Claire Sweeny - BIG FAT DIET

Did you see the Claire Sweeney Big Fat Diet when it was on last week? If you didn't you missed a treat! IT was such a down to earth documentary that demonstrated just how easy it is to put weight on without even really trying. Claire has always had to watch what she ate so for the documentary she didn't bonge eat or eat loads of chocolates or sweets, all she did was eat what she wanted when she fancied it and the results were startling. Over a six week period she managed to put on a whopping 2 stone - this is a HUGE weight gain. Her personal trainer also monitored her BMI and body fat levels which as you would expect, increased dramatically. Herv entire body shape changed and the difference in her face shape and sking tone was a lot more marked than I first thought it would be. I really hope that for those of you that saw it, that it struck a chord. If you have made the decision to make 2009 the year that makes a difference to your body shape, weight and fitness then keep thinking of Claire Sweeney as an excellent motivator when you want to reach for that burger!

I am by no means a saint when it come to food and I know a lot of you that come to my classes reckon it must be great for me because I can effectively eat what I like and not put on weight. To a point you are right, however, if I actually did eat what I wanted all the time I would not be doing my heart any favours. I would no longer have the same amount of energy so the classes would not be as effective. My skin would suffer and I would end up with sallow looking skin amongst a whole host of other issues. So, eating what you want is not only a weight issue. Since I made a concerted effort to eat a whole lot more fresh fruit and vegetables, my skin looks more vibrant, my eyes are definitely clearer and I feel great. When I eat a load of processed junk my energy levels definitely dip so this is clearly a no no for me. Once you can recognise the benefits as tangible gains then it does become easier to make the healthier food choices.

If you are struggling then make some small goals and write them on post it notes. Put these notes up everywhere so that everywhere you look you are reminding yourself of what you want to achieve. Give yourself a time frame to achieve this goal and cross the days off on a large calender. These first intial goals don't have to be huge. They could be, walk to work, go to a new exercise class, do a home exercise dvd, swap one chocolate bar for a piece of fruit. You know what your limits are so don't push yourself too hard to begin with but at the same time give yourself a target that will challenge you and make you feel so proud of yourself when you have achieved it. If you make the goals too big and you don't manage to achieve them, it isn't the end of the world, just set a more realistic goal so you avoid setting yourself up for failure.

I am adding more fantastic conditioning choreography to my classes this week, so if you want to work out those muscles that normally get neglected get down to one of the classes, all of them are listed under the exercise classes tab and if you have any queries then don't hesitate to get in touch.

Have a great week!