My Journey to Health – Personal Trainer

I do Pilates once a week in work, which is great for toning up but felt it wasn’t enough! I needed something close to work as you know yourself – that plateau/stale mate/nothing happening stage just hits you! I wanted something close, something that wouldn’t give me an injury and give me results that I wanted. So I turned to ‘Monsters Gym’, Carlow.

About Emma:

Emma is a personal trainer in the Monsters Gym. Emma really
seemed to understand where I was coming from and said there was no point of doing this unless I wanted to and that it was actually achievable. As in why not stay at yoga, why come to a gym if I didn’t like the gym. Why do something that you don’t like. All very valid, all very true – I honestly felt I wasn’t being robbed and that this was truly the right choice. Emma doesn’t believe in numbers (weight or measurements) you can become to obsessive – and I have to agree! I don’t know my weight – if its mentioned I ensure I don’t retain that information! I like knowing that I fit into my clothes. I suppose that can be seen as a number but one I suppose I can’t really get away from that one!
If you don’t fancy personal training she does classes on a Tuesday and Thursday Night – that really gets you going. I have heard amazing stuff about the classes.

What it is all about:

I felt really happy  that she spent the time on our first session going through what I wanted to achieve, why I wanted to achieve it, what my drive was and show what I was able to do (this does not mean that I went full throttle on my first day – as I didn’t)!

While I am doing my sessions with Emma, she also gave me homework (she calls it a program). So at home I have exercises that I need to do a least twice a week. Everything that Emma gets me to do I feel that she is pushing me to the limit that I am working towards and when I achieve this she sets a new limit and so on so forth! Nothing is out of reach – all I have to do is go for it!

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I signed up for a total of 7 classes with Emma. Ifelt every single class was worth it! I do believe that I needed her to be able to get myself to the gym. I wasn’t ready to do this all by myself! I wanted the security that I was doing the exercises correctly and that she could see where my real limit was.

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How it feels:

My first (1) session was on the hottest day of the year. So sweat doesn’t even cover what happened to me. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed the first class. I was quite nervous attending as I didn’t really know what to expect. The next day I was a little stiff and achy but nothing major to complain about. The following day I was so sore – I could hardly sit down and walking downstairs nearly killed me! Not to scare you completely!

When I did my second (2) session we focused on different exercises – I even used the sleigh (Boy – I could feel that!) and I relaxed a bit more! I suppose I wasn’t so scared. Emma said she even noticed the difference. Third (3) class in and the hour just flies by! Every class Emma had me do something different, at times there were some similarities which I think was good as I was able to see how I was improving.

Then the fourth (4) class came and Emma felt I should have a marker to see how I am doing. As at this stage I  noticed the difference – I had a lot more energy. I felt I was up for the challenge – I could do her test! It was TOUGH! It started off with 80 jumping jacks, 60 crunches, 40 steps with Kettlebells and to be honest it has turned into a blur – I think I did some planks and mountain climbers. All in all it was around 10 mixed activities and I did it in 15 minutes. So I think that was off to a good start and only time will tell. I did my first ‘Dead Lift’ was only 20kg but it was practicing the technique. No back injuries for me!

Fifth (5) class done and once again we did new exercises. Jumping onto a tyre is harder than it looks. We did alot of cardio and a pace that pushes me and makes me feel the burn but Emma always keep me to a limit that I am not actually going to die. Sometimes I have thought “I’m going to die” but I never do! Sixth (6) class and I really felt I have accomplished so much in such a short space of time. We started hard with cardio and then moved onto weights. For the cardio, it really pushes me (I don’t particularly like it – as it’s tough on me) but for the first time even after doing ploughs/sleighs (what ever you wish to call them) I had no burning in my chest. AMAZING! We started off slow on the dead lifts and I got up to 35kg – slowly but surely I am getting stronger and fitter.

Next Steps:

I have signed up with Emma for the rest of August and September. I really love the one to one’s! It truly is worth it – as I think would I do this if I went to a gym or even to the Monster’s gym? Nope. I’m still learning so much and feel I have alot to learn.

A big thanks to Emma for being on this journey with me and for kicking my arse into gear!

I am still on my journey of health, this isn’t just a fad! I’m really looking forward to reaching my target. If you want to see my red face after training, check out my snapchat (User: ninadar21).

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Monsters GymEmma’s Health & Fitness Training

Disclaimer: I was not paid to speak about this service/product.

My Journey to Health – Yoga

So as you already have read I had back surgery, its now coming up to the two year mark. I thought my back issue was sciatica and due to this went to my GP who sent me to multiple Physiotherapists and it would help for awhile but in the end the pain always came back. I thought to help with this I would try out Pilates and Yoga. Yoga won – I love the movements and gives me a rested mind.

So my back issue wasn’t sciatica and as you have read I had surgery. This fixed the problem but the yoga practice has not left me.

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After my surgery I was able to give a better commitment to Yoga. I have been able to achieve poses that I never thought I was going to be able to do. I do Hot Yoga in the Crown Centre, Naas. I love the 30°C heated room, I feel that this allows me to get into positions quicker and my muscles don’t hurt me as much!

There are different instructors on different days and you can do an hour or hour half class. They also run a workshop once a month which is about 3 hours.

Any of the instructors that I have had are amazing they ensure that you only go to your limit – it’s never worth the injury. They can re-position you, if you have a particular injury to ensure you get the same result as the rest of the class.

A big shout out to Danielle, Darren and Laura, have loved every class no matter how hard it was!

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; The Crown Centre,

Discalimer: I was not paid to speak about this service/products.

My Journey to Health

Hi All,

This is going to be short and sweet.

I am going to give you a road map of My Journey to Health.

Due to my back difficulties (I won’t be going into detail) I found that I wasn’t able to be as active as I had once been. This led to a lack of fitness and bad habits.

I since had back surgery and due to this eye opening event in my life, I took a new outlook to life and started a new journey.

I will be posting up blogs on the changes I made to my life.

Enjoy!

Hells Bells

Xxx

 

The Climb of all Climbs

I was roped into climbing Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. It was something that I had never done seen that it is on the West Coast. As the days built up to actually going, I found myself getting very nervous and concerned as like most people I didn’t want to break anything.

So lets begin by telling you about Irelands Holy Mountain. Croagh Patrick is situated near the town of Westport in County Mayo, Ireland. The main pilgrimage route originates in the village of Murrisk, 8km outside Westport. Croagh Patrick rises to a height of 762m above sea level.

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We booked into the most beautiful hostel, the lady that runs this hostel was so nice and highly recommend staying here. It was my first time ever staying in a hostel and was really surprised how much I liked it! It was great to be in a room with all the girls – it made us all closer as no one was left out!

Normally, it takes about two hours for the average person to reach the summit, and one and a half hours to descend. We did it in the four hours (in total), which I was really happy about. It was a tough climb, my asthma really played up and without my walking stick I don’t know how I would have made it! Sadly, we weren’t able to get the full view of the bay at the top, as we reached the top the clouds came in quick and the rain started.

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Coming down was so much easier as we got down in the hour! The minute we walked out of the carpark we headed straight into the pub and enjoyed a well deserved pint. Of course it didn’t stop there and we headed into Westport. This town is stag and hen central and a really good night out!

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I highly recommend doing Croagh Patrick once in your life – make sure it’s on your list!

Hells Bells

Xxxx

Links; Croagh PatrickCroagh Patrick Hostel

Let’s go to the Races

Hitting that time of year again – ‘The Races’. If you are heading to down to Punchestown this month, preparation is key. The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival (running from 26th April – 30th April) is one of the highlights of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The special combination of thrilling sporting action, brilliant live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun, dazzling glamour or casual comfort is unequaled thanks to the unique Punchestown Festival atmosphere.

Choosing your outfit can be one of the hardest things, as you want to look to amazing, feel amazing (comfortable) and just be AMAZING. Here are some ideas of what you could wear;

 

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Once you choose what you are going to wear then it comes down to the shoes. I’m sorry girls but for me it is down to the comfort as surviving the day is what I want to aim for. I don’t want to be walking around like a dinosaur. However, I do want good looking shoes too! Too much to ask for?

Here are a few ideas;

Then the few key accessories to complete the whole outfit; if this should be a hat/fascinator, bag, parasol/umbrella, necklace/watch or even a coat. Here are a few more ideas;

I know I am really looking forward to going!

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Punchestown RacesMy Kind of DressDebenhamsAsos

Leinster at Aviva

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My other half and I are season ticket holders for Leinster Rugby, we love dressing up for the Irish elements and having our treats at half time. I have a skinny hot chocolate and he gets a white chocolate latte.

The last weekend before Christmas Leinster played RC Toulon in the ‘European Rugby Champions Cup’ and being the first time the two sides met on Irish Soil, I was hoping for a good game (yes I know we are in the middle of a losing streak but there is always hope). We are three-time European champions and if we didn’t beat RC Toulon we wouldn’t be qualifying for the quarter-finals. And we have never lost back to back home games in the same season of a Champions Cup campaign (enough hope built up – Check).

Kick off was at 5:15pm and my screaming began. I screamed (and sang the leinster rhymes) till the very end even when we lost. I was hoping for more than a win, I wanted 4 try’s (we got one) so we could get the bonus points. At the start of the game I refocused our team we were organised and playing how Leinster play and then it we went downhill from there.

Final score was 16 – 20 to RC Toulon, they deserved it. No matter what it was a good game, good atmosphere and full of Christmas Cheer.

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Do you like Rugby? Do you support Leinster?

Hells Bells

Xxx

Links; Leinster Rugby