Social media can and does glamourise the look of a person. Without meaning to, we all do this. We post things we want you to see. You won’t always see the bad, the cracks and the damn right ugly stuff going on in everyone’s lives. Sure, they may talk about it but what remains in our head about this social media figure are all the wonderful photos they share. But, truth be told I’m just a regular 22 year old girl. I go to University and study a Graphic Design BA hons degree, I have a part time job & I wake up at 6.30am everyday. I’m too obsessed with my phone and social media. I’m a bit of a loner sometimes. I’m always focused on my next project or would rather be in the kitchen baking or doing something fitness related. But, that’s just me. I would rather be doing something to benefit me and my happiness and this is something that’s quite different to a lot of people my age. However, it wasn’t until last year when my life began to change quite a lot.
The beginning of 2015 I started Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide. The guide includes a plan of 3 intense workouts for the week and then LISS for the other days. For example, Monday – Legs, Wednesday – Cardio and core, Friday – Arms. These 28 minute  workouts are short but so intense. Anyway, I was going to Antalya, Turkey in July and wanted to look and feel confident in my bikini. I have never been big or overweight. In fact, quite the opposite. I would have called myself ‘Skinny fat’. I had no muscle, no definition and definitely no curves. I didn’t feel sexy or felt that I looked like a women. So, in February I started and stuck to Kayla’s programme and I felt my body change. I didn’t lose weight (on the scales) but I lost inches. My love handles became firmer, my thighs became stronger and my stamina changed drastically. I was fit.
By the time July came around I felt like I accomplished my goals for my holiday and I felt confident walking around in my bikini. However, thinking back on it and my body now I had all my nutrition worked out wrong and if I had ditched the salads and all the ridiculous amounts of cardio and HIIT sessions I put myself through then I KNOW my body would have looked even better. You can see from the featured Image my progress photo. The photo on the left is me on Holiday and the photo on the right was taken a few days ago.
Let me explain myself…
In October 2015 I found myself becoming a little bored of Kayla’s workout. I grew a hateful relationship with the timer and I dreaded completing another circuit of the repeated workout. I was no longer seeing progress in my body and in fact, all the cardio was making me skinny with absolutely no curves whatsoever. So, I decided to do more research online of a new programme and that’s when I came across Lauren Gleisberg. At the time I picked workout’s from her website and completed them. They’re free and I loved how different they all were. No repetition of circuits and I was introduced to new exercises. My body loved this. It started to ache again after workouts and I knew once again I was finally challenging my muscles again.
At the end of November Lauren introduced us all to her new workout schedule – LGFitmas. It consisted of daily workouts for the 5 day week of which were 30 minutes long. Who can’t spare 30 minutes a day to workout? Perfect. These workouts were different though. They consisted of less cardio and more weights. Different. Something I wasn’t used to but I was excited to start. The challenge lasted a month – until New Years eve (I think). By the end of the challenge I saw rapid changes. I had abs, I had definition in my legs and glutes and I was so much stronger. Goodbye bingo wings, hello biceps! As well as this I increased my carb intake, my overall calorie intake and my protein. I no longer ate salad’s for lunch and had extremely small snacks like I did during the Bikini Body Guide programme. Due to my nutrition changes, decrease in cardio and increase of weights I love my new curved body!
Since the beginning of the year I have been completing Lauren’s new workout programme – LGFitAndLean2016. It consists of a ‘lean & fit’ portion. Weights mostly for 25 minutes and then interval cardio for the last 10 minutes. The workout’s are quick, challenge your muscles and constantly change to keep your body guessing.
Please note, this is what has worked well for MY body. It’s important to remember that bodies are different and run differently too. My friend finds drastic results with a low carb diet. However, my body works well from a high carb diet. Complete opposite.
I hope this has given some insight into me and my body and how it’s changed. Definitely not a drastic change but to me it’s a change – a change for the better.
Thank you!
H,
x
For Lauren Gleisberg LGFitAndLean2016 plan: www.laurengleisberg.com
For Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide: www.kaylaitsines.com