NAME: Susan Lane AGE: 51 DATE: 16th April 2010, 17th September, 20th November  & 1st April 2011 COURSE: Devon, Cotswolds, Herefordshire & Spain "I tried new things, made new friends and changed my life"

Susan Lane, 51, Loses a staggering 4 stone!

At the beginning of 2010 I was ski-ing with the family and not only could I not keep up, I even passed out due to the high altitude and it took 2 men to lift me back up.  I realised that unless I did something about my weight I really was unlikely to see my children grow up.  On getting home though I did absolutely nothing about it!  Before children I was never skinny - a voluptuous size 12/14 but I would work out at the gym to tone up and keep bits where they were supposed to be.  Then I had children and used that as an excuse to indulge my passion for eating.  Over the years the weight had piled on and I yo-yo dieted without achieving very much - Lighter Life, Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, Atkins - I tried them all; I even used to go to the gym so although I was toned I was still weighing it at - OBESE - there I've said the word and the harsh reality was that yes, I was clinically Obese.  But I still didn't do anything and because I was upset at this I continued to eat more.

I was coming up to my 50th birthday in April and my Husband asked if I wanted a party, weekend away and I said I wanted to go to Boot Camp.  Well he emailed me a web site for a boot camp and I had a look but wasn't carried away with enthusiasm and I thought he must just have googled 'boot camp' so I did too - one stood out - Prestige - because it said 5* accommodation and I thought 'oh yes, I can potter around a bit doing gym work, few sit-ups, probably all over by 4pm, I can have a face mask, condition my hair, do my nails, watch a little TV'.  I booked it straight away for the week before my 50th as I thought, that's great - bit of pampering, might lose a little weight - after all I didn't want to overtax myself at my age.

The time came round very quickly and I travelled by car to the Devon location. On arrival we were given an introduction as to what to expect from the week and then I had a one-to-one chat with Staff R about my reasons for being there and what I hoped to achieve.  I thought it was obvious why I was there - I was seriously overweight!  But not everyone goes to a Boot Camp to lose weight; actually out of 22 ladies there were only 2 heavier than me which really surprised and shocked me.  I told him straight away that I 'didn't do running' and he said no problem; there would always be a member of staff who could do alternative forms of exercise with me.  I felt quite jolly at this point and saw myself painting my nails, reading a book and generally having a good time and a bit of a laugh.

Each morning we were woken with a knock on the door and cheery ‘Good Morning’ at 6.30am and we were expected to be at the muster point for 6.50am.  Our morning warm-up would last about 40minutes and would be different every day; one morning a run, another morning toning exercises or even a game.  This would be followed by breakfast which would be different from scrambled eggs with smoked salmon to muesli.  There would be a short break and we would be told what type of gear we’d need for the next session, which could be anything from a walk, a staged run, a trip to the beach for circuits or even some rock climbing.  Lunch could be sweet potato tortilla (most people’s favourite) or smoked mackerel salad – always something different.  The afternoon session could be a bike ride, circuits, games anything!  Evening meals would usually have 2 courses; a soup followed by bolognaise, or a casserole or even a curry – but always delicious.  After dinner there would be the option to go for a gentle 45 minute walk – always up to you whether you participated because you were there of your own choice.  We would have snacks mid morning and mid-afternoon which were always freshly prepared – these might be humus with fresh vegetables, or a banana milkshake or even aubergine caviar on oat biscuits.  I can certainly say that they food was always freshly prepared, delicious and beautifully presented.  I never felt hungry which showed me how much I must usually overeat.  Some people had food they didn’t like so alternatives were always made for them and Chef was always happy to cater to everyone’s needs.  The menus were always very well planned around what activities we would be doing – I now know if we get porridge and coffee for breakfast, it’s going to be a tough day

Yes, I was shouted at sometimes but that was because my trainers recognised that I needed a kick up the backside.  I was always treated with respect but got back as good as I gave.  Some ladies found the whole experience very emotional and sometimes felt they couldn’t go on but the Staff always took the time to talk to them.  If anyone had an injury they were always looked after in a most professional manner.  About half way through the week it suddenly dawned on me that these guys were behind me 100% and I realised that they would give me back as much as I gave them – if I’d been with my family or friends I would have given up a number of times but being with the guys at Prestige and them showing faith in me made me want to succeed for them.

I had a GREAT time and loads of laughs - sadly no book reading, no nail painting, and no face masks!!  I did lose 12lbs and 14" in that week and I've made friends for life.  In fact my life has changed so completely; I have learnt the basics of losing weight and it's no big secret - eat less & better, and exercise. 

I enjoyed Boot Camp so much, I went again in September  to the Hereford location, in November I went to Spain and have booked up for April in the Cotswolds.

So from the lady that didn't run, I did a 10K run in October just to prove I could, and 2 of my Boot Camp buddies did it with me because they more than anybody know what I went through that week.   In fact, I completed the run in under an hour; and who was the first person I rang – Staff R at Prestige!  Buoyed up by my success I’m doing a half marathon at the beginning of March and I have had to admit to everyone that actually I quite enjoy running!!  Shame it took me 50 years to realise it. 

It’s now nearly a year on and I still have 2 stone to lose to reach my goal weight.  I could have lost the weight faster but I haven’t always travelled a straight road; I’ve had my ups and downs, I’ve had days, weeks, months where for whatever reason I’ve fallen off the diet and exercise programme.  If you have been someone who has struggled with weight issues it’s not something that can be changed overnight; you have overeaten for a variety of reasons and no-one can change that but you and the more pressure others put on you, the more you fall off the path.  It took me 13 years to put on the weight, so I wasn’t going to lose it all overnight and going on crash diets doesn’t work either, because as soon as you stop the crash diet the pounds pile back on.  Also losing weight slowly means that it is more likely to stay off.  But more than the weight coming off is the inches that come off; if you are exercising you become fitter which is better for your heart and you’re toned which makes you look better.  People look at me now and are amazed that I still want to lose a further 2 stone but they don’t see me with my clothes off – I can now put a size 12 pair of jeans on but they give me a small ‘muffin top’ which I can hide with a loose top so I know I still have a way to go by following the exercise programmes I learnt at Prestige and going back gives me an intense boost and I learn some new exercises.

So far I’ve lost nearly 4 stone (that doesn’t count what I’ve put on and had to lose again!) and a massive 31”.  It’s the inch difference that is the most impressive because that means I’ve toned up – a flabby bit of fat looks much worse than a toned piece of fat!  I was told that size is just a number and it’s taken me a long time to accept that – you don’t see someone in the street and think – she’s a size 10 or a size 16.   Manufacturers have changed their sizes too – I can buy Per Una size 12 jeans but have to get size 14 in a brand that cuts corners!  Same with tops, I have a range of sizes, it just depends which one fits the best and makes me feel great.  I don’t meet new people saying “I’m Susan and I’m a 12 bottom and a 16 top”, no-one actually cares but we can get hung up on sizes – that’s something else Prestige taught me.

The guys at Prestige (and Francesca counts as one of the guys) have been there for me, giving me support, morale boosting, advice, laughs, a shoulder – for me, an obese person, it was more than someone spending a week with them and then going on their way.  They’ve taken me on through thick and thin and improved and lengthened my life.  They’ve helped me on the road but I still have to work at it. Someone else might have succeeded quicker but Prestige hasn’t given up on me.

Prestige has totally changed my life - I have more energy, more confidence and MORE FUN!  I can never express enough thanks to all the Staff at Prestige - they put up with my tears, my emails, my phone calls and my lame sense of humour.   ……………But seriously   THANKS GUYS.

16th April 2011
Well, today is a very big day – It is exactly 1 year today that I arrived at Boot Camp for the first time!  How my life has changed – what a difference a year has made.  With Prestige at Boot Camp I have been abseiling (twice – hated it but gave it a go), coasteering, rock climbing, gorge walking, mountain biking and at my last one I competed in a raft building competition.  But the biggest achievement was running in and completing the Bath Half Marathon – I never thought I would ever even attempt anything like that – just goes to show that even at 50 you can surprise yourself.  I enjoyed the half-marathon so much that I have already entered again for next year and have also entered the New Forest Half Marathon in September.  Will I ever do a full marathon – absolutely not!  I think the half marathon is my limit and I am very happy with that.

I’ve just completed a week at the new Cotswolds venue and would you believe it  my biggest weight loss ever at Boot Camp.  I lost 13.2lbs and 9.5” which totally amazed me.  The other huge thing about this Boot Camp was that I was actually the fittest person there (and the oldest).  Obviously it was sheer luck on my part that I turned out to be the fittest but also I really gave it my all!  I worked extra hard and pushed myself just that little bit more.  Was it my easiest Boot Camp because I was fitter, in some ways yes but also I had the drive to push myself that bit more.  I think I will have to go back to Devon for a real test as that was my first Boot Camp.  One thing I did notice was that the exercise I find the horridest because it drains you and is so hard – aptly called ‘Shoulders of Doom’ – felt quite easy this time.  Due to an injury 25 years ago I could hardly move my right shoulder a year ago but now it works as perfectly as the left one.  A little side benefit of Boot Camp.

As a child I rode but haven’t ridden for 37 years, although both my daughters took it up about 3 years ago.  Due to my weight I was embarrassed to join them but near the end of last year I decided to give it a go again.  I am delighted to say that the memories came back and I am enjoying riding again; in fact the 3 of us have just come back from a weeks riding holiday in Cornwall which included rides along the beach.  Certainly something I never thought I would do but another change to my life having achieved the weight loss.

When I ran the Half Marathon I raised money for MacMillan as it was a charity my Father supported.  My biggest regret is that I didn’t start this journey while he was still here; it’s only since he went that I have found out how worried he was about my health.  My Mother says he must be ‘looking down’ and be very proud of me but I wish I’d dealt with it sooner.  The years I’ve missed out on of not doing things because of my size and lacking energy.  The things I’ve not done with my children for the same reasons and I’ve probably done long term damage to my body but at least I’m on the right road now.

I couldn’t have done it alone and I still need the support – the hardest part is asking for the help and knowing where to go.  Boot Camp isn’t going to suit everyone but for me it WAS the best thing I could have done.  I tried new things and made new friends and changed my life.