Newcastle Bootcamp

My Story

Courtney M - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

I have to be honest. I have always hated exercise. Don't get me wrong, I love riding my bike, swimming and being outdoors but the thought of running or throwing weights around has always made me cringe. I grew up with huge boobs which held me back from so many activities. 3 years ago I got them reduced and thought, this is my time. I need to get active! I have so much chest freedom! Still I struggled to get motivated. I joined some gyms and had a really nice time but I realised I cannot stand being indoors. We live so close to the beach, why am I hanging out indoors?

 

I knew about the Buf Girls and decided to see what they were all about. Shelley had mentioned coming along sooooo many times. So to stop her from bugging me I thought righto, I will get a $10 pass and try every class for a week. (Love you Shell!) It was the middle of last winter.. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! 5:30am freezing cold on my first morning down at Merewether Baths. I was so embarrassed. I'm a terrible runner and Brit made us run around the baths and that was just a warmup. I was cold, bad at running and I didn't know anyone. All I could think about was all the girls judging me. As soon as the warm up was over we were told to partner up and every girl offered to be my partner. Every girl introduced themselves and asked me where I was from. Every girl encouraged me when I complained about feeling like a baked potato. Every girl high fived me at the end of my first sesh. I went in feeling all the wrong feels and finished surrounded by all the RIGHT feels!

I went back every day for 6 days!! Honestly I tried all the classes. It took only one week for me to become a member. I picked the classes I enjoyed most and work my week around them. I especially love boxing. Looking forward to Saturday boxing class at Nobby's can sometimes be the only thing that gets me through my week! We have now reached summer and after most classes we get to jump in the ocean afterwards! What better reward is there? I can't lie. It's hard. Some days I think, OMG I can't run another metre. Some days I think, why would you make me do this? Some days I wish the ground would open up and take all the sand so I never have to do another damn burpee tuck jump on it!!! But then I do it and I feel beyond amazing afterwards. There are not enough kind words to describe the women I get to spend my mornings with. Everyone is amazing. It's the strangest feeling. Sometimes I think, how have I lived in Newcastle this long and not had these women in my life?

I am so much fitter and my body shape has changed (which is super weird) - This is just the beginning for me; I have so much work to do. Like change my eating habits etc, but you can't do everything all at once right? Only this week we were running on the sand and I felt like I couldn't go on. Thankfully, one of the girls was next to me and said "Come on, we can do this together" - and that got me to the end. It's funny how much we can motivate each other. This year I have set some goals and Britt, Shell and the other trainers will keep me accountable! I look forward to this!

Thank you BUF for being part of my every day. Thank you to all the ladies who make my mornings bright. Thank you to all of the trainers for inspiring us to become strong, amazing females

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Larissa N - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

BUF really has changed my life! When I first joined, my fitness and overall eating habits were not good. I was going to the gym but I wasn’t consistent as it wasn’t enjoyable. I didn’t understand how the food I was eating connected to the way I felt with highly processed carbs and sugar impacting on my mood.
Since joining BUF the changes in my overall health and wellbeing have been amazing. The difference that BUF has that sets it apart from the gym and other fitness groups is the fun, supportive environment and sound nutritional guidance.

The classes are fun and challenging in a good way, and the girls make the workout fun rather than a chore. Mon and the team have been there to answer any question I have ever had and I’m truly thankful for their ongoing support. By attending classes and listening to guidance I am now much more healthy and fit than I was when I was younger.

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Rowena G - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

BUF Newcastle has absolutely changed my life for the better. Nowhere else have I found such a supportive group of girls who make exercising the most fun part of my day. The amazing down-to-earth trainers know when to push us and know when we need to rest. They encourage us to listen to our bodies and are all about being realistic. Mon and Brit have been instrumental in helping me achieve my fitness goals and I would highly recommend BUF! Newcastle to every single one of my friends. I’m so happy I found such an amazing group of girls to train with!

The BUF Body challenge is an incredibly motivating and exciting experience! I’ve always been active, but my eating habits have held me back from being a healthy as I can. The challenge gave me all the tools I needed to get my eating back on track – countless bits of useful information and guides to clean and healthy eating that explain WHY you’re doing it.

The support network was also amazing! With over 200 like-minded girls on the Facebook page, plus the girls you train with, there are plenty of people willing to help you when you fall, motivate you to keep going and celebrate your wins! The trainers are in-the-know and willing to answer any question, no matter how trivial. Plus, they’re pretty awesome people too.

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Ali C - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

My BUF journey started nearly 2 years ago. I arrived at BUF, a Mum of two - very overweight and having participated in no exercise in years. I knew that I needed to make some huge changes to my lifestyle for me and my kids, and I really wanted them to stick.

The day of my first Mum's session I was browsing Facebook in my car before the session began. I saw a post of the morning crew running Merewether Stairs and promptly drove home, without even getting out of the car. How could I seriously believe that this kind of thing was for a person like me? Somehow, I managed to talk myself around and later that week actually attended my first session.

From that moment I was hooked. The workouts were hard, but the trainers were able to give me alternatives to any of the moves that I was really struggling with. Any questions I had in regards to working out, nutrition or anything in between were answered with knowledge and best of all passion. Beyond any of this was the feeling of community that I received from not only the trainers, but the other girls that were training. I never felt judged or belittled, I felt completely supported, accepted and inspired. Some of the girls I met on my first day have become my life long friends.

Over the last 2 years I have achieved so much. My lifestyle is unrecognisable - from working out most days, to my diet which was transformed after completing the BUF Body program. I am a much healthier weight and have a stronger, fitter body & even more importantly mind. I am so grateful for Brit, Shell and all the BUF Girls, my life would be so much less amazing without them all.

AND GUESS WHAT! Now I look at the BUF Girls Facebook posts and see ME running up Merewether Stairs!

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Natalie S - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

My BUF journey started at a pretty dire stage for me. I was extremely depressed, hated myself, hated life and I would have been classified as morbidly obese. I allowed a medical condition that I had been diagnosed at 12 to defy me, and I used this as an excuse whilst allowing other factors such as stress and unhealthy habits to take over. I would look at every aspect of my life as a poor me scenario and why me – the glass was completely empty and I wanted to smash it.

I had tried every diet and quick fix out there – not eating, purging, and pills to fix me. I had nothing else to do or try, or so I thought. I came to the realisation that no one would do it for me and I needed to do this for the long haul. I was not stable and was not the best person I could be for myself or my family and this is not what I wanted my daughter to think was ok.

After researching and talking to some friends I decided BUF was the option best for me. I needed a supportive friendly environment to workout. I organised for my husband to drop me to my first sessions so that I couldn’t find an excuse not to turn. It was the most physical activity I had done in years, I barely made it through the warm up. The session was tough but I enjoyed it. I had been to other bootcamps and training sessions that demotivate and name call to inspire you which only made me sink lower and not turn up again – so this positive encouraging atmosphere was new to me.

I made a commitment to myself after that first session that I would change and I would be better than I was the day before. I turned up every day – I was still the slowest but I didn’t care. I was consistent, inspired and gently pushed by the girls to get better and faster which I did. I had discussed a lot of my obstacles and struggles with all of the trainers so that I could work through these – I needed someone on my side and needed the support to get me through. The girls worked with me on ways of overcoming my short falls and getting my mindset more positive.

I started out making daily goals as I couldn’t commit too far in the future on the whim of failure, so I started with “Today I will train, eat healthy and see the good in my day”. Once I was able to do this everyday I started looking at weekly goals pushing myself harder at training rather than staying within my comfort zone.

Weight loss was the most important thing when I started. I would jump on the scales every day, sometimes 3–4 times a day. The girls would talk to me about this obsession with numbers on a scale, and explained how a healthy dose of self-love and a commitment to a realistic and sustainable healthy lifestyle, would serve me better.

The weight has shifted, I am toned and I love seeing the world through my eyes now.

I am a true BUF believer. I have gained life long friendships from my fellow BUF girls and trainers. I have a positive mind that allows me to achieve goals as big as I want them to be. I love the trainers, they work so hard in the overall improvement of everyone, the sessions are well planned to ensure it works for all levels of fitness while ensuring that the technique is always correct. I love that I can go for a laugh and sweat with my girls and leave feeling exhausted and accomplished. I look forward to training, I know when I get there I will challenged and rewarded with small milestones and goals I am smashing. I’m disappointed when I can’t attend a class – I’m addicted and loving every minute of it!

I now create my own happiness and no I didn’t read that on a Lorna Jane singlet, this is the person I was meant to be.

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Ruth C - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

Nothing like waking up in the morning and knowing that even though it’s tough to leave your warm bed, you’re going to workout with your BUF girls, have a laugh and feel amazing after.

I still can’t believe how much I have changed! For the first time, I feel comfortable wearing shorts and swimmers and I don’t hate my body. You have helped me to change my mindset as well – food doesn’t control me anymore! I always hated exercising, especially running and just the idea made me cringe, but now I absolutely love it. The girls we train with are amazing and so silly that it makes me forget that we’re sweating up a storm. I’ve grown to love burpees and squats, and I am now constantly challenging myself.

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Amanda R - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

I joined BUF Newcastle when my second baby was four months old.  I had maintained a reasonable level of fitness throughout my pregnancy but was finding it very difficult to get out of the house with a toddler and newborn, and I wanted to feel fit again…

From my very first session where I was greeted by Brittany’s beaming smile, I felt welcomed into a wonderful group of women - and I loved that my children were so well cared for while I had the opportunity to exercise.

Although I didn’t have any specific health goals when I joined BUF, I found that within 12 months I was the fittest I had ever been.  My previous fitness regime had been predominantly jogging and walking, so it felt great to add in some weights, interval training and boxing, under the guidance of amazing trainers who are particularly knowledgeable about the needs of women and mothers.

The BUF community is welcoming, inspiring and a whole lot of fun!  The sessions are often a highlight of my day and I now can’t imagine my life without BUF.

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Jodi O - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

My attitude and outlook on health and exercise has totally changed since joining BUF Newcastle. The husband thinks BUF has been brilliant for me and my self-esteem. Mon has provided me with the confidence to exercise and positive motivation to keep me focused and on track. Thanks to Mon and BUF I’m on my way to achieving my long-term health and fitness goals.

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Kelly W - NEWCASTLE NSW, AUSTRALIA

I waited until my late 30s to find exercise. I had NEVER exercised EVER, and normally found an excuse to avoid it! I don’t know what made me look into BUF, but I am so glad I did!

When I started out, I had no level of fitness whatsoever and 20+ extra kilos to carry around. I never thought group fitness would be for me, however there was never any judgement, just encouragement and support.

I’ve achieved my weight goals and have never, ever, been this fit.

I have learnt so much, tested myself in ways I never thought I would or could, made friends for life and have become a version of myself that I never knew existed.

Mon and her crew of trainers are friendly, knowledgeable, encouraging, and supportive, sessions are never boring and you’re always guaranteed of a laugh or three!

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