Gym Bound

So this week marks the 15 week count down to my Tough Mudder challenge; which means that I cannot let my focus shift. I need to stick to my training plans; push myself harder and be accountable for my diet.

In regards to the latter I will be keeping a food diary this week which I will share with you next Sunday; it won't be perfect as I am not (at this point) a qualified nutritionist and do suffer from bouts of "I can't be bothered to make food so I will eat anything I can get my hands on!" But I am hoping that keeping the diary and sharing it with you guys afterwards will help me stay strong and be firm with myself!

Now, back to training. Ordinarily I like to train two days on, one day off but sometimes life gets in the way and you need to adjust this. One of my goals this year as part of my personal growth is to develop the will power to get up early in the morning, even in winter, to train. But as it is I am more reliable in the evenings.

This week I have to adjust my training schedule as my best friend is coming up to London from Cornwall for the weekend and I have a work event on Thursday. These sort of reasons are exactly why it is god to plan your workouts ahead; know exactly what you are going to do and on which days. Commit yourself. Once you have made the decision in your head about what you are going to do and committed yourself to it, you are less likely to back out or find an excuse.

So with that in mind please find my schedule for this week below;

Training Day

Morning All!

I know some of you ma be wondering where my favourite foods of Wednesday and Thursday went?? I am sorry about that, unfortunately I had a busier than expected week and I had to make a choice; go to the gym, train and then get a decent nights sleep or write the blog.

Training is a really important part of my life and at the moment I need to make the most of every session because I am training for Tough Mudder.

I have never taken part in anything like this challenge before, and would be lying if I didn't say I was a little bit apprehensive! Obviously overall fitness needs to be good to complete this course, but my main concern ins the upper body strength required to get over these obstacles as this is an area I have always struggled with. So this is now a massive focus in my training.

This challenge is going to require mental strength as well as physical strength; so this blog will help me to commit, stay positive and stay accountable. It would be great to hear from anyone else who is taking on Tough Mudder this year; let me know how you are getting on and training tips. Meanwhile I will be providing you regular updates of my training plans and progress.

Believe it. Visualise it. Breathe it. Be it.

Enter Tough Mudder on line here;  http://toughmudder.co.uk/

Hump Day

Oh Wednesdays...they are the hardest day of the week right? I woke up this morning groggy and hoping it was Saturday, there's nothing worse. So, I made a decision to banish every sleepy thought from my mind; get up, smile, shake it out and begin my day with earnest!

The best recipe for a bright good morning is my Sunshine Fruit Juice of orange, pineapple, carrot and ginger. The orange and pineapple are a great wake up call and the ginger gives it an extra kick! Try it the next time your having trouble starting the day and I guarantee it will get you movin' and a groovin' :)




Mid-week Workout

For me, a mid-week workout is a must. It provides me with the time I need to de-stress and shift the focus from work to "Me" as well as motivating me to kick butt for the rest of the week!

So my favourite workout for a Wednesday is Body Pump. Body Pump is class run by most gyms and involves high level reps of different movements with free weights. The class utilises exercises that benefit each body part; shoulders, chest, back, arms, legs, glutes and abs. It focuses on form and repetition so is great for toning and building stamina.

It's a great change for me as when I work out with weights by myself I like to focus on lifting heavy but I also don't always have the self discipline to do high reps when it starts to hurt! But in a class environment the peer pressure and instructor keep you going :)

I would also really recommend this class for anybody who is new to working with weights and isn't sure which exercises to do and whether they are completing the movements correctly. Remember - start with light weights and focus on form; once you have got this right the rest will follow!

Body Pump leaves you feeling great; strong, confident and buzzing with endorphins. The best way to face the rest of the week!

What's your favourite Wednesday Workout?