Body revamp!

After nine months of progressively feeling like Humpty Dumpty, you look forward to the moment when you can finally reclaim your body. However, you don’t get to revel in the newly refound possession before you realise you have changed from being a baby factory to a milk-producing, sleep-deprived one! You are Yogi bear’s look alike from your neck to your knees, and you begin to despair that your body will ever be the same again!
Well… there is hope! After two and a half years I am going to have another attempt at getting my fitness and form back! A friend and I (with a few joining us kicking and screaming!) are going to plow through the chills of winter and emerge with new revamped bodies for the first of Spring! Soooo exciting! To help others along the way I will post the steps we have taken as we journey along in our remake. Some of these points are so obvious but each little thing makes a difference!

• Step 1 – choose an exercize buddy or two or three…. for accountability and camaraderie. Plan a start and end date. This time is used to put into place some good lifestyle changes NOT as something you will then stop and undo everything you have worked hard to achieve. Plan how you are going to realistically make the changes – i.e.  exactly what day and time you are going to exercise, water bottles in each room etc.
• Step 2 – clear out your exercise area and dust off the sports equipment.
• Step 3 – organise your footwear and clothing you will use to exercise in.
• Step 4 – choose the exercise routine you will complete over the next month and accompanying music if that’s what you need to exercise with – I’ll be using a CD called Superstrings from www.powermusic.com to get me motivated to move – especially this time of the year when I would normally be huddled over my computer conserving my heat!
• Step 5 – Make a chart covering the key things you need to do to get to your new you – i.e. amount of exercise you need to do (should not exceed 25 minutes or be too intense or you will release the stress hormone cortisol which holds onto fat), the amount of water you need to drink (over 2 litres), food – either quantity and/or quality, and sleep. If you get all your key things done for the day you get a gold star on your chart at the end of the row for that day. The chart is for a 5 day week. If you would like a copy of my chart email me at info@lisaliggett.co.nz.
• Step 6 – Decide on a reward or deterrent for the amount of stars gained, or not gained, at the end of the week. My buddy will give me a tried and true recipe with a sample if I win for the week.
• Step 7 – Decide on your overall reward for completing your goals at the end of the allotted time.
• Step 8 – Outline clearly what your goals are for the time – i.e weight loss of how much, fitness levels improved by what amount, strength tests, toning of what area etc.
• Step 9 – Take measurements of key body parts and weigh yourself. If you have access to scales that can take your hydration and fat % this is also extremely helpful. Take a photo of yourself either in your swim gear or in something tight showing your curves. Measure your fitness levels and strength.
• Step 10 – Just get on and get cracking – your new you awaits! 

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Word of caution: don’t forget to do your stretching and relaxation – I use a foam roller which has become an appendage as I roll on it every night for sometimes an hour or so – oh the bliss of having knots dissolve is glorious!!!

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