empower weighted Hula Hoop

Who'd have thought that hula hooping would help burn calories and tone you up? I didn't...but I do now :) 

This is the empower hula hoop. Mine isn't customisable like this one (and mines green not multicoloured like this one either) sad times.

however this has become a huge craze in my flat we love it; it's so easy to use just if we're watching TV or we have a spare 10 minutes just hula hoop. 

I bought this from TKMaxx for about a fiver and it clicked together in about 2 minutes :) inside the box was a workout leaflet with 9 different 'cycles' 

Essentially you hula hoop for 3-5 minutes and then you tone up using the hoop as it's weighted. Mines weighted at 2lbs so not a major amount but if you do the reps enough you do feel a bit of a stretch 

Much Love

Megz x

NHS Choices - my new jogging routine

My housemates came back from their weekend back at home with this brand new podcast "NHS Choices - Couch to 5K in 9 weeks"

30 minute podcast :)

So basically as the podcast starts you meet the lovely Laura who will talk you through the half an hour podcast. She begins with what the podcasts all about blah blah blah.

I have just completed week 1 and I'm starting the second podcast tomorrow; here's the layout for the entire podcast. 

1. Start off with a brisk walk for 5 minutes, there's already music which plays during the podcast. Halfway through Laura tells you that your first run is coming up soon.

2. As the brisk walk finishes the music changes and Laura counts you into the first jog. It's only 60 seconds. 

3. You then slow down back to a brisk walk for 90 seconds. *HINT: as you slow down keep a check on your breathing I realised that my breathing was alll over the place*

4. You essentially keep doing this interval training until you have done eight 60 second runs. 

5. Finish off with a 5 minute cool down. 

Over the next 9 weeks this is what i'll be doing 3 times a week. Already after doing 3 runs I can see how much better my cardio is getting and how quickly my body is adjusting to running :) 

Happy Days 

Much Love

Megz x

Week 1 - 30th April 2013

OK, I am going to admit it I have struggled today. I have had a really stressful day and all I wanted was a biscuit. My boyfriend didn't make things any better by eating an entire McVities biscuit packet and then had lunch followed by more food....he eats like this and stays at 9st...lucky for some. 

However I took some measurements today and I have gone down 1 inch on everything apart from my thighs. so happy days :) 

No jog tonight as I did it yesterday but I have done my hula hoop workout; so tomorrow I'm not at university tomorrow so i'm going to take a run and go swimming :) 

Hope you're all having a good start to your week 

Much Love

Megz x

Week 1 - 29th April 2013

Measurements: 

• Bust : 34"
• Waist : 33"
• Hips : 40"
• Left Thigh : 22"
• Right Thigh : 22"

Okay so these are the starting measurements. Today I am 12 stone. Over the weekend I have lost 2.5lbs :) which means I am now 12 stone exactly. 

I am currently following Rosemary Conley's FAB diet plan which is going to take some time to get used to but I have got through my first day without sneaking a packet of crisps in. 

Basically the diet consists of 5 meals a day. 3 main meals and 2 "power snacks" it also comes with a nifty little exercise plan (though I add my own exercise onto it) 

*You can learn more about the plan etc here*

So today I have followed my Day 1 eating plan my breakfast was carb based, my power snacks were both vegetarian, my lunch was protein based and my dinner was a dinner with dessert (I was craving sugar by this point) but also today I have walked to and from university (1 hour in total), went to the gym with my boyfriend and some of his friends (treadmill, rowing, leg press, tricep press, chest press, crunches, bike) for an hour and then completed my NHS choices podcast for 30 minutes. 

I should explain that I hold my weight on my stomach. I was fortunate to have danced for so many years that my legs hold a naturally nice shape even though I have put on the weight. 

So overall a successful day :) 

Much Love

Megz x

step up to the mark

First things first I should introduce myself, I'm Megan but prefer Megz., I'm 20 and I currently live in Colchester studying at Uni (Creative Performance btw) :) 

This blog is basically going to be my journey from being 12st to reaching my goal weight of 9st, it's not going to be a 'thinspo' blog it's going to hopefully help some people who are currently losing weight and people who are umming and ahhing about it. 

So yeah, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride :)

Much Love

Megz  x