Force of July Day 2!!!

I find it so much easier to make myself do these videos than go running, they're great! Today was arms and I did the Push Plank Challenge and the VS Angel Arms. 

The Challenge was tough! I dropped to my knees so quickly!! I loved that you really felt it in your shoulders. I would do that one on my own in front of the tv and just see how much I could do in an ad break. It really is a challenge but its an easy one to get yourself doing, its not too devastating.

The next VS Angel one was really good too, Cassey was so funny in it. I like that she knows how hard it is too and is just brutally honest with you, if you want great arms you have to work for them! I was so glad I couldn't find my heavy weights I was only using 1 kg and I could seriously feel that burn! I think this one will make you laugh out loud so give it a go!

Thanks for Reading and Good Luck! xx

Running is Tough!

I'm just going to get the excuses out the way! It was hot, I had a break when I went away on holiday and I can feel the blogilates and swimming I did yesterday. Having said that I only managed to do 13 minutes and 2.14 km and even that was a struggle but at least the only way is up! I am not going to let myself do worse than that I will bully myself past it! 

I'm still doing all 10 km/hr which may have been my downfall today but oh well you live and you learn and it is definitely just shorts and sport bra kind of weather, it so hot!

My Argus still isn't great at measuring my distance when I get on the treadmill so I think I'm going to make myself go running outside soon.

How are you finding running now is warmer?  

Thanks for Reading xx

First Swim Back

I have taken my time getting back into the pool but the day finally came and I weNt for it and was pleasantly surprised! I managed 57 compared to my last record of 60 but that's not too bad and I definitely feel like my front crawl has gotten better and best of all nearly everyone cleared out of my lane 5 minutes after I got there so I just had two people left to dodge! I love it!

I also asked about a swim only membership, which they offer and because they are part of the Better Gyms I can swim in any of their pools too including Crystal Place lido, which I never even new existed! 

I have to also mention a tip I got given by my hairdresser before I went away on holiday to get some leave in conditioner, mine is V05 and to use that before and after swimming and also when you are out in the sun a lot on holiday. Its great and it totally stops my hair crackling once its dry and it makes it so much easier to brush! 

How has you swimming been going, seeing improvements?

Thanks for Reading xx

Force of July Blogilates

So I have another holiday coming up but also I just want to feel a bit more confident generally and tone up. I signed up a while ago to the email newsletter for Blogilates and each month they send a monthly calendar with workouts you should do each day. 

I loved the idea but I kept making excuses space, time etc but this month I am going to push myself and lots of them are only 10 minutes long and I'm starting off with two a day so its only twenty minutes. I fit them in before dinner today and really go worked out in those twenty minutes I was sweaty!

I can't wait to see the difference later on!

The two I tried are below, just keep telling yourself its only ten minutes!

Thanks for Reading xx

 Flat Stomach Fat Melter

5 Best Muffintop Moves

30 Day Ab Challenge

So you might have heard I went on holiday recently and as everyone does I wanted to put in a bit of effort before I went to feel a bit more body confident, in a bikini, in public... My stomach has always been my worry zone, I inherited a little pouch from my mum and always feel self conscious when I have to get it out. I found this challenge on Pinterest, they have a load of great blitz tone up challenges, and thought I would give it a go! I didn’t do the full kaboosh but I did push myself and I could feel a difference and it made me a bit happier for the holiday tummy reveal.

Its surprising how quickly your muscles get better, there is a massive jump between days between 9 and 10 for crunches which are the worst! So I started doing a couple of them twice in a row instead of moving on and its incredible how much easier it is doing them the second time round especially the crunches. At the start I could only manage 12 before feeling the burn towards the end I could do 20-30 before I needed a little break. I timed myself one evening and I got all of it done including the dreaded plank in 12 minutes so it goes pretty quickly, you just need a little floor space. I never realised how much stuff we had in our house until I tried to find a little spot to do sit-ups, I eventually ended up in the kitchen with my feet under the fridge!

I loved that it was a challenge as that’s how I get myself to go that little bit further and I definitely saw a difference. I think I’ll bust it out again before my next holiday, that’s right somehow I have managed to get myself on two holidays this year!!!! So excited!!! Let me know if you give it a go!

Thanks for Reading xx

First run Back!

I got back from holiday on Friday and we were still pretending over the weekend so we didn't go for our Saturday run and I couldn't be bothered yesterday but I bribed myself into it today and finally got myself back onto the treadmill. 

I had to wear some unusual attire as I naively packed my exercise stuff and my case is over at my boyfriends as we flew out from an airport nearest him. I also took a before and after photo for you guys and I'm hoping to get some back so I know I'm not the only one who gets tomato face at the end!

It was pretty hard work, I've gone back a couple steps and I should have thought ahead and got some water ready I was gasping, nearly literally... I'm still going with the 20 minutes at 10 challenge. I only managed 15 but I'm not unhappy with that because I really pushed myself and I have had a little break from it and lost some momentum. I got the best back click after I'd got my breath back! 

I came across a really good song for running; David Guetta and Skylar Grey - Shot me Down. Give it a go!

How is everyone else doing, anyone doing outside runs in the sun?

Thanks for Reading xx

Swimming Rain or Shine

So this week as we all know has been miserable but I now see a silver lining to this miserable weather, no sunshine swimmers clogging up the swimming pool! Last week there were way too many people in the lane! I left feeling so annoyed because I could have pushed myself a lot harder but kept getting stuck behind people, this week I was exhausted by the end of the 30 minutes and couldn’t wait to get out the pool.

I have two stories from my sunshine swim the first is not pretty. I was stuck behind three people in my lane with another person always coming down the other side so I couldn’t get past them. After a couple slow lengths I thought screw it! I’m going to be brave and overtake at least one of these people, I came here to swim damn it! So I went for it. I did front crawl and overtook the man in front of me but then I got stuck and had to squeeze past him and another person coming the other way. Apparently I got too close to the man as when he did his breast stoke he touched my boob!!! He touched my boob!!! When you see where your hand is going surely you would stop? At least he didn’t go any lower! Then to make matters worse when I did manage to get into the space in front of him I stopped kicking my legs as I was afraid I would kick him and he got all tangled up in them and wouldn’t give me any space! It just had to be done, it was one of the messiest overtakings I have ever done and I don’t really ever want to repeat it. I might use the miss out half a lane technique next time.

Then the second story is about a lady, a lady who does not like to be overtaken. This lady was doing front crawl, front crawl is tiring especially if you do it constantly so she wasn’t going very fast. I overtook her going down one side of the lane and then right near the start of the next side got stuck behind another slow person as there was no clear path to overtake, but the front crawl lady didn’t think so, she overtook me and the slow person in front of me. When I had space I was able to front crawl past the slow person and then also the front crawl lady later in the lane. Same thing happened though, I got stuck behind a slow person so I was swimming along doing a gentle breast stroke and I accidentally kicked something.. it was front crawl lady!!! Overtaking us both again!!! Guess what happens next, I overtake the slow person then front crawl lady tries her hardest to not be overtaken, I manage to and then look behind when I get to the end of the lane and she has had to stop at the other end! I understand that she has come to swim too and shouldn’t have to stay behind slow people either but I think that you shouldn’t just barge your way through when you don’t have to and that you should go at a pace you can maintain and not be bitter and try and go faster and keep overtaking people that can swim faster than you?

After that fun week I was so happy when it came to Tuesday and it was pouring down, same lane but so much better, regular swimmers don’t mind letting you go! They don’t care what other people are doing, swimming is for you and should be self regulated, push yourself as far as you can go but don’t try and compete with other people. I mean have a race every now and then to see how you’re doing but don’t think you should be able to keep pace with every other swimmer in the pool. I had a great swim session this Tuesday I didn’t leave feeling annoyed, I felt like I had swum as hard as I could and got the most out of that half hour. I was very happy!

Anyone else sometimes wish they could win the lottery so they could have their own private pool?

Thanks for Reading xx

Second Run!

It was hot! I have not been that sweaty in a long time. I was on the treadmill and I made myself do 0.2 faster on all the speeds than last time so at the moment I am doing;

Time (mins)	Speed km/hour
5	10
5	9.6
5	9.2
5	8.8

And yes I do know it’s a little sad to write it up in Excel but it’s so easy! And I actually looked at the distance my treadmill said I had done and it reckoned 3km pretty much exactly but check out the screen shots below. I don’t think they are made for treadmills but Map my Run is doing the best.

I’m trying to decide what my next challenge on the treadmill should be I think I might try and do 10 minutes at 10, I think that would also help me more when I do a proper run in the great outdoors. 

I also want to say thank you to this guy, you totally got my through, thank you, thank you!

How have your runs been going, set yourselves any good challenges?

Thanks for Reading xx

I’m on a Roll!!!

Oooh yeh I did it again, I think this counts a little less as I didn’t go at the weekend but still I’m getting into a routine! I went before dinner so I didn’t get a stitch and I went further than last week and ran at higher speeds. 

I think I can still push it a little more so I’m going to try harder on Wednesday and my aim is to get up to 2.82km because that is what we do at the weekend. 

I recorded it with both Map my Run and Argus and one said I had done 2.92km and one said I had only done 2.67km. I’m being realistic and going with the lesser one because it’s probably true. I took a victory photo and you can see it because of the lighting but I had a bright read tomato face, I really enjoyed my shower after that run!

How have you been getting on, anyone else recently started running?

Thanks for Reading xx  

Weights Update

So we have finally found the reason for my appalling squat technique, my calves are too tight!

We were watching Sunday Brunch and they had on a guy who has developed a new exercise class called animal flow, a lot like capoeira each move led on to the next and it focused on using your own body weight to work you out. Anyway it looked good and they got the presenters to do a couple moves and I wanted to join in at home so I went to do the first move which was a crouch with your feet pointing forward, flat on the ground and your bum nearly touching your heels and I fell flat on my bum when I tried to do it! I just could not keep my feet flat as soon as my bum came down I would either pop my heels up or topple over! My boyfriend stood behind me and gave me step by step instructions on how to do it and then had to support me so I didn't fall again, hilarious…

So after many laughs and topples we worked out that it was my calves that were the problem we even did photo comparisons! When I do a squat my legs are pretty much a right angle because that is literally how far I can push my knees forward, they just don’t go any further. Not so for my boyfriend he can get to about 45. So I googled it and found a really good website, apparently its quite a common problem as we sit down so much for our work and it can cause problems all the way up to your lower back and hips. Now I stretch my calves whenever I'm on the stairs, it’s been 3 days and I'm doing weights again tomorrow so we shall see how quickly it improves.

Give the crouch a go! Its on the website I found and let me know if you have trouble too.

Thanks for Reading xx

Another Day, Another Runner

We are totally in the groove now. I don’t have to be dragged out the house to go running anymore and we are like super fast and recover much quicker than we did before! I am seriously impressed at how quickly you can improve your running once you get into a habit. I told my dad our time for 2.82km (13.35 minutes) and he was really impressed and I am too now because I did a treadmill run and only managed 2.57km in 20 minutes??? So I guess we know who the motivational runner is in the relationship, no wonder I'm dying when I get back on Saturdays!

It was such a lovely day last Saturday too we managed to run when there was sunshine I totally didn't need my hoody. Really regretted having such a big bowl of cereal for breakfast I think I have learnt my lesson to have small meals before exercise it is not worth the stitch and extra dead weight!

Oh and don't forget to stretch after exercise only, before actually hinders you - it has been proven!

Anyone else get active this weekend?

Thanks for Reading xx

Stretching my calves on the curb

One of the classics!

A Whole New World

This Monday after many, many weeks of persuasion I finally gave in and went swimming on my lunch break. 

I didn’t want to for ages because my swim costs £5.25 (the locker takes my 20p!) and so I always feel like I should get my moneys worth and spend a long time in there but it seems to magically and significantly cut down my evening which I find very annoying. You barely get home before you have to be in bed! I also never though I could actually manage it in time what with blow drying and putting makeup back on etc. I was 7 minutes late back but for my health I think everyone at work will let that go... fingers crossed! 

I did 30 minutes swimming of four lengths breast stroke then two lengths front crawl, another thing I have been forced into, and so I was actually able to keep track of how many lengths I did, drum roll …… 50!!!!! I forgot how hard front crawl was, it was not enjoyable but I’m hoping to be quicker next time and do 56 lengths or at the very least 52. I think this maybe a serious lifestyle change. Swimming lunch breaks are a hit!

Any one else hit the gym at lunch or are superhuman and go before work?

Thanks for Reading xx

The Hard Swim

This is the last time I am leaving swimming to a Friday it’s soooo hard to talk myself into doing it and I swear I was subconsciously trying to drown myself this session. I missed out the warm up because I wanted to be super quick to make a faster train because I was carrying precious cargo, it was my boyfriend’s birthday on bank holiday Monday!!!!! And I had made him some pistachio ice cream and I had to try and get it back to his without it melting. So I left it in the office in the fridge-freezer and picked it up after my horrible swimming and then rushed all the way home AND managed to sneak it and his presents past him to a safe hiding place in the freezer and the spare room. So what started out as a tough evening ended pretty well!

For my swim I did 45 minutes hard swimming, a lot of accidental drinking and swimmer dodging. Any one else have a hard session out of the blue sometimes?

Thanks for Reading xx

Sunday Weights …

That actually happened on Monday… I’m much better at squats, I can actually feel it working out my bum, especially when I stand back up. Finally!!! I’m also getting better at another move where you hold a dumbbell in each hand, you balance on one leg and then lean forward and stick the free leg out off the floor to balance and bend the other to 90 degrees, like a lunge, I then slowly come back to upright I do 10 on each leg and two sets. It works your obliques, core, bum and legs and I find my arms as well because of holding the dumbbells.

Give it a go and let me know if you had problems balancing because I so did!

Thanks for Reading xx

Swimming!!

I sooooo nearly talked myself out of swimming this week but did finally force myself to go on Friday and managed to do 40 minutes hard swimming with 10 minutes warm up and down. I also read in Stylist that 45 minutes of breastroke will burn off an Easter egg so just four more sessions to go… I used to have to drink milk when I got back home to help my muscles cope and so that I could walk properly the next day but I don’t have to any more so I must be improving slightly!

Any one else over indulge at Easter, which I think may officially become my favourite holiday, because I sure did!

Thanks for Reading xx

Run Run Running!!!

I have finally forced myself to go running on my own! I have been saying for weeks that I will go for a run when I’m at mine because I still live at home and a couple of years ago my parents got a treadmill because of my dads cholesterol and he was pretty much the only one who used it but last night I got myself on there plugged my headphones in and tried to find some good running music, a bit tricky, and got moving!

I have learnt one thing from the experience and that is to never ever eat a whole dinner and then run an hour later I had a stitch the whole time! It was not cool! But it did show me that I can preserve not matter how hard and hopeless it feels at the start. I managed 20 minutes running after a 5 minutes quick walking warm up and then I rewarded myself with a long hot shower! Well done me!

Anyone else lack a bit of motivation when it comes to running?

Thanks for Reading xx

Sunday Weights

A quick squat update and question. So I am getting less laughs and quizzical looks when I do squats, still without weights, I stick my arms out in front to help with the balance and I push my knees forward first and then bend as if I’m sitting down and that is my current squat technique BUT it hurts my shins and lower leg more than it does my bum and thighs is that normal? The only thing that feels like it has been worked out the next day are my shins, I think its from the balancing? I think I may be doing something wrong.

Anyone got any tips?

Thanks for Reading xx

Swimming!!!!!

I totally went again! AND I upped my serious swimming again by five minutes but I did five minutes less warm up so I was still out the same time, it is incredible how much faster your evening goes when you go swimming mine just seems to vanish.

I felt okay in the pool I could have even done a bit longer but it always seems a lot easier when you know you are near the end! It was my walk home when I really felt it, my legs just had no energy and today they ache a little but not much I can just tell I used them.

I actually came across no annoying people it was just my steaming up goggles that were the problem. They are new ones and they were fine for the first two times, the second they did a little steam session but then went okay but I could not get them to unsteam this last time, wish me luck for next week!

Thanks for Reading xx

Sunday Weights

So this weekend I have finally come to terms with the fact that I have no idea how to do a squat. I do not get them! They don’t seem like a hard concept but I try and do it and my body does not cooperate. Every weekend my boyfriend just laughs at me and tells me not to stick my bum out so much, he took a video of me this week and that is when I knew I had to do something! 

I looked up a couple videos on youtube and I have gone back to basics doing it with no weights. The biggest problem I have is keeping my balance and I constantly have to remind myself to go slower. I think it’s going to take me a few more weekends to get the hang of it because I feel very awkward still but fingers crossed! I’ll let you know when I’ve mastered it!!

Thanks for Reading xx

My Second Successful Swim!

I think I am going to have to use these posts as motivation to keep going swimming. I hope that you will call me up on it if I don’t post one each week, I need all the guilting I can get! 

I managed to do five more minutes serious swimming but was ready to collapse in a heap when I got out. At the gym I go to we have steps down to the changing room and I have to cling to the rail once I've been swimming but then I get to go have a lovely warm shower!

I may have to also use these posts as a little crazy swimmers rant space because I am coming across some frustrating people. I wish the people coming were more regular so we all got used to how each other swam and could get out the way etc and I just want to say if you can only do two lengths at a time of a slow breast stroke you should not be in the medium lane even if your girlfriend is in the fast lane and it means you won’t be able to chat at the ends.

Thanks for Reading and wish me luck for next week xx

Oh and check out the sunshine even after coming home late