Day 7, Champneys boot camp, Henlow Grange.
Today is our last day and after a week of extreme exercise, pushing myself beyond my pain barrier, sacrificing tea, coffee, alcohol and bread, surviving on 1500 calories a day, I was also able to enjoy a daily therapeutic treatment which made boot camp all the more tolerable.
The day ended with a range of pampering treatments included in the programme; they were three blissful thalassotherapy sessions, two massages, a body salt scrub and a detox seaweed wrap. However, I was keen for a couple of extra treatments as well and the challenge was to fit them during the day which was tightly packed with wall to wall activities. I achieved this by sloping off from a cookery demonstration on how to make bliss balls so I could enjoy a muscle relaxing treatment when my aching limbs were rubbed all over with Elemis oil by expert firm hands and I was then sealed in a silver foil wrap. While my skin was absorbing all this goodness, the masseur paid attention to my knotted shoulders, stroking my neck and head too. It was my favourite treatment of the week.
Today I shall be skipping the motivation talk (I am so motivated that I also fitted in an extra weight training session in the gym yesterday) to have a St Tropez spray tan at the bargain price of £15 to complete my new lean look. I am not a sun worshipper, and this seems the healthiest way to obtain that sun kissed look.
I have also made the most of Champney’s infra-red sauna and have booked another session there today as it provides many health benefits and is a great detoxer, but, most importantly, eases my aching muscles, and many boot campers have taken advantage of this treatment which is provided free for us.
Exactly how much leaner I am will will be revealed tomorrow during the big weigh-in after our early morning power walk. I feel proud knowing that I have done my very best and I am hoping for a weight loss of 4-5 lbs. Miraculously, the packet of rice cakes which I brought with me as a surreptitious snack remain unopened as I never once felt hunger pangs.
We all feel sad that the week has come to an end, I certainly feel much more energised and everyone is still smiling through their aches and pains. We all agree that it was a wonderful, memorable week when many new friendships were made. It would be lovely for us to meet up again in six months time to see how boot camp has motivated us to continue living healthier and more active lives.
*I am a guest of Champneys
Great blog Ellee. Bootcamp was great! Really enjoyed getting to know our lovely group and the fitness activities were such fun, especially the team games. I do not agree with whoever said it is for rich people. I am certainly not a rich person (not with money anyway) I work very hard in a part time job and saved hard for that week. And it was well worth it, really good value for money. We got breakfast, lunch and dinner (all healthy, nutritious and delicious food) numerous classes and outdoor training/games/circuit training/walking/running, the list goes on…)advice and talks about healthy eating and lifestyle, keeping motivated etc and lovely comfortable rooms with all the mod cons. I accept that I am fortunate enough to be in employment in the current economic climate and have the choice about what to spend my hard earned money on, but I am by no means wealthy. The other people on bootcamp were all ordinary working people too who were down to earth, good company, and most of all keen to make themselves feel healthier, fitter and better about themselves. I greatly recommend it!
Thanks Androulla, I totally agree with you. You were an inspiration to us all.x