Monthly Archives: November 2013

My Week

My Progress,

calendar

My Week in numbers:

2 1/2 lbs off

4 runs

1 Bodypump class

1 body conditioning  class

1 zumba class

1 aqua aerobics class

1 metafit class

My week in words

I am obviously pleased about my weight loss but this week I am very excited about the fact I have done so much exercise.  it’s the first time I have done five classes in a week and after last week’s stress-fest at work, it felt brilliant.  My mileage has been increasing too and I ran a solid (although windswept) parkrun.  So happy days!

Hope you have had a good week too.

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

To Gym or not to Gym…

fitness, , ,

gym

It seems incredible but it will shortly be 2014. And with the New Year comes New Year resolutions, and many of them revolve around getting fitter. And already in my gym there are advertisements about the offers for the New Year. And how many of us join the gym in January, get our money’s worth for a few weeks and then end up paying many month’s subscriptions and not going near the place. Oh, so not just me then? So here are my thoughts on choosing a gym. I am hardly a wonderful role model. I have been to several and not used them to their full potential, and they’ve ended up being very expensive. So I know what not to do!! But at present I am a gym bunny, so I hope you find these ramblings helpful.

Do you really need to join a gym?

Examine your reasons why you are thinking about joining the gym. Can you achieve your fitness using other mean, i.e. running or joining a sports club? If you think that you won’t be a regular user, what about pay as you go or finding exercise classes run in halls?

What do you want from your gym?

Gyms come in all shapes and sizes with price tags to match. Think about what you want from your gym. If you love swimming and aqua aerobics it makes sense to join a gym with a pool. The more facilities the gym has the more expensive it will be, but enquire whether they offer different memberships, such as swim only or off peak membership (My dad and step mum have this and it saves them a fortune). Have a look around the gym and talk to gym users. You can get a feel for the place, and whether it will suit your needs. Check out the classes it offers and what else is included in the price. Ask about the induction and what support you get. It certainly varies. One gym I went to you got five sessions with a trainer. My present gym (which is comparable in facilities and price) only offered one.

Location, location, location

This is the key. If you want the gym to fit in with your life, the more convenient the better. So think about when you will exercise. Depending on when this is will depend on where the best place for gym is. For instance if you exercise during your lunch break, a gym near your work place is ideal. If you’re an early bird then a local one will be better. If you are a long suffering parent of a sporty child it could be that wherever they do sport has a gym and rather than sitting around, use the gym (I did this when my eldest was at a different swimming club, very convenient). This will help ensure you use the gym and it fits into your life.

A gym can be an inspiring, friendly place where you can achieve your goals. But it can also be an expensive luxury. If you take the plunge, a little bit of time thinking about your requirements and being realistic can save you pennies and gain a wonderful tool in your fight against the flab!

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

My Week

My Progress

calendar

My Week in numbers:

Stayed the same

1 Bodypump class

1 zumba class

3 runs

My week in words:

Not the greatest week with regard to exercise due to pressures at work.  And food wise it was ok.  My shoes are fab and am running longer stances more consistently (relative of course!).  And I really missed my other classes.  I am really hoping that I can do a full house this week and keep on with the healthy eating.  On the plus side I have had several people commenting on my weight loss, which is a real boost.  So Yey!

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

 

Metafit

fitness,

old-worn-sneakers-13616441

A few weeks ago I read a Gaby Logan tweet where she extolls the virtue of metafit.  A quick google of it told me it was a bodyweight class that used interval techniques.  It’s 30 minutes and I found my gym ran a class.  So off I went to try it.

 

WOW! Writing it down it doesn’t seem so bad, but it involves doing exercises such as the plank, squats, lunges, squat thrusts etc for a short period, and then having a very short rest and then going again.  You repeat the exercises until you finish the round and then it’s different exercises that take over.

 

By the end I was dripping in sweat and I ached considerably. I am so pleased it’s half an hour.  But I can really feel the benefits and it’s become a firm favourite and a class that I intend to do as much as possible.

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

My week

My Progress

calendar

My week in numbers:

2lbs off

4 runs (including 1 parkrun)

1 Bodypump class

1 Zumba

1 aqua aerobics class

1 metafit class

My week in words:

Another good week.  I wasn’t expecting a loss as I was out on Friday evening, and although I tried to make good choices, you never know how it will effect you. getting more consistency with my exercise and the healthy eating is going well. And I have had several people comment on my weight loss, which always is a boost.  Just want more of the same as we head to the new year.

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

Shoe Shopping

Running,

Pound-signs-200x300

I text my husband that I had been shoe shopping.  And he text back that it wasn’t like me, and then I think the realisation hit him that I went shopping for running shoes.  I imagine the panic set in deeply then!

My previous running shoes had all been bought from the same local shop and in fact were all the same brand.  I had been pleased with the shoes and the shop. But this time I headed to sweatshop for two reasons.  One is their support of parkrun, which I really enjoy and so should be supported.  And the second was a £15 voucher that I received when I did my first parkrun.

The whole experience was fabulous.  I was put at ease and given great information by the assistant who obviously was a runner himself. I was measured up for insoles and had to stand on soft blocks and such like.  I knew about these and knew that they cost £45 (and are optional) but I imagine it could be a shock if you didn’t.  I tried three pairs of shoes and eventually plumped for the Brooks Ravenna 4.  Three runs in and they are comfortable and (so far) problem free.

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I was very impressed by the whole experience and would certainly shop at Sweatshop again. If only they did bigger ladies clothing…

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

My Week

Uncategorized

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My week in Numbers:

1lb off (*Did not run before weigh in*)

3 runs (including parkrun)

1 body pump class

1 circuits class

1 metafit class

My week in words:

Well,  a loss is a loss.  I am back on the wagon, although as you can see the classes aren’t up to usual as several different events conspired to keep me away from conditioning, zumba and aqua.  However I have a feeling that metafit may become a regular outing.  So this is the beginning of the push to get fitter for Christmas, the New Year and then start marathon training!

All the best,

Woody running spoon

Planning My Racing Calendar

Running,

166510099_VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON 2013

The last few weekends I have been following the running exploits of people I follow on twitter.  I have to say that several times I have had complete race envy as I have heard how they have got on and seen the obligatory post race photo with medal.

But it has made me think of what races I would like to do in 2014.  The London Marathon is obviously my major target, my A race, but I do want to have other races to look forward to after it.  It is so much fun looking at races and deciding.  At the moment I am thinking mainly of 10ks and half marathons, a few after London in the Spring/Summer and a few more in the Autumn.  And with hopefully several parkruns thrown in, I am hoping that 2014 will be a very exciting race filled year.  As my calendar takes shape I will share it with you, and review each race after.

Good luck choosing your races.  there are so many fantastic ones out there!

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

My Week

My Progress

calendar

My week in numbers:

½ lb on (*did not run before*)

3 runs (including 1 big fat run)

1 zumba class

1 circuits class

2 aqua aerobics classes

My week in words:

I’d take that.  As explained in my previous post, I have had two meals out and one day baking (and eating!) gorgeous things!  But I managed to clamber back on the wagon quickly and kept up with my exercise routine.  It has made me more determined to lose weight next week and keep to what I am doing.

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon

Half term happenings

Family, fitness

family cycling

Happy half term!

I hope those of you that has your routine shattered by the addition of your lovely children around 24/7 and your routine blown out of the water are coping admirably.  I have 2/3rds of my children at home this week with the other one at a swim camp (lucky thing!).  In terms of exercise I have matched my usual amount (albeit slightly different classes) with 3 runs and 4 classes.  However in food terms, I have not been so angelic, with 3 days being off plan (a bake off day and two meals out) and 3 being bang on track.

But I am going to blow my own trumpet here (only for a short time, don’t worry).  I was off plan for 3 days.  BUT NOT FOR 6.  I did manage to clamber back onto the wagon.  I accept I will probably put on weight, but I am back on track with a minor blip, so it’s not all bad.

Anyway back to my classes.  I did Zumba and two lots of aqua aerobics and I tried for the first time circuits.  I really did not know what to expect, and was quite nervous waiting to go in as most others seemed to know each other.  Luckily there was a chap who was new too and we stuck together.  After a warm up of running around the instructor laid out several cards with exercises written on them and several members of the class scurried off and got out various pieces of equipment.

The instructor then went through one of the exercises and we all picked a base and did that exercise for 45 secs.  when we finished all the bases (there were 7) we had a drink and the instructor went through the next set of exercises.  Some exercises I recognised but others were completely new to me and the instructor came around and made sure you were doing them correctly.  When it came to weights there were different weights put out and several exercises could be done differently depending on your fitness level or experience.

I enjoyed the class and it certainly made me work.  It really is suitable for everyone, which I loved.  Would I go again? Yes.  Would I do it instead of my other classes?  No.  Not regularly, maybe as a one off if it suited me better, but I do enjoy pump, conditioning, aqua and zumba.  But I am so pleased I gave it a go.

Hope you are having a fun filled half term.

All the best,

Woodyrunning spoon