I have started a 6 Week Body Transformation, with a company called Elite Physique, where I aim to lose 20lbs!! I warn you, this is going to get gushy… {UPDATE: If you’d like to see who I got on read my Final Weight Loss here}
6 week body transformation
The plan is as follows:
1. Workout with Elite Physique 3 days a week (my sessions are at 6:45am)
2. On 3 of the other days workout for 50 minutes
3. Stick to their eating plan
Today is the 1st day of week 3 and the day of our third weigh in. I only lost 2 lbs last week but I’ve been much better at sticking to the plan this week, so I dared to hope for more this week and I lost 4 lbs, which I’m really chuffed with!
**6 lbs down 14 to go!**
1. Well being, early mornings and exercise
So far it has been all consuming, from the early wake ups, to planning and sticking (not so much here) to the diet and, although I’m feeling particularly tired today, I am loving it. I don’t mind the early mornings at all, there’s something amazing about being up at that time, seeing the new day before everyone else. The workouts are really hard and really good. The feeling I get as I’m driving home is literally close to euphoria, I’ve been feeling so incredibly lucky to be alive (after listening to Amy Winehouse on the way home), to have my wonderful family and their support, and to be able to do something life changing like this for them and for me. I’ve been on the verge of tears (who am I trying to kid? I was sobbing). So I’d say it’s been quite a powerful emotional experience!
Exercising on the other days is less easy to motivate myself to do, but I’m working on it!
2. The Diet Plan
The biggest revelation has been the diet. It’s great and I’m not hungry. Well, I am but at the right times, and it’s bloody easy to follow. My biggest problem and the reason I put on weight, was I simply ate too much (and drank too much wine) – I have an insatiable appetite and left to my own devices, I would eat the same portion as Mike, if not bigger when no one was watching. So having someone tell me what and how much to eat is amazing. I think it is the true power of what a program like this can offer; rules, peer pressure and competition replaces self-discipline!
Mike keeps telling me, often when he has a beer or a glass of wine in his hand, how proud and impressed he is of me…but it’s easy. It’s a game! And I get games. You just follow the rules and you’re onto a winner.
It’s Monopoly. You can’t collect £200 unless you pass go, so for the most part it removes the £200 from your mind. You’ll get your £200 when you’re entitled to it! The £200 in this case is obviously wine or chocolate or a Chinese or {insert your vice of choice here}. Therefore, I don’t feel deprived and if I do, I take myself off to bed and get some much needed zeds.
3. Sleep
Which leads me onto the other biggy for me… sleep! Ooh how I love it. Normally my day would go like this:
Reuben wakes at some ungodly hour, and I try and get him to sleep some more, dozing on and off in some horrific game of torture where I am rudely awoken by having my ribs crushed ever few minutes/seconds.
I’m tired all day.
Reuben goes to bed at 7pm. I’m beyond tired, have tea and I use food and drink to fuel me through a few more adult hours.
That last sentence is pretty crucial. So instead of going to bed, I use substances (food and drink that my body doesn’t need and so kindly pops into my saddle bags for later) to keep me awake until ‘bedtime’.
But recently, as I mentioned in How to Blog like an Athlete, I am getting my hiney into bed sometimes as early as 7:30/8pm. If I’m going to be up the next day at 5:30am to workout, I need to get enough rest (8 to 9 hours is the recommended amount – hands up who’s managing that?!).
I should also point out here that the more you sleep the more likely you are to lose weight. Athletes, them again, get around 9 or 10 hours sleep and might up this by another 2 hours if they are competing (source)! And according to this infographic from Sleep Genius… sleeping less than 5.5 hours makes it 55% harder to lose weight and sleeping less than 6 hours makes you 25% more hungry.
That would explain a lot. I definitely feel hungrier, and colder for that matter, when I’m tired!
So, that’s it so far! if you would like to hear it from the horse’s mouth, you can watch my video diary’s for week 1, 2 and 3 below.
If you like what you see please do subscribe to my Youtube channel!
Oh wow, well done hun, you do not need to lose any weight but we all need to find what makes us happy. You are gorgeous woman, lots of love x
You look fab anyway but sometimes we have to feel it on the inside too don’t we. Like knowing we are doing good for ourselves.
I hear you on the sleep, evenings are my worst time to munch. If I just went to bed it would be better all round! I’m going to catch up on your vids later – give myself some motivation X
Loving this Hannah! I’m meant to be starting Bodychef next week so this is giving me some much needed inspo or fitspo or whatever it’s called. Anyway, at the moment I’m still eating cake for this week at least. But next week I am ON MY GAME!! Go girl xx
Well done lovely, keep it going! I agree with Vicki, I do not think you need to lose weight, but it’s ging to help you lead a healthier lifestyle x
Wow, your doing so great! I started with Slimming world just last week, had my first weigh in this morning and gained 1/2lbs! Which, I’m totally blaming Mothers day on!! Haha. Keep it up your on the right track for sure! x
I love this! You are so dedicated, you are such a beautiful person, I don’t think you needed to lose anything but I know you need to feel confident, so I am glad you have found this xxx
oh wow it sounds like I could definitely do with a little shake up. I sit there eating sugary treats so I have some energy to get things done before going to bed an awful hour only to wake up exhausted. it’s all nonsense. Thanks for the motivation!
Wow Hannah – this is amazing! Well done you, am truly impressed! I imagine it must be quite emotional – going through such a huge change and the positive impact this kind of exercise has on your body. Fab!
Not in the same extreme but I’ve recently joined a gym and started spinning, and although it can be hard to stay motivated, I am really enjoying it and always feel brilliant afterwards. I do need to go to bed earlier though – will take your advice on that one! #TheList
Well done for going to the gym that early in the morning ! You are doing amazing so far , not that you need to lose any weight as you already look amazing. I am so guilty of eating and drinking rubbish to stay awake once my children are in bed x #thelist
I’ve never tried it but would love to! 6lbs down is brilliant! #thelist
Oh wow, well done, I wish I had your motivation!!
Wow, it sounds like you’re really enjoying it which is awesome. Just excercising (I can’t spell that…) that much must make you feel fantastic! Really interesting to know about the sleep bit, I must admit I’m ready for bed by 8.30 every night & think I should listen to my body! x
Well done hun! I’m trying to make my own transformation, but I like the idea of yours. But I don’t think I could handle it. 5.30am–ugh!
Sounds like you are doing so well, you are such an inspiration. I wish I had your motivation.
Wow well done you! 6lbs is amazing. I wish I had your determination 🙂
Wow! That is indeed a life changing program. I am sure that at the end of the process (apart from losing weight) you will gain a great insight into yourself. Going through such extreme experience will show you how strong you are and will help you achieve things in other areas of your life.
#TheList
Wow you are doing really well on this. Good luck with the rest of the programme, tough going but in the end it will be worth it! 🙂
love this idea hannah will be watching you vlogs later on can’t wait to see how your getting on! #thelist
Oh well done on the motivation, I struggle to get up in the mornings to see to the toddler let alone to exercise so I am very impressed! #TheList
Wow, wow, wow! Good for you lady. You’re absolutely stunning as you are and certainly don’t need to change in my opinion but it sounds like it’s doing you the world of good! Amazing. Very inspiring. Can’t wait for my knackered back to heal so I can get on with some exercise. xxx
You are doing so well lady! I’m exactly the same as you were – I use food (and wine pre-baby) to keep me up later at night so I felt like I wasn’t wasting the day. I would have been better to get a decent night’s sleep! You’re doing brilliantly, keep up the AWESOME work! Mim @ mamamim.com #TheList
So interesting about sleep – I didn’t know that. Could never imagine going to bed at 7/8pm though! Well done you. You’ve done amazingly well and look fabulous for it. x