Fit Friday: Cassius Edition

And it's been a while! Since I could, something something blah....

Well, this week has been the complete opposite of fit, but for once through NO FAULT OF MY OWN. It was actually ALL Hannah's fault. She gave me a delightful cold and I've spent the entire week just trying to breathe. So, as you can imagine there hasn't been a whole lot of gym action this week, as in zero. I mostly haven't left bed. I have been going crazy.

Eating wise, it's been a bit shameful. I've not really tracked and I've not really cared. Illness is no time for restriction. I did have an orange though, yay VIT C.

So this week, I'd really like to work on getting back to it. The night before I fell ill with Hannah's devil flu, I printed all these geeky cool charts and tracking sheets off to stick on my wall. I was all raring to be motivated and awesome. Now, the first four days of each thing have horrible red zeroes and crosses on, so that's a little disheartening. However, it shouldn't be too difficult to rediscover my awesome.

I think the gym part will be the hardest. I normally only have 1 or 2 consecutive rest days, so 7 or 8 is going to be a bit of a challenge. Let's just hope I still remember how to do a squat...

How fit has your week been?

Fit Friday : Cassius Edition

 

It's that time of week already! 

How fit was my week on a scale of 1-10? 1 being bathing in pasta and cheese, 10 being an iron man?

6? 6.5?

What exercise have I done?

Saturday - Nope.
Sunday-  A monster gym session, elliptical, hill sprints on the bike, stepper, treadmill mountains, rower intervals, kettlebell everythings. A nice 700 and something burn.
Monday - Body Pump class
Tuesday - Kettlebells class
Wednesday - Step class
Thursday- Spin, pump, abs class
Friday- Probably a rest day

What has my eating been like?

Better than last week's fiasco! Still not 100% . Calorie wise mostly under target, but in terms of protein and my macros they've been a bit askew. However, I have ordered my new batch of powder, and pancake mix so I should be back to the A game when it's delivered. Sometimes all that lies between you and good nutrition is an overdue food shop...

How have I felt?

Kind of sleepy. Mostly sleepy. I can only assume this is a carbohydrate overdose because I don't do a lot else with my days at the moment. Also, I have been craving sweet sugary things more, again I'm guessing because I have been getting too much from the carbs.

Have I lost any weight?

I was really expecting a gain. BUT! A 1lb loss ! This takes the total to 5lbs not huge, but it's moving in the right direction again so it is ALL GOOD .

What would I like to work on next week?

Last week I said I wanted to sign up to a Friday class. I haven't, oops, and also, the Friday classes don't really appeal to me. I think I want to make Friday my official rest day so instead Saturday is going to become the new Friday (you're following right?). I want to develop a gym routine for Saturdays which is all (or mostly) about the muscles, so I will be researching routines, and how to use the equipment without crushing yourself this week.  Second focus will be to make Sunday my monster workout day, because it felt good to spend a long time there, it worked on my mental capacity to keep at things that require effort. Thirdly, eat well. Duh.

Are you feeling FIT? 

 

 

Fit Friday : Cassius Edition

 

 

How fit was my week on a scale of 1-10? 1 being macaroni cheese, 10 being a 4 minute mile?

7? 7.5?


What exercise have I done?

Saturday - rest day
Sunday- Home HIIT workout
Monday - rest day (no pump class due to bank holiday)
Tuesday - Kettlebells class
Wednesday - Step class
Thursday- Spin, pump, abs class
Friday- Early gym challenge planned with Hannah. (1.6km sprint follow by 10reps of 3 kettlebell exercises 10 times. Finished with a 1.6km sprint.)

What has my eating been like?

I went over my food target a couple of days, but always with healthy things like nuts or fruit, so I'm not beating myself up too much. Also, my average weekly consumption came in right on target so it's all good. Had a delicious macaroni cheese that my sister cooked on Wednesday, which was completely off plan, but I worked extra hard at the gym the next day and it's all about moderation after all!

How have I felt?

Pretty good! I feel confident in my choices, savoured my extra rest day, and that helped me give more the next day at kettlebells. I am looking forward to getting back to body pump on Monday though, makes me feel stronger and barbells are just cool. I was less neurotic about my weigh in and only really got worried the half hour before, but again I soon realised I was being stupid.

Have I lost any weight?

Lost another 2 pounds! Total loss 4 pounds. I'm happy with this. Sure some people like to lose 6 pounds in a week but I'm confident in the fact that my 2 pounds is actual weight loss not just water loss. Plus I'm trying to build muscle so I'm not expecting all 70 odd pounds to drop in a month!

What would I like to work on next week?

Next Sunday (8th) I'm doing the Race For Life 5K, so I really want to get some more runs in this week! I am going to set a target of 3 5k runs before next Friday, on top of my usual gym activities :)

Are you feeling FIT? 

Fit Friday: Scotch edition

Workout schedule:

Friday: Circuits
Saturday: Rest day
Sunday: Circuits
Monday: GRIT cardio
Tuesday: Rest day
Wednesday: Bootcamp
Thursday: GRIT strength

Happy?
This week is definitely an improvement on last week! I usually do a class on Tuesday but was so tired and just knew it would be pointless going. Sometimes you have to listen to what your body is telling tou even if you really want to work out. I like to have at least 2 rest days a week or I'll just burn myself out.

What's your eating been like?

Again, better. Saturday was a complete write off because we just ate lots and lots of rubbish all day and had a few drinkies over the weekend but all in all, not too bad. Now it's coming into summer, the weekends are always going to be a bit naughty so I just have to make sure I'm extra good in the week, which I have been!

Weight loss?

My weight fluctuates so much it's hard to keep track. Weighing myself every day doesn't help either so I'm going to try and cut it down a bit, and only really take notice of Friday morning weigh ins. I am currently about 2.5 lbs heavier than my lowest weight, so my current aim is to get back down to that.

Fitness challenge
I finally managed to do my press ups, sit ups and triceps dips challenge! I must admit to missing a couple of days, only because I actually forgot! I managed most of them though and this morning was a killer! 60 sets of each: ouch! I feel slightly stronger though and I do think my press ups are getting better!

I didn't manage my other workout challenge unfortunately just because I didn't want to miss out on any of my usual classes and I haven't had chance to squeeze it in anywhere else. I'm planning to go tomorrow though so I will set myself the same this week.

1 mile sprint
10x kettlebell squat and press
10x kettlebell swing
10x some other exercise I haven't decided on yet
(repeat 10 times)
1 mile sprint

Has anyone tried any new workouts this week?

Fit Friday : Cassius Edition

 

 How fit was my week on a scale of 1-10? 1 being salt and vinegar doughnuts , 10 being an ultra marathon.

 

8.5, I didn't add in the extra stretching that I said I would.


What exercise have I done?

Saturday - rest day
Sunday- 4 mile run
Monday - Body pump class
Tuesday - Kettlebells class
Wednesday - Step class
Thursday- Spin, pump, abs class
Friday- Run planned for later

What has my eating been like?

I'm all about the protein brah. Protein shakes, protein pancakes... ON IT. Also I found out there's such a thing as salt and vinegar doughnuts in Tesco AND turned them down. Pretty impressive. Also, walked away from Belgian waffles this week. STRENGTH. Discovered a love for protein pancakes, may never look back. They are slightly eggy but as protein supplements go, a winner.

How have I felt?

Nervous that all this work wasn't going to pay off because it's been a whole week and I'm not even a size 8 yet. But irrational Laura was silenced on Wednesday when I saw the results of my efforts at weigh in. Now 85% empowered smug determined Laura.

Have I lost any weight?

I am 2lbs lighter! NOICE. Those circles over there are the pounds I am going to lose. This was taken before weigh in so obviously now two are coloured in. I find it encouraging to know where I'm at.

What would I like to work on next week?

Trusting the process. I knew all this week that I was on form but in my head I was still convinced that I'd gain weight. PMA is the watchword this week. That's positive mental attitude for those of you that don't go in for those sorts of things.

Are you feeling FIT? 

Fit Friday, more like FAIL Friday

Too much food and too little exercise makes for an unhappy Hannah.

Workout schedule:
Friday: Nothing
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: Circuits
Monday: Fail
Tuesday: Rest Day
Wednesday: Boxercise
Thursday: GRIT

Happy?
The weekend was terrible. Monday was even worse. Tuesday was pretty awful. Wednesday was a slight improvement. Thursday, back on track. Not good. I was meant to have a PT on Monday, my first one in ages so I was quite excited, but I was just so tired and run down that I decided not to go. WHYYYY?! I also ate the whole world on Monday. Cakes, coffees, chocolate. WHYYYYYY?! I usually go to HIIT on Tuesdays but it was my dad's birthday so you can let me off for that one! I feel like I weigh 50 stone at the moment. I've managed to turn it round in the last couple of days and I'm writing this before heading off to circuits this morning but it's still not right. It's also now the weekend where it's even harder to stay on track!

How has your eating been?
Like I said: cakes, coffees, chocolate. Oh, and the wine. So much wine. At least eating with Mark in the evenings guarantees that my dinner will be healthy. Its the rest of the day I need to work on. Well, needed to work on. It's over! I'm moving on. I had a bad few days and now I can just forget about it. Onwards and upwards! Hopefully the scale will go downwards.

Fitness Challenge
Surprise, surprise. Another fail.

Last week I set myself the challenge of doing sets of press ups, sit ups and tricep dips. I was going to start with 10 and increase the reps each day. I managed the first set, and that was that. Most of the time it was due to me actually forgetting about it rather than not doing it on purpose, but I could have made more of an effort.

So I am setting myself the same challenge this week along with another. My boyfriend had a CrossFit obsession phase and would trawl the internet reading about it, much to my disdain! Some of the workouts do look pretty good though and he found this huge list of example WODs. I've chosen one that I want to try:

You start with a mile on the treadmill as fast as you go. Then you pick three exercise and do 100 reps of each, ie 10 of exercise one, 10 of exercise two, 10 of exercise three and repeat ten times. Finish with another mile on the treadmill and you're about dead! I was thinking of using a kettlebell and doing weighted squats, bicep curl and press and tricep extensions as my three exercises but that may change.

I'll let you know how I get on! Hopefully next Fit Friday will be more positive and I will have had a better week. Must resist cake, must resist cake...

Fit Friday: Cassius Edition

 

If you saw my instagram post earlier this week, this is the post you've been looking for...

 

How fit was my week on a scale of 1-10? 1 being a cronut, 10 being Gerard Butler circa 300.

A good 7. As of Monday a strong 9 but the few days before bring down the average.

What exercise have I done?

Saturday- 5.4K outdoor run
Sunday- A 'fast' 3K
Monday - Body pump class
Tuesday - Kettlebells class
Wednesday - Step class
Thursday- Spin, pump abs class
Friday- Planning a 5K run later

What has my eating been like?

Up until Monday, not brilliant. As of Monday, ON POINT. I've got back into my tracking, I've calculated a 40/40/20 ratio for my macros. I am eating much more protein and so much less carbs. I am eating regularly, in small portions. I am snacking on veg, fruit or nakd bars. I am drinking in excess of 3 litres of water a day.

How have I felt?

Good. I've been feeling positive, but achey. I feel less bloated and I'm never hungry.

Have I lost any weight?

SO. I finally remembered to go to Boots and weigh myself. I almost wish that I hadn't. Without even realising I have reached my heaviest ever weight. About 16 pounds heavier than when I last weighed myself at the end of January. I don't feel that much fatter. It's all the more disappointing because of how 'on it' I have been this week. But now I know, and since I'm already 'on it' I know that next week will be better.
I guess I just hadn't been eating well at all until this week, because I have definitely been working out more than I ever did in Manchester. I was obviously just eating back all the calories and more. Well, no more. This week before I even weighed myself I switched up my eating plan as detailed above. I'm eating lots of protein and averaging about 1200 net cals. This should definitely lead to weight loss next week.
I'm sticking to it 100% because cheating would only be cheating myself! etc. Thinking back over the last few weeks there has been a lot of ice cream, and there was a lot of chocolate before I started my 100 day challenge. I could well have been a few pounds heavier last week, I just didn't know!
And I think that is why scales are important to me right now. I know there are stories of people becoming obsessed with the numbers but I think at this point it is important for me to hold myself accountable for my eating each week, and to see results so that I know all my hard work is paying off.

The thing is, when you start out as FAT and then lose a stone, you still look fat. So it is nice to know the numbers so that you know for sure you are heading in the right direction.
This could easily be a very depressing moment for me. I am the heaviest I've ever been, ever. However, I can turn it around. This is a new motivation, this isn't failure, I'm not dead yet.

What would I like to work on next week?

I want to keep going at 100%, I need to see a loss on the scales next week just so I know I am not going crazy, or have some sort of medical condition. I need to focus on extra stretching this week, I am very stiff at the moment, and it is making efficient workouts harder.

Are you feeling FIT?

Fit Friday : Cassius Edition

How fit was my week on a scale of 1-10? 1 being a burger pizza, 10 being Chalene Johnson.

4. Definitely not great but better than last week.

What exercise have I done?

I was all set to get back to the gym on Sunday after my ankle had returned to an almost normal size, however I then got a cold and couldn't breathe properly. Therefore I didn't make it to the gym until Wednesday. Good news! My ankle can hack running again! Did a little 3K so as not to shock it, Thursday I did a faster 3K and then 3K on the bike. All seems to be working as normal, so next week I can get back to my usual classes, runs, and super hot gym style (see below, HOT) !

What has my eating been like?

At times good, at times bad. My main regret has been the amount of ice cream I've had this week. For 3 or so days my throat was so sore that nothing but ice cream would sooth it. Still. No excuse. Lazy eating. Must improve this week.

How have I felt?

Run down and gross. Now that the cold is clearing I'm feeling a bit better. My first run back was glorious and I realised just how much I'd missed that good post exercise feeling!

Have I lost any weight?

No le se. I failed to weigh myself again. I imagine there was an ice cream related gain this week.

What would I like to work on next week?

Well how about number one, I remember to go to Boots and weigh myself? Secondly, getting back on track with my running. Now that I know that my ankle is fine I can work on improving my 5K speed. Thirdly, no ice cream or the like. I'm doing well with my no chocolate for 100 days challenge but I don't want to replace one sugary thing with another.

Are you feeling FIT?