bootcamp | day 1

Well, as expected all the worrying and drama was for nothing. It's now 8am (24/4/13) and I've been to Bootcamp, got home and had a shower. And I am ALIVE. That is all.

Not really, but being alive is a relief I have to say. I was an eager beaver (or nervous beaver) and up at 5.10am, waiting at the bootcamp venue at 6am. I met my lovely friend, Haley and met all the lovely guys and gals doing bootcamp and what a lovely bunch they are. I met Petra, my trainer, who is super lovely and instantly put me at ease. Anyway, onto the juicy (sweaty) stuff........

We started off with a run around the school, if you remember my last post, this was the part I was dreading. And to be honest, i was PATHETIC! But, I did my best and it doesn't really matter because once I'd stopped running, I power-walked until I got my breath back. After a five minute warm-up, the hard work begun. Bootcamp is all about interval training, bringing your heart rate right up, then resting for a small amount of time before bringing heart rate right back up again. Apparently this is rather scientific and the best way to burn fat and lose weight. And the best things is? It's only about a 1/2 hour workout. Ideal! Today was, apparently, an 'easy' day. HA! Well that scares me as I was instantly purple in the face and breathing like I still smoked. We worked out to a ratio of 30/30. 30 seconds hard work with 30 seconds rest. Does't sound much does it? but when you're going all-out and think that you're going to die, it's a long time! We did things like running on the spot, lunges, boxing moves, tricep dips and loads more but I'm not a fitness bunny (yet) and don't know the names! But trust me, it was more than enough to get my heart rate up and my muscles screaming. Half an hour of that, a walk and a warm-down later, we were done.Workout 1 = complete. 

I have to say, I really enjoyed it! It was a fun  atmosphere, Petra is brilliant and supportive and was lovely to see my bootcamp-buddy Haley. I had good fun! I'm going again on Friday morning, and I'm expecting not to be able to walk tomorrow but I know these first few weeks are going to be the hardest until I get into some kind of routine and get my body used to this early morning hardcore workout. 

Will keep updating & let you know what kind of package I go for with Petra. Hoping this really is going to be a huge change to my life and help.

Cornish Beauty.

calm before the storm?

Right now, I am freaking out. I'm not sure why I'm so worried, but I am. Tomorrow morning (or shall we say, the crack of dawn) I'm doing my first Bootcamp. I AM PETRIFIED. I've done brutal exercise before but this just scares the living daylights out of me as I know it's going to be bad. But bad, in a good way of course ;)

The thing thats worrying me the most is the fact that the Bootcamp starts with a 'running warm-up'. A run around the location. And this is just the warm-up?! Christ, I'm in trouble! I cannot run to save my life. Like, quite literally, If my life depended on it, I would just die as I'm so bloody useless at running. I hate it! I can feel all my bits wobbling up and down and I get so out of breath so fast, and my calves burn instantly. What am I going to do?! I spoke to my trainer yesterday who reassured me that the whole of Bootcamp is individual and there are ways around the run (I could power walk it and cut corners) which does reassure me to a certain point but i know I'll just be the fat girl that comes last, like I always have been. But I suppose I've got to grow some balls and accept that I've got to start somewhere and every time I go it will get better. This is just the scariest thing I've ever done and I've made it worse by putting so much pressure on myself to do this because, historically, i quit. I quit at everything; university, diets, gym, exercise, jobs, the list goes on. But there comes a point where I've just got to stuck with it, whether I like it or not because in the long run, it will be for the better. 

As an anxious person, tomorrow is quite frankly scaring the shit out of me but I know I'm just getting worked up and being a drama queen. It's not going to be pleasant, it's a Bootcamp for Christ' sake. But this could be the first day of the rest of my life and the big step to the huge and life changing new start. :)

Cornish Beauty.

reasons to get fit.

This document is key. A reference to use as often as needed to keep myself on the straight and narrow. It's the driving forces behind my weight-loss dream. It's why.

Why do I want to get fit & loose weight?

To be healthier

To look better

To be able to shop in 'normal' shops & buy anything

To wear clothes that don't dig in

To buy sexy underwear

To be confident in my body

To be proud

To get pregnant with a healthy pregnancy

Enjoy the outdoors more

To live longer

To respect my body

To boost my energy levels

TO CHANGE MY LIFE

Ir really is as simple as that; I want to change the way I live my life and what I do with it. I don't want to continue abusing my body with what I eat and what I do. Because, it won't stand for it much longer. As is stands, I'm in reasonable health but the risk of heart disease and diabetes is not funny. All for the sake of that Mars bar? I don't think so. I'm going to make a change and love myself again, and by golly, it's been a long time since I've done that.

Cornish Beauty.

lentil & chickpea curry.

I found this recipe online after seeing a friend that had made it and it sounds delish! All the gorgeous flavours of a curry but with healthy chickpeas and super healthy lentils! With a bit of brown rice this will be lovely and filling too.

I've not made it yet but will show you when I do, for the mean time here is the simple recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
2 x 439g cans chickpeas, drained
2 x 440g cans chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup red lentils
1 tsp garam masala

Method

• Pop the oil in a pan to warm up and add the garlic and onion. Sauté until translucent and soft.
• Add the chili, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, turmeric and coriander and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Add the chickpeas, tomatoes and lentils, cover and simmer on a low heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the garam masala and simmer for further 10 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with brown rice.

The Result

Not my photo, but it should look a little like this when it's done!

Cornish Beauty.

introduction.

Why, hello there!

I've set up this second blog to (hopefully) follow me along my weight loss journey. I'm going to be as honest as I can comfortably be on here and use it as an aid to encourage myself.

So, I recently got quite a gutting diagnosis. It affects my life and what will happen with it but most of all, it's primarily caused by my weight, or the excess of it! Which is Utterly heartbreaking. I've done the upset part, I've cried many tears and been angry but now it's time to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! As of yet, I'm not going to document my weight on here as I just don't feel comfy doing that (yet). But I will tell you this-I reckon I've got a good 5/6 stone to loose before I'm healthy. That is a lot. It's overwhelming & scary, but everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?

The reason why I've started this now is that I've hit an all time low. I feel like shit. I don't want to be the size I am and I'm miserable. Every aspect of my life is suffering as a result of my size, or the way I feel about my size. And something has got to change. Me. I have to change. And I'm not going to fanny around, I'm going to do it. I've already been practicing yoga since January and I've completely fallen in love with it so I'm going to continue doing that once a week, with my wonderful instructor Tina. I've also been given the opportunity to sample a Bootcamp. Just that word fills be with dread! I'm trying it on Wednesday (ill let you know what happens!) and it's 0610-0700 on Monday, Wednesdays & Fridays. Eeeeeek. It comes with personal trainer advice, nutrition plan and lots more so I'm going to give it a go! I'm going to try and document my progress on here.

I don't really have a goal or target weight but I would like to eventually be a size 14. That would be a dream. (I am a long way from this though!!!) I also have a wedding to go to in October and would like to be happier with size then as be confident to wear a nice outfit. So no particular target but I need to loose a lot and work bloody Hard to get there!!!!

So wish me luck and let's do this!

Cornish Beauty.