I Werrrk Ouuut!

Girl look at that body.
Girl look at that body.
Girl look at that body.
...I WERRRK OUT!

Just how annoyingly addictive is that song?! I find myself just randomly shouting "I work out!" in work!

With my renewed gym-lovin', and after being peed off with my bland Zumba outfit the other night, I made a trip to TK Maxx last night to pick up some new workout togs.

Nike running top; Nike bra top; Reebok workout pants. Total price: £27.99.

Can somebody please explain to me why the UNISEX changing rooms at TK Maxx have these ridiculous saloon-type doors that are so pointless that people walking past can see directly into your cubicle?! I have never tried clothes on so fast!

I plan on treating myself to some new running trainers soon. After the amazing service from Sports Direct (literally next day delivery - when you only ordered after 6pm the night before!) I think I'll pick them from there.

I was Gone and Now I'm Back

I'm sure that is a lyric from a song but for the life of me I can't remember which one! Anyhoo, it neatly sums up my blog absence in one sentence.

Basically, I haven't not been trying to lose weight, it just hasn't been my main focus for the past few months (some relationshippy-stuff got in the way) but now the tides have turned and out of everything I have realised that I am the only person who can make myself happy, truly happy. And I'm feeling better about everything already!

After a layoff of a few months I made my grand re-entrance to la gym (well I may have exaggerated slightly - I just ended up trudging in all bleary eyed and hating myself for getting up so early). I have started the C25K plan for the six millionth time - I swear I will finish it one day!

That afternoon whilst in work I perused the gym timetable and saw my much beloved Zumba class was a) now free (GET IN!!) and b) was now on twice a week (DOUBLE GET IN!) So that evening I trudged back to the gym for the second time that day to get my Zumba-on. I bloody loved it! There is a new tutor (who I love) but she did seem content to kill us by making us do every type of squat to one song! But then anything to 'downsize' the thighs - I'm all over it!!

With the C25K plan being based over 3 days per week, the Zumba classes fit in perfectly to fill in the two other days. I also would like to try the pilates class on a Saturday morning (didn't make it today but ended up doing a killer pilates DVD in its place). So my proposed workout schedule will look something like this:

Monday: C25K.
Tuesday: Zumba class.
Wednesday: C25K.
Thursday: Zumba class.
Friday: C25K.
Saturday: Pilates class or DVD.
Sunday: Thy day of rest!

Let me know your exercise plan - because I'm nosey like that ;)

I Want to do a Handstand...

...and other non-scale related goals for 2012.

I want to:

-Do a handstand and cartwheel (was pants at these even in school).
-Complete the c25k training, and...
-Complete a 5k. Whether that is in a race or just a morning jog before work on my own...just so long as I run/jog continuously for 5k.
-Master the art of lunging i.e get deeper without over-balancing.
-Do more Pilates to improve balance (which is so shocking I fall over thin air) and flexibility.
-Be one of those people whom I currently look up to/get inspired by/am slightly intimidated by.
-Wear a crop top to workout in (in public!)
-Take my 'after' photo.
-Start swimming lessons (been on my 'to do' list for yeaaaars).
-Try Kettlebell training.
-Firm up through incorporating more strength training.
-Pack my lunch and camera and go hiking for the day.
-Make turning to exercise rather than food the habit.
-Keep going, going, going.

Some of these are a bit silly and vain, some aren't really goals - more just reminders to myself to never get discouraged, all are achievable!

:)

So...that was 2011

I have not blogged on here for ten years (ok, maybe a few months) so...what have I been doing with myself? Well Sarah, here is a handy bullet point list to remind you:

*I kept a food diary, on Sparkpeople, for over a month. Every single bite accounted for. I lost a disappointingly small ammount of 2lbs, of which was knocked off the extra 4lb I had put on the few months before.
*My love for Zumba was reignited and I dusted off the DVDs.
*Weight before Xmas nomming: 15st 2lbs.
*Current weight: ......yeah RIGHT! That would just top off my end of year blues perfectly! Once normal eating has resumed I will face the scale and tell you allllll about it.

I had a lovely Christmas and hope everyone else did too. I just absolutely hate new year's eve/end of year/new year. I always reflect over the past 12 months and I have to admit that 2011 has been a strange one for me and thinking about it is making me feel a bit teary. In a nutshell I can remember exactly how I felt this time last year and how focused I was on kicking on with the whole get fit goal and how 2011 was going to be THE year that I did it. And I just didn't. I'm left feeling that I've totally disappointed myself and wasted this year putting on and losing the same bloody 7lbs all year and getting nowhere.

I've said countless times before how procrastination is my downfall and that is the main reason I stayed away from this blog as I didn't want to announce a new plan (oh god how I love the plans!) for me to only lose motivation/interest and look for a new answer. But I need an outlet and somewhere to dump out all these neg thoughts and occasional rants. So I'm back dear blog!

With 2012 peeking round the corner I really should be setting out my goals for the year ahead and writing out my 12 week plans, posting motivational quotes and announcing how 2012 will be my year. But I'm not. Not yet anyway. I need to get my head back in the game. I need to want it bad enough.

Until then. Hope everyone has a lovely NYE and I'll see you in 2k12!! Xx

Shred Day 2

...done :)

At this present moment in time I can feel every worked muscle...which just so happens to be every muscle in my body. I loves it!

Looking foward to completing day 3. Baby steps. I'm all about the baby steps this time.

Start Small, Dream Big

Monday, as every person who has tried to lose weight before knows, is the official start date for any new workout plan/healthy eating regime.

I had planned on setting out my goals for this week over the weekend...but I actually didn't get round to deciding on what I would do until about 7:30pm this evening!

The gloomy weather and full day of work made me feel about as much in the mood for exercising as sticking raw chillies in my eyes. Lay on my bed listening to music I cast my eyes across the shelves stacked with DVDs. Hmm, should I do one? Which one can I be bothered doing?

I went for Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred for these reasons:

a) It's only 20-odd mind long.
b) It's a really intense workout that gives an all over workout, burns calories and makes you really feel like you've done something worthwhile.
c) After going on about all these 90 day programmes, this will be a good test to see how I fare with a third of that commitment (in previous attempts on this DVD is hasn't been great...but today is a new day/week/30 days!)
d) err...did I say it's only 20 mins long?!

I love/hate this DVD. I love the 3-2-1 concept (you do three rounds of 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs + warm ups and downs) and I love/hate the intensity - LOVE that working that flat out makes an efficient use of your time and is better than half-arsing it at the gym for an hour yet HATE the intensity as it kicks my arse!

I'm going to take some full length piccies tonight to compare later down the line. At this point in time I'm taking baby steps so only going to commit to one week of doing this DVD. At the end of the week I'll review whether I continue for another week or change it for something else.

My Workout DVD Collection

This consequence of getting bored easily + wanting to lose weight =

THIS!

Zumba, hip hop, salsacise, pilates, toning, pumping, Davina - I have it all covered! Technically I should look EXACTLY like Kate Moss now. I demand my money back.

My love/hate affair with exercise DVDs (or videos as it was back in the day) started at the tender age of ten when me and my cousin would stick on my mum and auntie's aerobic videos. The one we favoured was a horrendous 1980s VHS which had you shimmying to tracks from the 1950s and 1960s. Thinking on, I even recall there being video footage of me and my friends at my 10th birthday party dancing to this video (oh the SHAME!!)

I graduated from the 80s leotard VHS phase to...a 90s leotard VHS phase! Another aerobic video by some mega annoying woman whose claim to fame was being Princess Diana's trainer.

Over the years I've been given some cast offs from my sister and bought my own - scouring Amazon for the a cheap DVD that will end up being THE ONE. One DVD to solve all my fat problems. I know that a DVD is not the answer, but it doesn't hurt to keep checking does it? ;)

At the moment I'm being wooed by the lure of the 90 day programmes - P90X, Insanity and that one from Tracey Anderson (True Story: I actually watched the full 30 min infomercial online for her new programme. I. Just. Want. It) My sensible self tells me if I put together all DVDs in my collection I could do a completely new routine every day for 90 days. But my impulsive/stubborn/idealistic/hopeful self just believes in the other programmes - I mean LOOK at the results (go on, Google P90X results - uh-may-zing!)

I think I may be able to fend off the urge to purchase the above DVDs, mainly because they look far too intense and they are way too expensive (hitting me where it hurts on both counts!) However, I am still thinking about the Kettlebell DVD set I have seen. Kettlebells is something I've been contemplating for a long time after I saw them being used on the Biggest Loser years ago. I saw in a fitness magazine a couple of weeks ago that using them really helped an already fairly fit women get over her plateau as they act as strength training whilst also raising your heart rate - so a great source of cardio. Reading many, many articles I know that I need to start proper strength training to see some serious results, my bit of cardio and toning is just keeping me on an even keel. There is no point in me toning when I have a wodge of fat covering the area I'm trying to tighten up. The fat has to go first.

Kettlebells may be my new 'thing'. The kick starter to my new plan of attack. Until then I'm off to watch the Tracey Anderson infomercial again, haha! (No really...)*

*Just joking! :)