LATEST UPDATE

Hello again!  Well, it looks and feels as though winter has arrived...I hope you're all fine and dandy and that this cold damp weather isn't putting you off your training.

The last time I was here I reported on my training for November 5th so I'd better bring you up to date.....

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th

RUN - I did a fartlek (Swedish for speed play) session - basically it's an unstructured interval session where you just pick a point (car, lamppost, tree, whatever) and change your pace up or down from your current pace.  I was out for about 45 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed myself!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th

WEIGHT TRAINING - 3 mini circuits comprising: reverse lunge, overhead press, incline chest press, 1-arm row, incline row, squat, forward lunge, Romanian dead lift, push press, wide grip pull up, wide grip push up, narrow grip pull up, narrow grip push up - in various combinations.  I felt knackered but good after that lot!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8th
RUN - I decided to see how long it would take me to cover 5 miles without busting a gut!  Again, not impressive but I have to start somewhere......

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 55.32
Pace: 11.05 m/m

I have to admit that a couple of times I slowed down almost to a walk because it was so muddy - now, don't get me wrong: I'm certainly no wuss when it comes to getting muddy BUT I really don't want to fall or trip and risk injuring myself......if I'm injured I can't work!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9th
This ended up being a rest day with just a little power walking with clients.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10th
RUN - I did a hill session today.  Pootled gently to the hill decided I would run up it 5 times and ended up doing it 7 times so was very happy with that and pootled back again - job done!

JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS
As time passes and you read this you may think that my running training is slightly slack, however, in my defence I do also run and/or power walk 3-4 times per week with clients AND Buddy gets 1 90-minute and 2 20-30 minute walks every day - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Also, I've decided that from my next weight training session (tomorrow) I will do my leg exercises using just my bodyweight (there's enough of it!) as I don't want to skip that part of my training but I don't want to knacker my legs!

Finally, I don't know what I was thinking when I said that my half marathon training schedule would kick off on November 23rd (I was obviously having an elderly blonde moment!), it will, of course, kick off the week commencing December 14th - I think!

So, that brings me up to date - do get in touch and let me know what you think and how it compares to your current training routine.  Let me know if you're training for something specific and we can compare notes.

Until next time......

BE YOUR BEST! 

THAT'S OK!

So, yesterday I went for a run and decided to go for something shorter but faster and this is what I managed:-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH
Distance: 2.281 miles
Time: 24.08
Pace: 10.34 m/m

OK, so it's not the most impressive run ever - but I was pleased as I felt comfortable at the time and later on, too!

I haven't decided what I'm going to do for today's run yet - I'll think about it whilst out walking Buddy......

BE YOUR BEST!

OFF TO A ROCKY START!

Well hello!  Yes, a day late I know - but there was a rather large puppy related hiccough in that Buddy (that's the puppy) spent most of Tuesday night/Wednesday morning throwing up and I was up with him from 2am!

So this is what the past two days training (or not!) look like:-

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd

RUN - gentle 40 minute run (+ 5 mins each warming up and cooling down) and felt very comfortable.  It wasn't fast and I have no idea as to the distance but, as I've explained, that's not the focus at the moment.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th
This ended up as my rest day (see above).  Having been up from 2am I just did not have the energy to train......

So there we go!  Not perfect but that's life.  The main thing is to not let these unavoidable mishaps put you off.  Just jump back on that ol' wagon as soon as you can and carry on.  For me, this means that today and tomorrow will be running days but the main thing is that will have stayed on track with my training.

Finally, I am happy to report that Buddy is now fully recovered from whatever it was and, all things being equal, I should be back on track!

Until next time......

BE YOUR BEST!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Again - the first thing I have to do is apologise for being away for so long.....I really don't quite know how it happened, however, we did get a puppy at the end of June and he's been keeping me very busy! I will post some photos of him soon - promise.

So, why am I back now? Well, last Friday I did something rather rash......I entered the Wokingham Half Marathon! Yes, I know - bonkers! I've done 4 half marathons over the past 5 years or so and I would LOVE to haul myself round in under 2 hours - so that's the plan.

 What I intend to do on this blog is record all my training: running, weight training, diet, etc. and share with you how it's going (or not!).
I shall endeavour to update everyday - talking about the previous days' training.

Briefly, my running training plan is as follows:-

I'm currently running twice a week for 45-60 minutes - I'm giving myself 3 weeks (from last Sunday, November 1st) to be running 2-3 times a week for 30-45 minutes and once a week for 75 minutes then on the week commencing Monday, November 23rd I will follow a 10-week training schedule that, if all goes well, should get me round in under 2 hours.

So, to bring you up to speed, my training since Sunday looks like this:-

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
RUN - Managed to get out for 45 minues gentle running before the skies opened! PHEW!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd
WEIGHT TRAINING - 4 mini circuits consisting of dumbbell lunges, planks, push ups, biceips curls, squats, over head press, Bulgarian split squats and front raises in various combinations finished of with 5 minutes of skipping. I had jelly legs after that lot, I can tell you!

And that's it so far. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or questions you may have so please do post on the blog.

So until tomorrow.......

BE YOUR BEST!

I'M BACK!

I know, it's most remiss of me to keep disappearing but stuff keeps happening!

Anyhoo, just wanted to guide you towards a couple of new blogs I have:-

One is a new challenge from the Evil Genius (a.k.a. Dax Moy) namely: Muscle In A Month Elite. It's similar to his original Muscle In A Month but this time he's included HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). You can follow my progress here: http://mimelitechallenge.blogspot.com/

The second is all about F.L.O.W. with Jo (Fat Loss Outdoor Workouts) which start in Godalming this coming Monday, June 1st. Read all about it here: http://flowwithjo.blogspot.com/

Finally, I will be back soon - bringing you news, articles, links to interesting websites and blogs and answering YOUR health and fitness questions.

So ask away......if you don't ask - I can't answer!

In the meantime......

BE YOUR BEST!

WATCH THIS SPACE - EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING SOON!

OK, first things first.....I am really sorry not to have been around for such a long time but, again, life got in the way!

However, I've not been idle - I've been out there looking at and experimenting with lots of new ideas realting to being healthier and fitter!

I have so much to tell you - but I need to get it all organized.....

So keep your eyes peeled (that's a really yukky expression, isn't it!) for the update links I'll be sending you.

Until then......

BE YOUR BEST!

Jo Underhill

Your Fitness and Weight Loss Coach

JZK HEALTH & FITNESS

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!

Measurements:-

Weight: 11st 7lb

Waist: 31.25"

Hips: 42.5"

I'm putting these gains down to "the time of the month" as I've been training hard and watching my diet.

Hi Gang!

Sorry to have been away for so long - life kind of got in the way! However, you'll be pleased to know that I've not been skipping any of my Storm Force Challenge workouts.

As you can see from the above measurements and photos nothing's really happening as yet, however, the way the Storm Force Challenge has been devised is that the first 4 weeks are geared to getting you started and building up a base level of fitness and from week 5 onwards - when strength and power training start to be incorporated - then my weight and measurements should start to change.

So to give you a brief description of what I've been doing training-wise:-

There have been a lot of kettlebell type exercises (swings, snatches, etc.) that I've been doing with dumbbells because, unfortunately, I don't have access to kettlebells, an interval run (YUK! - as you can see from my pictures, I'm not built for speed!), lots of skipping (I don't remember skipping being such hard work when I was in the school playground!) and many circuit-style workouts. It's been hard work but I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when it's over and I'm still upright and able to talk!

This afternoon I'll be doing an hill interval session - it' called the Vomet Comet and I'm looking forward to that like a hole in the head! Tomorrow's session is a circuit style affair including a half manmaker (check it out on You Tube), burpees, a sprint and skipping - I feel knackered just typing it!

The thing to remember with training programs is that your body won't change overnight. If you are trying to lose weight, for instance, you must remind yourself that the Xlbs it is you want to lose didn't just appear overnight - it happened gradually - so it makes sense that it will come off gradually, too.

Also, it's not just about the exercise - one of my fave sayings is:-

You can't exercise away a bad diet and you can't eat yourself fit!

Think about it........

So, I'll be back on a regular basis again, until next time.....

BE YOUR BEST!