I wanted a holiday but my husband’s work was not making it possible, so he suggested I visit my friends in the south ... or maybe a health farm ...?
Mmm, that sounds nice and relaxing, I thought.
Then a friend mentioned Bootcamp, so the cogs started to turn and I was beginning to like the thought of a week focusing on me and my health and my definite lack of motivation to do exercise.
I run my own business, have two teenagers, a house to run and any other cause that I get involved in, which all makes for a very hectic life that means it is very easy for me to make excuses not to exercise. But at 46 I think this is no longer acceptable.
Bootcamp probably appealed to me initially as it was a week for ME – no housework, no work, no cooking and someone else making the decisions. I did realise there would be exercise, well I needed some of that, and the website promised wonderful healthy food and the accommodation looked very comfortable (not barracks), so I booked for the week in October.
Little did I appreciate how much of a challenge it would be!
As the day approached I realised how apprehensive I was, almost scared of what was going to happen and fear of the unknown – all seems very dramatic considering the health issues that two of my good friends have at the moment.
What if I fail and come home to tell everyone that I left half way through the week.
The Bootcamp management’s chosen accommodation, Balvraid Steading, overlooking Loch Fleet, and in October, is a fantastic place and made me realise how lucky I was to live in this area especially when all the other girls were from South of Scotland and England.
I chose to share an en suite room and met a great roommate, which made it such a lot of fun in the evening, laughing over the day’s “Pains and Gains”.
On arrival we had just been shown our rooms and then told to be outside in 15 minutes in exercise clothes. We were introduced to our Physical Training Instructors (PTIs), Staff Paddy and Staff “T” – army guys who looked the part and, as we soon found out, sounded the part too.
We were all given a 7kg sandbag “our Babies” and told we had to take them everywhere with us, including bed, dinner, toilet and, of course, in our rucksacks on all walks.
In true army style the PTIs shout at you to do more, drop further, do better, go further and do it when they say so.
And also in true army style, they start to build up comradeship within our group of nine. Staff T and Staff Paddy are the best comedy duo that I have ever seen. They start to give us nicknames to make us feel part of “the family”. A headteacher has suddenly been named “Sausage” as she is called Lorna. Other names gained over the week were Dynamite, Towie, and Happy Feet.
What a shock to my body, exercise from 6.45am prompt until 6pm. A typical day is generally split into four sets: One and a half hour circuits outside during the sunrise in the muddy garden; breakfast; two-mile run with exercises along the way; snack; interval training (my personal living hell); lunch; walk up and along Ben Bhraggie carrying “Baby” all the way.
Every morning starts with circuit training before breakfast and then we have diverse exercises throughout the day such as pilates, spinning, Nordic walking, hill walking, beach walks, circuits on beach, orienteering, boxing, and running up Nigg Hill.
The team of nine women, all at different levels of fitness, shapes and sizes, motivated and cajoled each other through the whole week. We each of us went beyond our comfort zone and were helped through mental blocks by the comradeship and the PTIs.
The interval training at the disused quarry was my nemesis. It was my breaking point (everyone has one) and swearing was taking place under my breath and I was being stubborn and thrawn about not doing any more but somehow I kept going and talked myself into doing more, going further.
Going past the pain is exhilarating – as the PTIs kept saying “Pain is temporary – pride is forever.”
It was a fantastic experience and the further I get away from it the better it was. The physical and emotional changes that have happened to me in the week, a loss of 7lb and many inches lost which I can see and feel, and the feeling of accomplishment is great.
Would I go back? I have already booked for next year as have some of the girls. We got on so well that we want to meet up and see how we progress over the next few months.
The real test is what I do with my exercise regime from now on. Time will tell but I think that Scottish Bootcamp is a very professional set up and it was an experience I am glad I have had.
It certainly was not a health farm but if you are up for a challenge, want to push yourself, like making new friends and want to see what you are made of then give it a go.
