I joined a gym, do I have abs now??

After signing up to this challenge I realized that I should probably help myself out a bit and get as fit as possible, so i joined Easy Gym (pretty ironic name if you ask me) and since then I have attempted to go at least twice a week, doing different exercises and trying out new classes to find the best way to bump up my fitness (and lose weight).

As it is too soon to comment on my fitness progression, I thought I would write about my venture into the gym life, and offer a few tips on what I have been doing to help improve my fitness and to also lose weight.

(I am not a professional clearly)

Firstly: I usually do cardio first, but recently I have trained with weights and core before, and have found that I have had a lot more energy for cardio after so here is a list of some weight exercises I do:

• High Pulls, 12 x 3 (with a barbell)
• Bicep curls 15 x 3 (whatever weight you fancy)
• Tricep curls 15 x 3
• Squats with core bag 12 x 3
• Leg Press 12 x 3
• Push ups 10 x 3
• Plank 1 min

(ofc there’s loads more and each session should be focused on certain areas of the body but you get the idea)

For cardio I like to do ‘Hiit’ sessions or Interval training:

• Sprint on a treadmill (or outside) as fast as you can and on a high incline for about 30 seconds and then rest for 30 – my aim is to do this for 20 minutes but its harder than  you think.
• Or do interval training on a bike or treadmill (you can set the machine to change itself) or you can change it depending on the intensity and speed you would prefer to go.
• Group exercise is also a lot of fun. As part of my subject netball team I also exercise twice a week with them. You can read my post on the charity netball match here.
  

  (no idea what these are called)

  

  (i couldn’t be cruel and give you a picture of my post workout face)

Feel free to continue with me on my fitness journey, and please also feel free to donate to my fundraising page here. Thank you.

S x

Whoa, We’re Half Way There

… Whoa! Livin’ On A Prayer.

I’m halfway there ladies and gents.

I just want to say a massive Thank you/TY/Diolch/Danke/Merci/Gracias/Dankie  to everyone who has contributed so far!

WE ARE HALF WAY! Which means that in extremely positive speak, I have almost reached my target! This is so exciting!

*does a little celebratory dance*

All your contributions means so much to me and without you, I would not be where I am today. The money raised is going to such a fantastic cause – World Wide Cancer Research which funds doctors and researchers to be able to work towards finding more about cancer, in order to help tackle the disease. Cancer is something that unfortunately, will affect most people at least once in their life time and your donations will be contributing to putting a stop to that.

But! The fundraising does not stop there. We still have a way to go and so I want to leave you with the link to my fundraising page, in case you would like to make a donation. Every pound counts and every penny gets me that little bit further to reaching the end goal!

I want to say thank you again to everyone who has contributed!

Think Bon Jovi guys;

 

S x

Fundraising by Netballing

‘If my heart was a netball court, you would be centre.’

This year I made one of the best decisions and joined my subject netball team. I have made so many great friends from joining this team and have had so many good times with all the girls throughout the year.

To top it all off the girls were so supportive when they found out I was doing this challenge that we arranged a charity netball match just before Christmas and the turn out was great! We all had so much fun (even though it was pretty cold as we were outside) and we played a couple of matches then a few games.  The girls helped me raising an amazing £35 and I am so grateful! Seriously can’t thank the ladies enough.

If anyone is raising money and is part of a sports team or has friends who are, I really would recommend arranging a charity game or match to help raise money. It is so much fun, brings everyone together and is a fantastic way to put a dent in your fundraising.

Lastly, I would like to apologize for the awful and cringe chat up line from the beginning of this post, but what can you do.

Thanks girls again. You’re all keepers (ha ha)

JOMEC FOREVER

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Please feel free to donate at any time by clicking the link to my fundraising page.

S x

International Womens Day (I know I’m late)

Yesterday was #InternationalWomensDay which marked the celebration of female social, political and cultural success across the globe throughout many years. The day was celebrated in many ways throughout the country and many people used the hashtag #InternatinalWomensDay or #IWD2016 to show their support for it.

I wanted to mark this day myself as a day to recognize all the female researchers around the world who put their heart and soul into improving their knowledge on cancer and progressing forward to tackling the horrific disease. The divide between male and female scientists is becoming more and more smaller which is a fantastic thing and each year more women are qualifying with PHDs. This news is something that can help encourage more women to work towards becoming fully qualified researchers and scientists in the future and will hopefully inspire more women to help work for World Wide Cancer Research!

Dr Anna Git recently told the charity of her successful application for her grant and tells World Wide Cancer Research how this has enabled her to become an independent researcher and set up her own group. This opportunity is fantastic and I am sure that Dr Git will now be part of a team who helps move the progression of researching cancer forward.

For women working in science, it can be extremely challenging as many feel they have to work even hard to get their voice heard and for their work to be appreciated. But, I am sure that we are now one step forward in equalizing gender within science and research and so hopefully, we can all work together to help curing cancer.

Please take your time to read the full interview with Dr Grit and the opportunity she now has within science.

http://www.whereverittakesus.org/celebrating-international-womens-day

Dr Anna Git

S x

 

 

In need of some inspiration?

I don’t want to say ‘Yolo’ but it’s true
(I’m sure you’ve already guessed it but this is a cringey post)

We were not lied to when we asked whether this would be a dangerous trip. Of course there will be risks; altitude sickness could hit even the fittest of athletes, we may have trouble breathing at such a height, we could push our bodies too far and it have a major impact on our health, our jabs may not work and we could contract diseases… and the list goes on. The more I think about it, the more scared I get, but it is also so exciting, how could I say no??

This post isn’t so much about Kilimanjaro but I wanted to write something that will hopefully inspire people to take risks and be spontaneous. Fundraising and training for this trip has its highs and lows and when you have lows they’re not cool. The stress for raising so much money can really get to you and realizing just how hard it is so stay motivated and get fit is a bit of a bummer also.  Worrying about not reaching the target and not being fit enough can sometimes really get me down, but then I remember how much support I have from my wonderful family and friends. How many people have donated, how many people have helped me with fundraising ideas and organizing events, how many people have been there for me when I have been down about it and how many people have giving me that extra push when I needed it. I could spend ages thanking you all but I think it would take a while; there’s so many of you! I realized I need to change from saying what I haven’t achieved, instead to what I have achieved.

My amazing family have been more than supportive.

This is what keeps me positive, and of course, so does the cause it is all going to. Cancer is something so close to most people’s hearts and that is why we need to help tackle the disease. So when I am feeling stressed or down or I am having a negative day, I think of everyone who has helped me already, everyone who has been affected by Cancer and then I know how important this actually is, and that is what keeps me going.

I can’t believe i’m about to say this but it’s true, YOLO or You Only Live Once is a pretty accurate saying for this event. Trying to prepare your body for something like this is a challenge in itself. Especially when it’s me… who loves food and not so much exercising.  Yes it is dangerous and yes there are risks but aren’t there risks in everything we do every day? If we as a human race, let risks and dangers stop us from doing things, then what would be the point? Its life. And who would want to stop themselves from taking part in a once lifetime opportunity?

So if you’re having one of those down days, where you feel like nothing is on your side and there’s negativity everywhere, take a deep breath in and think about what you have around you. Think about what you have achieved instead of what you haven’t. Think about what you can do next to move on up. Think about how you can change the good from the bad.

and if anything else, think yolo.

S x

p.s If you would like to be inspired even more and kept up to date with my life then please follow my Twitter and Instagram…

A rooky mistake?

You know when you sign up to something thinking it would be a fantastic idea and you have so much positivity about it? You’re excited about the whole prospect of new challenges, experience and spontaneity. But, as the process moves forward, sometimes these feelings can slowly become distant memories. The excitement of signing up becomes regret and the idea of being spontaneous turns into anxiety and you think to yourself, ‘oh my god, what have I actually got myself into?’

Well I signed up to climb Mountain Kilimanjaro this year in aid for cancer.

I know what you’re thinking. Wow! and yes so am I, but i can’t hide the fact that I am absolutely bricking it. Not only do I have to raise a ton of money and somehow carry on with my degree, but I have to climb Africa’s highest mountain, over a period of 6 days, where we will be trekking for 12 hours at a time.

Some may see this as an opportunity to get fit, but as I see it as I have no choice. Having made the decision to join the gym and to commit myself at least 3 times a week is a challenge in itself.

I know I seem to be having a moan and rant to you, but I am genuinely excited to be able to have this experience given to me. It will be mentally and physically challenging and i hope that with this blog, I can take you on the journey with me. I will share my preparation up to it, my highs and lows and of course many pictures!

Safe to say, this will be a ‘Kili’ of a climb.

S x