A journey of a thousand miles...
Often a weight loss journey is a sudden decision. A photo taken that frightens, a glance in a shop window that confirms the worst, trying on swimming togs...
Like so many women the world over, it has plagued me for more than two decades. So after spending a very pleasant evening at the North Canterbury Sports Awards with Jo Hawley-Smith from Snap Fitness, the decision almost made itself.
I’m on a six week slim down challenge. ‘‘It’s a sprint, not a marathon,’’ Jo said. Which suits me, as after my two decade marathon, it’s probably time to hit the fast bit in the interval training.
Monday was all about analysis with Kim and Michelle from Body Audit NZ. Their analyser is stateof-the art. It sends a low electric current through the body to measures the electrical resistance of the masses in there – organs, muscle, fat.
I’m officially overweight, but there’s hope. There’s a fair bit of skeletal muscle – the good stuff that’s close to the bone – and plenty of protein, meaning those muscles are in good shape. But like everyone, there’s too much of the bad fat too.
The body analysis, which takes all of five minutes, is followed on Wednesday by a baseline fitness test with my Personal Trainer (PT) Chris Shearer.
After asking all the right questions, a discussion about diet, a discussion about commitment and motivation, we’re onto the test. It’s not terrible, but it’s not easy. And it’s self driven. How long does it take to row 500m? How many push ups, squats, and burpees can be done in one minute? How long can I hold a plank for?
These numbers, along with my measurements, are all written down and recorded.
Thursday morning we started in ernest. My first training session. I’ve got my hands on a MyZone belt, a wearable activity tracker. Unlike ones worn on the wrist, this one goes around the chest to get a good read of the heartbeat. It also links to my phone, and Chris’ phone. So he can see when I’m doing work out- side of the gym and every bit of exercise counts. It’s pretty cool.
My early morning trip to the Kaiapoi Snap to meet with Chris has me regretting my decision to sit up and ponder the American election until midnight. But he has sorted a routine that includes all the bits that need attention. The tricep dips are a killer, as are the lunges. The other movements seem to be okay.
I’m on my way and full of optimism, if struggling to sit. By the time Trump sets foot into the White House, I should be just about fighting fit.
Follow me on my journey to wellness through my blog: shewillbealright.wordpress.com. I’ll be updating progress on a weekly basis right here and you can catch up with me via Facebook or Neighbourly.