Day 6, Champneys boot camp, Henlow Grange.

There is a tremendous bonding among our group, a strong feeling of comradeship and mutual support which has built up during the week. If one exhausted boot camper feels they cannot move another muscle, they are always given the encouragement they need by their group to boost their motivation.

It’s something we have all experienced, even the super-fit amongst us, and there are times when we question why we have put ourselves through such a punishing regime, we feel we cannot go on any longer.

Yesterday was particularly tough with three rounds of circuits, but they all varied and all fun, and I now hope I have mastered the perfect press-up.  I do commend Richard and Lewis again for planning such an imaginative range of activities, which today includes swinging our hips in hoola hoops which I know will be fun and I used to love as a child, and I am looking forward to watching the guys in our group attempt this. There is always a surprise in store for us in the day, even if it turns not to be a pleasant one.

Two of our activities yesterday were outdoors in intermittent light rain and while it’s not the most pleasant experience, we all felt a terrific sense of achievement afterwards for sticking it out, even though we ended up totally bedraggled and soaked in perspiration. Some of us may have started the week as wusses, but true grit has taken command and we can now rise to any challenge. Bring it on guys!

After all, boot camp is meant to be tough, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

I have been trying to book a St Tropez spray tan all week, but it is fully booked, with one free appointment which clashed with aqua fit. When someone suggested I should skip that for the tanning, I instinctively refused because I felt I would be letting the whole group down, as well as myself, and we have come too far together for me do such a thing.

There’s just two days left now, so we are over the worst. My headaches from the caffeine withdrawal have gone and I wake up feeling much perkier than I did at the beginning of the week.

*I am a guest of Champneys.