over a month ago when i was flying to Toronto, i had too much time on my hands to think about goals in between taking selfies. i was goalless for 2013 and it was april.
here is where we get real – really real – some sarcasm included:
i felt self-conscious about seeing my beautiful friends and family. i wasn’t exercising, i was going out and drinking more than before, and food was simply a pleasure not a fuel. the waistband of my jeans dug in to my stomach, but when a boy is picking you up from the airport on the other side, you spend a four-hour flight in skinny jeans – even if they are a bit too skinny. i was seeing two great friends and their newborns, and feared that i would be the only one who looked like they just gave birth (then had my fear realized). why was i abusing my health? i was the only one suffering; i was the only one that would have to deal with the complications.
on the cusp of 28 i shouldn’t have worries at the back of my mind that if i continued my current lifestyle i’d have a heart attack by 40. though, every time i climbed a few flights of stairs and got winded, there it was.
i knew i needed a change. a big one. the day after i got back to Calgary i started Booty Camp Fitness, a boot camp designed for women to promote healthy, happy and active lives.
this was not an easy decision. i contemplated not going. i had to be measured. i had to prove just how out of shape i was. i had to do all of this in front of many other women who, in my mind, were all beautiful, fit, with perfectly coifed long flowing hair and wore sports bras and booty shorts. i wouldn’t fit in. it would be a hard dose of reality.
truth was, i was only right about one thing: i had to be measured.
women of all shapes and sizes rolled out their mats and looked around with the same fear in their eyes that i had. we were all in for the same four-week ride. after introducing myself to our instructor, Lauren, and getting my measurements (i didn’t look), i got ready for my first of eight one-hour sessions.
the class combined:
- circuit training
- agility drills
- sports conditioning
- hand-to-hand cardio combat (no contact)
- core strengthening
- body weight resistance training
- yoga
translation: jumping jacks till exhaustion, squats till exhaustion, lunges till exhaustion, pushups till exhaustion, planks to exhaustion, burpees till exhaustion, then stretch.
when it ended my legs were jello and i was a new level of spent. i felt empowered. i worked at my own pace, took breaks if needed, but worked hard. Lauren pushed us and encouraged us; we encouraged each other.
while i relaxed in my epsom salt bath that night i reflected on my trip, my self-esteem, and thoughts of self-worth. i needed to be better and nicer to myself. i needed to care for myself. a return to fitness was going to be my treat to me. as i soaked, i made my new goal: for 365 days i would get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.
for seven more sessions i continued to challenge myself with the help of Lauren and fellow booty campers. on days off from sessions i did cardio, went to barre class and yoga. and i ate mostly ‘clean’.
day 27 was judgement day. i was feeling defeated; i couldn’t see any results and was wondering why i even bothered pushing so hard. the last thing i wanted to do was get remeasured. i asked Lauren not to tell me the results, but as she wrapped the pink measuring tape around my body, she told me she had to. when i looked, i understood why.
in 27 days of exhausting work i lost 10.25 inches. most notably, 1.5 inches from both my stomach and hips, and 3.5 inches from my thighs combined.
why didn’t i see this? besides the fact i’m slightly a self-sadist? i look in the mirror daily, it’s hard to notice those changes.
i feel the changes each time i conquer new stair cases, go for a run, or slip on my jeans. it’s an understatement to say i’m incredibly proud of myself.
i’ll never sugarcoat things: it’s not easy and most of the time it isn’t fun, but there is some sick pleasure one gets from dripping in sweat. i worked my ass off. it is worth it.
now, on day 42, i feel amazing. when i check out my butt in the mirror, i thank Lauren for every lunge and squat she made us do. i’m still in the beginning of my journey, but i’ve made incredible progress and it all started with the decision to show up one wednesday.
the june sessions of Booty Camp are now open for registration. check it out, you won’t regret it.
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have you ever tried Booty Camp? what’s your favourite workout?
