Right so here’s the thing.
I am 40 next year – yes, yes I know I barely look day over 30 *ahem* – and as much as that depresses me, what depresses me even more is being 40 and fat. Its not that I am morbidly obese or grossly over weight, but I do weigh more than I should for my height and I definitely need to lose some inches. I want to feel better about myself and feel more comfortable and confident in my clothes. I want my sparkle back I guess because its been gone a while now. And I want to look and feel fabulous and fit at 40. I want to like myself and the way I look again.
So to do this I set myself goals for 2013 of losing some weight and doing some exercise, and actually seeing these goals through and succeeding. I make these resolutions every year and rarely achieve them, but I think my milestone birthday next year, coupled with wanting to get back into my pre pregnancy jeans is spurring me on more than usual.
I have never been thin, and I don’t want to be now. I was, however, once slimmer and healthier and this is what I want to be now. I know that I will never have the body I did in my 20’s – its impossible almost two decades later and after having two children close together, but I know that beneath this flabby body lies a flatter and slimmer ‘me’
I am aware that eating less is not enough I have to exercise (and I hate exercise routines) and being on my own for most of the week with the boys, I have decided to work out to a DVD *gulps* not just any DVD but the 30 Day Dread – sorry Shred
I have googled this DVD and seen some amazing before and after photos taken by women with similar body shapes to me, and those better and worse and everyone who has under taken this 30 day commitment has seen great results. I mean, its just 20 minutes a day for 30 days surely even I ‘Queen of the never sticking to exercise routines’ can do this?????
So, I am going to post some photos now of my body which will hopefully shame me enough into sticking with this exercise plan while ensuring that I am eating less and healthier too *gulps again*. It is hard for me to see these pics of myself let alone anyone else so publicly, but to get results you sometimes have to resort to extreme measures, right???
(Look away now if you are eating your breakfast/lunch/dinner!!)
The first photos are from a week and a half ago when I decided to order the DVD and start this Feeling Fitter and Fabulous at 40 campaign of mine, after eating too many Christmas chocolates
Since this photo was taken I have been on a healthier eating plan and I think my stomach at least looks less bloated now and I think I have lost a few pounds because my tops fit better over my tummy now.
Tonight armed with my two tins of Heinz spaghetti hoops as weights, (other tinned foods would work well too, better still with 2lb arm weights!) I started my 30 Day Shred and I did find it hard because I am unfit and the jumping jacks made me a little anxious (weaker pelvic floor muscles thanks to child birth) – but I did it and I survived. I hated every moment but I am hoping in a few days I will start to enjoy it a little…….maybe!! It would be so easy to stop and not bother, and that is why I am blogging this so I have to do it now I have told people (pressure – eeeeek!).
Also some other blogging Mum’s (aka Cafe Bebe and Emma ) are also taking this 30 Day Shred journey too which is helping me to want to carry on too.
My measurements taken tonight with a tape measure from my OH’s tool box ( I don’t own a normal tape measure!) are as follows:
I am currently a size 14
Hips 43 inches
Stomach 38 inches
Chest 36 inches
Thigh (right) 27 inches
Upper arm (left) 14 inches
I would be happy to still be a size 14 but a slimmer one. It would be brilliant if I went down to a size 12 but as I haven’t been this size since my teens I am not so sure it will happen. But you never know…..!
I wont be weighing myself as I don’t have scales and I will be going on photos of myself and how my clothes feel and fit me.
So in an ideal world I would love to look like this after 30, 60 or maybe 90 days
But realistically I just want to be rid of my over hanging flabby bits and have some body and clothing confidence. And have the confidence to wear some sexy underwear again and not my post labour black pants!! Well, they are comfortable lol!
I have to do this. I need to succeed. For me, not for anyone else but for me. I don’t put my own needs first very often, but with this I really must.
So here’s to the next 29 days of exercising hell fun!!!
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Thank you xx
Thank you xx
This is why I love you, you’re so honest and open. You’re going to do it Jenny and I think you might inspire me.
Bless you, you gorgeous thing! You look wonderful & I’m excited to be on this adventure with you. You definitely have lost weight from the first photos. We can do this!! Big hugs… XX
Karin
Oh wow, it’s meant to be a gruelling workout but I remember a whole bunch did it last year too and they all said they loved it! Good luck…you can do it!!!! (You don’t look 40 at all btw…maybe 34?)
This post rings so many bells with me. I’ve been trying to lose weight for some years, with a little success as I am actually lighter than before H was conceived. Still I’m far from happy with it. I’ve cut down lots, try to do some exercise, but it’s not enough. Will be interested to see how you get on with this. Good luck Jenny.
We will do it! Well done for writing this post- you’ve told everyone you’re doing it now 😉
Our measurements are very similar, it will be interesting to see how they change. When I did SW the first time I lost tons of inches and it was a good motivator especially if I didn’t lost weight one week. At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter what you weigh if you feel happy with how you look does it?
Well done you, actually your figure and your measurements are very similar to mine so it will be interesting to see how we both pan out. Good luck. x
yay, good for you Jenny! I must admit that the first time I did the shred I almost died doing jumping Jacks – by day 5 you will be amazed at how easy they are! Saying all that I have been a bit rubbish recently & really need to jump back on that shred wagon….I look forward to seeing your progress xx
I think I shall join you on this one and wipe off the dust from my dvd and crack on with a daily workout again before I’m 30 and fat! *pops on tracksuit*
Good luck x
I think you and I have very similar bodies so as I cant start mine for a little while due to giving birth in 4 weeks, I shall use you as motivation! You can defo see a difference in your pics! well done and keep it up 🙂
thanks for your comment and good luck with the birth! i will keep this up (have to now) and you will see what you can look like after a month lol. then if its working i guess another 30 days……??? x
Gillian is a bitch but the workouts are good. My only advice would be to get yourself some weights on amazon. it makes it so much easier to do the exercises. I tried with water bottles at first but they kept annoying me x
Hey Jenny, good on you! I went for it full whack with the shred a while back and it really worked for me, I posted the classic before and after pics too and it really motivated me doing that. I shouldn’t really say after though as I’m still going for it. I dip into it now and again and ignore the fact it is called 30 day shred as what are you meant to do on day 31?!! It does get better – I ached for days to start with but do it now and feel nothing. And body/dress size?! I’m still a size 14 on the bottom half and think I always will be due to body structure. Measurements are great too, I now ignore the scales as I’ve hit a brick wall with the weight loss. Very odd! Good luck and keep going x x
Ooh I will check out your blog to see your before and after shots . I think scales are rubbish really because even when you feel good about yourself you can stand on them and then what they say contradicts how you feel and you can get low.
well done on completing the shred and still dipping in and out of it and for losing the inches too. thank you for your positive ness and I will come over now and see your post on it. Xx
you have done this DVD? did it work for you? i will get some weights i just didnt want anything else stopping me from starting it! x
thanks Emma and please do there is a FB page which Karin from Cafe Bebe has started if you want to join in – we motivate each other daily even hourly x
thanks Helen i am determined to see this through i cant enter my 40’s all wobbly and over weight. of course i will still eat cake sometimes x
It did wonders for my abs and general fitness and I might revisit it soon. people did in fact notice a change. Order the weights of amazon and enjoy the delivery of a small box that weighs a tonne and the look of the puzzled courier! priceless!
i think its good that a few of us are similar and need to do this for same reasons – i need help to motivate myself which is why i am loving the #30daydread group. good luck x
thanks Emma i will pop over and read your post in a mo. i think thats what is good about this challenge and encouraging each other – we are similar in age (kinda!) lifestyle and body shape so it keeps it real and helps spur me on
good luck to you x x
thanks Erica – i might not be able to get where i want due to my age and all that jazz, but i am going to try and get in better shape x
I’m at the end of my first month and have lost no weight but have lost 3 inches from my chest, 2 from the waist, hips and thighs so am loving it! I do it with Papasaurus every evening – the shred obvs 😉 and we bought a cheap set of weight from Argos that have worked wonders!
ooooh get you doing the dirty shred with papasaurus 😉 you minx lol wow you have done well then to have finished one month already, you must have started straight after xmas! i must get some weights as I might want hoops on my toast tomorrow lol x
Good luck. I look forward to reading how it goes 🙂
thank you i will update again next week x