The tester
Sara Lawrence: 'Although I work out and do Body Pump and yoga once a week, I have no willpower when it comes to food. After a barbecue-filled summer, I was horrified to discover the beginnings of an unsightly muffin top bulging over my jeans.'
The lowdown
'Faced with yet another long country hike, my eyes fill with tears. Ordinarily I love a power-walk, but coming as it does after a 7am wake-up workout followed by circuit training, followed by spinning, followed by yoga, followed by aqua fit, I'm so bone tired I feel like a toddler on the brink of a huge tantrum. On the plus side I haven't slept so soundly for years and the pounds are falling off me.
It's day two of fit camp and although I thought I was fit before I arrived, up to seven hours of exercise a day has been a wake-up call. Thankfully, our group bonded immediately and it's amazing what the support of a tight team can get you through. Plus, there are the daily-included treatments to ease the pain. Never have I looked forward to a massage or a thalassotherapy session so much; or to breakfast, lunch and dinner for that matter.
The food, while super healthy and controlled to the tune of about 1,500 calories per person per day, is a revelation. I never imagined such a strict diet could be so delicious. Sweet potatoes with grilled peppers and hummus, cod steaks with salsa verde and a tuna Nicoise were among the highlights. We have regular motivational talks from nutritionists and fitness experts to keep us on the straight and narrow mentally, too. The day-two hike was a low point but it was a pretty emotional week, in a good way — there's something liberating about leaving real life behind to concentrate solely on yourself.'
The result
'I'm thrilled to report that I lost 8lb as well as 1in from my chest, 2in from my waist and 1in from my hips. Now I have to make sure I keep it that way.'
The cost
From £995 per person. High Life readers can claim a 15 per cent discount by visiting champneys.com/highlife or calling +44 (0)832 316 2222, quoting High Life. champneys.com
Read High Life's selection of six of the best bootcamps.
