Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a boot camp?
    The term originates from the initial, tough physical fitness training and basic instruction given to recruits in the Navy and Marine Corps in the USA.  (We’ve all seen films like GI Jane where PT instructors shout and scream at the recruits.)  In the UK it has become synonymous with any 24/7 harsh training where the participants are subjected to the demands of their trainers.  Most recently, the term has been applied to residential weight-loss courses where people submit to rigorous exercise and training, usually run by ex-military personnel.
     
  2. How are you different from other weight-loss boot camps?
    We’ve taken the best from the boot camp concept, ie we control your exercise output so you achieve the maximum reduction in body fat over a week.  However, exercise is only part of the answer.  Our programme also applies the basic principles of nutritional science (that means no food fads) so you eat a diet that is proven to help you lose weight with enjoyable and satisfying meals.  In addition we want you to keep off the weight you lose with us and we send you away with the means and the knowledge to stay slimmer and healthier when you get home.  To achieve this we give you a high level of personal attention on the course – we recognise that you are all different.
     
  3. I don’t do any exercise.  Is BaseCamp for me?
    The BaseCamp programme is designed so it can accommodate people of varying levels of fitness, from those who might think of themselves as couch potatoes to regular exercisers.  We take no more than 20 people on a course and exercise is undertaken in small groups with a high ratio of instructors to clients.  The instructors work with every client to build their own particular level fitness. 
     
  4. How will I benefit from taking the BaseCamp weight-loss course?
    The BaseCamp programme is designed to help you burn fat and tone muscle so you leave after a week having reduced your body measurements.  We don’t concentrate on how much weight you will lose but rather how many inches you can lose, because as you tone and build muscle, it weighs more.  A better indication is how much looser your clothes are - it’s a good idea to wear the same clothes going home that you arrive in, so you can feel the difference.  You’ll also learn how to build exercise and healthy eating into your lifestyle, whether you’re chained to an office desk most of the day or running a busy home.  Physically you can expect to feel more energetic when you leave with your skin glowing from the great diet and fresh air.  But this is also a week for the psyche.  Our programmes are challenging and invigorating, and you’ll be experiencing activities you may never have tried before, so expect to feel a great sense of achievement.  You should look on your week with us as a chance for you to get some ‘me’ time.  This is a week away from the demands of your normal life, a chance to meet a great group of women and have some fun.
     
  5. How many people attend the course?
    We only accept a maximum of 15 people a course which enables us to give personal attention to everyone of our clients.
     
  6. How much personal attention will I get?
    BaseCamp is not a factory line where we put you on a standard course on day one and just expect you to come out slimmer at the end of the week.  We recognise everyone is different and we want to know what you want to achieve from the week with us.  To this end all our clients are asked to complete a detailed food diary in advance of the course which is carefully analysed and discussed on your arrival.  We also take a comprehensive series of measurements and test your fitness levels at the beginning of the course so you can compare your results when you leave.  During the week we will also give you guidance on setting a realistic plan for following a routine that will fit your particular lifestyle.  Our ratio of instructors to clients is high, so everyone gets instruction and is encouraged to work within their own ability level, paying attention to any areas of weakness.
     
  7. What type of exercise will I do?
    The programme has been carefully designed so its content and intensity will enable you to become slimmer and more toned in a week.  Most of the exercises take place out of doors and are likely to include circuits, hiking, mountain biking and a few surprises.  As well as working towards your goals, you'll also find the programme fun invigorating and challenging.
     
  8. Do I need to do any preparation before I come to BaseCamp?
    When your place at BaseCamp is confirmed we will ask you to complete a detailed food diary for a week ( which will be analysed and discussed on your arrival) and a questionnaire on your health.  Don’t start exercising more than you normally do or you may sustain an injury before you arrive.  And don’t starve yourself in the week before you join us.  We are experienced in working with people who have no history of exercising and if you have eaten very little in the days before BaseCamp, you won’t cope as well with the exercising.
     
  9. I don’t do much exercise and am overweight.  Will I be expected to do the same exercises as someone who is much fitter than me?
    On arrival we will assess your fitness level and put you into a small group appropriate to your current fitness.  Our instructors will show you how to undertake every exercise according to your own abilities.  In this way we can work with clients at varying levels and those with injuries.  We are here to help you improve your fitness and lose pounds so don’t worry about your current status.
     
  10. I don’t exercise because I have a bad knee/shoulder/back.  Is it safe for me to enrol at Base Camp?
    Most injuries can be accommodated in our exercise programmes.  Our instructors are experience in working with people who have sustained injuries and our high instructor:client ratio means we can give individual attention and guide you on how to exercise safely.  We will ask you to give us details of any old or current  injuries in our detailed joining questionnaire, but I would encourage you to call us to discuss anything you might be worried about.
     
  11. Many of the activities are outside.  What happens if the weather is bad?
    Our programme is designed to take place in all weathers.  You will be given a comprehensive kit list before you arrive and in winter we ask you to bring warm and waterproof clothing.  There aren't many occasions when we can't go outside, but if the Course Director considers it may be dangerous to do so, he has devised a series of wicked exercises to be performed inside.  So basically, there's no excise for not exercising!
     
  12. Do I need special clothes and equipment?
    We provide you with a comprehensive kit list of items to bring with you. 
     
  13. Will I feel hungry?
    There are no food fads at BaseCamp and we do not feed you on a diet of salads to get you to lose weight.  We apply the basic principles of nutritional science in the design of our menus and, guided by our exercise nutritionist, our chef has developed delicious meals that combine the correct ratios of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to provide you with all the energy and nutrients you’ll require to adequately fuel your muscles and ensure your blood sugar levels remain stable throughout the day.  In conjunction with the full exercise programme the sensible eating plan will result in sustainable fat loss, an increase in resting metabolic rate and a reduction in measurements.  In some case you may find yourself eating more than you do at home, yet still losing inches.
     
  14. What is the accommodation like?
    We have two locations - in Exmoor and in the Dordogne in France.  In the UK, you will be staying a beautiful country house set in its own grounds that lead down to the sea shore.  and with access to moorland, woodland and coastal paths.  In France we are located in an old French building that has been converted to the highest standatds with pools na dsauna.  We have a selection of delightfully furnished rooms that are very spacious for twin or single occupancy.  And in the UK we  have one room that can accommodate three people sharing – ideal for three friends. 
     
  15. Can I share a room?
    We have a number of twin rooms so you can share with a friend if you wish and a shared room reduces the cost of the course.  In the UK we also have one room that can accommodate three people - great for three friends who want to share.  If you would be happy to share a room with another client we will see if there is anyone else on your course with whom we can arrange a room share.
     
  16. How do I maintain my weight loss when I get home?
    A significant benefit and difference of the BaseCamp course is our personal service to our clients.  We want you to keep your new slim figure and perhaps improve on it further, if that’s your goal.  You’ll leave us with the knowledge and guidelines to adapt your own particular life style so you maintain weight loss and an exercise routine.  And because we know that it can be tough keeping up the motivation when you get home, we have our BaseCamp follow-up programme and helpline to put you back on the right track if you need it.  We want you to come back next year - but not because you have put weight back on.  Once you've completed BaseCamp there's our BAseCAmp+1 course that will take you further up the fitness trail.
     
  17. What age group is BaseCamp aimed at?
    Our minimum age for BaseCamp is 18 years but there is no upper age limit.  We also have experience in working with young adults, so please give us a call if you want to discuss training someone younger.
     
  18. How much weight will I lose in a week?
    For years we have been obsessed with how much we weigh.  So it’s very difficult to get our heads around the idea that weight is not the key factor to having a slimmer and healthier body.  At BaseCamp our programme is designed to reduce fat (this is a weight loss) and build muscle (however, muscle weighs more as it develops), both of which will make you healthier and reduce your body measurements.  So we encourage you not to look at a weight-loss goal, but rather a reduction in body size during the week – usually a whole dress size for women and a few belt notches for the chaps - but everyone is different and some will lose more inches than others.  We take a lot of measurements of your body on arrival so you can see how many inches you have lost when you leave, proof of your results and effort!.  And it’s a good idea to wear something with a belt so you can see the ‘before and after’ notches.
     
  19. Do I have to take part in every activity?
    The programme is designed to have all sections or experiences build on each other and therefore every element is required.  You will be expected to participate in each activity, but at your appropriate level.  The instructors are very experienced and no one will be asked to undertake any activity they are not capable of completing.  Activities are undertaken as groups and we find that once the group has bonded everyone wants to participate in every experience.
     
  20. Can I bring my own food and drink?
    Clients are not allowed to bring any foodstuff, soft drinks or alcohol onto the BaseCamp course.
     
  21. It all sounds like hard work.  Is there any time to relax?
    Change takes effort! The programme operates every day from early morning to around 8.00pm in the evening, when you are free to use the comfortable lounge areas.  However, most clients opt for an early night in preparation for the morning PT sessions.  There will be some free time during the day around meal times when you can catch up on phone calls etc.
     
  22. Can I smoke at Base Camp?
    The house and gardens are no smoking areas.  Some clients use BaseCamp as an opportunity to give up smoking.
     
  23. Will I have time to answer emails and answer phone messages during the day?
    The house has WiFi and reasonable mobile phone signals.  You will have some free time around meal times and in the evening when you can catch up with home or work.  We ask clients not to bring mobile phones to the sessions. We recommend you treat this as a time to focus on improving yourself and tell your work colleagues you are on holiday!
     
  24. Why do people come to BaseCamp?
    Some people come to lose weight before a special occasion, such as their wedding or because they want to look good on the beach on their holiday.  Often it's a special birthday that prompts someone to look at reducing their weight.  For others it's a time in their life when they come to a decision to make some changes and spend a bit more time in looking after themselves, perhaps when the children don't need them so much.