Lisa's first Blog

So I have decided to start a weekly blog, as some people already know me I want over indulge in detail but as some do not here is a quick ‘about me’.

So for the past 5 years I have become a ‘gym freak’ I was the ‘cardio queen’ I would go to the gym 5-6 times per week and I would do pure cardio for 60-90 minutes, I did the usual machine hoping so I would go on the treadmill, cross trainer, moon walker (as I call it as still to this day I do not know what it’s called but I feel like I am walking on the moon or at least how I would expect it to feel) and the stair-master. I was also big into all my classes, combat, spin, HIIT, insanity I did them all and also as I was huge into my running, I have ran various 10k’s for Charity and also the Macclesfield half marathon.

When I first began to go to the gym I was conscious of how I looked as I was a bigger girl so I joined an ‘All girls’ gym then after 2 years I changed over to my local DW. Doing all the cardio I did, I did lose around 2-3stone over the years and as you can imagine I was chuffed but still not overly happy (when are us girls ever happy)

I have always struggled with my weight well to get it off anyway, it seems piling the lbs on is the easy part.  As you can imagine with weight gain/loss comes the motivation/demotivation which had a huge effect on my emotions which resulted in weight gain/loss which can sometimes feel like I’m constantly running uphill.

Then around 8 months ago I finally hit ‘the Wall’ I found no matter how hard I trained or little I ate the weight just did not want to budge and that was a killer for me, I then started to find it really hard to go to the gym and actually do anything and my eating began to slip. So I decided instead of running down that hill at full throttle (which I felt like I was already descending) I stopped. I looked into different training that I could do and I had my first ever PT session with one of the local PT’s at my local gym. She taught me different techniques with weights and also taught me different HIIT training methods.  So from there I began on the weights, and cut my cardio down to just 30-45min HIIT blasts per training session. I was still not very knowledgeable in this area. I started watching Instagram video’s and started following people and trying out there training techniques.

Then last September I booked my first block PT sessions with Jason Curtis a specific ‘Strength and Conditioning Coach’ so for 6 gruelling weeks I had 2 sessions per week with Jay and then I began to implement the training into my own daily routines in the gym. I learnt a lot and I began to build real strength each week. Jason really ‘killed’ me on each session and the ‘DOMS’ I got were painful sitting down to go to the loo was hard work some days haha but I loved the pain, loved that feeling of knowing I tried hard in that session. Each session was as hard as the previous, not once was it easier and not once was I allowed to ‘slack’, I got pushed and pushed but with this I grew.

Once the session had ended I knew more on how to train each muscle group or at least to a higher standard than before. I began to really push myself in the gym working alone and doing what Jay had taught me.

However, me being my usual self still didn’t like the number that showed up on the scales each day (yes I would weigh myself daily) also a big way to demotivate yourself.

So I started to look into nutrition. I have done my meal preps myself for around 1 year and I do thoroughly enjoy it, but I wasn’t sure that what I was eating was overly healthy so I began a 6 week package with a nutritionist Sophia hall from ‘Liftus Lifestyle’, this girl knew her stuff and I began to learn a lot about foods, what to eat, when to eat it. In fairness to ‘myself’ (got to blow my own trumpet from time to time lol) the food I was eating already was quite good and healthy so I was not a million miles away from where I needed to be. I was actually in some aspects eating too little and also I over ate on carbs sometimes so with Sophia’s excellent guidance I learnt to weigh out my foods (yes we all have scales that can do this but she taught me how much I needed =)) so with this combined with all the knowledge I learnt from Jason Curtis I was finally heading on the right track. I was feeling better my skin began to look better as I suffer with bad eczema and my body slowly but surely began to change shape.

Once again I stood on those ‘Big Horrible Scales’ and I still was not happy they hardly moved so instead of thinking of the number I began to take ‘selfies’ (who doesn’t love a selfie) and doing progression pictures. During my training with Jason and my nutrition package with Sophia I probably moved the scales by 5-7lbs BUT the difference in my body and the pictures told a whole new story.

So I learnt the scales are just as they say ‘A NUMBER’ this ‘NUMBER’ means nothing so I no longer weigh myself every day if at all weekly, for me know it’s all about seeing my body change through pictures as pictures tell the truth, people can see the difference in your shape/size by looking at you they don’t see the number that appears on the scale they see ME.

Since doing all of the above I have decided to take a change in career path, I currently work 9-5 sitting on bum all day in an office which for those that know me know it’s not suited, I’m loud and outgoing and constantly moving I just can’t keep still. I love to be on the go and what better place than in the ‘Fitness/Nutrition Industry’ so I have taken that leap with a HUGE help from Jason Curtis (who is now my boyfriend, I know strange hey, but I guess you can’t help where you meet =)) and I am now beginning my Level 2 & 3 PT and Nutrition Course at the end of the month. I will be doing the course part time alongside my current job and I will still be training 5 times per week as well college every other Saturday AND Sunday 8:30-5:30 (I know I want to scream to) so bye bye social life and hello studying.

So maybe I did ‘over indulge’ in the ‘about me’ but I have a lot to say =)

I will be blogging weekly about how I’m getting on with training, eating, college and my general (hopefully not so boring) life.

My transformation has begun not only physically but mentally.

Hope you enjoyed my ‘Blog’ anything you want to know just ask away.

Lisa Lashes =)