I Tried the 28 Day Boost Camp - Here’s What Happened During Week 1

My thoughts | My results | The ups & downs | My likes & dislikes

I decided to try Bridget's 28 Day Boost Camp and then journal about how I went. 

I took photos and measurements before the Camp started. Although I'm not entirely comfortable sharing such personal details, I want you, the reader, to take this journey with me. 

If you haven't read my pre-camp post where I talk about meal prep, my pre-camp eating habits and my current weight and measurements, you can check it out HERE. 

For more information on the next Boost Camp, please email boost@bridgetshealthykitchen.com 

Pre-Camp | Saturday 

Here were my pre-camp measurements 

• Start weight: 77.7 kg [171 lbs] 
• Start BMI: 26.3
• Start measurements: 
• Neck 33 cm [13 inches]
• Hips 106 cm [42 inches]
• Waist 93 cm [37 inches]
• Left thigh 67 cm [26.5 inches]
• Left arm 30 cm [12.2 inches]

Week 1 of the 28 Day Boost Camp

I wanted to document my journey, so I kept a daily journal, something I haven’t done since I was a kid. Keeping a diary throughout the 28 days really helped put things in perspective.

Day 1 | Monday

Morning: I woke up this morning with determination and energy. I'm excited yet slightly nervous as this is the first time I've ever done anything like this. I'm feeling a bit bloated, but that's pretty normal for me. I have a lot of adrenaline this morning. 

I've decided to become a Fast Camper (adding intermittent fasting to the plan), as I usually don't eat until after 11 anyway. My first meal today will be around 1 pm.  

First meal: I've just finished eating my first meal, Kuku + Chicken, and broke my fast after 17 hours. I had prepared a batch over the weekend, so all I had to do was reheat it. The Kuku is very flavourful and filling, and it pairs well with the chicken meatballs. As this is my break-fast for the next four days, I'm happy I enjoyed it. 

Afternoon: It's around 2:30 pm now, and I feel peckish. Usually, I'd be standing in front of the cupboard, wondering what I could snack on, and most of the time, it would be a big handful of potato chips, chocolate or biscuits. Instead, I will eat my ACV Gummy (included in the meal plan) and then come back in half an hour to eat my lunch. They're not quite the gummy lollies I'm used to, but they go down a treat since I'm not allowed any sweets. 

Second meal: For lunch, it was Flaxseed Wraps with my choice of filling. To be honest, I was pretty surprised when I saw wraps on the menu but also super happy. The wrap itself was super easy and quick to make and was also really tasty! I filled mine with cooked chicken, lettuce, pickled onions, rhubarb chutney, and avocado. Very delicious! 

Evening: it's about 6 pm, and I'm feeling exhausted and have a pretty bad headache. I think I'm crashing from all the sugar I had over the weekend. I wouldn't mind a piece of chocolate to "pick me up". I'm not feeling overly hungry, but I don't want to eat too late, so I'll have my ACV gummy and get dinner ready. 

Last meal: Luckily, I have Teriyaki Sauce, ginger and garlic prepared, so my dinner of Crunchy Teriyaki Beef with seasoned veggies was easy to make. This dish was by far the winner for me. The beef was so tender, and the teriyaki sauce was delicious. 

Notes:  This is probably a bit too much info, but I want to be completely transparent with my journaling; my bathroom routine is usually every 2-3 days, and I'm normally quite constipated. I flushed out tonight, which I believe is due to all the fibre I'm not used to eating. I'm feeling relatively light compared to most other days. 

Day 2 | Tuesday

Morning: I woke up this morning with no bloating. I also weighed myself, and there was a 1kg [2.2lbs] loss! I honestly didn't think I would see such a big difference in just one day. I slept pretty well last night and have more energy than usual. I woke up 30 mins before my alarm and only needed one black coffee.

First meal: It's just before 1 pm, and I feel quite hungry. I've also had a bit of a dip in energy. I'm looking forward to my Kuku with chicken. I fasted for 16 hours. 

Afternoon: My energy has picked up again since eating my first meal, and I've also peed so much due to the large amount of water I've had today. I've learned that I need at least 1.5 L [50.7 fl] of water daily, which is significant compared to what I was drinking beforehand. I'm fortunate that I work from home, so I'm always close to the toilet. Other professions may find this part quite challenging. 

I had to pop out and run a few errands this afternoon. I walked past a doughnut shop, bakery, and fried chicken place while out, and although it was super tempting, I walked straight past! I'm determined to stick to this plan.

Second meal: Today was a hot bowl of tofu soup for lunch. It doesn't sound as appealing as doughnuts or fried chicken, and I must admit, I wasn't as excited about it as I was for yesterday's lunch. However, it was delicious, filling and comforting. My go-to soups are usually ones from a packet, but I won't ever go back to them because of how easy and delicious this one is. 

Evening: I have maintained minimal to no bloating today, which I usually experience daily. My hunger levels after my first meal have also been relatively low. I typically snack quite a bit in the evening, but I haven't been tempted today. I think my water intake is helping suppress my need to snack. 

Last meal: I love rice, and I would eat it most days. So, when I saw vegetable rice on the plan, I immediately thought it would never make up for regular rice. Wow, was I wrong. The combination of the veggie rice with creamy chicken didn't make me miss regular rice at all. This dish was filling, tasty and oh so creamy! 

Notes: I went to the toilet again today, which is something entirely new. As mentioned in yesterday's update, I would go every 2nd to 3rd day, which is most likely what contributed to my daily bloating. 

Day 3 | Wednesday

Morning: I woke up again with a lot of energy, no brain fog, and in a good mood, as I've been sleeping better since starting the plan. We learnt about setting intentions before starting your day during Monday's Zoom meeting, and doing this each day has made a big difference. I love feeling at my peak!  

I sat in bed with my black coffee and read through the daily email, which was a big help as it had a lot of helpful hints and tips. I also weighed in again, and there was a 350-gram loss from yesterday's weigh-in. 

First meal: I fasted for 17 hours today before breaking it with my delicious Kuku and Chicken. Having breakfast already prepared and just needing to zap it into the microwave makes it easier when I'm feeling hungry. I did have a dip in energy, so I had another black coffee just after 1 pm. 

Afternoon: I feel quite peckish today, and I want to snack on chips and chocolate, but I won't! I've learnt about spiking your glucose levels and what happens to us when we constantly snack throughout the day. All this new information makes my decision not to snack a lot easier. 

Second meal: It was a Gut Healing Bowl with leftover dinner for lunch today. All the different flavours and textures made the dish really enjoyable.  

Evening: I feel a bit bloated tonight, and it most likely has something to do with how much water I've consumed today. I usually just drink under 3L, but I had consumed 4L by 2 pm today. 

Last meal: I made a Poke Bowl for dinner, with quinoa, edamame and ginger sesame dressing. It was so delicious! It's definitely a dish I'll be making well after camp ends.  

Notes: I felt a lot fuller than yesterday and heavier, but I think it is because of how much water I've had. 

I've noticed that I have started to sleep throughout the night. I would usually toss and turn, but I slept through last night. 

I've also noticed that I wasn't lying awake thinking about what I did during the day or what was to come. I believe that the change in mindset by committing to the Boost Camp combined with NSV and immediate physical changes is playing a big part.  

Day 4 | Thursday

Morning: It's halfway through week one, and I feel fresh and have heaps of energy. It used to take me over an hour to get myself together in the morning, and I would always dread getting out of bed. I feel lighter again with no bloating, so my clothes fit better. I'm feeling super focused this morning, and I've noticed that the mornings are where I am at my peak. 

First Meal: Although tasty, having the same thing for breakfast four days in a row is becoming a bit of a challenge. I wasn't looking forward to it as much as the first few days. BUT, I know how good this dish is for me, so I'm sticking to it. I fasted for 17 hours today. 

Afternoon: After I had finished doing some work, I watched all the provided videos. There is so much information it can feel overwhelming, and I'll probably need to watch them a few times to retain the information. Still, I'm grateful this has been provided in our starter pack as they've become beneficial. 

Second Meal: For my second meal today, I enjoyed some leftover soup from Tuesday's lunch with an added Muffet to help soak it up. It was nice to have something that resembled "bread", as this is the longest I've gone without eating any. 

Evening: A few hours after my second meal, I felt quite hungry, so I had a few approved snacks from the provided list. This list has been convenient and easy to use and has stopped me from reaching for a packet of chips.

Last meal: The Beef Stroganoff tonight was so tasty! It was also pretty easy to make. Usually, I wouldn't even try making a different recipe, but I'm getting into the cooking as the recipes are easy-to-follow.  

Notes: Before starting Boost Camp, I spent maybe 2-3 hours a day on Tik Tok. I was easily distracted, but I'm finding that I can stick to a task until I've completed it. 

My craving for sweet food has also reduced. I used to eat dessert or something sweet after every dinner, or I would not eat dinner and just have chocolate or chips. My urge to snack after dinner has drastically minimised. 

Day 5 | Friday

Morning: Waking up in the morning, I feel lighter and can easily go to the bathroom. I don't have any random pains or aches that I would usually get in my stomach. Like every morning this week, my energy is fantastic, my brain fog is gone, and I'm not feeling sluggish. I haven't weighed in as I'm leaving this for day 7. 

First meal: This is the final day of the Kuku & Chicken, and surprisingly, it's kept well, considering I made it over the weekend. I fasted for 17 hours again. 

Afternoon: My focus levels are quite high, and I'm still not feeling distracted or not actively trying to distract myself by scrolling through my phone. 

Second meal: Last night, I made enough Beef Stroganoff to have for lunch today. However, I added pickled cabbage & onion, sauerkraut, cherry tomatoes, and a large handful of lettuce to turn it into a Gut Healing Bowl.  

Last meal: Wow, wow, wow! Dinner tonight was just absolutely wow! It was so lovely that I wanted to make more, but not because I was hungry. 

Notes: My sleep these past few days has dramatically changed compared to last week and the many weeks before Boost Camp.

I've been able to go to the bathroom more frequently, instead of every 2nd to 3rd day, which I normalised. I feel so much lighter, and I'm starting to question what harm I was doing to my body before this.

Day 6 Saturday

Morning: I woke up a tad bit nervous this morning, as it's the first weekend since I started camp. Weekends were when I would let loose and go out. So I knew the first weekend of camp would be a challenge. 

First meal: I was more hungry today than I have been since starting, but I think it was primarily due to what was on the menu - Coco Rice. It was heavenly, and it was as if I was eating a decadent pudding. I fasted for 16 hours.    

Afternoon: I'm excited about being so close to the end of week 1. I am, however, starting to crave a cocktail, and I think it's because my body is used to having a few every Saturday. 

Second meal: The Eggs Benny with dairy-free Hollandaise recipe will be the only one I will ever make again! It tasted as if I had purchased it from a café. Wow.  

Evening: To help myself get through the day, I decided not to leave the house and instead concentrate on other things such as following the Week 2 Prep List and mentally preparing myself for the week ahead. By not putting myself in the way of temptation, it helped immensely! 

Dinner: I made a Green Burger for dinner, and the prebiotic pickles really elevated it and made me not miss the conventional burger. 

Day 7 Sunday

I'm feeling really fantastic today. I weighed in, and my scales read 74.6; that's just over a 3kg drop in just under a week. I'm super stoked! On day 5, I mentioned how I felt lighter, which may be why. 

I also woke up in a great mood. I think it's because I have completed week 1 with great success, and I'm excited for the weeks to come. 

First meal: I didn't have my first meal until around 3ish today, so I combined my breakfast and lunch but had smaller portions. I wasn't hungry in the morning, even in the early afternoon. I had small servings of The Full English (yum) and a Gut Healing Bowl. 

Afternoon: As I didn't have to work today, I was more relaxed and didn't need to focus too hard. 

Last meal: Dinner was terrific, and I really enjoyed it. It was Jerk Chicken. Honestly, it's hard to believe I'm eating healthy with all these delicious meals. 

Evening: I had my first and last meals quite close together, so I'm feeling bloated tonight. I'm also feeling sluggish, so I'll end my night with a nice relaxing bath.

Week 1 Summary 

At the end of week one, I noticed some excellent changes, and it's only the first week. The key difference is I'm sleeping so much better, which means I am waking up with a lot of energy the next day. I feel well-rested, and I'm not struggling to get out of bed. I used to dread leaving the bed in the morning. 

The second key point is that my overall mood has improved as well. With good sleep, I'm starting my day as a new day. Maybe it's the excitement of the first week and the eagerness to see the results, but I can't deny that I'm generally more happy and content. 

The third is being able to go to the bathroom more often. Prior to Boost Camp, I could go two or more days without needing to go. Now it's daily, and my visits leave less of a stench.  

I don't feel sluggish like I'm being weighed down, and I'm not getting random abdomen pain. 

The 4th is weight loss. I'm shocked and happy to say I've lost 3kgs in my first week. I weigh myself in the morning when I'm at my actual weight. Next week, I will try to weigh in halfway through the week and then at the end of the week (all at the same time of the day). 

Want to find out how my week two went? Read more HERE. 

If you would like to join the next Boost Camp, please email boost@bridgetshealthykitchen.com