body confidence

Fitness update three weeks since I joined the gym, getting up early

body confidence, confidence, Fitness, weight loss

So I thought if you are not too bored of this newbieish gym goer then you may like to read this.

I am actually on my fourth week now and I am loving it. I am loving the feeling of improving my body. Every time I go I push myself and improve. The results are immediate in so far as the next time I go I can do it. When people say that fitness is all in your head they mean it. Because every time I think I can’t do it, the next visit I can!

I recently watch Jamie Genevieve fitness vlog and she said this gem of wisdom

” No one ever regrets going to the gym”

And she is right. I feel good when I leave the gym. I have energy that lasts me till about 3.30 and then I flag a little. My body looks better.

I feel better!

I still have work to do and a few more patches of skin to tone but I am happy about my body. I just need to keep it up.

Early mornings

I love my bed so much, so getting up early, like 5.45am is pretty god damn early.

I look like crap but yesterday even the sun wanted to go back to bed!!

But I have found that I need a gym buddy! I miss Jon laughing at me and introducing me to new exercises and machines. I asked Gav if he would join again but he doesn’t fancy it!

So I aim to go 3-4 times a week and so far I have done it! But I have to go early. Yesterday I came home and had a quick run around the park with Frank and he loved it!

I have to get up

I have to go

But when I get there I love it and it’s worth it. Most of the time I say I am definitely going the next morning. Then that morning I decide whether or not to hit the snooze button.

So this is my little update for my gym fitness. I hate getting up early but the benifits are paying of. I need the motivation of the gym and the support of my gym buddies. I have also started running back from the gym. Not a massive distance but I will lengthen it each week.

There is a park run on Saturday and I should really see if I can do it.

But we will see!

Gym nightmare: my forgetfulness is becoming an issue!

Fitness, weight loss

So this week I have been pretty crap! Went to the gym on Monday did a good workout mixing everything up and then I left my trainers at the gym.

I am generally forgetful but they are bright pink and I normally check my locker!

Not good

So I didn’t go to the gym Tuesday or Wednesday and realised that I needed a gym buddy. Someone to motivate me to go, to challenge me to push myself.

And just to turn up at the bloody gym.

So I set my alarm for 5.30 and went to the gym.

5.30 is an ungodly hour.

It was still twilighty, that’s how early it was and I had to dig out my old Adidas trainers so I could work out.

My face was like thunder when I hit the gym. But I turned up worked out and my body is a lot less sore this time.

We tried a few different machines!

this was I found a little scary as I challenged myself with the weights. Jon is taking them off for me! I don’t think I got heavier then 60k but next time I will.

It was a challenge.

I have forgotten my towel a few times.

My day clothes

But loosing my trainers really annoyed me.

My forgetfulness is pissing me off but I have so many things on my mind it’s not going to change any time soon!

Don’t get stuck in a fitness rut: Gym tips I still need to listen to!

Advice, body confidence, Fitness, Uncategorised, weight loss

I used to go to the gym 3 times a week which looking back wasn’t great but something is definitely better than nothing!

But I was stuck in a rut!

When they ask to introduce you say yes!

I never went upstairs and I never really explored the machines when I should have. Gyms always ask you if you want a walk through and actually you should take them up on that offer!

I should have walked round and learned about all the machines.

I also should have walked round and understood that I need more than a few exercises to see results!

Don’t get stuck in a rut

This is what Jon taught me. He said when you come to the gym there will always be a certain amount of people who are there all the time but you never see a difference in them.

This is because they don’t change up their routine enough. They get stuck in a fitness rut of comfortable exercise and can’t get out of it.

Now there is no harm in this. Maintaining your weight and fitness is important but unless they change up there routines and add different elements to it there body it going to stay the same.

I am a hundred percent guilty of this. I am definitely a creature of habit. I like the running, rowing and bikes. I may through in a different machine if I am feeling brave like the CrossFit or step machine but most of the time that it’s.

Plus I run home.

So my muscles are doing the same thing all the time which means although they are getting stronger and I mean a bit more toned I haven’t seen that much difference.

I didn’t want muscled arms so I stayed away from weights.

Now I want to introduce them into my routine. On Monday I did bicep curls and upped my weights each time. This will help work on my arms and bingo wings which I do need.

You need to do a bit of everything if you want to see improvements.

I am still working on a fitness plan that I can follow without being a slave to it!

Preparation is key

Pack your bag the night before! If I don’t do this I waste 5-10 minutes every morning when I could be at the gym. I have forgotten my locker key, towel (twice) shoes, you name it.

My skincare and shower bag now live permanently in my bag so I have to get them out on weekends.

When it’s hot it’s easy as I can just pack a dress! But as it’s a little cooler this week I have to focus on outfits.

If you are showering at home the. This doesn’t apply to you but I go straight to the gym then to work! Preparation is key to this and here is where I really need to listen to my own advice. I need to plan my outfits and check I have my towel with me!

Gym tips

I can’t give you any real fitness advice because I am just starting out and it would be wrong to do so! So if someone talks about your fitness at the gym listen to them. Ask for advice book a PT everyso often.

Keep it fresh!

Also you don’t want it to become boring! You need to challenge yourself! Up your game each time. But mostly you need to do this for the right reasons. You need to do this for you, not to get in your wedding dress, not to look Instagram ready.

Do it for you

I am doing it for me. The goal was my wedding but I want this to continue for my body to be a healthy happy place.

Survival of the fittest, well just give me time and more training!

body confidence, Fitness, Uncategorised, weight loss

I did it! Jon survived my whining for 5 days straight. I literally upped my game so much. My weights got heavier on all fronts.

I ache all over.

I can sleep so I am not too worried.

I am taking the weekend off and starting again next week. I aim to do a minimum of three visits this week but I hope I fit in more.

Fluidity is key

I am going to miss having instruction from someone who knows what they are doing and give me advise and just tell me what to do. Yes, I know I can pay someone £40 a n to do this but I cant afford it. Instead I am going to try and write out a plan of machines and exercise reps that I can do. This won’t be a rigid plan just an idea of say 6 ideas I can do per session.

I have learned so much about muscles and strength training. My bingo wings are still there but I can feel them tightening. I need to work on my diet a bit more and keep up with all the ab exercises and arm training.

I also need to get back to my running and training for the half marathon.

Now I have ventured upstairs in the gym I can use the machine that have gradient training and work on my rhythm, breathing and stamina. I also need to start running home from work. Now that its cooler I don’t have an excuse.

Perhaps now that I am more focused on my health and fitness, I will actually start to see results.

With running the main thing I noticed was just how my fitness improved. I have less energy in the evenings ( I am a lazy toad after all) but by training in the morning I have been fine. Work has been full on this week so I really haven’t stopped.

I am working Saturday but I am just doing wedding planning on Sunday.

The strange thing is I am looking forward to my gym session on Monday I just hope I am confident enough to tackle the weights by myself. I wont be able to do any of the barbells as I do need someone to spot me but I can definitely can do the bicep curls and other bits.

5 days of fitness

Next week I will just try to go as much as I can and focus a bit more on my diet!

I can do this

I can get nice and healthy for me, for my body and be proud of myself on my wedding day.

But more importantly, if I ever end up in a horror movie I can do a pull up to get away from the baddie!

Thank you for joining me on this challenge. As you can tell even though I am tired, my body is sore I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Jon! You are a super star.

Day 5 a friendship ruined

body confidence, Fitness, weight loss

Kidding. There is no drama. My body from top to toe is taught like a bow string.

I am tired and was bit grumpy today.

Biceps

We started on my bingo wings again! I started on a 4Kilo and worked my way up to an 8. Jon encourages me to push till I can’t left any more.

I had to lie back and push them to the ceiling. My last weights were a little too heavy and I managed to push and relieve them twice but the third time I lost control and have a small brusir in my chest to prove it.

Then I tackled the barbell again. Hands ina different place push up. Again I struggled but I did more then last time.

Calves

My carves are strong and defined but Jons are puny and he needed to work in them. So this time we used the weight machine to push and strengthen our carves. It burned so much I thought my skin was melting but they recovered quickly.

He asked me so it was my fault.

Some bingo wing pulls machine. Pulling towards myself and working on my arms. It didn’t feel like I was doing much but apparently it does.

I enjoyed this one until he told me I should stretch my body. I had to jump up and hang like a monkey!

Abs again

It was my choice. Plank for 1 minutes I managed 15seconds and giggled through the rest of it!

then I had to lie down and pull my legs up! I hate this bit but I did well compared to last time.

Then I had to lift my feet, twist my body and tap a weight either side. Again I wasn’t great but I had improved since last time.

Then we finished with him showing me how to use the ski pully machine which was fun!

5 days of gym over

Was it worth it, of course!

My body hates me at the moment and it is making it know my reminding me of every muscle in my body.

It’s sore.

I could sleep straight after work I am that tired but it is not just the gym it’s work as well!

My body will thank me! As it already is starting to look better.

My knowledge of my body and the gym machines has been all thanks to Jon. He has been patient, challenged me and also laughed a lot at my incompetence!

I am not a flexible, agile nor strong person but our friendship survived thank god!!

Pull ups I will defeat you, just maybe not today

body confidence, confidence, Fitness, weight loss

I was late

This is not good

I also forgot my towel which resulted in a very awkward towel and a very damp journey to work.

I also didn’t turn on my Apple workout so I have no stats for today which pissed me off.

Today was a challenge but I was ready for it!

more squats

I had to do kettle bell squats. I can’t do squats as we all know but I just can’t bend low enough. I had already warmed up with some dumbbell squats so I think Jon was just punishing me for yesterday’s lame attempt.

He made me do a weird thing where I had to tuck my elbows in and push a big barbell from my forehead up and then behind my head whilst lying down.

It was weird and I was slightly afraid of dropping it on my face and breaking my glasses. I didn’t really like it but it worked on my bingo wings so I was happy to try.

The ropes

He made me bounce a 5 kilo medicine ball over my head then on each side of me. The coordination guru in my was obviously amazing at this. Or not. But I could barely lift the 10 k ball. So I tried and have massive room for improvement.

I am still confused how I can pick up certain weights in some shapes but not in others!

Is it just me?

Jon forced me to try the ropes which I couldn’t do in the light ones but was fine with the heavier ones. Again why is that!

Finally we finished

Although it makes me a bit sad when we leave because I am getting into the rhythm of going to the gym.

I also had to do pull ups.

I told you guys I can’t do this, and it’s an aim of mine to be able to do it with me. I do find the women in the gym inspiring. There bodies are amazing and you know it’s hard work rather than just good genes, starving yourself or help from the knife.

So the pull ups! It was okay yes I was assisted. Yes I struggled but I did 3 reps of 10.

One day I will do ten by myself for now I am in training.

I am really enjoying learning.

I do need to push myself a bit harder but to me that is all about the learning curve.

Happy gym day

Gym Day 3 ended in drink and bubbles

body confidence, confidence, weight loss

Day 3 this may be the end of a friendship

So todays workout has left me sore and feeling muscles I am pretty sure I don’t actually need.

Abs a hoy

Today was abs day. The day that would transform what I fondly call my keg rather than my stomach to tone it up. I am not after a muscly stomach at all I just want it flatter. The main way I will do this will be my diet, as I shove a slice of dominos in my mouth. But exercise will help

Today we did

Bicep curls. Where I went from a 3 to an 8-kilogram dumb bell. Yay me!

Then we did a similar one but I had to rest my knee on a bench and pull it up. That was seird. I really do have to work on my posture as a lot of the time you have to focus on pulling your stomach in, straighten your back and stick your bum out.

For me this is all too confusing.

Then we hit the floor

I hate the floor. I had a real ad version to anything where my spine touches the floor. Unless I am in bed or the sofa I don’t really like anything touching my spine. I find sit ups legs up curls you name it so uncomfortable.

We had to plank for a minute- which I failed twice

I had to lay down and lift my legs. I must have really heavy feet because I really struggled to get to twenty, I guess as my body gets stronger, I will find these things easier but for now they felt near on impossible.

Impossible

Then he asked me to suspend my legs and using an 8-kilogram weight touch it on either side of my body. Suspension and co-ordination not so good.

But I did my reps

Nun Slut Machine

I don’t like these names but these are the pet names for them and this is all about toning your legs and thighs. One I had to push in the other out. The push in. The in one was a lot harder and although I don’t really want o focus on my legs its good that your whole body gets involves. Plus all of this helps your core.

I wasn’t as sweaty as I usually am and I didn’t feel like my body worked out as hard but I was wrong

My whole body was alive with awareness. Every muscle ached and when I got home, I needed a gin and tonic (Renegade Gin) and a hot bubble bath filled with Epson salts. I was also in bed just after nine so that I could appreciate the comfort of my bed!

Jon is giving my whole body a lesson in toning and strength I am learning a lot. Although I am not a fan of leaving my bed I am really going to miss these sessions and already I know that I need to change up my routine a lot in order to get maximum results. I do worry that I wont be confident using the weights a lone so I may have to schedule some more weight training with him.