Brave or stupid?

Hey again!

So as you may know if you've been following my blog posts...I do like my group exercise classes. Infact, I can't get enough of them! So much so that tonight I am taking on, not one but, two classes!

Yes, I've plucked up the courage to try Boot Camp, after hearing about how scary it it...yeah, I probably am stupid haha!

I heard that last week during a Boot Camp session, a lady who had never attended the class before went to get a drink. She was asked "What do you think you're doing?!"...."getting a drink"..."Err, no you're not!?" was the response. Yikes! Best remember to do as I'm told, hadn't I!

So I shall be starting the Boot Camp class at 6pm sharp, I should imagine. It is supposed to last for 45 minutes, however the 'regulars' told me it runs over, finishing around 7pm. Then, I shall have a probably much needed half an hour break. I've finally decided on taking a change of clothes, after deliberating about how sweaty I'll be all week. This way I figure I'll be relatively fresh when I start the Step n Core class at 7.30pm. This finishes at 8.30pm...so I have a long workout ahead.

Now I have to say, the Step n Core class is high impact, imo, and I do have to fight to keep up...so doing this class after having done another is quite ambitious! However I will succeed! Or rather I will try my very best to!

Have any of you attended Boot Camp?...Any tips, advice? Let me know before 5.30pm! Afterall, I'd hate to think what the late punishment would be!?

I am a little nervous but I'm sure that once I'm there I'll be fine! How bad could it be?! Anyway I shall report back tonight...or maybe tomorrow if I'm in a fragile state!

The right footwear

Hey guys, I hope you are all doing well this week!?

Recently during some of my exercise classes I've found that I've been getting blisters on my third and fourth toes and my feet just weren't feeling particularly great! I can't actually recall when I bought my trainers but I know I made the mistake of choosing based on looks rather than purpose.

You can see that the trainers are very flat and have no support as such for the feet. However, I did find them generally comfy and also bought a matching white pair. Yet at the time I don't recall doing anything particularly strenuous in them so they have been more than adequate until now!

So, I decided to go to a store where I knew they would give good adivce on what footwear to go for, based on the activities I do. I had an idea that I needed some sort of 'running' trainers as I've heard these tend to be the most supportive when exercising. My dad, a jogger of around 5 years, has always been a fan of Asics trainers for running...but I wasn't sure about the reasoning behind this. What's the difference, right?

I arrived at the footwear section and noticed a treadmill beside the serious trainers. I was surprised to find that I would infact have to run on there, to determine what footwear I needed! How embarrassing! My dad didn't make things any better by announcing that I "run like a girl"...hmm I am a girl, Dad?!

So the woman/assistant brought me some trainers to wear whilst on the machine. I'd sensibly come in dolly shoes ha! I usually take a size 5 in shoes, such as heels and ballet pumps etc, but I guessed I'd need a bigger size in trainers. I opted for a 6, yet ended up in a 7 after my toes touched the rim in the 6's. Big feet or what?!

Attractively, after being told to pull up my jeggings so she could see my ankles, I got on the treadmill. I only had to run for about a minute but I felt ever so self conscious knowing that I was closely being watched by the special camera! It was hilarious to see my feet running in slow motion on the screen... and not so funny seeing the rest of me wobble. Nice!

The woman pointed out how my left foot can be classed as normal in terms of the way it lands and remains fairly neutral. However, my right foot isn't so well behaved and overpronates. I asked her what this means and basically pronate is when the arch of the foot flattens to land. To overpronate the foot rolls slightly inwards. Apparently it can be quite serious and she was surprised I hadn't felt any discomfort before. Eventually she said it would have caused pain behind the knee and shin pain, in the wrong attire. In more serious cases it can cause shin splints which is extremely painful, forcing you out of exercise for quite some time. My Dad said that he had shin splints before and it was excruciating! It turns out that both of his feet overpronate which is the reason for why his trainer choice is important. Asics allow for overpronation in their footwear, which is why my Dad selects them.

Now in terms of my feet, obviously only one of them requires attention, so to speak. Therefore she suggested that I buy insoles, wearing only the right one in my trainer.

She suggested these insoles. You can see the support in the heel with the gel like material. She showed a normal insole of a trainer, which was flat and cardboard looking. Apparently they cost around 50p to make and are the cheapest part of a trainer. No wonder they aren't very supportive!

Next I had to choose my new trainers. This was heavily dependant on what would be best for my feet, and insole. I was surprised to see a lot of them were about £60-£80, and with the insoles being £20 it would be expensive! Lucikly though the trainers I had been wearing to run on the treadmill had been reduced to £34.99, and as I'd found them comfy, I was happy to go with them.

So the colour wouldn't have been my first choice. I'm more of a pink sort of gal, but hey ho. Funnily enough they are Adidas brand, again. What is it with me and Adidas?...but make really didn't matter to me so long as they were a good fit and comfortable.

I figured I would try them out at aerobics last night, without bedding them in. A slight mistake...they were generally comfy until about 40 minutes in and then the insole in my right foot began to rub a bit on the side of my foot. I'm hoping that this will go away once the trainers have been worn a little more! But, on a plus, no blisters =)

So, all in all I was very happy with my purchase. I'm extremenly glad that I decided it was time to get some new trainers because I hate to think what could of happened if I had kept overpronating in the wrong footwear! Weirdly she said that it can also cause headaches!...not what you want whilst working out really is it!

After my experience I would recommend going to test your feet out and getting the right footwear if you do a lot of activity. It will serve you well in the long run! ( No pun intended, haha!)

The verdict!

Hey...so if you saw my Chinese takeaway post you'll know that I was unsure what the impact would be on today's weigh-in. And it wasn't brilliant. I lost 1/2 a lb.

So it was a loss which is something but it was disappointing. I guess I wanted to have my cake and eat it, so to speak, and lose at the rate I have been.

However, although I'm putting my pityful results down to the intake of chinese I do have to question whether other things also came into play.

* Last week was the only week that I ate just my daily points and didn't dip into my weeklies until it got to Friday/Saturday (where as you know I ate them all!). And as I do daily exercise classes that are quite intense I know sometimes my body requires some weekly points on top of my dailies, especially when I am earning 7+ activity points. By not doing this I may have been not eating enough on those days, perhaps causing my body to hold on to, as opposed to lose??!

* Another thought, one I would rather not accept, is that my body may be getting used to my eating and exercising causing my weight loss to plateau. Eeek! I really hope this isn't the case!! Although I'm pretty sure if you follow the WW plan, then you are supposed to see losses each week and I suppose I did, even if it was minute!

Regardless of my theories...when it comes down to it, I was truly right in saying that chinese should be seen as a treat! I feel like it's fine to indulge every now and again, but I guess if you do then you've got to be prepared for its effects!

I'll definitely enjoy it again, but for the time being I'm going to stay clear of it. I guess I've had my fix for now so I'll be able to go a while without! I know, I've just made it sound illegal or something haha!...but literally I cannot be trusted around it. If I was strong enough to fight temptation, then I would just order a chow mein dish for myself when other's are ordering, but I don't quite have that amount of willpower! It makes me weak. Good job it's not something part of daily life, I'd be doomed!

I feel sorry for the chocoholics out there...how do you do it?! Any tips & tricks?

I'll be back on track this week! Wish me luck and I'll send some your way.

Bad veggies!

Hey :)

Now, generally fruit and vegetables are free on the Weight Watcher's plan and I've been enjoying fruits such as; strawberries, cherries, apricots, bananas, nectarines, plums and melon. You'll notice I tend to prefer the finer fruits- apples and oranges just aren't my thing! However, bar enjoying the ocassional corn on the cob (these are actually around 2 points) I haven't been finding veggies easy to fit in. I do like the quick to grab salad bags, cuecumber and tomatoes (actually a fruit, I know) but in terms of cooked veg, it hasn't been happening.

So, I picked up some mushrooms, peppers and frozen veg bags that you microwave. I also bought the Fry Light oil spray so I could enjoy the first two buys fried for nil point! When it came to pointing the veggie bags I naturally assumed that these too would be 0 points...WRONG!

I couldn't believe it...3 PROPOINTS for a bit of frozen veg!!!

I mean look at it! The picture might not show the size, but these things are tiny. And on a daily 26 propoints...I would be crazy to deduct 3 of those for this! Now I'm not entirely sure why they are so high but someone told me that they are coated in something, which would explain their silly pointing!

Something I am fond of, is the WW Toffee and Honeycomb Sundae...

These are truly delicious and you get a rather generous portion. Brilliant for a treat after lunch or dinner. And funnily enough these sundaes are pointed at 3 PP each...

I know which one I'd prefer!? I say...put in a little more effort with your veggies, buy fresh ones and prepare them yourself. Fill yourself until your hearts content with a 0 point total and then tuck into a mouth melthing dessert like this one with those 3 points you've saved! =)

Safe to say, I won't be buying the microwave veg packs ever again.

Have you found anything naughty, hiding behind a 'healthy' disguise? Let me know!

Chinese takeaway...EEEK!

Hello. Hope everyone's feeling fit ;) Now, I have a dirty confession... Saturday night I had a chinese take out! But, before I get shouted at I need to mention that it was all above board and was within my Weight Watcher's ProPoints!

To be honest I was a little concerned because it has been said that you should avoid your danger foods. Danger foods meaning the ones that you can't just have a little of and end up stuffing yourself to bursting! Chinese is my major danger. I know many are choc-a-holics or cheese fiends but no, I have been known to eat my body weight in ribs, rice and spring rolls! OOPS haha.

However the way I see it is, if this WW plan is basically for life (perhaps not always AS regimented but still) then I can't cut out something I love so much completely. Where's the enjoyment in that?! =) So I decided that, rather than it being contraband and perhaps only eaten when 'cheating' (which, let's face it, this would definitely end up happening eventually), I would allow it as a treat every once in a while. Seems fair to me, and boy did I have fun! ...

So I scrutinised the menu and despite being encouraged to choose the 'healthier options' by other WW users, I decided I would select things that I really wanted. I mean what is the point in having chinese and ordering something totally different to the stuff you like?! So, I went with:

Crispy aromatic duck with pancakes (I shared this starter and had 3 rolls in total)
Egg fried rice (Half of a container)
Szechuan Chicken (Less than half of a container)
Chow Mein (Less than a quarter of a container)
Spring roll (I had 1 as they came as a freebie!)

The portions vary on the different dishes literally because I ate until I was full. I thought that this might be a challenege though, as I find it difficult to resist chinese and usually end up eating until I'm uncomfortably full... just through pure greed! So the fact I managed to resist dipping into the leftovers meant I was quite proud, if I do say so myself :) The Chow Mein was probably a bit ambitious as I ordered too much but I saved the remains (basically a full dish) and had it for lunch today. They point Chow Mein at around 9 so I counted it as 7. As for the total points for the chinese meal, I generously calculated it as 59 using my remaining daily points and all the weekly points I'd worked so hard to save all week.

As I've said previously, I usually find I lose the most weight when I've used up most of my weeklies so I'm hoping this will be the case tomorrow when I do my own weekly weigh-in! To be honest I am a little apprehensive about whether the massive meal will impact on my progress, but given that I also had 34 activity points aswell I should be ok, fingers crossed.

They say that when dieting your body eventually adjusts to what you're eating, so eating more every so often is supposed to give your metabolism a kick up the behind! Well, I will soon see tomorrow. Wish me luck!

I'll let you know how it goes...I'd love to hear about your progress this/last week?? What is your danger food?

It's all about exercise!

Hey again, so I've had a couple of YouTuber's ask me about exercise. Please note I am NOT an expert, nor do I claim to be. I'm just saying how I see it.

Now, firstly I believe the most important thing is to find something you enjoy and that can also fit into your weekly schedule. If at the start of exercising you are literally having to fight yourself everytime into doing it then it probably isn't going to last and eventually your willpower will be lost.

I suspect most people aiming to get fit will start with one of two methods. Either, joining a gym if you have the cash, or starting up running, cost-free. Personally I have fallen victim to the first option. Over the past 4 years I have become a gym member four times, in which two of those I definately did not get my money's worth nor did I actually keep going! In my case the times I failed were when I joined a gym purely to use their equiptment. In truth I am not overly a massive gym fan. The times I succeeded in using my membership were when I used it to attend group exercise classes with instructors telling me what to do. For me, I like that extra incentive of being yelled at sometimes and often I feel the competitve nature of the group means I push a lot harder than I would if I were on my own.

However, group exercise isn't for everyone. I know a lot of people may feel embarassed at the thought of others 'looking' at them working out. But honestly from experience, people are so into the class that nobody has time to look at other members.

It may be a good idea to go to a class with a friend for some moral support, afterall making a mistake and laughing about it with someone is probably a lot less daunting! And besides, even the intructors make mistakes... so I know everyone else must do so every now again! Don't worry just smile it off, cause you're there and that's what counts :P

Now in terms of what types of exercise classes you go for...well that depends on what you prefer and maybe also what your 'problem areas' are. The good thing is, you can try out a class and if you hate every minute of it then you are not oliged to ever go back!

I like to attend different types of classes e.g. Spinning, Zumba, Aerobics and Step n Core, just so I can work a lot of areas and mix things up a bit. However, I would say that if you find one you enjoy then stick with it. Don't worry if you do something like Zumba and don't get half of the moves after 1 or 2 classes. The more you keep with the same class, the better at it you'll get and most likely the more you'll start to have fun doing it. And of course the more you can put into a class the more you'll reap the benefits!

If anyone has any questions about any particular classes I do e.g. what they consist of, or what they are like then feel free to ask...obviously classes will differ depending on the instructor....And that's another thing, the instructor does make ALL the difference in my opinion. If there's a couple of different slots for something like spinning, more than likely there'll be more than one instructor. Trial them both out and go with the one that suits you. I usually like to go with the instructor that appears to work you the hardest but I am a sucker for pain haha. I very much like the moto, NO PAIN NO GAIN :)

And if group exercise classes aren't for you and you too aren't a gym fan...what about swimming? I like to go at least once a week for about 1 hour of laps. Depending on how I'm feeling I'll swim slowly or speed things up. I find swimming quite theraputive and it's perfect for those days when perhaps I'm lacking the energy to do a class or gym session....Yes, although I dislike the gym I still go once a week...the once doesn't seem too bad!

Now there are lots more exercise options out there... I mean housework is a killer! Serious cal burner! So if you can't find any exercise that you particularly enjoy you probably do some form of it with daily chores like cleaning or even walking the dog?! They say try to do 30 mins a day for at least 5 days of the week. If you're serious about getting fit though you will probably want to at least meet it or increase that.

Why not try out a new type of exercise this week?

Good luck! Keep that motivation.

Weight Watcher's & update

Hey!

Ok, so I've just posted a video on YouTube called A guide to Weight Watcher's. If you're interested in joining and want to find out how much it costs and basically how to use the propoints system, along with foods I've found to be good (or bad in some cases) check it out at: http://youtu.be/EdQ0FltOdr8  **Please note I am not affiliated with Weight Watcher's nor am I paid to advertise it. Just a user with 100% honest opinions :)

So, now the formalities are out of the way...let's get down to the results. I've been thoroughly impressed with my weight loss so far!

Week 1: -2 lbs
Week 2: -1 lb
Week 3: -2 lbs
Week 4: -1.5 lbs

Total (to date): -6.5 lbs!!! YAY =D

For me, it seems I lose more weight when I use up the majoirty of my weekly points but everyone is different so you will have to trial out what is best for you. I'm guessing it is also something to do with the amount of exercise you do during the week.

Now, I've never been one of those people that can just cut down on my food, add a little exercise and see great results. It's always my argument that if you don't eat masses to begin with, it's hard to cut down on your food without any help! I've never been someone that will eat piles of food but I guess I do eat the wrong foods. I would go so far as to say...I'm Ellie and I'm addicted to junk food!

However, since starting WW I feel I've managed to overcome my junk food obsession and actually change my outlook on fatty foods. The feeling I've had from adjusting my diet from takeaways to more healthy alternatives has been quite remarkable. I feel a lot more energised and my skin is reaping the benefits. I do suffer with spots/ pimples on my face regardless but in terms of the cellulite on my legs and stomach...I can definitely see an improvement! Yes I said CELLULITE! I'm pretty sure I'm not alone on this?!

Obviously the exercise I've added to my schedule will also have impacted, yet without the improvement in the food I'm eating I don't think I'd have physically have had the energy to do it in the first place!

Now I don't suppose WW will be everybody's cup of tea! You do have to literally live and breathe ProPoints and track track track what you eat. So if you're not one for calculating or are not prepared to religiously track your food then this maybe isn't the way to go.

I've heard a lot of people get on well with Slimming World, including my mum who had great success when doing this diet on her own. I'm not fully uptodate with SW but I grasp that the general concept is that you either eat foods high in protein or alternatively eat carbohydrates. BUT, I have a rather strange phobia...(well maybe it isn't that strange? You can decide)...but basically I cannot touch raw meat. I cannot touch it with my bare hands, with gloves or with any utensils FULLSTOP. It's something to do with the blood and texture of it that I just cannot stand...So I do not deal with meat unless it's the processed type. (How healthy right?! hehe). So anyway, this ruled out the protein diet for me and the thought of a lot of carbs just didn't sound brilliant...too stodgy!

Most important is to find what works for you and something that isn't just going to be a fad e.g. lose some weight then come off the plan and put it all back on and maybe more. It's my goal to keep Weight Watcher's going so that it isn't just a quick fix diet but more a lifestyle change. Obviously when I reach my goal weight I'm guessing I will be allocated more ProPoints and aim to maintain.

If you watch the video above you will see that WW definitely isn't about denying yourself of chocolate or snacks completely, but it's just about finding the balance. To be honest I sometimes feel like I'm eating more on this plan than when I wasn't following WW but I guess not eating enough can be a downfall in itself. The plan is carefully calculated for you as an individual so it will ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need, so long as you are eating all of your daily points allocated.

I would absolutely LOVE to hear from any WW follower's out there, whether you're new to it or perhaps an expert now :)

Hope you all have a successful week...keep that motivation ;)