Spintastic

In my ever lasting plight to lose weight and get fit. I've heard about the benefits of Spinning and really wanted to give it a whirl. Wiki had a great description

"Indoor cycling, as an organized activity, is a form of exercise with classes focusing on endurance, strength, intervals, high intensity (race days) and recovery, that involve using a special stationary exercise bicycle with a weighted flywheel in a classroom setting."

It's been over six months since I started spinning. That's 2 session most weeks, which is a 6am start. It's not so bad during the summer, when it's light. The winter is worse. I've really noticed the difference in my shape. I'm getting toned! I really didn't think it would work, but it does. My ongoing back problem, also means I can't to exercise with impact. Spinning is perfect, as it strenthens my lower back and my glutes.

The gym uses The Sunnto Fitness Solution for it's spin classes. Which is a heart rate belt linked to some software, that shows you on a big screen your heart rate and your fitness levels during the class.

This is the screen you see during the class with your colour coded heart rate levels.

The added bonus of the system is that you get an email with your stats at the end of the session!

Here is today's stats.

It's worth the effort even if I do feel exhausted start afterwards. I sweat loads during the class. I know I don't put the same effort into a regular gym session. It's perfect for 45minutes.

POINTS are not ProPoints. Help!!

Monday 8th November. To most of us it was a average rainy Monday morning, but for people following the Weight Watchers plan it was the day of an exiting new programme (their words not mine).

At last Friday's weigh in. I was handed a piece of paper with a set of times for the introduction meeting. Monday at 8.30am in The Kings Arms, the pub next door to the church we weigh in at. Friday was Diwali, so I knew it was going to be a difficult week to loose weight. Diwali is celebrated like Christmas, eating and drinking.

After a weekend of eating everything that was handed to me I wasn't looking forward to anything weight related. I walked into the end of the last meeting and was directed towards to scales! I'm wearing jeans, this isn't going to be good. I honestly thought I would be told about the new plan and that would be it. Instead, I was weighed given a sheet with the number 29 on and told to wait for the next talk. At that point I went into a state of shock. I didn't hear anything all that was going through my head was 7lbs in 36 hours! I'm a glutton.

OK, this is going to be ok. I've just got to concentrate through the talk and it'll be fine! Lots of changes and I still really don't get it! The main thing is POINTS are now ProPoints and all the values are different. Instead of the 18 I was on I'm now allowed 29 ProPoints. There is an added bonus of using 49 ProPoints for a blow out or spending them out throughout the week. AND fruit now is 0 ProPoints! Is it just me or am I gonna put loadsa weight back on! Surely you can't be allowed to eat!

After a little online search I found this article, which explains it slightly better.

This week was a weight gain, but from today I will do it proper promise ;-)

Girl Geek Dinners - Tech Journalism

Last night me and the boy went to a Girl Geek Dinners event. I've been to a few recently and really enjoy the discussions. I don't think of myself a geek as such, but I have a few gadgets and like to know about tech things, so I dunno really!

This talk was held at the headquarters of ThoughtWorks in the Soho.
First up was Angela Saini is an independent journalist based in London, who spoke about a career in Journalism in general and mainly spoke about ethics. I wasn't too sure I agreed with her, but she did have a few interesting points to make.

Next was Connie St Louis, who is the Director of the Science Journalism MA at City University. She's been in the industry a few years and knows her stuff, she was a good speaker, who made the course sound like something worth pursuing if you wanted a career in Technology Journalism. The course has a very high employment rate and students are assisted in gaining employment. Impressive.

Lastly and the most interesting was Ramaa Sharma is a Senior Multi Media Journalism Trainer at the BBC College of Journalism. She emphasised the importance of being multi skilled, with the ability to shoot edit and upload your material. She also showed us a selection of video cameras the course uses and showed as a few microphone, tripod which are light and cheap for your work.

As the BBC are having their funding reduced, it makes sense to become multi skilled, this is a parallel in the publishing industry too. As a picture researcher I am also expected to contribute the website, and have to source, edit and upload image galleries onto the work website. This goes along side my normal print/publishing picture research.

I'm Back!!!

Apologies, for not posting earlier. Since Junathon ended I'm not sure what direction to take the blogging. I still haven't decided, but seeing as a few exiting things have happened since I last posted, I thought as update was in order.

I have finally got my Weight Watchers 10% key chain, which was my mini mission. I've decided I need to loose around 10lbs to reach my goal weight. That still leaves me in the overweight BMI category, but I think I would look rubbish skinny!

I've started running again too. I've managed to run for a full 30minutes the other day, which according to my Nike+ was 5k but I'm not sure if that was right, because the treadmill said 4.5k. Spinning is my new thing. I've been to 1 session and I really liked it and will be going again next week. My thighs are aching, but I like the I've done loadsa exercise pain.

A few months ago, I was looking at courses on the Open University website and found a few courses I was interested in. I thought I should look at the short courses as I've not done any type of studying for a long time and it might be a shock to the system. I opted for the Understanding Human Nutrition course as I think I will get the most out of it. The course starts in 1st September and I will probably do the longer version and hand in my course work in January 2011.

9 Days is Too Long!

I've been meaning to blog for a couple of days, but I was enjoying the sun and not doing any exercise! It's not because I've been lazy, it's due to the medical advise. Well really my Osteopath, who said I should not run for a least a week. I made it to 8 days, so I reckon that's a good effort not to run. Yesterday I got a mini weigh in fear and had to do some exercise.



I've had a boozy week. Monday I was invited to a Press Launch on boat. It was such a nice day and with free drinks and a 3 course dinner, how could I refuse. It was for the Discovery Channel's Autumn preview. I got a phone call from the Picture Editor, asking if I wanted to join them, as they had a cancellation. I was more than happy to go along!



Thursday was my try out the back at the gym day. I was a little worried, as I have struggled with various aches in realtion to the pain, but I was determined to test it out. I can't not visit the gym, it's part of my weekly routine! I got on quite well. Managed 20 minutes on the Cross Trainer, 10 minutes walking briskly and 5 minute gently run. It did start to feel a little achy afterwards, but I'm glad I tired it out.

I was really in 2 minds this morning. I didn't want to go to the gym, but I knew with the lack of exercise and extra portion of pasta last night I needed to make an effort!!

I stayed the same weight this week, which in itself is impressive. AND it still means I have 0.5lb to loose before I get my keychain. I think you would be right in saying I'm a bit lame at this weight loss rubbish! Anyway. It's the sunniest day of the year so far, so yay for drinking rose at lunch!

Juneathon, DONE!

I don't like that this is my last blog for Juneathon. I'm already thinking about next year! Slightly sad that I didn't run the whole 30 days but I did manage 22, which I'm really proud of.

Today I swam, I noticed that I'm getting better. 10 minutes after work isn't easy as I was hot and achy. The back is improving every day, so as the Osteopath has told me to avoid the gym for a week. I'm going to take a few days rest! Actually I'll probably go swimming on Friday morning, as it's weigh day.

As I few Juneathoners have mentioned their weights, I will too! As I'm following Weight Watchers too, I should have lost something. I've lost nothing! Exactly the same weight as I started. Interesting and annoying. I think my eating what I like at the weekends is the reason.

I've been avoiding the total stats information, as I really don't like numbers and having to total create a decent set of understandable stats something I can do easily.

As I've done more then 1 activity on some days I just counted the running or the main activity.

Here are my 30 days of stats.

22 Days - Running

5 Days - Swimming

2 Days - Pilates

1 Day - Walking

TOTAL KM: 56.86 km

I'll miss reading everyone's blogs, but seeing as I've also learnt to use blogger and google reader I will still be able see what you're all up to.

Stats

Activity - Swimming

Time - 10 minutes

Distance - 12 lengths.

Only One Day Left

Slightly exhausted after a fun weekend celebrating my birthday, I wanted a lie in.

This is my conversation with Chris morning:
C: You going gym?
D: No
C: When you going gym?
D: Never!
C: Idiot, you've only got 2 days left.

So I guess I'm going gym. After 28 days of Juneathon and a back that doesn't like running, I had to do the last 2 days. Sometimes the boy is right. As swimming is the only thing I can manage and paying to go to the Leisure Centre isn't really a good idea at £4.85 a go. I had to use Market Sports.

First I had to see the Osteopath and get my back worked on again. He cracked and manipulated the poorly bits. Then I waddled off to work.

I went to the Market Sports after work and went swimming. It was busy and I didn't want to undo the Osteopath's work by pushing myself too hard. I did 10 minutes.

Stats
Activity - Swimming
Time - 10 Minutes
Distance - 12 Lengths