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Showing posts with the label exercise

Back to it and 16:8

So I've been doing kettle bell swings on and off since January and recently I set myself another goal of 50-100 swings a day (1 or 2 sets of 50 reps) with the 6kg kettle bell. No pressure to do 100, only if time allows. This is in addition to a new diet I haven't tried, 16:8, which I am finding relatively easy as I never used to eat breakfast. However, I am doing 18:6 as this is more natural for me. Peer pressure and do-gooders saying I must have breakfast made me cave in, so for the last 3 or so years, I have had breakfast. Not any more, I am taking control of my life. Hopefully, I can keep up the weight loss. I am a pretty slow loser so have reduced my calorie intake to around 1,000. Recommended cals for me is 1528 minus 20% = 1244 cals. I am not being too strict about it. I am trying to cut out sugar and sweeteners, my main culprit is sugar-free squash and low calorie pop. I am eating bread, pasta and potatoes but not every day. My main substitute is cauliflower rice which s...

New Month, New Goal

My exercise regime trailed off due to my lower back problem, so today I decided to start up again with a lower weight but higher reps. I will probably increase the weight but it is quite a big jump to the 10kg kettle bell which is the next manageable size I have. Haven given up on the cheap 8kg kettle bell from Morrisons, the handle is just so large I end up squatting. No doubt I will find a use for it when I start learning other exercises later on down the line. But for now, I am happy just swinging. 50 kettle bell swings x 2 reps with 6kg kettle bell So, my new goal is 100 swings a day for as long as I can keep it up. I think this is much more realistic as a beginner .... and I am going to drink my Huel for breakfast. It is not a diet shake more a healthy meal replacement drink and tastes a bit like weetabix/porridge/biscuits? I might even replace my lunch with it too. It is an easy way for me to take stock of my calories. 2 scoops is 304 cals x 2 meals = 608 and then I will have...

Fell Off Track

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.... But not too much. I am trying to exercise every day, but my workouts have been a bit up and down this week. Worked out Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Today (Sunday). This is mainly because my mum is in hospital and I am shattered. So 4 days this week. Not so bad really, but haven't been eating so good this week. I did 100 swings on Thursday, nothing else and I think it was with the 10kg kettle bell but forgot to write it down. Did it mainly in sets of 15, then a 12 and then a 13. Today I have done my normal kettle bell workout but started with the 10kg kettle bell. 2 sets 15 reps 10kg 1 set 15 reps 8kg Thought I might have lost some strength. But all seems to be the same. Struggling on 3rd set with 10kg but it will come so used 8kg instead. It's certainly better than missing a complete set because the 10kg is too heavy. I will gradually build up to this. Seems to be the American Kettle Bell Swing I struggle with at this weight. Also, I think I might have felt...

Simply Kettle Bell Swings

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Today I did a 15 minute workout with just Kettle Bell Russian Swings. 😄 Did I mention that I do these first thing in the morning in my nightie and slippers? 😆 No need for fancy gym wear at home. 120 Swings with the football sized 8kg kettle bell from Morrisons and ... 60 Swings with the 10kg kettle bell I did these in sets of 20 with a breather in between sets. 180 swings, nothing else today. According to the scales I have lost 4lbs since starting with weight training 2½ weeks ago.  Fat is going down, muscle is going up. It's fractional but still, pleased with that! Image Credit: Pixabay : geralt

Wednesday, Weight Training

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Today my routine was knocked out and instead of doing kettle bells as planned in my morning slot, I ended up doing weight training in the afternoon. I upped the weight from my little 3kg dumbbells to 4kg. After 8 bicep curls I thought I'd made a mistake as I really struggled. However, I told myself to stop being a big girl, carried on and eventually managed to do 12 reps and 3 sets of each exercise: 12 x 3 Bicep Curls 12 x 3 Dumbbell Bench Press (but I lie on the floor) 12 x 3 Hammer Curl 12 x 3 Shoulder Shrug 12 x 3 Calf Raise 50 Sit Ups on Abs Machine with bands 60 Leg Raises on Abs Machine 1 Long Stretch on Abs Machine I was convinced that the dumbbells were more than 4kg so I weighed them on the scales and they came out at 5.08kg so basically the bar is just over a kg. I can do this! Image Credit: Pixabay : AGuen

Week 2 Fat Loss Journey

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Fat Loss Not Weight Loss Notice I have changed my wording. This is to keep me motivated (which today I am not). I have put on 1lb, I think this was probably my Sunday dinner yesterday. But I am hopeful that muscle weighs more than fat and this 1lb is muscle. Who am I kidding? 😂 I am really not motivated today. I feel so tired. I did not sleep well. So, before my workout I looked for some inspirational images to get me going. My workout today was weight training and trying out my abs machine (more on that later). I have only targeted body areas that I don't think are covered fully in my Kettle Bell Workout or where I would like more improvement. This is personal to me and also depends on my own physical ability. My Beginners Weight Training Program 15 reps, 3 sets, 30 minutes with little stops in-between. Bicep Curl Dumbbell Bench Press Dumbbell Hammer Curl Shoulder Shrug Calf Raise Sit Ups on Abs Machine Leg Raises on Abs Machine Full Stretch on Abs Machine O...

HA! More Equipment - Week 1

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Planning and Week One I haven't changed one bit. I have decided to do this at home. No gym fees and cheaper. I already have some dumbbells that my partner bought me (well over 10 years ago and never used). They are 3lb each in weight. After researching on the internet I found an overall exercise plan that covered all the major muscle groups. A total workout plan. Actually, I did this exercise on the floor. I also ordered an Abs Warrior machine using my Christmas vouchers. My decision was to tone up my core area without having to lie down on the floor. I find this really uncomfortable, can't really do them and it strains my neck. I am hoping the Abs Warrior machine will support my back and give me some resistance to get me back up again. I also bought it to do leg curls and also there seems to be a nice stretch that it does. Anything else, I'm not really interested in. (Cost £30 sale) I did a couple of days using the total workout plan with my dumbbells and foun...

Long Winded Introduction

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New Year and New Me Seriously? I'm not uploading a picture of me yet. So basically, this is a blog about body transformation. I'm hoping it will keep me inspired to carry on and also, I couldn't find what I needed on the internet for an average person like me. I am not a fitness fanatic. I have tried loads of forms of aerobic type exercises and have stuck to none of them. I have joined classes and dropped out. I have bought loads of home gym machines (and sold them again). I have bought fat loss tablets and patches. I have even bought an electrical device that freezes fat that is also sitting in a box under my bed. The list goes on. I am pre-menopausal, have dodgy knees, a dodgy ankle, a dodgy shoulder, a dodgy hip, low blood pressure and IBS, BUT, I have a little determination and will try to find an easy way to shed pounds that doesn't cost the earth, take loads of time and stops me from enjoying the foods I like. Really? Does this even exist? I really hope so ...