Gym time :)

Hello again!

I have made it back to the world of blogging seemingly unscathed although bear with me as I am still working out some of the logistics. I haven't posted in a few days due to my six day week at work (I'll be g-rollin' in no time :-P) but never fear as I have still been abiding to my gym regime and some healthy eating. I say 'some' because I believe that on my journey to losing weight that I can afford myself the odd treat here and there, because otherwise it feels like a punishment to do what I am doing. I allow myself what I call a reward for my hard work and dedication to losing weight, almost as if I'm conditioning myself for my good behaviour. This keeps me slightly more sane otherwise I would give up in no time at all cos I love waaaaay too many of the bad foods, I know that much.

Anywho, I thought today I would detail my gym routine so that some of you can understand why afterwards I absolutely stuffed (but in a good way) and drenched with sweat. I do resistance training and cardio workouts to both lose weight and tone my body at the same time. I do my resistance training three times a week which I love cos I really test the boundaries of my bodies capacity to the point where it pains me... but no pain no gain right? My resistance training is quite extensive so I shall list it below...

I start out with a five minute warm up doing a power walk on the treadmill, followed by a ten minute fast run. I am usually a hot mess after this but I have been training my breathing to make this easier. I generally bargain with myself the whole time telling myself only five minutes to go, two and a bit minutes to go etc and it really helps to push myself. If I'm feeling extra liberal I'll run for fifteen minutes. (I'll list the rest as it gets hard to write about them in detail)..

- 3 sets of 15 reps on the shoulder press (36kg)

- 3 sets of 15 reps on the leg curl (24kg)

- 3 sets of 15 reps on the 90degree leg press (25kg)

- 3 sets of 15 reps on the lateral pull down (30kg)

- 3 sets of 15 reps for tricep pull down (20kg)

- 3 sets of 20 reps of kettlebell squats (8kgs)

- 3 sets of 10 (each leg) step up bicep curls (5kgs per arm)

- 10 minute uphill power walk

- 2 sets of 30 reps of side to side medicine ball ab workout thingy (5kg medicine ball)

- 2 sets of 20 reps of medicine ball sit ups (5kg medicine ball)

- 2 planks for 30seconds+ each (don't think they're actually call this but this is the name I dubbed it, deal with it) :)

- Warm down and stretches

So that should give you a little insight into what I do for my tone up. I can feel it and see it in my legs and stomach already. I work my ass off on these days but as I mentioned before I am constantly bargaining with myself and am near up-ing some of those weights as they are getting easier to do. WOOT!

I do two days dedicated to cardio where I spend 20 minutes on the treadmill (5min warm up and 15 minute run), 20 minutes on the bikes, and then 20 minutes on the cross-trainer. I usually dread these days the most as I find it to be a bit uneventful, unless 'Millionaire Hot Seat' is on the telly (which has no sound or subtitles might I add, so it is just the picture). This is the only tv show that I can follow cos the question and answer are on the screen. You can hear the echo of disappointment of the other ladies in the gym when someone gets an answer wrong or the show finishes which I find amusing as all we have after that are the outdated women's magazines which we've pored through several times over haha. So yes, I know a fair bit about Kim Kardashian's pregnancy and how Miley Cyrus is clinging onto Liam Hemsworth ever hopeful that they'll soon marry. 

Today was resistance training day and I am absolutely stuffed now but not as bad as I was earlier in the week where my limbs felt like dead-weights. I am making progress slowly but surely but for now this beach-babe-in-the-making is signing off for the evening! Until next time.. better living everyone (I've always wanted to insert that in context..) :)

Jenn xxx

In the Beginning...

Hiiii my  name is Jenn, and I'm an alcoholic....I MEAN!! WRONG BLOG! (jk)

Hey guys, it was suggested I should start a blog about my journey to losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle. I can't guarantee that all my ramblings in this blog will be entirely fitness and health related as I tend to go off on my own little tangents about stuff and very rarely stay on topic so bear with me as I take you on my journey to beating the bulge.

A few things you may or may not know. I am currently on my second degree at university, and so this involves large amounts of study....which leads to large amounts of comfort eating to deal with my stresses. I like to think that I enjoy all aspects of food and so I have also recently begun experimenting in the kitchen (I told you I talk on tangents). Some have been great successes and others have been eye-watering/ scull-a-cup-of-milk spicy. Anyways I LOVE FOOD! This has lead to the body which I now am very unsatisfied with. I would say I have always had body issues as my brothers are both stick thin, and then there's me...a bit wider set, or that lovely phrase, 'big-boned'. So in saying that I will never be as thin as a Victoria's Secret's model but who wants to be that thin anyways. Disgusting in my opinion....anywho!

I began this journey at the beginning of 2013 where I officially weighed in at 92kgs. I could have cried when I saw that number. That is the heaviest I have been ever and I would not have been seen dead in a bikini at the beach or in short shorts for that matter. I was probably at my lowest point weight-wise, and I was doing some shopping in Fraser Cove when I noticed the sign outside the gym there for a special trial for 20days. I figured what the hell, you know you need to do it and once upon a time I did actually love to play sports.. So I tried it out and I loved it there. It's a women's only gym so there is no need to feel self conscious, everyone is positive and cares about what you have to say. Overall I fell in love with this place and thus begun my 5days a week gym routine powering away on the treadmill, cross-trainer, and weights. 

After my 20day trial ended I joined up for the first time to my first gym. I got my first gym programme which is a mixture of cardio and resistance training. I started out on 20kg weights and since then I have moved into 30kg weight bracket (36kgs but who's braggin!). On my first measurement day I lost 20cm off my entire body! TWENTY CENTIMETERS!! I worked extra hard in the gym that day. I have in total only lost 7kgs since February due to some minor setbacks (ie: Exams and assignments). But that is ok, because I started going back to the gym this week after a few weeks of not going and I have already lost another 1.5kgs! My goal weight is to be a healthy 75kgs but I do plan to get down to 70kgs if possible because that would make me feel spiffing on the inside.

Sadly, from how women are portrayed in the media, women who are the slightest bit chubby are looked down on and scorned at, so I feel (even though I am above that sort of thing) that I need to get to a more healthy and reasonable weight to feel good on the inside and out. I was always teased by my brothers and in school about my weight as I grew up so it is a touchy issue for me. I am happy as I am now but I know I will be so much more happy when I am that babe on the beach who rips off their clothes and can feel comfortable with what's underneath. I'm not quite there yet but I am determined to get there :-) Exercise paired with better eating choices is my healthy way to kick the bulge and I will do it! I wish I had done a before photo to compare for my completed after photo but oh well.. 

This is my very first blog so I hope that it is inspiring enough and gives everyone a base knowledge of what I'm all about at this moment in time. The content of this blog may vary but hopefully I can keep it health and fitness related. 

I hope this has been a pleasure for you all to read, and until next time...

Smell ya!!

Jenn xxx