Spinning Instructor at Shakti, Sandy Lee, on the spinning machine. - photo by Ian Allen

Keisha is now settled at boot camp - she agonises daily, but here on the Lifestyle desk, we monitor her and encourage her. Here is the second instalment of her diary.

Last week at boot camp, for a moment I thought I had died and gone to hell because I met the devil and his spinning machine.

Just when I thought I was getting the hang of working out my rusty bones, my instructor, Tiana Douglas informed us that Friday, September 25 was spinning class. I had heard that spinning was a bit challenging. But no one prepared me for the torture that I faced. As a girl growing up in the country, I rode my bicycle everywhere, but the spinning bike is a whole different 'kettle of fish'.

The devil

I met the devil. After 10 minutes of spinning with tension added to the bike, it soon became clear that spinning instructor, Michael Fisher was the devil. He was sent to torture me for being unfit. After five minutes on the machine, sweat was pouring down my body. Fifteen minutes into it and I was ready to call it quits. I began pedalling very slowly. By then everyone in the class knew my name because Fisher made it his duty to single me out.

"Come on, Keisha, work those legs, go faster!" he said. "Get up and pedal!" he shouted, but not once did he say, take a break. All I could think about was when it would be over or when I would be able to get off the dreaded machine!

Finally, we did, but without even a minute to catch our breath, we were doing shoulder presses and triceps. Then it was back on the machine. Oh no - not the machine again! Do we have to, I thought. Slowly I got on and slowly I began pedalling. Then Fisher said, "Ok, Keisha, continue pedalling slowly and nicely." For a moment I smiled, then he continued, "and so the fat will just stay slow and nice on you." My smile quickly faded and I began pedalling as hard as I could but it was not long before my legs felt wobbly.

Light at the end of the tunnel

All I wanted to do was drop to the floor and lie there. And the class wasn't anywhere near ending. We continued the routine for a while.

However, for the last 15 minutes of the class, we focused on abs. I swore I heard my dead relatives calling me to the other side. While doing the exercise, I visualised the light at the end of the tunnel. But, thank God, I did not cross over, I lived to endure five more weeks of boot camp.

I am proud of myself that the dieting aspect has been going well.

I must confess, though, I cheated last weekend - I ate white rice and canned mackerel. The following day I made up for it with lots of vegetables and fruits. Though boot camp is rough, at least I am seeing results. I have already begun to shed the pounds so I will endure whatever comes.