FRESH

and Jamie and the twelve-strong group of fellow ‘boot campers’ more than made up for the chilly conditions. From seasoned Fresh Air Gym members to fellow first-timers, there was great team spirit from the start of the 1.5 hour session.
Following a brief introduction, we moved into warm-up and, after 20 minutes of stretching and jogging, layers started to be shed and low temperatures forgotten. What followed was an intensive workout for the entire body, with a good mix of cardio, strengthening and toning work - all packed into the fastest hour and a half I’ve ever experienced!

I worked harder than I have since taking part in Tetrathlon training as a teenager and, working through the occasional pain, finished the session feeling fantastic. The key is undoubtedly Sally and Jamie – their enthusiasm is infectious and their ‘good cop, bad cop’ regime of encouragement and chastisement where necessary ensures you push yourself far harder than you would if left too your own devices (take it from the laziest of ‘comfort-zone’ gym-goers). The team spirit (and chilly outdoor conditions) all added to the incentive to work to your full potential.

And having seen my mom and sister each complete two full month-long boot camp courses I have also seen the results. Not only do they look fantastic - slim and toned - but they’re energised; a good dose of fresh air with your exercise works wonders compared to the air-conditioned environment associated with ‘indoor’ gyms.
However, perhaps the best part was that, having taken part in this hardcore exercise session on 22nd December, I felt absolutely no guilt for the over-indulgences of Christmas Day!

I’m now looking forward to joining the regular Boot Camp classes in January; like all ‘new recruits’ I’ll meet Sally and Jamie beforehand to discuss my individual goals to ensure that we work toward them. It really is like having a personal trainer and, as you sign up for a month at a time, there’s no hefty upfront membership fee followed by monthly payments. I’m sure each of the three-a-week 45 minute sessions will go by like a flash compared to my marathon introduction!