Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore

The Gleaner's Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore will share her experience as one of a number of media and other personalities who will be on the Shakti Autumn Equinox Wellness Boot Camp for the next eight weeks. It will be held at the Shakti Mind Body Fitness Centre at Bedford Park Ave, St Andrew. Here is the first instalment.

"Pant, pant, gasp, gasp!" My breath feels about ready to leave my body. Woah, I am about to pass out. OK, stop and rest for a while, I surmised. Keisha, stop running and start walking, yes walking is much better."

Recently, I took up the challenge to join the Shakti Autumn Equinox Wellness Boot Camp for the next eight weeks. It will be held at the centre on Bedford Park Avenue, St Andrew. As the name suggests, boot camp is one hour for three days per week of intense cardio workout accompanied by proper dieting.

Alas, I had not run a day since attending all-age school back when I was young and fit. And, to my surprise on my first day (last Monday), our instructor, Tiana Douglas, told us to warm up. I thought warm-up meant to do a few stretches here and there, accompanied by light exercises, but I was taken aback when I was told that we should jog or, for those who couldn't manage it, walk. And it was from the top of the road at Bedford Park Avenue to the bottom and back to the centre!

The struggle

I thought, OK girl, you can do this. So, like a pro, I walked to the gate; ready, set, go and I was off. Pretty slowly but it was a start. Before long, some of my boot camp mates passed me. I thought, no, I can't let them leave me behind, so I increased my speed.

When we reached the end of the road we were told we should see a big black gate. I came up on a kerb, I thought the gate was just around the bend, so I couldn't give up now. But, coming to the curb, I realised there was no big black gate, only a long stretch of road with no gate in sight.

Onward I ran, pumping up myself to reach the black gate, but by then my lack of fitness began to show. My breathing became rapid and shorter by the minute. My chest began burning so much that for a while I thought I was going to collapse. So, I did what I had to do. I stopped running. Yes, I did and I am not ashamed. I began walking and after a while I reached the black gate and walked back to the fitness centre.

Not done yet

By the time I got there, the others were already doing abs. I thought to myself, of all the things, ABS. Not even some stretches but abs. Anyway, I grabbed my mat, assumed my position and began. Then there were leg presses, triceps, squats, jumping jacks and mountain climbing, three sets of each! About half way into my routine I was panting like I had just run a marathon.

This would be my routine for the next eight weeks. What have I got myself into, I thought. Counting calories is much easier. But, they say if you want good your nose has to run so, I am just getting with the programme.

keisha.shakespeare@gleanerjm.com

Paula Delves looks proudly at her award for losing the most weight in her group during the last 10-Week Fat Loss Boot Camp Challenge. - file