Day 3, Champneys boot camp, Henlow Grange.
The strict exercise and diet regime is beginning to have an impact. One of our fellow boot campers left a class early yesterday, and later successfully pleaded for a side dish of beetroot in addition to her calorie counted lunch which was included with an alternative meal choice on offer as she really fancied it, and was determined to have it.
Another boot camper had a lie-in this morning and escaped the gruelling circuit training; he missed out on our painful quota of squats, lunges and planks, all the harder for being done at 7am while we are still bleary eyed. The sense of achievement we felt afterwards for sticking it out was immense, and never before did two my boiled eggs and rye bread for breakfast taste so good.
On the subject of food, each day we are given some phyllium husk in a glass to drink with water and help fill us up, as well as a scoop of flaxseed, which we mix together. I think I shall try this for a month when I return home to help maintain my weight loss, but I have been advised not to take it any longer.
The strategy behind this week is to regulate our sugar level to help reduce our cravings for food, and it is hoped we will reap the benefit of this afterwards, adopting healthier food habits, eating smaller portions, and consume less tea, coffee and alcohol. It is easy enough in this controlled environment where all the meals are prepared, but maintaining it in the real world is another challenge.
A nutritionist this morning gave us a pep talk about the healthy foods we should be eating, and we have been promised menus of all the tasty meals we have eaten throughout the week to take home. The boot camp programme is devised so we burn up 2,500 – 3,000 calories a day during our six hours of activity, but only eat 1500 calories (1700 for men), so weight loss should be assured.
I’m off to my “suspension training” class now, which involves working our abs by pulling on ropes attached to the ceiling, and after lunch, we have a two hour walk, followed by aqua fit and more thalassotherapy, which is always a pleasure to look forward to.
Despite the exhaustion and hard work, everyone is really enjoying boot camp, we are all smiling through it.
*I am here as a guest of Champneys.
I wish I was there with you.
No comment on you, Ellee but I can’t help noticing that the people who need it least get to go on these health progs and those who need it most – the poor, or diet, or exercise, of spiritual hope, do not.
Philipa.. these kind of things are only for the rich…. 🙂
Sally, that is so untrue, though I can understand why you might think that. I heard about Champneys boot camp from one of our fellow Cambridge ramblers who had been on it herself and enjoyed it immensely. It made me keen to come too I do realise I am very lucky to be here. You have several overseas holidays throughout the year, and it’s surely a personal choice how people spend their time and money. I can tell you that I haven’t met one person here who doesn’t think it is good value. The boot campers are just ordinary hard working people and this is something they value and we are all having a terrific time, not one person has complained about it any way, least of all the cost. In fact, one other boot camper is booked in for another boot camp week at Champneys Forest Mere, and he is really just an ordinary hard working guy who likes being fit and enjoys the regime, personal attention from the trainers, excellent calorie counted and nutritious food and the spa treatments available here.
Pip, yes, it would be wonderful if you were here too. People are here because they feel they do need it. Health programmes are available on the NHS, as well as free gym membership, I believe. I do realise I am very lucky to be here.
On the NHS? Really? The only ones I know about are free or discount ed gym membership if you’ve had a heart attack. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could get the same few weeks in the municiple gym free if you’re morbidly obese but basically you have to be in the fast lane to death for that. Not quite what I was hoping for. I think that’s a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted ?
😀 I know what you mean, Sally. Ellee isn’t ordinary in any way.
We will have to agree to differ Sally, that is so untrue.
And all this is good for you, is it, Ellee?
Good luck, Ellee!
Why were you advised not to have the phyllium husk drink for no more then a month? It sounds so healthy.
I think the idea is that you won’t need it any longer a month once your body has adjusted to eating smaller portions and fewer calories.