Getting there!
We're well into week two of the fitness challenge now and I feel good!
Friday, 22 January 2010
We'll shortly be revealing our team challenge and asking you to get involved - we have 16 weeks in which to get fit together and if you've been healthy eating and exercising with us, you should already be seeing the results.
One thing I have noticed is the mega difference in how I feel physically. I have tonnes more energy; I'm sleeping much better and even get up out of bed with a spring in my step! A feat never achieved before!
Just this morning, I put on a suit that I don't wear all that regularly. However, it's a suit that fits me perfectly. The trousers aren't too tight, they aren't too small, they're just perfect! Or rather they used to be! I'm too skinny for them and had to put an extra hole in my belt just to hold them up!
Now that's definitely the best incentive to keep things going.
Last week finished off with a Kettlebells class at Queen's PEC on the Friday night and a spin class on the Saturday morning. Queen's PEC in south Belfast is the gym and sport centre were I'll be doing most of my workouts.
We will also be heading out and about with our personal trainer Andrew Firth in a few weeks time on the Seven Thirty show, giving you some tips on how to make the most of the great outdoors.
It's hard to describe what kettlebells actually are. If you're on facebook (and hopefully you are and linked up with Seventhirty Show) search for our personal trainer's page (Andrew Firth). There you'll find kettlebells demo videos and related stuff! (There are also links to Andrew's site and Queen's PEC at the bottom of this blog).
Andrew is a kettlebells master and swears by it. It is honestly one of the best workouts around. An hour after the class last Friday evening and I was still trembling from the workout!
Still, I managed to get up for a spin class on Saturday morning (with Andrew at the helm) at Queen's PEC. You either love a spin class or hate it - either way, it's another hardcore workout and works wonders. I got on a dud bike at the start of the class but thankfully 'his nibs' caught on and advised me to hop onto one of the other bikes. Put it this way, if he hadn't I would probably still be walking like John Wayne - thanks Andrew!
I had my first cheat day last Saturday. I had spent the week thinking about pizza so ordered in a pepperoni pizza (with all the extras including garlic bread supreme) for Saturday night and cracked open a bottle of white wine.
Wasn't really as good as I had hoped it would be - maybe I love my new healthy eating more than I realise. So don't know if I'm even going to bother with rubbish takeaway grub this weekend.
Monday night was a circuits training class which to be honest, I wasn't really all that fussed on. Again, a good workout, but wasn't really for me. No real sense of achievement afterwards, just relief that it was over!
Andrew gave me a new workout plan on Tuesday night – a lot more weight training on it this time round. Most of it is actually exercises that you could be doing at home with a set of dumb bells – again we’ll show you how in a few weeks time on the Seven Thirty show.
However, if you’re really keen to get started – search for instructions for the likes of ‘barbell curls,’ ‘plank to press up,’ ‘single leg dead lift’ and ‘hanging leg raise.’ Push yourself while doing this exercises – but if in doubt, talk to the pros who can advise you on technique and how much you should be doing. That said, a lot of it is common sense.
I went to the gym again on Thursday night and went through Andrew’s core resistance workout again – but pushed myself further with a few more repetitions and added weight. Have a few more classes this weekend, one of them being kettlebells (my new fave workout).
Anyone thinking of investing in a set on payday should definitely go for it! Such good fun. Get some friends involved and have a workout in your front room – it really is that accessible. If in doubt, go to a few classes at your local gym (most good gyms will host kettlebells classes).
Alternatively (and if you’re not a member of a gym), look out for classes in local community centres. It’s a good way to get fit and meet new people who are all looking for the same thing – to get fit and/or lose weight. These classes will be taken by professionally trained personal trainers (like Andrew), therefore making sure you get the most of the experience.
In terms of diet, I’m still limiting my fat and heavy carbohydrate intake and increasing the amount of protein I’m eating. If you are considering substantial weight loss you should consult your GP.
We want to hear your stories! If you’re battling the bulge or want to get fit for the summer – then LET US KNOW! Send your fitness and diet comments to our Facebook page. And let’s get fit together!
See you next week!
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