How a week at The Camp changed my life

;	Jemma Harrision - Freelance Journalist talks about here time at The Camp and interviews fellow course members about their experience at the UK's original Boot Camp.
	Past clients of The Camp Talk about their experience at The Camp, why they went to The Camp and how their lives have changed since leaving The Camp.

Name: Ashley Baird
Weight loss at The Camp: 7 lbs (3.2 kg)

This was possibly the toughest but most amazing experience of my life. I desperately wanted to drop a dress size and tone up in time for my May wedding to Simon and I had heard from friends that The Camp could offer me the long term results I was after. The team were so professional and supportive, whilst the results after only one week were astounding. There was great camaraderie with all the girls in the group and I still cannot believe how stunning the estate and surrounds were. What a beautiful place to spend a week and an experience I will never forget.

And as for my personal results...I lost 7lbs in the week and the week after, increased my muscle to almost 40%, dropped my percentage fat by 1.5%, lost 3cm off waist and 3cm off my hips! So the pain was worth the gain and with only 12 weeks to go I cannot wait to see how I look in my dress. See Ashley pictured 2 weeks before The Camp & 1 week after The Camp in the photos.

Name: Caroline Buchanan
Weight loss at The Camp: 10lbs (4.53kg)
Weight loss following The Camp: 8lbs (3.63kg)

So for the second year running the guy who sits next to me at work asked me to be part of a team to do “Trailwalker” which is a 100km (62ml) under 30 hours, non-stop hike for teams of four. For some unknown reason I opened my mouth and said yes, I am still positive I said no again!

So once we had found two other colleagues that were obviously as tired and hung-over as I was who also uttered that fateful word “yes” we were a quorum.

So the next stage was how do you train? Being labelled by “Trailwalker” as a veteran (even though I am a long way away from a bus pass) and still carrying a number of pounds too many from my year of travelling I knew I had to do something fast. My favourite hobby up until this time was lying on the couch on a Sunday reading fitness magazines. As I was flicking through I saw an advert for “The Camp” so I quickly turned on my laptop to find out more. First thing Monday morning I phoned Pauline to book and a month later, armed with my kit list and travel instructions, I started to pack.

On arrival we all met up and there was lots of nervous giggles as we were told about the activities of the week. It was amazing, there was no time to think about food and at no time during the week was I hungry. The food may have been small portions but Allan is the best cook in the world.

I was lucky enough to be put in “Euan's Darlings” and I maybe be a bit biased but he has got to be the best looking of a very good looking bunch which just made the exercise so much easier. Safety is paramount and the professional attitude of the trainers was great. I seemed to be the pack horse for the group, carrying lunch or extra water for anyone who needed it. This paid dividends at the end of the week when it came to weigh-in.

I was one of the first to be weighed being one of the “railway children” having to catch an early train, so I nervously stepped on the scales. I knew I had lost a little bit as I had felt my trousers loosen but I was so surprised when Bobby said “we have a big one here.” I thought "oh no he is talking about my bum as I did have my back to him at the time!!" Luckily it turned out he meant my weight loss as not only did I lose 10lbs but also 5% body fa in a week - unbelievable.

Back home, armed with lots of information about training from Euan, my recipes from Allan, survival skills from Sam and self defence from Matt I felt I could change my life and finish my training for the 100k walk! Within another 5 weeks I had lost another 8lbs and that is what I still weigh today several months later. Not a lb has crept back on.

One of the best things that I took from the experience were the friends that I met at “The Camp.” We had a first reunion two months after the event where we climbed Ben Nevis . I am looking forward to the adventure weekend and have booked with a few of my newly made friends another week at The Camp, but in Spain this time, I am looking forward to the luxury!

So the training has gone well for the 100k and the event is this weekend. Will I be at the finish line?? Absolutely there is nothing stopping me now!

Name: Leanne Franklin-Smith
Weight loss at The Camp: 7.5 Lbs (3.40kg)
Weight loss following The Camp: 1 stone (6.35kg)

My name is Leanne Franklin-Smith, I'm a 30 year old research scientist living in Hampshire. I generally like to keep myself fit and healthy, but after a long unsuccessful battle with a plateau in my weight loss I joined The Camp in February 2008. I was so excited at the prospect of a whole week of working out, looking after myself, and learning about nutrition. The week was tremendous, and taught me a lot about myself, my determination, and my body. The guys who trained us were amazing, and so enthusiastic and motivating, that generally the exercise and long hours weren't a problem! It sounds so simple, but the main thing I learnt was that my body is my responsibility, and I should provide it with the best ingredients and protect it from as many chemicals etc as possible to get the best results back out of it. Although by the end of the week I was happy enough just with the experience I'd had, and the people I'd had the chance to meet, I was delighted that I'd lost 7.5lbs as well!

Having learnt at The Camp that I was wheat intolerant, upon returning home I immediately noticed an improvement in my energy levels and general health by cutting wheat out of my diet. I also realised how much I enjoyed making my body work for me, and how I wanted to find a way to be much more active in life. I was determined not to let these revelations go to waste.

I continued attending British Military Fitness, but was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of direction to my training. A few months later, I found the perfect solution to my restlessness - The Polar Challenge! I signed up to join a 320 nautical mile race from Resolute Bay in Canada 's North West Territories, to the magnetic North Pole!! This challenge starts in April 2010, and I've just completed my first year of training! There's been some definite hurdles to overcome, not least developing chronic compartment syndrome in both my calves which required 3 operations to correct, and an emergency evacuation from Dartmoor thanks to a very unhappy appendix! However, the thing that really keeps me going on the straight and narrow, is knowing that all the training, pitfalls and frustrations are all going to be worth it when I, hopefully, manage to raise a lot of money for Help for Heroes along the way. The charity, which provides facilities and rehabilitation aid to any military personnel injured in the line of duty, is a much needed resource, and one that is desperately needed and appreciated by those affected and their families. If you had said to me in January 2008 that I'd be working out 3+ hours a day, 6 days a week, running marathons and pulling tyres long distance I would never have believed you, especially if you'd have said I'd be enjoying it this much as well. I've made amazing friends, I've met truly remarkable people along the way and I've lost a further stone in weight, and I'm only half way through! It's remarkable how one little decision, sitting at your desk, stuck in a rut on a rainy winter morning, to take a week out and kick-start your fitness regime or weight loss can escalate into a 2 year training programme and a trek to the North Pole! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Name: Mary Andrews
Weight loss at The Camp: 5Lbs (2.27Kg)
Weight loss following The Camp: 2 stone (12.7kg)

For me it wasn't so much a case of 'how my life changed' but rather 'I got a life!' Without going into too much detail, my life really was rock bottom, I was on tablets to stop myself from attempting suicide (again), I hated myself, I hated being alive and having to go through the daily routine that lasted from getting up to going to bed, at night I tossed and turned, clenching my teeth so hard I destroyed them, but I just didn't care. I no longer cared about anything. One day while I was waiting to see my psychiatrist for my weekly session I picked up a Psychology magazine and started to flick through it. I saw the ad for The Camp, thought 'that looks interesting' and made a note of the web address.

My background to sport is this, (O) did you miss it? No it's just a big fat zero. I have, to be fair, attempted to run for about 5 years, but never managed, so I do charity walks (Race for Life) and that's it, 3-4 walks a year, nothing else. I haven't done any sport since I left school in 1964! At school I was rubbish, I would walk on the cross country, go to the baths just to play about, not swim. I did actually make it onto the rounders team one year, but only because I could hit the ball, not run the rounds or catch the ball.

I had seen Army training on TV and just thought, quite frankly I would have a heart attack and with any luck it would probably kill me. Anyway, I got home, checked the site and booked it there and then. I just told my husband I was going away for a week, he thought it was Champney's, he couldn't be further from the truth!

So what happened? I spent a week at The Camp, a week where I didn't have to think about my life. A week with people who didn't know me, didn't judge me, and rather than the 'Army mentality' I was expecting, I got treated with respect. I was for once, motivated, those simple words 'well done Mary' did more for me than any box of pills. Although I loved every day, I think the day that stands out more for me was when we crossed the freezing river. I got in the water and my chest closed up, I struggled to breathe, I realised I didn't want to die. My apologies to the director who came down that day because I can't remember his name, but he swam across with me, talking all the time and when I got out, I was stunned, everyone cheered! The actually cheered ME!

I lost 1” off my hips, 3” off my waist and 5lbs in weight. I gained confidence, energy and a desire to live again. I changed my diet, started going to the gym and decided I was going to do what I want to do and what I perceive is best for me.

Nine months later and where am I now?

On 1st May I finally exhibited my work on permanent display in a shared gallery. I sell my original art, prints etc. It's something I have wanted to do for years, but never had the confidence to go for it. I talk to strangers about my work, and people say it's wonderful and amazing.

I lost 2 stone since leaving The Camp and I have started to train for Triathlons. I couldn't swim, run and my bike riding was sort of ok. I have learnt to swim, my technique still needs a bit of tweaking but I can swim 20 lengths, unheard of last year. My running is still poor, I have had sciatica and some ligament damage, but I am working on it.

My best to date was the Liverpool-Chester-Liverpool 54 mile bike ride yesterday. I was up at 5:30 and we set off about 8:10am, through the Mersey tunnel, great going in, nightmare cycling out (twice)! Anyone who tells you the Wirral is flat is lying! I did it in 3.5 hours, an average of 15 mph. I had a guy stop by me at the lights on the way back, he said, ‘god you're fit' he had been trying to catch me for the last 5 miles and at one point I was doing over 22mph! Did I feel good, no, I felt great!

I am doing my first triathlon on 22nd August, it's a relay so you do each discipline but with a rest in between, then my first solo 30th August and just to top it off on 19th September another one, this time with a 750 meter open water swim!

All the things that were destroying me last year, are still there, locked away. But now I have ME, I still hear the lads voices saying ‘take your time' and ‘well done', but now I also have friends. I joined the Warrington Triathlon Group and I train with them. I get left behind on the hills when we go out cycling, but they wait for me and sometimes when its flat-ish I even get to be in front.

I may not win with my memoirs, but I am a winner, I gave you my shattered mental existence and you gave me a life. I will never be able to thank you enough. Thank you, Mary Andrews.

My photos are 9th October before Camp and 20th November.