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There is only one way to start a testimonial when you have lost 19lbs in a week - once upon a time .......

This is my fairytale!

We arrived at La Manga and thought, what bootcamp? The accommodation and people were really nice and the other ladies also real characters, this is gonna be great a lot of exercise and focus on my food intake and nutrition and get to gossip with the girls - little did we realise that the hard work was about to start.

From my view (mainly at the back) the determination and focus put in by all fellow boot campers was the inspiration I needed to keep going, especially on some of those climbs.  I had never felt so empowered to achieve whatever I wanted and supported by so many.  It was a humbling experience and this was only the first day!!

By day 3 I was unsure why I had attended the bootcamp as it seemed that I was on an emotional rollercoster with some of the best personalities I have ever had the pleasure to meet including Wilson and the mice.

The Commandos were not just eye candy but hard and I hated them, by day 3 I realised that I needed them and their ways were beginning to pay off.  Already I could do my shoe lace up in the morning and be able to breath at the same time (an all time first) and yep I could keep up with the fit ladies at the front whilst carrying a log on top of my head (don’t even ask) and that the faces being pulled by my camper mates whilst giving it their all at boxing was something that Kodak couldn’t market but made as all laugh.

Riding a bike was fab and the fun at the beach also fabulous in a sicko type way as how can putting yourself through physical challenges for many hours a day be fun but it was - tremendous.

This fat forty year old suddenly felt lighter both in weight and emotions and at the dinner table was quite (unusually) quiet as was expecting the burger and fries to replace my lost energy and as a slap on the back for good behaviour.  The diet was hard but also achieved everything needed and at no time at all did I feel hungry (also unusual for me).

As the week went on the campers got fitter and pace got higher but the camaradarie was now soaring sky high and the commandos became the gurus whom everyone wanted to impress.  From a personal point of view the end was in sight (thank god) but the pushing wasn’t going to stop until the weigh in. The weigh in was worrying, had I done enough, perhaps I could of tried to run up that hill (well jog anyway), I shouldn’t of nicked some of Anne's goat cheese and maybe I should of picked the smallest dinner - as these thoughts were going through my head the time quickly came upon me and it was my turn.  The elation of finding that I had not only dropped 19lbs but also over 17 inches was too much and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house (well that’s what it felt like - just like an Oscar!) - it was one of the most tremendous feelings, but not as good as being picked by my fellow bootcampers as their bootcamper (yep being at the back wasn't so bad).

Anne and I are going back at the end of the year and Intend to go back fitter than before and thinner, thereby able to push to be at the front and I will run up that hill!

For anyone who is thinking shall I or shall I not sign up - it is a no brainer, success is guaranteed but how much success is up to you.....  I have never won anything in my life before and here I won weight loss, self esteem and some great memories with top birds - bring it on!

As an update a month on; I am still preaching to my mates and not eating wheat, diary or complex carbs and Anne is putting me through training programmes to make me wish I was back at bootcamp! I am another 9lbs lighter and looking forward to some fab shopping treats (clothes shopping a joy? - what is happening to me?)

Clare Porter

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