If you are in an exercise rut, want to lose weight or train for a big sporting event then a residential bootcamp may be just the thing you are looking for. Believe you me, it wasn’t exactly my idea of a fun weekend as I’ve never really enjoyed exercise but the bootcamp experience kind of ‘found’ me while doing research for an article on postnatal fitness. (If you want to more know about getting back into shape post baby then read my article in the spring issue of Angels and Urchins magazine.) Before I knew it I had signed up with a friend to go for a long weekend to The Trimmer You Bootcamp in the Peak District which bills itself as the only 5* luxury women bootcamp in the UK.

As our train rolled through the lush countryside a mild feeling of panic swept over us. “What on earth were we doing on a Friday night when we could or indeed should have been anticipating our first glass of wine and the arrival of the weekend.” The first hurdle came as we failed to get off at the right station and had to feebly call to say that we had missed our stop. Any worries that our cards were almost certainly ‘marked’ were allayed as we arrived at the luxury property complete with indoor pool and our luggage was swiftly brought to our room.

It felt strange but purposeful to unpack just ‘fitness’ equipment; trainers, hiking boots, running trousers, tops and fleeces rather than the usual holiday paraphernalia. Next we met our instructors; two current servicemen who warned us that if we failed to turn up on time, our water bottles weren’t full, or we were caught swearing at them then everyone would have a punishment that they preferred to call a ‘consequence’.  There’s no way we’ll be getting any of those, I thought.

At dinner - poached salmon and delicious salad but no carbs - we met our fellow bootcampers. Women of all shapes and sizes aged between 18-40+ with differing goals from weight loss, to fitness and serious lifestyle changes. I relaxed thinking that after dinner we’d grab some herbal teas, sit and get to know each other or watch telly on one of the flat screen TVs. But visions of an evening spent relaxing were quickly shattered as we were told to meet outside in 10 mins with full hiking gear on. But even the 40 min hike across muddy fields in the dark (which I actually enjoyed) wasn’t enough to prepare me for the full bootcamp experience the next morning.

At 5.55am (yes, we had to assemble 5 mins before any activity) there we stood a group of bleary eyed women in the pitch dark. And before we knew it we were running relay races on the lawn. Breakfast at 7am was porridge (made with water), a drizzle of honey and some banana and after a quick glug of herbal tea we were expected to be on parade outside at 7.55am with full water bottles. Sadly, my friend and I weren’t quite quick enough and arrived a few minutes after 8am and I am ashamed to say that our water bottles weren’t brimming either. So to the disgust of everyone else we were all quickly issued with 3 ‘consequences’ which meant running down the lane to the fence and back three times (about 1200m). I spent most of the ‘consequence’ apologising to our fellow bootcampers: “Really sorry. Won’t happen again.” “Better not” replied one.  This was followed by a series of timed fitness tests; an 800m run and as many sit-ups and press-ups you could do in 1 minute. We would then be tested at the end of the week and we were reassured that we ‘would’ be much better by then (and as it transpired everyone was). Snack time and 30 mins of rest arrived in the nick of time at 10am just as everyone was feeling rather weary. But I am afraid the snack of fruit and seeds did little to dampen my appetite.

Next up was an hour or so of circuit training in the field but the pain was alleviated somewhat by the welcome addition of music. Lunch at 12 noon consisted of grilled chicken and salad washed down with yet more herbal tea. By now we were really beginning to feel the affects of our morning’s work and a good 30 minutes of serious stretching helped enormously. The afternoon was spent playing netball, a game that I had shunned at school probably because I was often the last to be picked by the over enthusiastic netball captains. But the exhaustion from the mornings activity quickly dissipated as the competitive streak in all of us emerged amid a hazy knowledge of the rules. By afternoon snack time at 3.00pm no one could believe quite how much exercise we had packed in since our 6.00am start. Back outside in the freezing cold at 330pm found us learning boxing techniques until another much needed stretching session inside.

Soup for dinner at 6pm was a real low point. It wasn’t the quality of the delicious carrot and coriander soup (plus the smallest slice of wheat and gluten-free bread imaginable) that irked us, but the quantity. “Is this a starter?” asked one hungry bootcamper only to be told that that was it for the day. Our first day ended back outside in the dark again at 7pm ready for our 40 minute evening hike, which I was surprised to find really helped ease all of those aches and pains.

What did we do on Sunday? More of the same, but the instructors kept us keen and fresh by never revealing what they had in store for us. We were told at the end of each activity simply the time and type of clothing required for the next one. The surprise element certainly worked for me. Had I known we were going to jog, walk and run around a large circuit from 8-9.30am I fear I would have felt mentally exhausted before I had even begun.

What kept me (and my willing friend) going was the team spirit and camaraderie of the other women. Only they truly know what we went through and achieved in those few days. The good natured encouragement and banter from our two instructors was an essential ingredient too. Had I felt bullied into about 8 hours a day of physical activity by the instructors then I don’t think I would have even lasted the weekend. Of course the pounds and inches lost (the group lost between 3-8lbs and inch loss ranged from 1-9 inches) were an incredible boost and have given me the push to look after myself better through diet and exercise. But the best thing for me was realising that I am not as much of a wimp at sport and exercise as I thought I was.

My new found fitness was put to the test straightaway as delays to our train meant we were late for school pick up. An enforced jog to the school gate showed me that my bootcamp experience has definitely put the spring back in my step.

The knowledge

Time - Up at 5.30pm lights out at 9.30pm

Meal times - Breakfast 7.00am, snack 10.00am, lunch 12 noon, snack 3.00pm, dinner 6.00pm

Calorie intake – 1,250-1,300/day

Calories burnt – 3,000-4,000/day

Nutrition & yoga – includes talk by a nutritionist on healthy eating and yoga session.

Drinks – water (lots of) and herbal tea. No caffeine.

Activity – roughly 7-8 hours a day.

Cost - A week’s Trimmer You Bootcamp costs £895-1200 depending on room type/sharing. Book before March 31st 2011 and quote ‘Angels and Urchins’ to get a 30% discount.

Post bootcamp support – training plans, menus and video blogs of how to do each exercise correctly available to former bootcampers on the website www.trimmeryoubootcamp.com

Bootcamp tips

• Try to cutback on caffeine ie tea, coffee, coke and sugary foods about 2 weeks before coming on bootcamp. That way you’ll suffer fewer withdrawal symptoms when you are there.
• Build up to exercising by doing a few walks e.g. 2-3 miles a few times a week before you go.
• Don’t even think about bringing any contraband ie snacks, sweets, energy drinks or even chewing gum as you’ll be found out. Just remember you’ll only be cheating yourself.
• Forget stashing booty in your car as your keys will be ‘looked after’ during your stay to stop access to any hidden goodies or a quick drive to the local shop…
• Do buy hiking boots and do break them in before you come to bootcamp.
• Bring thermals, a hat, gloves and a scarf if you go in the winter as days are spent outside and it can be freezing.
• Avoid injury – listen to your body and slow down if anything doesn’t feel right. Don’t be afraid to ask for a different exercise if you are worried or in pain. Warm up before properly and stretch after any exercise.
• Bring just 1 large water bottle enough for 900mls-1litre.
• Blister plasters, pain killers are essential pieces of kit.
• Do bring lovely shower or bath gel for a treat at the end of the day.