When we spoke to Dawn one Saturday morning, she was on her way home from a British Military Fitness (BMF) class in Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Having signed up in November 2015, Dawn and her husband Dean are now huge ambassadors for BMF, and the changes to their lives have been significant. Here's their interview:
What made you keen to try British Military Fitness?
Dawn: We were both very unfit and basically did no exercise. We saw Dr Clare Miller on TV, on BBC Ultimate Hell Week, and were really impressed. We found out she was part of BMF, so we thought we’d give it a go as a way to improve our fitness.
Dean: I used to have a far more physical job, and when my job became more sedentary – driving up and down the country, sitting looking at a computer – I still ate the same amount! BMF was a way to stay active.
Why did you stick it out?
Dawn: We have both joined gyms in the past, but there is nobody pushing you. At BMF there is a bit of peer pressure, and you are pushed by the instructor, so we didn’t want to give up. You don’t want to come in last, and that bit of competition spurred us on. The instructor Mark just kept telling us: “You can do it!” and actually, when you are around other people, you realise – yes, you can do another lap!
Dean: We went once a week for the first six weeks and honestly felt we couldn’t have done much more than that! There was one night around Christmas last year when I couldn’t even lift my arms to drive us home! But that didn’t put us off at all – actually, it motivated us to step it up to two nights a week, and now we go around four times a week.
What have you achieved with BMF?
Dawn: I have moved from the blue to the green bibs and completed the Major Series 10k muddy run event, the 5k Poppy Run, The Mo Run, and most recently a half marathon. We got the tickets for the Robin Hood Half Marathon as a gift, with just three weeks’ notice. We didn’t think we could do it but Mark said, “Yes you can!” And we did!
What do you like most about BMF?
Dawn: I’ve tried every diet over the years – SlimFast, Slimming World, you name it – but only now realise the importance of a healthy lifestyle. It’s not about doing something for six months and stopping. You have to completely change how you view nutrition, for example, and make changes that can last for your entire life. BMF makes you realise you can do things you never thought you’d be able to do. And we’ve made lots of friends we’d never have met if it wasn’t for BMF.
Dean: It’s great not to wake up tired. It’s made a huge difference to our lives and our lifestyle.
What have the outcomes been for you?
Dawn: Both of us have lost around two stone and dropped clothes sizes, but the effects go way beyond that. The boost to my confidence has been huge. Mark has been amazing – so inspirational. When he said we were ready to have the red bibs, we said no, and he literally took our blue bibs off us and wouldn’t let us have them back! He’s honestly changed our lives and we can’t thank him enough. Thank you Mark and the team!
What about your overall lifestyle?
Dawn: It’s had a great impact on my emotional wellbeing and given me a sense of achievement, which is amazing. Our lifestyle is completely different. We used to eat whatever tasted good whenever we wanted but now we eat for fuel.
Dean: It’s steak tonight so we are ready for another class tomorrow!
What would you say to anyone thinking of signing up?
Dawn: I am such an evangelist for BMF. I brought my mother along in June and at 70 years old she’s the oldest member in our group! She’s lost a stone and a half and loves it. We also brought our eldest daughter (22) along last Wednesday night, and we're planning to sign her up for three months. I tell everyone to go. I watched the London Marathon for years thinking “I’d love to do that… but it’s not something I’ll ever be able to do” and now I don’t know why I thought like that. In fact, BMF has made me think “What else can I do?!”
Instructor Mark says of Dawn, “Personally, I am immensely proud of her. Not just for her physical achievements but she is a totally different person from the one who hid behind her husband at the first session.” Well done, Dawn!
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