So what am I doing to get this healthy lifestyle?
Well first of all I'm doing Weight Watchers. As I mentioned in that post, I've lost 8.5 in a month which I don't see as a bad achievement, and it's definitely something I can stick to as well.
Besides the weight loss kick, I've been getting myself more active:
- Taking Dexter on really long walks up some of the glorious Yorkshire hills. Trust me, pushing a pram and a child up the hills near where I live is a feat in itself, they are steep, long and incredibly tiring. However, we both really enjoy being outside so I'm vouching to do this more often. Especially now I know that the iPhone takes note of my steps using the Health app, and transfers this to my Weight Watchers app for activity/pro-points. It's a win-win.
- Going back to the gym: This is mainly for core strengthening and building muscle and strength back in my leg since my accident last year. Although I am really enjoying being able to go back to the gym, it's unfortunate I can't do as much as I used to do, but I'm working myself back up to my goals again which is pretty fun and challenging.
- Mummy and baby yoga with Dexter!: I've just been searching YouTube for good videos on mummy and baby yoga and I've found some really good ones. Yet again, this is something we can both be doing together and we thoroughly enjoy it.
- Yoga on my own: I've been using the Jillian Michael - Yoga Meltdown [DVD]
- Blogilates: Ok so I'm trying to do the POP Beginner's 2.0 plan and I pretty much only managed to do half of day one's video. I'm still trying to do this and get the moves correct before I move on, but boy is it proving hard however, I'm still exercising and that's good to me.
- Bellydancing: This is one of my favourite workouts and has been for years. I'm currently using the Belly Dance For Beginners [DVD] [2010]
What improvements have I noticed?
Amongst the weight loss, and being able to breathe and walk a lot further, I've noticed a reduction in my back pain, my posture is much better, and I can definitely feel my core strengthening; something that is incredibly important to me at the moment. Oh and I can plank, and raise on to both my arms and shift my weight back again. This is a major thing for me as I can't even do a press up. I know I carry a lot of extra weight, but gosh I'm so excited to see how my strength improves over the course of the year!
I've tried a couple of new (to me) things out in my exercise plan, but have you seen some of the latest fitness crazes? If you head over to SimplyHealth's blog here, they've compiled a list of some of the hottest fitness trends for this year. I mean come on, who doesn't want to try anti-gravity yoga?! That sounds right up my street, oh and underwater cycling is something I'd give a go too. I've yet to try water aerobics so that might have to be the first on my list of classes to attend at the gym.
This blog post has been written in collaboration with SimplyHealth, and may contain product sample(s) and affiliate links; all content contained within, images (unless specified) and opinions are my own.
Well done - 8.5 in a week is a pretty big deal, it sounds like your hard work is really paying off! Pilates is great for core strengthening. Unfortunately I can't go to the class that I used to as they changed the time, but it was always such a good workout... muscles ached afterwards that I didn't know existed!! x
ReplyDeleteLaura | Loved By Laura
Sounds like you're doing really well with the getting fit goals! I think it's all about finding things you enjoy doing so that you want to do them more and more. For my bf and I, it was running. We never did much exercise and I hate the gym, so running was perfect. It allows us to be outside, it involves moving (I find things like yoga to be too slow) and gives me that clear head space that comes with exercise.
ReplyDeleteKeep up all the good work!!
~ K
www.crumbsinthebed.com
ReplyDeleteBaby yoga is too adorable to watch! lol
Doing a proper press up is absolutely killer. I don't know how it looks so easy when others do it!