"I've Lost 25kg and 4 dress sizes."

Belinda Arena: Booty Camper of the Year 2011

Belinda is our Booty Camper of the Year for 2011. Here is her inspiring story:

I had hit rock bottom and Booty Camp brought me back to life
Weight has been an issue for me my entire life. I had always been overweight but it wasnt until I went through the worst experience of my life that it got out of control. I was 25, having the time of my life travelling, and preparing to settle in London on a working holiday. Of course, I fell victim to the 'Heathrow injection' (automatic 5kg gain courtesy of the very social London lifestyle!) but soon learned that this was the least of my worries. I had finally found a job and things seemed to be coming together, until I received the phone call I will never forget. "Mum's pneumonia has gotten worse; she's likely to be put into an induced coma. Get home now"

Tamsyn & Cathy - Booty Buddies of the Year 2010 lost over 50kg between them

In February 2010, our work initiated a Weight Watchers at work program. We jumped at the chance to join as we were both overweight (and have been most of our adult lives). I (Tamsyn) started off at 114.6kgs and Cathy at 101kgs.

After about 4 months I had lost 19.2kgs and Cathy had lost 15kgs by doing Weight Watchers and walking together. I decided that I needed to do something different than just walking so I started researching boot camps on the internet and thankfully came across Booty Camp. I liked the fact that it was for women only, that there was only small groups for the sessions and that it was done outdoors.

Meg McDowell - Booty Inspiration of the Year 2010 - overcame eating disorders and learned to love her body

Let me start off that I am not necessarily the most obvious candidate for this award & my story is not what you would expect to hear! I am not overweight and never have been. In fact it was all the opposite...

Throughout my adolescence, my self image & eating has always been a focus. I have always been conscious of looking good & ensuring that my weight and body was average-slim. However in my last year of high school, I succumbed to an Eating Disorder...

"Booty Camp Helped Me Climb A Mountain."

Sally Rhys Jones: Everest Conquerer & Booty Camper of the Year Runner-Up 2009
Training In: Chatswood
Training For: 1 year

Not only did booty camp get me fitter, more toned & up 5 levels on the beep test (Katie here, for those that don't know the beep test, this is like going from average to recreational but good soccer player) but it pushed me all the way to Everest Base camp at 5600m in altitude!
I am a type 1 Diabetic & spent 2 years organising a group to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal to raise money to help other diabetics to get an insulin pump meaning no more injections! This also means better control of blood sugars & better health.
In my own quest for better health I got an insulin pump in early 2008 and in late 2008 I discovered Booty Camp!

"I Have Goals For My Life Now"

Ingrid Schroder: Beautiful Bride and Booty camper of the Year Runner Up 2009
Training In: Freshwater
Training For: 1 year

My wake up call was the day I was asked by someone if I did weights on my arms.  To me it was clear that I didn't but obviously my arms were quiet heavy and out of proportion that it appeared that way.  I then jumped on the scales which read 99kg.

I had looked in the mirror many times and not realised actually how overweight I was!  You would have thought being tight in a size 16 would make me realize but I was in denial, and wouldn't go up a size so kept shopping until I found a 16 that fit.

It was reading 99kg, that I was realized the next number was 100kg and then where to from there??  I had also recently been become engaged to my boyfriend of 6 years at the time so was happy and in love, everything in life was good.  That's when I decided I had a wedding to plan and I wasn't going to be an overweight bride!!

So I joined a gym. I lost about 6 kilos on my own, but with 5 months to go until my wedding and a dress in the process of being made I needed more, so my sister suggested we join Booty Camp together and I have never looked back!

"I Started Booty Camp after Changing my Life."

Leigh Shaw, Booty Camp's Most Passionate Camper
Training In: Manly (and anywhere else I can get to)
Training For: 3 years, 2 with Booty Camp

II started Booty Camp 2 years ago after understanding what something like Booty Camp, if it existed could do. It all started in my late 20's when the company I worked for kindly gave us all an in depth health and physical assessment. Suddenly I had to replace the words I had been using - "curvy", "sugar-addict" and "taking a short break from physical activity but still reasonably fit" with "medically obese", "borderline diabetic" and "average fitness of a 55 year old".

It was devastating, but also a wake-up call. I had been in great shape right up til my mid-20's. I still have the size 6 dress I wore to my graduation, but life, office, relationship and the ability to afford good food and wine had caught up with me. And I know a lot of girls out there recognize this story.