I miss you

Hey guys and gals

I realise it's been a month since I blogged about bootcamp but the bootcamp classes finished in the local park so I haven't had the pleasure of moving my jelly quite as much as I did when I was hanging with Hanna, Paula or Alan on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Nevertheless this has not meant I have fallen off the health wagon.

I joined Weight Watchers in July and I'm 3ibs away from my stone weight loss and with 2 holidays in between all that, I think that's pretty amazing and I'm feeling a million times better for it.  I purchased my first pair of 'Skinny' jeans and I have to say, I rock them even with the J-Lo ass and the Beyonce thighs (ok, neither my bum nor my thighs resemble either of those perfect beauties but this is my blog god dammit)

Anyways, my goal is to do the mini marathon in June.  When I started running, after bootcamp finished for the summer, I really could only run about 200metres and then it took me probably another 100 metres to get back to jogging again but it was very stop and start, stop and start.  However, I've kept at it ladies and gents and slowly pacing myself I'm aiming to get 4km down to 20 mins, currently I'm only doing 3km in 17mins which is really great for me don't get me wrong, non stop jogging for 3km is such an achievement for me alone but you gotta push yourself and I'm gonna get that 4km down to 20mins, I know it. 

I've signed up to the DLR 5km in Kilbogget Park in October so I'm really looking forward to that and yes, I do expect fanfares and banners when I cross the line (Trevor, Megan & Conor Bynre!!!! that is a note to you).

It is so hard to get motivated guys but once you see results, once you push yourself and you can suddenly see you've ran the entire circle of a park non stop, it gives you a push, it gives you the encouragement to get out there the next day and do a bit better.

So, I shall love and leave you for now but for everyone who is thinking of doing something to better themselves, for everyone who is sitting there and taking any inspiration from any of my blogs, in the words of my old favourites Salt n Pepa 'Push it' ..... It's only you that can actually make yourself move xxx

Post holiday bootcamp

Hello everyone


I've been off for a few days enjoying the hospitality of our very own Co Galway.  Oh and before I went, I lost 4ibs courtesy of the new Weight Watchers program which I was thrilled about.... may have found those 4ibs when I was away but I will let you know if that is the case on Thursday when I get weighed in (yikes!)


So, boobies strapped into the old sports bra, jelly belly safely tucked into the elasticated waist band of the old trackie bottoms and I hit Kilbogget for my post holiday bootcamp class.  Humidity in the air, I was sweating before I even got there and then I spotted my old friend 'The Rope'. 


Slim Jim Paula was the instructor of the evening and just got there for the beginning of the warm up.  Jogging around in a circle, changing direction, stretching, bending and a serious amount of sweat later, warm up done, dusted, bought the t-shirt etc... and lungs about to collapse at any given moment, we step into the loop of 'The Rope' (don don donnnnnn).


We ran and ran and ran, rope up at shoulder level, up over head, down by the side..... The Rope is an amazing addition to an already great workout.  It adds a little weight to your arms, even though it's not heavy as such, you feel a little more like a soldier in the field as opposed to a middle aged, overweight jelly flopping monster trying to maintain a little dignity while being viewed by what seems like the entire country of Spain in the form of their teenage students!!!!


Anyways..... I was slightly delighted with myself because we ran a great deal last night and although I was absolutely wrecked, I ran a great deal!!!! The thing with this bootcamp I have found, is that my recovery time is less and less each week.  Yes I'm totally fecked running but it seems like I now only need the 20 seconds to regain my composure, dignity and breath.... when I first started I probably, in all honesty, needed about a minute or 2 to recover properly so it's definitely working, fitness is coming :0) 


We did squats, burpees, lunges all before doing ab work with the AB QUEEN herself.  She loves the props and the ab work does our Paula and likes it more when we are in a little bit of pain doing it, odd!!!!  I had a little bit of difficulty getting out of the bed this morning but that's good right?  I can definitely see the difference in my shape since beginning this journey and now that I am finally actually loosing a bit of weight, I feel I'm on my proper journey now. 


Positivity guys and gals, it works wonders xxx

Until next time my jelly watchers ..... start your journey xxx

Abs of Steel, Arms of Arnie, Legs of Jelly

I went to Weight Watchers on Thursday for my first weigh in.... feeling light, feeling I had lost weight..... Eh, no, stayed the same WTF!!!!! Seriously, WTF!!!!! Ok, so, I have to think positivly.  I was actually lighter than what I thought I was to start off with so that was a bonus and in fairness, I went out and had a fantastic time at the weekend so maybe the whole Party Points thing was a little bit of an excitment that I got completely carried away with..... not really realising how many points I was actually consuming BUT I stayed the same, I didn't gain soooooooo positive thoughts.

I turned up to my bootcamp the night before getting weighed ...... lashings of rain ..... dedicated.com

Myself, another dedicated bootcamper and our instructor, slim jim Paula hang around under a tree for shelter while we wait for more people...... mmmmmm, riiiiiiggggghhhhhttttt...... they were all at home, curled up on their armchairs watchin telly with a cup of tea and a ginger nut ..... feckers

So myself and my fellow madser are informed by Paula that tonight we will be doing 'The Rope'.  Now, The Rope, I'll explain, is like the size of a rope that you would tie a boat up with, it's huge.... somewhere out in the harbour there are boats without their ropes and I know who has them (eh, bodytoners bootcamp, you know who you are).....I have done the rope bootcamp, I have done the rope bootcamp with 10 people and it's hard, it's heavy and it's tiring so with just 2 people it was like literally dragging 10 dead bodies behind us but nonetheless, we ran and ran and ran, lifting the rope up to shoulder height, lifting the rope over our heads, strangling Paula with it.... oh, no, wait, that was a dream :0)  You seriously have no idea how much a rope can add to your workout.  Such a simple addition, such a simple idea and yet the resistance it adds to your workout is unbelievable.  We were wrecked.com but it was brilliant to have done it, you feel absolutely brilliant about yourself when you do bootcamp, I cannot stress that enough.  I feel brilliant :0)

Tonights bootcamp was also brilliant and no rope this time but Paula loves the old props so this time she had cones layed out all over the little area we use.  There were 10 of us tonight which was great.  We had to start, in a line side by side, doing 10 burpees, sprinting to the next cone and doing 9 pushups, sprinting to the next cone and doing 8 burpees, next cone 7 pushups and so on.  Arms like Arnie at this stage and defo dropped my lungs around the 8 rep point :0)  Around again and this time we had to do 30 seconds of squats, crawl like a crab to the next cone (yes, I said crawl like a crab, not attractive) do 30 seconds of lunges, crab crawl to the next 30 secs of squats and so on until we got back to the beginning.  Legs like Jelly at this stage and lungs are still missing.  Drop to the ground and we do 30 reps of ab exercises, up and do 30 squats, drop and do more ab work, up and do more leg work.  Abs of Steel now...... I actually think I may have died in there at some point though :0)

Such a great workout and although it's tough, it's meant to be tough.... it's not easy, it's not meant to be easy.   If it wasn't tough and it was easy, everybody would be in shape and fit!!!!

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Until next time my darlings, be well, stay focused and take the first step xxx

Health, Wellbeing and Hanna!!!!!

Hey everyone

So, last week I joined Weight Watchers.  Realistically, I don't think the Protein Diet suited me... not sure why but I just know I was maintaining weight while working out which was fine, at least I wasn't putting it on but I just felt after 7 weeks of working my ass off, I should be about a stone lighter and while my clothes were fitting slightly better I just didn't feel like it was reflecting what I was putting into it.

Anyways, Thursday will be my first weigh in so I will let you know how I get on with that!!! Feeling positive about it..... there are Party Points to use!!!! Party Points!!!!! Captain Morgan, how the hell are ye? Haven't had a moment with you in a while :0)  I went out on Saturday night and blew every last one of the party points but climbed Bray Head the next day under the heat of Sunday's sun so I think I may have cancelled out the indulgence but the scales won't lie so we'll see!!!!

Went to Kilbogget Bootcamp last night.  Hanna was there, ready as ever, to give us the soldier treatment.  We started with jogging for the Warm Up..... Jogging.... Me..... Warm Up..... they just don't really mix well!!! I am in a heap after about 10 seconds and with Hanna loving the whole 'lets just jog' thing, I just die BUT 5 mins pass and the lungs drop back into place with a few deep breaths and we're off!!!  

It was real bootcamp (I actually say that like none of the others have been 'real' but they've all been 'real' believe me)... What I mean by 'Real' bootcamp is what I thought of bootcamp before joining, like what you see soldiers do on their assault courses complete with camaflauge.... Ok, so, there was no camaflauge (it would come in handy sometimes to be honest, the kids are off school and so we have a huge audience lately) but we crawled, squated, jogged, sprinted, press up'd, sit up'd and burpee'd our way across Kilbogget Park much to the amusement of the kids who were 'scarle' for us'!!!!

There are a few little hills around the park (for fit people these are NOT hills, just bumps in the grass but for me and my fellow bootcampers, these are actually more like mountains).  Standing in a line, group split into 2, we had to run up the hill complete with Medicine Ball being pushed up and down as we ran up the hill and jogged back down, handing the ball to the next in line - nearly took several tumbles down the hill, which would have looked more like an audition for a Chuck Norris film if I had of fallen but thankfully my balance has improved slightly since starting this bootcamp :0)

We then had to crawl up the hill and jog down .... sooooo not pretty!!!!!  We had to squat jump up the hill ..... seriously, not pretty!!!!  We had to walk like a crab up the hill (I call this the Hakka/Sumo stance) .... Hanna, why do you think of the most unladylike positions for us to exercise in????

Next up we were told to lie face down on the ground in a line with our hands beside our waists..... when she said go, we had to hop up, sprint to the other side of the field and do 10 press ups and sprint back and back down onto the ground..... Go!!!! sprint over the other side of the field and do 10 situps, sprint back and get back down ...... Go!!!! sprint over the other side and do 10 burpees and sprint back and get back down .....Go!!!! first person is to hurdle over each one of us while we are holding the Plank position, when that person gets to the end, down they get and the person at the top of the line gets up and repeats .... until we've all had a go

Lots and lots and lots of running, jumping and squating at this bootcamp but I have to say, brilliant workout, lots of changes and lots of variety and I feel it today, I felt it last night too but man, I'm wrecked today but I feel great at the same time.  I feel like I'm doing good for my body and for my mind too.  It's good to do something for yourself.  It's good to have a focus outside the house or office, it keeps your mind in check too and if your mind is in good nick, then so are you. 

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.  If any of those are in difficulty, most likely all will suffer.............. Be well my fellow blogspotters, until next time darlings  xxx

Are you scouting for the SAS or wha'?

Hey guys and gals

Hope everyone is well today.  I am sore, sore, sore .... oh and did I mention, sooooorrrrrrrreeeee.

I missed bootcamp in Kilbogget on Monday but decided to go up to St Enda's Pk in Rathfarnham for the Bodytoners Bootcamp class yesterday (Tuesday).   Sun splitting the heavens and after a few wrong turns, I found it.  Parked the car and all I could see as I walked around was lots of kids doing football training, hurling training and the likes but no sign of bootcampers.  Walked around a corner and was met with a string of ladies jogging in a line and an ever enthusiastic instructor to welcome me.  Antoin was tonights instructor 

We did about 5 to 10 mins warm up (eh, serious cardiac arrest time), he shouts 'lets get started'!!!! The class was huge as I'm used to being in a small class so this was great for me.  There were about 20 of us.  We had to spread out and kick our legs up to waist height (I maintained my baby's waist height haha but in my defence, he didn't actually say whose waist height to use as a template), this was for 30 seconds.  Then we had to do squat jumps for 30 seconds, then we had to do jumping jack star jumps, then there was a globe jump which was starting in a squat position and jump to the right, jump backwards, jump to the left, jump forwards..... jaysussssssss..... then, breath nowhere to be found, we were to do 30 seconds of press ups, 30 seconds of the plank while moving your knees into your elbows.  Eh, man, wrecked, shattered, fecked!!!! and then he shouts 'ok, lets do it again'...... WHATTTTTTTT???????  I was feckin wrecked.  I try so hard to keep my jelly under wraps but with exercises involving jumping.... well, lets just say it's seriously not a great look and I am in danger of getting black eyes haha

I noticed the time was getting close to 'cool down' stage so I was slightly excited about that, however, Antoin had other plans :0)

He produced the Medicine Ball...... a ball filled with what can only be described as concrete...... we had to line up behind one another and hand the ball over our head to the person behind, while running!!!! When the ball got to the back of the line, the last person had to sprint to the top of the line with the ball over her head the whole time and then it was passed around again.  I had to drop out towards the end of this one as I seriously haven't mastered the technique of running yet and so was completely about to croak it at any stage.

Thinking that was it, cool down must be now.... nope.  He had us do a relay race.  3 lines of us, 4 cones setup and we had to run to the first cone, back to the start, run to the second cone, back to the start and then run to the 3rd cone and back to the start where the next person would start.  HOLY GOD is on speed dial at this stage.

We then did AB work.  3 simple ab exercises but we had to do them altogether with no break.  Thought my stomoch was going to explode with this ..... Then, 'Cool Down'  aaaaaahhhhhhhh, my favourite words.

Antoin was explaining to me after the workout that the exercises we had done were part of what was called 'The Insanity Workout' (aptly named in fairness) but the parts we had done were only the fitness test part of it, there was loads more to it which he had struggled at.... Well, if the instructors struggled and these guys are fit fit fit, there is no hope for anyone else haha. 

So, I've had Alan, Paula and Hanna train me.... all of whom were definitely hand plucked from the army but I have my suspisions Antoin was plucked from the Navy Seals.

All in all though, a fantastic class.... lots of energy, lots of encouragement and lots of enjoyment.  I'm hurtin' today but that's a good sign!!!!

Thank you Bodytoners, you are the jelly movers :0)

Takin' on the Jelly

Hello hello

And in a nod to my Swedish sargeant, God Dag Envar (Hello Everyone)

So, Monday's bootcamp was insane.  It was lashing rain, like when you watch a film and the rain is just like someone is standing there with a hose and the actors clothes are completely drenched - well, that was us on Monday.

I was full sure that no one would show up to be honest, the weather was desperate but then I spotted Hanna swinging her car into the carpark and then 2 other girls arriving.  Ok so, lets get started!!!

Hanna loves to run and she has such a beautiful way of running, she is as I said before a gorgeous Swedish beauty and even in the lashings of rain, running, she's massive..... unlike me who literally takes on the colour of an orange prison jumpsuit while trying to look all cool and deadly jogging.  Most people who run, in fairness, have a fabulous way of running that makes it look so easy and they never ever look tired or out of breath and all the instructors for the bootcamps can manage to run, sprint, squat, situp etc.. all while looking gorgeous and cool and deadly and still in breath.  I just die but I try and I suppose that is the most important thing really.

We jogged to 'warm up' the bodies, the whole way around the park (nearly vomited all over the place and I swear to god my lungs are no where in sight and the people of Kilbogget Park shall never be the same again after seeing all my jelly flopping past them) we did front squats, side squats (hakka style - extremely unattractive), situps, press ups, sitting squat against a tree which is a bleedin' KILLERRRRRR (also extremely unattrative after about 10 seconds) and sprinting.... you would imagine that would be it right?...... Eh, no.  Hanna had brought some props.

We did some boxing which, in all honesty is great fun.  I love the boxing but the person holding the pads has to work with you otherwise you are going to take their arms and your arms clean off if you have any sort of power, which I do.  I did Tae Bo years ago and while that is not a contact exercise, it does give you the basis of your stance and your power.  My husband does kickboxing and so I'm familiar with the pads and the gloves and the 'moves' (oh yes guys and gals, I have moves!!!).  It's very tiring punching at chest level for 30 seconds as fast as you can, punching at shoulder level, doing situps and punching when you get to the sitting up stage..... 

Man oh man, I was feckin' wrecked lads.  I'm still in bits.com.  My legs are still feeling like jelly but I'm very proud of the fact that I went in the lashings of rain and did a fantastic workout courtesy of the Swedish stunner.

I'm still here, I'm still sweating and I am still loving it and guys, if I can still feel this way after 7 weeks, then so can you.... Get moving my fellow blog watchers, it's so much fun   xxx

Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint

Monday night's bootcamp was a real bootcamp ladies and gents, boys and girls.  I met Hanna.... Hanna is a Swedish beauty, typical Swedish beauty, 6ft, legs to her neck, lovely attitude but bags and bags of energy!!!! Yep, this one was a live wire in the exercise stakes people.  You would imagine after 6 weeks of doing Bootcamp that I would be prepared for anything, be able to complete any task, be able to manage warm up without the feeling of lungs dropping and vomit rising!!!! You would think wouldn't you

So, Hanna, leggy Hanna, loves to run and run and run and run!!!! Man, herself and Paula definietely must have trained in the army..... Enthusiastically, Hanna said 'lets warm up de bawdies'..... Ok, so, warm up is, I suppose, not meant to be easy but seriously, I feel like I've done my exercises when I've done the warm up and Hanna's warm up was feckin' tough.  Lots of jumping, running, jumping, squating and sprinting (eh, holy jaysus!!!! spontaneous combustion).  Then, enthusiastically Hanna says 'ok, letchs get schtarted' (seriously, have we not just done the flippin class mate!!!).

Cones in place (about 10 I think).... Red and blue ones opposite each other but what we had to do was work across each line... so first up was jogging to the first cone, sprint to the next, jog to the next, sprint to the next .... second up was jog, sprint, jog etc...but you had to chase the girl in front of you and try to catch her when we were sprinting.... then she made us crawl like crabs to each cone (seriously, in full view of traffic and buses ... the shame of it all lads, wouldn't mind so much if I had an ass like hers but jaysus, not a pretty sight for the people of Kilbogget Park).... then it was run to the cone, 3 press ups, run to the next, 3 sit ups.... then there was a side squat to each cone (imagine a sumo wrestler stance or like you're about to do the Hakka....yep, not really pretty is it)

So, no lungs left whatsoever she explained that we going to do a tree run - run to the first tree in the park, sprint to the next, run to the next, sprint to the next one and so on and then back to the where we began (ok, so, this is fine if the trees are evenly spaced but right bang in the middle, on a sprint run, I notice that there are about 3 trees missing and so the 'sprint' was actually the run of a dying woman).... I made it back but had to stop at the bottom and walk for a few tree's but then ran back to the start..... N O  B R E A T H  L E F T

She then, enthusiastically as ever, told us we were going to 'work de abs' and then do some 'pressh upsh'.... she said this was a nice cool down exercise (riiiiiight) but we'd actually do a cool down jog after it ..... ok, which dictionary says jogging is cooling down because it needs to be rewritten!!!! She had brought Medicine Balls with her aswell - thank the lord she didn't get time to use them, holy god!!!!

So, that was my introduction to gorgeous Hanna.... Sergeant Major Hanna

Still concentrating on my diet, protein shakes and fat burners have been purchased so it's focus time guys and gals....

Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint!!!! Very true and wise words which I shall take to heart and use as my motivation :0)

Fall 7, Stand 8

I think one of my problems, in general, is that I sometimes set goals a little high for myself and then I feel guilty when I don't achieve them.  Having said I was going to try to make it to 3 bootcamp sessions a week for 3 weeks, I managed only 2 this week again.  Realistically, when you have children, you have to be a bit logical with your commitments.  I am going to try again next week to make it to 3 but I suppose I need to try to change my mindset that if it doesn't happen for various reasons, then I have to be ok with that..... so I will try.

I did a Tuesday class in Blackrock this week, instead of my usual Thursday session.  It was a killer ladies and gentlement, we worked our legs to within an inch of their lives (having done the same to them the previous night - this session was really hard for me).  We worked our upper bodies too and that was also a killer. 

We did 30 seconds of squats, 30 seconds of lunges, 30 seconds of burpees.... We did this 3 times before we got a break (I think Paula, our instructor, should train the feckin' army because seriously, soldiers would have been f*cked after this!!!!).... We continued doing 3 sets of 30 second toning exercises for the ABS, 3 times (there really isn't anything else to say except F*CK!!!!).... 3 sets of 30 second toning exercises  for the upper body, 3 times (could not support my own body weight after the first 3 sets.  Ok, that's a lie, after the first set period haha...had serious issues with staying upright, continuously fell over almost breaking my nose at one stage).  Nonetheless, it was a great workout and I have been at one with the whole 'no pain, no gain' statement this week because it was a challenge to sit down, a challenge to stand up and a challenge to fall out of bed. Paula's class of pain was in full swing on Tuesday :0)

So, another week down and another week ahead of me, another chance to set the goals and another chance to achieve them.  Setbacks are not failures, they are just setbacks, so, as the saying goes, fall seven times, stand up eight :0)

Stay positive guys and gals and in case I don't see you, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night xxx

On the phone to God

It's bank holiday Monday, I have just done a bootcamp.  I was out last night, completely hammered, had about 10 Captain Morgans, dyin.com today but I felt I had to go to the class tonight because the instructor has given up his bank holiday Monday to come to the class so, while yes it's alot easier and comfortable to die in the confines of your own sitting room, I just felt I owed it to myself to start as I mean to go on and try to get to every class!!!!

So, I'm totally proud of myself I went down and did the class.  It started with only me there so I was slightly worried about what lay in store for me - personal training session :0)  Just as we had 'warmed up' (I try so hard not to vomit my way through a warm up but in particular today it was a challange), my little secondary school student fellow bootcamper, Megan, arrived (having sprinted from her house to the field!!!) and so we began.

Co ordination was a 'top of the list' requirement straight off the bat tonight and I was horrendous. I could blame the drink, could blame my age, could blame the alignment of the stars etc... but to be honest, as in a previous blog, my deadly co ordination was and is a complete figment of my imagination. We had the ladder thingy on the ground and we had to bounce, jump, squat jump and line dance our way through each rung and sprint up to the cone placed about 5 metres away from the top of the lader and then jog back to start again.  The only thing I could hear when I was jumping, bouncing and squat jumping my way through the ladder was the amount of water I had in my belly from trying to quench my hangover thirst, it was hilarious.  Oh and I could hear Megan doing three times as many reps as me.... far too feckin' fit that wan!!! We then moved onto AB work and this was toughhhhhhh.

We had to do 2 exercises in quick succession, stop for a 20 seconds break (which absolutely never seems to be as long as when you do 20 seconds of exercises) and then on again.  I really struggled here, my arms couldn't support my body weight for more than 5 reps of any exercise.  I continually collapsed into a fit of giggles because I actually was totally and utterly brutal at every exercise tonight but I obviously did enough, I'm in a bleedin' heap here haha.

So, I'm on my first of 3 sessions a week malarky, I'm guessing tomorrow will be a tough class for me too but nonetheless...... BRING IT ON :0)

Ciao for now fellow blogspotters, wish me luck and if you happen to see me on the phone, it will more than likely be to the G in the sky   

Bootcamp in the Sun..... that is random

Since I have started Bootcamp, consistantly and probably the only thing that has been consistant, the weather has been absolutely feckin' sh*te butttttt Thursday, the heatwave was upon us and my first session in the sun!!! wohoo!!!! Well, that was until we actually started............ sweating like a motherf*cker

Kettlebells...... WTF is the story with feckin' kettlebells.  Man oh man, they are ferousious to work out with.  You get the whole mentality after your first few reps 'oh, this is grand, I can do this' but then the weight of the bell hits you and suddenly it's like literally trying to move the earth.

We had the various exercises to do with the kettlebells..... the two that stick in my mind as being real jellie wobblers were the reverse lunges and the lying flat on your back and lifting it up with one arm up in the air (ok, that's not the actual technical name for it but I have no idea what it was called!!!).  Both these were toughhhhhhh.  My legs completely went from under me doing the reverse lunges... much to the amusement of the dart/bus/car passangers along the park route :0)

Nonetheless, Paula was hugely encouraging, as ever! all of the instructors are... they don't shout at you, they shout encouragement, they shout the words you like hearing 'Great work Jennifer.... Keep it going Jennifer.... Brilliant work Jennifer......... Don't give up Jennifer'. Ok, so, the last one is normally cause I have collapsed in a heap of hyperventilation but you get my drift.  They are amazing and it does push you along, you do push yourself and you do accomplish it as much as you think you can't do it, you won't do it, you'll die doing it.... you DO it and you WIN!!!!!!

Heading out tomorrow night for the first time in many many weeks...... Bootcamp is still going ahead on Bank Holiday Monday, I'll be inbits.com for sure but I'll be there with bells on (please Alan, not kettlebells!!!!! haha)

Have a super fab, wonderful, safe and healthy weekend with the odd beverage in toe and for the love of all that is good and pure in this world, avoid kettlebells as much as you can :0) xxx

Come Rain, Hail or Shine.... we bootcamp

Finding it increasingly difficult to stay positive in relation to the scales!!!! still no shift on the weight but still feeling the benefits of my exercise.  We did a huge walk of Mullen's Hill and Killiney over the weekend with the kiddies (Conor walked the whole time, bless him)

Gonna try to really focus on my diet this week and I'm gonna try the Fat Loss diet sheet this time around.  Not sure if I'm chopping and changing too much on the two diets to see a result in terms of weight loss so maybe I should try to focus on the diet side of things for the next few weeks and see what happens?????

I've signed up for another 4 weeks of my new addiction and last night was my first week of this batch of classes.  I'm going to try 3 times a week for 3 weeks (I was debating on this today and so lost my window of opportunity to start this week with the 3 times a week but I'm fired up for next week on this promise!!!)

It was freezzzzzzing when I arrived at the park for class last night and there were 10 bootcampers present, which was one of the biggest classes I've been to so far.  It was great fun, the girls are lovely, have a laugh but still work hard.  What I noticed on my trek over to the meeting place was the 'Medicine Ball'.... as per my last class and last blog, the medicine ball is a ball filled with what I can only believe is concrete, weighs a bleedin' ton and makes you shout for your mammy :0)  Nevertheless, we 'warmed up' and then 'got started'.... they say that as if the warm up is nothing to write home about!!!

9 exercise stations marked out with various exercises to be completed for 30 seconds, rotating through the 9 stations, for 3 rotations.  Yellow stations were 'easier' exercises, blue stations were a little harder and red stations were the hardest.  So, there were exercises like Squat Jumps (boobs, ass, tummy(s) look absolutely ridiculous doing this one and no matter what you wear, it will be a challange to keep it all in!!)- Mountain Climbers (down in a press up like position and move your feet in and out towards your chest - ass in the air and your cheeks move completely independent of your body here, not a pretty sight) - The Plank (again, press up position but leaning on your forarms and holding the position, good one for the abs) - Burpees (by far, the most challanging exercise for the body, starting in a squat postion, move both feet so that you are into a pushup position, move them back to the squat position and jump up and repeat, watch this video and think of doing it for 30 seconds  http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/burpeeclip.htm .... yep!!!!) - Ab Crunches - Sprinting - Press Ups and 2 other stations which I've completely blocked from memory :0)

30 seconds into the first rotation and the rain trickled down.  By the time we completed our first rotation, it was pelting down on us.  By the time we completed our 2nd rotation we looked like drowned kitty cats, looked like we literally lost stones, all our clothes were hanging off us.  By the time we were finishing our 3rd rotation, the sun was shining on us and we were completely boll*xed. Oooooooh, but we weren't finished there.  There was still the case of the concrete filled ball.

We had to sit in a circle, close to each other, into a situp position but with our legs off the ground aswell -ass crippler of an exercise but super for the abs - we had to pass the ball to each other while holding the ass crippler position for 15 seconds, whoever had the ball after 15 seconds had to do 5 full situps with it and yep, it had to be me first!!! Surprised myself by doing them properly :0)  Another 15 seconds on the clock, ass crippler in position and the ball was passed around again but we had to lift it over our heads before passing it along and so on for a few more rounds and then cool down - my two new favourite words

Another brilliant workout which I'm feeling today!!! And another 10 classes ahead of me and I'm seriously gonna get focused.  Sunday I'm having my first drinks in 5 weeks so watch out Killiney, Bootcamper on the loose!!!

I bid you adieu my fellow blog watchers.  Have a super fab, fit, safe and positive week xxx

Paula's Props

Hello there

This week has been hard on me in terms of the diet.... Not seeing results in the weight loss area at all HOWEVER, clothes are fitting better and I do notice a difference in my figure but I'd really really like to see a difference on the scales.  I'm working my ass off, eating right but still the same, booooooo.

I've just signed up for another 4 weeks which is record breaking for me :0)  I'm loving Bootcamp guys and girls, loving it.  Even though the scales deserves to be smashed up for talking complete boll*x to me, I am loving the exercising.

Every week it's something new.  Every week the weather is mental.  But, every week I get there, I sweat buckets and I feel great that I've managed to do it.  And tonights class was no different.

Always present slim jim instructor Paula was there and the only thing I notice straight away are props!!!! She loves the props that one.... Paula's Props!!!!

As in a previous class in Kilbogget with Alan, we had 9 stations to move around, completing different exercises at each station for a specified amount of time.  Not exactly like my previous class, tonight we had various exercising paraphernalia at some stations.  There were Kettlebells, Dumbells and a Medicine Ball!!!! Only familiar with dumbells until tonight?  Kettlebells are small in size but weigh a feckin' ton and when you're swinging them up to shoulder height, doing a figure of 8 between your legs with them or moving them up to your chin, your natural instinct is to chuck them as far away from you as you possibly can (which, eh, is about a centimetre) but they do add resistance to your training and you feel it in your stomach, your arms and your legs.  Holding dumbells while walking your way through squats looks simple but squatting alone makes your legs wobble so add a bit of weight on either side of you and the jelly really gets challanged.  A Medicine Ball is a ball filled with something heavy (mmmmm, concrete perhaps?) and in this particular class we had to use this ball while doing sit ups. moving it from over your head up to your knees as you sat up - maybe Arnie can do this one with ease but for a novice bootcamper like myself, mastering the art of a sit up on it's own is hard enough without a concrete filled prop but nonetheless, I tried... it beat me unfortuantley haha

So, another 4 weeks ahead of me and hopefully the weather will pick up a bit but I would highly recommend all this bootcamping for everyone..... check out TV3's Ireland AM on Monday morning 7.30am, Bodytoners Bootcamp will be featured on it and you'll get to see Paula and Alan along with all the other guys and gals who train my fellow bootcampers.  I feel the better for all the working out and my mentality towards it is changing and believe me, if I can change mentality, then so can you

Is féidir linn !!!!!

No Pain, No Gain

I thought I was at one with the whole 'No Pain, No Gain' thing but tonight's class tested that!!!

Ok, so, the weekend was a bit tough, diet wise, as I was with friends Friday night (not drinking, very dedicated to the diet) and with the weather being completely sh*t all weekend, I got very little exercise done but nonetheless I feel I stuck to the 'plan' and made it out on the other side.

So, mental wind behind me tonight, I set off for Kilbogget Park.  I had a feeling that as it was so windy tonight, there would be no props at tonights class and I was right.  However, I wasn't prepared for the class that was ahead of me. 

As per my Thursday class, we ran and ran and feckin' ran..... the lenght and breath of Kilbogget Park.  When you walk around Kilbogget, it doesn't seem that big but when you explore every corner of it, it may aswell be Central Park NYC, it's frickin' huuuuuuge.  Anways, we 'jogged' to 'warm up'..... completely bollo*ed..... ok, no pain, no gain.  Do the stretches then jog some more..... completely bollo*ed...... ok ok, no pain, no gain.  So, Alan says 'When we jog down here, we're gonna sprint to the bench around the corner - I'll lead and when we get to the bench, we're gonna do jumping jacks, then we'll sprint off to the next point'.... simple right!!!! All the way around the park, stopping every 200 metres to do various ridiculously unladylike exercises amusing onlookers with their wondering how on earth the jelly is staying inside the t-shirt :0)

I'm completely wrecked but so delighted I did it..... my endurance wasn't as good as Thursday's class in all honesty but sprinting isn't my forte so I'm not upset, I managed to do it at my own pace....without vomiting haha.

Oh and our goal in the Monday Kilbogget class is to be able to do Bootcamp in a Thong haha.  We threaten it every week!!! poor Alan, bet he can't wait for that class mwhahahaha

Stay healthy, stay positive and most of all stay safe guys and gals and until next time, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night xxx

Paula's class of Pain!!!!

Hey there everyone

Well, class 6 of my bootcamp is over and I'm totally wrecked. I felt like I was in that film, Run Lola Run!!!! But, I had a shower and went and got my spray tan done so I'm feeling refreshed and lookin like I was sunning myself on the Med :0)

My diet is back to the High Protein Diet this week so my good old mate the Protein Shake is my start of day routine, followed by a pint of water, a Low Fat Fruit Yogurt and a bit of fruit.  Lunch today was a chicken salad and dinner was a chicken sandwich and off to Bootcamp I went.

When I head off to Bootcamp, I'm always full of bounce and then we warm up!!!!  I cannot run for sh*te, just can't, never have and to be honest, it's not something I aspire to be BUT being a part of the bootcamp has made me better in terms of stamina.  Even now, when I go walking, I'll try to encorporate even 10 mins of jogging (now, I can't jog for 10 mins non stop but I try to set a goal, usually a spot in the park that I can see, and jog to it, catch my breath and start again setting my sights on another spot further on) and this is a huge accomplishment for me, I never thought I'd be able to do anything like that and I'm only on week 3 of all this 'new me'stuff!

My slim jim instructor, Paula, was there as normal, minus any props tonight.  We ran around Blackrock Park and then stopped and did 30 seconds of various exercises.  That's right guys and gals, we ran..... and ran..... and ran, my 'jelly' was flopping all over the shop, the poor dart passangers didn't know where to look.  It was so tough but we went at our own pace tonight and I managed to stay on the track and not drop off.  The only time I did stop for a few seconds was when we were running up steps, jogging over to the other set of steps, running down them and then jogging back over to run up the other set of steps.... eh, cardiac time.  This class has been my toughest in terms of endurance so I'm very proud of myself for completing it but I'm now calling my Blackrock class 'Paula's class of Pain'.... We ended with ABS!!!! I think she actually likes the pain, very odd haha.

So, guys and gals, another fantastic workout.  Next week is the last week of my 'deal' but I'm signing up again for another 4 weeks and to be honest, right now I feel that Bootcamp will be a part of my life for a long time to come.  I've learned so much already and I'm enjoying every minute of it.  It's not easy but even arriving at the class is a step in the right direction and the instructors are just super, so encouraging and I can't endorse it enough.  I feel better and I look better and it's motivating me to encorporate exercise in my daily life, not just on 'exercise days'.

Until next time my fellow earthlings, stay positive and get your jelly moving  xxx

Week 3 begins with The Rope

Hello there everyone

Hope everyone is doing well?   My weighing scales says I've not lost anything this week (in the bathroom but downstairs it says 3Ibs so I'm confused).

The fact that I have maybe stayed the same weight this week is tough to take.  I've been extremely strict with my diet and exercise for the first time in god knows how long.  I'm taking it all very serious indeed so it's a bit deflating when I'm not sure how much, if any, weight I've lost this week.  However, onwards and upwards as they say, I'm enjoying the exercising so I won't be a quitter just yet.

Did some cycling and walking over the weekend and off to bootcamp in Kilbogget yesterday evening.  The wind was mental last night so it was quite a difficult task staying upright never mind controling the vomiting feeling from the whisps of hair that were being blown into my mouth (for those of you who don't know me that well, I vomit at the feeling of hair near my mouth)!!!, so you can imagine how I was feeling just doing the warmup alone :0)  Anyways, 10 cones lined up with about 6ft between each to represent 10 different exercising spots.  So after the 'warm up' (eh, sweating buckets time as I call it), we had to do 10 Jumping Jacks at the first cone, run to the second and do 10 Press Ups, 3rd base was 10 Ab Crunches, 4th base was 10 Squats, 5th base was 10 seconds in the 'Plank' position, 6th base was 10 Star Jumps, 7th base was 10 Lunges, 8th base was sitting with arms and legs off the ground (don't know what it was called but it was feckin' tough), 9th base was Press Up position and moving your legs into and out from your chest, also extremely tough and 10th base was Tuck Jumps and sprint back to the start, catch your breath, drink some h2o and the off we pop again, jumping, lunging, squatting, planking, crunching and so on.  Not only were we to concentrate on these exercises but our instructor had us counting it down in Irish (a challenge all by itself) by picking people at random so we had to pay attention to what number the other person called because if we got it wrong, we had to start again.

It's funny though, when the instructor says, 'right, we're doing 10 of these, 10 of those, 10 of this' etc... you never think you'll be able to do it but you always end up getting through it because its a step by step process and the instructors are hugely encouraging aswell as my little secondary school studant putting all us adults present to shame by peggin' it through the whole thing and being only slightly out of breath :0)

Then, Alan, lovely encouraging instructor that he is, produces The Rope as per my previous class in Blackrock.  And as per my previous class in Blackrock, we had to sprint along with it on one side, up in the air, over the other side, wrapped around us, shoulder height etc.... Who knew a rope could add to a workout????? but it does, immensely!!!!

It's tough, it's nausiating at times but it's bootcamp and I'm loving it

Ciao for now my bootcamping amigos, stay positive

A rope, cous cous rice and a hell of a workout

Hey there
So, week 2 of Bootcamp is over.  I'm trying a fat loss diet this week and on it was fish with cous cous rice.  Well, I've never tried cous cous rice and I've never had the slightest inkling to try it as, well, it sounded like something I 'know' I wouldn't like.  As I have said before, trying new foods wouldn't be my strong point but this time around I'm determined to try everything and it's turning out to be a success as everything on my diet sheets which I have 'feared' trying beforehand, I have tried and actually really enjoyed and cous cous rice was the nicest of them all..... seriously had to stop myself from eating the entire packet.... so yummy... it's my new friend :0) aaaahhhhhh

So, last night was my 4th bootcamp class and this time it was in Blackrock Park with my slim jim instructor who just happens to be one of the toughest workout persons in the frickin' world!!!!!  Landed in Blackrock Park with my usual 'start of class' spring in my step and we jogged to 'warm up'.... I always find that gas craic because I'm fecked after the 'warm up' alone because I can't run for sh*te.  So, from the corner of my eye, I spotted a rope on the ground.  Not just a regular rope, a big f*uk off rope (which I think she may have robbed off a moored boat, it was that feckin' big) and I thought to myself 'what's this then? a game of tug of war?'..... eh, no such luck!!!! She optimistically explained what we were 'going' to do with the rope while running around Blackrock Park.

The huuuuuge rope was big enough to loop around all of us in a U shape so that we had it on both sides of us and were able to hold in each hand.  We had to run with it at shoulder height from the carpark to the lake, which by distance isn't that long at all but man, when you are running with something like that at shoulder height, it's a looonnnnnng way.  She then shouted at us to drop our arms by our sides... 'phew, a relief'.... eh, no.... another optimistic shout 'up over your head' .... 'oh holy jaysus!!!'..... 'drop to your side' .... 'phew, a relief' .... 'run and bend down with it' ..... 'eh, wha!!!!'

This was Bootcamp! eh Bootcamp of a frickin' soldier!!!!  And my friends, that was just the first 3 minutes.  We continued around the park as per previous class, stopping after 2 mins of running and doing 30 reps of exercises that were a killer each time and all while being viewed again by Dart passangers every 7 mins.  All this said though, this class was a huuuuggge accomplishment for me.  It was really tough but I felt great after doing it.  That's the thing with exercise though isn't it, it's not meant to be easy and you feel better AFTER doing it.  Everybody is tired after work and it's extremely hard to get out of the house once you get home and have your dinner and chill out after the happenings of your working day but everybody is in that zone, even fit people so just getting out of the house is a step closer to being a better you.

I purchased a new cycle helmet today (my son demolished my other one in a matter of seconds!!!), so it's more cycling for me over the weekend and maybe an odd mini bootcamp of my own around Kilbogget Park.

I feel a little bit of difference in my clothes already so that's always a good sign.  I know it's hard and I'm not going to lose a half a stone in a week (unlike my husband who just seems to eat what he wants and lose weight) but bit by bit it'll happen :0)

So, until next time my fellow Bootcampers.... and in case I don't see ya, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and  Good Night  xxx

Turns out my 'Co Ordination' was a total figment of my imagination!!

Hey

Day 8 and 3ibs down wohoo!!!! I feel a difference already and I really am enjoying it all.

Tonight's class was totally different to the last 2.  I always thought I had good co ordination but judging by tonights performance, that was a total figment of my imagination.  Our instructor had us running up and down ladders and hurdling, yep hurdling, and sprinting and jogging and squating and lunging..... shattered.com.

The ladder thing was just flat on the ground and we had various exercises, at speed, testing every ounce of co ordination in my limbs.  I truely wanted my legs and arms to work the way they were supposed to but man, it was hard and extremely tiring but a great workout.

I think the best thing about the exercising part, for me anyway, has been the variety.  Nothing has really been the same each time and the fact that I haven't just walked every other night aswell has been good for me.  I cycled 1 night and that was a true accomplishment for me, it nearly killed me in fairness but nonetheless, proud of myself for doing it.

So, again, tomorrow will be the whole 'no pain, no gain' thing, but it seems to be accurate so we'll keep saying it :0)

Until next time, stay healthy  ..... and in case I don't see ye, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night

xxx

Days 5 & 6

Hey there

So, I'm on my 6th day of dieting.  I think the hardest part of all this dieting has actually been the complete detox from the amount of coffee I had been drinking.  I've had a headache for the entire time at various intervals throughout the day but I'm still in the positive frame of mind guys and girls so that's always a bonus.

So, recovering from the shame of being viewed by the passangers of the dart every 7 minutes running around Blackrock Park and stopping to do exercises that were really not very ladylike whatsoever and I have now thoroghly recovered from the pain of the day after working your butt off feeling.

Yesterday was started with my new friend, the protein shake and his friend the pint of water followed a few hours later by some seedless grapes and a low fat fruit yogurt.  Had some chicken for lunch and then went off to Granny Peg's with the kids and my trustee Weight Watchers bikkie on hand for an ol' dunk in the cup of coffee.  Dinner was Steak with mixed salad and low fat salad dressing which was very very nice I have to say.

Today was the usual shake, water and fruit with fruit yogurt and I'm just about to go make myself a Low Carb burger and will have Spag Bol tonight and I think I may cycle tonight for a change.... I'll cycle anywhere, it's the cycling back that kills me so I'm trying to be enthusiastic by putting it on the internet so I'll have to do it :0)

All the best and thanks for reading xxx

And in case I don't see ye, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night

Eh, Bootcamp in the rain, how serious am I !!!!!

Hey everyone

I've just completed Day 4 of my diet and Class 2 Week 1 of my Bootcamp.  Sitting here munching some seedless grapes and 1 Weight Watcher biscuit

Started my day off with the ever present Protein Shake and 1 pint of water followed a few hours later by a large orange and a low fat fruit yogurt (which happened to be orange flavoured too so there was a wonderful lingering aroma of orange in the office today).  I actually wasn't hugely hungry for lunch today so opted for a Blueberry Nutragrain and a Muller Rice Pudding (not on the diet sheet..... bold).  Dinner was a surprisingly yummy brown rice, tuna and soy sauce and then it was off to Bootcamp.

So, spring in my step, water in hand, I landed in Blackrock Park in the rain.  There were 5 of us and the instructor..... no secondary school students this time round.  The instructor was a girl this time and it has to be said, the slimmest woman on the planet I think.  I was all ready to do the boxing as per Monday night but eh, noooooooo.  We were doing the 300 workout!!!! Yes, when you think of 300, you now think of the film 300 and that is exactly what it's about apparantly.  So the story goes, the cast of 300 did workouts of different exercises in reps of 30 (now in all fairness of course, CGI aside, they were working out probably around 30 times a week so absolutely no comparisons to be made here!!!) ....

Anyho, we jogged, yes jogged, for 2 minutes, yes 2 minutes ME, then we stopped and did 30 reps of some exercise which I've completely forgotten about now.  Then it was off jogging again for 2 minutes and then 30 reps of tricep dips clinging onto a wall.  Then off jogging for 2 mins and then 30 seconds of jumping jacks and so on for almost an hour until we had done our 10 stops of 30 reps of each exercise.... This, my friends, was the bootcamp I imagined bootcamp to be.  She was tough but hugely encouraging and I was super impressed with myself that I managed to jog, do situps, run up hills, do jumping jacks, jump up steps etc...

I was and am absolutely shattered but what a workout!!!  Enjoyed it thoroghly but I do think I'll have a little bit of difficulty even falling out of bed in the morning :0)

Until the next time my friends and in case I don't see ye, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night xxx

Day 2 & 3

Hey everyone

So, literally having immense difficulty doing anything taxing whatsoever after my bootcamp a couple of days ago..... my limbs are seriously in pain but they say no pain, no gain but they would say that woudn't they :0)

Day 2 (yesterday) started off with my Protein Shake and 1 pint of water, followed a few hours later by half a large orange and half a large apple and 1 low fat fruit yogurt.  Lunch was Tuna salad with onion, tomato and vingarette dressing (are yis just alive with pleasure reading this or wha"!!!).  Dinner was Spaghetti cooked al dente (have no feckin' clue what that is but it sounds super) topped with chicken and a tomato based sauce.  When the children went off to bed I fecked around with my phone trying to get a radio station on it but for some reason, all I could hear was the music and the singing was background noise... very odd but kept me busy while briskly walking around the park for about 40 mins (trying to locate my lungs from the previous night)

Day 3 (today) again started with the Protein Shake and 1 pint of water, followed a few hours later by 300g of strawberries and a low fat yogurt (huge amount of strawberries actually so it was quite nice).  Just had a salad with low fat cheese (supposed to be Swiss cheese but couldn't find that), a tomato and vingarette dressing which was actually lovely I have to say.

I'm quite enjoying all this food even though it's stuff I seriously wouldn't be bothered with normally but when you're on a diet you'll try anything.  So far, so good in terms of fulfilment and energy so fingers crossed!!! 

I'm having steak tonight with another brisk walk and this time my ipod shuffle is charged so no more hotel like music for me, I'll be beating it around the park tonight with a spring in my step courtesy of Apple and maybe my lungs may surface :0)

Bootcamp tomorrow in Blackrock Park so see yis after that :0)

My first day

So, my first day as an official bootcamper is now over.... my legs are like jelly and I feel like I've smoked 2 packs of cigs buttttttt I'm alive nonetheless 0)

My day started off with a protein shake and 1 pint of water followed a few hours later by an apple and a low fat fruit yogurt.  My lunch was a chicken fillet with mixed lettuce salad and a vingarette dressing which it has to be said I was NOT likin' the look of one bit but surprisingly tasty.  My dindins was a very tasty, very large chicken fajita which I wouldn't have touched before today as I'm not a very adventureous person when it comes to food but I have decided to do everything on my diet sheet even if it means consuming green peppers, avocados, courgettes and the likes (oh my).

So, at 6.45pm I headed to the park for my bootcamp meeting at 7pm. When I arrived I couldn't see any groups jogging around the field being shouted out by army like officers or anybody chanting like soldiers doing a sound off so I walked around the field and eventually I spotted 1 girl and 1 guy who looked like they were pretty serious (the sight of boxing gloves and punch pads kinda gave that assumption strenght).... Considering it was a bank holiday, there was just me, a girl called Megan and our instructor and I was dropped in at the deep end.

Running has never been my forte so to run up and down to 'warm up' was startling and breathtaking, literally. :0)  But then I got to punch and run some more and step by step it was tough but it was alot of fun too.  There was skipping (which was absolutely hilarious, I haven't skipped since I was about 7 and now that I have boobs and hips and an ass that I try so hard to keep under some form of control 7 days a week all the days of my adult life!!!!, skipping is truely not the way to achieve that).  The instructor was very encouraging though which was brilliant and Megan was great to workout with as she's this little slip of a thing who is only in secondary school and has the fitness level of about 10 adults put together.

I can't feel my legs right now.  My arms feel like they're about to drop off at any time and yep, my lungs are definitely not where they should be but I'm looking forward to my next class and all the days in between as I'm now, offiically, making my change.

It's time to make a change

I've never been 'in shape' as such but there have been times in my life where I've looked good.  I'm a curvy girl and I absolutley accept the fact that I'm not, nor never will be, skinny and I am fine with that but right now I'm obese for my height.  However, I don't plan on being the right weight for my height either cause I'm not so sure that would be good for me either (I'd have to lose between 4 & 4.5 stone) but you never know. :0)

I start my bootcamp tomorrow.  It's a bank holiday Monday so I definitely feel like I'm serious about it haha.  I'm honestly looking forward to it, if a little scared of what's ahead of me, but I'm hoping fitness and health is the new me. 

I have 2 children who I love so much and I don't ever want them to be without me as children so this new me has to eventually just, be me.... fit and healthy

So, if you do happen to find some lungs in Kilbogget Park tomorrow.....they'll more than likely be mine cause FIT is not me right now

If I can manage to move my fingers tomorrow night, I will let you know how I got on but until then I'm gonna enjoy my last day of junk

Bootcamp

So, I'm signing up for a bootcamp fitness program.... 5 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 1 hour per session.

I'm going to document my progress etc... so that hopefully I can encourage others to bite the bullet and get in shape.

 Wish me luck!