My new found Love: Group Exercise and Weight Training

Wow, so there it is, I said it. I officially am obsessed with group exercise classes. What the hecs wrong with me?!

I have always had this kind of ignorance when it comes to group exercise, I firmly believed that my own methods of training was way better and smashing out a 10 k run or 5k sprint intervals was the best way to stay fit and in shape.

But all this time I have been oh so wrong. After cracking my hip, don't even ask me how I did it.. becuase I could not tell you the defining moment, apart from the fact that I had been going so hard in the gym and running an awful lot. Anyway.. so with my injury came bad news that I had to have at least three months of no running and spend four weeks on crutches.

I am now back at work and I have accepted that right now I just can't run like I used to be able to but that is fine because I will get it back sooner or later, but until then I have had time to try out other ways to work up a sweat.

I have started weight training a lot more, re introducing squatting with weights, using the squat rack, and using the weight machines.

Every gym session I do I always include cardio and this is for a minimum of at least 45 minutes to an hour. I have had to start using the arc trainer which is a cross between an elliptical and a stepper. It's great as a form of cardio and offers a no impact solution, it targets the legs and the bum especially and you can alter the incline and the resistance to target the area you want to work on the most. For example I set it to an incline of 15 for ten minutes with a resistance of 27 (targetting my legs) , then the next minutes I switch it to about an incline of 4 with a resistance of 35 (targetting my glutes) and I keep repeating this cycle for an hour.

I then tend to move to the weight machines, I love working on my arms at the moment as I feel that is an area that I seem to have neglected.


HOWEVER the one thing I look forward to the most- when my roster allows it, is the exercise classes I have been taking.

The gym I go to is called 'TribeFit' down in Dubai Marina. It offers so many different exercise classes, all Les Mills.

I have managed to go to a few Bodyattack classes, which is basically an hour of HIIT training, and I tried my first ever RPM (spinning) class the other night.

It was my flatmate who was telling me she used to do the group exercises back at home, and how good they were. So she dragged me along to Bodyattack with her... and it was amazing. I felt places ache the next day that I didn't know was possible. It's great because it targets the whole body and it's high intensity cardio which I love as I get a real sweat on.

I now try and mix up my workouts with my own sessions and include classes too.

So I have only done RPM once but I will definitely be doing it again, I really felt the burn in my legs and again I loved the fact it was High intensity cardio for 45 minutes.

So to anyone who thinks group exercise is easy, think again. To be honest its up to you what you get out of it, after all you get out of if what you put in.

Although I have converted, I still think Zumba is an awful excuse for a workout (sorry, not sorry!)- having said that- again, it all comes down to you and the effort you put into it.

Lotsa Love,

Rosie

x

Gym/Fitness Motivation

Summer has arrived, and I am sure most of you will have booked a holiday, with the days counting down you want to get your 'bikini bod' ready.. am I right?!

As someone who is a self-obsessed gym fanatic then I thought a blog post about what motivates me to get to the gym to begin with and to work hard when I'm there, would be helpful.

So first things first, some weeks I may not make it to the gym for the 3 days a week minimum that I aim for, on the odd occasion (very rare) I don't make it at all. When this happens I always feel like it's a massive effort to get back into my routine and when feeling this way you can often think 'what's the point?'. It's at this point that I have to remind myself even if it is slow progress, it's still progress and doing something is better than doing nothing at all!

Another reason to get to the gym- check out the eye candy! Ladies do not deny it, that when you go to the gym and you're on the treadmill or cross trainer you're not secretly looking in the mirror and watching the guys behind you on the weight machines. Most people do it, and for some it's a good enough reason to go to the gym. Who know's if you're lucky enough you could meet the right person there too?!

I always get really excited about going to the gym when I have added new songs to my ipod, my running playlist helps me get through my monotonous 10 k runs on the treadmill and keep me motivated. TIP: try and keep the song that you listen to at the gym upbeat. You can often download workout playlists off Spotify etc.

If I feel tired and lethargic, it's often at these times that I get myself to the gym or go on a run, after I feel so much more energetic, refreshed and alive!

Buying new gym stash is always a good way to motivate you. Had your eye on a new pair of trainers, a new running top or trousers? Whenever I buy something new for the gym, even if it is something small like a pink gym towel, I can't wait to get to the gym and use it! I'm not saying you have to buy new things to make you go to the gym, but it's like buying a new pair of heels, you can't wait to go out and wear them. Something small even like a water bottle is good enough for me.

Physical benefits, the whole point of going to the gym for me in the first place is to keep fit. Nobody likes being out of shape and If I didn't go the gym then I couldn't eat some of the things I do. I like to think I am not a fussy eater, don't get me wrong I eat healthy home-made food, but I am not the type of girl who turns down a slice of cake (or two). 

Going to the gym really is such a stress reliever, when I'm running it gives me time to think and clear my head of some of my worries. There's nothing better than shoving my head phones on and just running and running. Afterwards I always feel so great and it puts me in such a good mood.

My gym stash is lovely and pink, the next purchase for me will be some new running trainers as my Addidas' are starting to wear just a little thin on the bottom. Of course whatever I get they definitely need to have some pink on them!

If anyone has any gym tips/motivational advice etc. then please post them below! Keep an eye out for a blog post where I will be including some of my favourite motivational running/gym songs!

XOX