ELLIS BIRT, A MEMBER AT WORCESTER WOODS COUNTRY PARK, WANTED TO GET FIT AND LOSE WEIGHT. HOWEVER, HE WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE NORMAL GYM EXPERIENCE. HE FOUND HIS CALLING AT BMF, AND THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

“I was a CCF cadet at school so the military aspect of British Military Fitness appealed to me. Also, it was something different from the normal gym experience, so I decided to give the free trial a go.

The main difference I have found between the gym and BMF is that every BMF session is different, with lot’s of variation throughout the session. Each instructor has their own way to make us work hard, yet still enjoy the session. Working in a group helps, something us guys tend not to do at a gym. It’s not just the instructor that’s encouraging you to work hard, everyone in the class is supportive and encouraging. The power of the teamwork cannot be under-estimated.

I HAVE LOST 23KG AND I'M FITTER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE

From not quite finishing my first (blue) session, I am now fitter than I have ever been in my life. I have ditched the junk food and stick to a healthy diet. As a result I have lost 23kg. I have reduced my chest from a 48” to a 40” and shrunk my waist from a cosy 36” to a comfortable 32”. My cholesterol is down from a high 7.1 mmol/l to 4.5, without any medications. Also my readings in a blood test that measures my long term blood glucose control suggest that I have reversed type 2 diabetes, first diagnosed a year ago.

I also surprised myself when I ran The Major Series in the Midlands last month, with a time of 1:14:45, something I would never dreamt of doing two years ago.

I SET MYSELF GOALS

To measure my results and stay motivated, I use a spreadsheet (I work with computers) and a burn down chart with regular measurements. I set myself goals by looking at what I can measure - ie, BMI dropping below 30, holes on my belt, clothing sizes, as well as my blood tests. That way I was hitting a target more often, which meant I was more motivated.
In the fitness tests I have completed I have seen my 1500m run go from 11:33 mins to 6:11 mins in 18 months, and I've close to doubled my repetitions in the strength test.

THE POWER OF TEAMWORK CANNOT BE UNDER-ESTIMATED

I would recommend BMF to anyone who does not like the ‘headphones on, ignore everyone else’ attitude of the gym. The power of teamwork to encourage you cannot be under-estimated, and the three levels (bib colours) mean that you work to your level regardless of how fit you are.

BMF has helped to keep me motivated, and has encouraged me to keep going."

Ellis Birt

> If you have a story you would like to share with us please email us

> Read more member stories here