With Christmas just around the corner, we're all looking to fit into the party frocks – or wedding dresses, for all you winter brides – tucked away at the back of the wardrobe. That's why when Sarah Jane at Glasgow-based SJ Fitness offered me a space on her two-week Little Black Dress Bootcamp I jumped at the chance. It was a quick fortnight, despite the fact that I was exercising six days a week and looking back, a really enjoyable experience. Brides looking to get fit for the wedding could see it as something of a bridal bootcamp! I'll save the results for later...What it entails
The bootcamp begins by looking at your starting point and writing down your goals. Yes, this does mean getting weighed and measured but this is the worst bit of the whole experience – and it definitely gets you motivated to do something about it! Then it's a quick chat with Sarah Jane who introduces you to your fellow bootcampers, talks about diet and explains what's going to happen over the next two weeks.
The moves
The programme involves you exercising for at least an hour every day. You get the weekend off, although you can go along to the SJ Fitness running club if you like. I did once; the second week was cancelled because of the snow but the crazy folk that turned up got an indoor circuit class instead. The exercise sessions are a mixture of legs, bums and tums classes, Vibe cycle classes, power plate sessions, and boxercise – and you even get a one-on-one personal training class as part of your package too.
Why it works
The good thing about the set-up is that you're a member of the ongoing fitness classes held at the gym, which means that you can continue to attend them when your bootcamp is finished. The classes are suitable for all fitness levels and abilities too, so nobody feels excluded. As you meet all your bootcampers (maximum 12 in a class) at the beginning then it helps to know that you're not the only one that's working hard. There's a real team mentality and the friendly gym instructors get to know you really quickly too. And by doing the same workout for two weeks it lets you see how far you've come on the second week.
The results
As you'll see I managed to lose three pounds and a whopping four-and-a-half inches, most of these from my hips and thighs (my trouble spots). Yippee! And this was despite going out for my friend's 30th birthday at a curry house and enjoying an early Christmas dinner (including Champagne, Christmas pudding and lots of other lovely treats). So it was definitely worth the effort – in fact, I'm already thinking about when I'll do my next one!
| Before |
After |
Total Loss |
|
| Weight |
10st |
9 st 11 |
3 lbs |
| Chest |
34.9in |
33.8in |
1.1in |
| Waist |
29.6in |
29in |
0.6in |
| Hips |
39.7in |
38.2in |
1.5in |
| Thigh |
25.5in |
24.5in |
1in |
| Upper arm |
11.5in |
11.2in |
0.3in |
The two-week Little Black Dress Bootcamp costs £69
To book your place, tel: 0141 221 2332 or email bookings@sjfitness.com
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