The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

CREATED specifically to address the exercise and nutrition concerns of Bahamian women of all shapes and sizes, Vitamin City Bahamas is about to finish up the successful inaugural edition of its Beach Body Boot Camp.

The boot camp was designed to help women to get rid of fat, gain energy, tone muscles, increase stamina and learn more about diet and nutrition.

For six weeks, Bahamian trainer Nicole Richardson has been working with women enrolled in the boot camp on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at various outdoor locations, including Fort Charlotte, Goodman’s Bay, Queen’s Staircase, the Eastern Parade and the Sidney Poitier Bridge between 6pm and 7pm.

“We are basically reprogramming our ladies by teaching them how to live healthier lifestyles rather than dieting. We are trying to get them away from what we call the yo-yo dieting, where they are trying pills and those sorts of weight loss methods,” Ms Richardson said.

“We want to teach them how to read labels and understand the differences between what is healthy and what is not so healthy. Most people love AriZona Juice for example, because they are nice and tasty and it says vitamin C loaded with antioxidants, when really it is loaded with sugar. It is really unhealthy for you and we basically teach them all of that.”

Ms Richardson said what stands really defines the Beach Body Boot Camp is the fact that it is led by a trainer who was once overweight herself.

“I am a mother and I have been there, and I have had two Caesarean section procedures. I’ve been fat and I know what it is to be depressed about your weight and try and try and just do not know where to start. I think everyone can relate to being there and I am living proof. We have a team of coaches, but I am at the forefront because women want to see another woman that has been through what they have been through,” she said.

Ms Richardson said her overall goal for the boot camp is to help Bahamians learn lead healthier lives.

“For the boot camp, I also want women to know that they can do it no matter what. Even though you are a mom, it is all about hope and how bad you want it,” she said.

This edition of the boot camp officially ends this Friday, but Ms Richardson said they are going to be running another cycle in the near future.

“Just about 99 per cent of the ladies are going to join again because this is a lifestyle. I think it is really good, because we actually have a group on Whatsapp chat where we keep in touch and support all of them,” she said.

Mrs Richardson said the Bahamian diet is known to be a major issue for many who are trying to live healthy.

Most Bahamians, she said, are raised to think and believe that it is OK to have one too may starches and fatty meats on one plate.

“We basically just need to educate ourselves on what’s healthy and make better choices on the whole. I love what I do and I love making people feel good about themselves and become a better person. I have been doing this for about four years, but I have actually just recently done my first body building and fitness show,” Ms Richardson said.

“After that big transformation, I knew if I can do it, anyone can. I have little kids, so if I can juggle it, so can other women. If it was easy, everyone would be skinny. But it is not easy; it takes work.”