100 Day contestants share their journey of weight loss

By Katharyn Albuoy-Grant

My starting weight was 240 pounds, yes — I was “obeast!”

I was very, very depressed and stressing over my weight. I had personal issues that included my weight gain. In September 2010, I spoke to Kim Benjamin, who won the top female in May 2010. I asked her all sorts of questions about the challenge such as, “Do they kill you on the first day? What do you have to eat? Do I need to drink over 15 glasses of water per day?”

Kim asked me to name three reasons why I wanted to join this challenge. I told her I felt in my heart that I needed a life change, I wanted to focus on life better and improve my eating habits. She said “Go for it”.

When the organizer emailed me in December to let me know I had been chosen, I felt so pleased but also nervous. I Poured my heart out to Kim. She said: “Listen, you will be okay.” I went to my doctor in January for a physical and the hospital for blood work to make sure I was in good health which I was. The first day of the weigh-in I was very confident but when they took my blood pressure it was very, very high. The lady that took my pressure said that she was thrilled that I am in the challenge, because if I didn’t join I could have had a heart attack or stroke. So after the weigh-in the Magnum Team had to meet at their gym. They put us right to work. After that workout at the gym, my legs didn’t feel like they belonged to me. Mercy!

Hell Weekend at Warwick Camp

While half of Bermuda was still getting their beauty sleep, all three teams needed to be at Warwick Camp gate by 6:45am. When they opened the gates, we needed to run to our captains. They had to tell us what we had to do. The ladies and gentlemen had different sleeping quarters which was good. Our first assignment included jumping in and out of tires, hopping over a cross chain, running over a barrel, running up then down a hill and jumping over three barrels.

We had to repeat it until they said stop. 

For the second assignment, we had to figure out how to get to the other side with all the equipment that we were starting with. The equipment was two wooden boards, four green metal boxes and a water container with water in it. Very interesting, but Team Magnum did it.

Being on campus at the Bermuda Regiment was crazy but very interesting. This one was very, let’s just say, (Killa)manjero. As a team we needed to pick an item and carry it up the hill. Coming down was even harder — getting water and catching your breath.

At the end of this challenge, I cried my eyes out but they were happy tears because I completed that main challenge.

They had to take me back to camp after I finished. I was wounded but I never gave up. I was very proud of myself and my team-mates. I am the baby in the team now so I look up to the rest of them like family. They are a big help to me mentally and

physically.

Next we had to do a crazy course — balancing on wires, going under barbed wires, under and over bars, climbing over a ten foot wall, then climbing on a ladder holding two cable chords and balancing on a rope with no safety net. We jumped between poles up on a balance beam, swinging like Tarzan, going through a dead rat hole tunnel.

We had to do another course with a compass and a map. At last we had to watch a black and white movie called 12 angry men. By then everyone was going to sleep. Finally we went to bed at mid-night.

The final day at Warwick Camp

Sunday at 6:30am two members from Sandy’s 360 woke up so me and a member from Sea View got up as well.

Swimming in the morning is not for me, especially if you see jellyfish in the water. After breakfast we changed for a six mile brisk walk and run. The first four miles me and a team member were leading the way.

After that my feet were burning and killing me. My teammates had to push me hard. Close to the finish line, Magnum members locked arms and ran through the gates. Yes, here we go again. Cry, cry, happy cry, I completed that final challenge.

In the grace of God I believe in him and myself. This was an excellent experience for me. I would not be repeating it again though. I would like to thank Mr Wheddon and his staff, especially my captain, Mr Oldenburg.

By Burnette Burcher

Lean Body Boot Camp

It is yet another Saturday morning and I am up at 6:30am. 

This is the way every Saturday has started for me and others who signed up to do the 100 Day Challenge 2011. I don’t know about them but I really am not feeling it again today. 

Today’s sponsor, Lean Body Protein Drink, gave us T-Shirts to wear for our session.

The Trainer for the Day was Dawn (I do damage) Berry of Sandys 360. 

We started warming up with a run to the end of the beach and back. Then warm-up exercises and then another run but with an ultimatum to do it in six minutes. Well I made every attempt to keep up with the others but to no avail.

I strained a muscle in my thigh the previous day while walking and running five miles from Paget to Southampton. 

We then did some squats, lunges, pushups and crunches on the beach followed by more running, sprints and anything I didn’t want to do prior to arriving. Now my moaning, and dragging my feet on the beach was in the past. It was time to take a water break. Instead of water we sampled some really good Lean Body Drink given to us by our sponsor, Mike Mayo of Sports R Us.

After break we ran half way up the hill of the parking lot and back, to end the workout for the day.

Till Saturday, final Boot Camp — yay!