Fitness Facts

Great article over on the New Scientist website, worth a read.

dance tastic

So instead of my run tomorrow, my Thursday morning workout is gonna be a dance/aerobic type workout, following the Tracy Anderson method, the workout I'll be doing [please ignore any references to Gwyneth Paltrow or Madonna] you can see here.

I'll just be repeating that routine for 45mins to an hour depending on how much energy I can muster and how long I can keep going. Have worked out my playlist for tomorrow and it is as follows:

Toxic - Britney Spears
Shot You Down - Audiobullys
Satisfaction/Party started - Benassi & Pink
Yeah Yeah - Bodyrockers
Dont Give Up - dance mix - Bryan Adams
I'm not alone - Calvin Harris
Better the Devil You know - Kylie
Get Together - Madonna
Sexyback - Justin Timberlake
Poker Face - Lady Ga Ga
One Two Step - Ciara
Star Guitar - Chemical Brothers
Superstylin - Groove Armada
Enjoy the Silence - remix - Depeche Mode

What would your dance playlist be?

an early morning conversation in my head

It went a little something like this:

Lazy: oh look, it's 5am, stay in bed, it's warm and cosy

McTofu: must get up and get to the gym

Lazy: the gym is evil, look how much it hurt you from your workout yesterday

McTofu: I am sore but another workout will help ease the pain and stop my muscles from seizing up

Lazy: BUT your gluteus maximus is non-cooperateous right now

McTofu: leave my butt outta this Lazy, I'm getting up and going to my spin class, so nyer!

I went to spin class, it was brutal but worth it.

Mctofu - 1 Lazy - 0

Early mornings [yawn]

I have been reading the blog Zen Habits recently and decided to give his recommendation of getting up early a try. Now in the middle of a cold, dark British winter this is no mean feat but hey it's 05:45, I got up at 5am, it is minus 4 out there and I will be going to the gym! The benefits of getting up early for me are I get my exercise in early, which has always been the best route for me. I feel energised, ready for the day and know that it is done. Another benefit is I get my bed made [not helped by Chester, see below, stoopid cat]

I also get the opportunity to tidy my room or do a bit of blogging, reading or just getting myself in the right mental space for the day. It is way too early to tell of course [excuse the pun] but I think, being a morning person anyway, this may be the start of something good. Getting to bed early the night before is an absolute must but as I promised myself less crap telly and more reading this year, this too should be relatively easy.

Now to organise my music for my run and off to the gym I go.

training schedule for this week

This is the plan for working out this week. I already managed to get up early this morning and get my ass to the gym. It was bloody baltic outside so an opportunity to get on the treadmill and get warmed up was very welcome!

Mon 3k run on treadmill / 3 sets of weights for arms /3 sets of abs

Tue 3k run on treadmill /45min body pump class

Wed 45min spin class / 3 sets of weights for arms /3 sets of abs

Thu 3k run on treadmill / 3 sets of weights for arms /3 sets of abs

Fri 45min body pump class

Sat 5k run outdoors / pilates and/or yoga type stretch session

Sunday will be my rest day this week. I want to stick with a 6 days a week workout plan for now, I know some will say it is excessive but I know I can manage it and the more I do the better able I'll be to keep it going.

If only I could use this excuse...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The Villians and I

By way of introducing myself and how I got here, I thought best to reveal the two main villains I’ve spent the best part of 15 years getting to know. Let me introduce you, they are ‘Greedy’ and “Lazy’.

Greedy came into my life around about the age of 6 when, not content with my own packet of sweets, I helped myself to my baby brother’s. My mum shouted that it was bad to be greedy. My defiant little self made a decision that when old enough to choose for myself, I would have as much as I damn well wanted, with nobody to tell me no! So Greedy got real comfy and settled in for the ride. Lazy made an appearance in my early 20’s where the student lifestyle swiftly unraveled years of being active and I got quite used to not doing any exercise other than lifting my hand to my mouth. It is no wonder the weight piled on and the lifestyle stuck. In the last 15 yrs I have managed to go from approx 120lbs to, at my heaviest, 210lbs.

At the start of 2009, the penny dropped. I had put on more weight over the festive season and I was sick of being fat, tired and unhappy with myself. I made a commitment to watching what I eat and seriously ramped up my exercise. I told myself that I would not give in to the lazy and that Greedy no longer had a place at my table.

Although I'm already a year into my journey, I want to record my successes and failures as I believe this will be a good motivator to see how far I have come and what I have yet to achieve. Do feel free to comment if you have any useful tips!