A picture of one of the classes at the prestige boot camp
I tried the Prestige Weekend Boot Camp in Honiton, Devon, which is set in the stunning Devonshire countryside in valley surrounded by 52 acres of woodlands, orchards, pastures and streams. The weekend includes 5 star accommodation, food (three meals and two snacks a day) and an all-day fitness programme and expert advice. You arrive on Friday afternoon and finish on Monday afternoon.
A typical day:
7am: warm-up, stretch and tone class with a bit of cardiovascular work
8am breakfast
9am: a long walk and team games
1pm: lunch
2pm: walking/running or jogging, a circuit class, a core strength class
6pm: dinner
7pm: walking, running or jogging up a hill, warm-down and stretch
The pros:
The setting is absolutely beautiful. It’s very hilly (the boot camp is in a valley), so the views go on for miles and you have the chance to appreciate rolling hills, wooded valleys and vast green pastures dotted with sheep.
It is tough going, and you are encouraged to push yourself, but the trainers also remind you to work at your own pace, so even if you’re not fit or used to exercising, you’ll still get a very good workout at every session. The food is delicious and healthy.
The accommodation is luxurious with a country-chic twist; a vegging-out on a big squashy sofa at the end of the day is bliss, as are the hot showers and comfy beds.
Even in a weekend you’ll see results, whether that’s less bloating or the loss of a few pounds and a few inches. Plus, glowing skin, more energy and a more positive attitude.
You’re spending time with some of the UK’s top fitness experts. The trainers all have military backgrounds (so expect them to be wearing combat trousers, tight t-shirts, boots and to have a slightly army tone!), but they’re not scary or brusque, they’re actually really nice. Plus their knowledge of the body is astounding, you’ll pick up some invaluable tips and advice specific to your needs.
You will get a really good, intense weekend of varied workouts, from hill walks, interval training, boxing, circuits and stretching and toning routines. You’ll never be bored.
Prestige Boot Camp has been voted as one of the best in the UK and it’s no wonder, you really are in the hands of the experts who encourage with respect and will help you achieve your best. It’s very good value for money. You get 5star accommodation, great food and world-class tuition.
The cons:
It’s hard! OK, so maybe that’s not news but boot camps do seem to vary in intensity, and the Prestige Weekend Boot Camp is intensive. You start working out at 7am with hour-long breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and two 20-minute breaks for snacks, the rest of the day you are being active.
It may challenge you emotionally and mentally, which might not be what you bargained for – people have been known to cry or storm out of classes. The fact that boot camp is challenging on many levels is not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s good to be aware, and to be prepared to ask for support from the group or the leaders.
It’s a detox weekend, there is no wine or chocolate. THERE IS NO WINE OR CHOCOLATE! Portion sizes are small (think starter size), low calorie but very well balanced. There is also no coffee and tea, just herb teas, and no cakes, biscuits, chips, takeaways, etc. You may find you get a detox headache, so start cutting out these types of foods before you go.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes, but only if they already do some sort of exercise regularly, or if they enjoy exercise, or perhaps if they have a specific goal that they want to reach.
What I thought:
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy it, but that’s because I hate exercise. I don’t ever feel that rush of endorphins after physical activity that other people talk about. I also wasn’t really into the group camaraderie thing, not because I am unfriendly but I felt totally out of place and ashamed that I was so bad at exercise. I was last at everything and the worst at all the exercise, which although trainers stress that the boot camp is not a competition, I still felt ashamed of myself and I felt I was letting down the rest of the group. The last thing I wanted was to talk to relative strangers about my, increasingly apparent, issues with self-esteem and body image.
There was one point when I wanted to scream and burst into tears but I ached so much that I didn’t have the energy. We were in the big barn doing a circuit-type thing with a partner, and we were the last to finish. I felt stupid and useless and my mind raced back to the humiliation and frustration I felt in the school gym, being laughed out of the PE classes by my classmates for being rubbish at sport. Ugh.
I honestly don’t think Prestige Boot Camp is a bad thing to do, it clearly gives most people a lot of positivity and the vast majority boot campers love it, it just wasn’t for me. However, I’m glad I had a chance to detox and it has made me realise that I need to sort out my personal issues, and that I want to get fitter but I need to find a way I can do it that makes me happy.
Could it be improved?
No, not really, but I think having a session on the emotional and mental issues the weekend can bring could be useful. And perhaps a weekend just for couch potatoes and fatties like me would be popular.
If you liked this review then check out our other boot camp reviews.
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