Workouts that I enjoy doing and feel working.

Let's face it working out can be boring if you are doing the same thing over and over again. So when I work out I keep it varied to stop becoming bored and tired and well giving up.

The first workout I turn to is one that I know works. It’s not very adventurous but perfect to do when you only want to spend 45 or so minutes in the gym. It’s simple but effective. Simply its:

• 30 minutes of cardio -  I do it to a level in which I cannot talk to the person next to me
• 15 minutes on the treadmill. High incline and around 3.5 mph. Not too fast but after 15 minutes you know you’ve done a good workout. 
• Then 15 minutes cross trainer, mid-level around 8 or 10. I choose not to use the bikes because I tend to get lazy. But with the cross trainer I can feel my muscles working. 
• I walk around the gym twice as a ‘rest’, then straight into my next part. 
• Squats and lunges. 
• 10 squats and 10 lunges repeat 5 times. 
• I use a 3KG weight for balance when doing the lunges. I step the weight up every couple of days. 

If I cannot get to the gym or it’s a 'rest' day I still do my squats and lunges at home. I am quite lucky that my job keeps me active. Always running and walking around. It's amazing how quickly your heart rate can raise. Even on days when I don't go to the gym I know that being active at work helps.

This week at the gym I've been doing something slightly different:

• 30 mins of cardio
• 15 minutes on the treadmill, 3.5 mph on full incline. 
• 15 minutes on the bikes or cross-trainer. Level 8 or 10 depending on how my knees are. 

Then I go through a routine in-which my gym instructor has given me. It's tailored for me, to lose weight quicker. See picture below:

I really enjoy this work out and you can really feel it working. My shoulders, calves and thighs in particular. Each time I push myself to do more. Heavier weight and more reps. Building it up slowly.

Another good option is the couch to 5K app. It helps with jogging, running and of course motivation. It’s a free app, and can be downloaded on most smart phones. I would really recommend this app if you want to start slowly. 

NHS- Couch to 5K

I hope this has helped, given a few of you a couple of ideas for fitness. If I can do it, anyone can :D

Love Yah 

IsThataRedHerring

UPDATE on everything. Fitness, books, goals and more

This is a much needed update (sorry). As the title suggests it is time for a big update on well my life. I know a lot of people are going to be doing New Years resolutions but this year I only have one big goal, which is being broken down to the following:

Fitness
Back in November I pledged to get fit and with every pound I lose I will donate to charity. Since then I have lost 14 pound so yes that is £14 towards a charity. In December I joined the gym and hired a personal trainer. When I sat down and talked to her (personal trainer, thank you Carrie) she reminded me that muscle weighs more than fat, so although it's a good idea in theory I will be losing fat and gaining muscle and my routine consists of a lot of weight lifting to shift the fat. So, I have decided with every dress size I drop I will donate £50 to a chosen charity (still need to be chosen) and when I get to my target dress size of a size 12 I will donate a further £100.

This year 2016! I want to do a few charity runs, particularly Cancer Research Race for Life and a few others which I need I to research more into. If you have any suggestions for charity runs then please let me know... also any suggestions you have for the charity in which the money I raise with my weight-loss, then please let me know.

Work
I started a new job in October, quitting my job as a care assistant in a care home due to a few reasons, but the main issue is that I didn't see myself furthering my career there which at the age of 21 is very important to me. So, I got a new job at a school for autistic children, it's an amazing job, very rewarding and I am part of a great team. Unlike my old job the hours are consistent and the money is a lot better, and the best thing is there are many opportunities to further myself. At some point this year I will be starting my health and social diploma. Exciting times, this also means a pay rise!

Books
Well its 2016 so there are many amazing books being released but I already have a ton of books I need to read. So after my last Waterstones voucher is spent I am going to STOP buying new books! It's going to be so hard, but my To Be Read list is so big is frightening!
The books I am looking forward to reading most this year are :-

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 
• Illuminae by Amie Kaufman 
• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 
• The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion 
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 
• The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner 

I know a lot of these books are old (not really but so last year ;) ) but I really wanted to read them and this year I will be getting to them. I am particularly excited about the Lunar Chronicles and Illuminae. I have heard a lot of good things about these books so I am very excited to pick them up and give them a read. 

I also aim to reread a couple of my favourite books, for defiant I will be rereading Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky because it is one of my favourites and I love it. I need to reread it so badly. I think it will be my first book of 2016. Also, at some point this year I will read Life and Death by Stephanie Meyer, the reverse version of Twilight. I have heard very mixed things about this book so I need to give it a go myself. 

Blog
The main aim for my blog this year is to blog regularly, pre-write blog posts and post twice a week. It's not that hard really but I have become very lazy with my blog and well a lot of things to be honest (sorry). So, I have started a fresh notebook full of ideas for posts and I am going to start writing them as soon as I've finished this one. I want to get regular views which would be nice and hopefully make a little name for myself. But that is an ongoing goal. I hope my writing will develop.

LIFE
Just the small topic of life. But to be honest I just want to be happy and healthy and I will achieve this. I am making positive changes to my life. I am determined not to give up on anything.
A few other little things is:

• travel more
• even if it's to the next town over, or to London more. Just to discover new places... I am also going to Thailand for 10 days which is AMAZINGLY EXCITING. 
• Use my time wisely- not to waste my precious time. Because if 2015 has taught me anything it's that time does not wait around for you. 
• Appreciate the little things. 
• LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE

Sorry for such a long blog post but I felt that it was needed. 

Love yah 

IsThataRedHerring