Tina tries... Up close and personal

By Tina Betts

In her first ever gym session, Tina is put to work by her personal trainer…

I’m nervous about meeting my personal trainer for the first time. My most pressing worry is… argh, what do I wear?

My trainers are caked in mud, as the last time I used them was for gardening, and my trackie bottoms are stored safely in a suitcase on top of the wardrobe (they’re certainly going to need an iron!)

But with trainers cleaned and bottoms pressed, I'm ready to meet my nemesis… Nuffield Health’s Lloyd. Turns out he’s a laid-back kind of guy who quickly puts me at ease, but just as quickly puts me to work. Taking into account last week’s MOT and having listened to my goals, he’s worked out a programme for me. I start with a set of exercises, so he can gauge my fitness level (squats, twists, mountain climbing). With each set he ups the challenges. So far, so good as, 20 mins in I'm still standing and confident I can get through this first session without looking like a numpty.

I resist the urge to giggle every time Lloyd asks if I can "feel it in my glutes yet?" I have no idea where my glutes are (I now know they’re bottom cheeks, and yes, I can feel them). I’m also introduced to my core – that’s tummy, mid and lower back, hips, shoulders and neck regions. And, boy, do they get a work out (I’m really feeling it the next day).

Was the workout worth it? Well! I’ve overcome my reluctance about gyming it - I’m even excited about my next session. Best thing is, I’ve realised I can do it. Over the next few weeks Lloyd is going to help me build up my stamina and, to help, he’s suggested I fit in a cardio session. So next week you can read all about my aqua aerobics session. Now where’s that cossie?

Personal training sessions at Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres cost from £55 for a single session. A five-hour booking costs £230 (that’s £46 a session) but it’s cheaper if you pay by direct debit. See www.nuffieldhealth.com.

We’d love to hear about your endeavours to get fit… 

Tina tries…

In our new series on shaping up, Healthy Food Guide’s art director Tina Betts starts on her journey towards a proper exercise plan to supplement her day-to-day walking…

By Tina Betts

How did it happen? I’m 43, and things are starting to sag. I haven’t changed my eating and drinking habits, so age is starting to catch up with me. I inherited my ‘walk everywhere’ gene from my Dad. I don’t have a car, so think nothing of whizzing down to Sainsbury’s with my trolley bag. But despite frequent trolley dashes, there’s a big but – my big butt, in fact! I’m lucky that I’ve always been a healthy weight, but it’s starting to creep up, the muffin top is rising steadily and there’s no way I’m going to fit into my dream 40th birthday dress again, at least not the way things are going.

My fear of exercise means I’ve never liked the gym or classes. It’s the classic ‘I was always the last to be picked’ for the team at school. It’s made me a tad anxious in sporting environments.

But that all changed a few weeks ago. As part of a work feature, I tried a yoga class for the first time with my work colleagues. And I could see the attraction of exercising as a group. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. And so, Tina tries… was born. It’s a week by week log of my mission to get fit - and get me back into that party dress.

My first stop was the Health Check at Nuffield Health at their flagship centre at London’s Cannon Street (it’s really more hip hotel than soulless gym). All members go through checks before starting their fitness plan.

Nuffield Health’s senior wellbeing adviser Katarina Berceliova took me through my body MOT, checking my BMI, resting heart rate, blood glucose levels (all healthy) and quizzed me about my sleep patterns (fine) and lifestyle habits (cholesterol and alcohol quotas not so fine). Generally, at 5ft 5in and 9 stone 3lb, my BMI at 21.2 is very good and my blood pressure spot on. But I know I need to do something about my fitness levels – I’ve reached the age where you can’t take anything for granted. 

I came away feeling optimistic with three main Wellbeing Action points: to monitor my blood cholesterol, up my water consumption and increase my activity and fitness levels.

Come back next week to read about my first ever session with my personal trainer. I have to admit, just those words make me nervous…

Return to the Source Parkour Camp

For those who are interested in natural movement training, this summer my friend Rafe Kelley will be hosting an interesting three-day event near Bellingham, WA called "Return to the Source".  Rafe is skilled in a variety of movement disciplines and is the co-founder of the Seattle parkour gym Parkour Visions.  Parkour is a very fun sport that hones our natural ability to skillfully navigate physical obstacles, but it's usually done in an urban context.

The camp will take place from August 23-25.  Here's a description from the Parkour Visions site:

"This summer, return to the source of human movement with Parkour Visions as we explore the natural environment in and around Bellingham, WA. Rafe Kelley will introduce you to the benefits of training and playing in nature. You will learn how to adapt your technique and movement to moving effectively through woods, over rocks, and in trees during this unique, 3-day experience."

Watch this video if you want to see what you're in for.

Knowing Rafe, it will be fun and productive.  You can sign up through this page.

Exercise motivation tips for exercise slumps

Hi everyone! We're in Albany now and heading off to Syracuse this morning for a day of walking around downtown and shopping. It will be a nice change after spending the majority of the past two days driving! It's been such a fun trip so far though and I'll have tons to write about when I get back. But for now I have this pre-written post about finding motivation to exercise when you're in a rut.

When I first started this blog, I considered it to be a food and fitness blog. But lately, as I'm sure you've noticed, I've been leaning heavily towards the food side of things. So what's up?

Well as most of you know, I've been dealing with some knee and hip issues ever since last July, which means I haven't been able to run. So I've been doing other workouts in its place, like spinning, strength training and incline walking... but here's the truth: I'm not enjoying my workouts.

I'm bored and frustrated and just wish I could run. On top of that I've been feeling really fatigued lately (more on that in a future post), which makes it hard for me to find the energy to work out. But despite how much I would love to just park my butt on the couch, I try to get active for an hour 4-5 times a week because I know it's good for me. So here are my tips for finding motivation:

1. Make it enjoyable - I sometimes plan my workouts around times when there are good movies on TV so that I can keep myself entertained. I also treat myself to magazines more often than I should because having some good reading material makes 30 minutes on the elliptical almost enjoyable. Almost.

2. Scale back the intensity - some days when the thought of doing cardio makes me cringe, I just go for a walk instead. An hour of walking at a moderate pace is still a pretty good workout!

3. Switch it up - the thought of 45 minutes on the elliptical makes me want to run from the gym in the other direction. But 15 minutes? That's doable. Followed by 15 minutes on the bike? Also doable. Followed by 15 minutes of incline walking? Wow, I just did 45 minutes of cardio. Go me!

4. Browse Pinterest - when I don't want to go on the machines, I like to find circuit workouts on Pinterest to do. Since they are new and different, I get kind of excited about trying them out.

5. Do weights - when I'm feeling lazy, doing weights is always way more appealing to me than huffing and puffing through a cardio workout.

6. Customize your workouts - I don't like doing spin classes because honestly, 60 minutes of intense spinning is just too much for me. So instead I go when the spin room is empty and I do my own 30-45 minute spin workouts at my own preferred intensity. I like it way better!

 Source: Chelsea A via Pinterest

7. Skip your workout - if you are really not feeling up to it, skip it. Use the time to relax, stretch, and prepare your body for a better workout tomorrow. 

Have you ever gone through a long exercise slump?

What are your favourite low intensity workouts?