Since January I’ve been going to the gym/pool/classes around 4 times a week.
My main aims were to lose weight, tone up and generally get fit and healthy again.
I get stressed out easily from Uni work and other things, so the gym really helps keep that under control, otherwise I get ill with stomach cramps and headaches, nice!
After deciding on joining Bannatynes, I threw myself right in at the deep end and had my personal training session where my really nice female trainer took my height/weight measurements etc and devised a work out for me to do.
Basically it involves 3 types of cardio broken up by arm and leg weights and finished off with crunches.
I’ve been aiming to do this 2/3 times a week and once I’d got used to it added in swimming afterwards.
I don’t feel like I’m exercising when I swim, it’s more a stretching and relaxing activity for me so I try and swim as often as I can after exercising to burn off that little bit more.
I’ve also been trying out a few classes, zumba was one of them but the instructor wasn’t very inspiring so I didn’t enjoy it as I have in classes elsewhere.
Body Pump terrifies me and kicks my ass every week but I love the workout it gives me and I totally die afterwards! It’s aerobics with step and weights with loads of squats and repetitive arm movements and is pretty high impact, lots of shouting! Would love to go more often but I never know if I can make the class time.
Body Design is also a good workout, didn’t feel it at the time but the aerobics/step/light weights combination really does workout every muscle in a low impact way.
Since starting the gym in January I’ve also been eating super healthily, porridge or weetabix for breakfast, banana for my break, salad for lunch etc etc.
I use the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app on my phone, which logs in all foods and cardio/weights really easily and you can set a calorie limit for each day based on your weight and rate of weight loss that you want.
Mine is currently set at eating 1340 calories a day, which I manage 90% of the time.
In spite of all this I have lost a miniscule 5lbs in 9 weeks which I was REALLY disappointed with, particularly after all my efforts with fighting my inner chocoholic and exercising four times a week!
I have definitely got smaller due to my clothes being looser, belts needing to be tightened and bras being too big (sigh!) so I’m putting this down to the fact that by toning up I’ve put on muscle, and therefore as muscle weighs more than fat I won’t have gone down in weight so much as expected.
It’s my birthday coming up and like every other girl on the planet I want to look GOOD!
It was my aim when I signed up for the gym, to be lighter and more toned by my birthday.
You could say I’ve achieved this in some way, but it’s not enough for me!
So I’ve decided to step it up a notch.
My plan of action is:
- Concentrate my cardio time to the cross trainer and swimming as I enjoy these and they burn the most amount of calories
- Increase the type of arm weights and number of reps for each type
- Complete as many crunches as humanly possible! (this is no easy feat for me!)
- Try out new classes so I don’t get bored. First up is Body Combat, an aerobics based class with lots of punching and kicking movements.
Do you go to the gym often? What are your reasons for going?
Do you have any suggestions for me and my less than toned abs and arms?!
Throw suggestions my way, I’m up for anything once!
L xxx
I've been hitting the gym a lot to but haven't managed to have that many results either! 🙁 But I do feel and look betterxoHayleewww.dolledupdaily.com
I definitely feel better, but not sure about look! I guess it's just being patient and trying to keep going! xx
don't be too disheartened, all the exercise you're doing is strengthening your muscles making them heavier (muscle weighs more than fat!). So you've probably lost more 'fat' than you think but just gained muscle weight, so long as you feel like you're looking better! xxx
very true! I suppose things never happen fast enough do they, and you never lose it off the bits you want to lose it off! siiiiigh, looks like I'll be going more often then…lol xx
Your lifestyle sounds really similar to mine – and I agree with April-Lily, it's about how you look and feel, not about the number on the scales!It can be hard keeping up with it all, though – I keep 70% dark choc in my cupboard if I need a fix! A little goes a long way, and it contains anti-oxidants so it's basically really good for you, right??www.freshlookbeautyblog.com
I agree that the number on the scales isn't everything, I'm 5ft9 which isnt really tall but I'm a lot taller than my friends and it's surprising how much of a difference that can make! So now I don't take too much notice of it, but it's the easiest thing to measure!Good idea about the chocolate…I might have to give it a try, thanks 🙂 xx
I used to go to body pump religiously before i moved up north. i absolutely love it and miss doing it so much. they dont have any classes i can go to where i live now so ive been doing zumba, zumba toning and CX worx (high intensity ab workout). I really dislike zumba though, its great for cardio but i feel like such an idiot shaking my bum and doing all the cheesy moves! Can't wait until we can move back to the midlands and i can start pump again.Holli xDragonmommy123.blogspot.com
Haha i know what you mean, zumba does feel a little jiggly at times! The CX worx sounds amazing, they only have one Abs specific class and I never seem to be able to make it yet x
Oh I forgot to say, why dont you get one of those sets of scales where they take your height, age and weight then monitor the body fat percentage? It gives a more accurate bmi and you can track your weightloss by the fat monitor. It used to drive me mad when i saw the scales go up, even though i was gaining muscle and losing fat.Holli xDragonmommy123.blogspot.com
I will definitely have to look into this, I wonder how much they are. When I started at the gym they did it all for me to give me an indication, but I don't think they'll do it again for free! Thanks for the idea, will definitely be looking into this! 🙂 x
I did body combat for the first time today, its really fun!It kills my calf muscles though, hopping from one foot to the other, after about 15 minutes I have to just rock from one to the other instead.I know I'll improve though. But like you I'll be disappointed if I get on the scales on Monday and haven't lost weight 🙁
Ooh! I love the sound of it, any class that i 'die' from (so dramatic!) means its a good workout! It's annoying isnt it how one tiny number can change your day! But I'm hoping to just carry on and hope it doesn't bother me too much and things can only improve 🙂 what else have you been doing aside from combat? x