Week 6: New Eyes

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." Marcel Proust

Well everyone, I made it through boot camp! I can't really express exactly how significant that statement is, but let me try. I made it through 59 hours of exercise (including circuits, games, boxercise, ab work, strength training, biking, walking, and a whole lot of running) over 6 days. I did all that exercise on approximately 1300 calories per day.  I was pushed to my absolute limit both physically and mentally.  I gave everything I had and then some.  I made it!

The entire week, I found myself thinking, "What am I doing here? Why didn't I go on a real vacation?! How am I going to make it?", but as I was traveling home afterward, I was filled with gratitude. I thought this trip was just about losing (weight and inches), but it ended up being about gaining much more than that.

Before I get too carried away, I will tell you what I lost. Let's be real, it's much less than I hoped for. Over the course of the week, I lost 3 pounds.  3 measley little pounds.  More impressively, I lost 2 inches around my waist, an inch around the hips, and a few inches in total around my thighs, bust, and arms.  My body fat also went down by 3 percent.

More importantly is what I gained, and I'm not just talking about the 4 pounds in muscle, although that is really awesome too.  I gained a new perspective.  I went in caring only about numbers on a scale and I came out realizing that fitness is much more than that.  I went in thinking I knew my capabilities and I came out realizing I was underestimating my strength.  I went in expecting to work out and eat right for a week and I came out with more tools to help me exercise and eat right for life.

Boot camp was life-changing.  It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself.  Don't get me wrong, it was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am better for it.  People have asked me if I would recommend going to a boot camp.  I can't recommend just any boot camp, because I'm sure some are awful, but I can recommend this one--Revival Boot Camp, with camps in England and Spain.  The trainer, Marty, is amazing: tough, but also compassionate.  The manager, Zoe, was always there with a smile and a listening ear. The chef/nutritionist, Diana, is one of the best around.  I loved every meal she prepared for us!

Was boot camp what I expected? Not at all.  In fact, it was much much better! I have made lasting friends, learned some great recipes, and best of all, pushed my body to a new level of fitness! Nothing can stop me from reaching my goal because after boot camp, nothing is too hard!

I am a bit sad to report that my own scale didn't even show a three pound loss.  This morning's weight in was just .8 of a pound lower than my pre-boot camp weight.  But thanks to boot camp, I am totally over it! 

Here's to another healthy week!

Pounds lost: 7.8

Pounds left to lose: 22.2

Love,

Candace