Gym Session and.................HOLIDAY!

So I finally feel like I'm getting back into it but I'm hesitant to say anything like 'Hey, I'm back for good'. Don't want to count my chickens!

However, I did go to the gym today! It was meant to be an abs class but no-one else turned up, so the instructor decided I would be having a personal training session. Yay for me!

The trainer (Greg) started me with 3 minutes on the cross trainer to get me warmed up. We had a little discussion about my prolonged absence. He was very understanding but he was keen for me to get back into it, as was I at the time. Strange that just need someone to believe in you and encourage you and you're raring to go again!

Once warm-up was over, he had me do 20 squats with 5kg weights and then 12 lap pull downs at 55kg. I had to do this 3 times and man was it hard! I swear my face looked like this most of the time :(

Very, Very Sweaty!

After that I had to cycle 3km on the bike. A little bit of Cardio he called it! Such a charmer.

Next was 12 lunges with 4kg weights and 10 box press ups. He commented my form in my lunges was excellent :D Happy Emily.

I struggled with the press-ups. I always have and always wondered why. Recently I realised my left wrist is much weaker than my right which I think is due to my ganglion cyst (harmless, so don't worry about me) on my left wrist.

This is what mine looks like. This is NOT my wrist.

Once I told him that, he asked me to use the weights whilst doing my press-ups and it caused there to be much less pressure on the wrist. However the press-up got a whole lot harder and I ended up only doing 6 on the final round of 3 sets.

The exercise that followed was 3 sets of 20 bunny hops over the weight bench. Hard as it put pressure on my wrist but I persevered, only dropping to 10 on the last set. I'm still proud.

The last thing of my work out was reverse crunch exercises. Had to do 2 sets of 10. Painful as haven't done a whole lot of abs in a long while but I pushed through. So proud of myself. Even considering going swimming tonight.

Greg did suggest that I needed more protein in my diet, especially in the morning and recommended I try a female friendly protein shake for breakfast and after work-outs. The one he suggested is called 'Diet FX' (picture below).

Think I will try the Banana flavour.

I'm keen to try it for at least a month and see how it goes. I also plan to cut back on the pudding :(

My last bit of news for you all is that I'm going on HOLIDAY!!!! My family are going for a lovely week in the (fingers crossed) sunny Mallorca, Spain. I'm really rather excited. The added bonus... we are going to go walking, swimming, cycling and scuba diving. So we will be extremely active!

Right catch up with you all soon!

Emily xx

Eat well, Exercise strong and Be happy!

It's nearly over.....

My Spring Chicks Check In will be late this week, as I'm going to tie it in with my round up of my February Challenge.

Things are work are still a little tough, but got a meeting next week with the big boss. So hopefully we will know more then.

I'm off home tomorrow to see my family and my dogs tomorrow :D Wooo! Looking forward to getting home and relaxing, been uber stressed and I do not like it one bit.

My ankle is feeling better. However I am being really careful as I don't want to damage it again. I went to the gym today and did:

10 mins cross trainer, then 

3x 15 squats

3x 12 lunges,

3x 8 press ups

3x 15 lap pull downs

3x various arm weight exercises

5 mins cool down on bike

Worked really hard and felt good :D

My ankle seems ok now, so will see how it is in abs class tomorrow. Going to try and keep the momentum going whilst at home but again not going to push it.

I'm looking forward to finishing this challenge. I feel like I've learnt a lot but will blog about that on Thursday!

So ONLY ONE DAY MORE WITHOUT ALCOHOL :D (although don't miss it as much as I thought I would)

Nearly over :D

Ta Ta for now!!

Emily xx

Hell of a Week But I'm Doing Okay!

It's been a bit of a bumpy week for me. Lot's of ups and downs.

First things first, my boss resigned on Wednesday, which basically puts my job in a certain amount of jeopardy. It wasn't done out of spite or anything but it was a fairly upsetting event. I'm now looking for a new job (I still have mine) and I'm feeling really out of balance.

I've also damaged my ankle, every time I think it's better it takes another funny turn. I'm taking the weekend off and will begin exercising again on Monday. I will do some abs work however over the weekend. I tried some arm weight exercises on Thursday, which I enjoyed. Next time I get new circuits I shall be requesting some of those exercises.

One more thing that has really got me down is my lack of money. It's been really hard to eat healthy or even eat properly due to lack of funds. I should be paid in the next few days. I'm going to try budget better this month, so that this doesn't happen again. I also need a new swimming costume as mine just gapes open when I swim. Rather embarrassing I can tell you! I've heard you need to replace your costume very 6 months or so when you swim regularly. as the chlorine damages the elasticity of it. Anyway I shall be investing in a new one.

On a slightly different note I have settled on a smoothie recipe that I like to drink:

In this bad boy: skimmed milk, frozen berry fruits, banana, spinach, oats, honey and low fat Greek yoghurt! It's absolutely amazing!

I'm off to see my physiotherapist a week on Monday and she hopefully will be able to sort my leg so I will be able to start running.Then I will start to burn some serious calories :D Although I must say I really do enjoy the strength work and I'm starting to really looking forward to my abs class on Wednesday.

So lot's of bad stuff but am trying to not let the negative get me down. Feeling ok, like I can get through this. Still no booze even after the week I've had..... I'm pretty proud of myself!

I will blog on Sunday about my week as usual but will be weighing in officially on the Tuesday for the grand finale, as it will be the end of my Month challenge. Even if I haven't lost much weight I feel much better about myself overall and I have lost inches. So something has to be going right!!

Love to you all, thanks for reading,

Emily xxx

Week 6 Measurements and Week 7 Goals

Drum Roll......................................

Just to let you all know I went shopping on the weekend and I was fitting into mostly 14's (UK Size). I was so excited I actually squealed and stomped my feet in the changing room in the shop. I bet my fellow changing room buddies thought I was really crazy! :D
So happy.
I think I'm close to fitting into my goal shorts now! Woop!

So here are my measurements for week 6:

Weight: n/a
Arms: 12.5" (+0.25")
Chest: 34" (same)
Waist: 31.5" (-1")
Stomach: 40" (-1.5")
Thighs: 23.5" (+0.5")
Calf: 16.5" (same)


So I'm not weighing myself till the end of the month but the measurements speak for themselves. :D
Been a good week in the end. Rough couple of days n the middle there but feeling good overall!
I went to a new physiotherapist today (had to pay) and she thinks the sheath in my left leg is tight, which means when I exercise the muscle expands and pushes against it causing me pain. She did some of her magic on it and I'm going back in three weeks after she's had a chance to research my condition and figure out the best solution. So hopefully I'll be running in no time!

Week 6 Review
How many goals did you reach?
Water -Yes, lot's of it!.
Food - Tracked every day. Some were a bit rougher but I kept on top of it.
Fitness - Had good workouts. Loving the circuits. I feel like I've done so much work after them!
Fun - I went dancing :D Truly fantastic to get out and just dance. I was completely sober, so I was literally just burning the calories all night long :D

What are you most proud of?
I'm proud that I had half a muffin, tracked my pizza and enjoyed some good food. Most of all pleased that I didn't freak out about the calories, just tracked them and continued on.

Do you have any words of advice?
Everyone can give you advice, most of the time it is really helpful, but in the end you know what you are truly capable of. Trust in that.

Week 7 Goals
Are you keeping them the same...?
I think this week I'm going to focus on my exercise programme and try some different things.
Now I know running is definitely off the cards, I've got to up my exercise game at the weekends. Need to get some good calorie burning exercises going.

My usual routine is becoming stagnant and boring. So this weeks challenge is to shake it up from a planning point of view!

Are you switching it up?
Yes I am :D See above.

What has become like a habit?
It's become second nature for me to eat healthy now. When I go to the canteen at Lunch I no longer see just food. I see the work out I would need to do to burn off the calories in that food. It's a great motivator to eat better!

MINI CHALLENGE.... Eat with smaller platers and/or utensils
Challenge Accepted

I will be blogging a loving myself meme tomorrow and I hope you do the same! Also I've got lot's of lovely pictures for you all featuring a Come Dine with Me dinner with my house mates, pictures of my gym and some various ones of food etc. Hopefully will post them this week, as I plan to devote more of my week this week to you all and my blog!

I wish you all Happiness and Health this week!

Emily xx

SCC Week 2 Weigh In and Week 3 Goals

So it was week 2 weigh in today with SCC update:

Weight: 13 Stone (-5lb)


Arms: 13" (+0.4")
Chest: 33" (-1")
Waist: 32" (Same)
Stomach: 40.2" (-0.8")
Thighs: 23" (same)
Calf: 17" (Same)


So most of measurements are the same, so I'm hoping when my leg is better and I can start to train again that I will trim up a bit. The big thing is the weigh loss. I'm fairly hesitant to scream and shout about the supposed 5lb weigh loss. I'm thinking I never really put any on, it was just my totm that made it seem like I had but its nice to know that I'm not that big.


SCC update:

• Losing inches - Like I mentioned staying roughly the same but think it will improve with time. 
• 1 mile time - Still 11.12, as had to take break from running
• Size - Clothes are definitely getting big, So I'm thinking this one will happen.
• Calories - Not doing calories at all. So restricting and time consuming. I'm trying to start again this week
• Water - Currently exceeding 6 Glasses a day. Whoop go me!
• Exercise  - Exercise 4 times due to injury
• Gym  - Went twice again because of injury
• Swimming - No 
• Zumba - No 
• Horse Riding - Complete for month
• Blogged - Have Blogged twice a week every week so far and have been supporting other challengers

How was week 2?


Did you have any a-ha moments?
When I went for a 7 mile walk, I realised just how fantastic it was to do exercise outdoors, even in winter.


What was your biggest success?
Got rid of the weight I had *put* on and didn't have any chocolates from the Milk tray sat in the office :D


What was your biggest struggle?
Not exercising due to my injury. I Wanted to exercise but knew it would be better to just not exercise and wait for it get better.


Week Three Goals:

• Enjoy my birthday.
• Work extra hard before and after so I can have a really good time.
• Get my leg healed up, so taking it easy and not rushing back in.
• Stick to healthy eating on non celebratory meals.
• Get into 12 stone realm on scale

Emily x