Allison's Success Story

Ironically I have many close girlfriends who are amazing athletes. They have always encouraged me to get in shape, offering to help, but at the same time, they know you can’t lead a horse to water if they ain’t thirsty! So when a friend told me about Booty Camp, asking me if I’d be interested in joining, all I heard was, "Hey, after a long day at home with your two young children, how would you like to go out in the cold and get yelled at by some random boot camp instructor, only to not have a hope of being able to keep up and feel bad about yourself?" Gee, let me think about that...so of course I said "no". But then I decided to look up the website and after reading through what Booty Camp was all about, I was actually kind of intrigued. Browsing through the success stories and seeing how Booty Camp had changed the lives of the women who had participated was inspiring, so I decided to give it a shot. And oh my word, am I ever glad that I did!

Driving with my friend to the first Monday night of Booty Camp was nerve wracking. I was sure that everyone else would be buff, chiseled goddesses and they would take one look at me and show me the door. I had the privilege of attending the Monday/Wednesday classes in Oakville at 8pm with the AMAZING Kat. After chatting with the group of ladies, getting a brief but warm introduction from Kat, I felt completely at ease, totally welcome, and for the first time ever, really excited to start an exercise program! Then we started the fitness test. I was ready to run out there door, only I wasn’t sure I would make it!. What the heck was I doing here?! I had never done a burpee before, unless you count the kind after drinking a soda, and I was quite sure they were designed as a method of torture. And push ups! Real, actual toes-on-the-ground push ups, I just didn’t do those...ever! But to my surprise, instead of feeling judged, I had ladies smiling at me, telling me I did a good job. Kat helped me with my technique as I went, encouraging all of the women throughout the night. I sweated, grunted and persevered through that first class, but I was so happy to finally find the program I had been looking for and just thought didn’t exist.

Don’t get me wrong, this transition was not easy for me. I was a mess Tuesday morning after the first class. Every part of my body was sore, including my booty! But as I whined and complained and felt sorry for myself, I came to a life changing realization; if my booty was sore after the first class, there had to actually be some muscle in there! So come Wednesday night, I was still sore, I was definitely sweaty, but I was there and surprisingly, happy to be there.

And with every class, I actual began to see and feel improvements. I began to look forward to Monday and Wednesday nights, and catching up with Kat and the ladies, curious as to what was on the Booty Camp menu for the evening. The first night that I actually did a "real" push up, I literally almost cried. I just never thought of myself as a girl who could do push ups. I found myself enjoying the challenges Kat set up for us, even when after our first 4 weeks she smiled and told us to bring weights to the remainder of the classes! Burpees and I are still not friends, but my technique and strength since that first class have improved so much that I can say that I really do enjoy the benefits and results that burpees bring. So I guess burpees and I can finally call a truce.

The feeling of becoming a better, stronger, more confident and more capable "me" is indescribable. I am forever grateful to Booty Camp and my fabulous instructor Kat. As cliche as it might sound, Booty Camp has changed my life. I don’t want to lose this momentum and I can’t wait to sign up for my next session.

From the least likely recruit to the Booty Camp lifer - if you are reading this and you are on the fence about whether Booty Camp is for you, it is, because Booty Camp is for anyone who has a desire to be a better version of themselves. See you there!

– Allison Bay

Nadia's Success Story

On my first day as a new recruit, I met my instructor Sandra, the Elite Drill Instructor at the North York location. She shared her own personal success story and then ended the by class challenging us all to enter the New You Challenge. Sandra was a strong and motivating woman who had reached her fitness goals through hard work and commitment. Simply put – I wanted to know what she knew and work just as hard as she had to reach her goals. Listen up folks – doesn’t matter how bad you want to look good, if you don’t buckle down and actually do something about it, nothing will change. Shocker.

The very next day, I could feel the effect of Booty Camp, all my muscles were sore, and I knew I was immediately intrigued. Yes – of course there were some excruciating exercises we had to get through that were far from tantalizing, but perhaps being mistaken as the next Adriana Lima was enough to rev my engine. I signed up – and set off to win this eight-week challenge.

At the beginning of our session, all the women introduced themselves and shared their personal goals. Some goals more specific than others – but overall we were all working towards the same goal of getting fit, and fab. I loved it – this was not simply a workout group, but a group full of ladies that I considered my friends. I actually looked forward to attending my bi-weekly sessions, to see the friendly familiar faces and for Sandra to kick my butt.

Throughout my Booty Camp session, I experienced both a physical and mental transformation. Working out was suddenly a positive experience vs. a chore sitting on my “to do list” and well the physical changes – they speak for themselves. I was seeing definition in my abs that I’ve never seen before in my life.

Seriously, people. I’ve logged a lot of hours working out, and there were many times when I thought that the “so hot right now” diet might just work (things got especially interesting when I did my detox this summer (I’m talking about liquids ONLY ladies), but let’s not bring back bad memories. Keep it simple. This Booty Camp is the next level of fitness. Forget about personal training, keep some of your hard working dolla’ bills in your Gucci and sign up for Booty Camp. Believe me – you will NOT be disappointed. Good luck!!

– Nadia Ahmed

Sue's Success Story

Since the age of 19, I have been dedicated to my fitness. For two decades, there wasn’t a club or exercise trend I didn’t try. High impact, low-impact, step class, spinning class, yoga, jazzercise, personal trainers, strength training – you name it, I tried it. I was also pretty athletic in my 20s, and when I was 33 I married a wonderful guy who works in the sports industry. We would run, mountain bike and snowboard together. I worked hard on my fitness and health, and it showed.

Fast forward to middle age, and oh my! How everything changed – for the worse. A high-powered career in sales meant working long hours, travelling, eating fast food at my desk, lousy sleep and increased stress levels. I’d come home from work exhausted by the demands of the day, and more and more, fitness took a back seat. It was all I could do to make dinner, flop on the couch, pour a glass of wine (OK, three or four), and watch TV. I rationalized the upward creep in my weight in my 40s was due to aging, my genes, and the on-set of menopause, and not because of my slack fitness regime. I still participated in activities I loved, such as snowboarding and horse back riding but these activities were too sporadic to have any lasting impact on my overall fitness. I noticed my stamina and ability level in these beloved sports was suffering, but again, I put this down to aging.

I gave in, and I gave up. It was painful for me to look in the mirror and see how much my body had morphed into something lumpy and soft. By age 53, my wardrobe was filled with clothing sizes that embarrassed me (size 16?!!? What the heck?! Yikes!). It only made it worse that my husband continued to be incredibly fit and healthy as he aged along with me. He always told me he loved me, no matter how I looked. I adored his sentiment, but I hated the idea I was letting him down, in addition to letting myself down.

During a snowboard trip to Tahoe in 2011, I found myself in a dangerous situation. I got separated from my friends and got lost on an unfamiliar mountain at 8,600 feet. I fell into a tree well and couldn’t get out. There had been unprecedented amounts of snow, and well over seven feet had fallen in only 72 hours. I floundered for almost two hours, gasping for breath at altitude, and lacking the muscle power to get up and out of the tree well. When I finally emerged, I was exhausted, scared and angry. I knew a good deal of what got me into that position was that I was unfit. I took a good long hard look in the mirror when I got back home, and vowed to make changes.

My first clue that Booty Camp was different came on my third session. I won’t lie – I was really struggling with the routine. I was so incredibly unfit, I found the pace and exercises very challenging. I was trying (unsuccessfully) to hold the plank when negative self-talk kicked in. “Who are you trying to kid? You can’t do this. You’re not 25 anymore. This is ridiculous. You’re killing yourself. You’re 54. What are you trying to prove. You’re embarrassing yourself...”

A wave of remorse, embarrassment and defeat swept over me. I started to shake; I started to sob; I dropped my plank, grabbed my stuff and rushed from the gym crying. I felt like crap, and just wanted to go home and fall into my husband’s arms and bawl my eyes out. In that moment, I felt the lowest. I’d just been laid off my job only two months prior. My self-esteem wasn’t exactly at a zenith. Rather then focusing on the fact that I had at least signed up, and shown up, and was trying, I focused instead on how far my fitness had fallen. The task of reclaiming it seemed insurmountable that day when I burst into tears and ran out of the gym.

I got as far as the hall.

My Elite Drill Instructor and two fellow campers came out to make sure I was OK. I couldn’t believe it. At any other club, people would’ve shrugged it off, thinking “too bad – she can’t handle it. Tough.” and let me go. My instructor, Sandra, was key in telling me that I could do it. She shared personal stories with me that checked my attitude. She focused on that fact that I was there, and doing it. That she’d been where I was and knew how I felt. “But I know you’re a solider! I can tell. You’ve been fit before, so you know. You know you can do it!” She was right. I ended up (a little sheepishly) heading back into the gym to finish the class.

And that was it. I was hooked. Sandra kept telling me I had a solider’s mentality, and that while the routines wouldn’t necessarily get any easier, I’d definitely get better. That third class and my mini-meltdown was my turning point.

She was right – I did get better. The Booty Camp Fitness assessment pages showed the progress I’d made over eight weeks. I got excited and started tracking my progression on a spreadsheet so I could see my statistics. I signed on for more months. Booty Camp sessions became something I looked forward to. The women in my group are just amazing! They inspire and push me to do things I wouldn’t have thought possible. Like holding the plank from my toes for four minutes with correct form. They share their tips and struggles, and as corny as it sounds, I know that Booty Camp is a “safe place”. I can share my health and fitness hopes and fears and no one will mock me. And OMG do we have fun! Not only have I lost inches and pounds, I’ve gained new friends. Double win!!

At 55 I can’t do all the exercises at 100% speed. There are just some things Mother Nature won’t let me do the same as a 25 year old. High knees aren’t as high as they once were. However I never bail on any exercise, even those I hate (“Leap your frog” is a phrase that puts dread in my heart). I’ll modify the exercise if it causes me discomfort but still work hard on the intensity and range of motion.

It is important to me to age in a way that is authentic, genuine, and strong. I never get tired of hearing “Wow Sue! You look great. What are you doing?!” I take delight in sending bags of too-big-clothing to Goodwill. My husband gave me the gift of fitness at Christmas with new workout clothing, shoes, and a mat. His support has been instrumental. When I come home after camp, all sweaty and disheveled (but radiantly happy!) he never fails to say “Welcome home, soldier! I’m proud of you."

I find that my fellow recruits look to me and my fellow fit 50+ Booty Campers as inspiration. That makes me feel even better! This winter, I went on an all-women’s snowboard trip with my girlfriends, all of whom are in their 20s and 30s. This year it was in Colorado at 11,000 feet. I rode so strongly, my friends said “Wow, that Booty Camp must be working!” I kept up on all the runs, and even felt nimble enough to do some modest jumps and rails. Booty Camp’s benefits mean I enjoy my life and my activities more fully and joyously.

I entered the New You Challenge after a year at Booty Camp in order to set myself a new goal. I felt an eight-week challenge would kick it up a notch and I was keen to see how much more fit I could get, even though I’ve already made great inroads in my fitness after a year at Booty Camp.

I truly believe the universe will give you what you need, just when you need it, if you only keep yourself open. I’m so thankful I discovered Booty Camp, my instructor Sandra, and my group of ladies. It’s become a significant part of my life, and in return has given me friendship, fun, health and a level of fitness I haven’t enjoyed in decades. I’ve lost 23 inches and 17 pounds since I joined Booty Camp. Since taking on the New You Challenge for May and June 2012, I’ve lost an additional 6 pounds and 7 inches.

Thank you Booty Camp for making me 55 going on 30!!! :)

– Sue Ferguson

Brigitte's Success Story

My 1^st pregnancy was great... I exercised throughout (even taking 8km “waddles” during my final month), I had no food cravings, gained relatively little weight & got my pre-pregnancy body back quickly. However, during pregnancy #2 I found myself eating cookies for breakfast on a regular basis, and I had little energy to exercise because I was chasing a toddler around the house all day.

Almost two years after my son was born, there was an elusive 5-10 lbs that lingered. Like many mothers out there, I often struggle to find a moment of "me time". I have never known self-sacrifice until I welcomed my daughter (three years) and son (21 months) into the world, and now my life revolves around them 100%. However, directing all my energies towards my children means that I often neglect myself.

Enter Booty Camp.

I needed to start taking some time for myself, and I needed to get myself back into the exercising frame of mind. I had tried Booty Camp just before I realized I was pregnant with my 1st child, and I saw great results in just four weeks. So I decided to give it another try.

I was hesitant during the first session because I knew I was out of shape. Despite chasing two children around the yard on a daily basis, I knew that it was quite different than a real workout routine.

I worked HARD that first night. The jumping squats made me pant, football drills made every part of me jiggle, and burpees were almost the death of me. I was grateful it was raining that evening (to cool me down), and that the sun was setting (so no one could see how red I was in the face). The following morning I could barely raise my arms to brush my hair. Every muscle in my body was hurting. I was excited because it meant that I was going to get results, but I was also nervous because I had no idea how I would survive session #2 the following day!

With each passing week I felt myself getting stronger. I could hold my plank longer, my jumping squats were more powerful, and I could manage a few more tricep pushups. The ladies in my session motivated each other and we developed a great rapport. Also, our Elite Drill Instructor, Sandra, kept the energy high and positive. I actually looked forward to attending each class.

Soon, my clothes began to fit a little better, my eating habits improved, and my husband could tell that I had a little more confidence. My daughter would send me off each night with a “Bye mommy. Have fun exercising!”

At the end of eight weeks, I sadly realized I couldn’t immediately continue with another session due to a recurring injury. However, I was proud of myself for what I had accomplished. Booty Camp helped me get off the couch in the evening (where I typically would park myself – with an unhealthy snack – after putting the kids to bed), and get back into a healthy frame of mind. I saw an improvement to my body, my fitness level, my mental state, and my confidence.

The greatest part of my experience is the example that it is setting for my kids. They see that I enjoy exercising, and we talk about being healthy. I try to avoid talking about “feeling fat” or “needing to lose weight” around them. Instead we focus on identifying foods that are good for us, limiting unhealthy treats, and having fun while staying active. Hopefully this will be a positive start to building their self-confidence and self-image.

And I cannot lie... I am thrilled that I have finally lost those last elusive pregnancy pounds!!

Thanks for kicking my butt Booty Camp... I'll see you again soon.

– Brigitte Chang-Addorisio

Tiffany's Success Story

I gained 20 pounds in my first four months of university. I remember feeling completely horrible about myself. I felt upset every time I looked in the mirror. My confidence was gone. One night while I was getting dressed to meet some friends I tried putting on my skinny jeans. They wouldn’t fit past my thighs. I just sat on my bed and cried. I felt so ashamed of myself and my body that I no longer felt like myself. I knew I needed to lose weight. However, I didn’t think I had time to work out so I decided to focus on my diet. I started drinking meal replacement shakes for breakfast every day. However, soon I was drinking these for breakfast, and for lunch. Eventually I stopped drinking them altogether and would only eat a little in front of my family at dinner time so they wouldn’t suspect anything. I lost a couple pounds and began eating less and less until eventually my mom went into my school bag and found all of my uneaten lunches and realized what was going on.

My family worked with me and helped me to begin eating properly. It was difficult to stop what I was doing. I knew it was bad for me, but I wanted to lose weight so badly that it didn’t matter. Seeing how concerned my family was forced me to start eating again. It hurt me to see how much I had scared them. By the end of the school year, with the help of my parents and my brother I was eating like usual and I had gained all the weight back. My family was happy that I had gained all the weight I had lost back; however I still wasn’t happy with myself. I felt as though I needed to get into shape to finally feel good about myself.

I knew I wanted to lose this weight, but I also knew that I needed to lose it in a healthy way. I had a full-time summer job and most of my salary needed to be saved to pay for next year’s tuition, which meant that I needed an affordable, practical way to lose weight. This is where Booty Camp came in. I stumbled upon the website and decided to sign up for the summer and enter into this contest to help motivate me to keep my goals.

I started feeling better about myself almost immediately after joining Booty Camp. The workouts are always different which makes them enjoyable and exciting. The groups are small enough that Jessica (my instructor) was able to provide group training with individualized attention at the same time. She is incredibly motivating and always pushes me to work as hard as I can. I also really enjoy being in a camp with only women because it’s targeted especially for a woman’s body type and it’s also a great opportunity to meet other women who have the same goals that I have. Through Booty Camp, I have made a friend who motivates and pushes me to work harder than I could on my own, and I make sure to do the same for her. For once I was actually excited about exercising. I looked forward to all my workouts and it didn’t take long before I started seeing results.

As a result of the weight I have lost I feel like many other aspects of my life have changed for the better. I finally have more energy. I used to come home after work or school and have to take at least a half hour long nap just to make it through the rest of the night. Now I come home every day from work and take my dogs for a walk and then I can spend the rest of the night with my family. One thing my brother pointed out to me is that my mood has gotten a lot better since I started Booty Camp. I used to lose my temper over the smallest thing whereas now I rarely get into bad moods. Instead, if I have had a rough day I can come home and put in one of my Booty Camp DVDs and release any stress or irritation by doing some kickboxing! The biggest change this challenge has made in my life is the amount of confidence I have gained. I can look in the mirror and feel good about myself because I didn’t just lose weight, I got into shape. I didn’t just stop eating in order to lose weight, I ate healthy, I worked hard and I can finally feel good about myself.

Thank you Booty Camp, for providing women with a program that can motivate and create results. As a result of this program, I not only feel better about the way I look, I feel better about who I am. I am finally confident, happy, and most importantly, healthy. I truly do thank you for that.

- Tiffany Huard

Melanie's Success Story

I had never been particularly good at committing to a fitness regiment, but had been ‘blessed’ with a metabolism that allowed me to get away with a few drive-through meals a week. Throughout my life, I was known as ‘The Quitter’ when it came to fitness. If I signed up for yet another fitness class, my family would groan. In fact, my husband had all but forbidden me to buy, and waste, another fitness membership. I had accepted that fitness and I were like oil and water.

Then I got a serious wake-up call. The punishing lifestyle of processed foods and inertia that I had adopted after the loss of my son had taken a significant toll on me. Mid-way through my third pregnancy, I developed Gestational Diabetes. Suddenly, the life of my youngest son was in real danger, as was mine, because of the careless way I had treated my body. Additionally, the pregnancy hormones caused my pelvic ring joints to separate, and because my core was so weak, there was no muscle tone to compensate for the laxity in my joints. I was practically bed ridden and unable to independently care for my toddler. Overnight I had to make a radical change to my diet. I was also advised that if I didn’t make a permanent lifestyle adjustment, I would more than likely be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in my 50s!

My transformation truly began about one month after my third son was born. I saw a picture of myself playing with my toddler and couldn’t believe that was really me – had I really gained that much weight all over? Where had that cellulite come from? I felt depressed and realized I was truly ready to commit to a lifestyle change – not just a short-term quick fix. I needed a new way of living. The grey cloud of self-punishment I’d been smothering under lifted and I finally realized that I shouldn’t be driving myself faster into the grave, but rather striving to be the fittest and healthiest mom possible for the sake of my two surviving sons. I needed to be a role model in their lives, demonstrated through a lifestyle of healthy food choices and physical activity. And I wanted to be SEXY again for my husband, knowing that self-confidence is the first step.

It was during this revelation that I saw the ad for Booty Camp Fitness. I checked out the website and was incredibly impressed by what I saw – the nutritional support, the measurements process, the DVD, the variety of exercises, and the idea of camaraderie with women of all fitness levels. Once I decided I wanted to try, the hardest part was telling my husband!

September 2011 was my first month of Booty Camp Fitness. The first week was harsh. After five years of inactivity, my booty was BURNING! On that first night, it took everything I had to hold a plank for one minute. I enjoyed using the DVD with the mix & match variety of workouts that I could squeeze into even busy days, and the book provided great tips. I loved Sammie’s shopping list! I followed the nutritional advice and continually use many of the daily recipes. Our instructor, Kat, was incredibly supportive and energetic with motivating everyone. Working in pairs really pushed me to follow through on the exercise so I wouldn’t let my buddy down. By the end of four weeks, I held plank for three minutes straight! After four weeks I felt incredible – I had lost 10.5 inches (3.5 inches off my waist), 4% of body fat, and 3 pounds, but most importantly, I was feeling HEALTHIER! I felt sexier, my clothes fit better, I had energy for my kids, and I was cooking healthy food for my family.

I signed up for the next eight-week session starting in October and entered the New You Challenge. My instructor is Nina – a.k.a. Booty Camp Fitness Queen! Nina’s super high energy, creativity and originality brought to her workouts keeps me continually engaged and excited to work hard at camp! I can FEEL the fat melting away and my muscles exhibit their improved strength every week. In addition, Nina helps to keep fitness top of mind through her fitness calendar to incorporate the DVD into our daily lives, and helpful emails with articles and recommendations. I love the solidarity I have with my fellow recruits and I’ve never felt more like I BELONGED in a fitness class than I do in Booty Camp Fitness. My commitment in my eight-week class produced awesome results and I’m thrilled with the new me! I lost 7 pounds, 16 inches (4 inches from my waist), and 14.9% body fat!

Thank you Sammie for creating the best fitness program I’ve ever tried. Thanks to Booty Camp Fitness, I’m no longer ‘The Quitter’. I’ve got a new winning attitude towards life to match my new winning lifestyle and body, and I truly feel like a role model again for my family. I’m sure Joshua is proud of his Mommy too.

- Melanie Belletrutti

Sheri's Success Story

Thankfully I started feeling better around four months along and took advantage of the fact that I was pregnant. I gained back the 30 lbs. that I had lost very quickly and added close to another 50 lbs. to that, tipping the scales at 196 lbs., my heaviest weight ever! As much as I thoroughly enjoyed and indulged in my ice cream and chocolate cravings during my pregnancy, when my son Brody turned six months old I realized ‘I just had a baby’ was no longer a valid excuse for being out of shape. It was time to do something about it. I had heard about Booty Camp from a few different people that all raved about what an intense work out it was and decided it was exactly what I needed.

I have to say that I was a little nervous on the way to my first session, having not worked out for over a year and a half and being at a heavier weight than I wanted to be at. My fears were quickly eased once I met my Elite Drill Instructor. She was amazing and her enthusiasm for fitness was inspiring. The variety of exercises each class kept me on my toes and made me look forward to what would be involved in the next class. Just when I didn’t think I could push myself anymore, she was there, always with a smile on her face, to give me the confidence and motivation to keep on going. The fact that she made herself available for my questions anytime and also took the time to help me with my nutrition plan definitely attributed to my successful results.

Earlier I said I used to be an athlete. That is how I felt before I started Booty Camp. After successfully completing eight weeks, I can say with full confidence that I am an athlete. I am back. Thanks Booty Camp for helping transform me back to the motivated, self-confident, fit person that I use to be. I couldn’t be happier with my results and plan to continue my new healthy lifestyle!

- Sheri Matheson

Lisa's Success Story

My friends and family would never tell me anything other than I looked great. What else do you tell a working mother of three that had become overwhelmed with juggling life’s new challenges? But the real message was screaming at me from the inside...was being reinforced by my everyday routine... I was not only disappointed with how I looked, but more importantly I was frustrated with myself everyday for failing to make choices that would lead to any real change.

I struggled to find something that would make a difference. I tried most of the diets out there, with limited success. I found myself in yoga pants, or stuffed into jeans with uncomfortable body shapewear underneath. I needed something more substantial. I needed to not just transform my weight; I needed to shift my mindset about health and happiness and how I felt about myself.

I chose Booty Camp at the recommendation of a friend...it sounded like a workout program with some oomph, something that might help me lose more than three or four pounds. What I found was a support system, an interactive lifestyle improvement program, and a team of people that kept me motivated past the initial results that I started to see. What I found was a team of people that draw support from one another, provide motivation to one another, and educate one another on the journey to self-improvement.

My Booty Camp instructor is more than just a fitness instructor and motivator. She is there for me as a healthy lifestyle educator, coach, and mentor. She asked us to record what we ate for two days by using The Ultimate Girl’s Guide daily food journal pages and reviewed them with us one and one. She suggested changes that would make my daily food choices healthier. Knowing why you eat, and how what you eat transforms your body, changed my motivation for making the right food choices. The Booty Camp website challenges and recipes make me feel like I am part of a larger community, all geared toward my success in making good choices.

My classmates, or “teammates” motivate me to do better. I know they will spur me on at camp. They share what works for them, and we all share a genuine sense of accomplishment when individual goals are reached. I look forward to the solidarity we share as much as I look forward to the workout.

I feel great about whom I see in the mirror now, and I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg. I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe now as I am wearing things in my closet that haven’t been available to me for years.

I also sleep better. Perhaps this is because I am more fit and healthy, but my guess is that my sense of comfort in the choices I am now making plays a large part in that.

More important than how I look, and how I sleep however, is that I wake up, every day feeling much better about myself. It truly has been a transformation for me. Thank you Booty Camp!

- Lisa Levia

Christine's Success Story

Before I signed up for Booty Camp, I considered myself a fairly healthy person who was in good shape. I initially signed up for a four-week Booty Camp session just to keep my cousin company while she got into shape for her upcoming wedding. What I didn’t expect was how much stronger I would become and the drastic changes I would see in myself. In the first four weeks I lost just over six inches and was achieving fitness goals that I never thought I could without years of dedicated training. After the four weeks, I was hooked and immediately signed up for the eight-week session.

I started to understand why I was never able to achieve my fitness and body goals before and why I felt like I hit a plateau. The truth is that I have never challenged myself to go above and beyond like that before. After this past session I saw how much stronger in mind and body I had become. I was blown away by my achievements, and so proud to be working out with a great group of ladies every week. That’s the true beauty of Booty Camp, you are surrounded by strong women helping each other achieve individual goals, goals that were at first unimaginable. My camp has an ongoing plank position challenge, I used to struggle to hold my plank for just a minute, I am proud to say that after my eight weeks I held it for 15 minutes! The challenges are always changing and just when you think we are done your set, the trainer restarts the count and you hold it for even longer.

"Challenge" has been my own personal goal this session. Not just challenging myself with the Booty Camp sessions, but throughout the week. I challenged myself to change my lifestyle, to work out a minimum of five times a week, to eat better and try things that I could never see myself doing before. In May I challenged myself to my first 10 km race, I am proud to say that I not only finished the race, but I completed it in under an hour. It is easy to set a goal, but to achieve it is something else, and to exceed your goal is something far greater. That is what makes me the most proud of what I have accomplished. I set a goal, I achieved a goal and I surpassed my expectations, thanks to the motivation and ongoing challenges presented by Booty Camp and my trainer.

After the eight weeks I only lost a total of 1.3 pounds but I have turned over 13 pounds of fat into lean muscle and lost just over nine inches. I look and feel great and haven’t been this confident in years! In the end, I did lose that 10lb of fat that have been plaguing me, I turned those unwanted pounds into strong, lean muscle, and it looks good on me.

Thank you Booty Camp for always challenging me to achieve my best!

- Christine Mercier

Dixie's Success Story

“What happened to you?" This statement made by an old high school friend began to haunt me. I knew what she meant. I use to walk with confidence and energy all the time. I was active as much as possible and I use to dress nice even when I wasn't going anywhere special. Years later she sees me lacking liveliness, walking only with the goal to get from point A to point B and my clothing included maternity wear and my husband's baggy sweaters and jackets. Although there would be occasions that I would dress nice, I would never buy anything new, get my hair done or wear jewellery because I felt overweight and unsexy!

Although this statement haunted me I was glad it was stated. It helped me realize I wasn't happy with myself and it motivated me to seek change. I didn't know what I was going to do though. I was bored with the idea of going back to a gym and knew that I wasn't motivated enough to make the change on my own. I needed a trainer but didn't want to pay the high prices for one. I also knew that in order to make a change I would have to work out regularly and didn't know how this was going to be possible with a baby, a toddler and a husband in my daily schedule. I was lost on what to do until I discovered Booty Camp.

The Booty Camp sessions offered endless variety which kept me stimulated and excited for the following camp. The Booty Camp instructor was an excellent motivator whom I could contact anytime. Her enthusiasm for fitness was contagious. She was very encouraging and extremely helpful. She even made the effort to brainstorm ideas for me so I could stay on track with my goals while I went to a week long conference in another city. Moreover, the motivational ideas shared in the Ultimate Girl's Guide have been life changing tools that I plan to continue using. Furthermore, the DVDs kept me challenged with the variety of intensities offered and they made it possible to get exercise incorporated into my hectic schedule.

I joined Booty Camp with the goal to transform myself and I did. I feel more energetic and sexier! I also enjoy getting ready to go out. BUT the most amazing transformation was one that I didn't foresee. It was how my dedication to Booty Camp influenced my family and friends. I have two children and I thought working out would demand separating myself from my children but the Booty Camp DVD workouts have enabled me to be an influential fitness role model to my children. My toddler continually tries to copy me while I work out. And I found that including them in my workouts has repeatedly resulted in giggles. My marriage also benefited from Booty Camp. Within three weeks my husband was commenting on my new “booty." He loves the happier, livelier and sexier me. With regards to my friends they have seen my results and have been curious, wanting to know what I have been doing to achieve them. This has allowed me to inspire them to reach for their goals.

Thank you Booty Camp for empowering me with the tools to create a new and improved me. You have given me a new sense of self-importance which has positively impacted everyone around me.

- Dixie Nadine

Stephanie's Success Story

I've always been the girl who was good at school, not sports; I'm the smart, chubby one. My brothers and sisters (I have two of each) are athletic and lean, and never seem to worry about what they eat or how they look in the mirror. While they were out playing soccer, I was usually reading on the sidelines. I had low self esteem and was too self-conscious to have fun playing team sports. I turned to reading as an escape from my real life, and ate to make myself feel better. I still love to read, but I wish I had had a more active childhood.

Every year I make the same resolution: to lose weight, get in shape, and feel fabulous by summer. I usually make an effort to get to the gym regularly and watch what I eat…for about three weeks. As soon as I start feeling like I'm doing something right, I get complacent and lazy, and eventually stop altogether. As a student, a gym membership is included in my non-instructional costs, so I always figured if I was already paying for it, I should use it, right? The problem was that I wouldn't use it consistently. I just couldn't motivate myself to keep going at it alone.

By October (2009), I was fed up with myself. I was disappointed with myself and the way I looked. I was also fighting a daily battle with feelings of depression and apathy, making it hard to find the will to just get out of the house and go to work. I knew that even though I could work out by myself, I just wouldn't – I was not motivated at all and felt like there was no point to even trying. I knew I needed help! I needed someone else to motivate me, keep me going, tell me what to do and not let me give up, someone who knew what they were doing and had my best interest in mind. I couldn't afford a personal trainer but wanted the same kind of attention. I searched online for group fitness programs in Edmonton, and came across the website for Booty Camp Fitness. It seemed perfect: for women, by women, with a qualified instructor, and at a reasonable price!

I was so excited after reading about Booty Camp, I wanted to sign up right away. I called my best friend Liz and signed her up with me for the last 4-week camp in 2009. On the night of our first workout, it was snowing and freezing cold, but it was awesome! Darcie, our instructor, kept us going even though the weather was awful, pushing me way beyond what I'd ever done alone at the gym. For the first time, I was exercising and having fun at the same time, and the feeling of camaraderie absolutely blew me away. I knew this was something I could stick with and keep coming back to. After the four weeks were over, I felt fitter than ever. I actually missed working out, and signed up for 8 weeks in January as soon as I could!

I had heard about the New You Challenge when I first signed up, and I promised myself that I would enter in January and actually follow through. I've always wanted to take before and after pictures of myself; I thought it was a great idea for tracking progress, since you don't usually notice how your body changes when you see it every day in the mirror. I've never had the confidence to actually do it, though. I think I never felt like I would succeed on my own, so I didn't want to have evidence of my failure. Booty Camp has completely changed my outlook – I have complete and utter confidence that I will reach my goals and I'm proud of myself for making the effort.

Doing something active that is fun and exciting, and with someone who will push me and challenge me to do better, has been even better than I imagined. I look forward to working out now, and am motivated to exercise on my own in between Booty Camp workouts. I know that if I give up now, I won't just be disappointing myself but also Darcie, Liz and the rest of the ladies. I want to do the best I can, to make them proud as well as to be proud of myself. My successes so far, losing 13.5 lbs of fat and 12.5 inches in just 8 weeks, are a huge motivator to go further, to push myself even harder, and to see what I am capable of. I am stronger and fitter now than I have ever been! I am so proud of my “after" photos, and so proud of myself for taking them. They really drove home how much better I look, as well as how much better I feel. I printed them off and have taped them above my scale as proof that I can do whatever I put my mind to, and motivation to keep going. I can't believe how far I've come, and I am so excited to see how far I can go! I also want to cheer on all the other women in Booty Camp – we are all so much more capable than we give ourselves credit for, and often it just takes one other voice to make us see it for ourselves.

Thank you Sammie for creating Booty Camp, and thank you Darcie for pushing me, believing in me, and motivating me to be the best I can be! I feel like my life has completely changed for the better, not only in terms of my physical health and appearance, but my general well-being and level of happiness. I know this will be the last year I'll have to make that resolution, because I can't see myself quitting Booty Camp any time soon!

- Stephanie Blais

Vicky's Success Story

I'm 37 years old and a mom of two wonderful kids, one is four years old and the other is 5 months old. Before I had them I've always tried to lead a healthy life style. I've always tried to exercise and manage my weight but having kids changed my body and my life in ways that I didn't anticipate. I gained a lot of weight and even worse, I didn't have time to eat right or exercise and I was always feeling exhausted. Often I caught myself daydreaming, usually when I was cooking diner, about losing the weight. I imagined myself wearing my old thin clothes instead of the maternity clothes I was still wearing because nothing else would fit. In these daydreams I was shopping for all the latest fashions and I visualized myself in my swimsuit and I was looking fine! Daydreaming was so easy! However the bathing suit fantasy usually brought me back to reality. The realization that summer was just around the corner hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I wear my bathing suit and not feel embarrassed or self- conscious? How was I going to take the kids swimming and feel good about putting the darn thing on? I realized that what I really wanted was to play with my kids in the water and focus on them without worrying about what I looked like. That's when I made commitment to myself that I was going to lose the extra weight and I was going to change the way I felt about my body and myself.

I was committed and had a goal, but how was I going to achieve them? I had very little time to spend on exercise and I needed something that was going to be very effective. Memberships at traditional gyms are expensive and I needed someone to show me what to do. Running clinics required a considerable time commitment and are not designed for building strength. Finally I thought about hiring a personal trainer but they were unaffordable. I just couldn't seem to find what I was looking for that fit my criteria. I needed an exercise routine that I could easily work into my life, that was not too expensive and too time consuming. Eight weeks ago, I was having my morning coffee and I came across an article about Booty Boot Camp. The program seemed to fit my criteria. The sessions were coached; they were reasonably priced, held outside, and most importantly to me, designed for women. As soon as I finished reading the article, I signed up.

The first day of camp was awesome! We hit the ground running. We squatted, we lunged, and we worked our arms and core. We had a great full body work out and I gave it my all during camp. The following few days I was barley able to walk but I made a commitment to myself so I sucked it up and went back for more! As each session passed I could feel myself becoming stronger. The program was always interesting and the routine varied. It never allowed my body to become accustomed the motion and movements. I was always encouraged to take it up to the next level and never allowed to settle. The instructor Jessica was amazing. She kept the workouts fun yet challenging. In addition to the varied routines and motivation provided by my instructor, an unexpected benefit emerged; there was a huge sense of camaraderie. It amplified my commitment to attend each session and it made it truly fun. Not only did I get the benefit of a bi-weekly workout with an encouraging instructor within a supportive environment, there was a DVD which allowed me to do a third workout at my convenience. The whole experience was worth every ounce of lactic acid build up in my muscles.

We see and hear the testimonials for weight loss products and programs all the time. We see the before and after pictures but we dismiss them all too quickly. Of course results like these can be attained if you have a personal trainer, a personal chef, and a lot of time. However, I can honestly say that the Booty Boot Camp is a real program that works for real women. I lost 12.8 pounds and a total of 31.25 inches without all the support staff. All I had was my promise and commitment to me and a well developed program. It exceeded my expectations and it helped me achieve my goals. I am now much happier and more confident about my body, which translates into lot of fun play time with my kids.

Thanks Booty Boot Camp!

- Vicky Barnowski

Vicky's Success Story

I'm 37 years old and a mom of two wonderful kids, one is four years old and the other is 5 months old. Before I had them I've always tried to lead a healthy life style. I've always tried to exercise and manage my weight but having kids changed my body and my life in ways that I didn't anticipate. I gained a lot of weight and even worse, I didn't have time to eat right or exercise and I was always feeling exhausted. Often I caught myself daydreaming, usually when I was cooking diner, about losing the weight. I imagined myself wearing my old thin clothes instead of the maternity clothes I was still wearing because nothing else would fit. In these daydreams I was shopping for all the latest fashions and I visualized myself in my swimsuit and I was looking fine! Daydreaming was so easy! However the bathing suit fantasy usually brought me back to reality. The realization that summer was just around the corner hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I wear my bathing suit and not feel embarrassed or self- conscious? How was I going to take the kids swimming and feel good about putting the darn thing on? I realized that what I really wanted was to play with my kids in the water and focus on them without worrying about what I looked like. That's when I made commitment to myself that I was going to lose the extra weight and I was going to change the way I felt about my body and myself.

I was committed and had a goal, but how was I going to achieve them? I had very little time to spend on exercise and I needed something that was going to be very effective. Memberships at traditional gyms are expensive and I needed someone to show me what to do. Running clinics required a considerable time commitment and are not designed for building strength. Finally I thought about hiring a personal trainer but they were unaffordable. I just couldn't seem to find what I was looking for that fit my criteria. I needed an exercise routine that I could easily work into my life, that was not too expensive and too time consuming. Eight weeks ago, I was having my morning coffee and I came across an article about Booty Boot Camp. The program seemed to fit my criteria. The sessions were coached; they were reasonably priced, held outside, and most importantly to me, designed for women. As soon as I finished reading the article, I signed up.

The first day of camp was awesome! We hit the ground running. We squatted, we lunged, and we worked our arms and core. We had a great full body work out and I gave it my all during camp. The following few days I was barley able to walk but I made a commitment to myself so I sucked it up and went back for more! As each session passed I could feel myself becoming stronger. The program was always interesting and the routine varied. It never allowed my body to become accustomed the motion and movements. I was always encouraged to take it up to the next level and never allowed to settle. The instructor Jessica was amazing. She kept the workouts fun yet challenging. In addition to the varied routines and motivation provided by my instructor, an unexpected benefit emerged; there was a huge sense of camaraderie. It amplified my commitment to attend each session and it made it truly fun. Not only did I get the benefit of a bi-weekly workout with an encouraging instructor within a supportive environment, there was a DVD which allowed me to do a third workout at my convenience. The whole experience was worth every ounce of lactic acid build up in my muscles.

We see and hear the testimonials for weight loss products and programs all the time. We see the before and after pictures but we dismiss them all too quickly. Of course results like these can be attained if you have a personal trainer, a personal chef, and a lot of time. However, I can honestly say that the Booty Boot Camp is a real program that works for real women. I lost 12.8 pounds and a total of 31.25 inches without all the support staff. All I had was my promise and commitment to me and a well developed program. It exceeded my expectations and it helped me achieve my goals. I am now much happier and more confident about my body, which translates into lot of fun play time with my kids.

Thanks Booty Boot Camp!

- Vicky Barnowski

Rebecca's Success Story

My biggest wish has always been to be confident in myself and happy for who i am and what i look like. Regrettably, this has never ever been the case. I mean sure some days were better than others, but true happiness and satisfaction was far from how I felt when I thought about me and my appearance. When I think back, i don't think I can honestly say that I ever perceived myself as being beautiful and frighteningly always thought that this was normal. I truly believed that being and feeling confident was a way of being cocky. To me there was no correlation between confidence and happiness...

As time passed and I grew older my lack of 'true happiness' had really started to affect me. I was miserable. I didn't like myself and I hated my appearance. I knew I had to do something but I didn't know where to begin. Sports and physical activity had never been a part of my life and the hill just seemed much too tall to climb. I always had one thing that I relied on to bring me happiness. That was my career. I was moving up in my company, my hard work and determination finally seemed to be paying off. But then I realized something was holding me back. My lack of confidence in myself was preventing me to enjoy my success. I was constantly concerned about the way I was being perceived by my colleagues and friends. I had stopped attending social events as I was so unsatisfied by my appearance. Slowly I could see that if this continued, I was going to give up numerous opportunities that I may never get again. The last thing I wanted to do was jeopardize my career. For me that's all I have. Bearing unforeseen, at the age of 17 I was forced to work full time and go to school full time to help support my family. For the last 5 years approximately, I put on hold my life and goals to fully devote myself to ensuring my family can live a 'normal' life (to the best of my ability). Although I don't regret what I did, I do regret forgetting to take care of myself. I stopped thinking about my own needs and was too preoccupied with my families needs. As I complained to a close girlfriend one night, venting about how I needed to end the cycle of my unhappiness...she brought up what saved my life! Bootycamp Fitness. She explained to me what it was and although I was skeptical about how 'great' this program could possibly be, I thought - heck why not? And this is when I made the best decision in my life. Although I was skeptical I promised myself I would approach this by giving nothing but my all...and so my journey to happiness began.

I wasn't sure how it was going to work. I thought that the instructor was going to be like an evil drill sargeant. But to my surprise, I was so lucky to get the nicest instructor ever!! Courtney's constant motivation and well planned sessions helped me strive for the top and achieve the best results I possibly could. I started off slow and was in a lot of pain for the first 4 weeks but I didn't give up. I always joked amongst my friends saying that I would NEVER be the 'exercise type'...and now I don't think I got 2 days without some form of exercise. Bootycamp & Courtney helped me realize the importance of my health, the benefits of eating right and being active. It has converted me! I have truly become much more confident in myself. I'm not scared to walk into rooms anymore...or go out in public. I look better than I ever have. I definitely never expected this. I didn't think that working out for 60 minute sessions 3 times a week could cause such a significant difference. Bootycamp has truly been the motivator behind me changing the way I live. Not for the short term, for the rest of my life. I'm a young hopeful, who strives to be confident inside and out always. I'm so fortunate to have come across this program...because if I had never joined who knows what my future held. All I know is that I have never looked better, felt better or have ever been happier.

Bootycamp & Courtney Strachan changed my life! Thursday, October 29th, 2009 was the first day that I can honestly say I was excited about the rest of my life and what my future holds.
I feel as though I have so much more to look forward to! ...almost like I've given myself a second shot at a happy life :)

Many many thanks to both Bootycamp & Courtney. I definitely couldn't have done this without you.

Rebecca Kumar

Kim's Success Story

My Journey with Booty Camp

I am Kim Arnold and I started Booty Camp Fitness for the summer sessions in Cambridge Ontario. Growing up I was always an active girl, playing rugby and football in high school then going on to play rugby in University. After leaving school and getting married life seemed to take up too much time (or that was my excuse) and exercise went out the window. I would attempt to get myself active again by joining a gym but I would only remain committed for a month or so before my insecurities would get the better of me and I would stop going. I needed to find somewhere to work out where I felt comfortable doing the exercises and did not feel judged. I was somewhat derailed from my quest upon becoming pregnant with my first child but after giving birth I had some newfound reasons to begin my quest again.

Within 4 weeks of giving birth to my daughter, I was 15 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. However my husband and I started to notice I wanted to sleep all the time and was unable to care for my daughter when ever she would cry. After seeing many Doctors and professionals in mental health I was diagnosed with post-partum depression. The course of treatment the Doctors sought best was to place me on anti-depressants. I was told to expect weight gain and that is exactly what happened. Slowly over the course of 8 months I gained a lot of weight topping out at 232 pounds.

I would sit around wishing the weight away, thinking if only I could afford to have a personal trainer all the time at a woman's only gym then that's how I'd be successful. Knowing this would never happen I would tell myself “I did gardening today that counts as exercise!" or “I walked to work today – GO ME!" I then saw signs around Cambridge for a Woman's only Booty Camp Fitness camp. I would procrastinate going to the website because I didn't want to spend a lot of time away from my family and I didn't believe in myself that I could accomplish anything. However one day I had a burst of confidence that I could do it so I went to the website saw what Booty Camp was all about and I liked what I read. It was exactly what I was looking for being women only in a small camp setting with a personal trainer. So I immediately signed up while I had the self-belief.

After signing up for the program I was searching around on the Booty Camp website and saw the New You Challenge. I had signed up for the 8 week summer session anyways so I thought “why not"? So I signed up. Later that week after my first session I was doing my vision board at home and I suddenly got really excited about the New You Challenge. I want to fit in skinny clothes again and shop in normal-sized woman's clothing stores. So the challenge for me became another one of my goals to achieve.

The weight and inches that I have lost in this short 8 weeks is indescribable. The confidence I have in myself that I can reach my goal weight is incredible. I walk taller with my head held high, I'm starting to love myself again but the best change is that I'm able to run after my daughter for hours. We have so much more fun now that I'm getting fit and eating healthier. Joining Booty Camp Fitness is one of the best decisions I've made in recent history. It was exactly what I needed to get me off the couch and start moving. I eat healthier and I exercise 5 times a week. I have made exercising a family event by having my family join me on my run with the use of a jogging stroller. My daughter finds it fun to try to copy me when I do the video at home. I am excited because I am showing my daughter that being active is important yet can be very fun! I am happy that I got off the couch and have a healthy lifestyle now and have reduced my chances of getting Diabetes of which runs in my family. In joining Booty Camp Fitness I may have prolonged my life so I can spend more time living it with my family. I want to be around to see my daughter grow up and have children of her own.

My husband now calls me ‘Slim'. Our sex life has gotten much better, so my husband is reaping the benefits of me going to Booty Camp too! My husband, parents and friends have really noticed the physical and mental change in me. I've started to motivate them to get moving. My mother has started to get active and has told me that she's going to be joining the gym. Also, my sister has gone back to the gym to continue on her journey of loosing weight. I'm also excited that my friend has signed up for booty camp in September because she is so impressed with my success.

I would personally like to thank my Booty Camp instructor for helping me and encouraging me to succeed in getting healthy. I cannot wait until the fall sessions begin, as I loved every minute I was at camp. I loved it because I knew that every squat, lunge and sprint was getting me closer to a new healthier life. I can say with the utmost confidence that with what my instructor has taught me I can continue to live this healthy and active lifestyle.

KEEP THAT BOOTY MOVIN' GIRLS!

-Kim Arnold

Vicky's Success Story

I'm 37 years old and a mom of two wonderful kids, one is four years old and the other is 5 months old. Before I had them I've always tried to lead a healthy life style. I've always tried to exercise and manage my weight but having kids changed my body and my life in ways that I didn't anticipate. I gained a lot of weight and even worse, I didn't have time to eat right or exercise and I was always feeling exhausted. Often I caught myself daydreaming, usually when I was cooking diner, about losing the weight. I imagined myself wearing my old thin clothes instead of the maternity clothes I was still wearing because nothing else would fit. In these daydreams I was shopping for all the latest fashions and I visualized myself in my swimsuit and I was looking fine! Daydreaming was so easy! However the bathing suit fantasy usually brought me back to reality. The realization that summer was just around the corner hit me like a ton of bricks. How could I wear my bathing suit and not feel embarrassed or self- conscious? How was I going to take the kids swimming and feel good about putting the darn thing on? I realized that what I really wanted was to play with my kids in the water and focus on them without worrying about what I looked like. That's when I made commitment to myself that I was going to lose the extra weight and I was going to change the way I felt about my body and myself.

I was committed and had a goal, but how was I going to achieve them? I had very little time to spend on exercise and I needed something that was going to be very effective. Memberships at traditional gyms are expensive and I needed someone to show me what to do. Running clinics required a considerable time commitment and are not designed for building strength. Finally I thought about hiring a personal trainer but they were unaffordable. I just couldn't seem to find what I was looking for that fit my criteria. I needed an exercise routine that I could easily work into my life, that was not too expensive and too time consuming. Eight weeks ago, I was having my morning coffee and I came across an article about Booty Boot Camp. The program seemed to fit my criteria. The sessions were coached; they were reasonably priced, held outside, and most importantly to me, designed for women. As soon as I finished reading the article, I signed up.

The first day of camp was awesome! We hit the ground running. We squatted, we lunged, and we worked our arms and core. We had a great full body work out and I gave it my all during camp. The following few days I was barley able to walk but I made a commitment to myself so I sucked it up and went back for more! As each session passed I could feel myself becoming stronger. The program was always interesting and the routine varied. It never allowed my body to become accustomed the motion and movements. I was always encouraged to take it up to the next level and never allowed to settle. The instructor Jessica was amazing. She kept the workouts fun yet challenging. In addition to the varied routines and motivation provided by my instructor, an unexpected benefit emerged; there was a huge sense of camaraderie. It amplified my commitment to attend each session and it made it truly fun. Not only did I get the benefit of a bi-weekly workout with an encouraging instructor within a supportive environment, there was a DVD which allowed me to do a third workout at my convenience. The whole experience was worth every ounce of lactic acid build up in my muscles.

We see and hear the testimonials for weight loss products and programs all the time. We see the before and after pictures but we dismiss them all too quickly. Of course results like these can be attained if you have a personal trainer, a personal chef, and a lot of time. However, I can honestly say that the Booty Boot Camp is a real program that works for real women. I lost 12.8 pounds and a total of 31.25 inches without all the support staff. All I had was my promise and commitment to me and a well developed program. It exceeded my expectations and it helped me achieve my goals. I am now much happier and more confident about my body, which translates into lot of fun play time with my kids.

Thanks Booty Boot Camp!

- Vicky Barnowski

Amber's Success Story

Rescued from myself: a story of success by Amber Foucault

I bought the magazine when I was at the grocery store. I was eyeing the KitKat bar but decided that some calorie-free celebrity smut would be better for the waist-line. When I got home I threw it on the coffee table and puttered around the house putting away my groceries. I looked down at the cover as I was walking by and I thought to myself, “Wow, that woman is SO pretty and SO thin and obviously SO lucky to be both". I caught my reflection in the mirror just then and did my own version of a caliper test, using my fingers to pinch the extra ‘cushioning' around my mid-section. Isn't it funny that 5 months after Christmas, the holiday weight was still kicking around? Can you still call it holiday weight in May? Maybe not…

The next time that I wandered by the magazine I thought “her arm looks really thin, hmmm, she must be naturally skinny." But then I brought the magazine right close to my face, so close that I could see the pixels in the picture. There was something not right about her face either – her eyes seemed hollowed out and her smile was barely stretching from cheek to cheek – she almost looked angry. What would make her so angry when she is SO skinny and SO pretty? Then it occurred to me, I knew exactly what it was - SHE WAS HUNGRY!! Someone needed to feed the poor woman! Give her a piece of bread or a muffin or something!

So there I was AGAIN. I had been dieting and daydreaming about being skinny for the better part of 10 years and the people I wanted to look like were the ones that were miserable because a slice of cheese pizza was enough to push them over the edge. I couldn't live like that. I needed to find a balance between wanting to lose a few pounds and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I realized at that moment that I had a choice to make. I could continue spending half my time being hungry and consequently being angry about being hungry or I could decide that fitness and a balanced diet would set me free. And so I began my journey with Booty Camp.

Why did I go right to Booty Camp you wonder? Well I am the girl that still says “Go big or go home" and I wanted to feel like I was boldly making a difference in my life from day one. The more I worked out, the stronger I became and the more capable I felt. It stretched to different areas of my life and each session I kicked and lunged my way through helped me to put down the cookie and pick up the apple. It was a life transformation and I was really diggin' it. I had made the choice to work hard and feel good – I didn't need to diet, I just needed to be smart which was significantly easier with all the healthy, daily recipes that Booty Camp provided to me.

As my body started to change, I became more confident and more enthusiastic about my work-outs. I could see and feel the definition in my arms and legs. I was embracing the strength that was building inside of me. I felt like I was finally doing something that was completely selfish. We worked out in a park, with the sun setting over Lake Ontario and the CN Tower in clear view as dusk approached – I was taking time to enjoy MY city and enjoy MY life. I often felt like I was in my own episode of ‘Sex in the City' only I was also working my booty off.

Of course it was hard-work! This was no ‘walk in the park'. Committing to Booty Camp meant making better, healthier meals, bringing my lunch to work and giving up my dessert some nights. It meant showing up twice a week with the right attitude, the head-space reminding me that every punch and push-up was making a difference about how good I felt. It really helped me to set proper goals for myself and in a world that is celebrity obsessed, I stopped using the beauties on screen as my benchmark for looking good. This time, I focused on the star athletes of the Olympics. I saw qualities in their characters that I wanted to find in myself; determination, perseverance and will-power. Slowly, I started to believe in my own ability to take down any obstacle that stood in the way of how I wanted to feel.

Here I am eight weeks later and looking better than I have since high-school. I still glance at the skinny women in the spotlight, but more and more I am noticing the winds are changing, looking toned and fit is making a come-back and I am right on trend. After only one week, I already miss the camaraderie I had with the women in my camp and the never-ending support of my instructor. I even miss the lunges, the push-ups and the burpes. I am lighter – but more importantly, I am stronger. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say – I look good on my own terms and I am proud of it.

Nicole's Success Story

My Journey with Booty Camp

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at an early age of sixteen when I had my emergency surgery. Crohn's Disease is a disorder of the digestive tract. The walls of the intestine thicken resulting in pain, discomfort and possible surgery removing portions of your intestine along with other affected organs. This disease has become one of the major obstacles in my life which has mentally and physically taken over my body and family. My family and I have been stuck in a conflict between the reality of the disease and trying to sustain a normal lifestyle. Experimenting with unsuccessful options such as diets, work outs, chiropractic therapies and medicines, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. The vicious cycle of depression was starting to ruin my spirits until I met my instructor of Booty Camp Fitness.

My husband has stood by my side for many years through many grueling crones' attacks, and countless weeks of pain, exhaustion and physical drain. He joined me in the hospital during my attacks wishing he could do anything to help me; but couldn't. He would patiently put up with me complaining about my weight gain from the different medications I had to take. The appointment I had this past spring with my crohn's specialist, was very discouraging with the final prescription of another surgery in the near future if my body wasn't going to stop deteriorating. The two options the doctor gave me was surgery or infusion (last chance drug) with possible surgery if my body wouldn't accept the drug. The infusion administered drug is uncompensated and very expensive. After a long talk with my husband, we thought this was our year to turn the table, and make one last chance to find a way to accomplish our dream of a healthy family and lifestyle. I was not willing to go through another surgery; the more surgery's you have with this disease limits your life, activity and hope. My husband and I decided to look for a work out regiment that would help make my body strong to accept this “last chance drug"; this is when I met my Booty camp instructor, my mentor of full body health. She took me from pain and depression to a whole other side of life I thought I would never see again.

One of the greatest things I have obtained from this experience, and come to appreciate, is the feeling of normality once again. I also possess a higher degree of energy. When I get home from a busy day at the office, I now find I have more energy then the kids. Before the infusions and partaking in Booty camp I used to be exhausted and lethargic but now my children appreciate having an energetic mommy. My youngest child said to me one day while playing; “Mommy, I'm tired and can't keep up with you." The smile on my husbands face made my heart melt with joy. Right then, I new this was the start of my healing process, the start of a long waited struggle to end.

As the weeks went on, and my transformation kept improving day to day, I began to realize that the depression was burning away with every drip of sweat that rolled down my body while I worked out. It feels like my old painful body has been blown away by the breeze made from the workout music… lifting all uncertainty of healing out of my mind; helping my heart let go of the idea that I may not feel normal again.

Booty camp fitness supplied us with weekly recipes to follow and with my limited diet due to the disease; I was unable to eat 85% of them. With the help of my Booty instructor, with her group nutritional talk, and the one on one time she gave me; my husband and I were able to take all the knowledge she gave us and come up with several nutritional alternatives that work with my diet. The Booty Camp website has many extra tips that also helped during my eight weeks such as, additional work-outs, online nutritional advice, diet dos and don'ts, inspirational and encouraging testimonials. This extra reference was above and beyond anything I could have ever asked for from such a program.

The true test was my latest doctor's appointment. As I sat there in the doctor's office expecting to hear more bad news, the doctor looked at me and said “NO surgery is needed in your near future, your body is healing". After leaving his office I started crying, not because I was sad, but because I finally did it, I accomplished a goal that seemed so unattainable. I don't think my body has looked or felt this amazing before, not only am I healthy through my mind and body, but also my soul.

With the help of my instructor with the workouts, healthy food alternatives, and determination my body went into an unbelievable change making Booty camp fitness the key directional position of my body healing compass.

Thank you,
Nicole Sedore

Krista's Success Story

For as long as I can remember, I have been unhappy with my weight. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I longed to fit in with my ‘skinny' friends, and the joy of summer was always undermined by the dread of bathing suit season. Not even the holiday season was exempt from my body image concerns - as early as elementary school, I can recall making weight loss resolutions on New Year's Eve. Time and time again, I tried (and failed) to lose the weight. The more that I failed, the more that I began to convince myself that I was destined to be fat for life. By high school, I had convinced myself that my genetics would simply not permit my weight loss, and I would remain unhappy with my weight forever.

When the time came to begin university, I was still carrying those extra pounds, as well as a pessimistic attitude about weight loss. After my first year, I returned home to discover that I had gained an alarming 30 pounds. I will never forget the moment that I stepped on that scale. I felt completely overwhelmed and disgusted with myself; disgusted with my physical appearance, and even more disgusted that I had let my health deteriorate to such a considerable degree. At the age of 18, I could not even climb a set of stairs without losing my breath! Although I never wish to re-live that moment, in retrospect, I am thankful for it. It was in that moment that my attitude about weight loss began to shift, and that was just the push that I needed to change my life. I decided that it was time to take my health into my own hands, and I was no longer willing to accept being overweight. At long last, I began my journey towards achieving the body and fitness level that I had always wanted. Over the next four years, I managed to lose almost 40 pounds through various dieting strategies and exercise plans, taking me from 190 pounds to 150. As I progressed through my weight loss, not only did I gain knowledge about nutrition and exercise, I also began to develop a passion for fitness. In the summer of 2006, I decided to turn my newfound passion into a part-time career, and I became a personal trainer. This was the perfect fit for me because it allowed me to share my knowledge with others and help them to achieve their goals, while at the same time working in an environment that supported my new healthy lifestyle.

While losing 40 pounds and becoming a personal trainer were surely great successes, I was no longer content with being ‘average'; I didn't want to feel self-conscious about my body anymore, and I wanted to feel really good about myself. I wanted to push myself to my limits. So, I decided to set a new goal for myself: 135 pounds. However, losing the last 15 pounds didn't come easily. After re-evaluating my weight loss goals, it seemed that I couldn't quite make any new progress. I lost and gained the same five pounds over and over again, always getting within ten pounds of my goal but never any closer. As a personal trainer, I knew that I needed a real challenge in order to see further results, physically. I considered hiring a personal trainer of my own to further motivate me. However, as a student and recent university graduate, I also knew that I could not afford private sessions with a trainer on a regular basis. I was stuck, and struggling to get past this weight loss roadblock. I needed help. I needed Booty Camp Fitness. With Booty Camp Fitness, I was able to workout in a camp with a drill instructor twice a week, for a reasonable price! It was just what I was searching for. My only question was whether or not it would be enough of a challenge. After the first session, I knew that this was the challenge my body needed – my muscles were sore, but that meant that they were working, which meant that I was excited! I decided to give this camp my all for the full eight weeks. I went to every session (even the ones in the rain), and I also did the at-home workouts on the weekends. I was really enjoying myself. I could feel my body getting stronger, which drove me to push myself even more. As the weeks progressed, the sessions evolved and the level of difficulty increased. I was always amazed to find out just how strong I had become when a difficult exercise would be introduced and I could actually do it! My favourite part about the sessions, however, was something more unexpected: the camp atmosphere. The Booty Camp participants and trainers were so supportive of one another, and it felt great to be within a group of women where being strong was encouraged. We were pushed to complete sets of full body push ups, and to add hand weights to make the workout more intense. It was so refreshing to see women trying to improve their strength, never succumbing to an air of fragility.

I have loved every minute, every squat, and every crunch in these sessions. I have sweat through some very tough workouts and, for the first time in my life, made some real progress towards my final goal. I have seen changes in my body that I have never seen before, and I have completed drills that I would never have done on my own. With the support of my coach over the last eight weeks, I have lost over nineteen inches, twelve pounds of body fat, and gained over four pounds of lean muscle! Booty Camp Fitness has helped me feel stronger than I ever have. I am so excited to keep building on what I have already accomplished and to continue living an incredibly active lifestyle.