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We've released the dates for our next couple of Detox Weekends and our next Bootcamp week over the Summer.  Take a look at the booking page for details.  It's turning out to be a very hectic start to the year for us with our popular Living Social deal, lots of private bookings and also some very interesting TV work which you'll see the results of later this year!  Unfortunately, the downside to all this is that we aren't able to run as many weeks and weekends as last year.  Our advice, book early and guarantee your place!  Alternatively, if there are a few of you then do what so many others are doing and contact us to design a Tailor Made break.  We design your holiday to your specification and then provide you a quote, it'll be a lot more reasonable than you'd expect!

Contact us for any information.

Hi to everyone who booked on to our Living Social deal.  We're looking forward to meeting you all.  Here are the upcoming dates.

Jan 24, 28. Feb 2,5,13,17,26. Mar 4.

If you have a date in mind that isn't listed and you have a group of four or more then give us a ring and we can look at putting a day on for you. If you have friends who would like to come but who missed the offer they are welcome to join you for just £20pp!

Contact info@nibootcamp.co.uk to book your day.  All we require is the names of those in the group who have already paid for the offer and also the names of any others who would like to join you.  We also need a contact phone number.  We will then send you all the details for your day.

Days require a minimum of four people to run.  More dates to come if required.

I've just gone on a rant on our Facebook page after reading about a backlash against the proliferation of energy drink sponsorship in 'extreme sports' targeting the kids and teenage markets with products that are extremely bad for them.  The rant was prompted by this article which filled me with joy,

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/sports/ pro-water-in-snowboarding-culture-heavy-on-energy-drinks.html?_r=2&ref=sports

Here is what I wrote on Facebook, check it out to leave your comments at our Facebook page.

This is a really positive step.  Although energy drink co's do pump lots of money into 'minority sports' and 'extreme sports' you'd have to be pretty accepting to not see it as a simple and cynical way to hit the teenage market.  'Energy drinks' have crept fairly unregulated into mainstream conscience and are now very easily available.  Make no mistake, they are EXTREMELY bad for you, packed with sugar, caffeine and highly addictive.  We have witnessed first hand the marked change in behaviour in kids when they drink them, unsurprisingly they go a bit nuts, full of unneeded stimulants.  We know lots of top athletes, none of whom would go near energy drinks, even just the sugar filled 'isotonic' ones.  If you really are exercising long enough to justify using them (at least an hour) then you can save a fortune by adding a pinch of salt and sugar to plain water, flavour with your favourite cordial and that will keep your body going.  From experience we know that you can train up to ten hours straight in hot conditions without using any energy drinks, just the aforementioned combination and some solid food.  Few things make us sadder than seeing kids drinking a huge bottle of  energy drink or seeing the state of people who can't start a days work without them.  That is not a healthy way to be, it is an addiction which will affect your general health, ability to sleep, ability to concentrate, heart rate and will ultimately lead to the numerous physical and mental health issues attached to excessive sugar and caffeine intake.  Rant over, food for thought!

It's the New Year and for so many people that means a few weeks of 'transformation' followed by a familiar lull back into the normal unhealthy routine. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!  Here at NI Bootcamp we specialise in making your healthier lifestyle permanent so that you feel so good all the time that the idea of eating the horrendous junk that some companies call food will sicken you.  We know it works because we've been there ourselves as have many of our previous bootcampers who just came to us with an open mind and are now different people, several stone lighter, a lot fitter and also enjoying better skin, sleep and better general mental health, all of which are side effects of a healthy lifestyle.  We are currently posting our dinners on the NI Bootcamp Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/nibootcamp to give people ideas on what is fuelling us here at NI Bootcamp.  We also have places available on our January Detox Weekend for those of you who really want to start 2012 the way you mean to go on.  Contact us for more details.

Admittedly for many bootcampers Heartbreak Hill is not a particularly happy place, a brutally steep and getting steeper all the way section of hill we use for early morning interval training.  However, it has introduced many people to the huge benefits of intervals and few can deny the satisfaction of completing more reps and feeling the benefit as the week goes on and their perceptions of what they can achieve are altered.

Bootcampers 'enjoying' Heartbreak Hill                                                  But unfortunately not any more

Unfortunately Moneyscalp wood, in which Heartbreak Hill is located has been closed indefinitely due to a serious tree disease which has resulted in the clear felling of huge swathes of the forest.  This is a huge blow to the local ecosystem and is causing serious concern over the health of nearby Tollymore Forest.  It is also a big blow to us and all the other users, most notably the mountain bikers who have lost a great venue and a national standard downhill track.  We can only ask you to respect the wishes of Forestry NI and not attempt to gain access to the woods for any extra interval sessions! 

As for Heartbreak Hill, it will be back in a new venue in time for the March bootcamp, those early morning interval sessions are far too good to be scrapped!!