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