Put the kettle (bells) on

Today I went to a kettle bells workout class at my gym.

Now, in the past, I have not been known for being good bedfellows with my gym. We were barely on nodding terms for a long time. But in the last seven or eight months, since joining Fitness First, in Leeds, I’ve really started to enjoy working out.

Now, after a few months of hard work, running 5k is not really a big deal. Spending a good couple of hours in the gym on a weekend is a pleasure, rather than a chore. I don’t have to drag myself there anymore. I’ve even reached that zenith of exercise where you realise it’s actually a stress-buster that makes you feel amazing (I’d always suspected this was a cruel myth, and was proved happily wrong).

So thanks to the above, I started to feel like my workout wasn’t pushing me hard enough, and that I needed to try some new regimes to help me to get more out of the gym. So, with gusto, I sprang to the gym after work today, ready to GO HARD OR GO HOME.

However, I do not think I was quite ready for kettle bells. Especially after having done boxercise yesterday, and being encumbered with a significant dose of man flu today. I went along to the lovely, welcoming class and I worked a lot harder than I have in a long time. My muscles ached so much it was actually an effort lifting my arms to take my top off after the class… I’m sure it’ll get easier with time, and the class was actually a lot of fun (especially as we did it outside, like P.E.). I liked it more than Zumba and spinning, don’t think I’ll do the former again but the latter I will. But yes, kettlebells was hard but fun and I feel like I really got to push myself again.

I’ll definitely be going to the class again. If I survive tomorrow.

#oneaday 19 – what a loser

Today I’ve taken a proactive step in terms of being healthy, inspired by Faye’s Weightloss Wednesday posts. I aim to lose a stone and four pounds in the next twelve weeks with a combination of gym, gym, gym and healthy eating. Now I have a goal, and some good support (I don’t mean a sports bra, although incidentally that will come in handy), I know it will happen. I’ve oddly been motivated by another blog that I follow, which charts the progress of a man battling with all kinds of demons and yet he keeps going, despite various setbacks. Quite inspirational.

I’ll hopefully be posting success stories every Wednesday from now on, but for now, some thinspiration… (and before anyone says it, no, I don’t mean the ridiculous pro-anorexia/bulemia kind)

#oneaday 15 – Reasons to be Cheerful

Yes, it’s January and yes, everyone is skint, miserable and fed up. So here are some reasons to be cheerful:

1. Exercising.

Since Christmas, I’ve been going hard at le gym and I’m really enjoying it.

Now I have a deadline, and a goal. I’m going away in 14 weeks to celebrate the fact that one of my best friends is getting married. So I’ve set myself a target of three gym sessions per week and lots of healthy eating. I vow to be a massive hot WAG-type person by the time April gets here.

2. Birthday parties

Tonight I’m hitting up my beloved hometown of Sheffield for one of my friend’s birthdays. We’re going to our favourite little Italian, BB’s, and will no doubt indulge in some cocktails and dancing too. I can’t wait to see everyone and to visit the mothership. Plus, it means I get to bake a cake when I get home from the gym.

3. The fact that lots of people are still actively doing #oneaday

The amount of people still blogging for #oneaday is impressive, part way through the month and enthusiasm is still strong. If you’ve read any of the one a day bloggers’ stuff and liked it, take a few secs to click on the banner on the right to help our charities for free, or you can donate cold, hard, (virtual) cash to Cancer Research UK via the justgiving link on the right,