New PT Workout: #1

As promised, albeit late, here is the gym workout I had been following when I started the blog. As I can't fit a cable machine in my Uni room, I have put the modifications for a home workout in pink. Not for any specific reason, I just like pink.

I do now have a new workout, so will post that up soon; my second attempt at it is on Monday, at the gym with trainer.

I originally started training with Michelle for the half marathon, so the workouts prior to this were very leg and core-focused; now, they are entire body workouts:

Warm-up: treadmill hill run/sprint - 10 minutes

As I don't normally warm up at home, I wouldn't do anything.

I then do 3 sets of the following exercises:

Barbell high pull - 10 kg 12 reps

I don't own barbells so I use two 5kg weights.

Bulgarian split squat - 20 reps

These are the absolute bane of my life but they are so effective and really easy to do at home, assuming you own at least one chair in the entireity of your abode!

Bosu press ups - 12 reps

I don't own a bosu so I do the easier version of a normal press up (I'm building up to do the full version!).

TRX hip raise and leg curl - 12 reps

I use my swiss ball for these.

Seated cable row with rope - 3 plates 12 reps

I replace these with bent over rows, which I hate doing and I don't know why....

Cross body step ups - 20 reps

I do these on the stairs.

I really didn't feel like these were doing anything, until the next day I had very achy inner-leg muscles!

Dips on bench - 12 reps

A chair replaces the bench.

DB lateral raises - 2kg 12 reps

Plank on TRX - 30 seconds

I just do the plank as normal.

I do it either on my elbows or up on my hands; hands is supposed to be harder but I don't find this so?

Lying swiss ball Russian twist - 12 reps

These are so hard and effective. I would recommend practising these and including them in your workout regularly.

TRX crunches - 15 reps

Crunches as normal.

Alternate supermans - 20 reps

It's important to work the lower back muscles too!

Warm down: Cycle for 5 minutes and streeeeeeetch.

THIS WORKOUT WAS DESIGNED BY MICHELLE MAXWELL - YOUMEFIT.CO.UK :)

New Lululemon running trousers

OK so I have been a busy little bee since my return from America, but I meant to post this a while ago (on the 27th to be precise). Photos will be added of the glorious trousers...


Today I broke in my new violet Lululemon trousers. I only found out about the brand when I was in Canada last month, but everyone raved about it so I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. 

After paying $86, I had high expectations, for although they fit snugly and made my legs look nice and slim, I could get that effect with my £32 Marks and Spencer jeans. Or by wrapping cling film round my legs. 

As you can see, they have a mesh panel which absorbs the sweat from your knee crevice (cringe - what a horrible word) and a back pocket to fit in a small snack/energy tablets etc.

Today we did a similar route to Friday, except we ran further up the first hill on to the trails. So, not only was I breaking in my Lulu's, but I was on my first trail run! Life is wild. It was a bit like fartlek training, leaping and dodging my way around rocks and tree roots; it didn't feel like running, and although this part of the run must have been about a mile long, it went really quickly. I would definitely like to include more trail runs when I'm home.

We ran 5.42 miles in 52 minutes - around 9.5 minutes per mile. My trousers were very comfortable; they were snug but not tight, kept my legs warm without causing me to overheat, and didn't chafe anywhere. I would definitely buy more sportswear from Lululemon.

Pip xxx