Day 2 of the Shred

I'm still sniffly and I've now got a cough but I forced myself out from under the duvet and off the sofa and did day 2 of the Shred. I was a bit blase about it yesterday but today was a lot harder! I really felt it when I was doing the arm raises and side lunges and the jump rope really hurt. It's been about 30 minutes since I finished and I'm still a bit shaky. I'm now going straight back under my duvet and getting ready for Come Dine With Me later on. Over and out.

Day 1 of the Shred

I almost didn't start the Shred yesterday. My throat was still hurting and I had a nasty cough, but I sucked it up and put the DVD in. I have to say it wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I managed to convince my boyfriend to do it with me and the 20 minutes flew by. He took on the role of my personal trainer (perhaps to avoid having to actually do the workout??!) and gave me tips on my form. I thought the workout was very simple and easy to follow. I have a feeling I will be moving from level 1 to level 2 very soon. The only reason I am not moving up straight away is that I have to do the modified push ups. I can definitely see myself doing this everyday for 30 days.

30 Day Shred Prep

I am a poorly pup! I am so p!ssed that I've become sick a couple of days before I am due to start the 30 day shred. I've got a sore throat, I'm sniffly and I have a headache. Grrrrrr! I am taking lemsip though. On Friday I was in a very good mood and quite excitable, my boyfriend reckons I'm ill because I tired myself out on Friday by being in such a good mood! Anyway I picked up my 30 Day Shred DVD this afternoon and then went shopping for a smart pencil skirt for work. I went into M & S and, guess what, I am now a size 12 - woop woop! Beep Beep! The size 12 was actually a bit big on the waist so I tried the 10 and guess what - it went up my thighs and actually fitted, but alas it was a bit tight on the 'ole hips. I was pretty stoked by that and did a little jig in the dressing room :) I ended up buying a cheaper pencil skirt from Zara for £19.99. It is the same skirt I bought this time last year (except the zip is now on the back, not the side) only it is a 12 and not a 14 :)

Even though I'm ill, I'm still determined to start the Shred and day 1 of the next 12 weeks on Monday. In preparation I did a big food shop. I bought lots of meat, veg and fruit. I decided to switch from salmon steaks to salmon fillets on account of the lower fat content in fillets, although they are pricier. I also picked up some organic pro biotic yogurt and bluebrries for breakfast. For breakfast, I also plan to have poached eggs on a slice of wholemeal toast, this should increase my daily protein intake whilst reducing my carbs. Speaking of macronutrients, I have decided to change my carbs:protein:fat ratio to 40:30:30 (it was previously 51:15:34). This is following the very consistent advice that I need to up my protein intake and reduce my carbs to banish those last few pounds.

To go with the DVD, I also bought Jillian Michaels "Making the Cut" book. I'm still waiting for this to arrive but I am hopeful that it helps focus my mind for the next 12 weeks.

I am going to take "before" photos on Monday so I have something to look back on. While I am at it, I will also compare the photos to the ones I took in January. I have lost 7-9 pounds so I don't think there will be a lot of progress but it will be good to see either way.

Peace out peeps.

12 Week Review

I've had a look at my food and exercise diaries for the last 11 weeks, it's been 80% good and 20% smack on the wrist - the right balance me thinks. I think I've been overly critical of what I've achieved so far. I saw my mum last night for the first time in a quite a few weeks and she was quite shocked at how slim I now am. I invited her to come to the gym with me as I still have my free one month guest pass, so she came and had a swim whilst I worked out and afterwards we sat in the steam room together. As an aside, it was great going to the gym with someone and tonight my sister is coming with me, I wish I had a constant gym buddy! Anyway, whilst in the changing rooms, she kept saying how much I had lost and that I didn't need to lose anymore, but I guess that's a typical mum thing to say. I just want to lose these final 12 pounds and I will be happy as punch.

On 1 June I told myself I would try a 12 week programme of 1,200 - 1,400 calories with regular gym wotkouts. I had hoped that I would have lost the full 21 pounds by next week (which is week 12) but I can now see that that was over ambitious. At the same time, I can also see that I am getting bored of my current workout plan. I want to try something new, I want to try another 12 week programme. I am definitely sticking with more weight training, I'm loving it and feeling stronger. 30 day shred perhaps? I have seen so many people on MFP who have had success with it, I am only wary of it because I am a gym girl and the 30 day shred is a home dvd workout. As reluctant as I am to do so, I also think I probably need to listen to the advice I have been getting recently and cut down on my carbs and increase my protein intake. No more afternoon Snack-a-Jacks, waaaahhh …. actually, I don't think I want a life that doesn't involve Snack-a-Jacks.

10 things I have learnt in the last 12 weeks:

1. I am an emotional eater. If I'm happy I want to eat, if I'm sad I want to eat!

2. I am frequently negative about my efforts and achievements, which is strange as I am so positive about other people's;

3. Junk food upsets my tummy (and gives me awful wind :s);

4. I enjoy eating fresh vegetables, favourites being baby carrots, mangetout and baby corn;

5. I love, love, love no fat plain frozen yogurt and cannot live without popcorn or Snack-a-Jacks (re the latter, I tried and was miserable);

6. I can get overly obsessed with counting the calories in every single item of food that goes into my mouth. Whilst this has taught me a lot about food nutrition, I don' think I need to be as obsessed with this over the next 12 weeks;

7.I enjoy doing stuff other than classes at the gym - I kick a$$ on the Cardio Wave and I look good doing it. It sounds so vain but I always pick the machine right in front of the window so I can check out my sweaty bod while I work. I've also spotted quite a few people checking out my butt as they walk past, which makes me work even harder ;)

8. I am actually quite fit. I have a good resting heart rate and I managed to go from wanting to vomit and pass out after 10 mins on the Cardio Wave to doing a straight 40 mins in the space of 3 weeks or even 20 mins on the Cardio Wave followed/preceded by a 45 min spin class;

9. I am lazy so get stuck in a routine fairly easily but I also get bored very quickly so need to remember to mix things up;

10. When I am in bed on Saturday mornings I hate the thought of going to the gym but when I do go, afterwards I'm walking on Cloud 9;

The next 12 weeks starts on the week beginning 30 August and ends on 14 November. The aim is to lose 12 pounds, so an average of 1 pound a week, and to decrease my body fat. I'm also booked in for a free trial Powerplates session to try something different. Bring on the next 12 weeks!!!