Healthy Food Guide staffer and mother of two, Kirsty Donovan shares her story about taking steps towards a healthier body and mind.
Losing 23 kilos over the course of 2010 from good eating habits was an achievement for Kirsty. But the aim in 2011 to keep losing – 17 more kilos – would be a greater challenge. Kirsty decided to step up weight-loss efforts by joining Fitness Evolved’s Boot Camp.
Week one
I can’t believe I’ve signed up to Boot Camp’s 6am starts, three times a week for the next six weeks. It’s been years since I’ve exercised. By the time we have ‘warmed up’ (jogging, squats, push-ups and sit-ups), I am starting to panic. I am in well over my head.
Did they just say a 2.2km run? I’m told we run this distance to take a snapshot of our current fitness levels. On the run, I start to struggle with breathing as I’m very unfit and freaking out – I can’t run to the letterbox let alone 2.2km. I vow not to be last and I come in third to last in a group of 100 or so. First goal achieved! I knew I was unfit but this is a real eye opener.
Boot Camp this week has been emotional. I feel embarrassed at my lack of fitness. I try to tell myself: “It’s just about me, don’t compare yourself to others,” but my pride comes to the fore and I feel bad about being ‘one of the last ones’. I can, and will, conquer these mind games.
Week two
Running is just the half of it. We also do push-ups, squats, lunges and back exercises… no let up, no excuses. I feel so tired, I feel like I’m dragging my body around. It’s a struggle but I also feel quietly proud of myself when I manage to push my body through the mental and physical barriers.
The fact that I’m not allowing myself to make any excuses is a new thing for me. It helps that during Boot Camp mornings, fellow boot campers and trainers keep up with the encouragement. After one session I’m told I have basically run non-stop for one hour. I have never run for an hour in my life!
Week three
I missed Boot Camp one morning and strangely enough, I missed it! Who would’ve thought?
With this constant activity, I go to bed exhausted at about 8pm and sleep uninterrupted until 7am. Unheard of! But I still dread running – enough to say bring on the sit-ups and push-ups!
This week during one session, we run between 5-6km. And I do it. If I had known a 5-6km run was on the cards beforehand, I would have just assumed there was no way I could do it and rather than put myself through the humiliation I would have not come. But I realise now that no one at Boot Camp laughs at you (as I feared), and I am tougher than I thought.
When the halfway mark morning arrives to check our progress, that 2.2km run is on the agenda. I fight off my thoughts of being ‘last’ and ‘slow’ so I don’t lose control of my breathing. I manage not to panic and I win that constant mental battle urging me to stop. I get really breathless twice on the run but only allow myself 10 walking steps in order to get a grip on it and then, I start running again.
I feel sick when I finish but I complete it. And apart from those steps, I end up running the whole way. Amazing for me! I also shave two whole minutes off my original time! I feel emotional and teary achieving my two goals, for sticking with Boot Camp and the 6am starts, and being brave to continue. What a high! I find myself looking forward to Week four and beyond. My body just feels like it wants to move.”
Kirsty
This blog is the opinion and experiences of its author and should not be taken as medical or dietetic advice. Healthy Food Guide has not verified the content and cannot endorse any advice given. Healthy Food Guide recommends seeking professional health advice for specific complaints or symptoms.
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