Bootcamp founder Sharon Smith talks weight loss
Thursday 13 January 2011
We caught up with the founder of GI Jane Fitness Bootcamp - the place where Kerry Katona reinvented herself – Sharon Smith, for a chat about shedding pounds in the New Year. Something Sharon knows all about...
When Sharon fell pregnant, she gained so much weight that she managed to go from a slim eight stone to a whooping 15stone - check out her before and after photos.
She says she put the weight on because she used her pregnancy as an excuse to eat what she wanted, a trap many expectant mums fall in to.
“I thought ‘I’m pregnant, it’s a green light I can eat what I want’,” she says.
She did eventually lose the extra weight, but only through sensible eating and exercise, she says.
Now she uses her experience to inspire women who attend her bootcamp, proving to them that anything can be achieved.
She says: “When I have women come to me who have put on an awful lot of weight and can’t see a way out, I show them my before and after pictures and tell them that you can do it purely by healthy eating and exercise.”
Sharon, who has been a businesswomen for 10 years, set up GI Jane bootcamp to help women realise their dream of reclaiming back their figures.
She wanted to create a place where women from all walks of life could come together, get fit and healthy and leave with a new perspective on life.
Now her bootcamp is a roaring success and regularly attended by celebrities. In fact, GI Jane bootcamp is credited with helping Kerry Katona turn her life around.
Sharon says Kerry is a good example of what they do at camp: “She got it. She worked really, really hard for two weeks non-stop.
“She joined in with everybody else and wasn’t treated any differently.
“She looks amazing now and that is through sheer hard work and determination.”
Talking about her non-celebrity clientele, Sharon says: “We have no age limit on the ladies who come. In the summer one woman celebrated her 60th birthday with us.
“We have women who have just gone through a relationship break-up, mums and daughters. There is such a variety. But it’s amazing how quickly they bond when they come to camp.”
Sharon stresses that when trying to lose weight it is important to make exercise fun.
She says: “Everything we do has a degree of fun in it, no matter what your preferences. We do stuff like bike rides, power walking, team games, paint balling.”
When it comes to healthy eating Sharon’s ethos is to employ portion control and never cut food groups or partake in fad diets.
“It’s all about portion control. At camp we serve three good meals a day plus two snacks.”
Healthy eating and exercise is not a radical notion when it comes to weight loss, so why should people come to her bootcamp when they can practice this at home? What kind of magic does a week-long bootcamp spread?
“It is the most rewarding thing,” she says.
“When ladies first arrive and the difference in them when they leave is unbelievable.
“They look fantastic, but not just that; they feel fantastic as well. There personalities are so different.
“It’s a massive confidence boost. Some people are so shy they can’t even look you in the eye and when they leave they are the complete opposite.”
So what is it about a bootcamp that does this?
“It gives them back their self-belief quite simply, because it is a massive achievement.”
Sharon is launching a GI Joe bootcamp on the 7th of February for men only. Although, GI Joe is only offering weekend course as Sharon’s not sure “men are as strong as women and if they will be capable of handling a week.”
Just tell your other half that and he will be dying to prove her wrong!
To keep up exercise Sharon recommends setting aside one hour a day, preferably in the morning.
“If you have the right mind set you will always find time to do it,” she says.
“Anyone can lose weight for good, you simply have to want it. Make exercise a part of your daily routine and realise that you don’t need big portions and you can’t go wrong,” is Sharon’s imparting words of wisdom.
We have to admit the woman has a very good point!
GI Jane bootcamp run weekend and mid-week course. For more information visit: www.gijanebootcamp.co.uk
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