Afternoon all. Firstly, Happy Independence Day just in case this finds its way to America (I've no idea how but it has before). We will forever remember this historic day as the day when Will Smith saved the world from an alien invasion.
Moving on.
Within the last 3 weeks alone I have managed to shift 7lbs (half a stone). This has been due to attending Slimming World classes again, and sticking rigidly to a somewhat demanding fitness routine. "I'm chuffed" doesn't quite cut it right now.
I go on holiday to Costa Brava in Spain on Sunday with my friend Erin so I'm hoping to maintain my weight through making good food choices and I'd imagine we'll do quite a bit of walking - I'm not expecting to lose any more weight that week because I'm expecting to spend half the holiday drinking. Standard.
This half stone though is a good boost in the right direction. I set myself a target 3 weeks ago to lose a stone before I go to Magaluf in August, and I'm pleased that I'm half way there already. I know my little break next week will set me back a bit but it's still very achievable if I keep doing what I've been doing.
What I'd like to share with you on this occasion is the fitness regime I've been doing my best to stick to. Eating healthily is only half of the battle. Yes, you can still lose weight just by doing that, but an exercise routine will really affect your progress, in a positive way, if you're doing it properly.
So on a typical week, this is what I aim to do, exercise-wise:
MONDAY : 1hr kettlecise class.
TUESDAY: 1hr swim (64 lengths = 1 mile)
WEDNESDAY: 1hr bums&tums class, 1hr boxercise class, 45min aqua zumba class, 30min swim.
THURSDAY: 30min spin class, 1hr kettlecise class, 1hr zumba class, 45min swim.
FRIDAY: 30min spin class.
SATURDAY AND/OR SUNDAY: 1hr30min gym session, 45 min swim.
And I try to fit in the odd swim or gym session in between if I feel I'm up to it and have the time.
I know what you're thinking... some of those nights look brutal. This is only what I aim for. Today, for example, I can barely walk from Monday and Tuesday nights' sessions. Because of that, I'm only going to the aqua zumba and swim afterwards. I don't want to do myself any damage but at the same time I'm not going to do nothing. This ties in with one of my previous posts - don't expect to get anywhere until you can get past your own excuses. If I don't feel up to a class that I know is going to be too much for me that night (kettlecise and bums&tums are pretty brutal) I'll go a swim instead, or try to hit the gym in the afternoon. At the very least, I make sure that I am doing AT LEAST 30-45mins of exercise every day. That, combined with my healthy eating plan, has been the reason for my success thus far.
I am currently at the lightest I have been in a year. I can't quite see it yet, but the scales don't lie, and I'm hoping that it will start to reflect in my clothing pretty damn soon.
If, like me, you're ridiculously unfit and/ or you find it hard to feel motivated to exercise, your options depend on how much money you are willing to spend. Your obvious cheaper option is to find a friend who you know can motivate you and do things with them. Go swimming, running, walking, do a fitness dvd together. Having someone there to motivate you can make the world of difference.
The next step up is the path I've chosen - classes at the local gym. Attending a class run by a gym instructor means that for that hour or half-hour you are exercising safely, at a good pace and for a continuous amount of time. It is easy to spend an hour in the gym and only work out at 50% for 20 minutes of that. Attending a class means that you have a model to follow and pressure to keep going. Try to find a gym that offers something along the lines of a class pass, where you can attend as many as you like, otherwise this option can be pricey.
Another option, if you feel it's worth the money and can afford it, are personal trainers. They can provide dramatic results by using individual plans best suited to your fitness level and needs and providing motivation to work harder than you would by yourself.
Ultimately the decision should be based on what you feel you can do and what you are aiming to achieve. Not being able to afford the gym is no excuse. If you're still using excuses like that then you are not truly dedicated to the idea of losing weight, and if you're not dedicated to the idea then you will not be successful regardless of whether or not you have a gym membership. Let's be serious, how many of us have joined the gym as a new years resolution, gone twice and then the card is forgotten about? I rest my case.
Try a powerwalk with a friend a few nights a week, a few classes or a trial gym membership and see what works for you. I've met some lovely ladies in the last 6 weeks by attending classes and would never have thought that I'd look forward to my evenings in a sweaty dance studio, but I do. I can swim further and faster than I've ever been able to, I can survive a spin class (unless it's Andy's class, brutal!!) and I can do sit-ups with a 4kg weight when I couldn't do one on its own before.
And if I can do it, anyone can do it.
x
