At the beginning of the year, I was in a bit of an exercise funk. I am one to keep training, no matter what it is that I have chosen to do, but I wasn’t doing the right kind of thing to change my shape.
I had replaced my barrage of endurance events with swimming and yoga which was pretty relaxing (and just what I needed at the time). But by the end of the year, I caught a photo of myself in my swimmers mid December, and I was not happy with what I saw. It was time to get started with something new.
F45 training is what I chose. More on that later. (Read to the bottom of this post to check the program I am doing now!)
So what were my goals? At the age of almost (gulp) 34 I have finally realised that I am not going to be ‘that’ weight that I was when I was 26 and living in London. I was in a stressful relationship, unhappy in my job and partying all weekend. I would take the healthier and happier person I am today over that anytime.
Now I have a few simple goals when it comes to my body that for the first time in my life, are not directed by a number on the scales.
1. I want to feel good in a bikini.
2. I want to look hot naked. (For me and The Ginger Hunk by the way, not for the general public.)
3. I don’t want to feel jiggly bits or a muffin top when I wear jeans.
4. I don’t want to have chicken wing old lady arms.
Simple huh? And I want to look like me. My best me.
So I signed up for a two-week trial of F45 Dee Why and I was hooked.
So, what is it? It is what it sounds like. It is a circuit which runs for 45 minutes. The movements are functional (you won’t do any Olympic weightlifting here) and it is high intensity interval (HIIT) training. Sometimes we work for 20 sections rest for 10, sometimes we work for 35 seconds and rest for 15. You get my drift. Unlike crossfit, you work out based on time rather than smashing out a number of reps. This means you can go at your own pace.
It is all set up for you, so all you have to do is get out of bed and turn up. Your membership will get you access to as many classes a week as you want and yoga is coming soon as well. As with any excercise regime, there is the potential to get injured so you may need to modify some exercises. If my lower back hurts I put my legs down. If my knee is having a bad day, I don’t jump. The trainers will always give you an alternate exercise and correct you if you are doing it wrong. (They also have a knack for figuring out when you are slacking off.)
I have been training 3-4 times a week with a yoga or pilates and a run or a walk mixed in for 4 months. At the end of each class I am shattered.
My results so far? I have lost 9cm off my hips 6 off my tummy and 3 off my thighs! This was combined with a clean eating plan from Emily Skye which fed my taste buds and built my muscles. I have only lost around 3 kilos and would like to drop a few more over the coming months. I have never been one of those people to lose weight quickly and seeing it took me a year to put weight on, I am happy if it takes me until spring to get back into shape.
I have met lovely humans in the process, am motivated to get out of bed in the morning and train consistently again.
The next step post holidays?
Another 10 weeks of clean eating and combining F45 with my half marathon training plan.
*****UPDATE JANUARY 2017*****
I’ve lost almost 7kg just walking and eating real food. I used to think I had to stress my body and work really hard to lose weight.
I was wrong.
Find out about my current journey by clicking on the posts below.
While F45 did make me toned, on reflection there was not enough stretching or core. Since stopping F45 I put on quite a bit of weight in 2016 and am now on the Keto diet and JUST walking. (Which is FREE). I am getting amazing results and have a coach and a support crew. So if toning is your thing, then F45 is the bomb, fun, great atmosphere and team environment if you have the money, BUT if weight loss is your thing then all you need to do is walk.
Find out about the program I am on Weight Loss Coaching Works Here
(I’m not paid by them by the way. Just a public service announcement as this program works!)
