, It Has Not Only Changed My Outlook Of Exercise & Nutrition In A Positive Way But Has Also Given Me Courage, Confidence & Motivation To Achieve My Goals – I Leave Every Session With A Big Smile!”

“I have been exercising with Sussex Bootcamps now for over a year.  I started last September… thinking about it before that the extent of my exercise was at Primary School, where I have medals, badges and trophies for cross country running, sprinting, long jump and netball… at secondary school exercise fell by the wayside and the only thing I was marginally good at was sprinting and field athletics.  When I finished school I wasn’t interested in exercise, what was the point, we weren’t forced to do it anymore as part of lessons, phew!  I basically gave up and started enjoying food and alcohol instead!

Between then and now I joined a couple of gyms and followed my male friends around, except whilst they wanted to do weights I was desperate to get back into cardio workouts.  I always ended up on the cross trainer or treadmill on my own and got bored – it was so dull and to be honest, I was embarrassed as, my fitness was, in my mind, awful!  Not only was I knackered, but I looked like a sweaty tomato and felt people were judging me. Therefore gyms, it turned out, were never for me.

So instead I brought a cross trainer and one day decided, right I need to change my life!!  I couldn’t tell you what it was that suddenly made me snap into a decision which has in turn changed my life, but whatever it was, I am thankful.  I started doing sessions on my cross trainer, 10 mins, 3 times and week, and honestly, it killed me, I was so unfit! However I persisted and those 10 mins turned in to 15, 20 and then 30 mins.  Weight fell off me and people at work were full of compliments.

The next step for me was running; I was desperate to get back into my primary school running days, and knowing I could run 8k on the cross trainer no problem, gave me the confidence to go out running…   Hmmm, little did I know that cross training and running was so very different.  I ran to the end of the road and could hardly breathe, my legs gave up and I walked home with a deep disappointment in myself…   I told my friend, who recommended I try other exercise and not just cross training, so she dragged me along to a boxercise lesson.

I loved it!  Felt great afterwards and was nice to work out in a group of people and my friend who egged me on.  Steve was the trainer for boxercise and as a great marketing tool, he was wearing his Sussex Bootcamps t-shirt.  When I got home I looked it up on the internet, I liked what I read and thought it was the perfect way to improve my fitness so I signed up straight away!  I have to say I was incredibly scared at first and only expected to be there a month, but 14 months on I haven’t looked back!

Since joining Sussex Bootcamps, I have never done as much exercise as I am doing now and I can honestly say that I love it!  I love the 3 different style workouts we do a week, my favourite session being ‘easy Wednesday’ which is anything but easy!!  In my opinion Wednesday’s are the hardest and that’s why it’s my favourite; I love pushing myself, comparing myself against some of the amazing people in my group and seeing how I progress from session to session.

Steve probably doesn’t know this unless he sees my lips moving, but most of the time I am counting what I am doing and when he says 10 seconds to go, I push myself if I haven’t done the number I know I can, or push myself to break my own personal record!!  For example, things I can do in a minute are: 40 squats, 30 burpees, 180 skips… to name a few.  My fitness and overall wellbeing has improved 110% since I started at Sussex Bootcamps;

I can do exercises I never imagined myself doing, and then progressing to the harder versions.   I cannot imagine my evenings without Sussex Bootcamps; I actually arrange my life around it.  My eating habits have totally changed.  My friends used to know me for having a drawer of sweets and chocolate but I can safely say I don’t have that anymore, although I do enjoy some chocolate now and again!

Over the summer when I completed the 6 week challenge, I decided to start the Paleo diet and although I don’t follow the diet as strictly as Steve does, it makes me now think about what I am putting in my body and question choices within my diet, for example, now I don’t eat bread or potatoes at all.  With the change in my exercise and diet, I have so much more energy and feel ready to take on anything! 

I look forward to seeing what each session brings, and really enjoy it when Steve tries something new and pushes us hard; this last month (October) has been a hard month and I have enjoyed it immensely.   I’ve only ever missed a few sessions in the time I have been with Sussex Bootcamps and those missed sessions have never been because I can’t be bothered to go, it’s due to illness or work, and when I do miss a session I am so disappointed that I’m missing out! Steve is a great and talented trainer, he really makes our sessions what they are, we all miss him when he is not there and enjoy sharing our achievements with him.

He pushes us when we need it and is always there to offer advice, plus it’s great to have a bit of banter with him and tease him! The whole Haywards Heath 19:15 group are a fabulous group of people; I didn’t really plan to make friends when I joined Sussex Bootcamps but I have, it’s such a social place and we all see each other away from Bootcamp.  I enjoy matching myself against my fellow Bootcampers, comparing my fitness to theirs; they and Steve are the ones who motivate me to do as well as I can.  I enjoy seeing us all progress as a group and stepping our exercises up to the next level.

If anyone was thinking about improving their fitness and losing weight, I would thoroughly recommend Sussex Bootcamps.  It has made such a difference to my life, it has not only changed my outlook of exercise and nutrition in a positive way but has also given me courage, confidence and motivation to achieve my goals – I leave every session with a big smile!  It is a lifestyle change and I have learnt so much from attending each session.  Sussex Bootcamps is certainly a fantastic addiction!! Thank you to all involved in running Sussex Bootcamps.”

 

 

 Penny Pain, Worthing

“I Have An Unlimited Supply Of Energy Now, I Have Toned Up Well & I Am Slowing Changing My Eating Habits”

“Before I joined Sussex Bootcamps I could never stick to any exercise routine for long.  I tried the gym – all I lost was money and confidence.  I tried swimming – but hated getting changed when cold and wet and ended up with goggle eyes for hours after.  I tried jogging – cheap but oh so boring and I never made it past going round the block!  I could feel my body slowing down and I was becoming a guilty couch potato. I knew if I found the right plan I would become focused.  Mentally I was ready but for what…?  I decided to look on the internet for a personal trainer to at least start me on my way, but I also liked the idea of an intensive Bootcamp.  Having scoured the internet I found the perfect solution: Bootcamp and personal trainer in one – “Sussex Bootcamps” and I’ve never looked back! It was absolutely pouring with rain on my very first session; I had also turned up half an hour early so I wouldn’t be late – I was convinced that no one would do an exercise routine in this weather – how wrong could I be – that was 15 months ago and I have never missed a session and I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I don’t have an amazing life changing story to tell.  I haven’t gone on to run marathons or dropped 3 dress sizes but I probably represent 80% of the members.   I always turn up, put 100% into each session and I have become a Bootcamp Addict. One of the main reasons I have stayed committed are the wonderful friends I have made who make the classes so enjoyable.  We laugh, moan and groan but we do it together and without Susie’s amazing enthusiasm we would have given up long ago.  I have never seen Susie without a smile even at 6.00 in the morning.  She is always encouraging and is a good tonic for the day. I am so committed to SBC I would love to set up a stand in Worthing and encourage more members.  It’s not for everyone, it’s not cheap, but for £3 a day I think my health is worth it. The benefits – I have lost a few inches, I have an unlimited supply of energy now, I have toned up well and I am slowing changing my eating habits.  I still have the odd drink at the weekends and I am no saint by some standards, butto me this is a gradual but sustainable improvement and I’m not finished yet!”      

 Kerry Norwood, Worthing

“To Anyone Thinking Of Joining, I Would Say “Do it!”  Everyone Is Really Friendly & Supportive.  It Is The Thing For You If You Want Sustainable Long Term Fitness Based On Varied Exercise & Good Nutrition Advice”

“I qualified as a Solicitor 7 years ago and it is a job which is often stressful.  It also involves sitting at a desk for most of the day, starting early and often working late.  The result being that thinking about healthy eating and exercise don’t get a look in.  The other consequence is not fitting in exercise.  I can’t commit to evening classes due to working late regularly. Combined with reaching my early thirties where it’s not so easy to eat what you want without working it off – made me reach the conclusion that I wanted to do something to look after myself a bit more!

Another reason for continuing with Sussex Bootcamps is that I am getting married in June 2012 and want to be in the best physical condition possible.  I truly believe that focussing on your nutrition combined with regular exercise is key to having good hair and skin and looking toned on your wedding day! I can’t show you a dramatic before and after picture – the results I have achieved are more subtle than that.

My aim was not to lose weight so I was pleased that whilst this might be a result of attending Sussex Bootcamps, this was not the sole focus.  Since joining SBC I have noticed that I am much more toned and I have more stamina now.  By changing my eating habits, I feel that I have much more energy.  I snack on nuts instead of crisps, have wholemeal bread instead of white and swap ordinary cooking oil for coconut oil.

All simple things but collectively they make a difference.  I drink green tea and peppermint tea instead of the caffeine laden stuff out of the vending machine at work.  This means I have less “slumps” during the day and generally feel in better health.  I feel this is essential given that I work in an air-conditioned environment where the germs get recycled for most of the day. I particularly enjoy the venue of Worthing Seafront.

During the summer getting up to see the sunrise is a fantastic way to start the day.  You feel that you have seen something which everyone else who has stayed in bed has missed out on!  As I attend the 6.15am bootcamp I like the fact that by 7am, my exercise for the day is done.  I can get on with work and whatever the day throws at me knowing that exercising is something less I need to worry about.

I also like the people I train with and the fact that despite how long you have been attending (I have been a SBC member for well over a year now) the exercises still challenge you as there are always ways to make a change and make the exercise more intense. The overall aspect I enjoy the most is the approach to long-term fitness and nutrition and not a quick fix for weight loss. To anyone thinking of joining, I would say “Do it!”  

Everyone is really friendly and supportive.  It is the thing for you if you want sustainable long term fitness based on varied exercise and good nutrition advice. Yes, the winter months can be tough – particularly if you are part of a morning group but you do feel pleased with yourself when you have completed the sessions.  If anything, I find during the winter months it is more important to exercise and get fresh air rather than sit indoors with the heating whacked up and eating stodgy comfort food!

Before I joined SBC I did very little regular exercise (with the exception of walking the dog). Some years ago I regularly went to step aerobics classes every week but that class stopped.  Since then I struggled to find anything I enjoyed as much.  I would start work early, eat a quick unhealthy lunch and then work late and not be bothered to cook when I got home.  Coupled with sitting at a desk all day – this started to feel and show. Susie has been a real support during my time at SBC.  She is always cheerful and upbeat – even on the coldest and wettest of mornings.  She always gives advice and is supportive of my goals. Overall, I feel she really cares that you are getting something out of the sessions and that you continue to make progress.”

 

 

 Pat Young, Crawley

“The Results Have Exceeded My Expectations On All Counts.  First Of All From A Health Perspective I Have Lost 16.6 Kilos In Weight (36.5 lbs), 25.4 Centimetres Off My Waist (10 inches) & 10.2 Centimetres Off My Collar (4 inches).  On A Recent Visit To My Doctors To Have My Blood Pressure Checked I Was Told That I Had Eliminated My Risk Of Stroke!”

“I joined Sussex Bootcamps in November 2009 initially to improve my health and fitness and to lose weight.  I had been diagnosed with elevated blood pressure and I wanted to lose weight in the hope of reducing my BP to safe levels.  I had allowed myself to become seriously unfit and I wanted to correct this. The results have exceeded my expectations on all counts.  First of all from a health perspective I have lost 16.6 Kilos in weight (36.5 lbs), 25.4 centimetres off my waist (10 inches) and 10.2 centimetres off my collar (4 inches).  On a recent visit to my doctors to have my blood pressure checked I was told that I “had eliminated my risk of stroke”! On my very first Bootcamp session we were given press ups to do and I could barely manage one.  I can now manage between forty five and fifty.  I have competed in three 10K races, the first one took me just over an hour and the next two I completed in just under one hour.  Last month (October 2011) I completed the Barnes Green Half Marathon in 2hrs 26mins and I have entered another half marathon in February where I am aiming for the two hour mark. My big goal for 2012 is to complete a marathon in four hours or less.Some of my family and friends are now calling me skinny!  Yes, this brings a smile to my face and an inner feeling of glee.  In addition to the weight loss and much increased fitness my body is becoming very toned and firm, this is very nice too.  I have more stamina and energy in all areas of my life which is priceless. To top all that, last year I won the ‘Sussex Bootcamper’ of the year competition.  I am just knocked out and proud of myself to be nominated again this year. I enjoy the group energy and find it very encouraging.  The atmosphere is supportive, warm and friendly.  We laugh a lot.  There is no pressure.  We do not compete with each other, only with ourselves, trying every time to go a little bit farther and work a little bit harder. I love working outdoors in all weathers.  I love feeling good about myself and the energy rush and satisfaction that comes from completing each and every Bootcamp.  I like the ability to join other Sussex Bootcamp sessions when I am unable to attend my own regular session; this fits in with my sometimes erratic work schedule, and what it means in practice is that I never miss a session. Over the last two years I have met and worked with most of the Sussex Bootcamp Instructors.  They are all highly qualified and knowledgeable professionals who share their skills readily and create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.  Even though Sussex Bootcamps is a group experience I feel I have received plenty of individual instruction and coaching input which has helped me greatly. To anyone thinking of joining Sussex Bootcamps I would say “just do it and change your life.” My life before Sussex Bootcamps was becoming more and more sedentary.  I was worried about my health and blood pressure and did not enjoy strenuous activity. Jo, who is my regular trainer, has played a big role in my development over the past year.  She is extremely knowledgeable, highly qualified and competent and is an extremely warm and friendly person.  She runs our sessions with the right mixture of warmth, humour and gentle chiding.”    

Jenny Green, Horsham

“Sussex Bootcamps Has Completely Turned My Attitude Towards Exercise In A Positive Direction”

“To be entirely honest I didn’t put much thought into joining Sussex Bootcamps.  One day whilst buying tea in the conservatory café I happened to point out a leaflet for Sussex Bootcamps to my husband.  Having remarked that it would be interesting to try something new exercise wise I thought nothing more of the actual classes.

I was quite shocked later when my darling husband announced that he had promptly booked me onto the next block of classes! In the past I haven’t enjoyed exercise at all really.  As a child I didn’t have much interest in PE.  I found myself to be one of the slowest for any running and preferred athletic events such as shot put or javelin.

Obviously after leaving school the only exercise I got was walking to town.  But after the birth of my first child, having gained A LOT of weight, I had to do some kind of exercise.  At this point I just tried swimming with a friend but after my second child was born I did try aerobics and joining the gym.

This all proved to be very solitary; I often struggled to motivate myself during sessions – if I actually made it to the sessions in the first place! Sussex Bootcamps has completely turned my attitude towards exercise in a positive direction.  On arriving at my first session I saw a friend that I hadn’t seen since primary school, which proved to be enough of a distraction to make it through the session.  On that night and over the following sessions I meet a lot of new people who welcomed me into the group and encouraged me both during the workouts and to interact socially. 

The best aspect of Sussex Bootcamps is the support and encouragement that you receive from the other members.  Everything affects the sessions, from words of keeping going and nearly there, to the witty banter between members and trainers.  Before Sussex Bootcamps I had done a couple of 5km events for Race for Life and thought that was all I could manage.  Some other members had more running experience and encouraged me to get out more and start slowly, and to not expect perfection from myself.  With this in mind I persevered.

I still didn’t entirely believe in myself but my very supportive husband began signing me up for races, starting with 10km then a half marathon with a friend.  Of course I put in a lot of training time but this was because I had told my Sussex Bootcamp group that I was doing the races and at nearly every session I was asked how training was going and if I was putting in the hours!  I had to be committed and try my best because I had all these friends behind me and watching me. Over time I have found that I much appreciate working outdoors, my mood may not be high if it is raining for Bootcamp but it is a lot more refreshing to be outside and not stuffed into small gym rooms.

I think overall I would have to say that my favourite exercise would be upper cuts; I struggled so much during my first months of Bootcamp to get the technique right and now I have a satisfyingly hard workout!  I have to admit that I love a Bootcamp challenge.

Everyone is fired up to have a go and we really give our all, even if we can be quite competitive towards the other groups. If there was anyone thinking of giving Sussex Bootcamps a try I would like to simply say STOP thinking and come along.  Being a part of the group has enhanced my overall wellbeing.  I am fitter, I try to eat more healthily, I have more friends and a lot more self -belief.  Over the time of attending Sussex Bootcamps my doctor has remarked that I have a lovely low blood pressure and my weight has been quite stable.

I find my trainer Katie to be a great support and a source of encouragement.  I feel an extra push to attend every session as she lives in my road and would find me if I played truant!  Hearing Katie count down the last seconds gives me the push to keep going.  What I find particularly encouraging is hearing Katie mention my name – if she thinks a plank is good or a squat or when I’m putting in 110%. In the year 2010 I ran two half marathons, managing to improve my finishing time from 2 hours 11 minutes to 2 hours and 8 minutes.  I also finished the Horsham 10km in under 1 hour with my husband beside me.

This year I wanted to do a triathlon.  In 2009 I had tried the sprint distance but didn’t manage to complete it.  2011 saw me cross the finish line under 2 hours after a 400m open water swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run.  I was chuffed to bits, especially as my family was watching and my daughters ran alongside for the last 20m.  I think it is great for your children to be able to see you exercising and to be enjoying it as well.  I don’t think children can appreciate a pay rise or promotion at work in quite the same way as seeing you complete a half marathon with 600 other people.

It has been great to have somewhere I can be recognised for my efforts and find satisfaction in completing things I never would have thought I was capable of!!  None of this would have been achievable without the help and support of my husband, Matthew.  He signed me up for the first session, he has run with me and looked after my children whilst I have run and exercised.  I would love to share the spa break prize with Matthew, he deserves just as much recognition as I do as I don’t think I could have got to this point without him.  Many thanks for reading my testimonial.”

 

 

 Jo Briault, Haywards Heath

“I Lost A Total Of 10kg & Dropped 2 Dress Sizes & Am Now Back To The Weight I Was In My Early 20s″

“Back in March 2010 I re-homed Bodie, a 16 month-old beagle.  He obviously needed walking, so I would get up early and trudge across Whitemans Green and the woods behind, and three mornings a week I would see a group of people exercising – mad, I thought.  However after running out of breath every time I walked up the slightest incline, I thought maybe they have a point.  So I looked into it and thought why not give it a go.  I’m not good with gyms, I tend to lose interest pretty quickly, plus I always felt that everyone else was fitter than me!  However, I enrolled in the next session and bright (well the sun was) and early on an August morning I attended my first Sussex Bootcamps.  I have to say it was tough, really tough.  Having quite severe asthma, another excuse I used to avoid exercise, I found anything we did strenuous and an effort.  Even so, I was determined to finish the first 4 weeks but after that I’d probably give up – as with most of my fitness efforts. However, nearing the end of that first session, not only did I feel more alert, I felt I wasn’t running out of breath as much – this may not be such a bad thing, I thought, so I enrolled myself in the next session, but again felt that once the autumn set in and the mornings grew darker, I’d probably stop. But no, at the end of the second session there I was enrolling the next and so on it went! But, and there’s a big but here, the more I did Sussex Bootcamps, the more I felt I could eat and drink what I wanted.  I would say to myself, “It’s ok I have Bootcamp in the morning, I’ll work it off.” How wrong was I?  Yes I was working some of it off but eating totally the wrong food.  Come May 2011, I felt fit, I didn’t run out of breath walking uphill, but I was probably the heaviest I have ever been.  So I bought some scales (for the first time in years) and started a food diary. I really looked at my nutrition and everything that went into my mouth was recorded in the food diary, together with what exercise I did.  I also recorded my weight. BMI, body fat and measurements – seeing those numbers reduce gave me a real buzz.  Katie, my trainer, really helped me; she looked at my food diary from time to time and advised me how to adjust my diet so I was getting the right balance, which was great as sometimes I think you can think you are eating the right things but perhaps you are not getting the right nutrition from it. The big change for me, though, was alcohol, Jo = gin, gin = Jo! For as long as I can remember I would have a gin and tonic as soon as I got in from work … no more, that HAD to stop and it was hard, very hard.  However, I knocked it on the head and now I am more than happy to have a glass of water, even in a pub! So, with nutrition and continuing Sussex Bootcamp sessions in place, help from Katie and a dogged determination I lost a total of 10 kg and dropped 2 dress sizes and am now back to the weight I was in my early 20’s!  It just shows how important it is to combine nutrition with Sussex Bootcamps, and I thank Katie, Steve and Ben for their continuing encouragement be it by their regular motivational e-mails or Katie egging us on. I love the early morning sessions, come sun, rain, wind or even snow.  It’s rather invigorating working out in the dark whilst the snow is falling!  Katie is a fabulous motivator and always gives us that little push to do “that extra one”! My fellow Bootcampers are great too, even though it is early morning we always have a little chat before getting going and give each other words of encouragement through the session.  It’s a wonderful way to start the day especially Fridays which are my favourite sessions, I really enjoy boxing – a good way to vent frustration and reduce those stress levels that may have built up during the week. I work away occasionally so unfortunately have to miss the odd session, but now I generally try and stay somewhere that has a gym so I can go and do a workout (remember I hated gyms?) or if there isn’t one there, I’ll take my skipping rope or go for a jog and do a few core body exercises in my room! If anyone out there is thinking of joining Sussex Bootcamps, as the famous slogan goes, just do it!  Sussex Bootcamps has so many positive effects – I have more stamina and strength, I am more alert and I sleep better at night.  Getting up in the morning doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be the start of a new healthier lifestyle, and a lifestyle that I for one don’t want to change …  plus those hills are no longer a challenge!”      

Stuart Poole, Haywards Heath

“I Have Lost 2 1/2 Stone & Have Muscles Where I Didn’t Even Know They Existed”

“After many years membership with gyms and playing regular Saturday football my passion for training had begun to dwindle. As weeks and months went by I attended the gym less and less as I found the repetition and muscle bound macho men somewhat tedious. This resulted in me paying the monthly fee to the gym and eventually not actually attending at all, what a waste of money! I needed something new to stimulate my passion for exercise but became lazy through what I thought were lack of opportunities. Then 2 years ago whilst sipping a glass of ‘chateau neuf du pape’ and surfing the web I decided to look up ‘bootcamp’ and stumbled across SBC.

After reading the website, I felt it may be the direction I needed to go in and pondered this for a few weeks. By researching and speaking with friends; who were involved in this kind of exercise, my initial thought was ‘ I don’t want to be shouted at to get fit’ and stalled my plans to sign up. What a mistake that was, as when I eventually built up the courage to sign up I was pleasantly surprised that SBC was not in anyway a ‘military’ type exercise camp and in fact was the complete opposite.

At my first session I was met with the effervescent smile of Steve Cork who rather than shouting at us to get fit, coached and trained us in a very pleasant and concise way. Don’t get me wrong the sessions were challenging but Steve helps you rise to the challenge with his positive coaching style! Now I would never look back at a gym and say that suits me better, I am here with SBC for life! At my first session I mentally had a goal in mind to just get fitter and focused on working hard at each of the sessions. By working hard it resulted in aches and pains I thought I would never experience, my muscles burned and the exhaustion after the first couple of weeks made me question if I was going at this too hard.

These questions were answered by keeping up this pace. I was in fact completely wrong, as I continued my journey into weeks and then months and then years of SBC I have seen my energy levels rise, my skin improve, my outlook on life change and my body shape has now become a much more pleasant sight to view! I have lost 2 1/2 stone and have muscles where I didn’t even know they existed!!

The ultimate result in my 2 year journey will be when I complete the London Marathon in 2012! It is difficult to say which aspect I enjoy most as there are so many, however if I break this down into a list:  the group camaraderie, the varied exercise challenges, the feeling of euphoria after a session, the professional approach of the trainers. Adding all these together gives the ultimate exercise experience and helps me meet my fitness goals.

When talking with my friends about SBC the response I get from them is that I am addicted. Many of them are travelling through life with work, work, work and ignoring their fitness needs due to life pressures or ‘they can’t be bothered’. I am then questioned about how I fit SBC into my busy life.

The easy answer is dedication, commitment and that it will extend my life span. I recommend they try and change their life through exercise and give SBC a try as the proof is in the pudding – ‘look at me’! For my whole life I have tried to keep myself reasonably fit, due to playing football and the odd gym visit. This routine never really helped me meet my fitness goals that I always craved.

The tonality of my physique was not to my satisfaction, my level of fitness was never where it needed to be and at times life got in the way of fitness. All of this resulted in a ‘jelly belly, bingo wings, breathlessness and low motivation’. On top of this I ate the wrong foods and drank too much. My trainer Steve is an inspiration, his passion for fitness and knowledge of training routines and dietary help has given me a new lease of life.

Steve always has time to advise you on technique and pushes you to the next level of fitness if that is your desire. His talks on what to eat and what not to eat give you a clear focus for your Sainsbury shop, which has not just helped me but has helped my family eat a healthier more balanced diet; the diet recommended being ‘Paleo’. We have all seen the benefits of this and Steve is always on hand when you need to discuss the merits or alternatives in this eating plan. In my two years with SBC I have struggled at times with certain exercises and Steve has shown me where I go wrong and helped adjust my technique. One quote to sum up Steve : ‘Steve is a legend.’ ”

 

 

Donna Smith, Haywards Heath

 “Since joining Sussex Bootcamps I feel fantastic!
I have gone from a size 14-16 to a 10 - my body shape has totally changed.”

“In order to describe the profound effect Sussex Bootcamps has had on my life I guess I would have to go back to my teenage years – my days, that makes me sound old! Anyway, I was always described as ‘bubbly’ – the universally nice way of saying tubby!  Mum was and still is a keen cook and always served up well balanced meals, so everyone thought I was going through the puppy fat stage or raiding the biscuit barrel in secret – to cut a long story about faddy diets and an unhealthy relationship with food short – at 17 I was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder which meant I was able to label my so called tubbiness!

Unfortunately, one of the many side effects of a thyroid disorder is increased chance of depression – and as much as I tried to smile my way through it – life would sometimes get on top of me.  I turned to herbal remedies and rejected the tablets the doctors prescribed me.  But over the last year and a half have found, what I hope to be a long lasting remedy for me.  Although I joined Sussex Bootcamps to get fit, it has helped me in more ways than I could have imagined.

I joined Sussex Bootcamps, apart from the above reasons – basically because of my lack of self discipline!  I would plan to go for a run or go to the gym after work, but always find an excuse, working late, shopping to do etc.  There was always something to do usually for someone else that I thought was more important than letting myself exercise.  Sussex Bootcamps provides me with an appointment three times a week, making it part of my schedule, just like going to work or to the dentist, something I wouldn’t not turn up to.

The first nutrition talk I attended which is part of the Sussex Bootcamp sessions was a revelation!  I have totally changed my eating and consequently shopping habits – I realised that carbs – mainly bread – were making up almost 90% of my daily diet.  I had been brainwashed by the media into thinking fat was bad, low fat foods were good and carbs filled you up and so helped you eat less?!  I have turned my thinking upside down and reduced my carb intake dramatically and feel so much better for it.

Since joining Sussex Bootcamps I feel fantastic!  My outlook on life has changed dramatically – I’m more focused, have tons more energy and am generally a happier person.  There have also been physical changes; I have gone from a size 14-16 to a 10 - my body shape has totally changed.

I love all aspects of Sussex Bootcamps!  The early morning class that lets me start the day and drives me through the day with a positive outlook; the additional challenges – Saturday Bootcamps, ultra challenges; the friends that I have made and the camaraderie that grows between your fellow campers.

To anyone thinking of joining Sussex Bootcamps, I would say “Do it”!  I’m sure I drive my family and friends slightly mad by sharing all of the hints, tips and new exercises we do every month – I can’t advocate it enough!

My trainer, Katie, has been amazing – always supportive and encouraging – she pushes me to do the harder option that I am usually a little reluctant to try – helping me to believe that I can push myself that little bit further!  I certainly couldn’t have made the mental and physical changes to my life without Katie.

Within the group Katie encourages goal setting, and over the last couple of months I have tried to step up this side of my Sussex Bootcamp session – although goals don’t always mean giving something up – I have, to the shock / disbelief of my family and friends – recently given up my Diet Coke habit – one that I have had for more years than I would dare think about.  I don’t drink alcohol, eat chocolate or smoke, so have always naively rested on my laurels thinking there was nothing bad I needed to give up!  I am 7 weeks clean of Diet Coke, which I am very proud of, even though I have developed a slightly nervous twitch when the Coke Christmas advert comes on TV!”

Thank you Sussex Bootcamps!  x ”