Tuesday 30 April 2013

Don't be a slave to the scale!

The scale is a liar.

It will tell you that you're a failure the second it gets a chance.

But you're smarter than that. You know you can always beat the scale.  Even when you've had a hard time keeping to your calorie goal, you can still beat the damn scale.

Take measurements. Yeah, the scale will never suspect that.
Take measurements and log them like you do with your weigh ins. 

I may be showing a pound and a half gain since the start of the year (boo, hiss) but if you check my weigh ins page you can see I've logged two sets of measurements.

I may have started the year lighter than I am now, but since I started the gym at the beginning of the month I have lost an inch under my bust, a quarter inch on my waist and half an inch round my ever-determined-to-stick-out-like-Princess-Leia's-hair-buns-hips.  I can't believe it!

The scale lied to me. 
It told me I was failing on my journey.
Well, if it was wearing pants they'd be on fire.

Though I may not be losing the fat like I'd hoped, I'm showing myself that I am improving on my shape even now. My work trousers are still tight but they're a size smaller than they were a couple of weeks ago! My gym programme incorporates resistance training along with cardio which is helping me tone up - even slightly (I've only been a couple of handfuls of times) and when I put my mind to it I am going to show that scale - and the world - what I'm made of.

When you're feeling down about not getting a certain number on the scales, I hope you remember this post - and I hope you take your own measurements to back you up. You CAN do this, sometimes the world is slow to pick up ;) 

Want to tone up? Start lifting!
Ladies, you won't get all bulky like Mr Universe - regular lifting improves muscle definition (and building more muscle helps burn fat faster) - you only 'bulk up' when eating at a massive surplus and taking 'supplements'... if you catch my drift.  Seriously, resistance training and lifting will get you into a smaller size before you can say "Hey, these trousers need a belt."

I may not be there yet - but I'm closer than I was yesterday!

Sunday 21 April 2013

Finally waking up

Having the sun finally make an appearance has had a dramatic effect on me. I feel like I'm actually 'waking up'. It sounds crazy, but after the winter and supposed 'spring' we've been having, being able to feel the sun on my skin feels amazing. Scotland may be green and pretty, but only because it rains so much lol.

Can you believe I was so early for the gym this morning it wasn't even open yet? LOL! I was like a proper little gym bunny standing outside with a few other people waiting for the doors to open. And the London Marathon was warming up on the TV screens so I thought I'd have a go on the treadmill (it's not on my usual programme). 

Man I'm sore now BUT I walk/jogged for 35mins and made it 3.46km by intervals of walking 2mins at 6km/h, jogging 1min at 7km/h at a 1% incline and even jogged for a full 3 mins at the end at 7.5km/h! 


I'm so fracking proud of myself! 

And there was a guy in there who was checking me out (LOLz, I think he was actually just looking for attention) - he started doing pull ups every now and again on the TRX machine inbetween the other weights bench while I was running. He went back over when I changed to the TRX but only left just as I made a point of looking over at him to save him from having to come back over, because his arms must have started to hurt by then. HA! I almost LOLed right there on the mat but I held it together. 

Also, there were two people on treadmills behind me and when I heard them talking I had a teeeeeeenie voice in my head whispering not to do it, but I only slightly hesitated to start jogging, I still did it! That's actually almost as big an achievement than the walk/jog itself. I love this gym.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in forever... part of me got lazy... part of me was in some kind of dragged-out winter rut. But if you've seen the weigh-ins page I have still been logging weight for the better or worse! But let's hope this weather holds out til I can become obsessed with running!  Fingers crossed my back decides to play ball!
 
I 'only' have 6 months until the Backstreet Boys cruise, I need to get my shit together!  60lbs to go!  GAME ON.